H. R. 2854—261
advantaged individuals, as determined by the Sec-
retary.
‘‘(C) GEOGRAPHIC
DIVERSITY.—To the extent prac-
ticable, the Secretary shall designate organizations in
diverse geographic areas.’’.
SEC. 762. SIMPLIFIED, UNIFORM APPLICATION FOR ASSISTANCE FROM
ALL FEDERAL RURAL DEVELOPMENT PROGRAMS.
Not later than 1 year after the date of enactment of this
Act, the Secretary of Agriculture shall develop a streamlined, sim-
plified, and uniform application which shall be used in applying
for assistance under all of the following:
(1) Sections 304(b), 306, 306A, 306C, 306D, 310B, and
375 and subtitle E of the Consolidated Farm and Rural Develop-
ment Act (7 U.S.C. 1924(b), 1926, 1926a, 1926c, 1926d, and
1932).
(2) Subtitle G of title XVI and sections 2281, 2333, and
2381 of the Food, Agriculture, Conservation, and Trade Act
of 1990 (7 U.S.C. 5901–5908, 5177a, 950aaa–2, and 3125b).
(3) Subtitle C of title IX of the Food, Agriculture, Conserva-
tion, and Trade Act Amendments of 1991 (Public Law 102–
237: 7 U.S.C. 5930 note).
(4) Section 1323(b) of the Food Security Act of 1985 (Public
Law 99–198; 7 U.S.C. 1932 note).
(5) Title V and section 603(c) of the Rural Development
Act of 1972 (7 U.S.C. 2661–2669 and 2204a(c)).
(6) Sections 5 and 311 and title IV of the Rural Electrifica-
tion Act of 1936 (7 U.S.C. 905, 940a, and 941–950b).
SEC. 763. COMMUNITY FACILITIES GRANT PROGRAM.
Section 306(a) of the Consolidated Farm and Rural Develop-
ment Act (7 U.S.C. 1926(a)) (as amended by section 741(a)(5))
is amended by adding at the end the following:
‘‘(19) COMMUNITY FACILITIES GRANT PROGRAM.—
‘‘(A) IN GENERAL.—The Secretary may make grants,
in a total amount not to exceed $10,000,000 for any fiscal
year, to associations, units of general local government,
nonprofit corporations, and federally recognized Indian
tribes to provide the Federal share of the cost of developing
specific essential community facilities in rural areas.
‘‘(B) FEDERAL SHARE.—
‘‘(i) IN GENERAL.—Except as provided in clauses
(ii) and (iii), the Secretary shall, by regulation, estab-
lish the amount of the Federal share of the cost of
the facility under this paragraph.
‘‘(ii) MAXIMUM AMOUNT.—The amount of a grant
provided under this paragraph for a facility shall not
exceed 75 percent of the cost of developing the facility.
‘‘(iii) GRADUATED SCALE.—The Secretary shall pro-
vide for a graduated scale for the amount of the Federal
share provided under this paragraph, with higher Fed-
eral shares for facilities in communities that have lower
community population and income levels, as deter-
mined by the Secretary.’’.
H. R. 2854—262
Subtitle C—Amendments to the Rural
Electrification Act of 1936
SEC. 771. PURPOSES; INVESTIGATIONS AND REPORTS.
Section 2 of the Rural Electrification Act of 1936 (7 U.S.C.
902) is amended—
(1) by striking ‘‘SEC. 2. (a) The Secretary of Agriculture
is’’ and inserting the following:
‘‘SEC. 2. GENERAL AUTHORITY OF THE SECRETARY OF AGRICULTURE.
‘‘(a) LOANS.—The Secretary of Agriculture (referred to in this
Act as the ‘Secretary’) is’’;
(2) in subsection (a)—
(A) by striking ‘‘and the furnishing’’ the first place
it appears and all that follows through ‘‘central station
service’’; and
(B) by striking ‘‘systems; to make’’ and all that follows
and inserting ‘‘systems.’’; and
(3) by striking subsection (b) and inserting the following:
‘‘(b) INVESTIGATIONS AND REPORTS.—The Secretary may make,
or cause to be made, studies, investigations, and reports regarding
matters, including financial, technological, and regulatory matters,
affecting the condition and progress of electric, telecommunications,
and economic development in rural areas, and publish and dissemi-
nate information with respect to the matters.’’.
SEC. 772. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.
(a) IN GENERAL.—Section 3 of the Rural Electrification Act
of 1936 (7 U.S.C. 903) is amended to read as follows:
‘‘SEC. 3. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.
‘‘There are authorized to be appropriated such sums as are
necessary to carry out this Act.’’.
(b) CONFORMING AMENDMENTS.—
(1) Section 301(a) of the Rural Electrification Act of 1936
(7 U.S.C. 931(a)) is amended—
(A) by striking ‘‘(a)’’ the first place the term appears;
and
(B) in paragraph (3), by striking ‘‘notwithstanding sec-
tion 3(a) of title I,’’.
(2) Section 302(b)(2) of the Rural Electrification Act of
1936 (7 U.S.C. 932(b)(2)) is amended by striking ‘‘pursuant
to section 3(a) of this Act’’.
(3) The last sentence of section 406(a) of the Rural Elec-
trification Act of 1936 (7 U.S.C. 946(a)) is amended by striking
‘‘pursuant to section 3(a) of this Act’’.
SEC. 773. LOANS FOR ELECTRICAL PLANTS AND TRANSMISSION LINES.
Section 4 of the Rural Electrification Act of 1936 (7 U.S.C.
904) is amended—
(1) in the first sentence—
(A) by striking ‘‘for the furnishing of’’ and all that
follows through ‘‘central station service and’’; and
(B) by striking ‘‘the provisions of sections 3(d) and
3(e) but without regard to the 25 per centum limitation
therein contained,’’ and inserting ‘‘section 3,’’;
H. R. 2854—263
(2) in the second sentence, by striking ‘‘: Provided further,
That all’’ and all that follows through ‘‘loan: And provided
further, That’’ and inserting ‘‘, except that’’; and
(3) in the third sentence, by striking ‘‘and section 5’’.
SEC. 774. LOANS FOR ELECTRICAL AND PLUMBING EQUIPMENT.
(a) IN GENERAL.—Section 5 of the Rural Electrification Act
of 1936 (7 U.S.C. 905) is repealed.
(b) CONFORMING AMENDMENTS.—Section 12(a) of the Rural
Electrification Act of 1936 (7 U.S.C. 912(a)) is amended—
(1) by striking ‘‘: Provided, however, That’’ and inserting
‘‘, except that,’’; and
(2) by striking ‘‘, and with respect to any loan made under
section 5,’’ and all that follows through ‘‘section 3’’.
SEC. 775. TESTIMONY ON BUDGET REQUESTS.
Section 6 of the Rural Electrification Act of 1936 (7 U.S.C.
906) is amended by striking the second sentence.
SEC. 776. TRANSFER OF FUNCTIONS OF ADMINISTRATION CREATED
BY EXECUTIVE ORDER.
Section 8 of the Rural Electrification Act of 1936 (7 U.S.C.
908) is repealed.
SEC. 777. ANNUAL REPORT.
Section 10 of the Rural Electrification Act of 1936 (7 U.S.C.
910) is repealed.
SEC. 778. PROHIBITION ON RESTRICTING WATER AND WASTE FACILITY
SERVICES TO ELECTRIC CUSTOMERS.
The Rural Electrification Act of 1936 is amended by inserting
after section 16 (7 U.S.C. 916) the following:
‘‘SEC. 17. PROHIBITION ON RESTRICTING WATER AND WASTE FACILITY
SERVICES TO ELECTRIC CUSTOMERS.
‘‘(a) PROHIBITION.—Assistance under any rural development
program administered by the Secretary or any agency of the Depart-
ment of Agriculture shall not be conditioned on any requirement
that the recipient of the assistance accept or receive electric service
from any particular utility, supplier, or cooperative.
‘‘(b) ENSURING COMPLIANCE.—The Secretary shall establish, by
regulation, adequate safeguards to ensure that assistance under
any rural development program is not subject to such a condition.
The safeguards shall include periodic certifications and audits, and
appropriate measures and sanctions against any person violating,
or attempting to violate subsection (a).
‘‘(c) DEFINITION OF RURAL DEVELOPMENT PROGRAMS.—In this
section, the term ‘rural development program’ means the following:
‘‘(1) Sections 304(b), 306, 306A, 306C, 306D, 310B, and
375 and subtitle E of the Consolidated Farm and Rural Develop-
ment Act (7 U.S.C. 1924(b), 1926, 1926a, 1926c, 1926d, and
1932).
‘‘(2) Subtitle G of title XVI and sections 2281, 2333, and
2381 of the Food, Agriculture, Conservation, and Trade Act
of 1990 (7 U.S.C. 5901–5908, 5177a, 950aaa–2, and 3125b).
‘‘(3) Subtitle C of title IX of the Food, Agriculture, Conserva-
tion, and Trade Act Amendments of 1991 (Public Law 102–
237; 7 U.S.C. 5930 note).
H. R. 2854—264
‘‘(4) Section 1323(b) of the Food Security Act of 1985 (Public
Law 99–198; 7 U.S.C. 1932 note).
‘‘(5) Title V and section 603(c) of the Rural Development
Act of 1972 (7 U.S.C. 2661–2669 and 2204a(c)).
‘‘(6) Sections 5 and 311 and title IV of this Act (7 U.S.C.
905, 940a, and 941–950b).
‘‘(d) REGULATIONS.—Not later than 60 days after the date of
enactment of the Federal Agriculture Improvement and Reform
Act of 1996, the Secretary shall issue final regulations to ensure
compliance with subsection (a).’’.
SEC. 779. TELEPHONE LOAN TERMS AND CONDITIONS.
Section 309 of the Rural Electrification Act of 1936 (7 U.S.C.
939) is amended—
(1) in subsection (a), by striking ‘‘(a) IN GENERAL.—’’; and
(2) by striking subsection (b).
SEC. 780. PRIVATIZATION PROGRAM.
Section 311 of the Rural Electrification Act of 1936 (7 U.S.C.
940a) is repealed.
SEC. 781. RURAL BUSINESS INCUBATOR FUND.
(a) IN GENERAL.—Section 502 of the Rural Electrification Act
of 1936 (7 U.S.C. 950aa–1) is repealed.
(b) CONFORMING AMENDMENTS.—Section 501 of the Rural Elec-
trification Act of 1936 (7 U.S.C. 950aa) is amended—
(1) in paragraph (5), by inserting ‘‘and’’ at the end;
(2) in paragraph (6), by striking ‘‘; and’’ at the end and
inserting a period; and
(3) by striking paragraph (7).
Subtitle D—Miscellaneous Rural
Development Provisions
SEC. 791. INTEREST RATE FORMULA.
(a) BANKHEAD-JONES FARM TENANT ACT.—Section 32(e) of the
Bankhead-Jones Farm Tenant Act (7 U.S.C. 1011) is amended
by striking the fifth sentence and inserting the following: ‘‘A loan
under this subsection shall be made under a contract that provides,
under such terms and conditions as the Secretary considers appro-
priate, for the repayment of the loan in not more than 30 years,
with interest at a rate not to exceed the current market yield
for outstanding municipal obligations with remaining periods to
maturity comparable to the average maturity for the loan, adjusted
to the nearest 1⁄8 of 1 percent.’’.
(b) WATERSHED PROTECTION AND FLOOD PREVENTION ACT.—
Section 8 of the Watershed Protection and Flood Prevention Act
(16 U.S.C. 1006a) is amended by striking the second sentence
and inserting the following: ‘‘A loan or advance under this section
shall be made under a contract or agreement that provides, under
such terms and conditions as the Secretary considers appropriate,
for the repayment of the loan or advance in not more than 50
years from the date when the principal benefits of the works of
improvement first become available, with interest at a rate not
to exceed the current market yield for outstanding municipal obliga-
H. R. 2854—265
tions with remaining periods to maturity comparable to the average
maturity for the loan, adjusted to the nearest 1⁄8 of 1 percent.’’.
SEC. 792. GRANTS FOR FINANCIALLY STRESSED FARMERS, DIS-
LOCATED FARMERS, AND RURAL FAMILIES.
(a) IN GENERAL.—Section 502 of the Rural Development Act
of 1972 (7 U.S.C. 2662) is amended by striking subsection (f).
(b) CONFORMING AMENDMENTS.—
(1) Section 2389 of the Food, Agriculture, Conservation,
and Trade Act of 1990 (Public Law 101–624; 7 U.S.C. 2662
note) is amended by striking subsection (d).
(2) Section 503(c) of the Rural Development Act of 1972
(7 U.S.C. 2663(c)) is amended—
(A) in paragraph (1)—
(i) by striking ‘‘(1)’’;
(ii) by striking ‘‘section 502(e)’’ and all that follows
through ‘‘shall be distributed’’ and inserting ‘‘sub-
sections (e), (h), and (i) of section 502 shall be distrib-
uted’’; and
(iii) by striking ‘‘objectives of’’ and all that follows
through ‘‘title’’ and inserting ‘‘objectives of subsections
(e), (h), and (i) of section 502’’; and
(B) by striking paragraph (2).
SEC. 793. FUND FOR RURAL AMERICA.
(a) IN GENERAL.—There is established in the Treasury of the
United States an account to be known as the Fund for Rural
America (referred to in this section as the ‘‘Account’’) to provide
funds for activities described in subsection (c).
(b) FUNDING.—
(1) IN GENERAL.—On January 1, 1997, October 1, 1998,
and October 1, 1999, out of any funds in the Treasury not
otherwise appropriated, the Secretary of the Treasury shall
transfer $100,000,000 to the Account.
(2) ENTITLEMENT.— The Secretary of Agriculture (referred
to in this section as the ‘‘Secretary’’)—
(A) shall be entitled to receive the funds transferred
to the Account under paragraph (1);
(B) shall accept the funds; and
(C) shall use the funds to carry out this section.
(3) PURPOSES.—Subject to subsection (d), of the amounts
transferred to the Account for a fiscal year, the Secretary
shall make available—
(A) for activities described in subsection (c)(1), not less
than 1⁄3 and not more than 2⁄3 of the funds in the Account;
and
(B) for activities described in subsection (c)(2), all funds
in the Account not made available by the Secretary for
activities described in subsection (c)(1).
(c) ACTIVITIES.—
(1) RURAL DEVELOPMENT.—
(A) IN GENERAL.—The Secretary may use the funds
in the Account for a rural development activity—
(i) authorized under the Housing Act of 1949 for—
(I) direct loans to low-income borrowers under
section 502 (42 U.S.C. 1472);
H. R. 2854—266
(II) loans for financial assistance for housing
for domestic farm laborers under section 514 (42
U.S.C. 1484);
(III) financial assistance for housing for
domestic farm laborers under section 516 (42
U.S.C. 1486);
(IV) payments for elderly who are not now
receiving rental assistance under section 521 (42
U.S.C. 1490a);
(V) grants and contracts for mutual and self-
help housing under section 523(b)(1)(A) (42 U.S.C.
1490c(b)(1)(A)); or
(VI) grants for rural housing preservation
under section 533 (42 U.S.C. 1490m); or
(ii) conducted under any rural development pro-
gram, including a program authorized under—
(I) the Consolidated Farm and Rural Develop-
ment Act (7 U.S.C. 1921 et seq.);
(II) subtitle G of title XVI and title XXIII
of the Food, Agriculture, Conservation, and Trade
Act of 1990;
(III) title V of the Rural Development Act of
1971 (7 U.S.C. 2661 et seq.); or
(IV) section 1323(b) of the Food Security Act
of 1985 (Public Law 99–198; 7 U.S.C. 1932 note).
(B) LIMITATION ON PROGRAMS FUNDED.—The Secretary
may not expend funds made available to carry out activities
described in subparagraph (A) for any activity that did
not receive appropriations for fiscal year 1995. Funds
expended under this section for any program purpose shall
be spent in accordance with and subject to the applicable
program limitations, restrictions, and priorities found in
the underlying program authority and this Act.
(C) LIMITATION
ON
HOUSING
ASSISTANCE.—Not more
than 20 percent of the funds made available to carry out
activities described in subparagraph (A) shall be made
available to carry out activities described in subparagraph
(A)(i).
(D) DISCLOSURE OF ALLOCATION.—For any fiscal year,
the Secretary shall not disclose the allocation of funds
under this section for any activity described in subpara-
graph (A) until the date that is 1 day after the date
of enactment of legislation authorizing appropriations for
the Department of Agriculture for any period in the fiscal
year.
(2) RESEARCH.—
(A) IN GENERAL.—The Secretary may use the funds
in the Account for research, extension, and education grants
to—
(i) increase international competitiveness, effi-
ciency, and farm profitability;
(ii) reduce economic and health risks;
(iii) conserve and enhance natural resources;
(iv) develop new crops, new crop uses, and new
agricultural applications of biotechnology;
(v) enhance animal agricultural resources;
(vi) preserve plant and animal germplasm;
H. R. 2854—267
(vii) increase economic opportunities in farming
and rural communities; and
(viii) expand locally-owned value-added processing.
(B) ELIGIBLE GRANTEE.—The Secretary may make a
grant under this paragraph to—
(i) a Federal research agency;
(ii) a national laboratory;
(iii) a college or university or a research foundation
maintained by a college or university; or
(iv) a private research organization with an estab-
lished and demonstrated capacity to perform research
or technology transfer.
(C) USE OF GRANT.—
(i) IN GENERAL.—A grant made under this para-
graph may be used by a grantee for 1 or more of
the following uses:
(I) Outcome-oriented research at the discovery
end of the spectrum to provide breakthrough
results.
(II) Exploratory and advanced development
and technology with well-identified outcomes.
(III) A national, regional, or multi-State pro-
gram oriented primarily toward extension pro-
grams and education programs demonstrating and
supporting the competitiveness of United States
agriculture.
(ii) SMALLER INSTITUTIONS.—Of the amounts made
available for activities described in this paragraph,
not less than 15 percent shall be awarded to colleges,
universities, or research foundations eligible for a grant
under subparagraph (B)(iii) that rank in the lowest
1⁄3 of such colleges, universities, and foundations on
the basis of Federal research funds received under
a provision of law other than this section.
(D) ADMINISTRATION.—
(i) PRIORITY.—In administering this paragraph, the
Secretary shall—
(I) establish criteria for allocating grants based
on the priorities in subparagraph (A) and in con-
sultation with the National Agricultural Research,
Extension, Education, and Economics Advisory
Board established under section 1408 of the
National Agricultural Research, Extension, and
Teaching Policy Act of 1977 (7 U.S.C. 3123);
(II) seek and accept proposals for grants;
(III) determine the relevance and merit of
proposals through a system of peer review and
review by the National Agricultural Research,
Extension, Education, and Economics Advisory
Board; and
(IV) award grants on the basis of merit, qual-
ity, and relevance to advancing the purposes of
federally supported agricultural research, exten-
sion, and education provided in section 1402 of
the National Agricultural Research, Extension,
and Teaching Policy Act of 1977 (7 U.S.C. 3101).
H. R. 2854—268
(ii) COMPETITIVE BASIS.—A grant under this para-
graph shall be awarded on a competitive basis.
(iii) TERMS.—A grant under this paragraph shall
have a term that does not exceed 5 years.
(iv) MATCHING FUNDS.—As a condition of making
a grant under this paragraph, the Secretary shall
require the funding of the grant with equal matching
funds from a non-Federal source if the grant is—
(I) for applied research that is commodity-spe-
cific; and
(II) not of national scope.
(v) DELEGATION.—The Secretary shall administer
this section through the Cooperative State Research,
Education, and Extension Service of the Department
of Agriculture.
(vi) AVAILABILITY OF FUNDS.—Funds shall be avail-
able for obligation under this paragraph for a 2-year
period.
(vii) ADMINISTRATIVE COSTS.—The Secretary may
use not more than 4 percent of the funds made avail-
able for activities described in this paragraph for
administrative costs incurred by the Secretary in carry-
ing out this paragraph.
(viii) BUILDINGS.—Funds made available for activi-
ties described in this paragraph shall not be used
for the construction of a new building or the acquisi-
tion, expansion, remodeling, or alteration of an existing
building (including site grading and improvement and
architect fees).
(d) LIMITATIONS.—Amounts in the Account may not be used
for an activity described in subsection (c) for a fiscal year if the
program funding level for the fiscal year for the activity is less
than 90 percent of the amount appropriated for the activity for
fiscal year 1996, adjusted for inflation.
SEC. 794. UNDER SECRETARY OF AGRICULTURE FOR RURAL ECO-
NOMIC AND COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT RENAMED THE
UNDER SECRETARY OF AGRICULTURE FOR RURAL
DEVELOPMENT.
(a) IN GENERAL.—Section 231 of the Department of Agriculture
Reorganization Act of 1994 (7 U.S.C. 6941) is amended—
(1) in the section heading, by striking ‘‘ECONOMIC AND
COMMUNITY’’; and
(2) by striking ‘‘Economic and Community’’ each place such
term appears in subsections (a), (b), and (c).
(b) CONFORMING AMENDMENT.—Section 5314 of title 5, United
States Code, is amended by striking ‘‘Economic and Community’’.
H. R. 2854—269
TITLE VIII—RESEARCH, EXTENSION,
AND EDUCATION
Subtitle A—Modification and Extension of
Activities Under 1977 Act
SEC. 801. PURPOSES OF AGRICULTURAL RESEARCH, EXTENSION, AND
EDUCATION.
Section 1402 of the National Agricultural Research, Extension,
and Teaching Policy Act of 1977 (7 U.S.C. 3101) is amended to
read as follows:
‘‘SEC. 1402. PURPOSES OF AGRICULTURAL RESEARCH, EXTENSION,
AND EDUCATION.
‘‘The purposes of federally supported agricultural research,
extension, and education are to—
‘‘(1) enhance the competitiveness of the United States agri-
culture and food industry in an increasingly competitive world
environment;
‘‘(2) increase the long-term productivity of the United States
agriculture and food industry while maintaining and enhancing
the natural resource base on which rural America and the
United States agricultural economy depend;
‘‘(3) develop new uses and new products for agricultural
commodities, such as alternative fuels, and develop new crops;
‘‘(4) support agricultural research and extension to promote
economic opportunity in rural communities and to meet the
increasing demand for information and technology transfer
throughout the United States agriculture industry;
‘‘(5) improve risk management in the United States agri-
culture industry;
‘‘(6) improve the safe production and processing of, and
adding of value to, United States food and fiber resources
using methods that maintain the balance between yield and
environmental soundness;
‘‘(7) support higher education in agriculture to give the
next generation of Americans the knowledge, technology, and
applications necessary to enhance the competitiveness of United
States agriculture; and
‘‘(8) maintain an adequate, nutritious, and safe supply of
food to meet human nutritional needs and requirements.’’.
SEC. 802. NATIONAL AGRICULTURAL RESEARCH, EXTENSION, EDU-
CATION, AND ECONOMICS ADVISORY BOARD.
(a) IN GENERAL.—Section 1408 of the National Agricultural
Research, Extension, and Teaching Policy Act of 1977 (7 U.S.C.
3123) is amended to read as follows:
‘‘SEC. 1408. NATIONAL AGRICULTURAL RESEARCH, EXTENSION, EDU-
CATION, AND ECONOMICS ADVISORY BOARD.
‘‘(a) ESTABLISHMENT.—The Secretary shall establish within the
Department of Agriculture a board to be known as the ‘National
Agricultural Research, Extension, Education, and Economics
Advisory Board’.
‘‘(b) MEMBERSHIP.—
H. R. 2854—270
‘‘(1) IN GENERAL.—The Advisory Board shall consist of 30
members, appointed by the Secretary.
‘‘(2) SELECTION OF MEMBERS.—The Secretary shall appoint
members of the Advisory Board from nominations submitted
by organizations, associations, societies, councils, federations,
groups, and companies fitting the criteria specified in paragraph
(3).
‘‘(3) MEMBERSHIP CATEGORIES.—The Advisory Board shall
consist of members from each of the following categories:
‘‘(A) 1 member representing a national farm organiza-
tion.
‘‘(B) 1 member representing farm cooperatives.
‘‘(C) 1 member actively engaged in the production of
a food animal commodity.
‘‘(D) 1 member actively engaged in the production of
a plant commodity.
‘‘(E) 1 member representing a national animal commod-
ity organization.
‘‘(F) 1 member representing a national crop commodity
organization.
‘‘(G) 1 member representing a national aquaculture
association.
‘‘(H) 1 member representing a national food animal
science society.
‘‘(I) 1 member representing a national crop, soil, agron-
omy, horticulture, or weed science society.
‘‘(J) 1 member representing a national food science
organization.
‘‘(K) 1 member representing a national human health
association.
‘‘(L) 1 member representing a national nutritional
science society.
‘‘(M) 1 member representing the land-grant colleges
and universities eligible to receive funds under the Act
of July 2, 1862 (7 U.S.C. 301 et seq.).
‘‘(N) 1 member representing the land-grant colleges
and universities eligible to receive funds under the Act
of August 30, 1890 (7 U.S.C. 321 et seq.), including
Tuskegee University.
‘‘(O) 1 member representing the 1994 Institutions (as
defined in section 532 of the Equity in Educational Land-
Grant Status Act of 1994 (Public Law 103–382; 7 U.S.C.
301 note)).
‘‘(P) 1 member representing Hispanic-serving institu-
tions.
‘‘(Q) 1 member representing the American Colleges
of Veterinary Medicine.
‘‘(R) 1 member representing that portion of the sci-
entific community not closely associated with agriculture.
‘‘(S) 1 member engaged in the transportation of food
and agricultural products to domestic and foreign markets.
‘‘(T) 1 member representing food retailing and market-
ing interests.
‘‘(U) 1 member representing food and fiber processors.
‘‘(V) 1 member actively engaged in rural economic
development.
H. R. 2854—271
‘‘(W) 1 member representing a national consumer
interest group.
‘‘(X) 1 member representing a national forestry group.
‘‘(Y) 1 member representing a national conservation
or natural resource group.
‘‘(Z) 1 member representing private sector organiza-
tions involved in international development.
‘‘(AA) 1 member representing an agency within the
Department of Agriculture that lacks research capabilities.
‘‘(BB) 1 member representing a research agency of
the Federal Government (other than the Department of
Agriculture).
‘‘(CC) 1 member representing a national social science
association.
‘‘(DD) 1 member representing national organizations
directly concerned with agricultural research, education,
and extension.
‘‘(4) EX OFFICIO MEMBERS.—The Secretary, the Under Sec-
retary of Agriculture for Research, Education, and Economics,
the Administrator of the Agricultural Research Service, the
Administrator of the Cooperative State Research, Education,
and Extension Service, the Administrator of the Economic
Research Service, and the Administrator of the National Agri-
cultural Statistics Service shall serve as ex officio members
of the Advisory Board.
‘‘(5) OFFICERS.—At the first meeting of the Advisory Board
each year, the members shall elect from among the members
of the Advisory Board a chairperson, vice chairperson, and
7 additional members to serve on the executive committee
established under paragraph (6).
‘‘(6) EXECUTIVE
COMMITTEE.—The Advisory Board shall
establish an executive committee charged with the responsibil-
ity of working with the Secretary and officers and employees
of the Department of Agriculture to summarize and disseminate
the recommendations of the Advisory Board.
‘‘(c) DUTIES.—The Advisory Board shall—
‘‘(1) review and provide consultation to the Secretary and
land-grant colleges and universities on long-term and short-
term national policies and priorities, as set forth in section
1402, relating to agricultural research, extension, education,
and economics;
‘‘(2) evaluate the results and effectiveness of agricultural
research, extension, education, and economics with respect to
the policies and priorities;
‘‘(3) review and make recommendations to the Under Sec-
retary of Agriculture for Research, Education, and Economics
on the research, extension, education, and economics portion
of the draft strategic plan required under section 306 of title
5, United States Code; and
‘‘(4) review the mechanisms of the Department of Agri-
culture for technology assessment (which should be conducted
by qualified professionals) for the purposes of—
‘‘(A) performance measurement and evaluation of the
implementation by the Secretary of the strategic plan
required under section 306 of title 5, United States Code;
‘‘(B) implementation of the national research policies
and priorities set forth in section 1402; and
H. R. 2854—272
‘‘(C) the development of mechanisms for the assessment
of emerging public and private agricultural research and
technology transfer initiatives.
‘‘(d) CONSULTATION.—In carrying out this section, the Advisory
Board shall solicit opinions and recommendations from persons
who will benefit from and use federally funded agricultural
research, extension, education, and economics.
‘‘(e) APPOINTMENT.—A member of the Advisory Board shall
be appointed by the Secretary for a term of up to 3 years. The
members of the Advisory Board shall be appointed to serve stag-
gered terms.
‘‘(f) FEDERAL ADVISORY COMMITTEE ACT.—The Advisory Board
shall be deemed to have filed a charter for the purpose of section
9(c) of the Federal Advisory Committee Act (5 U.S.C. App.).
‘‘(g) TERMINATION.—The Advisory Board shall remain in exist-
ence until September 30, 2002.’’.
(b) CONFORMING AMENDMENTS.—
(1) Section 1404(1) of the National Agricultural Research,
Extension, and Teaching Policy Act of 1977 (7 U.S.C. 3103(1))
is amended by striking ‘‘National Agricultural Research and
Extension Users Advisory Board’’ and inserting ‘‘National Agri-
cultural Research, Extension, Education, and Economics
Advisory Board’’.
(2) Section 1410(2) of the National Agricultural Research,
Extension, and Teaching Policy Act of 1977 (7 U.S.C. 3125(2))
is amended by striking ‘‘the recommendations of the Advisory
Board developed under section 1408(g),’’ and inserting ‘‘any
recommendations of the Advisory Board’’.
(3) The last sentence of section 4(a) of the Renewable
Resources Extension Act of 1978 (16 U.S.C. 1673(a)) is amended
by striking ‘‘National Agricultural Research and Extension
Users Advisory Board’’ and inserting ‘‘National Agricultural
Research, Extension, Education, and Economics Advisory
Board’’.
SEC. 803. FEDERAL ADVISORY COMMITTEE ACT EXEMPTION FOR FED-
ERAL-STATE COOPERATIVE PROGRAMS.
Section 1409A of the National Agricultural Research, Extension,
and Teaching Policy Act of 1977 (7 U.S.C. 3124a) is amended
by adding at the end the following:
‘‘(e) APPLICABILITY OF FEDERAL ADVISORY COMMITTEE ACT.—
‘‘(1) PUBLIC
MEETINGS.—All meetings of any entity
described in paragraph (3) shall be publicly announced in
advance and shall be open to the public. Detailed minutes
of meetings and other appropriate records of the activities
of such an entity shall be kept and made available to the
public on request.
‘‘(2) EXEMPTION.—The Federal Advisory Committee Act (5
U.S.C. App.) and title XVIII of this Act shall not apply to
any entity described in paragraph (3).
‘‘(3) ENTITIES DESCRIBED.—This subsection shall apply to
any committee, board, commission, panel, or task force, or
similar entity that—
‘‘(A) is created for the purpose of cooperative efforts
in agricultural research, extension, or teaching; and
‘‘(B) consists entirely of—
‘‘(i) full-time Federal employees; and
H. R. 2854—273
‘‘(ii) one or more individuals who are employed
by, or are officials of—
‘‘(I) a State cooperative institution or State
cooperative agency; or
‘‘(II) a public college or university or other
postsecondary institution.’’.
SEC. 
804. 
COORDINATION 
AND 
PLANNING 
OF 
AGRICULTURAL
RESEARCH, EXTENSION, AND EDUCATION.
The National Agricultural Research, Extension, and Teaching
Policy Act of 1977 is amended by inserting after section 1413
(7 U.S.C. 3128) the following:
‘‘SEC. 1413A. ACCOUNTABILITY.
‘‘(a) REVIEW OF INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY SYSTEMS.—The Sec-
retary shall conduct a comprehensive review of state-of-the-art
information technology systems that are available for use in devel-
oping the system required by subsection (b).
‘‘(b) MONITORING
AND EVALUATION SYSTEM.—The Secretary
shall develop and carry out a system to monitor and evaluate
agricultural research and extension activities conducted or sup-
ported by the Department of Agriculture that will enable the Sec-
retary to measure the impact and effectiveness of research, exten-
sion, and education programs according to priorities, goals, and
mandates established by law. In developing the system, the Sec-
retary shall incorporate information transfer technologies to opti-
mize public access to research information.
‘‘(c) CONSISTENCY WITH OTHER REQUIREMENTS.—The Secretary
shall develop and implement the system in a manner consistent
with the Government Performance and Results Act of 1993 (Public
Law 103–62; 107 Stat. 285) and amendments made by the Act.
‘‘(d) AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.—There are authorized
to be appropriated such sums as are necessary to carry out this
section.
‘‘SEC. 1413B. FEDERAL ADVISORY COMMITTEE ACT EXEMPTION FOR
COMPETITIVE RESEARCH, EXTENSION, AND EDUCATION
PROGRAMS.
‘‘The Federal Advisory Committee Act (5 U.S.C. App.) and
title XVIII of this Act shall not apply to any committee, board,
commission, panel, or task force, or similar entity, created solely
for the purpose of reviewing applications or proposals requesting
funding under any competitive research, extension, or education
program carried out by the Secretary.’’.
SEC. 805. GRANTS AND FELLOWSHIPS FOR FOOD AND AGRICULTURAL
SCIENCES EDUCATION.
(a) PURPOSE OF GRANTS.—Section 1417(b) of the National Agri-
cultural Research, Extension, and Teaching Policy Act of 1977 (7
U.S.C. 3152(b)) is amended by striking paragraph (4) and inserting
the following:
‘‘(4) to design and implement food and agricultural pro-
grams to build teaching and research capacity at colleges and
universities having significant minority enrollments;’’.
(b) RESEARCH FOUNDATIONS.—Section 1417(c) of the National
Agricultural Research, Extension, and Teaching Policy Act of 1977
(7 U.S.C. 3152(c)) is amended by adding at the end the following:
H. R. 2854—274
‘‘(3) RESEARCH FOUNDATIONS.—An eligible college or univer-
sity under subsection (b) includes a research foundation main-
tained by the college or university.’’.
(c) EXTENSION OF PROGRAM.—Section 1417(i) of the National
Agricultural Research, Extension, and Teaching Policy Act of 1977
(7 U.S.C. 3152(i)) is amended by striking ‘‘1995’’ and inserting
‘‘1997’’.
(d) SECONDARY EDUCATION AND 2-YEAR POSTSECONDARY EDU-
CATION TEACHING PROGRAMS.—Section 1417 of the National Agricul-
tural Research, Extension, and Teaching Policy Act of 1977 (7
U.S.C. 3152) is amended—
(1) by redesignating subsections (h) and (i) as subsections
(i) and (j), respectively; and
(2) by inserting after subsection (g) the following:
‘‘(h) SECONDARY EDUCATION AND 2-YEAR POSTSECONDARY EDU-
CATION TEACHING PROGRAMS.—
‘‘(1) DEFINITIONS.—In this subsection:
‘‘(A) INSTITUTION
OF
HIGHER
EDUCATION.—The term
‘institution of higher education’ has the meaning given
the term in section 1201(a) of the Higher Education Act
of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 1141(a)).
‘‘(B) SECONDARY SCHOOL.—The term ‘secondary school’
has the meaning given the term in section 14101(25) of
the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965 (20
U.S.C. 8801(25)).
‘‘(2) AGRISCIENCE AND AGRIBUSINESS EDUCATION.—The Sec-
retary shall—
‘‘(A) promote and strengthen secondary education and
2-year postsecondary education in agriscience and agri-
business in order to help ensure the existence in the United
States of a qualified workforce to serve the food and agricul-
tural sciences system; and
‘‘(B) promote complementary and synergistic linkages
among secondary, 2-year postsecondary, and higher edu-
cation programs in the food and agricultural sciences in
order to promote excellence in education and encourage
more young Americans to pursue and complete a bacca-
laureate or higher degree in the food and agricultural
sciences.
‘‘(3) GRANTS.—The Secretary may make competitive or non-
competitive grants, for grant periods not to exceed 5 years,
to public secondary schools, and institutions of higher education
that award an associate’s degree, that the Secretary determines
have made a commitment to teaching agriscience and agri-
business—
‘‘(A) to enhance curricula in agricultural education;
‘‘(B) to increase faculty teaching competencies;
‘‘(C) to interest young people in pursuing higher edu-
cation in order to prepare for scientific and professional
careers in the food and agricultural sciences;
‘‘(D) to promote the incorporation of agriscience and
agribusiness subject matter into other instructional pro-
grams, particularly classes in science, business, and
consumer education;
‘‘(E) to facilitate joint initiatives by the grant recipient
with other secondary schools, institutions of higher edu-
cation that award an associate’s degree, and institutions
H. R. 2854—275
of higher education that award a bachelor’s degree to maxi-
mize the development and use of resources, such as faculty,
facilities, and equipment, to improve agriscience and agri-
business education; and
‘‘(F) to support other initiatives designed to meet local,
State, regional, or national needs related to promoting
excellence in agriscience and agribusiness education.’’.
SEC. 806. GRANTS FOR RESEARCH ON THE PRODUCTION AND MARKET-
ING OF ALCOHOLS AND INDUSTRIAL HYDROCARBONS
FROM 
AGRICULTURAL 
COMMODITIES 
AND 
FOREST
PRODUCTS.
Section 1419(d) of the National Agricultural Research, Exten-
sion, and Teaching Policy Act of 1977 (7 U.S.C. 3154(d)) is amended
by striking ‘‘1995’’ and inserting ‘‘1997’’.
SEC. 807. POLICY RESEARCH CENTERS.
The National Agricultural Research, Extension, and Teaching
Policy Act of 1977 is amended by inserting after section 1419
(7 U.S.C. 3154) the following:
‘‘SEC. 1419A. POLICY RESEARCH CENTERS.
‘‘(a) IN GENERAL.—Consistent with this section, the Secretary
may make grants, competitive grants, and special research grants
to, and enter into cooperative agreements and other contracting
instruments with, policy research centers described in subsection
(b) to conduct research and education programs that are objective,
operationally independent, and external to the Federal Government
and that concern the effect of public policies on—
‘‘(1) the farm and agricultural sectors;
‘‘(2) the environment;
‘‘(3) rural families, households, and economies; and
‘‘(4) consumers, food, and nutrition.
‘‘(b) ELIGIBLE RECIPIENTS.—State agricultural experiment sta-
tions, colleges and universities, other research institutions and
organizations, private organizations, corporations, and individuals
shall be eligible to apply for funding under subsection (a).
‘‘(c) ACTIVITIES.—Under this section, funding may be provided
for disciplinary and interdisciplinary research and education
concerning policy research activities consistent with this section,
including activities that—
‘‘(1) quantify the implications of public policies and regula-
tions;
‘‘(2) develop theoretical and research methods;
‘‘(3) collect and analyze data for policymakers, analysts,
and individuals; and
‘‘(4) develop programs to train analysts.
‘‘(d) AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.—There are authorized
to be appropriated such sums as are necessary to carry out this
section for fiscal years 1996 and 1997.’’.
SEC. 808. HUMAN NUTRITION INTERVENTION AND HEALTH PRO-
MOTION RESEARCH PROGRAM.
The National Agricultural Research, Extension, and Teaching
Policy Act of 1977 is amended by striking section 1424 (7 U.S.C.
3174) and inserting the following:
H. R. 2854—276
‘‘SEC. 1424. HUMAN NUTRITION INTERVENTION AND HEALTH PRO-
MOTION RESEARCH PROGRAM.
‘‘(a) AUTHORITY OF SECRETARY.—The Secretary may establish,
and award grants for projects for, a multi-year research initiative
on human nutrition intervention and health promotion.
‘‘(b) EMPHASIS OF INITIATIVE.—In administering human nutri-
tion research projects under this section, the Secretary shall give
specific emphasis to—
‘‘(1) coordinated longitudinal research assessments of nutri-
tional status; and
‘‘(2) the implementation of unified, innovative intervention
strategies,
to identify and solve problems of nutritional inadequacy and contrib-
ute to the maintenance of health, well-being, performance, and
productivity of individuals, thereby reducing the need of the individ-
uals to use the health care system and social programs of the
United States.
‘‘(c) ADMINISTRATION OF FUNDS.—The Administrator of the Agri-
cultural Research Service shall administer funds made available
to carry out this section to ensure a coordinated approach to health
and nutrition research efforts.
‘‘(d) AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.—There are authorized
to be appropriated such sums as are necessary to carry out this
section for fiscal years 1996 and 1997.
‘‘SEC. 1424A. PILOT RESEARCH PROGRAM TO COMBINE MEDICAL AND
AGRICULTURAL RESEARCH.
‘‘(a) FINDINGS.—Congress finds the following:
‘‘(1) Although medical researchers in recent years have
demonstrated that there are several naturally occurring com-
pounds in many vegetables and fruits that can aid in the
prevention of certain forms of cancer, coronary heart disease,
stroke, and atherosclerosis, there has been almost no research
conducted to enhance these compounds in food plants by mod-
ern breeding and molecular genetic methods.
‘‘(2) By linking the appropriate medical and agricultural
research scientists in a highly-focused, targeted research pro-
gram, it should be possible to develop new varieties of vegeta-
bles and fruits that would provide greater prevention of diet-
related diseases that are a major cause of death in the United
States.
‘‘(b) PILOT RESEARCH PROGRAM.—The Secretary shall conduct,
through the Cooperative State Research, Education, and Extension
Service, a pilot research program to link major cancer and heart
and other circulatory disease research efforts with agricultural
research efforts to identify compounds in vegetables and fruits
that prevent these diseases. Using information derived from such
combined research efforts, the Secretary shall assist in the develop-
ment of new varieties of vegetables and fruits having enhanced
therapeutic properties for disease prevention.
‘‘(c) AGREEMENTS.—The Secretary shall carry out the pilot pro-
gram through agreements entered into with land-grant colleges
or universities, other universities, State agricultural experiment
stations, the State cooperative extension services, nonprofit
organizations with demonstrable expertise, or Federal or State
governmental entities. The Secretary shall enter into the agree-
ments on a competitive basis.
H. R. 2854—277
‘‘(d) AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.—There are authorized
to be appropriated $10,000,000 for fiscal year 1997 to carry out
the pilot program.’’.
SEC. 809. FOOD AND NUTRITION EDUCATION PROGRAM.
Section 1425(c)(3) of the National Agricultural Research, Exten-
sion, and Teaching Policy Act of 1977 (7 U.S.C. 3175(c)(3)) is amend-
ed by striking ‘‘$63,000,000’’ and all that follows through ‘‘fiscal
year 1995’’ and inserting ‘‘, $83,000,000 for each of fiscal years
1996 and 1997’’.
SEC. 810. PURPOSES AND FINDINGS RELATING TO ANIMAL HEALTH
AND DISEASE RESEARCH.
Section 1429 of the National Agricultural Research, Extension,
and Teaching Policy Act of 1977 (7 U.S.C. 3191) is amended to
read as follows:
‘‘SEC. 1429. PURPOSES AND FINDINGS RELATING TO ANIMAL HEALTH
AND DISEASE RESEARCH.
‘‘(a) PURPOSES.—The purposes of this subtitle are to—
‘‘(1) promote the general welfare through the improved
health and productivity of domestic livestock, poultry, aquatic
animals, and other income-producing animals that are essential
to the food supply of the United States and the welfare of
producers and consumers of animal products;
‘‘(2) improve the health of horses;
‘‘(3) facilitate the effective treatment of, and, to the extent
possible, prevent animal and poultry diseases in both domes-
ticated and wild animals that, if not controlled, would be disas-
trous to the United States livestock and poultry industries
and endanger the food supply of the United States;
‘‘(4) improve methods for the control of organisms and
residues in food products of animal origin that could endanger
the human food supply;
‘‘(5) improve the housing and management of animals to
improve the well-being of livestock production species;
‘‘(6) minimize livestock and poultry losses due to transpor-
tation and handling;
‘‘(7) protect human health through control of animal dis-
eases transmissible to humans;
‘‘(8) improve methods of controlling the births of predators
and other animals; and
‘‘(9) otherwise promote the general welfare through
expanded programs of research and extension to improve ani-
mal health.
‘‘(b) FINDINGS.—Congress finds that—
‘‘(1) the total animal health and disease research and exten-
sion efforts of State colleges and universities and of the Federal
Government would be more effective if there were close
coordination between the efforts; and
‘‘(2) colleges and universities having accredited schools or
colleges of veterinary medicine and State agricultural experi-
ment stations that conduct animal health and disease research
are especially vital in training research workers in animal
health and related disciplines.’’.
H. R. 2854—278
SEC. 811. ANIMAL HEALTH AND DISEASE CONTINUING RESEARCH.
Section 1433 of the National Agricultural Research, Extension,
and Teaching Policy Act of 1977 (7 U.S.C. 3195) is amended—
(1) in the first sentence of subsection (a), by striking ‘‘1995’’
and inserting ‘‘1997’’;
(2) in subsection (b)(2)—
(A) by striking ‘‘domestic livestock and poultry’’ each
place it appears and inserting ‘‘domestic livestock, poultry,
and commercial aquaculture species’’; and
(B) in the second sentence, by striking ‘‘horses, and
poultry’’ and inserting ‘‘horses, poultry, and commercial
aquaculture species’’;
(3) in subsection (d), by striking ‘‘domestic livestock and
poultry’’ and inserting ‘‘domestic livestock, poultry, and
commercial aquaculture species’’; and
(4) in subsection (f), by striking ‘‘domestic livestock and
poultry’’ and inserting ‘‘domestic livestock, poultry, and
commercial aquaculture species’’.
SEC. 812. ANIMAL HEALTH AND DISEASE NATIONAL OR REGIONAL
RESEARCH.
Section 1434 of the National Agricultural Research, Extension,
and Teaching Policy Act of 1977 (7 U.S.C. 3196) is amended—
(1) in subsection (a)—
(A) by inserting ‘‘or national or regional problems relat-
ing to pre-harvest, on-farm food safety, or animal well-
being,’’ after ‘‘problems,’’; and
(B) by striking ‘‘1995’’ and inserting ‘‘1997’’;
(2) in subsection (b), by striking ‘‘eligible institutions’’ and
inserting ‘‘State agricultural experiment stations, colleges and
universities, other research institutions and organizations, Fed-
eral agencies, private organizations or corporations, and
individuals’’;
(3) in subsection (c)—
(A) in the first sentence, by inserting ‘‘, food safety,
and animal well-being’’ after ‘‘animal health and disease’’;
and
(B) in the fourth sentence—
(i) by redesignating paragraphs (2) and (3) as para-
graphs (4) and (5), respectively; and
(ii) by inserting after paragraph (1) the following:
‘‘(2) any food safety problem that has a significant pre-
harvest (on-farm) component and is recognized as posing a
significant health hazard to the consuming public;
‘‘(3) issues of animal well-being related to production meth-
ods that will improve the housing and management of animals
to improve the well-being of livestock production species;’’;
(4) in the first sentence of subsection (d), by striking ‘‘to
eligible institutions’’; and
(5) by adding at the end the following:
‘‘(f) APPLICABILITY OF FEDERAL ADVISORY COMMITTEE ACT.—
The Federal Advisory Committee Act (5 U.S.C. App.) and title
XVIII of this Act shall not apply to a panel or board created
solely for the purpose of reviewing applications or proposals submit-
ted under this subtitle.’’.
H. R. 2854—279
SEC. 813. GRANT PROGRAM TO UPGRADE AGRICULTURAL AND FOOD
SCIENCES FACILITIES AT 1890 LAND-GRANT COLLEGES.
Section 1447(b) of the National Agricultural Research, Exten-
sion, and Teaching Policy Act of 1977 (7 U.S.C. 3222b(b)) is amended
by striking ‘‘$8,000,000 for each of the fiscal years 1991 through
1995’’ and inserting ‘‘, $15,000,000 for each of fiscal years 1996
and 1997’’.
SEC. 814. NATIONAL RESEARCH AND TRAINING CENTENNIAL CENTERS.
Section 1448 of the National Agricultural Research, Extension,
and Teaching Policy Act of 1977 (7 U.S.C. 3222c) is amended—
(1) in subsection (a)(1), by inserting ‘‘, or fiscal years 1996
and 1997,’’ after ‘‘1995’’; and
(2) in subsection (f), by striking ‘‘1995’’ and inserting ‘‘1997’’.
SEC. 815. PROGRAMS FOR HISPANIC-SERVING INSTITUTIONS.
(a) IN GENERAL.—The National Agricultural Research, Exten-
sion, and Teaching Policy Act of 1977 is amended by inserting
after section 1448 (7 U.S.C. 3222c) the following:
‘‘Subtitle H—Programs for Hispanic-
Serving Institutions
‘‘SEC. 1455. EDUCATION GRANTS PROGRAMS FOR HISPANIC-SERVING
INSTITUTIONS.
‘‘(a) GRANT AUTHORITY.—The Secretary may make competitive
grants (or grants without regard to any requirement for competition)
to Hispanic-serving institutions for the purpose of promoting and
strengthening the ability of Hispanic-serving institutions to carry
out education, applied research, and related community develop-
ment programs.
‘‘(b) USE OF GRANT FUNDS.—Grants made under this section
shall be used—
‘‘(1) to support the activities of consortia of Hispanic-serving
institutions to enhance educational equity for underrepresented
students;
‘‘(2) to strengthen institutional educational capacities,
including libraries, curriculum, faculty, scientific instrumenta-
tion, instruction delivery systems, and student recruitment and
retention, in order to respond to identified State, regional,
national, or international educational needs in the food and
agricultural sciences;
‘‘(3) to attract and support undergraduate and graduate
students from underrepresented groups in order to prepare
them for careers related to the food, agricultural, and natural
resource systems of the United States, beginning with the
mentoring of students at the high school level and continuing
with the provision of financial support for students through
their attainment of a doctoral degree; and
‘‘(4) to facilitate cooperative initiatives between 2 or more
Hispanic-serving institutions, or between Hispanic-serving
institutions and units of State government or the private sector,
to maximize the development and use of resources, such as
faculty, facilities, and equipment, to improve food and agricul-
tural sciences teaching programs.
H. R. 2854—280
‘‘(c) AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.—There are authorized
to be appropriated to make grants under this section $20,000,000
for fiscal year 1997.’’.
(b) HISPANIC-SERVING INSTITUTION DEFINED.—Paragraph (9) of
section 1404 of the National Agricultural Research, Extension, and
Teaching Policy Act of 1977 (7 U.S.C. 3103) is amended to read
as follows:
‘‘(9) the term ‘Hispanic-serving institution’ has the meaning
given the term by section 316(b)(1) of the Higher Education
Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 1059c(b)(1));’’.
SEC. 816. INTERNATIONAL AGRICULTURAL RESEARCH AND EXTEN-
SION.
Section 1458(a)(8) of the National Agricultural Research, Exten-
sion, and Teaching Policy Act of 1977 (7 U.S.C. 3291(a)(8)) is
amended—
(1) by striking ‘‘establish’’ and inserting ‘‘continue’’; and
(2) by striking ‘‘to be’’.
SEC. 817. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS FOR AGRICULTURAL
RESEARCH PROGRAMS.
Section 1463 of the National Agricultural Research, Extension,
and Teaching Policy Act of 1977 (7 U.S.C. 3311) is amended by
striking ‘‘1995’’ both places it appears and inserting ‘‘1997’’.
SEC. 818. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS FOR EXTENSION EDU-
CATION.
Section 1464 of the National Agricultural Research, Extension,
and Teaching Policy Act of 1977 (7 U.S.C. 3312) is amended by
striking ‘‘fiscal year 1995’’ and inserting ‘‘each of fiscal years 1995
through 1997’’.
SEC. 819. SUPPLEMENTAL AND ALTERNATIVE CROPS RESEARCH.
(a) EXTENSION OF PROGRAM.—Section 1473D(a) of the National
Agricultural Research, Extension, and Teaching Policy Act of 1977
(7 U.S.C. 3319d(a)) is amended by striking ‘‘1995’’ and inserting
‘‘1997’’.
(b) ELIMINATION
OF PILOT NATURE
OF PROGRAM.—Section
1473D of the National Agricultural Research, Extension, and Teach-
ing Policy Act of 1977 (7 U.S.C. 3319d) is amended—
(1) in subsection (a), by striking ‘‘and pilot’’;
(2) in subsection (c)(2)(B), by striking ‘‘at pilot sites’’ and
all that follows through ‘‘the area’’;
(3) in subsection (c)(2)(C), by striking ‘‘from pilot sites’’;
(4) in subsection (c)(2)(D)—
(A) by striking ‘‘near such pilot sites’’; and
(B) by striking ‘‘successful pilot program’’ and inserting
‘‘successful program’’; and
(5) in paragraph (3), by striking ‘‘pilot’’.
(c) 
ADDITIONAL
AUTHORITY.—Section 
1473D(c)(3) 
of 
the
National Agricultural Research, Extension, and Teaching Policy
Act of 1977 (7 U.S.C. 3319d(c)(3)) is amended—
(1) in subparagraph (C), by striking ‘‘and’’ at the end;
(2) in subparagraph (D), by striking the period at the
end and inserting a semicolon; and
(3) by adding at the end the following:
‘‘(E) to conduct fundamental and applied research related
to the development of new commercial products derived from
H. R. 2854—283
‘‘(b) ELIGIBLE RESEARCH FACILITY DESCRIBED.—A research facil-
ity eligible for a grant under subsection (a) is a research facility
that—
‘‘(1) is part of a land-grant college or university, or other
federally supported agricultural research facility, located in
close proximity to a livestock slaughter and processing facility;
and
‘‘(2) is staffed by professionals with a wide diversity of
scientific expertise covering all aspects of meat science.
‘‘(c) RESEARCH CONDUCTED.—The red meat safety research cen-
ter established under subsection (a) shall carry out research related
to general food safety, including—
‘‘(1) the development of intervention strategies that reduce
microbiological contamination of carcass surfaces;
‘‘(2) research regarding microbiological mapping of carcass
surfaces; and
‘‘(3) the development of model hazard analysis and critical
control point plans.
‘‘(d) ADMINISTRATION OF FUNDS.—The Secretary of Agriculture
shall administer funds appropriated to carry out this section.
‘‘(e) AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.—There are authorized
to be appropriated such sums as are necessary for fiscal year
1997 to carry out this section.’’.
SEC. 840. INDIAN RESERVATION EXTENSION AGENT PROGRAM.
Section 1677 of the Food, Agriculture, Conservation, and Trade
Act of 1990 (7 U.S.C. 5930) is amended—
(1) by redesignating subsection (f) as subsection (g); and
(2) by inserting after subsection (e) the following:
‘‘(f) REDUCED REGULATORY BURDEN.—On a determination by
the Secretary of Agriculture that a program carried out under
this section has been satisfactorily administered for not less than
2 years, the Secretary shall implement a reduced reapplication
process for the continued operation of the program in order to
reduce regulatory burdens on participating university and tribal
entities.’’.
SEC. 841. ASSISTIVE TECHNOLOGY PROGRAM FOR FARMERS WITH
DISABILITIES.
Section 1680 of the Food, Agriculture, Conservation, and Trade
Act of 1990 (7 U.S.C. 5933) is amended—
(1) in subsection (a)(6)(B), by striking ‘‘1996’’ and inserting
‘‘1997’’; and
(2) in subsection (b)(2), by striking ‘‘1996’’ and inserting
‘‘1997’’.
SEC. 842. NATIONAL RURAL INFORMATION CENTER CLEARINGHOUSE.
Section 2381(e) of the Food, Agriculture, Conservation, and
Trade Act of 1990 (7 U.S.C. 3125b(e)) is amended by striking
‘‘1995’’ and inserting ‘‘1997’’.
SEC. 843. GLOBAL CLIMATE CHANGE.
Section 2412 of the Food, Agriculture, Conservation, and Trade
Act of 1990 (7 U.S.C. 6710) is amended by striking ‘‘1996’’ and
inserting ‘‘1997’’.
H. R. 2854—284
Subtitle C—Repeal of Certain Activities
and Authorities
SEC. 851. SUBCOMMITTEE ON FOOD, AGRICULTURAL, AND FORESTRY
RESEARCH.
Section 401(h) of the National Science and Technology Policy,
Organization, and Priorities Act of 1976 (42 U.S.C. 6651(h)) is
amended by striking the second through fifth sentences.
SEC. 852. JOINT COUNCIL ON FOOD AND AGRICULTURAL SCIENCES.
(a) REPEAL.—Section 1407 of the National Agricultural
Research, Extension, and Teaching Policy Act of 1977 (7 U.S.C.
3122) is repealed.
(b) CONFORMING AMENDMENTS.—
(1) Section 1405 of the National Agricultural Research,
Extension, and Teaching Policy Act of 1977 (7 U.S.C. 3121)
is amended—
(A) in paragraph (5), by striking ‘‘Joint Council,
Advisory Board,’’ and inserting ‘‘Advisory Board’’; and
(B) in paragraph (11), by striking ‘‘the Joint Council,’’.
(2) Section 1410(2) of the National Agricultural Research,
Extension, and Teaching Policy Act of 1977 (7 U.S.C. 3125(2))
is amended by striking ‘‘the recommendations of the Joint
Council developed under section 1407(f),’’.
(3) Section 1412 of the National Agricultural Research,
Extension, and Teaching Policy Act of 1977 (7 U.S.C. 3127)
is amended—
(A) in the section heading, by striking ‘‘THE JOINT
COUNCIL, ADVISORY
BOARD,’’ and inserting ‘‘ADVISORY
BOARD’’;
(B) in subsection (a)—
(i) by striking ‘‘Joint Council, the Advisory Board,’’
and inserting ‘‘Advisory Board’’;
(ii) by striking ‘‘the cochairpersons of the Joint
Council and’’ each place it appears; and
(iii) in paragraph (2), by striking ‘‘one shall serve
as the executive secretary to the Joint Council, one
shall serve as the executive secretary to the Advisory
Board,’’ and inserting ‘‘one shall serve as the executive
secretary to the Advisory Board’’; and
(C) in subsections (b) and (c), by striking ‘‘Joint Council,
Advisory Board,’’ each place it appears and inserting
‘‘Advisory Board’’.
(4) Section 1413 of the National Agricultural Research,
Extension, and Teaching Policy Act of 1977 (7 U.S.C. 3128)
is amended—
(A) in subsection (a), by striking ‘‘Joint Council, the
Advisory Board,’’ and inserting ‘‘Advisory Board’’; and
(B) in subsection (b), by striking ‘‘Joint Council,
Advisory Board,’’ and inserting ‘‘Advisory Board’’.
(5) Section 1434(c) of the National Agricultural Research,
Extension, and Teaching Policy Act of 1977 (7 U.S.C. 3196(c))
is amended—
(A) in the second sentence, by striking ‘‘Joint Council,
the Advisory Board,’’ and inserting ‘‘Advisory Board’’; and
H. R. 2854—285
(B) in the fourth sentence, by striking ‘‘the Joint Coun-
cil,’’.
SEC. 853. AGRICULTURAL SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY REVIEW BOARD.
(a) REPEAL.—Section 1408A of the National Agricultural
Research, Extension, and Teaching Policy Act of 1977 (7 U.S.C.
3123a) is repealed.
(b) CONFORMING AMENDMENTS.—
(1) Section 1404 of the National Agricultural Research,
Extension, and Teaching Policy Act of 1977 (7 U.S.C. 3103)
is amended—
(A) in paragraph (16)(F), by adding ‘‘and’’ at the end;
(B) in paragraph (17), by striking ‘‘; and’’ at the end
and inserting a period; and
(C) by striking paragraph (18).
(2) Section 1405(12) of the National Agricultural Research,
Extension, and Teaching Policy Act of 1977 (7 U.S.C. 3121(12))
is amended by striking ‘‘, after coordination with the Technology
Board,’’.
(3) Section 1410(2) of the National Agricultural Research,
Extension, and Teaching Policy Act of 1977 (7 U.S.C. 3125(2))
(as amended by section 802(b)(2)) is amended by striking ‘‘and
the recommendations of the Technology Board developed under
section 1408A(d)’’.
(4) Section 1412 of the National Agricultural Research,
Extension, and Teaching Policy Act of 1977 (7 U.S.C. 3127)
(as amended by section 852(b)(3)) is amended—
(A) in the section heading, by striking ‘‘AND TECH-
NOLOGY BOARD’’;
(B) in subsection (a)—
(i) by striking ‘‘and the Technology Board’’ each
place it appears; and
(ii) in paragraph (2), by striking ‘‘and one shall
serve as the executive secretary to the Technology
Board’’; and
(C) in subsections (b) and (c), by striking ‘‘and Tech-
nology Board’’ each place it appears.
(5) Section 1413 of the National Agricultural Research,
Extension, and Teaching Policy Act of 1977 (7 U.S.C. 3128)
(as amended by section 852(b)(4)) is amended—
(A) in subsection (a), by striking ‘‘or the Technology
Board’’; and
(B) in subsection (b), by striking ‘‘and the Technology
Board’’.
SEC. 854. ANIMAL HEALTH SCIENCE RESEARCH ADVISORY BOARD.
Section 1432 of the National Agricultural Research, Extension,
and Teaching Policy Act of 1977 (7 U.S.C. 3194) is repealed.
SEC. 855. RESIDENT INSTRUCTION PROGRAM AT 1890 LAND-GRANT
COLLEGES.
Section 1446 of the National Agricultural Research, Extension,
and Teaching Policy Act of 1977 (7 U.S.C. 3222a) is repealed.
SEC. 856. GRANTS TO STATES FOR INTERNATIONAL TRADE DEVELOP-
MENT CENTERS.
Section 1458A of the National Agricultural Research, Extension,
and Teaching Policy Act of 1977 (7 U.S.C. 3292) is repealed.
H. R. 2854—286
SEC. 857. RANGELAND RESEARCH.
(a) REPORTS.—Section 1481 of the National Agricultural
Research, Extension, and Teaching Policy Act of 1977 (7 U.S.C.
3334) is repealed.
(b) ADVISORY BOARD.—Section 1482 of the National Agricultural
Research, Extension, and Teaching Policy Act of 1977 (7 U.S.C.
3335) is repealed.
SEC. 858. COMPOSTING RESEARCH AND EXTENSION PROGRAM.
Section 1456 of the Food, Agriculture, Conservation, and Trade
Act of 1990 (7 U.S.C. 3130) is repealed.
SEC. 859. EDUCATION PROGRAM REGARDING HANDLING OF AGRICUL-
TURAL CHEMICALS AND AGRICULTURAL CHEMICAL
CONTAINERS.
(a) REPEAL.—Section 1499A of the Food, Agriculture, Conserva-
tion, and Trade Act of 1990 (7 U.S.C. 3125c) is repealed.
(b) CONFORMING AMENDMENT.—Section 1499(b) of the Food,
Agriculture, Conservation, and Trade Act of 1990 (7 U.S.C. 5506(b))
is amended by striking ‘‘and section 1499A’’.
SEC. 860. PROGRAM ADMINISTRATION REGARDING SUSTAINABLE
AGRICULTURE RESEARCH AND EDUCATION.
(a) REPORTING REQUIREMENT.—Section 1622 of the Food, Agri-
culture, Conservation, and Trade Act of 1990 (7 U.S.C. 5812) is
amended by striking subsection (b).
(b) ADVISORY COUNCIL.—Section 1622 of the Food, Agriculture,
Conservation, and Trade Act of 1990 (7 U.S.C. 5812) is amended—
(1) in subsection (a)—
(A) by striking paragraph (2);
(B) in paragraph (3), by striking ‘‘subsection (e)’’ and
inserting ‘‘subsection (b)’’; and
(C) by redesignating paragraphs (3) and (4) as para-
graphs (2) and (3), respectively;
(2) by striking subsections (c) and (d);
(3) by redesignating subsection (e) as subsection (b); and
(4) in subsection (b)(2) (as so redesignated)—
(A) by striking subparagraph (A); and
(B) by redesignating subparagraphs (B) through (F)
as subparagraphs (A) through (E), respectively.
(c) CONFORMING AMENDMENTS.—
(1) Section 1619(b) of the Food, Agriculture, Conservation,
and Trade Act of 1990 (7 U.S.C. 5801(b)) is amended—
(A) by striking paragraph (7); and
(B) by redesignating paragraphs (8), (9), and (10) as
paragraphs (7), (8), and (9), respectively.
(2) Section 1621(c) of the Food, Agriculture, Conservation,
and Trade Act of 1990 (7 U.S.C. 5811(c)) is amended—
(A) in paragraph (1)—
(i) by striking subparagraph (A); and
(ii) by redesignating subparagraphs (B) through
(E) as subparagraphs (A) through (D), respectively;
and
(B) in paragraph (2)—
(i) by striking subparagraph (A); and
(ii) by redesignating subparagraphs (B) through
(F) as subparagraphs (A) through (E), respectively.
H. R. 2854—287
(3) Section 1628(b) of the Food, Agriculture, Conservation,
and Trade Act of 1990 (7 U.S.C. 5831(b)) is amended by striking
‘‘Advisory Council, the Soil Conservation Service,’’ and inserting
‘‘Natural Resources Conservation Service’’.
SEC. 
861. 
RESEARCH 
REGARDING 
PRODUCTION, 
PREPARATION,
PROCESSING, HANDLING, AND STORAGE OF AGRICUL-
TURAL PRODUCTS.
Subtitle E of title XVI of the Food, Agriculture, Conservation,
and Trade Act of 1990 (7 U.S.C. 5871 et seq.) is repealed.
SEC. 862. PLANT AND ANIMAL PEST AND DISEASE CONTROL PROGRAM.
(a) REPEAL.—Subtitle F of title XVI of the Food, Agriculture,
Conservation, and Trade Act of 1990 (7 U.S.C. 5881 et seq.) is
repealed.
(b) CONFORMING AMENDMENTS.—
(1) Section 28(b)(2)(A) of the Federal Insecticide, Fungicide,
and Rodenticide Act (7 U.S.C. 136w–3(b)(2)(A)) is amended
by striking ‘‘and the information required by section 1651 of
the Food, Agriculture, Conservation, and Trade Act of 1990’’.
(2) Section 1627(a)(3) of the Food, Agriculture, Conserva-
tion, and Trade Act of 1990 (7 U.S.C. 5821(a)(3)) is amended
by striking ‘‘and section 1650’’.
(3) Section 1628 of the Food, Agriculture, Conservation,
and Trade Act of 1990 (7 U.S.C. 5831) is amended by striking
‘‘section 1650,’’ each place it appears in subsections (a) and
(d).
(4) Section 1629 of the Food, Agriculture, Conservation,
and Trade Act of 1990 (7 U.S.C. 5832) is amended by striking
‘‘section 1650,’’ each place it appears in subsections (f) and
(g)(11).
SEC. 863. CERTAIN SPECIALIZED RESEARCH PROGRAMS.
Section 1672 of the Food, Agriculture, Conservation, and Trade
Act of 1990 (7 U.S.C. 5925) is amended—
(1) by striking subsections (a), (f), (g), (h), and (j); and
(2) by redesignating subsections (i) and (k) as subsections
(f) and (g), respectively.
SEC. 864. COMMISSION ON AGRICULTURAL RESEARCH FACILITIES.
Section 1674 of the Food, Agriculture, Conservation, and Trade
Act of 1990 (7 U.S.C. 5927) is repealed.
SEC. 865. SPECIAL GRANT TO STUDY CONSTRAINTS ON AGRICULTURAL
TRADE.
Section 1678 of the Food, Agriculture, Conservation, and Trade
Act of 1990 (7 U.S.C. 5931) is repealed.
SEC. 866. PILOT PROJECT TO COORDINATE FOOD AND NUTRITION
EDUCATION PROGRAMS.
Section 1679 of the Food, Agriculture, Conservation, and Trade
Act of 1990 (7 U.S.C. 5932) is repealed.
SEC. 867. DEMONSTRATION AREAS FOR RURAL ECONOMIC DEVELOP-
MENT.
Section 2348 of the Food, Agriculture, Conservation, and Trade
Act of 1990 (7 U.S.C. 2662a) is repealed.
H. R. 2854—288
SEC. 868. TECHNICAL ADVISORY COMMITTEE REGARDING GLOBAL CLI-
MATE CHANGE.
Section 2404 of the Food, Agriculture, Conservation, and Trade
Act of 1990 (7 U.S.C. 6703) is repealed.
SEC. 869. COMMITTEE OF NINE UNDER HATCH ACT OF 1887.
Section 3(c)3 of the Act of March 2, 1887 (commonly known
as the ‘‘Hatch Act of 1887’’; 7 U.S.C. 361c(c)3) is amended by
striking ‘‘, and shall be used’’ and all that follows through ‘‘by
this paragraph’’.
SEC. 870. COTTON CROP REPORTS.
The Act of May 3, 1924 (43 Stat. 115, chapter 149; 7 U.S.C.
475), is repealed.
SEC. 871. RURAL ECONOMIC AND BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT AND ADDI-
TIONAL RESEARCH GRANTS UNDER TITLE V OF RURAL
DEVELOPMENT ACT OF 1972.
Section 502 of the Rural Development Act of 1972 (7 U.S.C.
2662) is amended by striking subsections (g) and (j).
SEC. 872. HUMAN NUTRITION RESEARCH.
Section 1452 of the National Agricultural Research, Extension,
and Teaching Policy Act Amendments of 1985 (Public Law 99–
198; 7 U.S.C. 3173 note) is repealed.
SEC. 873. GRANTS TO UPGRADE 1890 LAND-GRANT COLLEGE EXTEN-
SION FACILITIES.
Section 1416 of the National Agricultural Research, Extension,
and Teaching Policy Act Amendments of 1981 (7 U.S.C. 3224)
is repealed.
SEC. 874. INDIAN SUBSISTENCE FARMING DEMONSTRATION GRANT
PROGRAM.
Subtitle C of title IX of the Food, Agriculture, Conservation,
and Trade Act Amendments of 1991 (Public Law 102–237; 7 U.S.C.
5930 note) is repealed.
Subtitle D—Miscellaneous Research
Provisions
SEC. 881. CRITICAL AGRICULTURAL MATERIALS RESEARCH.
(a) REPORTS.—Section 4 of the Critical Agricultural Materials
Act (7 U.S.C. 178b) is amended—
(1) by striking subsection (g); and
(2) by redesignating subsection (h) as subsection (g).
(b) AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.—Section 16(a) of the
Critical Agricultural Materials Act (7 U.S.C. 178n(a)) is amended
by striking ‘‘1995’’ and inserting ‘‘1997’’.
SEC. 882. MEMORANDUM OF AGREEMENT REGARDING 1994 INSTITU-
TIONS.
Section 533 of the Equity in Educational Land-Grant Status
Act of 1994 (Public Law 103–382; 7 U.S.C. 301 note) is amended
by adding at the end the following:
‘‘(d) MEMORANDUM OF AGREEMENT.—Not later than January
6, 1997, the Secretary shall develop and implement a formal memo-
H. R. 2854—289
randum of agreement with the 1994 Institutions to establish pro-
grams to ensure that tribally controlled colleges and Native Amer-
ican communities equitably participate in Department of Agri-
culture employment, programs, services, and resources.’’.
SEC. 883. SMITH-LEVER ACT FUNDING FOR 1890 LAND-GRANT COL-
LEGES, INCLUDING TUSKEGEE UNIVERSITY.
(a) ELIGIBILITY FOR FUNDS.—Section 3(d) of the Act of May
8, 1914 (commonly known as the ‘‘Smith-Lever Act’’; 7 U.S.C.
343(d)), is amended by adding at the end the following: ‘‘A college
or university eligible to receive funds under the Act of August
30, 1890 (7 U.S.C. 321 et seq.), including Tuskegee University,
may apply for and receive directly from the Secretary of Agri-
culture—
‘‘(1) amounts made available under this subsection after
September 30, 1995, to carry out programs or initiatives for
which no funds were made available under this subsection
for fiscal year 1995, or any previous fiscal year, as determined
by the Secretary; and
‘‘(2) amounts made available after September 30, 1995,
to carry out programs or initiatives funded under this sub-
section prior to that date that are in excess of the highest
amount made available for the programs or initiatives under
this subsection for fiscal year 1995, or any previous fiscal
year, as determined by the Secretary.’’.
(b) CONFORMING AMENDMENT.—The third sentence of section
1444(a) of the National Agricultural Research, Extension, and
Teaching Policy Act of 1977 (7 U.S.C. 3221(a)) is amended by
inserting before the period at the end the following: ‘‘, except that
for the purpose of this calculation, the total appropriations shall
not include amounts made available after September 30, 1995,
under section 3(d) of that Act (7 U.S.C. 343(d)), to carry out pro-
grams or initiatives for which no funds were made available under
section 3(d) of that Act for fiscal year 1995, or any previous fiscal
year, as determined by the Secretary, and shall not include amounts
made available after September 30, 1995, to carry out programs
or initiatives funded under section 3(d) of that Act prior to that
date that are in excess of the highest amount made available
for the programs or initiatives for fiscal year 1995, or any previous
fiscal year, as determined by the Secretary’’.
SEC. 884. AGRICULTURAL RESEARCH FACILITIES.
(a) RESEARCH
FACILITIES.—The Research Facilities Act (7
U.S.C. 390 et seq.) is amended to read as follows:
‘‘SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.
‘‘This Act may be cited as the ‘Research Facilities Act’.
‘‘SEC. 2. DEFINITIONS.
‘‘In this Act:
‘‘(1) AGRICULTURAL RESEARCH FACILITY.—The term ‘agricul-
tural research facility’ means a proposed facility for research
in food and agricultural sciences for which Federal funds are
requested by a college, university, or nonprofit institution to
assist in the construction, alteration, acquisition, moderniza-
tion, renovation, or remodeling of the facility.
‘‘(2) CONGRESSIONAL AGRICULTURE COMMITTEES.—The term
‘congressional agriculture committees’ means the Committee
H. R. 2854—290
on Appropriations and the Committee on Agriculture of the
House of Representatives and the Committee on Appropriations
and the Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry
of the Senate.
‘‘(3) FOOD AND AGRICULTURAL SCIENCES.—The term ‘food
and agricultural sciences’ means—
‘‘(A) agriculture, including soil and water conservation
and use, the use of organic materials to improve soil tilth
and fertility, plant and animal production and protection,
and plant and animal health;
‘‘(B) the processing, distribution, marketing, and utili-
zation of food and agricultural products;
‘‘(C) forestry, including range management, production
of forest and range products, multiple use of forests and
rangelands, and urban forestry;
‘‘(D) aquaculture (as defined in section 1404(3) of the
National Agricultural Research, Extension, and Teaching
Policy Act of 1977 (7 U.S.C. 3103(3));
‘‘(E) human nutrition;
‘‘(F) production inputs, such as energy, to improve
productivity; and
‘‘(G) germ plasm collection and preservation.
‘‘(4) SECRETARY.—The term ‘Secretary’ means the Secretary
of Agriculture.
‘‘(5) TASK FORCE.—The term ‘task force’ means the Strategic
Planning Task Force established under section 4.
‘‘SEC. 3. REVIEW PROCESS.
‘‘(a) SUBMISSION TO SECRETARY.—Each proposal for an agricul-
tural research facility shall be submitted to the Secretary for review.
The Secretary shall review the proposals in the order in which
the proposals are received.
‘‘(b) APPLICATION PROCESS.—In consultation with the congres-
sional agriculture committees, the Secretary shall establish an
application process for the submission of proposals for agricultural
research facilities.
‘‘(c) CRITERIA FOR APPROVAL.—
‘‘(1) DETERMINATION BY SECRETARY.—With respect to each
proposal for an agricultural research facility submitted under
subsection (a), the Secretary shall determine whether the pro-
posal meets the criteria set forth in paragraph (2).
‘‘(2) CRITERIA.—A proposal for an agricultural research
facility shall meet the following criteria:
‘‘(A) NON-FEDERAL SHARE.—The proposal shall certify
the availability of at least a 50 percent non-Federal share
of the cost of the facility. The non-Federal share shall
be paid in cash and may include funding from private
sources or from units of State or local government.
‘‘(B) NONDUPLICATION
OF
FACILITIES.—The proposal
shall demonstrate how the agricultural research facility
would be complementary to, and not duplicative of, facilities
of colleges, universities, and nonprofit institutions, and
facilities of the Agricultural Research Service, within the
State and region.
‘‘(C) NATIONAL
RESEARCH
PRIORITIES.—The proposal
shall demonstrate how the agricultural research facility
would serve—
H. R. 2854—291
‘‘(i) 1 or more of the national research policies
and priorities set forth in section 1402 of the National
Agricultural Research, Extension, and Teaching Policy
Act of 1977 (7 U.S.C. 3101); and
‘‘(ii) regional needs.
‘‘(D) LONG-TERM
SUPPORT.—The proposal shall dem-
onstrate that the recipient college, university, or nonprofit
institution has the ability and commitment to support the
long-term, ongoing operating costs of—
‘‘(i) the agricultural research facility after the facil-
ity is completed; and
‘‘(ii) each program to be based at the facility.
‘‘(d) EVALUATION OF PROPOSALS.—Not later than 90 days after
receiving a proposal under subsection (a), the Secretary shall—
‘‘(1) evaluate and assess the merits of the proposal, includ-
ing the extent to which the proposal meets the criteria set
forth in subsection (c); and
‘‘(2) report to the congressional agriculture committees on
the results of the evaluation and assessment.
‘‘SEC. 4. TASK FORCE ON 10-YEAR STRATEGIC PLAN FOR AGRICUL-
TURAL RESEARCH FACILITIES.
‘‘(a) ESTABLISHMENT.—Not later than 6 months after the date
of enactment of the Federal Agriculture Improvement and Reform
Act of 1996, the Secretary shall establish a task force, to be known
as the ‘Strategic Planning Task Force’. The task force shall be
comprised of 15 members.
‘‘(b) COMPOSITION.—The Secretary shall select the members
of the task force from a list of individuals recommended by the
Advisory Board established under section 1408 of the National
Agricultural Research, Extension, and Teaching Policy Act of 1977
(7 U.S.C. 3123). In submitting the list to the Secretary, the Board
may recommend for selection individuals (including members of
the Advisory Board) who have expertise in facilities development,
modernization, construction, consolidation, and closure.
‘‘(c) DUTIES.—The task force shall review all currently operating
agricultural research facilities constructed in whole or in part with
Federal funds, and all planned agricultural research facilities pro-
posed to be constructed with Federal funds, pursuant to criteria
established by the Secretary, to ensure that a comprehensive
research capacity is maintained.
‘‘(d) 10-YEAR STRATEGIC PLAN.—Not later than 2 years after
the task force is established, the task force shall prepare and
submit to the Secretary and the congressional agriculture commit-
tees a 10-year strategic plan, reflecting both national and regional
perspectives, for development, modernization, construction, consoli-
dation, and closure of Federal agricultural research facilities and
agricultural research facilities proposed to be constructed with Fed-
eral funds.
‘‘(e) APPLICABILITY OF FEDERAL ADVISORY COMMITTEE ACT.—
‘‘(1) PUBLIC MEETINGS.—All meetings of the task force shall
be publicly announced in advance and shall be open to the
public. Detailed minutes of meetings and other appropriate
records of the activities of the task force shall be kept and
made available to the public on request.
‘‘(2) EXEMPTION.—The Federal Advisory Committee Act (5
U.S.C. App.) and title XVIII of the Food and Agriculture Act
H. R. 2854—292
of 1977 (7 U.S.C. 2281 et seq.) shall not apply to the task
force.
‘‘(f) DEFINITION OF AGRICULTURAL RESEARCH FACILITY.—Not-
withstanding section 2(1), in this section the term ‘agricultural
research facility’ means a facility for research in food and agricul-
tural sciences.
‘‘SEC. 5. APPLICABILITY OF FEDERAL ADVISORY COMMITTEE ACT.
‘‘The Federal Advisory Committee Act (5 U.S.C. App.) and
title XVIII of the Food and Agriculture Act of 1977 (7 U.S.C.
2281 et seq.) shall not apply to a panel or board created solely
for the purpose of reviewing applications or proposals submitted
under this Act.
‘‘SEC. 6. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.
‘‘(a) IN GENERAL.—Subject to subsection (b), there are author-
ized to be appropriated such sums as are necessary for fiscal years
1996 and 1997 for the study, plan, design, structure, and related
costs of agricultural research facilities under this Act.
‘‘(b) ALLOWABLE ADMINISTRATIVE COSTS.—Not more than 3 per-
cent of the funds made available for any project for an agricultural
research facility shall be available for administration of the project.’’.
(b) APPLICATION OF AMENDMENT.—The amendment made by
subsection (a), other than section 4 of the Research Facilities Act
(as amended by subsection (a)), shall not apply to any project
for an agricultural research facility for which funds have been
made available for a feasibility study or for any phase of the
project prior to October 1, 1995.
(c) AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS FOR FEDERAL FACILI-
TIES.—Section 1431 of the National Agricultural Research, Exten-
sion, and Teaching Policy Act Amendments of 1985 (Public Law
99–198; 99 Stat. 1556) is amended—
(1) in subsection (a)—
(A) by striking ‘‘(a)’’; and
(B) by striking ‘‘1995’’ and inserting ‘‘1997’’; and
(2) by striking subsection (b).
(d) CONFORMING AMENDMENT.—Section 1463(a) of the National
Agricultural Research, Extension, and Teaching Policy Act of 1977
(7 U.S.C. 3311(a)) is amended by striking ‘‘1416,’’.
SEC. 885. NATIONAL COMPETITIVE RESEARCH INITIATIVE.
(a) AUTHORIZATION
OF
APPROPRIATIONS
FOR
COMPETITIVE
GRANTS.—Subsection (b)(10) of the Competitive, Special, and Facili-
ties Research Grant Act (7 U.S.C. 450i(b)(10)) is amended—
(1) by striking ‘‘fiscal year 1995’’ and inserting ‘‘each of
fiscal years 1995 through 1997’’; and
(2) in subparagraph (B), by striking ‘‘20 percent’’ and insert-
ing ‘‘40 percent’’.
(b) AVAILABILITY OF FUNDS.—Subsection (b) of the Competitive,
Special, and Facilities Research Grant Act (7 U.S.C. 450i(b)) is
amended by adding at the end the following:
‘‘(11) AVAILABILITY OF FUNDS.—Funds made available under
paragraph (10) shall be available for obligation for a 2-year period
beginning on October 1 of the fiscal year for which the funds
are made available.’’.