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‘‘section 338(c)’’ the following: ‘‘(before the amend-
ment made by section 447(a)(1) of the Agricultural
Reform and Improvement Act of 1996)’’.
(2) Section 343(b) of the Consolidated Farm and
Rural Development Act (7 U.S.C. 1991(b)) is amend-
ed by striking ‘‘338(f),’’ and inserting ‘‘338(b),’’.
SEC. 750. TESTIMONY BEFORE CONGRESSIONAL COMMIT-
TEES.
Section 345 of the Consolidated Farm and Rural De-
velopment Act (7 U.S.C. 1993) is repealed.
SEC. 751. PROHIBITION ON USE OF LOANS FOR CERTAIN
PURPOSES.
Section 363 of the Consolidated Farm and Rural De-
velopment Act (7 U.S.C. 2006e) is amended by adding at
the end the following: ‘‘This section shall not apply to a
loan made or guaranteed under this title for a utility line.’’.
SEC. 752. RURAL DEVELOPMENT CERTIFIED LENDERS PRO-
GRAM.
The Consolidated Farm and Rural Development Act
is amended by inserting after section 363 (7 U.S.C. 2006e)
the following:
‘‘SEC. 364. RURAL DEVELOPMENT CERTIFIED LENDERS
PROGRAM.
‘‘(a) CERTIFIED LENDERS PROGRAM.—
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‘‘(1) IN GENERAL.—The Secretary may establish
a program under which the Secretary may guarantee
a loan for any rural development program that is
made by a lender certified by the Secretary.
‘‘(2) CERTIFICATION REQUIREMENTS.—The Sec-
retary may certify a lender if the lender meets such
criteria as the Secretary may prescribe in regula-
tions, including the ability of the lender to properly
make, service, and liquidate the guaranteed loans of
the lender.
‘‘(3) CONDITION OF CERTIFICATION.—As a con-
dition of certification, the Secretary may require the
lender to undertake to service the guaranteed loan
using standards that are not less stringent than gen-
erally accepted banking standards concerning loan
servicing that are used by prudent commercial or co-
operative lenders.
‘‘(4) GUARANTEE.—Notwithstanding any other
provision of law, the Secretary may guarantee not
more than 80 percent of a loan made by a certified
lender described in paragraph (1), if the borrower of
the loan meets the eligibility requirements and such
other criteria for the loan guarantee that are estab-
lished by the Secretary.
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‘‘(5) CERTIFICATIONS.—With respect to loans to
be guaranteed, the Secretary may permit a certified
lender to make appropriate certifications (as provided
in regulations issued by the Secretary) —
‘‘(A) relating to issues such as creditworthi-
ness, repayment ability, adequacy of collateral,
and feasibility of the operation; and
‘‘(B) that the borrower is in compliance
with all requirements of law, including regula-
tions issued by the Secretary.
‘‘(6) 
RELATIONSHIP
TO
OTHER
REQUIRE-
MENTS.—This subsection shall not affect the respon-
sibility of the Secretary to determine eligibility, re-
view financial information, and otherwise assess an
application.
‘‘(b) PREFERRED CERTIFIED LENDERS PROGRAM.—
‘‘(1) IN GENERAL.—The Secretary may establish
a preferred certified lenders program for lenders who
establish their—
‘‘(A) knowledge of, and experience under,
the program established under subsection (a);
‘‘(B) knowledge of the regulations concern-
ing the particular guaranteed loan program; and
‘‘(C) proficiency related to the certified
lender program requirements.
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‘‘(2) ADDITIONAL LENDING INSTITUTIONS.—The
Secretary may certify any lending institution as a
preferred certified lender if the institution meets such
additional criteria as the Secretary may prescribe by
regulation.
‘‘(3) REVOCATION
OF
DESIGNATION.—The des-
ignation of a lender as a preferred certified lender
shall be revoked if the Secretary determines that the
lender is not adhering to the rules and regulations
applicable to the program or if the loss experiences of
a preferred certified lender are greater than other pre-
ferred certified lenders, except that the suspension or
revocation shall not affect any outstanding guarantee.
‘‘(4) CONDITION OF CERTIFICATION.—As a con-
dition of the preferred certification, the Secretary
shall require the lender to undertake to service the
loan guaranteed by the Secretary under this sub-
section using generally accepted banking standards
concerning loan servicing employed by prudent com-
mercial or cooperative lenders. The Secretary shall, at
least annually, monitor the performance of each pre-
ferred certified lender to ensure that the conditions of
the certification are being met.
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‘‘(5) EFFECT OF PREFERRED LENDER CERTIFI-
CATION.—Notwithstanding any other provision of
law, the Secretary may—
‘‘(A) guarantee not more than 80 percent of
any approved loan made by a preferred certified
lender as described in this subsection, if the bor-
rower meets the eligibility requirements and such
other criteria as may be applicable to loans
guaranteed by the Secretary; and
‘‘(B) permit preferred certified lenders to
make all decisions, with respect to loans to be
guaranteed by the Secretary under this sub-
section relating to creditworthiness, the closing,
monitoring, collection, and liquidation of loans,
and to accept appropriate certifications, as pro-
vided in regulations issued by the Secretary, that
the borrower is in compliance with all require-
ments of law and regulations issued by the Sec-
retary.’’.
SEC. 753. SYSTEM FOR DELIVERY OF CERTAIN RURAL DE-
VELOPMENT PROGRAMS.
(a) IN GENERAL.—Section 365 of the Consolidated
Farm and Rural Development Act (7 U.S.C. 2008) is re-
pealed.
(b) CONFORMING AMENDMENTS.—
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(1) Section 2310 of the Food, Agriculture, Con-
servation, and Trade Act of 1990 (7 U.S.C. 2007) is
amended—
(A) in subsection (a), by striking ‘‘or the
program established in sections 365 and 366 of
the Consolidated Farm and Rural Development
Act (as added by chapter 3 of this subtitle)’’;
(B) in subsection (b)—
(i) by striking ‘‘STATES.—’’ and all
that follows through ‘‘PARTNERSHIPS.—
The’’ in paragraph (1) and inserting
‘‘STATES.—The’’; and
(ii) by striking paragraph (2);
(C) in subsection (c)—
(i) by striking ‘‘PROJECTS.—’’ and all
that follows through ‘‘PARTNERSHIPS.—
Chapter’’ in paragraph (1) and inserting
‘‘PROJECTS.—Chapter’’;
(ii) by striking ‘‘subsection (b)(1)’’ and
inserting ‘‘subsection (b)’’; and
(iii) by striking paragraph (2); and
(D) in subsection (d), by striking ‘‘and sec-
tions 365, 366, 367, and 368(b) of the Consoli-
dated Farm and Rural Development Act (as
added by chapter 3 of this subtitle)’’.
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SEC. 754. STATE RURAL ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT REVIEW
PANEL.
Section 366 of the Consolidated Farm and Rural De-
velopment Act (7 U.S.C. 2008a) is repealed.
SEC. 
755. 
LIMITED 
TRANSFER 
AUTHORITY 
OF 
LOAN
AMOUNTS.
Section 367 of the Consolidated Farm and Rural De-
velopment Act (7 U.S.C. 2008b) is repealed.
SEC. 756. ALLOCATION AND TRANSFER OF LOAN GUARAN-
TEE AUTHORITY.
Section 368 of the Consolidated Farm and Rural De-
velopment Act (7 U.S.C. 2008c) is repealed.
SEC. 757. NATIONAL SHEEP INDUSTRY IMPROVEMENT CEN-
TER.
The Consolidated Farm and Rural Development Act
(as amended by section 641) is amended by adding at the
end the following:
‘‘SEC. 375. NATIONAL SHEEP INDUSTRY IMPROVEMENT
CENTER.
‘‘(a) DEFINITIONS.—In this section:
‘‘(1) BOARD.—The term ‘Board’ means the
Board of Directors established under subsection (f).
‘‘(2) CENTER.—The term ‘Center’ means the Na-
tional Sheep Industry Improvement Center estab-
lished under subsection (b).
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‘‘(3) ELIGIBLE ENTITY.—The term ‘eligible en-
tity’ means an entity that promotes the betterment of
the United States lamb or wool industry and that
is—
‘‘(A) a public, private, or cooperative orga-
nization;
‘‘(B) an association, including a corpora-
tion not operated for profit;
‘‘(C) a federally recognized Indian Tribe; or
‘‘(D) a public or quasi-public agency.
‘‘(4) FUND.—The term ‘Fund’ means the Natu-
ral Sheep Improvement Center Revolving Fund estab-
lished under subsection (e).
‘‘(b) ESTABLISHMENT
OF CENTER.—The Secretary
shall establish a National Sheep Industry Improvement
Center.
‘‘(c) PURPOSES.—The purposes of the Center shall be
to—
‘‘(1) promote strategic development activities and
collaborative efforts by private and State entities to
maximize the impact of Federal assistance to
strengthen and enhance the production and marketing
of lamb and wool in the United States;
‘‘(2) optimize the use of available human capital
and resources within the sheep industry;
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‘‘(3) provide assistance to meet the needs of the
sheep industry for infrastructure development, busi-
ness development, production, resource development,
and market and environmental research;
‘‘(4) advance activities that empower and build
the capacity of the United States sheep industry to
design unique responses to the special needs of the
lamb and wool industries on both a regional and na-
tional basis; and
‘‘(5) adopt flexible and innovative approaches to
solving the long-term needs of the United States sheep
industry.
‘‘(d) STRATEGIC PLAN.—
‘‘(1) IN GENERAL.—The Center shall submit to
the Secretary an annual strategic plan for the deliv-
ery of financial assistance provided by the Center.
‘‘(2) REQUIREMENTS.—A strategic plan shall
identify—
‘‘(A) goals, methods, and a benchmark for
measuring the success of carrying out the plan
and how the plan relates to the national and re-
gional goals of the Center;
‘‘(B) the amount and sources of Federal and
non-Federal funds that are available for carry-
ing out the plan;
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‘‘(C) funding priorities;
‘‘(D) selection criteria for funding; and
‘‘(E) a method of distributing funding.
‘‘(e) REVOLVING FUND.—
‘‘(1) ESTABLISHMENT.—There is established in
the Treasury the Natural Sheep Improvement Center
Revolving Fund. The Fund shall be available to the
Center, without fiscal year limitation, to carry out
the authorized programs and activities of the Center
under this section.
‘‘(2) CONTENTS OF FUND.—There shall be depos-
ited in the Fund—
‘‘(A) such amounts as may be appropriated,
transferred, or otherwise made available to sup-
port programs and activities of the Center;
‘‘(B) payments received from any source for
products, services, or property furnished in con-
nection with the activities of the Center;
‘‘(C) fees and royalties collected by the Cen-
ter from licensing or other arrangements relating
to commercialization of products developed
through projects funded, in whole or part, by
grants, contracts, or cooperative agreements exe-
cuted by the Center;
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‘‘(D) proceeds from the sale of assets, loans,
and equity interests made in furtherance of the
purposes of the Center;;
‘‘(E) donations or contributions accepted by
the Center to support authorized programs and
activities; and
‘‘(F) any other funds acquired by the Cen-
ter.
‘‘(3) USE OF FUND.—
‘‘(A) IN
GENERAL.—The Center may use
amounts in the Fund to make grants and loans
to eligible entities in accordance with a strategic
plan submitted under subsection (d).
‘‘(B) CONTINUED EXISTENCE.—The Center
shall manage the Fund in a manner that ensures
that sufficient amounts are available in the
Fund to carry out subsection (c).
‘‘(C) DIVERSE AREA.—The Center shall, to
the maximum extent practicable, use the Fund to
serve broad geographic areas and regions of di-
verse production.
‘‘(D) VARIETY OF LOANS AND GRANTS.—The
Center shall, to the maximum extent practicable,
use 
the 
Fund 
to 
provide 
a 
variety 
of
intermediate- and long-term grants and loans.
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‘‘(E) ADMINISTRATION.—The Center may
not use more than 3 percent of the amounts in
the Fund for a fiscal year for the administration
of the Center.
‘‘(F) INFLUENCING LEGISLATION.—None of
the amounts in the Fund may be used to influ-
ence legislation.
‘‘(G) ACCOUNTING.—To be eligible to receive
amounts from the Fund, an entity must agree to
account for the amounts using generally accepted
accounting principles.
‘‘(H) USES OF FUND.—The Center may use
amounts in the Fund to—
‘‘(i) participate with Federal and
State agencies in financing activities that
are in accordance with a strategic plan sub-
mitted under subsection (d), including par-
ticipation with several States in a regional
effort;
‘‘(ii) participate with other public and
private funding sources in financing activi-
ties that are in accordance with the strate-
gic plan, including participation in a re-
gional effort;
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‘‘(iii) provide security for, or make
principle or interest payments on, revenue
or general obligation bonds issued by a
State, if the proceeds from the sale of the
bonds are deposited in the Fund;
‘‘(iv) accrue interest;
‘‘(v) guarantee or purchase insurance
for local obligations to improve credit mar-
ket access or reduce interest rates for a
project that is in accordance with the stra-
tegic plan; or
‘‘(vi) sell assets, loans, and equity in-
terests acquired in connection with the fi-
nancing of projects funded by the Center.
‘‘(4) LOANS.—
‘‘(A) RATE.—A loan from the Fund may be
made at an interest rate that is below the market
rate or may be interest free.
‘‘(B) TERM.—The term of a loan may not
exceed the shorter of—
‘‘(i) the useful life of the activity fi-
nanced; or
‘‘(ii) 40 years.
‘‘(C) SOURCE OF REPAYMENT.—The Center
may not make a loan from the Fund unless the
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recipient establishes an assured source of repay-
ment.
‘‘(D) PROCEEDS.—All payments of prin-
cipal and interest on a loan made from the Fund
shall be deposited into the Fund.
‘‘(5) MAINTENANCE
OF
EFFORT.—The Center
shall use the Fund only to supplement and not to
supplant Federal, State, and private funds expended
for rural development.
‘‘(6) FUNDING.—
‘‘(A) DEPOSIT OF FUNDS.—All Federal and
non-Federal amounts received by the Center to
carry out this section shall be deposited in the
Fund.
‘‘(B) MANDATORY
FUNDS.—Out of any
moneys in the Treasury not otherwise appro-
priated, the Secretary of the Treasury shall pro-
vide to the Center not to exceed $20,000,000 to
carry out this section.
‘‘(C) ADDITIONAL FUNDS.—In addition to
any funds provided under subparagraph (B),
there is authorized to be appropriated to carry
out this section $30,000,000 to carry out this sec-
tion.
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‘‘(D) PRIVATIZATION.—Federal funds shall
not be used to carry out this section beginning
on the earlier of—
‘‘(i) the date that is 10 years after the
effective date of this section; or
‘‘(ii) 
the 
day 
after 
a 
total 
of
$50,000,000 is made available under sub-
paragraphs (B) and (C) to carry out this
section.
‘‘(f) BOARD OF DIRECTORS.—
‘‘(1) IN GENERAL.—The management of the Cen-
ter shall be vested in a Board of Directors.
‘‘(2) POWERS.—The Board shall—
‘‘(A) be responsible for the general super-
vision of the Center;
‘‘(B) review any grant, loan, contract, or
cooperative agreement to be made or entered into
by the Center and any financial assistance pro-
vided to the Center;
‘‘(C) make the final decision, by majority
vote, on whether and how to provide assistance
to an applicant; and
‘‘(D) develop and establish a budget plan
and a long-term operating plan to carry out the
goals of the Center.
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‘‘(3) COMPOSITION.—The Board shall be com-
posed of—
‘‘(A) 7 voting members, of whom—
‘‘(i) 4 members shall be active produc-
ers of sheep in the United States;
‘‘(ii) 2 members shall have expertise in
finance and management; and
‘‘(iii) 1 member shall have expertise in
lamb and wool marketing; and
‘‘(B) 2 nonvoting members, of whom—
‘‘(i) 1 member shall be the Under Sec-
retary of Agriculture for Rural Economic
and Community Development; and
‘‘(ii) 1 member shall be the Under Sec-
retary of Agriculture for Research, Edu-
cation, and Economics.
‘‘(4) ELECTION.—A voting member of the Board
shall be chosen in an election of the members of a na-
tional organization selected by the Secretary that—
‘‘(A) consists only of sheep producers in the
United States; and
‘‘(B) has as the primary interest of the or-
ganization the production of lamb and wool in
the United States.
‘‘(5) TERM OF OFFICE.—
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‘‘(A) IN
GENERAL.—Subject to subpara-
graph (B), the term of office of a voting member
of the Board shall be 3 years.
‘‘(B) STAGGERED INITIAL TERMS.—The ini-
tial voting members of the Board (other than the
chairperson of the initially established Board)
shall serve for staggered terms of 1, 2, and 3
years, as determined by the Secretary.
‘‘(C) REELECTION.—A voting member may
be reelected for not more than 1 additional term.
‘‘(6) VACANCY.—
‘‘(A) IN
GENERAL.—A vacancy on the
Board shall be filled in the same manner as the
original Board.
‘‘(B) REELECTION.—A member elected to
fill a vacancy for an unexpired term may be re-
elected for 1 full term.
‘‘(7) CHAIRPERSON.—
‘‘(A) IN GENERAL.—The Board shall select
a chairperson from among the voting members of
the Board.
‘‘(B) TERM.—The term of office of the
chairperson shall be 2 years.
‘‘(8) ANNUAL MEETING.—
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‘‘(A) IN GENERAL.—The Board shall meet
not less than once each fiscal year at the call of
the chairperson or at the request of the executive
director appointed under subsection (g)(1).
‘‘(B) LOCATION.—The location of a meeting
of the Board shall be established by the Board.
‘‘(9) VOTING.—
‘‘(A) QUORUM.—A quorum of the Board
shall consist of a majority of the voting members.
‘‘(B) MAJORITY VOTE.—A decision of the
Board shall be made by a majority of the voting
members of the Board.
‘‘(10) CONFLICTS OF INTEREST.—
‘‘(A) IN GENERAL.—A member of the Board
shall not vote on any matter respecting any ap-
plication, contract, claim, or other particular
matter pending before the Board in which, to the
knowledge of the member, an interest is held
by—
‘‘(i) the member;
‘‘(ii) any spouse of the member;
‘‘(iii) any child of the member;
‘‘(iv) any partner of the member;
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‘‘(v) any organization in which the
member is serving as an officer, director,
trustee, partner, or employee; or
‘‘(vi) any person with whom the mem-
ber is negotiating or has any arrangement
concerning prospective employment or with
whom the member has a financial interest.
‘‘(B) REMOVAL.—Any action by a member
of the Board that violates subparagraph (A)
shall be cause for removal from the Board.
‘‘(C) VALIDITY OF ACTION.—An action by a
member of the Board that violates subparagraph
(A) shall not impair or otherwise affect the va-
lidity of any otherwise lawful action by the
Board.
‘‘(D) DISCLOSURE.—
‘‘(i) IN GENERAL.—If a member of the
Board makes a full disclosure of an interest
and, prior to any participation by the
member, the Board determines, by majority
vote, that the interest is too remote or too
inconsequential to affect the integrity of any
participation by the member, the member
may participate in the matter relating to
the interest.
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‘‘(ii) VOTE.—A member that discloses
an interest under clause (i) shall not vote
on a determination of whether the member
may participate in the matter relating to
the interest.
‘‘(E) REMANDS.—
‘‘(i) IN GENERAL.—The Secretary may
vacate and remand to the Board for recon-
sideration any decision made pursuant to
subsection (e)(3)(H) if the Secretary deter-
mines that there has been a violation of this
paragraph or any conflict of interest provi-
sion of the bylaws of the Board with respect
to the decision.
‘‘(ii) REASONS.—In the case of any
violation and remand of a funding decision
to the Board under clause (i), the Secretary
shall inform the Board of the reasons for the
remand.
‘‘(11) COMPENSATION.—
‘‘(A) IN GENERAL.—A member of the Board
shall not receive any compensation by reason of
service on the Board.
‘‘(B) EXPENSES.—A member of the Board
shall be reimbursed for travel, subsistence, and
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HR 2854 EAS
other necessary expenses incurred by the member
in the performance of a duty of the member.
‘‘(12) BYLAWS.—The Board shall adopt, and
may from time to time amend, any bylaw that is nec-
essary for the proper management and functioning of
the Center.
‘‘(13) PUBLIC HEARINGS.—Not later than 1 year
after the effective date of this section, the Board shall
hold public hearings on policy objectives of the pro-
gram established under this section.
‘‘(14) ORGANIZATIONAL
SYSTEM.—The Board
shall provide a system of organization to fix respon-
sibility and promote efficiency in carrying out the
functions of the Board.
‘‘(15) USE OF DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE.—
The Board may, with the consent of the Secretary,
utilize the facilities of and the services of employees
of the Department of Agriculture, without cost to the
Center.
‘‘(g) OFFICERS AND EMPLOYEES.—
‘‘(1) EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR.—
‘‘(A) IN
GENERAL.—The Board shall ap-
point an executive director to be the chief execu-
tive officer of the Center.
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‘‘(B) TENURE.—The executive director shall
serve at the pleasure of the Board.
‘‘(C) COMPENSATION.—Compensation for
the executive director shall be established by the
Board.
‘‘(2) OTHER
OFFICERS
AND
EMPLOYEES.—The
Board may select and appoint officers, attorneys, em-
ployees, and agents who shall be vested with such
powers and duties as the Board may determine.
‘‘(3) DELEGATION.—The Board may, by resolu-
tion, delegate to the chairperson, the executive direc-
tor, or any other officer or employee any function,
power, or duty of the Board other than voting on a
grant, loan, contract, agreement, budget, or annual
strategic plan.
‘‘(h) CONSULTATION.—To carry out this section, the
Board may consult with—
‘‘(1) State departments of agriculture;
‘‘(2) Federal departments and agencies;
‘‘(3) nonprofit development corporations;
‘‘(4) colleges and universities;
‘‘(5) banking and other credit-related agencies;
‘‘(6) agriculture and agribusiness organizations;
and
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‘‘(7) regional planning and development organi-
zations.
‘‘(i) OVERSIGHT.—
‘‘(1) IN GENERAL.—The Secretary shall review
and monitor compliance by the Board and the Center
with this section.
‘‘(2) SANCTIONS.—If, following notice and op-
portunity for a hearing, the Secretary finds that the
Board or the Center is not in compliance with this
section, the Secretary may—
‘‘(A) cease making deposits to the Fund;
‘‘(B) suspend the authority of the Center to
withdraw funds from the Fund; or
‘‘(C) impose other appropriate sanctions,
including recoupment of money improperly ex-
pended for purposes prohibited or not authorized
by this Act and disqualification from receipt of
financial assistance under this section.
‘‘(3) REMOVING SANCTIONS.—The Secretary shall
remove sanctions imposed under paragraph (2) on a
finding that there is no longer any failure by the
Board or the Center to comply with this section or
that the noncompliance shall be promptly corrected.’’.
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CHAPTER 2—RURAL COMMUNITY
ADVANCEMENT PROGRAM
SEC. 761. RURAL COMMUNITY ADVANCEMENT PROGRAM.
The Consolidated Farm and Rural Development Act
(7 U.S.C. 1921 et seq.) is amended by adding at the end
the following:
‘‘Subtitle E—Rural Community
Advancement Program
‘‘SEC. 381A. DEFINITIONS.
‘‘In this subtitle:
‘‘(1) RURAL
AND
RURAL
AREA.—The terms
‘rural’ and ‘rural area’ mean, subject to section
306(a)(7), a city, town, or unincorporated area that
has a population of 50,000 inhabitants or less, other
than an urbanized area immediately adjacent to a
city, town, or unincorporated area that has a popu-
lation in excess of 50,000 inhabitants.
‘‘(2) STATE.—The term ‘State’ means each of the
50 States, the District of Columbia, the Common-
wealth of Puerto Rico, Guam, the Virgin Islands of
the United States, American Samoa, the Common-
wealth of the Northern Mariana Islands, the Trust
Territory of the Pacific Islands, and the Federated
States of Micronesia.
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‘‘SEC. 381B. ESTABLISHMENT.
‘‘The Secretary shall establish a rural community ad-
vancement program to provide grants, loans, loan guaran-
tees, and other assistance to meet the rural development
needs of local communities in States and federally recog-
nized Indian tribes.
‘‘SEC. 381C. NATIONAL OBJECTIVES.
‘‘The national objectives of the program established
under this subtitle shall be to—
‘‘(1) promote strategic development activities and
collaborative efforts by State and local communities,
and federally recognized Indian tribes, to maximize
the impact of Federal assistance;
‘‘(2) optimize the use of resources;
‘‘(3) provide assistance in a manner that reflects
the complexity of rural needs, including the needs for
business development, health care, education, infra-
structure, cultural resources, the environment, and
housing;
‘‘(4) advance activities that empower, and build
the capacity of, State and local communities to design
unique responses to the special needs of the State and
local communities, and federally recognized Indian
tribes, for rural development assistance; and
‘‘(5) adopt flexible and innovative approaches to
solving rural development problems.
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‘‘SEC. 381D. STRATEGIC PLANS.
‘‘(a) IN GENERAL.—The Secretary shall direct each of
the Directors of Rural Economic and Community Develop-
ment State Offices to prepare a strategic plan for each State
for the delivery of assistance under this subtitle within the
State.
‘‘(b) ASSISTANCE.—
‘‘(1) IN
GENERAL.—Financial assistance for
rural development allocated for a State under this
subtitle shall be used only for orderly community de-
velopment that is consistent with the strategic plan of
the State.
‘‘(2) RURAL AREA.—Assistance under this sub-
title may only be provided in a rural area.
‘‘(3) SMALL COMMUNITIES.—In carrying out this
subtitle within a State, the Secretary shall give prior-
ity to communities with the smallest populations and
lowest per capita income.
‘‘(c) REVIEW.—The Secretary shall review the strategic
plan of a State at least once every 5 years.
‘‘(d) CONTENTS.—A strategic plan of a State under
this section shall be a plan that—
‘‘(1) coordinates economic, human, and commu-
nity development plans and related activities pro-
posed for an affected area;
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‘‘(2) provides that the State and an affected com-
munity (including local institutions and organiza-
tions that have contributed to the planning process)
shall act as full partners in the process of developing
and implementing the plan;
‘‘(3) identifies goals, methods, and benchmarks
for measuring the success of carrying out the plan
and how the plan relates to local or regional
ecosystems;
‘‘(4) provides for the involvement, in the prepa-
ration of the plan, of State, local, private, and public
persons, State rural development councils, federally-
recognized Indian tribes, and community-based orga-
nizations;
‘‘(5) identifies the amount and source of Federal
and non-Federal resources that are available for car-
rying out the plan; and
‘‘(6) includes such other information as may be
required by the Secretary.
‘‘SEC. 381E. ACCOUNTS.
‘‘(a) IN GENERAL.—Notwithstanding any other provi-
sion of law, for each fiscal year, the Secretary shall consoli-
date into 3 accounts, corresponding to the 3 function cat-
egories established under subsection (c), the amounts made
available for programs included in each function category.
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‘‘(b) ALLOCATION WITHIN ACCOUNT.—The Secretary
shall allocate the amounts in each account for such program
purposes authorized for the corresponding function category
among the States, as the Secretary may determine in ac-
cordance with this subtitle.
‘‘(c) FUNCTION CATEGORIES.—For purposes of sub-
section (a):
‘‘(1) RURAL HOUSING AND COMMUNITY DEVELOP-
MENT.—The rural housing and community develop-
ment category shall include funds made available
for—
‘‘(A) community facility direct and guaran-
teed loans provided under section 306(a)(1);
‘‘(B) community facility grants provided
under section 306(a)(21); and
‘‘(C) rental housing loans for new housing
provided under section 515 of the Housing Act of
1949 (42 U.S.C. 1485).
‘‘(2) RURAL UTILITIES.—The rural utilities cat-
egory shall include funds made available for—
‘‘(A) water and waste disposal grants and
direct and guaranteed loans provided under
paragraphs (1) and (2) of section 306(a);
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‘‘(B) rural water and wastewater technical
assistance and training grants provided under
section 306(a)(16);
‘‘(C) emergency community water assistance
grants provided under section 306A; and
‘‘(D) solid waste management grants pro-
vided under section 310B(b).
‘‘(3) RURAL BUSINESS AND COOPERATIVE DE-
VELOPMENT.—The rural business and cooperative de-
velopment category shall include funds made avail-
able for—
‘‘(A) rural business opportunity grants pro-
vided under section 306(a)(11)(A);
‘‘(B) business and industry guaranteed
loans provided under section 310B(a)(1); and
‘‘(C) rural business enterprise grants and
rural educational network grants provided under
section 310B(c).
‘‘(d) OTHER PROGRAMS.—Subject to subsection (e), in
addition to any other appropriated amounts, the Secretary
may transfer amounts allocated for a State for any of the
3 function categories for a fiscal year under subsection (c)
to—
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‘‘(1) mutual and self-help housing grants pro-
vided under section 523 of the Housing Act of 1949
(42 U.S.C. 1490c);
‘‘(2) rural rental housing loans for existing hous-
ing provided under section 515 of the Housing Act of
1949 (42 U.S.C. 1485);
‘‘(3) rural cooperative development grants pro-
vided under section 310B(e); and
‘‘(4) grants to broadcasting systems provided
under section 310B(f).
‘‘(e) TRANSFER.—
‘‘(1) IN GENERAL.—Subject to paragraph (2), the
Secretary may transfer within each State up to 25
percent of the total amount allocated for a State
under each function category referred to in subsection
(c) for each fiscal year under this section to any other
function category, or to a program referred to in sub-
section (d), but excluding State grants under section
381G.
‘‘(2) LIMITATION.—Not more than 10 percent of
the total amount (excluding grants to States under
section 381G) made available for any fiscal year for
the programs covered by each of the 3 function cat-
egories referred to in subsection (c), and the programs
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referred to in subsection (d), shall be available for the
transfer.
‘‘(f) AVAILABILITY OF FUNDS.—The Secretary may
make available funds appropriated for the programs re-
ferred to in subsection (c) to defray the cost of any subsidy
associated with a guarantee provided under section 381H,
except that not more than 5 percent of the funds provided
under subsection (c) may be made available within a State.
‘‘SEC. 381F. ALLOCATION.
‘‘(a) NATIONAL RESERVE.—The Secretary may use not
more than 10 percent of the total amount of funds made
available for a fiscal year under section 381E to establish
a national reserve for rural development that may be used
by the Secretary in rural areas during the fiscal year to—
‘‘(1) meet situations of exceptional need;
‘‘(2) provide incentives to promote or reward su-
perior performance; or
‘‘(3) carry out performance-oriented demonstra-
tion projects.
‘‘(b) INDIAN TRIBES.—
‘‘(1) RESERVATION.—The Secretary shall reserve
not less than 3 percent of the total amounts made
available for a fiscal year under section 381E to
carry out rural development programs specified in
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subsections (c) and (d) of section 381D for federally
recognized Indian tribes.
‘‘(2) ALLOCATION.—The Secretary shall establish
a formula for allocating the reserve and shall admin-
ister the reserve through the appropriate Director of
the Rural Economic and Cooperative Development
State office.
‘‘(c) STATE ALLOCATION.—
‘‘(1) IN GENERAL.—The Secretary shall allocate
among all the States the amounts made available
under section 381E in a fair, reasonable, and appro-
priate manner that takes into consideration rural
population, levels of income, unemployment, and
other relevant factors, as determined by the Secretary.
‘‘(2) MINIMUM ALLOCATION.—In making the al-
locations for each of fiscal years 1996 through 2002,
the Secretary shall ensure that the percentage alloca-
tion for each State is equal to the percentage of the
average of the total funds made available to carry out
the programs referred to in section 381E(c) that were
obligated in the State for each of fiscal years 1993
and 1994.
‘‘SEC. 381G. GRANTS TO STATES.
‘‘(a) IN GENERAL.—Subject to subsection (c), the Sec-
retary shall grant to any eligible State from which a request
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is received for a fiscal year 5 percent of the amount allo-
cated for the State for the fiscal year under section 381F(c).
‘‘(b) ELIGIBILITY.—To be eligible to receive a grant
under this section, the Secretary shall require that the State
maintain the grant funds received and any non-Federal
matching funds to carry out this subtitle in a separate ac-
count, to remain available until expended.
‘‘(c) MATCHING FUNDS.—For any fiscal year, if non-
Federal matching funds are provided for a State in an
amount that is equal to 200 percent or more of an amount
equal to 5 percent of the amount allocated for the State for
the fiscal year under section 381F(c), the Secretary shall
pay to the State the grant provided under this subsection
in an amount equal to 5 percent of the amount allocated
for the State for the fiscal year under section 381F(c).
‘‘(d) USE OF FUNDS.—The Secretary shall require that
funds provided to a State under this section be used in rural
areas to achieve the purposes of the programs referred to
in section 381E(c) in accordance with the strategic plan
referred to in section 381D.
‘‘(e) MAINTENANCE OF EFFORT.—The State shall pro-
vide assurances that funds received under this section will
be used only to supplement, not to supplant, the amount
of Federal, State, and local funds otherwise expended for
rural development assistance in the State.
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‘‘(f) APPEALS.—The Secretary shall provide to a State
an opportunity for an appeal of any action taken under
this section.
‘‘(g) ADMINISTRATIVE COSTS.—Federal funds shall not
be used for any administrative costs incurred by a State
in carrying out this subtitle.
‘‘(h) SPENDING OF FUNDS BY STATE.—
‘‘(1) IN GENERAL.—Payments to a State from a
grant under this section for a fiscal year shall be obli-
gated by the State in the fiscal year or in the succeed-
ing fiscal year. A State shall obligate funds under
this section to provide assistance to rural areas pur-
suant, to the maximum extent practicable, to applica-
tions received from the rural areas.
‘‘(2) FAILURE TO OBLIGATE.—If a State fails to
obligate payments in accordance with paragraph (1),
the Secretary shall make a corresponding reduction in
the amount of payments provided to the State under
this section for the subsequent fiscal year.
‘‘(3) NONCOMPLIANCE.—
‘‘(A) REVIEW.—The Secretary shall review
and monitor State compliance with this section.
‘‘(B) PENALTY.—If the Secretary finds that
there has been misuse of grant funds provided
under this section, or noncompliance with any of
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the terms and conditions of a grant, after rea-
sonable notice and opportunity for a hearing—
‘‘(i) the Secretary shall notify the State
of the finding; and
‘‘(ii) no further payments to the State
shall be made with respect to the programs
funded under this section until the Sec-
retary is satisfied that there is no longer
any failure to comply or that the non-
compliance will be promptly corrected.
‘‘(C) OTHER SANCTIONS.—In the case of a
finding of noncompliance made pursuant to sub-
paragraph (B), the Secretary may, in addition
to, or in lieu of, imposing the sanctions described
in subparagraph (B), impose other appropriate
sanctions, including recoupment of money im-
properly expended for purposes prohibited or not
authorized by this section and disqualification
from the receipt of financial assistance under
this section.
‘‘(i) NO ENTITLEMENT TO CONTRACT, GRANT, OR AS-
SISTANCE.—Nothing in this subtitle—
‘‘(1) entitles any person to assistance or a con-
tract or grant; or
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‘‘(2) limits the right of a State to impose addi-
tional limitations or conditions on assistance or a
contract or grant under this section.
‘‘SEC. 381H. GUARANTEE AND COMMITMENT TO GUARAN-
TEE LOANS.
‘‘(a) DEFINITION OF ELIGIBLE PUBLIC ENTITY.—In
this section, the term ‘eligible public entity’ means any unit
of general local government.
‘‘(b) GUARANTEE AND COMMITMENT.—The Secretary
is authorized, on such terms and conditions as the Secretary
may prescribe, to guarantee and make commitments to
guarantee the notes or other obligations issued by eligible
public entities, or by public agencies designated by the eligi-
ble public entities, for the purposes of financing rural devel-
opment assistance activities authorized and funded under
section 381G.
‘‘(c) PREREQUISITES.—No guarantee or commitment
to guarantee shall be made with respect to any note or other
obligation if the issuer’s total outstanding notes or obliga-
tions guaranteed under this section (excluding any amount
repaid under the contract entered into under subsection
(e)(1)(A)) would exceed an amount equal to 5 times the
amount of the grant approval for the issuer pursuant to
section 381G.
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‘‘(d) PAYMENT
OF
PRINCIPAL, INTEREST, 
AND
COSTS.—Notwithstanding any other provision of this sub-
title, grants allocated to an issuer pursuant to this subtitle
(including program income derived from the grants) shall
be authorized for use in the payment of principal and inter-
est due (including such servicing, underwriting, or other
costs as may be specified in regulations of the Secretary)
on the notes or other obligations guaranteed pursuant to
this section.
‘‘(e) REPAYMENT CONTRACT; SECURITY.—
‘‘(1) IN GENERAL.—To ensure the repayment of
notes or other obligations and charges incurred under
this section and as a condition for receiving the guar-
antees, the Secretary shall require the issuer to—
‘‘(A) enter into a contract, in a form ac-
ceptable to the Secretary, for repayment of notes
or other obligations guaranteed under this sec-
tion;
‘‘(B) pledge any grant for which the issuer
may become eligible under this subtitle; and
‘‘(C) furnish, at the discretion of the Sec-
retary, such other security as may be considered
appropriate by the Secretary in making the
guarantees.
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‘‘(2) SECURITY.—To assist in ensuring the re-
payment of notes or other obligations and charges in-
curred under this section, a State shall pledge any
grant for which the State may become eligible under
this subtitle as security for notes or other obligations
and charges issued under this section by any unit of
general local government in the State.
‘‘(f) PLEDGED GRANTS FOR REPAYMENTS.—Notwith-
standing any other provision of this subtitle, the Secretary
is authorized to apply grants pledged pursuant to para-
graphs (1)(B) and (2) of subsection (e) to any repayments
due the United States as a result of the guarantees.
‘‘(g) OUTSTANDING OBLIGATIONS.—The total amount
of outstanding obligations guaranteed on a cumulative basis
by the Secretary pursuant to subsection (b) shall not at any
time exceed such amount as may be authorized to be appro-
priated for any fiscal year.
‘‘(h) PURCHASE OF GUARANTEED OBLIGATIONS BY
FEDERAL FINANCING BANK.—Notes or other obligations
guaranteed under this section may not be purchased by the
Federal Financing Bank.
‘‘(i) FULL FAITH AND CREDIT.—The full faith and
credit of the United States is pledged to the payment of
all guarantees made under this section. Any such guarantee
made by the Secretary shall be conclusive evidence of the
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eligibility of the obligations for the guarantee with respect
to principal and interest. The validity of the guarantee
shall be incontestable in the hands of a holder of the guaran-
teed obligations.
‘‘SEC. 381I. LOCAL INVOLVEMENT.
‘‘The Secretary shall require that an applicant for as-
sistance under this subtitle demonstrate evidence of signifi-
cant community support.
‘‘SEC. 381J. STATE-TO-STATE COLLABORATION.
‘‘The Secretary shall permit the establishment of vol-
untary pooling arrangements among States, and regional
fund-sharing agreements, to carry out this subtitle.
‘‘SEC. 381K. RURAL VENTURE CAPITAL DEMONSTRATION
PROGRAM.
‘‘(a) IN GENERAL.—The Secretary shall designate up
to 10 community development venture capital organizations
to demonstrate the utility of guarantees to attract increased
private investment in rural private business enterprises.
‘‘(b) RURAL BUSINESS INVESTMENT POOL.—
‘‘(1) ESTABLISHMENT.—To be eligible to partici-
pate in the demonstration program, an organization
referred to in subsection (a) shall establish a rural
business private investment pool (referred to in this
subsection as a ‘pool’) for the purpose of making eq-
uity investments in rural private business enterprises.
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‘‘(2) GUARANTEE.—From funds allocated for the
national reserve under section 381F(a), the Secretary
shall guarantee the funds in a pool against loss, ex-
cept that the guarantee shall not exceed an amount
equal to 30 percent of the total funds in the pool.
‘‘(3) AMOUNT.—The Secretary shall issue guar-
antees covering not more than $15,000,000 of obliga-
tions for each of fiscal years 1996 through 2002.
‘‘(4) TERM.—The term of a guarantee provided
under this subsection shall not exceed 10 years.
‘‘(5) SUBMISSION OF PLAN.—To be eligible to
participate in the demonstration program, an organi-
zation referred to in subsection (a) shall submit a
plan that describes—
‘‘(A) potential sources and uses of the pool
to be established by the organization;
‘‘(B) the utility of the guarantee authority
in attracting capital for the pool; and
‘‘(C) on selection, mechanisms for notifying
State, local, and private nonprofit business de-
velopment organizations and businesses of the ex-
istence of the pool.
‘‘(6) COMPETITION.—
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‘‘(A) IN
GENERAL.—The Secretary shall
conduct a competition for the designation and
establishment of pools.
‘‘(B) PRIORITY.—In conducting the com-
petition, the Secretary shall give priority to or-
ganizations that—
‘‘(i) have a demonstrated record of per-
formance or have a board and executive di-
rector with experience in venture capital,
small business equity investments, or com-
munity development finance;
‘‘(ii) propose to serve low-income com-
munities;
‘‘(iii) propose to maintain an average
investment of not more than $500,000 from
the pool of the organization;
‘‘(iv) invest funds statewide or in a
multicounty region; and
‘‘(v) propose to target job opportunities
resulting from the investments primarily to
economically disadvantaged individuals.
‘‘(C) GEOGRAPHIC DIVERSITY.—To the ex-
tent practicable, the Secretary shall select organi-
zations in diverse geographic areas.
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‘‘SEC. 381L. ANNUAL REPORT.
‘‘(a) IN GENERAL.—The Secretary, in collaboration
with public, State, local, and private entities, State rural
development councils, and community-based organizations,
shall prepare an annual report that contains evaluations,
assessments, and performance outcomes concerning the
rural community advancement programs carried out under
this subtitle.
‘‘(b) SUBMISSION.—Not later than March 1 of each
year, the Secretary shall—
‘‘(1) submit the report required under subsection
(a) to Congress and the chief executives of States par-
ticipating in the program established under this sub-
title; and
‘‘(2) make the report available to State and local
participants.
‘‘SEC. 381M. RURAL DEVELOPMENT INTERAGENCY WORK-
ING GROUP.
‘‘(a) IN GENERAL.—The Secretary shall provide lead-
ership within the Executive branch for, and assume respon-
sibility for, establishing an interagency working group
chaired by the Secretary.
‘‘(b) DUTIES.—The working group shall establish pol-
icy, provide coordination, make recommendations, and
evaluate the performance of or for all Federal rural develop-
ment efforts.
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‘‘SEC. 381N. DUTIES OF RURAL ECONOMIC AND COMMUNITY
DEVELOPMENT STATE OFFICES.
‘‘In carrying out this subtitle, the Director of a Rural
Economic and Community Development State Office
shall—
‘‘(1) to the maximum extent practicable, ensure
that the State strategic plan is implemented;
‘‘(2) coordinate community development objec-
tives within the State;
‘‘(3) establish links between local, State, and
field office program administrators of the Department
of Agriculture;
‘‘(4) ensure that recipient communities comply
with applicable Federal and State laws and require-
ments; and
‘‘(5) integrate State development programs with
assistance under this subtitle.
‘‘SEC. 381O. ELECTRONIC TRANSFER.
‘‘The Secretary shall transfer funds in accordance with
this subtitle through electronic transfer as soon as prac-
ticable after the effective date of this subtitle.’’.
SEC. 762. COMMUNITY FACILITIES GRANT PROGRAM.
Section 306(a) of the Consolidated Farm and Rural
Development Act (7 U.S.C. 1926(a)) is amended by adding
at the end the following:
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‘‘(21) COMMUNITY
FACILITIES
GRANT
PRO-
GRAM.—
‘‘(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 cor-
porations, and federally recognized Indian tribes
to provide the Federal share of the cost of devel-
oping 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, establish 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
shall not exceed 75 percent of the cost of de-
veloping a facility.
‘‘(iii) GRADUATED
SCALE.—The Sec-
retary shall provide for a graduated scale
for the amount of the Federal share pro-
vided under this paragraph, with higher
Federal shares for facilities in communities
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that have lower community population and
income levels, as determined by the Sec-
retary.’’.
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 Ag-
riculture is’’ and inserting the following:
‘‘SEC. 2. GENERAL AUTHORITY OF THE SECRETARY OF AG-
RICULTURE.
‘‘(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 through the period at the end of the
subsection 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
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reports regarding matters, including financial, techno-
logical, and regulatory matters, affecting the condition and
progress of electric, telecommunications, and economic de-
velopment in rural areas and publish and disseminate in-
formation with respect to the matters.’’.
SEC. 772. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.
(a) IN GENERAL.—Section 3 of the Rural Electrifica-
tion Act of 1936 (7 U.S.C. 903) is amended to read as fol-
lows:
‘‘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)’’; and
(B) in paragraph (3), by striking ‘‘notwith-
standing section 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 strik-
ing ‘‘pursuant to section 3(a) of this Act’’.
(3) The last sentence of section 406(a) of the
Rural Electrification Act of 1936 (7 U.S.C. 946(a))
is amended by striking ‘‘pursuant to section 3(a) of
this Act’’.
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SEC. 773. LOANS FOR ELECTRICAL PLANTS AND TRANS-
MISSION 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 in-
serting ‘‘section 3,’’;
(2) in the second sentence, by striking ‘‘: Pro-
vided 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 sec-
tion 5’’.
SEC. 774. LOANS FOR ELECTRICAL AND PLUMBING EQUIP-
MENT.
(a) IN GENERAL.—Section 5 of the Rural Electrifica-
tion 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—
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(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 insert-
ing the following: ‘‘A loan under this subsection shall be
made under a contract that provides, under such terms and
conditions as the Secretary considers appropriate, for the
repayment of the loan in not more than 30 years, with in-
terest 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 PREVEN-
TION 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
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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 mu-
nicipal obligations 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,
DISLOCATED FARMERS, AND RURAL FAMI-
LIES.
(a) IN GENERAL.—Section 502 of the Rural Develop-
ment Act of 1972 (7 U.S.C. 2662) is amended by striking
subsection (f).
(b) CONFORMING AMENDMENTS.—
(1) Section 2389 of the Food, Agriculture, Con-
servation, and Trade Act of 1990 (Public Law 101–
624; 7 U.S.C. 2662 note) is amended by striking sub-
section (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 distrib-
uted’’ and inserting ‘‘subsections (e), (h),
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and (i) of section 502 shall be distributed’’;
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. COOPERATIVE AGREEMENTS.
(a) Section 607(b) of the Rural Development Act of
1972 (7 U.S.C. 2204b(b)) is amended by striking paragraph
(4) and inserting the following:
‘‘(4) COOPERATIVE AGREEMENTS.—
‘‘(A) IN GENERAL.—Notwithstanding chap-
ter 63 of title 31, United States Code, the Sec-
retary may enter into cooperative agreements
with other Federal agencies, State and local gov-
ernments, and any other organization or indi-
vidual to improve the coordination and effective-
ness of Federal programs, services, and actions
affecting rural areas, including the establishment
and financing of interagency groups, if the Sec-
retary determines that the objectives of the agree-
ment will serve the mutual interest of the parties
in rural development activities.
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‘‘(B) COOPERATORS.—Each cooperator, in-
cluding each Federal agency, to the extent that
funds are otherwise available, may participate
in any cooperative agreement or working group
established pursuant to this paragraph by con-
tributing funds or other resources to the Sec-
retary to carry out the agreement or functions of
the group.’’.
(b) Notwithstanding any other provision of law, sec-
tion 343(a) of the Consolidated Farm and Rural Develop-
ment Act (7 U.S.C. 1991(a)) is amended in subparagraph
(F)—
(i) by striking ‘‘exceed 15 percent’’ and
all that follows through ‘‘Code’’ and insert-
ing the following: ‘‘exceed—
‘‘(i) 25 percent of the median acreage
of the farms or ranches, as the case may be,
in the county in which the farm or ranch
operations of the applicant are located, as
reported in the most recent census of agri-
culture taken under section 142 of title 13,
United States Code.’’.
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TITLE VIII—RESEARCH
EXTENSION AND EDUCATION
Subtitle 
A—Amendments 
to 
Na-
tional 
Agricultural 
Research,
Extension, and Teaching Policy
Act of 1977 and Related Statutes
SEC. 801. PURPOSES OF AGRICULTURAL RESEARCH, EXTEN-
SION, 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, EX-
TENSION, AND EDUCATION.
‘‘The purposes of federally supported agricultural re-
search, extension, and education are to—
‘‘(1) enhance the competitiveness of the United
States agriculture and food industry in an increas-
ingly competitive world environment;
‘‘(2) increase the long-term productivity of the
United States agriculture and food industry while
protecting the natural resource base on which rural
America and the United States agricultural economy
depend;
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‘‘(3) develop new uses and new products for agri-
cultural commodities, such as alternative fuels, and
develop new crops;
‘‘(4) support agricultural research and extension
to promote economic opportunity in rural commu-
nities and to meet the increasing demand for infor-
mation and technology transfer throughout the United
States agriculture industry;
‘‘(5) improve risk management in the United
States agriculture industry;
‘‘(6) improve the safe production and processing
of, and adding of value to, United States food and
fiber resources using methods that are environ-
mentally sound;
‘‘(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. 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.
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6651(h)) is amended by striking the second through fifth
sentences.
SEC. 803. JOINT COUNCIL ON FOOD AND AGRICULTURAL
SCIENCES.
(a) IN GENERAL.—Section 1407 of the National Agri-
cultural Research, Extension, and Teaching Policy Act of
1977 (7 U.S.C. 3122) 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) by striking paragraph (9); and
(B) by redesignating paragraphs (10)
through (18) as paragraphs (9) through (17), re-
spectively.
(2) 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 ‘‘Advi-
sory Board’’; and
(B) in paragraph (11), by striking ‘‘the
Joint Council,’’.
(3) Section 1410(2) of the National Agricultural
Research, Extension, and Teaching Policy Act of 1977
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(7 U.S.C. 3125(2)) is amended by striking ‘‘the rec-
ommendations of the Joint Council developed under
section 1407(f),’’.
(4) 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
‘‘JOINT COUNCIL, ADVISORY BOARD,’’ and
inserting ‘‘ADVISORY BOARD’’;
(B) in subsection (a)—
(i) by striking ‘‘Joint Council, the Ad-
visory Board,’’ and inserting ‘‘Advisory
Board’’;
(ii) by striking ‘‘the cochairpersons of
the Joint Council and’’ each place it ap-
pears; and
(iii) in paragraph (2), by striking
‘‘one shall serve as the executive secretary to
the Joint Council, one shall serve as the ex-
ecutive secretary to the Advisory Board,’’
and inserting ‘‘1 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’’.
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(5) 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’’;
(B) in subsection (b), by striking ‘‘Joint
Council, Advisory Board,’’ and inserting ‘‘Advi-
sory Board’’; and
(C) by striking subsection (d).
(6) 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 insert-
ing ‘‘Advisory Board’’; and
(B) in the fourth sentence, by striking ‘‘the
Joint Council,’’.
SEC. 804. NATIONAL AGRICULTURAL RESEARCH, EXTEN-
SION, EDUCATION, AND ECONOMICS ADVI-
SORY BOARD.
(a) IN GENERAL.—Section 1408 of the National Agri-
cultural Research, Extension, and Teaching Policy Act of
1977 (7 U.S.C. 3123) is amended to read as follows:
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‘‘SEC. 1408. NATIONAL AGRICULTURAL RESEARCH, EXTEN-
SION, EDUCATION, AND ECONOMICS ADVI-
SORY BOARD.
‘‘(a) ESTABLISHMENT.—The Secretary shall establish
within the Department of Agriculture a board to be known
as the ‘National Agricultural Research, Extension, Edu-
cation, and Economics Advisory Board’.
‘‘(b) MEMBERSHIP.—
‘‘(1) IN GENERAL.—The Advisory Board shall
consist of 25 members, appointed by the Secretary.
‘‘(2) SELECTION OF MEMBERS.—The Secretary
shall appoint members to the Advisory Board from
individuals who are selected from national farm, com-
modity, agribusiness, environmental, consumer, and
other organizations directly concerned with agricul-
tural research, education, and extension programs.
‘‘(3) REPRESENTATION.—A member of the Advi-
sory Board may represent 1 or more of the organiza-
tions referred to in paragraph (2), except that 1 mem-
ber shall be a representative of the scientific commu-
nity that is not closely associated with agriculture.
The Secretary shall ensure that the membership of the
Advisory Board includes full-time farmers and ranch-
ers and represents the interests of the full variety of
stakeholders in the agricultural sector.
‘‘(c) DUTIES.—The Advisory Board shall—
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‘‘(1) review and provide consultation to the Sec-
retary and land-grant colleges and universities on
long-term and short-term national policies and prior-
ities, as set forth in section 1402, relating to agricul-
tural research, extension, education, and economics;
‘‘(2) evaluate the results and effectiveness of agri-
cultural research, extension, education, and economics
with respect to the policies and priorities;
‘‘(3) review and make recommendations to the
Under Secretary of Agriculture for Research, Edu-
cation, and Economics on the research, extension,
education, and economics portion of the draft strate-
gic plan required under section 306 of title 5, United
States Code; and
‘‘(4) review the mechanisms of the Department of
Agriculture for technology assessment (which should
be conducted by qualified professionals) for the pur-
poses of—
‘‘(A) performance measurement and evalua-
tion 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 re-
search policies and priorities set forth in section
1402; and
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‘‘(C) the development of mechanisms for the
assessment of emerging public and private agri-
cultural research and technology transfer initia-
tives.
‘‘(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 ap-
pointed to serve staggered terms.
‘‘(f) FEDERAL ADVISORY COMMITTEE ACT.—The Advi-
sory 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 re-
main in existence 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 Agricultural Re-
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search, Extension, Education, and Economics Advi-
sory 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 rec-
ommendations of the Advisory Board developed under
section 1408(g),’’ and inserting ‘‘any recommenda-
tions of the Advisory Board’’.
(3) The last sentence of section 4(a) of the Re-
newable Resources Extension Act of 1978 (16 U.S.C.
1673(a)) is amended by striking ‘‘National Agricul-
tural Research and Extension Users Advisory Board’’
and inserting ‘‘National Agricultural Research, Ex-
tension, Education, and Economics Advisory Board’’.
SEC. 805. AGRICULTURAL SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY RE-
VIEW BOARD.
(a) IN GENERAL.—Section 1408A of the National Ag-
ricultural 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) (as amended by section 803(b)(1)(B))
is further amended—
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(A) in paragraph (15), by adding ‘‘and’’ at
the end;
(B) in paragraph (16), by striking ‘‘; and’’
and inserting a period; and
(C) by striking paragraph (17).
(2) Section 1405(12) of the National Agricul-
tural 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 804(b)(2))
is further amended by striking ‘‘and the recommenda-
tions 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 803(b)(4)) is
further amended—
(A) in the section heading, by striking
‘‘AND TECHNOLOGY BOARD’’;
(B) in subsection (a)—
(i) by striking ‘‘and the Technology
Board’’ each place it appears; and
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(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 Technology 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 803(b)(5)) is
further amended—
(A) in subsection (a), by striking ‘‘or the
Technology Board’’; and
(B) in subsection (b), by striking ‘‘and the
Technology Board’’.
SEC. 806. FEDERAL ADVISORY COMMITTEE ACT EXEMPTION
FOR 
FEDERAL-STATE 
COOPERATIVE 
PRO-
GRAMS.
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 COMMIT-
TEE ACT.—
‘‘(1) PUBLIC MEETINGS.—All meetings of any
entity described in paragraph (2) shall be publicly
announced in advance and shall be open to the pub-
lic. Detailed minutes of meetings and other appro-
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priate records of the activities of such an entity shall
be kept and made available to the public on request.
‘‘(2) EXEMPTION.—The Federal Advisory Com-
mittee 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 any committee, board, com-
mission, panel, or task force, or similar entity that—
‘‘(A) is created for the purpose of coopera-
tive efforts in agricultural research, extension, or
teaching; and
‘‘(B) consists entirely of full-time Federal
employees and individuals who are employed by,
or who are officials of, a State cooperative insti-
tution or a State cooperative agent.’’.
SEC. 807. COORDINATION AND PLANNING OF AGRICUL-
TURAL RESEARCH, EXTENSION, AND EDU-
CATION.
Subtitle B of the National Agricultural Research, Ex-
tension, and Teaching Policy Act of 1977 (7 U.S.C. 3121
et seq.) is amended by adding at the end the following:
‘‘SEC. 1413A. ACCOUNTABILITY.
‘‘(a) IN GENERAL.—The Secretary shall develop and
carry out a system to monitor and evaluate agricultural
research and extension activities conducted or supported by
the Federal Government that will enable the Secretary to
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measure the impact of research, extension, and education
programs according to priorities, goals, and mandates es-
tablished by law.
‘‘(b) CONSISTENCY WITH OTHER REQUIREMENTS.—
The system shall be developed and carried out in a manner
that is consistent with the Government Performance and
Results Act of 1993 (Public Law 103–62; 107 Stat. 285)
and amendments made by the Act.
‘‘SEC. 1413B. IMMINENT OR EMERGING THREATS TO FOOD
SAFETY AND ANIMAL AND PLANT HEALTH.
‘‘In the case of any activities of an agency of the De-
partment of Agriculture that relate to food safety, animal
or plant health, research, education, or technology transfer,
the Secretary may transfer up to 5 percent of any amounts
made available to the agency for a fiscal year to an agency
of the Department of Agriculture reporting to the Under
Secretary of Agriculture for Research, Education, and Eco-
nomics for the purpose of addressing imminent or emerging
threats to food safety and animal and plant health.
‘‘SEC. 1413C. FEDERAL ADVISORY COMMITTEE ACT EXEMP-
TION FOR COMPETITIVE RESEARCH, EXTEN-
SION, AND EDUCATION PROGRAMS.
‘‘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 any committee,
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board, commission, panel, or task force, or similar entity,
created solely for the purpose of reviewing applications or
proposals requesting funding under any competitive re-
search, extension, or education program carried out by the
Secretary.’’.
SEC. 808. GRANTS AND FELLOWSHIPS FOR FOOD AND AGRI-
CULTURAL SCIENCES EDUCATION.
(a) IN GENERAL.—Section 1417 of the National Agri-
cultural Research, Extension, and Teaching Policy Act of
1977 (7 U.S.C. 3152) is amended—
(1) in subsection (b)—
(A) by inserting before ‘‘for a period’’ the
following: ‘‘or to research foundations main-
tained by the colleges and universities,’’; and
(B) by striking paragraph (4) and inserting
the following:
‘‘(4) to design and implement food and agricul-
tural programs to build teaching and research capac-
ity at primarily minority institutions;’’;
(2) by redesignating subsections (h) and (i) as
subsections (i) and (j), respectively;
(3) by inserting after subsection (g) the follow-
ing:
‘‘(h) SECONDARY
EDUCATION
AND
2-YEAR
POST-
SECONDARY EDUCATION TEACHING PROGRAMS.—
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‘‘(1) AGRISCIENCE
AND
AGRIBUSINESS
EDU-
CATION.—The Secretary shall—
‘‘(A) promote and strengthen secondary edu-
cation and 2-year postsecondary education in
agriscience and agribusiness in order to help en-
sure the existence in the United States of a
qualified workforce to serve the food and agricul-
tural sciences system; and
‘‘(B) promote complementary and syner-
gistic linkages among secondary, 2-year post-
secondary, and higher education programs in the
food and agricultural sciences in order to pro-
mote excellence in education and encourage more
young Americans to pursue and complete a bac-
calaureate or higher degree in the food and agri-
cultural sciences.
‘‘(2) GRANTS.—The Secretary may make com-
petitive or noncompetitive grants, for grant periods
not to exceed 5 years, to public secondary education
institutions, 2-year community colleges, and junior
colleges that have made a commitment to teaching
agriscience and agribusiness—
‘‘(A) to enhance curricula in agricultural
education;
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‘‘(B) to increase faculty teaching com-
petencies;
‘‘(C) to interest young people in pursuing a
higher education in order to prepare for sci-
entific and professional careers in the food and
agricultural sciences;
‘‘(D) to promote the incorporation of
agriscience and agribusiness subject matter into
other instructional programs, particularly class-
es in science, business, and consumer education;
‘‘(E) to facilitate joint initiatives among
other secondary or 2-year postsecondary institu-
tions and with 4-year colleges and universities to
maximize the development and use of resources
such as faculty, facilities, and equipment to im-
prove agriscience and agribusiness education;
and
‘‘(F) to support other initiatives designed to
meet local, State, regional, or national needs re-
lated to promoting excellence in agriscience and
agribusiness education.’’; and
(4) in subsection (j) (as so redesignated), by
striking ‘‘1995’’ and inserting ‘‘2002’’.
(b) TRANSFER OF FUNCTIONS AND DUTIES PERTAIN-
ING TO THE FUTURE FARMERS OF AMERICA.—
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(1) IN GENERAL.—There are transferred to the
Secretary of Agriculture all the functions and duties
of the Secretary of Education under the Act entitled
‘‘An Act to incorporate the Future Farmers of Amer-
ica, and for other purposes’’, approved August 30,
1950 (36 U.S.C. 271 et seq.).
(2) PERSONNEL AND UNEXPENDED BALANCES.—
There are transferred to the Department of Agri-
culture all personnel and balances of unexpended ap-
propriations available for carrying out the duties and
functions transferred under paragraph (1).
(3) AMENDMENTS.—The Act entitled ‘‘An Act to
incorporate the Future Farmers of America, and for
other purposes’’, approved August 30, 1950, is amend-
ed—
(A) in section 7(c) (36 U.S.C. 277(c)) by
striking ‘‘Secretary of Education, the executive
secretary shall be a member of the Department of
Education’’ and inserting ‘‘Secretary of Agri-
culture, the executive secretary shall be an officer
or employee of the Department of Agriculture’’;
(B) in section 8(a) (36 U.S.C. 278(a))—
(i) by striking ‘‘Secretary of Edu-
cation’’ and inserting ‘‘Secretary of Agri-
culture’’; and
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(ii) by striking ‘‘Department of Edu-
cation’’ and inserting ‘‘Department of Agri-
culture’’; and
(C) in section 18 (36 U.S.C. 288)—
(i) by striking ‘‘Secretary of Edu-
cation’’ each place it appears and inserting
‘‘Secretary of Agriculture’’; and
(ii) by striking ‘‘Department of Edu-
cation’’ each place it appears and inserting
‘‘Department of Agriculture’’.
SEC. 809. GRANTS FOR RESEARCH ON THE PRODUCTION
AND MARKETING OF ALCOHOLS AND INDUS-
TRIAL 
HYDROCARBONS 
FROM 
AGRICUL-
TURAL COMMODITIES AND FOREST PROD-
UCTS.
Section 1419(d) of the National Agricultural Research,
Extension, and Teaching Policy Act of 1977 (7 U.S.C.
3154(d)) is amended by striking ‘‘1995’’ and inserting
‘‘2002’’.
SEC. 810. POLICY RESEARCH CENTERS.
The National Agricultural Research, Extension, and
Teaching Policy Act of 1977 (as amended by section 809)
is further amended by inserting after section 1418 (7 U.S.C.
3153) the following:
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‘‘SEC. 1419. 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 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.—Except to the extent oth-
erwise prohibited by law, State agricultural experiment sta-
tions, colleges and universities, other research institutions
and organizations, private organizations, corporations, and
individuals shall be eligible to apply for and receive funding
under subsection (a).
‘‘(c) ACTIVITIES.—Under this section, funding may be
provided for disciplinary and interdisciplinary research
and education concerning activities consistent with this sec-
tion, including activities that—
‘‘(1) quantify the implications of public policies
and regulations;
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‘‘(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 nec-
essary to carry out this section for fiscal years 1996 through
2002.’’.
SEC. 811. HUMAN NUTRITION INTERVENTION AND HEALTH
PROMOTION RESEARCH PROGRAM.
Section 1424 of the National Agricultural Research,
Extension, and Teaching Policy Act of 1977 (7 U.S.C.
3174) is amended to read as follows:
‘‘SEC. 
1424. 
HUMAN 
NUTRITION 
INTERVENTION 
AND
HEALTH PROMOTION RESEARCH PROGRAM.
‘‘(a) AUTHORITY OF SECRETARY.—
‘‘(1) IN GENERAL.—The Secretary may establish,
and award grants for projects for, a multi-year re-
search initiative on human nutrition intervention
and health promotion.
‘‘(2) EMPHASIS OF INITIATIVE.—In administer-
ing human nutrition research projects under this sec-
tion, the Secretary shall give specific emphasis to—
‘‘(A) coordinated longitudinal research as-
sessments of nutritional status; and
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‘‘(B) the implementation of unified, innova-
tive intervention strategies;
to identify and solve problems of nutritional inad-
equacy and contribute to the maintenance of health,
well-being, performance, and productivity of individ-
uals, thereby reducing the need of the individuals to
use the health care system and social programs of the
United States.
‘‘(b) ADMINISTRATION OF FUNDS.—The Administrator
of the Agricultural Research Service shall administer funds
made available to carry out this section to ensure a coordi-
nated approach to health and nutrition research efforts.
‘‘(c) AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.—There are
authorized to be appropriated such sums as are necessary
to carry out this section for fiscal years 1996 through
2002.’’.
SEC. 812. FOOD AND NUTRITION EDUCATION PROGRAM.
Section 1425(c)(3) of the National Agricultural Re-
search, Extension, and Teaching Policy Act of 1977 (7
U.S.C. 3175(c)(3)) is amended by striking ‘‘fiscal year
1995’’ and inserting ‘‘each of fiscal years 1996 through
2002’’.
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SEC. 813. 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 ANI-
MAL HEALTH AND DISEASE RESEARCH.
‘‘(a) PURPOSES.—The purposes of this subtitle are
to—
‘‘(1) promote the general welfare through the im-
proved 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 con-
sumers of animal products;
‘‘(2) improve the health of horses;
‘‘(3) facilitate the effective treatment of, and, to
the extent possible, prevent animal and poultry dis-
eases in both domesticated and wild animals that, if
not controlled, would be disastrous to the United
States livestock and poultry industries and endanger
the food supply of the United States;
‘‘(4) improve methods for the control of orga-
nisms and residues in food products of animal origin
that could endanger the human food supply;
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‘‘(5) improve the housing and management of
animals to improve the well-being of livestock produc-
tion species;
‘‘(6) minimize livestock and poultry losses due to
transportation and handling;
‘‘(7) protect human health through control of
animal diseases 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 animal health.
‘‘(b) FINDINGS.—Congress finds that—
‘‘(1) the total animal health and disease research
and extension efforts of State colleges and universities
and of the Federal Government would be more effec-
tive if there were close coordination between the ef-
forts; and
‘‘(2) colleges and universities having accredited
schools or colleges of veterinary medicine and State
agricultural experiment stations that conduct animal
health and disease research are especially vital in
training research workers in animal health and relat-
ed disciplines.’’.
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SEC. 814. 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. 815. ANIMAL HEALTH AND DISEASE CONTINUING RE-
SEARCH.
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 ‘‘2002’’;
(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 live-
stock and poultry’’ and inserting ‘‘domestic livestock,
poultry, and commercial aquaculture species’’; and
(4) in subsection (f), by striking ‘‘domestic live-
stock and poultry’’ and inserting ‘‘domestic livestock,
poultry, and commercial aquaculture species’’.
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SEC. 816. ANIMAL HEALTH AND DISEASE NATIONAL OR RE-
GIONAL 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 relating to pre-harvest, on-farm food
safety, or animal well-being,’’ after ‘‘problems,’’;
and
(B) by striking ‘‘1995’’ and inserting
‘‘2002’’;
(2) in subsection (b), by striking ‘‘eligible insti-
tutions’’ and inserting ‘‘State agricultural experiment
stations, colleges and universities, other research insti-
tutions and organizations, Federal 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 paragraphs (4) and (5), respec-
tively; and
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(ii) by inserting after paragraph (1)
the following:
‘‘(2) any food safety problem that has a signifi-
cant pre-harvest (on-farm) component and is recog-
nized as posing a significant health hazard to the
consuming public;
‘‘(3) issues of animal well-being related to pro-
duction methods 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 COMMIT-
TEE 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 applica-
tions or proposals submitted under this subtitle.’’.
SEC. 817. 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.
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SEC. 818. GRANT PROGRAM TO UPGRADE AGRICULTURAL
AND FOOD SCIENCES FACILITIES AT 1890
LAND-GRANT COLLEGES.
Section 1447(b) of the National Agricultural Research,
Extension, 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 through 2002’’.
SEC. 819. NATIONAL RESEARCH AND TRAINING CENTEN-
NIAL CENTERS AUTHORIZATION.
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 through 2002,’’ after ‘‘1995’’; and
(2) in subsection (f), by striking ‘‘1995’’ and in-
serting ‘‘2002’’.
SEC. 820. GRANTS TO STATES FOR INTERNATIONAL TRADE
DEVELOPMENT CENTERS.
Section 1458A of the National Agricultural Research,
Extension, and Teaching Policy Act of 1977 (7 U.S.C.
3292) is repealed.
SEC. 821. AGRICULTURAL RESEARCH PROGRAMS.
Section 1463 of the National Agricultural Research,
Extension, and Teaching Policy Act of 1977 (7 U.S.C.
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3311) is amended by striking ‘‘1995’’ each place it appears
and inserting ‘‘2002’’.
SEC. 822. EXTENSION EDUCATION.
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 insert-
ing ‘‘each of fiscal years 1995 through 2002’’.
SEC. 823. SUPPLEMENTAL AND ALTERNATIVE CROPS RE-
SEARCH.
Section 1473D of the National Agricultural Research,
Extension, and Teaching Policy Act of 1977 (7 U.S.C.
3319d) is amended—
(1) in subsection (a)—
(A) by striking ‘‘1995’’ and inserting
‘‘2002’’; and
(B) by striking ‘‘and pilot’’;
(2) in subsection (c)—
(A) in paragraph (2)—
(i) in subparagraph (B), by striking
‘‘at pilot sites’’ through ‘‘the area’’; and
(ii) in subparagraph (D)—
(I) by striking ‘‘near such pilot
sites’’; and
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(II) by striking ‘‘successful pilot
program’’ and inserting ‘‘successful
program’’;
(B) in paragraph (3)—
(i) by striking ‘‘pilot’’;
(ii) in subparagraph (C), by striking
‘‘and’’ at the end;
(iii) in subparagraph (D), by striking
the period at the end and inserting a semi-
colon; and
(iv) by adding at the end the following:
‘‘(E) to conduct fundamental and applied re-
search related to the development of new commercial
products derived from natural plant material for in-
dustrial, medical, and agricultural applications; and
‘‘(F) to participate with colleges and univer-
sities, other Federal agencies, and private sector enti-
ties in conducting research described in subparagraph
(E).’’
SEC. 824. AQUACULTURE ASSISTANCE PROGRAMS.
(a) REPORTS.—Section 1475 of the National Agricul-
tural Research, Extension, and Teaching Policy Act of 1977
(7 U.S.C. 3322) is amended—
(1) by striking subsection (e); and
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(2) by redesignating subsections (f) and (g) as
subsections (e) and (f), respectively.
(b) AQUACULTURE RESEARCH FACILITIES.—Section
1476(b) of the National Agricultural Research, Extension,
and Teaching Policy Act of 1977 (7 U.S.C. 3323(b)) is
amended by striking ‘‘1995’’ and inserting ‘‘2002’’.
(c) RESEARCH AND EXTENSION.—Section 1477 of the
National Agricultural Research, Extension, and Teaching
Policy Act of 1977 (7 U.S.C. 3324) is amended by striking
‘‘1995’’ and inserting ‘‘2002’’.
SEC. 825. RANGELAND RESEARCH.
(a) REPORTS.—Section 1481 of the National Agricul-
tural 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.
(c) AUTHORIZATION
OF APPROPRIATIONS.—Section
1483(a) of the National Agricultural Research, Extension,
and Teaching Policy Act of 1977 (7 U.S.C. 3336(a)) is
amended by striking ‘‘1995’’ and inserting ‘‘2002’’.
SEC. 826. TECHNICAL AMENDMENTS.
The table of contents of the Food and Agriculture Act
of 1977 (Public Law 95–113; 91 Stat. 913) is amended—
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(1) by striking the item relating to section 1402
and inserting the following:
‘‘Sec. 1402. Purposes of agricultural research, extension, and education.’’;
(2) by striking the items relating to sections
1406, 1407, 1408A, 1432, 1446, 1458A, 1481, and
1482;
(3) by striking the item relating to section 1408
and inserting the following:
‘‘Sec. 1408. National Agricultural Research, Extension, Education, and Economics
Advisory Board.’’;
(4) by striking the item relating to section 1412
and inserting the following:
‘‘Sec. 1412. Support for the Advisory Board.’’;
(5) by adding at the end of the items relating to
subtitle B of title XIV the following:
‘‘Sec. 1413A. Accountability.
‘‘Sec. 1413B. Imminent or emerging threats to food safety and animal and plant
health.
‘‘Sec. 1413C. Federal Advisory Committee Act exemption for competitive research,
extension, and education programs.’’;
(6) by striking the item relating to section 1419
and inserting the following:
‘‘Sec. 1419. Policy research centers.’’;
(7) by striking the item relating to section 1424
and inserting the following:
‘‘Sec. 1424. Human nutrition intervention and health promotion research pro-
gram.’’;
and
(8) by striking the item relating to section 1429
and inserting the following:
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‘‘Sec. 1429. Purposes and findings relating to animal health and disease re-
search.’’.
Subtitle B—Amendments to Food,
Agriculture, Conservation, and
Trade Act of 1990
SEC. 831. WATER QUALITY RESEARCH, EDUCATION, AND CO-
ORDINATION.
(a) IN GENERAL.—Subtitle G of title XIV of the Food,
Agriculture, Conservation, and Trade Act of 1990 (7 U.S.C.
5501 et seq.) is repealed.
(b) CONFORMING AMENDMENTS.—
(1) Section 1627(a)(3) of the Food, Agriculture,
Conservation, and Trade Act of 1990 (7 U.S.C.
5821(a)(3)) is amended by striking ‘‘, subtitle G of
title XIV,’’.
(2) Section 1628 of the Food, Agriculture, Con-
servation, and Trade Act of 1990 (7 U.S.C. 5831) is
amended by striking ‘‘, subtitle G of title XIV,’’ each
place it appears in subsections (a) and (d).
(3) Section 1629 of the Food, Agriculture, Con-
servation, and Trade Act of 1990 (7 U.S.C. 5832) is
amended by striking ‘‘, subtitle G of title XIV,’’ each
place it appears in subsections (f) and (g)(11).
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SEC. 832. EDUCATION PROGRAM REGARDING HANDLING OF
AGRICULTURAL CHEMICALS AND AGRICUL-
TURAL CHEMICAL CONTAINERS.
(a) IN GENERAL.—Section 1499A of the Food, Agri-
culture, Conservation, 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. 833. PROGRAM ADMINISTRATION.
(a) IN GENERAL.—Section 1622 of the Food, Agri-
culture, Conservation, and Trade Act of 1990 (7 U.S.C.
5812) is amended—
(1) by striking subsections (b), (c), and (d); and
(2) by redesignating subsection (e) as subsection
(b).
(b) 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), respec-
tively.
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(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.
(3) Section 1622 of the Food, Agriculture, Con-
servation, and Trade Act of 1990 (7 U.S.C. 5812) (as
amended by subsection (a)) is further amended—
(A) in subsection (a)—
(i) by striking paragraph (2);
(ii) in paragraph (3), by striking
‘‘subsection (e)’’ and inserting ‘‘subsection
(b)’’; and
(iii) by redesignating paragraphs (3)
and (4) as paragraphs (2) and (3), respec-
tively; and
(B) in subsection (b)(2)—
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(i) by striking subparagraph (A); and
(ii) by redesignating subparagraphs
(B) through (F) as subparagraphs (A)
through (E), respectively.
(4) 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 ‘‘Natu-
ral Resources Conservation Service’’.
SEC. 834. NATIONAL GENETICS RESOURCES PROGRAM.
(a) FUNCTIONS.—Section 1632(d) of the Food, Agri-
culture, Conservation, and Trade Act of 1990 (7 U.S.C.
5841(d)) is amended by striking paragraph (4) and insert-
ing the following:
‘‘(4) unless otherwise prohibited by law, have the
right to make available on request, without charge
and without regard to the country from which the re-
quest originates, the genetic material that the pro-
gram assembles;’’.
(b) AUTHORIZATION
OF APPROPRIATIONS.—Section
1635(b) of the Food, Agriculture, Conservation, and Trade
Act of 1990 (7 U.S.C. 5844(b)) is amended by striking
‘‘1995’’ and inserting ‘‘2002’’.
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SEC. 835. NATIONAL AGRICULTURAL WEATHER INFORMA-
TION SYSTEM.
Section 1641(c) of the Food, Agriculture, Conservation,
and Trade Act of 1990 (7 U.S.C. 5855(c)) is amended by
striking ‘‘1995’’ and inserting ‘‘2002’’.
SEC. 836. RESEARCH REGARDING PRODUCTION, PREPARA-
TION, PROCESSING, HANDLING, AND STOR-
AGE OF AGRICULTURAL PRODUCTS.
Subtitle E of title XVI of the Food, Agriculture, Con-
servation, and Trade Act of 1990 (7 U.S.C. 5871 et seq.)
is repealed.
SEC. 837. PLANT AND ANIMAL PEST AND DISEASE CONTROL
PROGRAM.
(a) IN GENERAL.—Subtitle F of title XVI of the Food,
Agriculture, Conservation, and Trade Act of 1990 (7 U.S.C.
5881) is repealed.
(b) CONFORMING AMENDMENTS.—
(1) Section 28(b)(2)(A) of the Federal Insecti-
cide, Fungicide, and Rodenticide Act (7 U.S.C.
136w–3(b)(2)(A)) is amended by striking ‘‘and the in-
formation required by section 1651 of the Food, Agri-
culture, Conservation, and Trade Act of 1990’’.
(2) Section 1627(a)(3) of the Food, Agriculture,
Conservation, and Trade Act of 1990 (7 U.S.C.
5821(a)(3)) is amended by striking ‘‘and section
1650’’.
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(3) Section 1628 of the Food, Agriculture, Con-
servation, and Trade Act of 1990 (7 U.S.C. 5831) is
amended by striking ‘‘section 1650,’’ each place it ap-
pears in subsections (a) and (d).
(4) Section 1629 of the Food, Agriculture, Con-
servation, and Trade Act of 1990 (7 U.S.C. 5832) is
amended by striking ‘‘section 1650,’’ each place it ap-
pears in subsections (f) and (g)(11).
SEC. 838. LIVESTOCK PRODUCT SAFETY AND INSPECTION
PROGRAM.
Section 1670(e) of the Food, Agriculture, Conservation,
and Trade Act of 1990 (7 U.S.C. 5923(e)) is amended by
striking ‘‘1995’’ and inserting ‘‘2002’’.
SEC. 839. PLANT GENOME MAPPING PROGRAM.
Section 1671 of the Food, Agriculture, Conservation,
and Trade Act of 1990 (7 U.S.C. 5924) is repealed.
SEC. 840. SPECIALIZED RESEARCH PROGRAMS.
Section 1672 of the Food, Agriculture, Conservation,
and Trade Act of 1990 (7 U.S.C. 5925) is repealed.
SEC. 841. AGRICULTURAL TELECOMMUNICATIONS PRO-
GRAM.
Section 1673(h) of the Food, Agriculture, Conserva-
tion, and Trade Act of 1990 (7 U.S.C. 5926(h)) is amended
by striking ‘‘1995’’ and inserting ‘‘2002’’.
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SEC. 842. NATIONAL CENTERS FOR AGRICULTURAL PROD-
UCT QUALITY RESEARCH.
Section 1675(g)(1) of the Food, Agriculture, Conserva-
tion, and Trade Act of 1990 (7 U.S.C. 5928(g)(1)) is
amended by striking ‘‘1995’’ and inserting ‘‘2002’’.
SEC. 843. TURKEY RESEARCH CENTER AUTHORIZATION.
Section 1676 of the Food, Agriculture, Conservation,
and Trade Act of 1990 (7 U.S.C. 5929) is repealed.
SEC. 844. SPECIAL GRANT TO STUDY CONSTRAINTS ON AG-
RICULTURAL TRADE.
Section 1678 of the Food, Agriculture, Conservation,
and Trade Act of 1990 (7 U.S.C. 5931) is repealed.
SEC. 845. PILOT PROJECT TO COORDINATE FOOD AND NU-
TRITION EDUCATION PROGRAMS.
Section 1679 of the Food, Agriculture, Conservation,
and Trade Act of 1990 (7 U.S.C. 5932) is repealed.
SEC. 846. 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 ‘‘2002’’; and
(2) in subsection (b)(2), by striking ‘‘1996’’ and
inserting ‘‘2002’’.
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SEC. 847. DEMONSTRATION PROJECTS.
Section 2348 of the Food, Agriculture, Conservation,
and Trade Act of 1990 (7 U.S.C. 2662a) is repealed.
SEC. 848. NATIONAL RURAL INFORMATION CENTER CLEAR-
INGHOUSE.
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 ‘‘2002’’.
SEC. 849. GLOBAL CLIMATE CHANGE.
(a) TECHNICAL ADVISORY COMMITTEE.—Section 2404
of the Food, Agriculture, Conservation, and Trade Act of
1990 (7 U.S.C. 6703) is repealed.
(b) AUTHORIZATION
OF APPROPRIATIONS.—Section
2412 of the Food, Agriculture, Conservation, and Trade Act
of 1990 (7 U.S.C. 6710) is amended by striking ‘‘1996’’ and
inserting ‘‘2002’’.
SEC. 850. TECHNICAL AMENDMENTS.
The table of contents of the Food, Agriculture, Con-
servation, and Trade Act of 1990 (Public Law 101–624;
104 Stat. 3359) is amended by striking the items relating
to subtitle G of title XIV, section 1499A, subtitles E and
F of title XVI, and sections 1671, 1672, 1676, 1678, 1679,
2348, and 2404.
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Subtitle C—Miscellaneous Research
Provisions
SEC. 861. CRITICAL AGRICULTURAL MATERIALS RESEARCH.
(a) IN GENERAL.—Section 4 of the Critical Agricul-
tural 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
‘‘2002’’.
SEC. 862. 1994 INSTITUTIONS.
(a) LAND-GRANT STATUS.—The first sentence of sec-
tion 533(b) of the Equity in Educational Land-Grant Sta-
tus Act of 1994 (Public Law 103–382; 7 U.S.C. 301 note)
is amended by striking ‘‘2000’’ and inserting ‘‘2002’’.
(b) INSTITUTIONAL CAPACITY BUILDING GRANTS.—
Section 535 of the Equity in Educational Land-Grant Sta-
tus Act of 1994 (Public Law 103–382; 7 U.S.C. 301 note)
is amended by striking ‘‘2000’’ each place it appears in
subsections (b)(1) and (c) and inserting ‘‘2002’’.
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SEC. 863. SMITH-LEVER ACT FUNDING FOR 1890 LAND-
GRANT COLLEGES, INCLUDING TUSKEGEE
UNIVERSITY AND THE DISTRICT OF COLUM-
BIA.
(a) ELIGIBILITY FOR FUNDS.—Section 3(d) of the Act
of May 8, 1914 (commonly known as the ‘‘Smith-Lever
Act’’) (38 Stat. 373, chapter 79; 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 (26 Stat. 417, chapter 841; 7 U.S.C. 321 et seq.),
including Tuskegee University, or section 208 of the District
of Columbia Public Postsecondary Education Reorganiza-
tion Act (Public Law 93–471; 88 Stat. 1428) may apply
for and receive directly from the Secretary of Agriculture—
‘‘(1) amounts made available under this sub-
section after September 30, 1995, to carry out pro-
grams 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 Sec-
retary; and
‘‘(2) amounts made available after September 30,
1995, to carry out programs or initiatives funded
under this subsection prior to that date that are in
excess of the highest amount made available for the
programs or initiatives under this subsection for fis-
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cal year 1995, or any previous fiscal year, as deter-
mined by the Secretary.’’.
(b) CONFORMING AMENDMENTS.—
(1) 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 cal-
culation, the total appropriations shall not include
amounts made available after September 30, 1995,
under section 3(d) of the Act of May 8, 1914 (com-
monly known as the ‘Smith-Lever Act’) (38 Stat. 373,
chapter 79; 7 U.S.C. 343(d)), to carry out programs
or initiatives for which no funds were made available
under section 3(d) of the Act for fiscal year 1995, or
any previous fiscal year, as determined by the Sec-
retary, and shall not include amounts made available
after September 30, 1995, to carry out programs or
initiatives funded under section 3(d) of the Act prior
to that date that are in excess of the highest amount
made available for the programs or initiatives for fis-
cal year 1995, or any previous fiscal year, as deter-
mined by the Secretary.’’.
(2) Section 208(c) of the District of Columbia
Public Postsecondary Education Reorganization Act
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(Public Law 93–471; 88 Stat. 1428) is amended by
adding at the end the following: ‘‘Funds appropriated
under this subsection shall be in addition to any
amounts provided to the District of Columbia from—
‘‘(1) amounts made available after September 30,
1995, under section 3(d) of the Act to carry out pro-
grams or initiatives for which no funds were made
available under section 3(d) of the Act for fiscal year
1995, or any previous fiscal year, as determined by
the Secretary of Agriculture; and
‘‘(2) amounts made available after September 30,
1995, to carry out programs or initiatives funded
under section 3(d) of the Act prior to the 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 Sec-
retary of Agriculture.’’.
SEC. 864. COMMITTEE OF NINE.
Section 3(c)(3) of the Act of March 2, 1887 (Chapter
314; 7 U.S.C. 361c(c)(3)) is amended by striking from ‘‘,
and shall be used’’ through the end of the paragraph and
inserting a period.
SEC. 865. AGRICULTURAL RESEARCH FACILITIES.
(a) IN GENERAL.—
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(1) RESEARCH FACILITIES.—The Research Fa-
cilities 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 ‘agricultural 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, modernization,
renovation, or remodeling of the facility.
‘‘(2) FOOD AND AGRICULTURAL SCIENCES.—The
term ‘food and agricultural sciences’ means—
‘‘(A) agriculture, including soil and water
conservation and use, the use of organic mate-
rials to improve soil tilth and fertility, plant
and animal production and protection, and
plant and animal health;
‘‘(B) the processing, distributing, market-
ing, and utilization of food and agricultural
products;
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‘‘(C) forestry, including range management,
production of forest and range products. multiple
use of forest 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 preserva-
tion.
‘‘(3) SECRETARY.—The term ‘Secretary’ means
the Secretary of Agriculture.
‘‘SEC. 3. REVIEW PROCESS.
‘‘(a) SUBMISSION TO SECRETARY.—Each proposal for
an agricultural research facility shall be submitted to the
Secretary for review. The Secretary shall review the propos-
als in the order in which the proposals are received.
‘‘(b) APPLICATION PROCESS.—In consultation with
the Committee on Appropriations of the Senate and Com-
mittee on Appropriations of the House of Representatives,
the Secretary shall establish an application process for the
submission of proposals for agricultural research facilities.
‘‘(c) CRITERIA FOR APPROVAL.—
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‘‘(1) DETERMINATION BY SECRETARY.—With re-
spect to each proposal for an agricultural research fa-
cility submitted under subsection (a), the Secretary
shall determine whether the proposal meets the cri-
teria 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 per-
cent 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 agricul-
tural research facility would be complementary
to, and not duplicative of, facilities of colleges,
universities, and nonprofit institutions, and fa-
cilities of the Agricultural Research Service,
within the State and region.
‘‘(C) NATIONAL
RESEARCH
PRIORITIES.—
The proposal shall demonstrate how the agricul-
tural research facility would serve—
‘‘(i) 1 or more of the national research
policies and priorities set forth in section
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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 demonstrate that the recipient college, uni-
versity, or nonprofit institution has the ability
and commitment to support the long-term, ongo-
ing operating costs of—
‘‘(i) the agricultural research facility
after the facility is completed; and
‘‘(ii) each program to be based at the
facility.
‘‘(E) STRATEGIC PLAN.—After the develop-
ment of the strategic plan required by section 4,
the proposal shall demonstrate how the agricul-
tural research facility reflects the strategic plan
for Federal research facilities.
‘‘(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 pro-
posal, including the extent to which the proposal
meets the criteria set forth in subsection (c); and
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‘‘(2) report to the Committee on Appropriations
of the Senate and Committee on Appropriations of the
House of Representatives on the results of the evalua-
tion and assessment.
‘‘SEC. 4. STRATEGIC PLAN FOR FEDERAL RESEARCH FACILI-
TIES.
‘‘(a) IN GENERAL.—Not later than September 30,
1997, the Secretary shall develop a comprehensive plan for
the development, construction, modernization, consolida-
tion, and closure of federally supported agricultural re-
search facilities.
‘‘(b) FACTORS.—In developing the plan, the Secretary
shall consider—
‘‘(1) the need to increase agricultural productiv-
ity and to enhance the competitiveness of the United
States agriculture and food industry as set forth in
section 1402 of the National Agricultural Research,
Extension, and Teaching Policy Act of 1977 (7 U.S.C.
3101); and
‘‘(2) the findings of the National Academy of
Sciences with respect to programmatic and scientific
priorities relating to agriculture.
‘‘(c) IMPLEMENTATION.—The plan shall be developed
for implementation over the 10-fiscal year period beginning
with fiscal year 1998.
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‘‘SEC. 5. APPLICABILITY OF FEDERAL ADVISORY COMMIT-
TEE 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
authorized to be appropriated such sums as are necessary
for fiscal years 1996 through 2002 for the study, plan, de-
sign, structure, and related costs of agricultural research
facilities under this Act.
‘‘(b) ALLOWABLE ADMINISTRATIVE COSTS.—Not more
than 3 percent of the funds made available for any project
for an agricultural research facility shall be available for
administration of the project.’’.
(2) APPLICATION.—
(A) CURRENT PROJECTS.—The amendment
made by paragraph (1), other than section 4 of
the Research Facilities Act (as amended by para-
graph (1)), 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.
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(B) STRATEGIC PLAN.—The strategic plan
required by section 4 of the Act shall apply to
all federally supported agricultural research fa-
cilities, including projects funded prior to the ef-
fective date of this title.
(b) AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS FOR FED-
ERAL FACILITIES.—Section 1431 of the National Agricul-
tural Research, Extension, 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
‘‘2002’’; and
(2) by striking subsection (b).
(c) CONFORMING AMENDMENT.—Section 1463(a) of
the National Agricultural Research, Extension, and Teach-
ing Policy Act of 1977 (7 U.S.C. 3311(a)) is amended by
striking ‘‘1416,’’.
SEC. 866. NATIONAL COMPETITIVE RESEARCH INITIATIVE.
Subsection (b)(10) of the Competitive, Special, and
Facilities Research Grant Act (7 U.S.C. 450i(b)(10)) is
amended—
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(1) by striking ‘‘OF APPROPRIATIONS.—There’’
and inserting the following: ‘‘AND AVAILABILITY OF
APPROPRIATIONS.—
‘‘(A) IN GENERAL.—There’’;
(2) by striking ‘‘fiscal year 1995’’ and inserting
‘‘each of fiscal years 1995 through 2002’’;
(3) by striking ‘‘(A) not’’ and inserting the fol-
lowing:
‘‘(i) not’’;
(4) by striking ‘‘(B) not’’ and inserting the fol-
lowing:
‘‘(ii) not’’;
(5) in clause (ii) (as so designated), by striking
‘‘20 percent’’ and inserting ‘‘40 percent’’;
(6) by striking ‘‘(C) not’’ and inserting the fol-
lowing:
‘‘(iii) not’’;
(7) by striking ‘‘(D) not’’ and inserting the fol-
lowing:
‘‘(iv) not’’;
(8) by striking ‘‘(E) not’’ and inserting the fol-
lowing:
‘‘(v) not’’; and
(9) by adding at the end the following:
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promotion, and consumer education programs that
are valuable to the efforts of promoting the consump-
tion of canola, rapeseed, and canola and rapeseed
products;
(6) the cooperative development, financing, and
implementation of a coordinated national program of
canola and rapeseed research, promotion, consumer
information, and industry information is necessary
to maintain and expand existing markets and develop
new markets for canola, rapeseed, and canola and
rapeseed products; and
(7) canola, rapeseed, and canola and rapeseed
products move in interstate and foreign commerce,
and canola, rapeseed, and canola and rapeseed prod-
ucts that do not move in interstate or foreign com-
merce directly burden or affect interstate commerce in
canola, rapeseed, and canola and rapeseed products.
(b) POLICY.—It is the policy of this subtitle to establish
an orderly procedure for developing, financing through as-
sessments on domestically-produced canola and rapeseed,
and implementing a program of research, promotion,
consumer information, and industry information designed
to strengthen the position in the marketplace of the canola
and rapeseed industry, to maintain and expand existing
domestic and foreign markets and uses for canola, rapeseed,