H. R. 2419—284 
(b) AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.—Section 2335A of the 
Food, Agriculture, Conservation, and Trade Act of 1990 (7 U.S.C. 
950aaa–5) is amended by striking ‘‘2007’’ and inserting ‘‘2012’’. 
(c) CONFORMING AMENDMENT.—Section 1(b) of Public Law 102– 
551 (7 U.S.C. 950aaa note; Public Law 102–551) is amended by 
striking ‘‘2007’’ and inserting ‘‘2012’’. 
SEC. 6202. VALUE-ADDED AGRICULTURAL MARKET DEVELOPMENT 
PROGRAM GRANTS. 
(a) DEFINITIONS.—Section 231 of the Agricultural Risk Protec-
tion Act of 2000 (7 U.S.C. 1621 note; Public Law 106–224) is 
amended by striking subsection (a) and inserting the following: 
‘‘(a) DEFINITIONS.—In this section: 
‘‘(1) BEGINNING FARMER OR RANCHER.—The term ‘beginning 
farmer or rancher’ has the meaning given the term in section 
343(a) of the Consolidated Farm and Rural Development Act 
(7 U.S.C. 1991(a)). 
‘‘(2) FAMILY FARM.—The term ‘family farm’ has the meaning 
given the term in section 761.2 of title 7, Code of Federal 
Regulations (as in effect on December 30, 2007). 
‘‘(3) MID-TIER
VALUE
CHAIN.—The term ‘mid-tier value 
chain’ means local and regional supply networks that link 
independent producers with businesses and cooperatives that 
market value-added agricultural products in a manner that— 
‘‘(A) targets and strengthens the profitability and 
competitiveness of small and medium-sized farms and 
ranches that are structured as a family farm; and 
‘‘(B) obtains agreement from an eligible agricultural 
producer group, farmer or rancher cooperative, or majority- 
controlled producer-based business venture that is engaged 
in the value chain on a marketing strategy. 
‘‘(4) SOCIALLY DISADVANTAGED FARMER OR RANCHER.—The 
term ‘socially disadvantaged farmer or rancher’ has the 
meaning given the term in section 355(e) of the Consolidated 
Farm and Rural Development Act (7 U.S.C. 2003(e)). 
‘‘(5) VALUE-ADDED
AGRICULTURAL
PRODUCT.—The term 
‘value-added agricultural product’ means any agricultural com-
modity or product that— 
‘‘(A)(i) has undergone a change in physical state; 
‘‘(ii) was produced in a manner that enhances the 
value of the agricultural commodity or product, as dem-
onstrated through a business plan that shows the enhanced 
value, as determined by the Secretary; 
‘‘(iii) is physically segregated in a manner that results 
in the enhancement of the value of the agricultural com-
modity or product; 
‘‘(iv) is a source of farm- or ranch-based renewable 
energy, including E–85 fuel; or 
‘‘(v) is aggregated and marketed as a locally-produced 
agricultural food product; and 
‘‘(B) as a result of the change in physical state or the 
manner in which the agricultural commodity or product was 
produced, marketed, or segregated— 
‘‘(i) the customer base for the agricultural commodity 
or product is expanded; and 
‘‘(ii) a greater portion of the revenue derived from 
the marketing, processing, or physical segregation of the
H. R. 2419—285 
agricultural commodity or product is available to the pro-
ducer of the commodity or product.’’. 
(b) GRANT PROGRAM.—Section 231(b) of the Agricultural Risk 
Protection Act of 2000 (7 U.S.C. 1621 note; Public Law 106–224) 
is amended— 
(1) in paragraph (1), by striking ‘‘paragraph (4)’’ and 
inserting ‘‘paragraph (7)’’; and 
(2) by striking paragraph (4) and inserting the following: 
‘‘(4) TERM.—A grant under this subsection shall have a 
term that does not exceed 3 years. 
‘‘(5) SIMPLIFIED APPLICATION.—The Secretary shall offer a 
simplified application form and process for project proposals 
requesting less than $50,000. 
‘‘(6) PRIORITY.—In awarding grants under this subsection, 
the Secretary shall give priority to projects that contribute 
to increasing opportunities for— 
‘‘(A) beginning farmers or ranchers; 
‘‘(B) socially disadvantaged farmers or ranchers; and 
‘‘(C) operators of small- and medium-sized farms and 
ranches that are structured as a family farm. 
‘‘(7) FUNDING.— 
‘‘(A) MANDATORY
FUNDING.—On October 1, 2008, of 
the funds of the Commodity Credit Corporation, the Sec-
retary shall make available to carry out this subsection 
$15,000,000, to remain available until expended. 
‘‘(B) DISCRETIONARY FUNDING.—There is authorized to 
be appropriated to carry out this subsection $40,000,000 
for each of fiscal years 2008 through 2012. 
‘‘(C) RESERVATION OF FUNDS FOR PROJECTS TO BENEFIT 
BEGINNING
FARMERS
OR
RANCHERS, SOCIALLY
DISADVAN-
TAGED
FARMERS
OR
RANCHERS, 
AND
MID-TIER
VALUE 
CHAINS.— 
‘‘(i) IN GENERAL.—The Secretary shall reserve 10 
percent of the amounts made available for each fiscal 
year under this paragraph to fund projects that benefit 
beginning farmers or ranchers or socially disadvan-
taged farmers or ranchers. 
‘‘(ii) MID-TIER VALUE CHAINS.—The Secretary shall 
reserve 10 percent of the amounts made available for 
each fiscal year under this paragraph to fund applica-
tions of eligible entities described in paragraph (1) 
that propose to develop mid-tier value chains. 
‘‘(iii) UNOBLIGATED AMOUNTS.—Any amounts in the 
reserves for a fiscal year established under clauses 
(i) and (ii) that are not obligated by June 30 of the 
fiscal year shall be available to the Secretary to make 
grants under this subsection to eligible entities in any 
State, as determined by the Secretary.’’. 
SEC. 6203. AGRICULTURE INNOVATION CENTER DEMONSTRATION PRO-
GRAM. 
Section 6402 of the Farm Security and Rural Investment Act 
of 2002 (7 U.S.C. 1621 note; Public Law 107–171) is amended 
by striking subsection (i) and inserting the following: 
‘‘(i) AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.—There is authorized 
to be appropriated to the Secretary to carry out this section 
$6,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2008 through 2012.’’.
H. R. 2419—286 
SEC. 6204. RURAL FIREFIGHTERS AND EMERGENCY MEDICAL SERVICE 
ASSISTANCE PROGRAM. 
Section 6405 of the Farm Security and Rural Investment Act 
of 2002 (7 U.S.C. 2655) is amended to read as follows: 
‘‘SEC. 
6405. 
RURAL 
FIREFIGHTERS 
AND 
EMERGENCY 
MEDICAL 
SERVICE ASSISTANCE PROGRAM. 
‘‘(a) DEFINITION OF EMERGENCY MEDICAL SERVICES.—In this 
section: 
‘‘(1) IN GENERAL.—The term ‘emergency medical services’ 
means resources used by a public or nonprofit entity to deliver 
medical care outside of a medical facility under emergency 
conditions that occur as a result of— 
‘‘(A) the condition of a patient; or 
‘‘(B) a natural disaster or related condition. 
‘‘(2) INCLUSION.—The term ‘emergency medical services’ 
includes services (whether compensated or volunteer) delivered 
by an emergency medical services provider or other provider 
recognized by the State involved that is licensed or certified 
by the State as— 
‘‘(A) an emergency medical technician or the equivalent 
(as determined by the State); 
‘‘(B) a registered nurse; 
‘‘(C) a physician assistant; or 
‘‘(D) a physician that provides services similar to serv-
ices provided by such an emergency medical services pro-
vider. 
‘‘(b) GRANTS.—The Secretary shall award grants to eligible enti-
ties— 
‘‘(1) to enable the entities to provide for improved emer-
gency medical services in rural areas; and 
‘‘(2) to pay the cost of training firefighters and emergency 
medical personnel in firefighting, emergency medical practices, 
and responding to hazardous materials and bioagents in rural 
areas. 
‘‘(c) ELIGIBILITY.—To be eligible to receive a grant under this 
section, an entity shall— 
‘‘(1) be— 
‘‘(A) a State emergency medical services office; 
‘‘(B) a State emergency medical services association; 
‘‘(C) a State office of rural health or an equivalent 
agency; 
‘‘(D) a local government entity; 
‘‘(E) an Indian tribe (as defined in section 4 of the 
Indian Self-Determination and Education Assistance Act 
(25 U.S.C. 450b)); 
‘‘(F) a State or local ambulance provider; or 
‘‘(G) any other public or nonprofit entity determined 
appropriate by the Secretary; and 
‘‘(2) prepare and submit to the Secretary an application 
at such time, in such manner, and containing such information 
as the Secretary may require, that includes— 
‘‘(A) a description of the activities to be carried out 
under the grant; and 
‘‘(B) an assurance that the applicant will comply with 
the matching requirement of subsection (f).
H. R. 2419—287 
‘‘(d) USE OF FUNDS.—An entity shall use amounts received 
under a grant made under subsection (b) only in a rural area— 
‘‘(1) to hire or recruit emergency medical service personnel; 
‘‘(2) to recruit or retain volunteer emergency medical service 
personnel; 
‘‘(3) to train emergency medical service personnel in emer-
gency response, injury prevention, safety awareness, or other 
topics relevant to the delivery of emergency medical services; 
‘‘(4) to fund training to meet State or Federal certification 
requirements; 
‘‘(5) to provide training for firefighters or emergency med-
ical personnel for improvements to the training facility, equip-
ment, curricula, or personnel; 
‘‘(6) to develop new ways to educate emergency health 
care providers through the use of technology-enhanced edu-
cational methods (such as distance learning); 
‘‘(7) to acquire emergency medical services vehicles, 
including ambulances; 
‘‘(8) to acquire emergency medical services equipment, 
including cardiac defibrillators; 
‘‘(9) to acquire personal protective equipment for emergency 
medical services personnel as required by the Occupational 
Safety and Health Administration; or 
‘‘(10) to educate the public concerning cardiopulmonary 
resuscitation (CPR), first aid, injury prevention, safety aware-
ness, illness prevention, or other related emergency prepared-
ness topics. 
‘‘(e) PREFERENCE.—In awarding grants under this section, the 
Secretary shall give preference to— 
‘‘(1) applications that reflect a collaborative effort by 2 
or more of the entities described in subparagraphs (A) through 
(G) of subsection (c)(1); and 
‘‘(2) applications submitted by entities that intend to use 
amounts provided under the grant to fund activities described 
in any of paragraphs (1) through (5) of subsection (d). 
‘‘(f) MATCHING REQUIREMENT.—The Secretary may not make 
a grant under this section to an entity unless the entity makes 
available (directly or through contributions from other public or 
private entities) non-Federal contributions toward the activities 
to be carried out under the grant in an amount equal to at least 
5 percent of the amount received under the grant. 
‘‘(g) AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.— 
‘‘(1) IN GENERAL.—There is authorized to be appropriated 
to the Secretary to carry out this section not more than 
$30,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2008 through 2012. 
‘‘(2) ADMINISTRATIVE COSTS.—Not more than 5 percent of 
the amount appropriated under paragraph (1) for a fiscal year 
may be used for administrative expenses incurred in carrying 
out this section.’’. 
SEC. 6205. INSURANCE OF LOANS FOR HOUSING AND RELATED FACILI-
TIES FOR DOMESTIC FARM LABOR. 
Section 514(f)(3) of the Housing Act of 1949 (42 U.S.C. 
1484(f)(3)) is amended by striking ‘‘or the handling of such commod-
ities in the unprocessed stage’’ and inserting ‘‘, the handling of 
agricultural or aquacultural commodities in the unprocessed stage, 
or the processing of agricultural or aquacultural commodities’’.