(c) USE OF FUND.—In such amounts as provided in 
appropriation Acts, the Secretary may use amounts in the 
Fund to support emergency eradication and research ac-
tivities of the Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service 
in response to economic and health threats posed by 
invasive pests and disease to agricultural commodities. 
(d) AUTHORIZATION
OF APPROPRIATIONS.—There 
are authorized to be appropriated to the Fund such 
amounts as may be necessary to achieve a balance in the 
Fund of $75,000,000 at the start of each fiscal year. 
SEC. 502. INDEPENDENT SCIENTIFIC ADVICE FOR ANIMAL 
AND PLANT HEALTH INSPECTION SERVICE. 
(a) FINDING.—Congress finds that the decisional 
process at the Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service 
with respect to requests to import specialty crops into the 
United States or export specialty crops from the United 
States would have greater credibility if the scientific anal-
ysis underlying such requests were to undergo independent 
scientific peer review. 
(b) PEER REVIEW PROCESS.—The Administrator of 
the Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service shall es-
tablish a process to obtain independent advice and peer 
review on the scientific and technical aspects of requests 
to import specialty crops into the United States or export 
specialty crops from the United States, including the prep-
aration of risk assessments and the design of mitigation 
measures. The independent review process shall be initi-
ated at the request of the Administrator. 
(c) QUALIFICATIONS.—Each person who participates 
in an independent scientific review panel under this sec-
tion shall be qualified by education, training, and experi-
ence to evaluate scientific and technical information on 
matters subject to review. 
(d) REVIEW REQUIRED.—The Administrator shall 
request an independent review of the scientific and tech-
nical work products data that are used in connection with 
policy guidance on or in support of a decision on any of 
the following: 
(1) Any situation where there has been a re-
quest to export a United States-grown specialty crop 
to another country. 
(2) Establishment of the ‘‘appropriate level of 
protection’’ or ‘‘level of negligible risk’’ which will be 
applicable to the consideration of a request for ap-
proval to import a specialty crop from another coun-
try. 
(3) Consideration of the type (qualitative or 
quantitative) of risk assessment to conduct with re-
spect to a request for approval for the importation 
of a specialty crop into the United States.
(4) The sufficiency, type, and quality of data 
that should be submitted to the Administrator in 
conjunction with a request to import a specialty crop
into the United States and to merit preparation of 
a risk assessment. 
(5) Following preparation of a risk assessment, 
a review of—
(A) the risk assessment, including the as-
sumptions and interpretation of the data used; 
and 
(B) the mitigation measures designed to 
address the plant pest and disease issues rel-
evant to the request. 
(6) Situations in which the Animal and Plant 
Health Inspection Service is considering permitting 
an import from a country where—
(A) multiple plant pests are present in the 
growing regions; 
(B) both plant pests and plant diseases are 
present in the growing regions; or 
(C) new information or developments have 
become known which cast doubt on the sci-
entific underpinning of previous decisions. 
(e) REVIEW PROCESS.—To facilitate review under 
this section, the Administrator shall make available to the
review panel all of the scientific and technical information 
in the possession of the Animal and Plant Health Inspec-
tion Service that is relevant to the matter to be reviewed. 
The panel shall make available to the Administrator, with-
in the time specified by the Administrator, advice and 
comments on the adequacy of the scientific and technical 
basis of the proposed action, together with any pertinent 
information in the possession of the panel. 
(f) UTILIZATION OF TECHNICAL AND SCIENTIFIC CA-
PABILITIES OF FEDERAL AGENCIES.—In preparing such 
advice and comments, a review panel may avail itself of 
the technical and scientific capabilities of any Federal 
agency having relevant expertise. 
(g) COMMITTEES
AND INVESTIGATIVE PANELS.—
The Administrator may establish such committees and 
panels as are necessary to carry out this section. 
(h) AUTHORIZATION
OF APPROPRIATIONS.—There 
are authorized to be appropriated such funds as are nec-
essary to carry out this section. 
SEC. 503. FOOD SAFETY INITIATIVES. 
(a) INITIATIVE AUTHORIZED.—The Secretary of Ag-
riculture may carry out a food safety education program 
to educate the public and persons in the fresh produce 
industry about—
(1) scientifically proven practices for reducing 
microbial pathogens on fresh produce; and 
(2) methods of reducing the threat of cross-con-
tamination of fresh produce through unsanitary han-
dling practices. 
(b) COOPERATION.—The Secretary may carry out the 
education program in cooperation with public and private 
partners. 
(c) AUTHORIZATION
OF APPROPRIATIONS.—There 
are authorized to be appropriated to the Secretary 
$1,000,000 to carry out this section.
TITLE VI—CONSERVATION
SEC. 601. ELIMINATION OF LIMITATION ON ADJUSTED 
GROSS INCOME FROM ELIGIBILITY REQUIRE-
MENTS FOR ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY IN-
CENTIVES PROGRAM. 
Section 1001D(b)(2)(C) of the Food Security Act of 
1985 (7 U.S.C. 1308–3a(b)(2)(C)) is amended by insert-
ing ‘‘(other than the program under chapter 4 of subtitle 
D of such title)’’ after ‘‘of this Act’’. 
SEC. 602. SUSTAINABILITY PRACTICES. 
(a) ENCOURAGEMENT
OF
VOLUNTARY
SUSTAIN-
ABILITY PRACTICES GUIDELINES.—In administering this 
Act and the amendments made by this Act, the Secretary 
of Agriculture shall encourage the development of vol-
untary sustainable practices guidelines for producers and 
processors of specialty crops, including provisions that—
(1) enhance producer-to-producer and proc-
essor-to-processor education about the importance of 
sustainable practices, and how self-governance will 
enhance the economic viability and future of the spe-
cialty crop community; and 
(2) demonstrate that working closely with 
neighbors, communities, and other stakeholders to 
maintain an open dialogue can address concerns, en-
hance mutual respect, and accelerate results. 
(b) PRIORITY IN ELIGIBILITY FOR CONSERVATION 
PROGRAMS.—In establishing eligibility for participation in 
conservation programs administered by the Department of 
Agriculture, the Secretary of Agriculture may give priority 
to specialty crop producers who follow such sustainability 
guidelines.
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