Union Calendar No. 221
105TH CONGRESS
1ST SESSION
H. R. 2534
[Report No. 105–376]
A BILL
To reform, extend, and repeal certain agricultural
research, extension, and education programs, and
for other purposes.
NOVEMBER 4, 1997
Reported with an amendment, committed to the Commit-
tee of the Whole House on the State of the Union, and
ordered to be printed
IB
Union Calendar No. 221
105TH CONGRESS
1ST SESSION
H. R. 2534
[Report No. 105–376]
To reform, extend, and repeal certain agricultural research, extension, and
education programs, and for other purposes.
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
SEPTEMBER 24, 1997
Mr. COMBEST (for himself, Mr. DOOLEY of California, Mr. SMITH of Oregon,
and Mr. STENHOLM) introduced the following bill; which was referred to
the Committee on Agriculture
NOVEMBER 4, 1997
Reported with an amendment, committed to the Committee of the Whole
House on the State of the Union, and ordered to be printed
[Strike out all after the enacting clause and insert the part printed in italic]
[For text of introduced bill, see copy of bill as introduced on September 24, 1997]
A BILL
To reform, extend, and repeal certain agricultural research,
extension, and education programs, and for other purposes.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representa-
tives of the United States of America in Congress assembled,
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE; TABLE OF CONTENTS.
(a) SHORT TITLE.—This Act may be cited as the ‘‘Ag-
ricultural Research, Extension, and Education Reauthor-
ization Act of 1997’’.
(b) TABLE OF CONTENTS.—The table of contents of this
Act is as follows:
Sec. 1. Short title; table of contents.
TITLE I—COORDINATION, PLANNING, AND DEFINITIONS
REGARDING 
AGRICULTURAL 
RESEARCH, 
EXTENSION,
AND EDUCATION
Sec. 101. Priorities and management principles for federally supported and con-
ducted agricultural research, education, and extension.
Sec. 102. Principal definitions regarding agricultural research, education, and
extension.
Sec. 103. Consultation with National Agricultural Research, Extension, Edu-
cation, and Economics Advisory Board.
Sec. 104. Relevance and merit of federally funded agricultural research, extension,
and education.
Sec. 105. Expansion of authority to enter into cost-reimbursable agreements.
Sec. 106. Evaluation and assessment of agricultural research, extension, and edu-
cation programs.
TITLE II—REFORM OF EXISTING RESEARCH, EXTENSION,
AND EDUCATION AUTHORITIES
Subtitle A—Smith-Lever Act and Hatch Act of 1887
Sec. 201. Adoption of short titles for Smith-Lever Act and Hatch Act of 1887.
Sec. 202. Consistent matching funds requirements under Hatch Act of 1887 and
Smith-Lever Act.
Sec. 203. Plans of work to address critical research and extension issues and use
of protocols to measure success of plans.
Subtitle B—National Agricultural Research, Extension, and
Teaching Policy Act of 1977
Sec. 211. Plans of work for 1890 land-grant colleges to address critical research
and extension issues and use of protocols to measure success of
plans.
Sec. 212. Matching funds requirement for research and extension activities at
1890 land-grant colleges, including Tuskegee University.
Sec. 213. International research, extension, and teaching.
Sec. 214. Task force on 10-year strategic plan for agricultural research facilities.
Subtitle C—Food, Agriculture, Conservation, and Trade Act of
1990
Sec. 231. National agricultural weather information system.
Sec. 232. Agricultural genome initiative.
Subtitle D—National Research Initiative
Sec. 241. Waiver of matching requirement for certain small colleges and univer-
sities.
Subtitle E—Other Existing Laws
Sec. 251. Findings, authorities, and competitive research grants under Forest and
Rangeland Renewable Resources Research Act of 1978.
TITLE III—EXTENSION OR REPEAL OF RESEARCH,
EXTENSION, AND EDUCATION INITIATIVES
Subtitle A—Extensions
Sec. 301. National Research Initiative under Competitive, Special, and Facilities
Research Grant Act.
Sec. 302. Equity in Educational Land-Grant Status Act of 1994.
Sec. 303. Education grants programs for Hispanic-serving institutions.
Sec. 304. General authorization for agricultural research programs.
Sec. 305. General authorization for extension education.
Sec. 306. Grants and fellowships for food and agricultural sciences education.
Sec. 307. Grants for research on the production and marketing of alcohols and
industrial hydrocarbons from agricultural commodities and for-
est products.
Sec. 308. Policy research centers.
Sec. 309. Human nutrition intervention and health promotion research program.
Sec. 310. Pilot research program to combine medical and agricultural research.
Sec. 311. Food and nutrition education program.
Sec. 312. Animal health and disease continuing research.
Sec. 313. Animal health and disease national or regional research.
Sec. 314. Grant program to upgrade agricultural and food sciences facilities at
1890 land-grant colleges.
Sec. 315. National research and training centennial centers.
Sec. 316. Supplemental and alternative crops research.
Sec. 317. Aquaculture research and extension.
Sec. 318. Rangeland research.
Sec. 319. Federal agricultural research facilities.
Sec. 320. Water quality research, education, and coordination.
Sec. 321. National genetics resources program.
Sec. 322. Agricultural telecommunications program.
Sec. 323. Assistive technology program for farmers with disabilities.
Sec. 324. National Rural Information Center Clearinghouse.
Sec. 325. Critical Agricultural Materials Act.
Subtitle B—Repeals
Sec. 341. Aquaculture research facilities.
Sec. 342. Agricultural research program under National Agricultural Research,
Extension, and Teaching Policy Act Amendments of 1981.
Sec. 343. Livestock product safety and inspection program.
Sec. 344. Generic authorization of appropriations.
TITLE IV—NEW RESEARCH, EXTENSION, AND EDUCATION
INITIATIVES
Subtitle A—Partnerships for High-Value Agricultural Product
Quality Research.
Sec. 401. Definitions.
Sec. 402. Establishment and characteristics of partnerships.
Sec. 403. Elements of grant making process.
Sec. 404. Authorization of appropriations and related provisions.
Subtitle B—Precision Agriculture
Sec. 411. Definitions.
Sec. 412. Competitive grants to promote precision agriculture.
Sec. 413. Reservation of funds for education and information dissemination
projects.
Sec. 414. Precision agriculture partnerships.
Sec. 415. Miscellaneous provisions.
Sec. 416. Authorization of appropriations.
Subtitle C—Other Initiatives
Sec. 421. High-priority research and extension initiatives.
Sec. 422. Organic agriculture research and extension initiative.
Sec. 423. United States-Mexico joint agricultural research.
Sec. 424. Competitive grants for international agricultural science and education
programs.
Sec. 425. Food animal residue avoidance database program.
Sec. 426. Development and commercialization of new biobased products.
Sec. 427. Thomas Jefferson Initiative for Crop Diversification.
Sec. 428. Integrated research, education, and extension competitive grants pro-
gram.
Sec. 429. Research grants under Equity in Educational Land-Grant Status Act
of 1994.
TITLE V—MISCELLANEOUS PROVISIONS
Sec. 501. Role of Secretary of Agriculture regarding food and agricultural
sciences research, education, and extension.
Sec. 502. Office of Pest Management Policy.
Sec. 503. Food Safety Research Information Office and national conference.
Sec. 504. Nutrient composition data.
Sec. 505. Availability of funds received or collected on behalf of National Arbore-
tum.
Sec. 506. Retention and use of Agricultural Research Service patent culture col-
lection fees.
Sec. 507. Reimbursement of expenses incurred under Sheep Promotion, Research,
and Information Act of 1994.
Sec. 508. Sense of Congress regarding Agricultural Research Service emphasis on
in field research regarding methyl bromide alternatives.
Sec. 509. Sense of Congress regarding importance of school-based agricultural
education.
Sec. 510. Sense of Congress regarding designation of Department Crisis Manage-
ment Team.
TITLE I—COORDINATION, PLAN-
NING, AND DEFINITIONS RE-
GARDING AGRICULTURAL RE-
SEARCH, 
EXTENSION, 
AND
EDUCATION
SEC. 101. PRIORITIES AND MANAGEMENT PRINCIPLES FOR
FEDERALLY SUPPORTED AND CONDUCTED
AGRICULTURAL RESEARCH, EDUCATION, AND
EXTENSION.
(a) PRIORITY SETTING PROCESS.—Section 1402 of the
National Agricultural Research, Extension, and Teaching
Policy Act of 1977 (7 U.S.C. 3101) is amended—
(1) by inserting ‘‘(a) PURPOSES.—’’ before ‘‘The
purposes’’; and
(2) by adding at the end the following new sub-
section:
‘‘(b) PRIORITY SETTING PROCESS.—Consistent with
subsection (a), the Secretary shall establish priorities for ag-
ricultural research, extension, and education activities con-
ducted or funded by the Department. In establishing such
priorities, the Secretary shall solicit and consider input and
recommendations from the Advisory Board and persons who
conduct or use agricultural research, extension, or edu-
cation.’’.
(b) MANAGEMENT PRINCIPLES.—Such section is fur-
ther amended by adding after subsection (b), as added by
subsection (a)(2), the following new subsection:
‘‘(c) MANAGEMENT PRINCIPLES.—To the maximum
extent practicable, the Secretary shall ensure that agricul-
tural research, education, and extension activities con-
ducted or funded by the Department are accomplished in
a manner that—
‘‘(1) integrates agricultural research, education,
and extension functions to better link research to tech-
nology transfer and information dissemination activi-
ties;
‘‘(2) encourages multi-State and multi-institu-
tional programs to address relevant issues of common
concern and to better leverage scarce resources; and
‘‘(3) achieves agricultural research, education,
and extension objectives through multi-institutional
and multifunctional approaches and by conducting
research at facilities and institutions best equipped to
achieve those objectives.’’.
(c) CLERICAL AMENDMENT.—The heading of such sec-
tion is amended by inserting ‘‘, PRIORITIES, AND MAN-
AGEMENT PRINCIPLES’’ after ‘‘PURPOSES’’.
SEC. 102. PRINCIPAL DEFINITIONS REGARDING AGRICUL-
TURAL RESEARCH, EDUCATION, AND EXTEN-
SION.
(a) FOOD AND AGRICULTURAL SCIENCES.—Paragraph
(8) of section 1404 of the National Agricultural Research,
Extension, and Teaching Policy Act of 1977 (7 U.S.C.
3103) is amended to read as follows:
‘‘(8) FOOD AND AGRICULTURAL SCIENCES.—The
term ‘food and agricultural sciences’ means basic, ap-
plied, and developmental research, extension, and
teaching activities in food and fiber, agricultural, re-
newable natural resources, forestry, and physical and
social sciences, including (but not limited to) activi-
ties relating to the following:
‘‘(A) Animal health, production, and well-
being.
‘‘(B) Plant health and production.
‘‘(C) Animal and plant germ plasm collec-
tion and preservation.
‘‘(D) Aquaculture.
‘‘(E) Food safety.
‘‘(F) Soil and water conservation and im-
provement.
‘‘(G) Forestry, horticulture, and range man-
agement.
‘‘(H) Nutritional sciences and promotion.
‘‘(I) Farm enhancement, including finan-
cial management, input efficiency, and profit-
ability.
‘‘(J) Home economics.
‘‘(K) Rural human ecology.
‘‘(L) Youth development and agricultural
education, including 4–H.
‘‘(M) Expansion of domestic and inter-
national markets for agricultural commodities
and products, including agricultural trade bar-
rier identification and comprehension.
‘‘(N) Information management and tech-
nology transfer related to agriculture.
‘‘(O) Biotechnology related to agriculture.’’.
(b) REFERENCES
TO TEACHING
OR EDUCATION.—
Paragraph (14) of such section is amended by striking ‘‘the
term ‘teaching’ means’’ and inserting ‘‘TEACHING AND EDU-
CATION.—The terms ‘teaching’ and ‘education’ mean’’.
(c) APPLICATION OF DEFINITIONS TO AGRICULTURAL
RESEARCH, EXTENSION, AND EDUCATION.—Such section is
further amended by striking the section heading and all
that follows through the matter preceding paragraph (1)
and inserting the following:
‘‘SEC. 1404. PRINCIPAL DEFINITIONS REGARDING AGRICUL-
TURAL RESEARCH, EDUCATION, AND EXTEN-
SION.
‘‘When used in this title or any other law relating to
any research, extension, or education activities of the De-
partment of Agriculture regarding the food and agricultural
sciences (unless the context requires otherwise):’’.
(d) IN-KIND
SUPPORT.—Such section is further
amended by adding at the end the following new paragraph:
‘‘(18) IN-KIND
SUPPORT.—The term ‘in-kind
support’, with regard to a requirement that the recip-
ient of funds provided by the Secretary match all or
some portion of the amount of the funds, means con-
tributions such as office space, equipment, and staff
support.’’.
(e) CONFORMING AMENDMENTS.—Such section is fur-
ther amended—
(1) by striking ‘‘the term’’ in paragraphs (1),
(2), (3), (5), (6), (7), (10) through (13), and (15),
(16), and (17) and inserting ‘‘The term’’;
(2) in paragraph (4), by striking ‘‘the terms’’
and inserting ‘‘The terms’’;
(3) in paragraph (9), by striking ‘‘the term’’ the
first place it appears and inserting ‘‘The term’’;
(4) by striking the semicolon at the end of para-
graphs (1) through (7) and (9) through (15) and in-
serting a period; and
(5) in paragraph (16)(F), by striking ‘‘; and’’
and inserting a period.
SEC. 103. CONSULTATION WITH NATIONAL AGRICULTURAL
RESEARCH, EXTENSION, EDUCATION, AND EC-
ONOMICS ADVISORY BOARD.
Subsection (d) of section 1408 of the National Agricul-
tural Research, Extension, and Teaching Policy Act of 1977
(7 U.S.C. 3123) is amended to read as follows:
‘‘(d) CONSULTATION.—
‘‘(1) AS AFFECTING ADVISORY BOARD.—In car-
rying out this section, the Advisory Board shall solicit
opinions and recommendations from persons who will
benefit from and use federally funded agricultural re-
search, extension, education, and economics.
‘‘(2) AS
AFFECTING
SECRETARY.—To comply
with a provision of this title or any other law that
requires the Secretary to consult or cooperate with the
Advisory Board or that authorizes the Advisory
Board to submit recommendations to the Secretary,
the Secretary shall—
‘‘(A) solicit the written opinions and rec-
ommendations of the Advisory Board; and
‘‘(B) provide a written response to the Advi-
sory Board regarding the manner and extent to
which 
the 
Secretary 
will 
implement 
rec-
ommendations 
submitted 
by 
the 
Advisory
Board.’’.
SEC. 104. RELEVANCE AND MERIT OF FEDERALLY FUNDED
AGRICULTURAL RESEARCH, EXTENSION, AND
EDUCATION.
(a) REVIEW OF RELEVANCE AND MERIT.—Subtitle K
of the National Agricultural Research, Extension, and
Teaching Policy Act of 1977 is amended by inserting before
section 1463 (7 U.S.C. 3311) the following new section:
‘‘SEC. 1461. RELEVANCE AND MERIT OF FEDERALLY FUND-
ED AGRICULTURAL RESEARCH, EXTENSION,
AND EDUCATION.
‘‘(a) REVIEW
OF COOPERATIVE STATE RESEARCH,
EDUCATION, AND EXTENSION SERVICE.—
‘‘(1) PEER REVIEW OF RESEARCH GRANTS.—The
Secretary shall establish procedures that provide for
scientific peer review of each agricultural research
grant administered, on a competitive basis, by the Co-
operative State Research, Education, and Extension
Service of the Department.
‘‘(2) MERIT REVIEW OF EXTENSION AND EDU-
CATION.—The Secretary shall establish procedures
that provide for merit review of each agricultural ex-
tension or education grant administered, on a com-
petitive basis, by the Cooperative State Research,
Education, and Extension Service. The Secretary
shall consult with the Advisory Board in establishing
such merit review procedures.
‘‘(b) REQUESTS FOR PROPOSALS: REQUEST AND CON-
SIDERATION OF INPUT.—When formulating a request for
proposals involving an agricultural research, extension, or
education activity to be funded by the Secretary on a com-
petitive basis, the Secretary shall solicit and consider input
from the Advisory Board and users of agricultural research,
extension, and education regarding the request for proposals
for the preceding year. If an agricultural research, exten-
sion, or education activity has not been the subject of a pre-
vious request for proposals, the Secretary shall solicit and
consider input from the Advisory Board and users of agri-
cultural research, extension, and education before publica-
tion of the first request for proposals regarding the activity.
‘‘(c) SCIENTIFIC PEER REVIEW
OF AGRICULTURAL
RESEARCH.—
‘‘(1) PEER
REVIEW
PROCEDURES.—The Sec-
retary shall establish procedures that ensure scientific
peer review of all research activities conducted by the
Department of Agriculture.
‘‘(2) REVIEW PANEL REQUIRED.—As part of the
procedures established under paragraph (1), a review
panel shall verify, at least once every three years, that
each research activity of the Department and research
conducted under each research program of the Depart-
ment have scientific merit and relevance. If the re-
search activity or program to be reviewed is included
in the research, educational, and economics mission
area of the Department, the review panel shall con-
sider—
‘‘(A) the scientific merit and relevance of
the activity or research in light of the priorities
established pursuant to section 1402(b) ; and
‘‘(B) the national or multi-State signifi-
cance of the activity or research.
‘‘(3) COMPOSITION OF REVIEW PANEL.—A review
panel shall be composed of individuals with scientific
expertise, a majority of whom are not employees of
the agency whose research is being reviewed. To the
extent possible, the Secretary shall use scientists from
colleges and universities to serve on the review panels.
‘‘(4) SUBMISSION OF RESULTS.—The results of
the panel reviews shall be submitted to the Advisory
Board.
‘‘(5) APPLICABILITY OF OTHER LAWS.—The Fed-
eral Advisory Committee Act (5 U.S.C. App.) and
title XVIII of this Act (7 U.S.C. 2281 et seq.) shall
not apply to a review panel.
‘‘(d) MERIT REVIEW OF COLLEGE AND UNIVERSITY
RESEARCH AND EXTENSION ACTIVITIES.—
‘‘(1) LAND-GRANT INSTITUTIONS.—Effective be-
ginning October 1, 1998, to be eligible to obtain agri-
cultural research or extension funds from the Sec-
retary for an activity, a land-grant college or univer-
sity shall—
‘‘(A) establish a process for merit review of
the activity; and
‘‘(B) review the activity in accordance with
the process.
‘‘(2) 1994 INSTITUTIONS.—Effective beginning
October 1, 1998, to obtain agricultural extension
funds from the Secretary for an activity, each 1994
Institution (as defined in section 532 of the Equity
in Educational Land-Grant Status Act of 1994 (Pub-
lic Law 103–382; 7 U.S.C. 301 note)) shall—
‘‘(A) establish a process for merit review of
the activity; and
‘‘(B) review the activity in accordance with
the process.’’.
(b) REPEAL
OF
PROVISIONS
FOR
WITHHOLDING
FUNDS.—
(1) SMITH-LEVER ACT.—Section 6 of the Smith-
Lever Act (7 U.S.C. 346) is repealed.
(2) HATCH ACT OF 1887.—Section 7 of the Hatch
Act of 1887 (7 U.S.C. 361g) is amended by striking
the last paragraph.
(3) NATIONAL
AGRICULTURAL
RESEARCH, EX-
TENSION, AND TEACHING POLICY ACT OF 1977.—The
National Agricultural Research, Extension, and
Teaching Policy Act of 1977 is amended—
(A) in section 1444 (7 U.S.C. 3221)—
(i) by striking subsection (f); and
(ii) by redesignating subsection (g) as
subsection (f);
(B) in section 1445(g) (7 U.S.C. 3222(g)),
by striking paragraph (3); and
(C) by striking section 1468 (7 U.S.C.
3314).
SEC. 105. EXPANSION OF AUTHORITY TO ENTER INTO COST-
REIMBURSABLE AGREEMENTS.
Section 1473A of the National Agricultural Research,
Extension, and Teaching Policy Act of 1977 (7 U.S.C.
3319a) is amended in the first sentence by inserting ‘‘or
other colleges and universities’’ after ‘‘institutions’’.
SEC. 106. EVALUATION AND ASSESSMENT OF AGRICUL-
TURAL RESEARCH, EXTENSION, AND EDU-
CATION PROGRAMS.
(a) EVALUATION.—The Secretary shall conduct a per-
formance evaluation to determine whether agricultural re-
search, extension, and education programs conducted or
funded by the Department of Agriculture result in public
benefits that have national or multi-State significance.
(b) GUIDELINES
FOR
PERFORMANCE
MEASURE-
MENT.—The Secretary shall develop practical guidelines for
measuring the performance of agricultural research, exten-
sion and education programs evaluated under subsection
(a).
TITLE II—REFORM OF EXISTING
RESEARCH, EXTENSION, AND
EDUCATION AUTHORITIES
Subtitle A—Smith-Lever Act and
Hatch Act of 1887
SEC. 201. ADOPTION OF SHORT TITLES FOR SMITH-LEVER
ACT AND HATCH ACT OF 1887.
(a) SMITH-LEVER ACT.—The Act of May 8, 1914
(commonly known as the Smith-Lever Act; 7 U.S.C. 341
et seq.), is amended by adding at the end the following new
section:
‘‘SEC. 11. SHORT TITLE.
‘‘This Act may be cited as the ‘Smith-Lever Act’.’’.
(b) HATCH ACT OF 1887.—The Act of March 2, 1887
(commonly known as the Hatch Act of 1887; 7 U.S.C. 361a
et seq.), is amended by adding at the end the following new
section:
‘‘SEC. 10. SHORT TITLE.
‘‘This Act may be cited as the ‘Hatch Act of 1887’.’’.
(c) COORDINATION WITH OTHER AMENDMENTS.—For
purposes of executing amendments made by provisions of
this Act (other than this section), this section shall be treat-
ed as having been enacted immediately before the other pro-
visions of this Act.
SEC. 202. CONSISTENT MATCHING FUNDS REQUIREMENTS
UNDER HATCH ACT OF 1887 AND SMITH-
LEVER ACT.
(a) HATCH ACT OF 1887.—Subsection (d) of section
3 of the Hatch Act of 1887 (7 U.S.C. 361c) is amended
to read as follows:
‘‘(d) MATCHING FUNDS.—
‘‘(1) REQUIREMENT.—Except as provided in
paragraph (4), no allotment shall be made to a State
under subsections (b) and (c), and no payments of
such allotment shall be made to a State, in excess of
the amount which the State makes available out of
non-Federal funds for agricultural research and for
the establishment and maintenance of facilities for the
performance of such research.
‘‘(2) FAILURE TO PROVIDE MATCHING FUNDS.—
If a State fails to comply with the requirement to
provide matching funds for a fiscal year under para-
graph (1), the Secretary of Agriculture shall withhold
from payment to the State for that fiscal year an
amount equal to the difference between—
‘‘(A) the amount that would be allotted and
paid to the State under subsections (b) and (c)
(if the full amount of matching funds were pro-
vided by the State); and
‘‘(B) the amount of matching funds actually
provided by the State.
‘‘(3) REAPPORTIONMENT.—The Secretary shall
reapportion amounts withheld under paragraph (2)
for a fiscal year among the States satisfying the
matching requirement for that fiscal year. Any re-
apportionment of funds under this paragraph shall be
subject to the matching requirement specified in para-
graph (1).
‘‘(4) EXCEPTION.—Paragraph (1) shall not
apply to funds provided to a State from the Regional
research fund, State agricultural experiment sta-
tions.’’.
(b) SMITH-LEVER ACT.—Section 3 of the Smith-Lever
Act (7 U.S.C. 343) is amended—
(1) in subsection (c)2, by striking ‘‘That pay-
ments’’ and all that follows through ‘‘Provided fur-
ther,’’; and
(2) by striking subsections (e) and (f) and insert-
ing the following new subsections:
‘‘(e) MATCHING FUNDS.—
‘‘(1) REQUIREMENT.—No allotment shall be
made to a State under subsections (b) and (c), and
no payments of such allotment shall be made to a
State, in excess of the amount which the State makes
available out of non-Federal funds for cooperative ex-
tension work.
‘‘(2) FAILURE TO PROVIDE MATCHING FUNDS.—
If a State fails to comply with the requirement to
provide matching funds for a fiscal year under para-
graph (1), the Secretary of Agriculture shall withhold
from payment to the State for that fiscal year an
amount equal to the difference between—
‘‘(A) the amount that would be allotted and
paid to the State under subsections (b) and (c)
(if the full amount of matching funds were pro-
vided by the State); and
‘‘(B) the amount of matching funds actually
provided by the State.
‘‘(3) REAPPORTIONMENT.—The Secretary shall
reapportion amounts withheld under paragraph (2)
for a fiscal year among the States satisfying the
matching requirement for that fiscal year. Any re-
apportionment of funds under this paragraph shall be
subject to the matching requirement specified in para-
graph (1).
‘‘(f) MATCHING FUNDS EXCEPTION FOR 1994 INSTITU-
TIONS.—There shall be no matching requirement for funds
made available to 1994 Institutions pursuant to subsection
(b)(3).’’.
(c) TECHNICAL CORRECTIONS.—
(1) RECOGNITION
OF
STATEHOOD
OF
ALASKA
AND HAWAII.—Section 1 of the Hatch Act of 1887 (7
U.S.C. 361a) is amended by striking ‘‘Alaska, Ha-
waii,’’.
(2) ROLE OF SECRETARY OF AGRICULTURE.—
Section 3 of the Smith-Lever Act (7 U.S.C. 343) is
amended—
(A) in subsection (b)(1), by striking ‘‘Fed-
eral Extension Service’’ and inserting ‘‘Secretary
of Agriculture’’;
(B) in subsection (c)1, by striking ‘‘Federal
Extension Service’’ and inserting ‘‘Secretary of
Agriculture’’;
(C) in subsection (d), by striking ‘‘Federal
Extension Service’’ and inserting ‘‘Secretary of
Agriculture’’; and
(D) in subsection (g)(1), by striking
‘‘through the Federal Extension Service’’.
(3) REFERENCES
TO
REGIONAL
RESEARCH
FUND.—The Hatch Act of 1887 is amended—
(A) in section 3 (7 U.S.C. 361c)—
(i) in subsection (b)(1), by striking
‘‘subsection 3(c)(3)’’ and inserting ‘‘sub-
section (c)3’’; and
(ii) in subsection (e), by striking ‘‘sub-
section 3(c)3’’ and inserting ‘‘subsection
(c)3’’; and
(B) in section 5 (7 U.S.C. 361e), by striking
‘‘regional research fund authorized by subsection
3(c)(3)’’ and inserting ‘‘Regional research fund,
State agricultural experiment stations’’.
SEC. 203. PLANS OF WORK TO ADDRESS CRITICAL RE-
SEARCH AND EXTENSION ISSUES AND USE OF
PROTOCOLS 
TO 
MEASURE 
SUCCESS 
OF
PLANS.
(a) SMITH-LEVER ACT.—Section 4 of the Smith-Lever
Act (7 U.S.C. 344) is amended—
(1) by striking ‘‘SEC. 4.’’ and inserting the fol-
lowing:
‘‘SEC. 4. ASCERTAINMENT OF ENTITLEMENT OF STATE TO
FUNDS, TIME AND MANNER OF PAYMENT,
STATE 
REPORTING 
REQUIREMENTS, 
AND
PLANS FOR WORK.
‘‘(a) ASCERTAINMENT OF ENTITLEMENT.—’’;
(2) in the last sentence, by striking ‘‘Such sums’’
and inserting the following:
‘‘(b) TIME AND MANNER OF PAYMENT; RELATED RE-
PORTS.—The amount to which a State is entitled’’; and
(3) by adding at the end the following new sub-
sections:
‘‘(c) REQUIREMENTS RELATED TO PLAN OF WORK.—
Each extension plan of work for a State required under sub-
section (a) shall contain descriptions of the following:
‘‘(1) The critical short-term, intermediate, and
long-term agricultural issues in the State and the
current and planned extension programs and projects
targeted to address such issues.
‘‘(d) EXTENSION PROTOCOLS.—The Secretary of Agri-
culture shall develop protocols to be used to evaluate the suc-
cess of multi-State, multi-institutional, and multidisci-
plinary extension activities and joint research and exten-
sion activities in addressing critical agricultural issues
identified in the plans of work submitted under subsection
(a). The Secretary shall develop the protocols in consulta-
tion with the National Agricultural Research, Extension,
Education, and Economics Advisory Board and land-grant
colleges and universities.
‘‘(e) TREATMENT OF PLANS OF WORK FOR OTHER
PURPOSES.—To the extent practicable, the Secretary shall
consider plans of work submitted under subsection (a) to
satisfy other appropriate Federal reporting requirements.’’.
(b) HATCH ACT OF 1887.—Section 7 of the Hatch Act
of 1887 (7 U.S.C. 361g), as amended by section 104(b), is
further amended—
(1) by striking ‘‘SEC. 7.’’ and inserting the fol-
lowing:
‘‘SEC. 7. DUTIES OF SECRETARY, ASCERTAINMENT OF ENTI-
TLEMENT OF STATE TO FUNDS, AND PLANS
FOR WORK.
‘‘(a) DUTIES OF SECRETARY.—’’;
(2) by striking ‘‘On or before’’ and inserting the
following:
‘‘(b) ASCERTAINMENT OF ENTITLEMENT.—On or be-
fore’’;
(3) by striking ‘‘Whenever it shall appear’’ and
inserting the following:
‘‘(c) EFFECT OF FAILURE TO EXPEND FULL ALLOT-
MENT.—Whenever it shall appear’’; and
(4) by adding at the end the following new sub-
sections:
‘‘(d) PLAN OF WORK REQUIRED.—Before funds may
be provided to a State under this Act for any fiscal year,
plans for the work to be carried on under this Act shall
be submitted by the proper officials of the State and ap-
proved by the Secretary of Agriculture.
‘‘(e) REQUIREMENTS RELATED TO PLAN OF WORK.—
Each research plan of work for a State required under sub-
section (d) shall contain descriptions of the following:
‘‘(1) The critical short-term, intermediate, and
long-term agricultural issues in the State and the
current and planned research programs and projects
targeted to address such issues.
‘‘(2) The process established to consult with users
of agricultural research regarding the identification of
critical agricultural issues in the State and the devel-
opment of research programs and projects targeted to
address such issues.
‘‘(3) The efforts made to identify and collaborate
with other colleges and universities within the State
and other States that have unique capacity to address
the identified agricultural issues in the State and cur-
rent and emerging efforts (including regional efforts)
to work with these other institutions and States.
‘‘(4) The manner in which research and exten-
sion, including research and extension activities fund-
ed other than through formula funds, will cooperate
to address the critical issues in the State, including
the activities to be carried out separately, the activi-
ties to be carried out sequentially, and the activities
to be carried out jointly.
‘‘(f) RESEARCH PROTOCOLS.—The Secretary of Agri-
culture shall develop protocols to be used to evaluate the suc-
cess of multi-State, multi-institutional, and multidisci-
plinary research activities and joint research and extension
activities in addressing critical agricultural issues identi-
fied in the plans of work submitted under subsection (d).
The Secretary shall develop the protocols in consultation
with the National Agricultural Research, Extension, Edu-
cation, and Economics Advisory Board and land-grant col-
leges and universities.
‘‘(g) TREATMENT OF PLANS OF WORK FOR OTHER
PURPOSES.—To the extent practicable, the Secretary shall
consider plans of work submitted under subsection (d) to
satisfy other appropriate Federal reporting requirements.’’.
(c) EFFECTIVE DATE.—
(1) IN
GENERAL.—The amendments made by
this section shall take effect on October 1, 1998.
(2) DELAYED APPLICABILITY.—With respect to a
particular State, the Secretary of Agriculture may
delay the applicability of the requirements imposed
by the amendments made by this section until not
later than October 1, 1999, if the Secretary finds that
the State will be unable to meet such requirements by
October 1, 1998, despite the good faith efforts of the
State.
Subtitle B—National Agricultural
Research, Extension, and Teach-
ing Policy Act of 1977
SEC. 211. PLANS OF WORK FOR 1890 LAND-GRANT COL-
LEGES TO ADDRESS CRITICAL RESEARCH
AND EXTENSION ISSUES AND USE OF PROTO-
COLS TO MEASURE SUCCESS OF PLANS.
(a) EXTENSION
AT
1890 INSTITUTIONS.—Section
1444(d) of the National Agricultural Research, Extension,
and Teaching Policy Act of 1977 (7 U.S.C. 3221(d)) is
amended—
(1) by striking ‘‘(d)’’ and inserting the following:
‘‘(d) ASCERTAINMENT OF ENTITLEMENT TO FUNDS;
TIME AND MANNER OF PAYMENT; STATE REPORTING RE-
QUIREMENTS; AND PLANS FOR WORK.—
‘‘(1) ASCERTAINMENT OF ENTITLEMENT.—’’;
(2) in the last sentence, by striking ‘‘Such sums’’
and inserting the following:
‘‘(2) TIME AND MANNER OF PAYMENT; RELATED
REPORTS.—The amount to which an eligible institu-
tion is entitled’’; and
(3) by adding at the end the following new para-
graphs:
‘‘(3) REQUIREMENTS
RELATED
TO
PLAN
OF
WORK.—Each extension plan of work for an eligible
institution required under this section shall contain
descriptions of the following:
‘‘(A) The critical short-term, intermediate,
and long-term agricultural issues in the State in
which the eligible institution is located and the
current and planned extension programs and
projects targeted to address such issues.
‘‘(B) The process established to consult with
extension users regarding the identification of
critical agricultural issues in the State and the
development of extension programs and projects
targeted to address such issues.
‘‘(C) The efforts made to identify and col-
laborate with other colleges and universities
within the State and other States that have
unique capacity to address the identified agricul-
tural issues in the State and current and emerg-
ing efforts (including regional research efforts) to
work with these other institutions and States.
‘‘(D) The manner in which research and ex-
tension, including research and extension activi-
ties funded other than through formula funds,
will cooperate to address the critical issues in the
State, including the activities to be carried out
separately, the activities to be carried out se-
quentially, and the activities to be carried out
jointly.
‘‘(E) The education and outreach programs
already underway to convey currently available
research results that are pertinent to a critical
agricultural issue, including efforts to encourage
multi-county cooperation in the dissemination of
research results.
‘‘(4) EXTENSION PROTOCOLS.—The Secretary of
Agriculture shall develop protocols to be used to evalu-
ate the success of multi-State, multi-institutional, and
multidisciplinary extension activities and joint re-
search and extension activities in addressing critical
agricultural issues identified in the plans of work
submitted under this section. The Secretary shall de-
velop the protocols in consultation with the Advisory
Board and land-grant colleges and universities.
‘‘(5) TREATMENT
OF
PLANS
OF
WORK
FOR
OTHER
PURPOSES.—To the extent practicable, the
Secretary shall consider plans of work submitted
under this section to satisfy other appropriate Federal
reporting requirements.’’.
(b) AGRICULTURAL RESEARCH
AT 1890 INSTITU-
TIONS.—Section 1445(c) of such Act (7 U.S.C. 3222(c)) is
amended—
(1) by striking ‘‘(c)’’ and inserting the following:
‘‘(c) PROGRAM AND PLANS FOR WORK.—
‘‘(1) INITIAL COMPREHENSIVE PROGRAM OF AG-
RICULTURAL RESEARCH.—’’; and
(2) by adding at the end the following new para-
graphs:
‘‘(2) PLAN OF WORK REQUIRED.—Before funds
may be provided to an eligible institution under this
section for any fiscal year, plans for the work to be
carried on under this section shall be submitted by the
research director specified in subsection (d) and ap-
proved by the Secretary of Agriculture.
will cooperate to address the critical issues in the
State, including the activities to be carried out
separately, the activities to be carried out se-
quentially, and the activities to be carried out
jointly.
‘‘(4) RESEARCH PROTOCOLS.—The Secretary of
Agriculture shall develop protocols to be used to evalu-
ate the success of multi-State, multi-institutional, and
multidisciplinary research activities and joint re-
search and extension activities in addressing critical
agricultural issues identified in the plans of work
submitted under paragraph (2). The Secretary shall
develop the protocols in consultation with the Advi-
sory Board and land-grant colleges and universities.’’.
(c) EFFECTIVE DATE.—
(1) IN
GENERAL.—The amendments made by
this section shall take effect on October 1, 1998.
(2) DELAYED APPLICABILITY.—With respect to a
particular eligible institution (as described in sections
1444(a) and 1445(a) of the National Agricultural Re-
search, Extension, and Teaching Policy Act of 1977
(7 U.S.C. 3221(a), 3222(a))), the Secretary of Agri-
culture may delay the applicability of the require-
ments imposed by the amendments made by this sec-
tion until not later than October 1, 1999, if the Sec-
retary finds that the eligible institution will be unable
to meet such requirements by October 1, 1998, despite
the good faith efforts of the eligible institution.
SEC. 212. MATCHING FUNDS REQUIREMENT FOR RESEARCH
AND EXTENSION ACTIVITIES AT 1890 LAND-
GRANT COLLEGES, INCLUDING TUSKEGEE
UNIVERSITY.
(a) IMPOSITION OF REQUIREMENT.—Subtitle G of the
National Agricultural Research, Extension, and Teaching
Policy Act of 1977 is amended by inserting after section
1448 (7 U.S.C. 3222c) the following new section:
‘‘SEC. 1449. MATCHING FUNDS REQUIREMENT FOR RE-
SEARCH AND EXTENSION ACTIVITIES AT ELI-
GIBLE INSTITUTIONS.
‘‘(a) DEFINITIONS.—In this section:
‘‘(1) ELIGIBLE INSTITUTION.—The term ‘eligible
institution’ means a college eligible to receive funds
under the Act of August 30, 1890 (7 U.S.C. 321 et
seq.) (commonly known as the Second Morrill Act),
including Tuskegee University.
‘‘(2) FORMULA
FUNDS.—The term ‘formula
funds’ means the formula allocation funds distributed
to eligible institutions under sections 1444 and 1445.
‘‘(b) DETERMINATION OF NON-FEDERAL SOURCES OF
FUNDS.—Not later than September 30, 1999, each eligible
institution shall submit to the Secretary a report describing
for fiscal year 1999 the sources of non-Federal funds avail-
able to the eligible institution and the amount of funds gen-
erally available from each such source.
‘‘(c) MATCHING
FORMULA.—Notwithstanding any
other provision of this subtitle, the distribution of formula
funds to an eligible institution shall be subject to the follow-
ing matching requirements:
‘‘(1) In fiscal year 2000, the institution shall
provide matching funds from non-Federal sources in
an amount equal to not less than 30 percent of the
formula funds to be distributed to the eligible institu-
tion.
‘‘(2) In fiscal year 2001, the institution shall
provide matching funds from non-Federal sources in
an amount equal to not less than 45 percent of the
formula funds to be distributed to the eligible institu-
tion.
‘‘(3) In fiscal year 2002, and each fiscal year
thereafter, the institution shall provide matching
funds from non-Federal sources in an amount equal
to not less than 50 percent of the formula funds to be
distributed to the eligible institution.
‘‘(d) LIMITED WAIVER AUTHORITY.—Notwithstanding
subsection (f), the Secretary may waive the matching funds
requirement under subsection (c)(1) for fiscal year 2000 if
the Secretary determines with regard to a particular eligi-
ble institution, based on the report received under sub-
section (b), that the eligible institution will be unlikely to
satisfy the matching requirement. The waiver of the match-
ing requirements for subsequent fiscal years is not per-
mitted.
‘‘(e) USE OF MATCHING FUNDS.—Under terms and
conditions established by the Secretary, matching funds
provided as required by subsection (c) may be used by an
eligible institution for research, education, and extension
activities.
‘‘(f) REDISTRIBUTION OF FUNDS.—Federal funds that
are not matched by an eligible institution in accordance
with subsection (c) for a fiscal year shall be redistributed
by the Secretary to eligible institutions satisfying the
matching funds requirement for that fiscal year. Any redis-
tribution of funds under this subsection shall be subject to
the applicable matching requirement specified in subsection
(c) and shall be made in a manner consistent with sections
1444 and 1445, as determined by the Secretary.’’.
(b) CONFORMING AMENDMENT.—Section 1445(g) of
such Act (7 U.S.C. 3222(g)) is amended—
(1) by striking paragraph (2); and
(2) by redesignating paragraph (4) as para-
graph (2).
(c) REFERENCES TO TUSKEGEE UNIVERSITY.—Such
Act is further amended—
(1) in section 1404 (7 U.S.C. 3103), by striking
‘‘Tuskegee Institute’’ in paragraphs (10) and (16)(B)
and inserting ‘‘Tuskegee University’’;
(2) in section 1444 (7 U.S.C. 3221)—
(A) by striking the section heading and
‘‘SEC. 1444.’’ and inserting the following:
‘‘SEC. 1444. EXTENSION AT 1890 LAND-GRANT COLLEGES, IN-
CLUDING TUSKEGEE UNIVERSITY.’’; and
(B) in subsections (a) and (b), by striking
‘‘Tuskegee Institute’’ both places it appears and
inserting ‘‘Tuskegee University’’; and
(3) in section 1445 (7 U.S.C. 3222)—
(A) by striking the section heading and
‘‘SEC. 1445.’’ and inserting the following:
‘‘SEC. 1445. AGRICULTURAL RESEARCH AT 1890 LAND-
GRANT COLLEGES, INCLUDING TUSKEGEE
UNIVERSITY.’’; and
(B) in subsections (a) and (b)(2)(B), by
striking ‘‘Tuskegee Institute’’ both places it ap-
pears and inserting ‘‘Tuskegee University’’.
SEC. 213. INTERNATIONAL RESEARCH, EXTENSION, AND
TEACHING.
(a) INCLUSION OF TEACHING.—Section 1458 of the
National Agricultural Research, Extension, and Teaching
Policy Act of 1977 (7 U.S.C. 3291) is amended—
(1) in the section heading, by striking ‘‘RE-
SEARCH
AND
EXTENSION’’ and inserting ‘‘RE-
SEARCH, EXTENSION, AND TEACHING’’;
(2) in subsection (a)—
(A) in paragraph (1)—
(i) by striking ‘‘related research and
extension’’ and inserting ‘‘related research,
extension, and teaching’’; and
(ii) in subparagraph (B), by striking
‘‘research and extension on’’ and inserting
‘‘research, extension, and teaching activities
addressing’’;
(B) in paragraphs (2) and (6), by striking
‘‘education’’ and inserting ‘‘teaching’’;
(C) in paragraph (4), by striking ‘‘scientists
and experts’’ and inserting ‘‘science and edu-
cation experts’’;
(D) in paragraph (5), by inserting ‘‘teach-
ing,’’ after ‘‘development,’’;
(E) in paragraph (7), by striking ‘‘research
and extension that is’’ and inserting ‘‘research,
extension, and teaching programs’’; and
(F) in paragraph (8), by striking ‘‘research
capabilities’’ and inserting ‘‘research, extension,
and teaching capabilities’’; and
(3) in subsection (b), by striking ‘‘counterpart
agencies’’ and inserting ‘‘counterpart research, exten-
sion, and teaching agencies’’.
(b) FULL PAYMENT OF FUNDS MADE AVAILABLE FOR
CERTAIN BINATIONAL PROJECT.—Such section is further
amended by adding at the end the following new subsection:
‘‘(d) FULL PAYMENT OF FUNDS MADE AVAILABLE FOR
CERTAIN BINATIONAL PROJECTS.—Notwithstanding any
other provision of law, the full amount of any funds appro-
priated or otherwise made available to carry out coopera-
tive projects under the arrangement entered into between
the Secretary and the Government of Israel to support the
Israel-United States Binational Agricultural Research and
Development Fund shall be paid directly to the Fund.’’.
(c) CONFORMING AMENDMENT.—The subtitle heading
of subtitle I of title XIV of the National Agricultural Re-
search, Extension, and Teaching Policy Act of 1977 (7
U.S.C. 3291 et seq.) is amended to read as follows:
‘‘Subtitle 
I—International 
Re-
search, Extension, and Teach-
ing’’.
SEC. 214. TASK FORCE ON 10-YEAR STRATEGIC PLAN FOR
AGRICULTURAL RESEARCH FACILITIES.
(a) TRANSFER OF EXISTING PROVISION.—Section 4 of
the Research Facilities Act (7 U.S.C. 390b)—
(1) is transferred to the National Agricultural
Research, Extension, and Teaching Policy Act of 1977
(7 U.S.C. 3101 et seq.);
(2) is redesignated as section 1473B;
(3) is inserted after section 1473A of the Na-
tional Agricultural Research, Extension, and Teach-
ing Policy Act of 1977 (7 U.S.C. 3319a); and
(4) is amended in subsection (f), by striking
‘‘Notwithstanding section 2(1), in’’ and inserting
‘‘In’’.
(b) CONFORMING REPEAL.—The Research Facilities
Act (7 U.S.C. 390 et seq.) is repealed.
Subtitle C—Food, Agriculture, Con-
servation, and Trade Act of 1990
SEC. 231. NATIONAL AGRICULTURAL WEATHER INFORMA-
TION SYSTEM.
Subtitle D of title XVI of the Food, Agriculture, Con-
servation, and Trade Act of 1990 (7 U.S.C. 5851–5855) is
amended to read as follows:
‘‘Subtitle D—National Agricultural
Weather Information System
‘‘SEC. 1637. SHORT TITLE; PURPOSES.
‘‘(a) SHORT TITLE.—This subtitle may be cited as the
‘National Agricultural Weather Information System Act of
1997’.
‘‘(b) PURPOSES.—The purposes of this subtitle are—
‘‘(1) to facilitate the management and coordina-
tion of a national agricultural weather and climate
station network for Federal and State agencies, col-
leges and universities, and the private sector;
‘‘(2) to ensure that timely and accurate informa-
tion is obtained and disseminated; and
‘‘(3) to aid research and education that requires
a comprehensive agricultural weather and climate
database.
‘‘SEC. 1638. AGRICULTURAL WEATHER SYSTEM.
‘‘(a) ESTABLISHMENT.—The Secretary of Agriculture
may establish the National Agricultural Weather Informa-
tion System (referred to in this subtitle as the ‘System’).
The System shall be comprised of the operational and re-
search activities of the Federal, State, and regional agricul-
tural weather information systems.
‘‘(b) AUTHORITY.—Notwithstanding chapter 63 of title
31, United States Code, to carry out this subtitle, the Sec-
retary may—
‘‘(1) enter into contracts, grants, cooperative
agreements and interagency agreements without re-
gard to competitive requirements, except as otherwise
provided in this subtitle, with other Federal and
State agencies to—
‘‘(A) support operational weather and cli-
mate data observations, analysis, and derived
products;
‘‘(B) preserve historical data records for re-
search studies useful in agriculture;
‘‘(C) jointly develop improved computer
models and computing capacity for storage, re-
trieval, dissemination and analysis of agricul-
tural weather and climate information;
‘‘(D) enhance the quality and availability
of weather and climate information needed by
the private sector for value-added products and
agriculturists for decisionmaking; and
‘‘(E) sponsor joint programs to train pri-
vate sector meteorologists and agriculturists
about the optimum use of agricultural weather
and climate data;
‘‘(2) obtain standardized weather observation
data collected in near real time through regional and
State agricultural weather information systems;
‘‘(3) coordinate the activities of the Chief Mete-
orologist of the Department of Agriculture and weath-
er and climate research activities of the Department
of Agriculture with other Federal agencies and the
private sector;
‘‘(4) make grants to plan and administer State
and regional agricultural weather information sys-
tems, including research in atmospheric sciences and
climatology;
‘‘(5) encourage private sector participation in
the System through cooperation with the private sec-
tor, including cooperation in the generation of weath-
er and climate data useful for site-specific agricul-
tural weather forecasting; and
‘‘(6) make competitive grants to carry out re-
search in all aspects of atmospheric sciences and cli-
matology regarding the collection, retention, and dis-
semination of agricultural weather and climate obser-
vations and information, with priority given to pro-
posals that emphasize—
‘‘(A) techniques and processes that relate
to—
‘‘(i) weather- or climate-induced agri-
cultural losses; and
‘‘(ii) improvement of information on
weather and climate extremes (such as
drought, floods, freeze, and storms) well in
advance of their occurrence;
‘‘(B) the improvement of site-specific weath-
er data collection and forecasting;
‘‘(C) the impact of weather on economic and
environmental costs in agricultural production;
or
‘‘(D) the preservation and management of
the ecosystem.
‘‘SEC. 1639. FUNDING AND ADMINISTRATION.
‘‘(a) USE OF FUNDS.—
‘‘(1) NATIONAL OCEANIC AND ATMOSPHERIC AD-
MINISTRATION WORK.—Not more than 2⁄3 of the funds
made available for a fiscal year to carry out this sub-
title shall be used for work with the National Oceanic
and Atmospheric Administration.
‘‘(2) ADMINISTRATIVE COSTS.—The Secretary of
Agriculture may retain for administration of the Sys-
tem up to four percent of the amounts made available
to carry out this subtitle, notwithstanding the avail-
ability of any appropriation for administrative ex-
penses to carry out this subtitle.
‘‘(3) LIMITATIONS.—
‘‘(A) BUILDINGS
OR
FACILITIES.—Funds
made available to carry out this subtitle shall
not be used for the planning, repair, rehabilita-
tion, acquisition, or construction of a building or
facility.
‘‘(B) EQUIPMENT
PURCHASES.—Of funds
made available under a grant award under this
subtitle, a grantee may use for equipment pur-
chases not more than the lesser of—
‘‘(i) $15,000; or
‘‘(ii) 1⁄3 of the amount of the grant
award.
‘‘(b) APPLICABILITY OF OTHER LAWS.—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 for the
purpose of reviewing applications or proposals submitted
for grants under section 1638.
‘‘SEC. 1640. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.
‘‘There is authorized to be appropriated to carry out
this subtitle $15,000,000 for each of the fiscal years 1998
through 2002.’’.
SEC. 232. AGRICULTURAL GENOME INITIATIVE.
(a) ESTABLISHMENT AND PURPOSE OF INITIATIVE.—
Section 1671 of the Food, Agriculture, Conservation, and
Trade Act of 1990 (7 U.S.C. 5924) is amended by striking
the section heading and subsection (a) and inserting the fol-
lowing:
‘‘SEC. 1671. AGRICULTURAL GENOME INITIATIVE.
‘‘(a) PROGRAM REQUIRED.—The Secretary of Agri-
culture shall conduct a research initiative for the purpose
of—
‘‘(1) supporting basic and applied research and
technology development in the area of genome struc-
ture and function in support of agriculturally impor-
tant species, with a particular focus on research
projects that will yield scientifically important results
that will enhance the usefulness of many agricultur-
ally important species;
‘‘(2) studying and mapping agriculturally sig-
nificant genes to achieve sustainable and secure agri-
cultural production;
‘‘(3) ensuring that current gaps in existing agri-
cultural genetics knowledge are filled;
‘‘(4) identifying and developing a functional un-
derstanding of genes responsible for economically im-
portant traits in agriculturally important species, in-
cluding emerging plant and animal diseases causing
economic hardship;
‘‘(5) ensuring the future genetic improvement of
agriculturally important species;
‘‘(6) supporting the preservation of diverse
germplasm; and
‘‘(7) ensuring the preservation of biodiversity to
maintain access to genes that may be of importance
in the future.’’.
(b) COMPETITIVE GRANTS.—Subsection (b) of such sec-
tion is amended by striking ‘‘subsection (c)’’ and inserting
‘‘subsection (a)’’.
(c) GRANT TYPES AND PROCESS; PROHIBITION ON
CONSTRUCTION.—Subsection (c) of such section is amended
to read as follows:
‘‘(c) GRANT TYPES AND PROCESS; PROHIBITION ON
CONSTRUCTION.—Paragraphs (6), (7), and (11) of sub-
section (b) of the Competitive, Special, and Facilities Re-
search Grant Act (7 U.S.C. 450i) shall apply with respect
to the making of grants under this section.’’.
(d) MATCHING FUNDS.—Subsection (d) of such section
is amended to read as follows:
‘‘(d) MATCHING OF FUNDS.—
‘‘(1) GENERAL REQUIREMENT.—If a grant under
this section is to the particular benefit of a specific
agricultural commodity, the Secretary shall require
the recipient of the grant to provide funds or in-kind
support to match the amount of funds provided by the
Secretary in the grant.
‘‘(2) WAIVER.—The Secretary may waive the
matching funds requirement specified in paragraph
(1) with respect to a research project if the Secretary
determines that—
‘‘(A) the results of the project, while of par-
ticular benefit to a specific agricultural commod-
ity, are likely to be applicable to agricultural
commodities generally; or
‘‘(B) the project involves a minor commod-
ity, deals with scientifically important research,
and the grant recipient would be unable to sat-
isfy the matching funds requirement.’’.
(e) AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.—Subsection
(g) of such section is amended by striking ‘‘fiscal years 1996
and 1997’’ and inserting ‘‘fiscal years 1998 through 2002’’.
Subtitle D—National Research
Initiative
SEC. 241. WAIVER OF MATCHING REQUIREMENT FOR CER-
TAIN SMALL COLLEGES AND UNIVERSITIES.
Subsection (b)(8)(B) of the Competitive, Special, and
Facilities Research Grant Act (7 U.S.C. 450i) is amend-
ed—
(1) by striking ‘‘the cost’’ and inserting ‘‘the cost
of’’; and
(2) by adding at the end the following new sen-
tence: ‘‘The Secretary may waive all or a portion of
the matching requirement under this subparagraph in
the case of a smaller college or university (as de-
scribed in subsection (c)(2)(C)(ii) of section 793 of the
Federal Agriculture Improvement and Reform Act of
1996 (7 U.S.C. 2204f)) if the equipment to be ac-
quired costs not more than $25,000 and has multiple
uses within a single research project or is usable in
more than one research project.’’.
Subtitle E—Other Existing Laws
SEC. 251. FINDINGS, AUTHORITIES, AND COMPETITIVE RE-
SEARCH 
GRANTS 
UNDER 
FOREST 
AND
RANGELAND RENEWABLE RESOURCES RE-
SEARCH ACT OF 1978.
(a) FINDINGS.—Section 2 of the Forest and Rangeland
Renewable Resources Research Act of 1978 (16 U.S.C. 1641)
is amended by striking ‘‘SEC. 2.’’ and subsection (a) and
inserting the following:
‘‘SEC. 2. FINDINGS AND PURPOSE.
‘‘(a) FINDINGS.—Congress finds the following:
‘‘(1) Forests and rangelands, and the resources of
forests and rangelands, are of strategic economic and
ecological importance to the United States, and the
Federal Government has an important and substan-
tial role in ensuring the continued health, productiv-
ity, and sustainability of the Nation’s forests and
rangelands.
‘‘(2) Over 75 percent of the productive commer-
cial forest land in the United States is in private
ownership, with some 60 percent owned by small non-
industrial private owners. These 10,000,000 non-
industrial private owners are critical to providing
both commodity and noncommodity values to the citi-
zens of the United States.
‘‘(3) The National Forest System manages only
17 percent of the Nation’s commercial timberlands,
with over half of the standing softwoods inventory lo-
cated on those lands. Dramatic changes in Federal
agency policy during the early 1990’s have signifi-
cantly curtailed the management of this vast timber
resource, causing abrupt shifts in the supply of timber
from public to private ownership. As a result of these
shifts in supply, some 60 percent of total wood pro-
duction in the United States is now coming from pri-
vate forest lands in the southern United States.
‘‘(4) At the same time that pressures are build-
ing for the removal of even more land from commer-
cial production, the Federal Government is signifi-
cantly reducing its commitment to productivity-relat-
ed research regarding forests and rangelands, which is
critically needed by the private sector for the sus-
tained management of remaining available timber
and forage resources for the benefit of all species.
‘‘(5) Uncertainty over the availability of the
United States timber supply, increasing regulatory
burdens, and the lack of Federal Government support
for research is causing domestic wood and paper pro-
ducers to move outside the United States to find reli-
able sources of wood supplies, which in turns results
in a worsening of the United States trade balance, the
loss of employment and infrastructure investments,
and an increased risk of infestations of exotic pests
and diseases from imported wood products.
‘‘(6) Wood and paper producers in the United
States are being challenged not only by shifts in Gov-
ernment policy, but also by international competition
from tropical countries where growth rates of trees far
exceed those in the United States. Wood production
per acre will need to quadruple from 1996 levels for
the United States forestry sector to remain inter-
nationally competitive on an ever decreasing forest
land base.
‘‘(7) 
Better 
and 
more 
frequent 
forest
inventorying and analysis is necessary to identify
productivity-related forestry research needs and to
provide forest managers with the current data nec-
essary to make timely and effective management deci-
sions.’’.
(b) HIGH PRIORITY FORESTRY RESEARCH AND EDU-
CATION.—Subsection (d) of section 3 of the Forest and
Rangeland Renewable Resources Research Act of 1978 (16
U.S.C. 1642) is amended to read as follows:
‘‘(d) HIGH PRIORITY FORESTRY AND RANGELANDS
RESEARCH AND EDUCATION.—The Secretary may conduct,
support, and cooperate in forestry and rangelands research
and education that is of the highest priority to the United
States and to users of public and private forest lands and
rangelands in the United States. Such research and edu-
cation priorities include the following:
‘‘(1) The biology of forest organisms and range-
land organisms.
‘‘(2) Functional characteristics and cost-effective
management of forest and rangeland ecosystems.
‘‘(3) Interactions between humans and forests
and rangelands.
‘‘(4) Wood and forage as a raw material.
‘‘(5) International trade, competition, and co-
operation.’’.
(c) FOREST INVENTORY AND ANALYSIS.—Section 3 of
the Forest and Rangeland Renewable Resources Research
Act of 1978 (16 U.S.C. 1642) is amended by adding at the
end the following new subsection:
‘‘(e) FOREST INVENTORY AND ANALYSIS.—
‘‘(1) PROGRAM REQUIRED.—In compliance with
existing statutory authority, the Secretary shall estab-
lish a program to inventory and analyze, in a timely
manner, public and private forests and their resources
in the United States.
‘‘(2) ANNUAL STATE INVENTORY.—Not later than
the end of each full fiscal year beginning after the
date of the enactment of this subsection, the Secretary
shall prepare for each State, in cooperation with the
State forester for the State, an inventory of forests
and their resources in the State. For purposes of pre-
paring the inventory for a State, the Secretary shall
measure annually 20 percent of all sample plots that
are included in the inventory program for that State.
Upon completion of the inventory for a year, the Sec-
retary shall make available to the public a compila-
tion of all data collected for that year from measure-
ments of sample plots as well as any analysis made
of such samples.
‘‘(3) FIVE-YEAR
REPORTS.—At intervals not
greater than every five full fiscal years after the date
of the enactment of this subsection, the Secretary shall
prepare, publish, and make available to the public a
report, prepared in cooperation with State foresters,
that—
‘‘(A) contains a description of each State
inventory of forests and their resources, incor-
porating all sample plot measurements con-
ducted during the five years covered by the re-
port;
‘‘(B) displays and analyzes on a nationwide
basis the results of the annual reports required
by paragraph (2); and
‘‘(C) contains an analysis of forest health
conditions and trends over the previous two dec-
ades, with an emphasis on such conditions and
trends during the period subsequent to the imme-
diately preceding report under this paragraph.
‘‘(4) NATIONAL STANDARDS AND DEFINITIONS.—
To ensure uniform and consistent data collection for
all public and private forest ownerships and each
State, the Secretary shall develop, in consultation
with State foresters and Federal land management
agencies not under the jurisdiction of the Secretary,
and publish national standards and definitions to be
applied in inventorying and analyzing forests and
their resources under this subsection. The standards
shall include a core set of variables to be measured on
all sample plots under paragraph (2) and a standard
set of tables to be included in the reports under para-
graph (3).
‘‘(5) PROTECTION
FOR
PRIVATE
PROPERTY
RIGHTS.—The Secretary shall obtain written author-
ization from property owners prior to collecting data
from sample plots located on private property pursu-
ant to paragraphs (2) and (3).
‘‘(6) STRATEGIC PLAN.—Not later than 180 days
after the date of the enactment of this subsection, the
Secretary shall prepare and submit to Congress a
strategic plan to implement and carry out this sub-
section, including the annual updates required by
paragraph (2) and the reports required by paragraph
(3), that shall describe in detail—
‘‘(A) the financial resources required to im-
plement and carry out this subsection, including
the identification of any resources required in
excess of the amounts provided for forest
inventorying and analysis in recent appropria-
tions Acts;
‘‘(B) the personnel necessary to implement
and carry out this subsection, including any per-
sonnel in addition to personnel currently per-
forming inventorying and analysis functions;
‘‘(C) the organization and procedures nec-
essary to implement and carry out this sub-
section, including proposed coordination with
Federal land management agencies and State
foresters;
‘‘(D) the schedules for annual sample plot
measurements in each State inventory required
by paragraph (2) within the first five-year inter-
val after the date of the enactment of this sub-
section;
‘‘(E) the core set of variables to be measured
in each sample plot under paragraph (2) and the
standard set of tables to be used in each State
and national report under paragraph (3); and
‘‘(F) the process for employing, in coordina-
tion with the Department of Energy and the Na-
tional Aeronautics and Space Administration,
remote sensing, global positioning systems, and
other advanced technologies to carry out this sub-
section, and the subsequent use of such tech-
nologies.’’.
(d) FORESTRY AND RANGELANDS COMPETITIVE RE-
SEARCH GRANTS.—Section 5 of the Forest and Rangeland
Renewable Resources Research Act of 1978 (16 U.S.C.
16442) is amended—
(1) by striking the section heading and ‘‘SEC. 5.’’
and inserting the following:
‘‘SEC. 5. FORESTRY AND RANGELANDS COMPETITIVE RE-
SEARCH GRANTS.
‘‘(a) COMPETITIVE GRANT AUTHORITY.—’’; and
(2) by adding at the end the following new sub-
sections:
‘‘(b) EMPHASIS ON CERTAIN HIGH PRIORITY FOR-
ESTRY RESEARCH.—The Secretary may use up to five per-
cent of the amounts made available for research under sec-
tion 3 to make competitive grants regarding forestry re-
search in the high priority research areas identified in sec-
tion 3(d).
‘‘(c) EMPHASIS ON CERTAIN HIGH PRIORITY RANGE-
LANDS RESEARCH.—The Secretary may use up to five per-
cent of the amounts made available for research under sec-
tion 3 to make competitive grants regarding rangelands re-
search in the high priority research areas identified in sec-
tion 3(d).
‘‘(d) PRIORITIES.—In making grants under sub-
sections (b) and (c), the Secretary shall give priority to re-
search proposals in which—
‘‘(1) the proposed research will be collaborative
research organized through a center of scientific excel-
lence;
‘‘(2) the applicant agrees to provide matching
funds (in the form of direct funding or in-kind sup-
port) in an amount equal to not less than 50 percent
of the grant amount; and
‘‘(3) the proposed research will be conducted as
part of an existing private and public partnership or
cooperative research effort and involves several inter-
ested research partners.’’.
TITLE III—EXTENSION OR RE-
PEAL OF RESEARCH, EXTEN-
SION, AND EDUCATION INI-
TIATIVES
Subtitle A—Extensions
SEC. 301. NATIONAL RESEARCH INITIATIVE UNDER COM-
PETITIVE, 
SPECIAL, 
AND 
FACILITIES 
RE-
SEARCH GRANT ACT.
Subsection (b)(10) of the Competitive, Special, and
Facilities Research Grant Act (7 U.S.C. 450i(b)(10)) is
amended by striking ‘‘1997’’ and inserting ‘‘2002’’.
SEC. 302. EQUITY IN EDUCATIONAL LAND-GRANT STATUS
ACT OF 1994.
Sections 533(b) and 535 of the Equity in Educational
Land-Grant Status Act of 1994 (Public Law 103–382; 7
U.S.C. 301 note) are amended by striking ‘‘2000’’ each
place it appears and inserting ‘‘2002’’.
SEC. 303. EDUCATION GRANTS PROGRAMS FOR HISPANIC-
SERVING INSTITUTIONS.
Section 1455(c) of the National Agricultural Research,
Extension, and Teaching Policy Act of 1977 (7 U.S.C.
3241(c)) is amended by striking ‘‘fiscal year 1997’’ and in-
serting ‘‘each of the fiscal years 1997 through 2002’’.
SEC. 304. GENERAL AUTHORIZATION FOR AGRICULTURAL
RESEARCH PROGRAMS.
Section 1463 of the National Agricultural Research,
Extension, and Teaching Policy Act of 1977 (7 U.S.C.
3311) is amended in subsections (a) and (b) by striking
‘‘1997’’ each place it appears and inserting ‘‘2002’’.
SEC. 305. GENERAL AUTHORIZATION FOR EXTENSION EDU-
CATION.
Section 1464 of the National Agricultural Research,
Extension, and Teaching Policy Act of 1977 (7 U.S.C.
3312) is amended by striking ‘‘1997’’ and inserting ‘‘2002’’.
SEC. 306. GRANTS AND FELLOWSHIPS FOR FOOD AND AGRI-
CULTURAL SCIENCES EDUCATION.
Section 1417(j) of the National Agricultural Research,
Extension, and Teaching Policy Act of 1977 (7 U.S.C.
3152(j)) is amended by striking ‘‘1997’’ and inserting
‘‘2002’’.
SEC. 307. 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 ‘‘1997’’ and inserting
‘‘2002’’.
SEC. 308. POLICY RESEARCH CENTERS.
Section 1419A(d) of the National Agricultural Re-
search, Extension, and Teaching Policy Act of 1977 (7
U.S.C. 3155(d)) is amended by striking ‘‘fiscal years 1996
and 1997’’ and inserting ‘‘each of fiscal years 1996 through
2002’’.
SEC. 309. HUMAN NUTRITION INTERVENTION AND HEALTH
PROMOTION RESEARCH PROGRAM.
Section 1424(d) of the National Agricultural Research,
Extension, and Teaching Policy Act of 1977 (7 U.S.C.
3174(d)) is amended by striking ‘‘fiscal years 1996 and
1997’’ and inserting ‘‘each of fiscal years 1996 through
2002’’.
SEC. 310. PILOT RESEARCH PROGRAM TO COMBINE MEDI-
CAL AND AGRICULTURAL RESEARCH.
Section 1424A(d) of the National Agricultural Re-
search, Extension, and Teaching Policy Act of 1977 (7
U.S.C. 3174a(d)) is amended by striking ‘‘fiscal year 1997’’
and inserting ‘‘each of fiscal years 1997 through 2002’’.
SEC. 311. 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 ‘‘and 1997’’ and
inserting ‘‘through 2002’’.
SEC. 312. ANIMAL HEALTH AND DISEASE CONTINUING RE-
SEARCH.
Section 1433(a) of the National Agricultural Research,
Extension, and Teaching Policy Act of 1977 (7 U.S.C.
3195(a)) is amended in the first sentence by striking
‘‘1997’’ and inserting ‘‘2002’’.
SEC. 313. ANIMAL HEALTH AND DISEASE NATIONAL OR RE-
GIONAL RESEARCH.
Section 1434(a) of the National Agricultural Research,
Extension, and Teaching Policy Act of 1977 (7 U.S.C.
3196(a)) is amended by striking ‘‘1997’’ and inserting
‘‘2002’’.
SEC. 314. 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 ‘‘and 1997’’ and inserting
‘‘through 2002’’.
SEC. 315. NATIONAL RESEARCH AND TRAINING CENTEN-
NIAL CENTERS.
Section 1448 of the National Agricultural Research,
Extension, and Teaching Policy Act of 1977 (7 U.S.C.
3222c) is amended—
(1) in subsection (a)(1), by striking ‘‘and 1997’’
and inserting ‘‘through 2002’’; and
(2) in subsection (f), by striking ‘‘1997’’ and in-
serting ‘‘2002’’.
SEC. 316. SUPPLEMENTAL AND ALTERNATIVE CROPS RE-
SEARCH.
Section 1473D(a) of the National Agricultural Re-
search, Extension, and Teaching Policy Act of 1977 (7
U.S.C. 3319d(a)) is amended by striking ‘‘1997’’ and in-
serting ‘‘2002’’.
SEC. 317. AQUACULTURE 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 ‘‘1997’’ and inserting ‘‘2002’’.
SEC. 318. RANGELAND RESEARCH.
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 ‘‘1997’’ and inserting
‘‘2002’’.
SEC. 319. FEDERAL AGRICULTURAL RESEARCH FACILITIES.
Section 1431 of the National Agricultural Research,
Extension, and Teaching Policy Act Amendments of 1985
(Public Law 99–198; 99 Stat. 1566) is amended by striking
‘‘1997’’ and inserting ‘‘2002’’.
SEC. 320. WATER QUALITY RESEARCH, EDUCATION, AND CO-
ORDINATION.
Section 1481(d) of the Food, Agriculture, Conserva-
tion, and Trade Act of 1990 (7 U.S.C. 5501(d)) is amended
by striking ‘‘1997’’ and inserting ‘‘2002’’.
SEC. 321. NATIONAL GENETICS RESOURCES PROGRAM.
Section 1635(b) of the Food, Agriculture, Conservation,
and Trade Act of 1990 (7 U.S.C. 5844(b)) is amended by
striking ‘‘1997’’ and inserting ‘‘2002’’.
SEC. 322. 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 ‘‘1997’’ and inserting ‘‘2002’’.
SEC. 323. 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 ‘‘1997’’
and inserting ‘‘2002’’; and
(2) in subsection (b)(2), by striking ‘‘1997’’ and
inserting ‘‘2002’’.
SEC. 324. 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 ‘‘1997’’ and inserting ‘‘2002’’.
SEC. 325. CRITICAL AGRICULTURAL MATERIALS ACT.
Section 16(a) of the Critical Agricultural Materials
Act (7 U.S.C. 178n(a)) is amended by striking ‘‘1997’’ and
inserting ‘‘2002’’.
Subtitle B—Repeals
SEC. 341. AQUACULTURE RESEARCH FACILITIES.
Section 1476 of the National Agricultural Research,
Extension, and Teaching Policy Act of 1977 (7 U.S.C.
3323) is repealed.
SEC. 342. AGRICULTURAL RESEARCH PROGRAM UNDER NA-
TIONAL AGRICULTURAL RESEARCH, EXTEN-
SION, AND TEACHING POLICY ACT AMEND-
MENTS OF 1981.
Subsection (b) of section 1432 of the National Agricul-
tural Research, Extension, and Teaching Policy Act
Amendments of 1981 (Public Law 97–98; 7 U.S.C. 3222
note) is repealed.
SEC. 343. LIVESTOCK PRODUCT SAFETY AND INSPECTION
PROGRAM.
Section 1670 of the Food, Agriculture, Conservation,
and Trade Act of 1990 (7 U.S.C. 5923) is repealed.
SEC. 344. GENERIC AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.
Sections 897 and 898 of the Federal Agriculture Im-
provement and Reform Act of 1996 (Public Law 104–127;
110 Stat. 1184) are repealed.
TITLE IV—NEW RESEARCH, EX-
TENSION, 
AND 
EDUCATION
INITIATIVES
Subtitle A—Partnerships for High-
Value 
Agricultural 
Product
Quality Research
SEC. 401. DEFINITIONS.
For the purposes of this subtitle:
(1) ELIGIBLE PARTNERSHIP.—The term ‘‘eligible
partnership’’ means a partnership consisting of a
land-grant college or university and other entities
specified in paragraph (1) of subsection (b) of section
402 that satisfies the eligibility criteria contained in
such subsection.
(2) SECRETARY.—The term ‘‘Secretary’’ means
the Secretary of Agriculture.
SEC. 402. ESTABLISHMENT AND CHARACTERISTICS OF
PARTNERSHIPS.
(a) ESTABLISHMENT BY GRANT.—
(1) IN
GENERAL.—The Secretary may make
grants to an eligible partnership to coordinate and
manage research and extension activities to enhance
the quality of high-value agricultural products.
(2) AWARDING OF GRANTS.—Grants under para-
graph (1) shall be awarded on a competitive basis.
(b) CRITERIA FOR AN ELIGIBLE PARTNERSHIP.—
(1) PRIMARY INSTITUTIONS IN PARTNERSHIP.—
The primary institution involved in an eligible part-
nership shall be a land-grant college or university,
acting in partnership with other colleges or univer-
sities, nonprofit research and development entities,
and Federal laboratories.
(2) PRIORITIZATION
OF
RESEARCH
ACTIVI-
TIES.—An eligible partnership shall prioritize re-
search and extension activities in order to—
(A) enhance the competitiveness of United
States agricultural products;
(B) increase exports of such products; and
(C) substitute such products for imported
products.
(3) COORDINATION.—An eligible partnership
shall coordinate among the entities comprising the
partnership the activities supported by the eligible
partnership, including the provision of mechanisms
for sharing resources between institutions and labora-
tories and the coordination of public and private sec-
tor partners to maximize cost-effectiveness.
(c) TYPES OF RESEARCH AND EXTENSION ACTIVI-
TIES.—Research or extension supported by an eligible part-
nership may address the full spectrum of production, proc-
essing, packaging, transportation, and marketing issues re-
lated to a high-value agricultural product. Such issues in-
clude—
(1) environmentally responsible—
(A) pest management alternatives and bio-
technology;
(B) sustainable farming methods; and
(C) soil conservation and enhanced resource
management;
(2) genetic research to develop improved agricul-
tural-based products;
(3) refinement of field production practices and
technology to improve quality, yield, and production
efficiencies;
(4) processing and package technology to im-
prove product quality, stability, or flavor intensity;
(5) marketing research regarding consumer per-
ceptions and preferences;
(6) economic research, including industry char-
acteristics, growth, competitive analysis; and
(7) research to facilitate diversified, value-added
enterprises in rural areas.
SEC. 403. ELEMENTS OF GRANT MAKING PROCESS.
(a) PERIOD OF GRANT.—The Secretary may award a
grant under this subtitle for a period not to exceed five
years.
(b) PREFERENCES.—In making grants under this sub-
title, the Secretary shall give preference to proposals that—
(1) demonstrate linkages with—
(A) agencies of the Department of Agri-
culture;
(B) other related Federal research labora-
tories and agencies;
(C) colleges and universities; and
(D) private industry; and
(2) guarantee matching funds in excess of the
amounts required by subsection (c).
(c) MATCHING FUNDS.—An eligible partnership shall
contribute an amount of non-Federal funds for the oper-
ation of the partnership that is at least equal to the amount
of grant funds received under this subtitle.
(d) LIMITATION ON USE OF GRANT FUNDS.—Funds
provided under this subtitle may not be used for the plan-
ning, repair, rehabilitation, acquisition, or construction of
a building or facility.
SEC. 404. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS AND RE-
LATED PROVISIONS.
(a) AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.—There are
authorized to be appropriated such funds as may be nec-
essary to carry out this subtitle for each of the fiscal years
1998 through 2002.
(b) LIMITATION
ON ADMINISTRATIVE COSTS.—Not
more than four percent of the funds appropriated to carry
out this subtitle may be retained by the Secretary to pay
administrative costs incurred by the Secretary to carry out
this subtitle.
Subtitle B—Precision Agriculture
SEC. 411. DEFINITIONS.
For purposes of this subtitle:
(1) PRECISION AGRICULTURE.—The term ‘‘preci-
sion agriculture’’ means an integrated information-
and production-based farming system that is designed
to increase long-term, site specific and whole farm
production efficiencies, productivity, and profitability
while minimizing unintended impacts on wildlife and
the environment by—
(A) combining agricultural sciences, agri-
cultural inputs and practices, agronomic produc-
tion databases, and precision agriculture tech-
nologies to efficiently manage agronomic and
livestock production systems;
(B) gathering on-farm information pertain-
ing to the variation and interaction of site-spe-
cific spatial and temporal factors affecting crop
and livestock production;
(C) integrating such information with ap-
propriate data derived from field scouting, re-
mote sensing, and other precision agriculture
technologies in a timely manner in order to fa-
cilitate on-farm decisionmaking; or
(D) using such information to prescribe and
deliver site-specific application of agricultural
inputs and management practices in agricul-
tural production systems.
(2) PRECISION AGRICULTURE TECHNOLOGIES.—
The term ‘‘precision agriculture technologies’’ in-
cludes—
(A) instrumentation and techniques ranging
from sophisticated sensors and software systems
to manual sampling and data collection tools
that measure, record, and manage spatial and
temporal data;
(B) technologies for searching out and as-
sembling information necessary for sound agri-
cultural production decision making;
(C) open systems technologies for data
networking and processing that produce valued
systems for farm management decisionmaking;
or
(D) machines that deliver information
based management practices.
(3) ADVISORY
BOARD.—The term ‘‘Advisory
Board’’ means the National Agricultural Research,
Extension, Education, and Economics Advisory
Board established under section 1408 of the National
Agricultural Research, Extension, and Teaching Pol-
icy Act of 1977 (7 U.S.C. 3123).
(4) AGRICULTURAL INPUTS.—The term ‘‘agricul-
tural inputs’’ includes all farm management, agro-
nomic, and field applied agricultural production in-
puts, such as machinery, labor, time, fuel, irrigation
water, commercial nutrients, feed stuffs, veterinary
drugs and vaccines, livestock waste, crop protection
chemicals, agronomic data and information, applica-
tion and management services, seed, and other inputs
used in agriculture production.
(5) ELIGIBLE ENTITY.—The term ‘‘eligible en-
tity’’ means—
(A) a State agricultural experiment station;
(B) a college or university;
(C) a research institution or organization;
(D) a Federal or State government entity or
agency;
(E) a national laboratory;
(F) a private organization or corporation;
(G) an agricultural producer or other land
manager; or
(H) a precision agriculture partnership re-
ferred to in section 414.
(6) SYSTEMS RESEARCH.—The term ‘‘systems re-
search’’ means an integrated, coordinated, and itera-
tive investigative process, which considers the mul-
tiple interacting components and aspects of precision
agriculture systems, including synthesis of new
knowledge regarding the physical-chemical-biological
processes and complex interactions with cropping,
livestock production practices, and natural resource
systems, precision agriculture technologies develop-
ment and implementation, data and information col-
lection and interpretation, production scale planning,
production-scale implementation, and farm produc-
tion efficiencies, productivity, and profitability.
SEC. 412. COMPETITIVE GRANTS TO PROMOTE PRECISION
AGRICULTURE.
(a) GRANTS AUTHORIZED.—The Secretary of Agri-
culture may make competitive grants, for periods not to ex-
ceed five years, to eligible entities to conduct research, edu-
cation, or information dissemination projects for the devel-
opment and advancement of precision agriculture. Such
grants shall be limited to those projects that the Secretary
determines are unlikely to be financed by the private sector
in the absence of a grant under this section. The Secretary
shall make such grants in consultation with the Advisory
Board.
(b) PURPOSE OF PROJECTS.—Research, education, or
information dissemination projects supported by a grant
under subsection (a) shall address one or more of the follow-
ing:
(1) The study and promotion of components of
precision agriculture technologies using a systems re-
search approach that would increase long-term, site-
specified and whole farm production efficiencies, pro-
ductivity, profitability.
(2) The improvement in the understanding of ag-
ronomic systems, including, soil, water, land cover
(including grazing lands), pest management systems,
and meteorological variability.
(3) The provision of training and educational
programs for State cooperative extension services
agents, and other professionals involved in the agri-
cultural production and transfer of integrated preci-
sion agriculture technology.
(4) The development, demonstration, and dis-
semination of information regarding precision agri-
culture technologies and systems and the potential
benefits of precision agriculture as it relates to in-
creased long-term farm production efficiencies, pro-
ductivity, profitability, and the maintenance of the
environment, and improvements in international
trade into an integrated program to educate agricul-
tural producers and consumers, including family
owned and operated farms.
(c) GRANT PRIORITIES.—In making grants to eligible
entities under subsection (a), the Secretary, in consultation
with the Advisory Board, shall give priority to research,
education, or information dissemination projects designed
to accomplish the following:
(1) Evaluate the use of precision agriculture
technologies using a systems research approach to in-
crease long-term site-specific and whole farm produc-
tion efficiencies, productivity, profitability.
(2) Integrate research, education, and informa-
tion dissemination components in a practical and
readily available manner so that the findings of the
project will be made readily usable by farmers.
(3) Demonstrate the efficient use of agricultural
inputs, rather than the uniform reduction in the use
of agricultural inputs.
(4) Maximize the involvement and cooperation of
precision agriculture producers, certified crop advis-
ers, State cooperative extension services agents, agri-
cultural input machinery, product and service pro-
viders, nonprofit organizations, agribusiness, veteri-
narians, land-grant colleges and universities, and
Federal agencies in precision agriculture systems re-
search projects involving on-farm research, education,
and information dissemination of precision agri-
culture.
(5) Maximize collaboration with multiple agen-
cies and other partners that include leveraging of
funds and resources.
(d) MATCHING FUNDS.—The amount of a grant under
this section to an eligible entity (other than a Federal agen-
cy) may not exceed the amount which the eligible entity
makes available out of non-Federal funds for precision agri-
culture research and for the establishment and maintenance
of facilities necessary for conducting precision agriculture
research.
SEC. 413. RESERVATION OF FUNDS FOR EDUCATION AND
INFORMATION DISSEMINATION PROJECTS.
Of the funds made available for grants under section
412, the Secretary of Agriculture shall reserve a portion of
such funds for grants for projects regarding precision agri-
culture related to education or information dissemination.
SEC. 414. PRECISION AGRICULTURE PARTNERSHIPS.
In carrying out this subtitle, the Secretary of Agri-
culture, in consultation with the Advisory Board, shall en-
courage the establishment of appropriate multi-state and
national partnerships or consortia between—
(1) land-grant colleges and universities, State
agricultural experiment stations, State cooperative ex-
tension services, other colleges and universities with
demonstrable expertise regarding precision agri-
culture, agencies of the Department of Agriculture,
national laboratories, agribusinesses, agricultural
equipment and input manufacturers and retailers,
certified crop advisers, commodity organizations,
veterinaries, other Federal or State government enti-
ties and agencies, or nonagricultural industries and
nonprofit organizations with demonstrable expertise
regarding precision agriculture; and
(2) agricultural producers or other land man-
agers.
SEC. 415. MISCELLANEOUS PROVISIONS.
(a) PROHIBITION ON USE OF FUNDS FOR CERTAIN
PURPOSES.—The Secretary of Agriculture may not make
a grant under section 412 for the planning, repair, rehabili-
tation, acquisition, or construction of a building or facility.
(b) APPLICATION OF OTHER LAWS.—The Federal Ad-
visory 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 for the
purpose of reviewing applications or proposals submitted
under this subtitle.
SEC. 416. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.
(a) AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.—There are
hereby authorized to be appropriated to carry out this sub-
title $40,000,000 for each of the fiscal years 1998 through
2002.
(b) ADMINISTRATIVE COSTS.—Not more than 3 per-
cent of the amount appropriated under this subtitle may
be retained by the Secretary to pay the administrative costs
incurred by the Secretary in carrying out this subtitle.
(c) AVAILABILITY OF FUNDS.—Funds made available
under paragraph (a) shall be available for obligation for
a two-year period beginning on October 1 of the fiscal year
for which the funds are made available.
Subtitle C—Other Initiatives
SEC. 421. HIGH-PRIORITY RESEARCH AND EXTENSION INI-
TIATIVES.
Section 1672 of the Food, Agriculture, Conservation,
and Trade Act of 1990 (7 U.S.C. 5925) is amended to read
as follows:
‘‘SEC. 1672. HIGH-PRIORITY RESEARCH AND EXTENSION INI-
TIATIVES.
‘‘(a) COMPETITIVE SPECIALIZED RESEARCH AND EX-
TENSION GRANTS AUTHORIZED.—The Secretary of Agri-
culture, in consultation with the National Agricultural Re-
search, Education, Extension, and Economics Advisory
Board, may make competitive grants to support research
and extension activities in the high-priority research and
extension areas specified in subsection (e).
‘‘(b) GRANT TYPES AND PROCESS; PROHIBITION ON
CONSTRUCTION.—Paragraphs (6), (7), and (11) of sub-
section (b) of the Competitive, Special, and Facilities Re-
search Grant Act (7 U.S.C. 450i) shall apply with respect
to the making of grants under this section.
‘‘(c) MATCHING FUNDS REQUIRED.—
‘‘(1) IN GENERAL.—The Secretary shall require
the recipient of a grant under this section to provide
funds or in-kind support from non-Federal sources in
an amount at least equal to the amount provided by
the Federal Government.
‘‘(2) WAIVER AUTHORITY.—The Secretary may
waive the matching funds requirement specified in
paragraph (1) with respect to a research project if the
Secretary determines that—
‘‘(A) the results of the project, while of par-
ticular benefit to a specific agricultural commod-
ity, are likely to be applicable to agricultural
commodities generally; or
‘‘(B) the project involves a minor commod-
ity, deals with scientifically important research,
and the grant recipient would be unable to sat-
isfy the matching funds requirement.
‘‘(d) PARTNERSHIPS ENCOURAGED.—Following the
completion of a peer review process for grant proposals re-
ceived under this section, the Secretary may give priority
to those grant proposals found to be scientifically meritori-
ous that involve the cooperation of multiple institutions.
‘‘(e) HIGH-PRIORITY
RESEARCH
AND
EXTENSION
AREAS.—
‘‘(1) 
BROWN
CITRUS
APHID
AND
CITRUS
TRISTEZA
VIRUS
RESEARCH
AND
EXTENSION.—Re-
search and extension grants may be made under this
section for the purpose of—
‘‘(A) developing methods to control or eradi-
cate the brown citrus aphid and the citrus
tristeza virus from citrus crops grown in the
United States; or
‘‘(B) adapting citrus crops grown in the
United States to the brown citrus aphid and the
citrus tristeza virus.
‘‘(2) ETHANOL RESEARCH AND EXTENSION.—Re-
search and extension grants may be made under this
section for the purpose of carrying on or enhancing
research on ethanol derived from agricultural crops as
an alternative fuel source.
‘‘(3) AFLATOXIN RESEARCH AND EXTENSION.—
Research and extension grants may be made under
this section for the purpose of identifying and control-
ling aflatoxin in the food and feed chains.
‘‘(4) MESQUITE RESEARCH AND EXTENSION.—
Research and extension grants may be made under
this section for the purpose of developing enhanced
production methods and commercial uses of mesquite.
‘‘(5) PRICKLY
PEAR
RESEARCH
AND
EXTEN-
SION.—Research and extension grants may be made
under this section for the purpose of investigating en-
hanced genetic selection and processing techniques of
prickly pears.
‘‘(6) DEER TICK ECOLOGY RESEARCH AND EX-
TENSION.—Research and extension grants may be
made under this section for the purpose of studying
the population ecology of deer ticks and other insects
and pests which transmit Lyme disease.
‘‘(7) RED MEAT SAFETY RESEARCH AND EXTEN-
SION.—Research and extension grants may be made
under this section for the purpose of developing—
‘‘(A) intervention strategies that reduce mi-
crobial contamination on carcass surfaces;
‘‘(B) microbiological mapping of carcass
surfaces; and
‘‘(C) model hazard analysis and critical
control point plans.
‘‘(8) GRAIN
SORGHUM
ERGOT
RESEARCH
AND
EXTENSION.—Research and extension grants may be
made under this section for the purpose of developing
techniques for the eradication of sorghum ergot.
‘‘(9) ANIMAL
WASTE
AND
ODOR
MANAGEMENT
RESEARCH AND EXTENSION.—Research and extension
grants may be made under this section for the pur-
pose of—
‘‘(A) identifying, evaluating, and dem-
onstrating innovative technologies for animal
waste management and odor control; and
‘‘(B) conducting information workshops to
disseminate the results of such research.
‘‘(10) FIRE ANT RESEARCH AND EXTENSION.—
Research and extension grants may be made under
this section for the purpose of control, management,
and eradication of fire ants.
‘‘(11) WHEAT
SCAB
RESEARCH
AND
EXTEN-
SION.—Research and extension grants may be made
under this section to a consortium of land-grant col-
leges and universities for the purpose of understand-
ing and combating diseases of wheat and barley
caused by Fusarium graminearum and related fungi
(commonly known as wheat scab).
‘‘(12) PEANUT
MARKET
ENHANCEMENT
RE-
SEARCH
AND
EXTENSION.—Research and extension
grants may be made under this section for the pur-
pose of evaluating the economics of applying innova-
tive technologies for peanut processing in a commer-
cial environment.
‘‘(13) DAIRY FINANCIAL RISK MANAGEMENT RE-
SEARCH
AND
EXTENSION.—Research and extension
grants may be made under this section for the pur-
pose of providing research, development, or education
materials, information, and outreach programs re-
garding risk management strategies for dairy produc-
ers and for dairy cooperatives and other processors
and marketers of milk.
‘‘(14) COTTON RESEARCH AND EXTENSION.—Re-
search and extension grants may be made under this
section for the purpose of improving pest manage-
ment, fiber quality enhancement, economic assess-
ment, textile production, and optimized production
systems for short staple cotton.
‘‘(15) METHYL BROMIDE RESEARCH AND EXTEN-
SION.—Research and extension grants may be made
under this section for the purpose of—
‘‘(A) developing and evaluating chemical
and nonchemical alternatives, and use and emis-
sion reduction strategies, for pre-planting and
post-harvest uses of methyl bromide; and
‘‘(B) transferring the results of such re-
search for agricultural producer use.
‘‘(16) WATER QUALITY AND AQUATIC ECOSYSTEM
RESEARCH AND EXTENSION.—Research and extension
grants may be made under this section for the pur-
pose of investigating the impact on aquatic food webs,
especially commercially important aquatic species
and their habitats, of microorganisms of the genus
Pfiesteria and other microorganisms that are a threat
to human or animal health.
‘‘(17) POTATO RESEARCH AND EXTENSION.—Re-
search and extension grants may be made under this
section for the purpose of developing and evaluating
new strains of potatoes which are resistant to blight
and other diseases, as well as insects. Emphasis may
be placed on developing potato varieties that lend
themselves to innovative marketing approaches.
‘‘(18) WOOD UTILIZATION RESEARCH AND EX-
TENSION.—Research and extension grants may be
made under this section for the purpose of developing
new uses for wood from underutilized tree species as
well as investigating methods of modifying wood and
wood fibers to produce better building materials.
‘‘(19) LOW-BUSH
BLUEBERRY
RESEARCH
AND
EXTENSION.—Research and extension grants may be
made under this section for the purpose of evaluating
methods of propagating and developing low-bush blue-
berry as a marketable crop.
‘‘(20) FORMOSAN
TERMITE
ERADICATION
RE-
SEARCH
AND
EXTENSION.—Research and extension
grants may be made under this section for the pur-
pose of—
‘‘(A) conducting research for the control,
management, and possible eradication of Formo-
san termites in the United States; and
‘‘(B) collecting data on the effectiveness of
research projects conducted under this para-
graph.
‘‘(21) SWINE
WASTE
MANAGEMENT
AND
ODOR
CONTROL RESEARCH AND EXTENSION.—Research and
extension grants may be made under this section for
the purpose of investigating the microbiology of swine
waste and developing improved methods to effectively
manage air and water quality in animal husbandry.
‘‘(22) WETLANDS UTILIZATION RESEARCH AND
EXTENSION.—Research and extension grants may be
made under this section for the purpose of better uti-
lizing wetlands in diverse ways to provide various
economic, agricultural, and environmental benefits.
‘‘(23) WILD PAMPAS GRASS CONTROL AND ERADI-
CATION RESEARCH AND EXTENSION.—Research and
extension grants may be made under this section for
the purpose of control, management, and eradication
of wild pampas grass.
‘‘(24) PATHOGEN
DETECTION
AND
LIMITATION
RESEARCH AND EXTENSION.—Research and extension
grants may be made under this section for the pur-
pose of identifying advanced detection and processing
methods to limit the presence of pathogens, including
hepatitis A and E. coli 0157:H7, in domestic and im-
ported foods.
‘‘(25) FINANCIAL RISK MANAGEMENT RESEARCH
AND
EXTENSION.—Research and extension grants
may be made under this section for the purpose of
providing research, development, or education mate-
rials, information, and outreach programs regarding
financial risk management strategies for agricultural
producers and for cooperatives and other processors
and marketers of any agricultural commodity.
‘‘(26) ORNAMENTAL TROPICAL FISH RESEARCH
AND
EXTENSION.—Research and extension grants
may be made under this section for the purpose of
meeting the needs of commercial producers of orna-
mental tropical fish and aquatic plants for improve-
ments in the areas of fish reproduction, health, nutri-
tion, predator control, water use, water quality con-
trol, and farming technology.
‘‘(27) SHEEP SCRAPIE RESEARCH AND EXTEN-
SION.—Research and extension grants may be made
under this section for the purpose of investigating the
genetic aspects of scrapie in sheep.
‘‘(28) ANIMAL WASTE MANAGEMENT AT RURAL/
URBAN INTERFACES.—Research and extension grants
may be made under this section for the purpose of
identifying, evaluating, and demonstrating innovative
technologies to be used for animal waste management
(including odor control) in rural areas adjacent to
urban or suburban areas in connection with waste
management activities undertaken in urban or subur-
ban areas.
‘‘(29) GYPSY
MOTH
RESEARCH
AND
EXTEN-
SION.—Research and extension grants may be made
under this section for the purpose of developing bio-
logical control, management, and eradication methods
against nonnative insects, including Lymantria
dispar (commonly known as the Gypsy Moth), that
contribute to significant agricultural, economical, or
environmental harm.
‘‘(30) DAIRY
EFFICIENCY, PROFITABILITY, AND
COMPETITIVENESS RESEARCH AND EXTENSION.—Re-
search and extension grants may be made under this
section for the purpose of improving the efficiency,
profitability, and competitiveness of dairy production
on farms that are heavily dependent on manufactur-
ing uses of milk.
‘‘(31) ANIMAL
FEED
RESEARCH
AND
EXTEN-
SION.—Research and extension grants may be made
under this section for the purpose of maximizing nu-
trition management for livestock, while limiting risks,
such as mineral bypass, associated with livestock feed-
ing practices.
‘‘(32) FORESTRY RESEARCH AND EXTENSION.—
Research and extension grants may be made under
this section to develop and distribute new, high-qual-
ity, science-based information for the purpose of im-
proving the long-term productivity of forest resources
and contributing to forest-based economic development
by addressing such issues as forest land use policies,
multiple-use forest management, including wildlife
habitat development, improved forest regeneration
systems, and timber supply, and improved develop-
ment, manufacturing, and marketing of forest prod-
ucts.
‘‘(f) AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.—There are
authorized to be appropriated for each of the fiscal years
1998 through 2002 such sums as may be necessary to make
grants under this section in each of the high-priority re-
search and extension areas specified in subsection (e).
‘‘(g) USE OF TASK FORCES.—
‘‘(1) ESTABLISHMENT.—To facilitate the making
of research and extension grants under this section in
a high-priority research and extension area specified
in subsection (e), the Secretary may appoint a task
force to make recommendations to the Secretary.
‘‘(2) LIMITATION ON COSTS.—The Secretary may
not incur costs in excess of $1,000 in any fiscal year
in connection with each task force established under
this subsection.
‘‘(3) APPLICATION OF OTHER LAWS.—The Fed-
eral 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 task force
established under this subsection.’’.
SEC. 422. ORGANIC AGRICULTURE RESEARCH AND EXTEN-
SION INITIATIVE.
The Food, Agriculture, Conservation, and Trade Act
of 1990 is amended by inserting after section 1672 (7
U.S.C. 5925) the following new section:
‘‘SEC. 1672A. ORGANIC AGRICULTURE RESEARCH AND EX-
TENSION INITIATIVE.
‘‘(a) COMPETITIVE SPECIALIZED RESEARCH AND EX-
TENSION GRANTS AUTHORIZED.—The Secretary of Agri-
culture, in consultation with the National Agricultural Re-
search, Education, Extension, and Economics Advisory
Board, may make competitive grants to support research
and extension activities regarding organically grown and
processed agricultural commodities for the purpose of—
‘‘(1) facilitating the development of organic agri-
culture production and processing methods;
‘‘(2) evaluating the potential economic benefits to
producers and processors who use organic methods;
and
‘‘(3) exploring international trade opportunities
for organically grown and processed agricultural com-
modities.
‘‘(b) GRANT TYPES AND PROCESS, PROHIBITION ON
CONSTRUCTION.—Paragraphs (6), (7), and (11) of sub-
section (b) of the Competitive, Special, and Facilities Re-
search Grant Act (7 U.S.C. 450i) shall apply with respect
to the making of grants under this section.
‘‘(c) MATCHING FUNDS REQUIRED.—
‘‘(1) IN GENERAL.—The Secretary shall require
the recipient of a grant under this section to provide
funds or in-kind support from non-Federal sources in
an amount at least equal to the amount provided by
the Federal Government.
‘‘(2) WAIVER AUTHORITY.—The Secretary may
waive the matching funds requirement specified in
paragraph (1) with respect to a research project if the
Secretary determines that—
‘‘(A) the results of the project, while of par-
ticular benefit to a specified agricultural com-
modity, are likely to be applicable to agricul-
tural commodities generally; or
‘‘(B) the project involves a minor commod-
ity, deals with scientifically important research,
and grant recipient would be unable to satisfy
the matching funds requirement.
‘‘(d) PARTNERSHIPS ENCOURAGED.—Following the
completion of a peer review process for grant proposals re-
ceived under this section, the Secretary may give priority
to those grant proposals found to be scientifically meritori-
ous that involved the cooperation of multiple institutions.
‘‘(e) AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.—There are
authorized to be appropriated for each of the fiscal years
1998 through 2002 such sums as may be necessary to make
grants under this section.’’.
SEC. 423. UNITED STATES-MEXICO JOINT AGRICULTURAL
RESEARCH.
Subtitle I of the National Agricultural Research, Ex-
tension, and Teaching Policy Act of 1977 is amended by
inserting after section 1458 (7 U.S.C. 3291) the following
new section:
‘‘SEC. 1459. UNITED STATES-MEXICO JOINT AGRICULTURAL
RESEARCH.
‘‘(a) RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT PROGRAM.—The
Secretary may provide for an agricultural research and de-
velopment program with the United States/Mexico Founda-
tion for Science, which will focus on binational problems
facing agricultural producers and consumers in the two
countries, in particular pressing problems in the areas of
food safety, plant and animal pest control, and the natural
resources base on which agriculture depends.
‘‘(b) ADMINISTRATION.—Grants under the research
and development program shall be awarded competitively
through the Foundation.
‘‘(c) MATCHING REQUIREMENTS.—The provision of
funds to the Foundation by the United States Government
shall be subject to the condition that the Government of Mex-
ico match, on at least an equal ratio, any funds provided
by the United States Government.
‘‘(d) LIMITATION ON USE OF FUNDS.—Funds provided
under this section may not be used for the planning, repair,
rehabilitation, acquisition, or construction of a building or
facility.’’.
SEC. 424. COMPETITIVE GRANTS FOR INTERNATIONAL AG-
RICULTURAL SCIENCE AND EDUCATION PRO-
GRAMS.
Subtitle I of the National Agricultural Research, Ex-
tension, and Teaching Policy Act of 1977 (7 U.S.C. 3291
et seq.) is amended by inserting after section 1459, as added
by section 423, the following new section:
‘‘SEC. 1459A. COMPETITIVE GRANTS FOR INTERNATIONAL
AGRICULTURAL SCIENCE AND EDUCATION
PROGRAMS.
‘‘(a) COMPETITIVE GRANTS AUTHORIZED.—The Sec-
retary may make competitive grants to colleges and univer-
sities in order to strengthen United States economic com-
petitiveness and to promote international market develop-
ment.
‘‘(b) PURPOSE OF GRANTS.—Grants under this section
shall be directed to agricultural research, extension, and
teaching activities that will—
‘‘(1) enhance the international content of the
curricula in colleges and universities so as to ensure
that United States students acquire an understanding
of the international dimensions and trade implica-
tions of their studies;
‘‘(2) ensure that United States scientists, exten-
sion agents, and educators involved in agricultural
research and development activities outside of the
United States have the opportunity to convey the im-
plications of their activities and findings to their
peers and students in the United States and to the
users of agricultural research, extension, and teach-
ing;
‘‘(3) enhance the capabilities of colleges and uni-
versities to do collaborative research with other coun-
tries, in cooperation with other Federal agencies, on
issues relevant to United States agricultural competi-
tiveness;
‘‘(4) enhance the capabilities of colleges and uni-
versities to provide cooperative extension education to
promote the application of new technology developed
in foreign countries to United States agriculture; and
‘‘(5) enhance the capability of United States col-
leges and universities, in cooperation with other Fed-
eral agencies, to provide leadership and educational
programs that will assist United States natural re-
sources and food production, processing, and distribu-
tion businesses and industries to compete internation-
ally, including product market identification, inter-
national policies limiting or enhancing market pro-
duction, development of new or enhancement of exist-
ing markets, and production efficiencies.
‘‘(c) AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.—There are
authorized to be appropriated such sums as may be nec-
essary to carry out this section.’’.
SEC. 425. FOOD ANIMAL RESIDUE AVOIDANCE DATABASE
PROGRAM.
(a) CONTINUATION OF PROGRAM.—The Secretary of
Agriculture shall continue operation of the Food Animal
Residue Avoidance Database program (referred to in this
section as the ‘‘FARAD program’’) through appropriate col-
leges or universities.
(b) ACTIVITIES.—In carrying out the FARAD pro-
gram, the Secretary of Agriculture shall—
(1) provide livestock producers, extension special-
ists, scientists, and veterinarians with information to
prevent drug, pesticide, and environmental contami-
nant residues in food animal products;
(2) maintain up-to-date information concern-
ing—
(A) withdrawal times on FDA-approved
food animal drugs and appropriate withdrawal
intervals for drugs used in food animals in the
United States, as established under section
512(a) of the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic
Act (21 U.S.C. 360b(a));
(B) official tolerances for drugs and pes-
ticides in tissues, eggs, and milk;
(C) descriptions and sensitivities of rapid
screening tests for detecting residues in tissues,
eggs, and milk; and
(D) data on the distribution and fate of
chemicals in food animals;
(3) publish periodically a compilation of food
animal drugs approved by the Food and Drug Ad-
ministration;
(4) make information on food animal drugs
available to the public through handbooks and other
literature, computer software, a telephone hotline, and
the Internet;
(5) furnish producer quality-assurance programs
with up-to-date data on approved drugs;
(6) maintain a comprehensive and up-to-date,
residue avoidance database;
(7) provide professional advice for determining
the withdrawal times necessary for food safety in the
use of drugs in food animals; and
(8) engage in other activities designed to promote
food safety.
(c) GRANTS.—The Secretary of Agriculture, in con-
sultation with the National Agricultural Research, Edu-
cation, Extension, and Economics Advisory Board, may
make grants to colleges and universities to operate the
FARAD program. The term of a grant shall be three years,
with options to extend the term of the grant triennially.
SEC. 426. DEVELOPMENT AND COMMERCIALIZATION OF
NEW BIOBASED PRODUCTS.
(a) BIOBASED PRODUCT DEFINED.—For purposes of
this section, the term ‘‘biobased product’’ means a product
suitable for food or nonfood use that is derived in whole
or in part from renewable agricultural and forestry mate-
rials.
(b) COOPERATIVE AGREEMENTS FOR BIOBASED PROD-
UCTS.—The Secretary of Agriculture may enter into cooper-
ative agreements with private entities described in sub-
section (c), under which the facilities and technical exper-
tise of the Agricultural Research Service may be made
available to operate pilot plants and other large-scale pre-
parative facilities for the purpose of bringing technologies
necessary for the development and commercialization of new
biobased products to the point of practical application. Co-
operative activities may include research on potential envi-
ronmental impacts of a biobased product, methods to reduce
the cost of manufacturing a biobased product, and other ap-
propriate research.
(c) ELIGIBLE PARTNERS.—The following entities shall
be eligible to enter into a cooperative agreement under this
section:
(1) A party that has entered into a cooperative
research and development agreement with the Sec-
retary under section 12 of the Stevenson-Wydler Tech-
nology Innovation Act of 1980 (15 U.S.C. 3710a).
(2) A recipient of funding from the Alternative
Agricultural Research and Commercialization Cor-
poration established under section 1658 of the Food,
Agriculture, Conservation, and Trade Act of 1990 (7
U.S.C. 5902).
(3) A recipient of funding from the Bio-
technology Research and Development Corporation.
(4) A recipient of funding from the Secretary
under a Small Business Innovation Research Pro-
gram established under section 9 of the Small Busi-
ness Act (15 U.S.C. 638).