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‘‘(2) PAYMENTS.—For fiscal year 2008 and 
each fiscal year thereafter, the Secretary of the 
Treasury shall pay to the treasurer of each His-
panic-serving agricultural college and university an 
amount equal to— 
‘‘(A) the total amount made available by 
appropriations under paragraph (1); divided by 
‘‘(B) the number of Hispanic-serving agri-
cultural colleges and universities. 
‘‘(3) USE OF FUNDS.— 
‘‘(A) IN
GENERAL.—Amounts authorized 
to be appropriated under this subsection shall 
be used in the same manner as is prescribed for 
colleges under the Act of August 30, 1890 
(commonly known as the ‘Second Morrill Act’) 
(7 U.S.C. 321 et seq.). 
‘‘(B) RELATIONSHIP TO OTHER LAW.—Ex-
cept as otherwise provided in this subsection, 
the requirements of that Act shall apply to His-
panic-serving agricultural colleges and univer-
sities under this section. 
‘‘(d) 
INSTITUTIONAL
CAPACITY-BUILDING 
GRANTS.— 
‘‘(1) IN GENERAL.—For fiscal year 2008 and 
each fiscal year thereafter, the Secretary shall make 
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grants to assist Hispanic-serving agricultural col-
leges and universities in institutional capacity build-
ing (not including alteration, repair, renovation, or 
construction of buildings). 
‘‘(2) CRITERIA FOR INSTITUTIONAL CAPACITY- 
BUILDING GRANTS.— 
‘‘(A) REQUIREMENTS FOR GRANTS.—The 
Secretary shall make grants under this sub-
section on the basis of a competitive application 
process under which Hispanic-serving agricul-
tural colleges and universities may submit ap-
plications to the Secretary at such time, in such 
manner, and containing such information as the 
Secretary may require. 
‘‘(B) DEMONSTRATION OF NEED.— 
‘‘(i) IN GENERAL.—As part of an ap-
plication for a grant under this subsection, 
the Secretary shall require the applicant to 
demonstrate need for the grant, as deter-
mined by the Secretary. 
‘‘(ii) OTHER SOURCES OF FUNDING.— 
The Secretary may award a grant under 
this subsection only to an applicant that 
demonstrates a failure to obtain funding 
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for a project after making a reasonable ef-
fort to otherwise obtain the funding. 
‘‘(C) 
PAYMENT
OF
NON-FEDERAL 
SHARE.—A grant awarded under this sub-
section shall be made only if the recipient of the 
grant pays a non-Federal share in an amount 
that is specified by the Secretary and based on 
assessed institutional needs. 
‘‘(3) AUTHORIZATION
OF
APPROPRIATIONS.— 
There are authorized to be appropriated to the Sec-
retary such sums as are necessary to carry out this 
subsection for fiscal year 2008 and each fiscal year 
thereafter. 
‘‘(e) COMPETITIVE GRANTS PROGRAM.— 
‘‘(1) IN GENERAL.—The Secretary shall estab-
lish a competitive grants program to fund funda-
mental and applied research at Hispanic-serving ag-
ricultural colleges and universities in agriculture, 
human nutrition, food science, bioenergy, and envi-
ronmental science. 
‘‘(2) AUTHORIZATION
OF
APPROPRIATIONS.— 
There are authorized to be appropriated to the Sec-
retary such sums as are necessary to carry out this 
subsection for fiscal year 2008 and each fiscal year 
thereafter.’’. 
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(b) EXTENSION.—Section 3 of the Smith-Lever Act 
(7 U.S.C. 343) is amended— 
(1) in subsection (b), by adding at the end the 
following: 
‘‘(4) ANNUAL APPROPRIATION FOR HISPANIC- 
SERVING
AGRICULTURAL
COLLEGES
AND
UNIVER-
SITIES.— 
‘‘(A) 
AUTHORIZATION
OF
APPROPRIA-
TIONS.—There are authorized to be appro-
priated to the Secretary for payments to His-
panic-serving agricultural colleges and univer-
sities (as defined in section 1404 of the Na-
tional Agricultural Research, Extension, and 
Teaching Policy Act of 1977 (7 U.S.C. 3103)) 
such sums as are necessary to carry out this 
paragraph for fiscal year 2008 and each fiscal 
year thereafter, to remain available until ex-
pended. 
‘‘(B) 
ADDITIONAL
AMOUNT.—Amounts 
made available under this paragraph shall be in 
addition to any other amounts made available 
under this section to States, the Commonwealth 
of Puerto Rico, Guam, or the United States 
Virgin Islands. 
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‘‘(C) ADMINISTRATION.—Amounts made 
available under this paragraph shall be— 
‘‘(i) distributed on the basis of a com-
petitive application process to be developed 
and implemented by the Secretary; 
‘‘(ii) paid by the Secretary to the 
State institutions established in accordance 
with the Act of July 2, 1862 (commonly 
known as the ‘First Morrill Act’) (7 U.S.C. 
301 et seq.); and 
‘‘(iii) administered by State institu-
tions through cooperative agreements with 
the Hispanic-serving agricultural colleges 
and universities in the State in accordance 
with regulations promulgated by the Sec-
retary.’’; and 
(2) in subsection (f)— 
(A) in the subsection heading, by inserting 
‘‘AND HISPANIC-SERVING AGRICULTURAL COL-
LEGES AND UNIVERSITIES’’ after ‘‘1994 INSTI-
TUTIONS’’; and 
(B) by striking ‘‘pursuant to subsection 
(b)(3)’’ and inserting ‘‘or Hispanic-serving agri-
cultural colleges and universities in accordance 
with paragraphs (3) and (4) of subsection (b)’’. 
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(c) CONFORMING AMENDMENTS.— 
(1) Section 2 of the Agricultural Research, Ex-
tension, and Education Reform Act of 1998 (7 
U.S.C. 7601) is amended— 
(A) by redesignating paragraph (6) as 
paragraph (7); and 
(B) by inserting after paragraph (5) the 
following: 
‘‘(6) HISPANIC-SERVING
AGRICULTURAL
COL-
LEGES
AND
UNIVERSITIES.—The term ‘Hispanic- 
serving agricultural colleges and universities’ has the 
meaning given the term in section 1404 of the Na-
tional Agricultural Research, Extension, and Teach-
ing Policy Act of 1977 (7 U.S.C. 3103).’’. 
(2) Section 102(c) of the Agricultural Research, 
Extension, and Education Reform Act of 1998 (7 
U.S.C. 7612(c)) is amended— 
(A) in the subsection heading, by inserting 
‘‘AND HISPANIC-SERVING AGRICULTURAL COL-
LEGES
AND UNIVERSITIES’’ after ‘‘INSTITU-
TIONS’’; and 
(B) in paragraph (1), by striking ‘‘ and 
1994 Institution’’ and inserting ‘‘1994 Institu-
tion, and Hispanic-serving agricultural college 
and university’’. 
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(A) in subparagraph (A), by striking 
‘‘and’’ after the semicolon; 
(B) in subparagraph (B), by adding ‘‘and’’ 
at the end; and 
(C) by adding at the end the following: 
‘‘(C) giving priority to those institutions 
with existing memoranda of understanding, 
agreements, or other formal ties to United 
States institutions, or Federal or State agen-
cies;’’; 
(2) by striking paragraph (3) and inserting the 
following: 
‘‘(3) enter into agreements with land-grant col-
leges and universities, Hispanic-serving agricultural 
colleges and universities, the Agency for Inter-
national Development, and international organiza-
tions (such as the United Nations, the World Bank, 
regional development banks, international agricul-
tural research centers), or other organizations, insti-
tutions, or individuals with comparable goals, to pro-
mote and support— 
‘‘(A) the development of a viable and sus-
tainable global agricultural system; 
‘‘(B) antihunger and improved inter-
national nutrition efforts; and 
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‘‘(C) increased quantity, quality, and avail-
ability of food;’’; 
(3) in paragraph (7)(A), by striking ‘‘and land- 
grant colleges and universities’’ and inserting ‘‘, 
land-grant colleges and universities, and Hispanic- 
serving agricultural colleges and universities’’; 
(4) in paragraph (9)— 
(A) in subparagraph (A), by striking ‘‘or 
other colleges and universities’’ and inserting ‘‘, 
Hispanic-serving agricultural colleges and uni-
versities, or other colleges and universities’’; 
and 
(B) in subparagraph (D), by striking 
‘‘and’’ at the end; 
(5) in paragraph (10), by striking the period at 
the end and inserting ‘‘; and’’; and 
(6) by adding at the end the following: 
‘‘(11) establish a program for the purpose of 
providing fellowships to United States or foreign 
students to study at foreign agricultural colleges and 
universities working under agreements provided for 
under paragraph (3).’’. 
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SEC. 7131. COMPETITIVE GRANTS FOR INTERNATIONAL AG-
RICULTURAL SCIENCE AND EDUCATION PRO-
GRAMS. 
Section 1459A(c) of the National Agricultural Re-
search, Extension, and Teaching Policy Act of 1977 (7 
U.S.C. 3292b(c)) is amended by striking ‘‘2007’’ and in-
serting ‘‘2012’’. 
SEC. 7132. ADMINISTRATION. 
(a) LIMITATION ON INDIRECT COSTS FOR AGRICUL-
TURAL RESEARCH, EDUCATION, AND EXTENSION PRO-
GRAMS.—Section 1462(a) of the National Agriculture Re-
search, Extension, and Teaching Policy Act of 1977 (7 
U.S.C. 3310(a)) is amended— 
(1) by striking ‘‘a competitive’’ and inserting 
‘‘any’’; and 
(2) by striking ‘‘19 percent’’ and inserting ‘‘22 
percent’’. 
(b) AUDITING, REPORTING, BOOKKEEPING, AND AD-
MINISTRATIVE REQUIREMENTS.—Section 1469(a)(3) of 
the National Agricultural Research, Extension, and 
Teaching Policy Act of 1977 (7 U.S.C. 3315(a)(3)) is 
amended by striking ‘‘appropriated’’ and inserting ‘‘made 
available’’. 
SEC. 7133. RESEARCH EQUIPMENT GRANTS. 
Section 1462A(e) of the National Agricultural Re-
search, Extension, and Teaching Policy Act of 1977 (7 
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U.S.C. 3310a(e)) is amended by striking ‘‘2007’’ and in-
serting ‘‘2012’’. 
SEC. 7134. UNIVERSITY RESEARCH. 
Section 1463 of the National Agricultural Research, 
Extension, and Teaching Policy Act of 1977 (7 U.S.C. 
3311) is amended by striking ‘‘2007’’ each place it ap-
pears in subsections (a) and (b) and inserting ‘‘2012’’. 
SEC. 7135. EXTENSION SERVICE. 
Section 1464 of the National Agricultural Research, 
Extension, and Teaching Policy Act of 1977 (7 U.S.C. 
3312) is amended by striking ‘‘2007’’ and inserting 
‘‘2012’’. 
SEC. 7136. SUPPLEMENTAL AND ALTERNATIVE CROPS. 
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 ‘‘2007’’ and in-
serting ‘‘2012’’. 
SEC. 7137. NEW ERA RURAL TECHNOLOGY PROGRAM. 
Subtitle K of the National Agricultural Research, Ex-
tension, and Teaching Policy Act of 1977 (7 U.S.C. 3310 
et seq.) is amended by adding at the end the following: 
‘‘SEC. 1473E. NEW ERA RURAL TECHNOLOGY PROGRAM. 
‘‘(a) DEFINITION OF COMMUNITY COLLEGE.—In this 
section, the term ‘community college’ means an institution 
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of higher education (as defined in section 101 of the High-
er Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 1001))— 
‘‘(1) that admits as regular students individuals 
who— 
‘‘(A) are beyond the age of compulsory 
school attendance in the State in which the in-
stitution is located; and 
‘‘(B) have the ability to benefit from the 
training offered by the institution; 
‘‘(2) that does not provide an educational pro-
gram for which the institution awards a bachelor’s 
degree or an equivalent degree; and 
‘‘(3) that— 
‘‘(A) provides an educational program of 
not less than 2 years that is acceptable for full 
credit toward such a degree; or 
‘‘(B) offers a 2-year program in engineer-
ing, technology, mathematics, or the physical, 
chemical, or biological sciences, designed to pre-
pare a student to work as a technician or at the 
semiprofessional level in engineering, scientific, 
or other technological fields requiring the un-
derstanding and application of basic engineer-
ing, scientific, or mathematical principles of 
knowledge. 
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‘‘(b) FUNCTIONS.— 
‘‘(1) ESTABLISHMENT.— 
‘‘(A) IN
GENERAL.—The Secretary shall 
establish a program to be known as the ‘New 
Era Rural Technology Program’, to make 
grants available for technology development, ap-
plied research, and training to aid in the devel-
opment of an agriculture-based renewable en-
ergy workforce. 
‘‘(B) SUPPORT.—The initiative under this 
section shall support the fields of— 
‘‘(i) bioenergy; 
‘‘(ii) pulp and paper manufacturing; 
and 
‘‘(iii) agriculture-based renewable en-
ergy resources. 
‘‘(2) REQUIREMENTS
FOR
FUNDING.—To re-
ceive funding under this section, an entity shall— 
‘‘(A) be a community college or advanced 
technological center, located in a rural area and 
in existence on the date of the enactment of 
this section, that participates in agricultural or 
bioenergy research and applied research; 
‘‘(B) have a proven record of development 
and implementation of programs to meet the 
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needs of students, educators, and business and 
industry to supply the agriculture-based, renew-
able energy or pulp and paper manufacturing 
fields with certified technicians, as determined 
by the Secretary; and 
‘‘(C) have the ability to leverage existing 
partnerships and occupational outreach and 
training programs for secondary schools, 4-year 
institutions, and relevant nonprofit organiza-
tions. 
‘‘(c) GRANT PRIORITY.—In providing grants under 
this section, the Secretary shall give preference to eligible 
entities working in partnership— 
‘‘(1) to improve information-sharing capacity; 
and 
‘‘(2) to maximize the ability to meet the re-
quirements of this section. 
‘‘(d) AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.—There 
are authorized to be appropriated to carry out this section 
such sums as are necessary for each of fiscal years 2008 
through 2012.’’. 
SEC. 7138. CAPACITY BUILDING GRANTS FOR NLGCA INSTI-
TUTIONS. 
Subtitle K of the National Agricultural Research, Ex-
tension, and Teaching Policy Act of 1977 (7 U.S.C. 3310 
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et seq.) (as amended by section 7137) is amended by add-
ing at the end the following: 
‘‘SEC. 1473F. CAPACITY BUILDING GRANTS FOR NLGCA IN-
STITUTIONS. 
‘‘(a) GRANT PROGRAM.— 
‘‘(1) IN GENERAL.—The Secretary shall make 
competitive grants to NLGCA Institutions to assist 
the NLGCA Institutions in maintaining and expand-
ing the capacity of the NLGCA Institutions to con-
duct education, research, and outreach activities re-
lating to— 
‘‘(A) agriculture; 
‘‘(B) renewable resources; and 
‘‘(C) other similar disciplines. 
‘‘(2) USE OF FUNDS.—An NLGCA Institution 
that receives a grant under paragraph (1) may use 
the funds made available through the grant to main-
tain and expand the capacity of the NLGCA Institu-
tion— 
‘‘(A) to successfully compete for funds 
from Federal grants and other sources to carry 
out educational, research, and outreach activi-
ties that address priority concerns of national, 
regional, State, and local interest; 
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‘‘(B) to disseminate information relating to 
priority concerns to— 
‘‘(i) interested members of the agri-
culture, renewable resources, and other rel-
evant communities; 
‘‘(ii) the public; and 
‘‘(iii) any other interested entity; 
‘‘(C) to encourage members of the agri-
culture, renewable resources, and other relevant 
communities to participate in priority edu-
cation, research, and outreach activities by pro-
viding matching funding to leverage grant 
funds; and 
‘‘(D) through— 
‘‘(i) the purchase or other acquisition 
of equipment and other infrastructure (not 
including alteration, repair, renovation, or 
construction of buildings); 
‘‘(ii) the professional growth and de-
velopment of the faculty of the NLGCA In-
stitution; and 
‘‘(iii) the development of graduate 
assistantships. 
‘‘(b) AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.—There 
are authorized to be appropriated to carry out this section 
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such sums as are necessary for each of fiscal years 2008 
through 2012.’’. 
SEC. 
7139. 
BORLAUG 
INTERNATIONAL 
AGRICULTURAL 
SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY FELLOWSHIP 
PROGRAM. 
Subtitle K of the National Agricultural Research, Ex-
tension, and Teaching Policy Act of 1977 (7 U.S.C. 3310 
et seq.) (as amended by section 7138) is amended by add-
ing at the end the following: 
‘‘SEC. 1473G. BORLAUG INTERNATIONAL AGRICULTURAL 
SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY FELLOWSHIP 
PROGRAM. 
‘‘(a) FELLOWSHIP PROGRAM.— 
‘‘(1) IN GENERAL.—The Secretary shall estab-
lish a fellowship program, to be known as the 
‘Borlaug International Agricultural Science and 
Technology Fellowship Program,’ to provide fellow-
ships for scientific training and study in the United 
States to individuals from eligible countries (as de-
scribed in subsection (b)) who specialize in agricul-
tural education, research, and extension. 
‘‘(2) PROGRAMS.—The Secretary shall carry 
out the fellowship program by implementing 3 pro-
grams designed to assist individual fellowship recipi-
ents, including— 
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‘‘(A) a graduate studies program in agri-
culture to assist individuals who participate in 
graduate agricultural degree training at a 
United States institution; 
‘‘(B) an individual career improvement 
program to assist agricultural scientists from 
developing countries in upgrading skills and un-
derstanding in agricultural science and tech-
nology; and 
‘‘(C) a Borlaug agricultural policy execu-
tive leadership course to assist senior agricul-
tural policy makers from eligible countries, with 
an initial focus on individuals from sub-Saharan 
Africa and the independent states of the former 
Soviet Union. 
‘‘(b) ELIGIBLE COUNTRIES.—An eligible country is 
a developing country, as determined by the Secretary 
using a gross national income per capita test selected by 
the Secretary. 
‘‘(c) PURPOSE OF FELLOWSHIPS.—A fellowship pro-
vided under this section shall— 
‘‘(1) promote food security and economic 
growth in eligible countries by— 
‘‘(A) educating a new generation of agri-
cultural scientists; 
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‘‘(B) increasing scientific knowledge and 
collaborative research to improve agricultural 
productivity; and 
‘‘(C) extending that knowledge to users 
and intermediaries in the marketplace; and 
‘‘(2) shall support— 
‘‘(A) training and collaborative research 
opportunities through exchanges for entry level 
international agricultural research scientists, 
faculty, and policymakers from eligible coun-
tries; 
‘‘(B) collaborative research to improve ag-
ricultural productivity; 
‘‘(C) the transfer of new science and agri-
cultural technologies to strengthen agricultural 
practice; and 
‘‘(D) the reduction of barriers to tech-
nology adoption. 
‘‘(d) FELLOWSHIP RECIPIENTS.— 
‘‘(1) ELIGIBLE
CANDIDATES.—The Secretary 
may provide fellowships under this section to individ-
uals from eligible countries who specialize or have 
experience in agricultural education, research, exten-
sion, or related fields, including— 
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‘‘(A) individuals from the public and pri-
vate sectors; and 
‘‘(B) private agricultural producers. 
‘‘(2) CANDIDATE
IDENTIFICATION.—The Sec-
retary shall use the expertise of United States land- 
grant colleges and universities and similar univer-
sities, international organizations working in agricul-
tural research and outreach, and national agricul-
tural research organizations to help identify program 
candidates for fellowships under this section from 
the public and private sectors of eligible countries. 
‘‘(e) USE OF FELLOWSHIPS.—A fellowship provided 
under this section shall be used— 
‘‘(1) to promote collaborative programs among 
agricultural professionals of eligible countries, agri-
cultural professionals of the United States, the inter-
national agricultural research system, and, as appro-
priate, United States entities conducting research; 
and 
‘‘(2) to support fellowship recipients through 
programs described in subsection (a)(2). 
‘‘(f) PROGRAM IMPLEMENTATION.—The Secretary 
shall provide for the management, coordination, evalua-
tion, and monitoring of the Borlaug International Agricul-
tural Science and Technology Fellowship Program and for 
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(35) through (40), and (44) as paragraphs (1) 
through (29), respectively; and 
(D) by adding at the end the following: 
‘‘(30) AIR EMISSIONS FROM LIVESTOCK OPER-
ATIONS.—Research and extension grants may be 
made under this section for the purpose of con-
ducting field verification tests and developing mitiga-
tion options for air emissions from animal feeding 
operations. 
‘‘(31) SWINE
GENOME
PROJECT.—Research 
grants may be made under this section to conduct 
swine genome research, including the mapping of the 
swine genome. 
‘‘(32) CATTLE
FEVER
TICK
PROGRAM.—Re-
search and extension grants may be made under this 
section to study cattle fever ticks to facilitate under-
standing of the role of wildlife in the persistence and 
spread of cattle fever ticks, to develop advanced 
methods for eradication of cattle fever ticks, and to 
improve management of diseases relating to cattle 
fever ticks that are associated with wildlife, live-
stock, and human health. 
‘‘(33) SYNTHETIC GYPSUM.—Research and ex-
tension grants may be made under this section to 
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study the uses of synthetic gypsum from electric 
power plants to remediate soil and nutrient losses. 
‘‘(34) CRANBERRY RESEARCH PROGRAM.—Re-
search and extension grants may be made under this 
section to study new technologies to assist cranberry 
growers in complying with Federal and State envi-
ronmental regulations, increase production, develop 
new growing techniques, establish more efficient 
growing methodologies, and educate cranberry pro-
ducers about sustainable growth practices. 
‘‘(35) SORGHUM
RESEARCH
INITIATIVE.—Re-
search and extension grants may be made under this 
section to study the use of sorghum as a bioenergy 
feedstock, promote diversification in, and the envi-
ronmental benefits of sorghum production, and pro-
mote water conservation through the use of sor-
ghum. 
‘‘(36) MARINE SHRIMP FARMING PROGRAM.— 
Research and extension grants may be made under 
this section to establish a research program to ad-
vance and maintain a domestic shrimp farming in-
dustry in the United States. 
‘‘(37) TURFGRASS RESEARCH INITIATIVE.—Re-
search and extension grants may be made under this 
section to study the production of turfgrass (includ-
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ing the use of water, fertilizer, pesticides, fossil 
fuels, and machinery for turf establishment and 
maintenance) and environmental protection and en-
hancement relating to turfgrass production. 
‘‘(38) AGRICULTURAL
WORKER
SAFETY
RE-
SEARCH INITIATIVE.—Research and extension grants 
may be made under this section— 
‘‘(A) to study and demonstrate methods to 
minimize exposure of farm and ranch owners 
and operators, pesticide handlers, and agricul-
tural workers to pesticides, including research 
addressing the unique concerns of farm workers 
resulting from long-term exposure to pesticides; 
and 
‘‘(B) to develop rapid tests for on-farm use 
to better inform and educate farmers, ranchers, 
and farm and ranch workers regarding safe 
field re-entry intervals. 
‘‘(39) HIGH
PLAINS
AQUIFER
REGION.—Re-
search and extension grants may be made under this 
section to carry out interdisciplinary research relat-
ing to diminishing water levels and increased de-
mand for water in the High Plains aquifer region. 
‘‘(40) DEER INITIATIVE.—Research and exten-
sion grants may be made under this section to sup-
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port collaborative research focusing on the develop-
ment of viable strategies for the prevention, diag-
nosis, and treatment of infectious, parasitic, and 
toxic diseases of farmed deer and the mapping of the 
deer genome. 
‘‘(41) PASTURE-BASED
BEEF
SYSTEMS
RE-
SEARCH INITIATIVE.—Research and extension grants 
may be made under this section to study the devel-
opment of forage sequences and combinations for 
cow-calf, heifer development, stocker, and finishing 
systems, to deliver optimal nutritive value for effi-
cient production of cattle for pasture finishing, to 
optimize forage systems to improve marketability of 
pasture-finished beef, and to assess the effect of for-
age quality on reproductive fitness. 
‘‘(42) AGRICULTURAL PRACTICES RELATING TO 
CLIMATE CHANGE.—Research and extension grants 
may be made under this section for field and labora-
tory studies that examine the ecosystem from gross 
to minute scales and for projects that explore the re-
lationship of agricultural practices to climate 
change. 
‘‘(43) BRUCELLOSIS
CONTROL
AND
ERADI-
CATION.—Research and extension grants may be 
made under this section to conduct research relating 
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to the development of vaccines and vaccine delivery 
systems to effectively control and eliminate brucel-
losis in wildlife, and to assist with the controlling of 
the spread of brucellosis from wildlife to domestic 
animals. 
‘‘(44) BIGHORN AND DOMESTIC SHEEP DISEASE 
MECHANISMS.—Research and extension grants may 
be made under this section to conduct research re-
lating to the health status of (including the presence 
of infectious diseases in) bighorn and domestic sheep 
under range conditions. 
‘‘(45) AGRICULTURAL
DEVELOPMENT
IN
THE 
AMERICAN-PACIFIC
REGION.—Research and exten-
sion grants may be made under this section to sup-
port food and agricultural science at a consortium of 
land-grant institutions in the American-Pacific re-
gion. 
‘‘(46) TROPICAL AND SUBTROPICAL AGRICUL-
TURAL RESEARCH.—Research grants may be made 
under this section, in equal dollar amounts to the 
Caribbean and Pacific Basins, to support tropical 
and subtropical agricultural research, including pest 
and disease research, at the land-grant institutions 
in the Caribbean and Pacific regions. 
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‘‘(47) VIRAL HEMORRHAGIC SEPTICEMIA.—Re-
search and extension grants may be made under this 
section to study— 
‘‘(A) the effects of viral hemorrhagic septi-
cemia (referred to in this paragraph as ‘VHS’) 
on freshwater fish throughout the natural and 
expanding range of VHS; and 
‘‘(B) 
methods 
for 
transmission 
and 
human-mediated transport of VHS among 
waterbodies. 
‘‘(48) FARM
AND
RANCH
SAFETY.—Research 
and extension grants may be made under this sec-
tion to carry out projects to decrease the incidence 
of injury and death on farms and ranches, includ-
ing— 
‘‘(A) on-site farm or ranch safety reviews; 
‘‘(B) outreach and dissemination of farm 
safety research and interventions to agricultural 
employers, employees, youth, farm and ranch 
families, seasonal workers, or other individuals; 
and 
‘‘(C) agricultural safety education and 
training. 
‘‘(49) WOMEN
AND
MINORITIES
IN
STEM 
FIELDS.—Research and extension grants may be 
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made under this section to increase participation by 
women and underrepresented minorities from rural 
areas in the fields of science, technology, engineer-
ing, and mathematics, with priority given to eligible 
institutions that carry out continuing programs 
funded by the Secretary. 
‘‘(50) ALFALFA AND FORAGE RESEARCH PRO-
GRAM.—Research and extension grants may be made 
under this section for the purpose of studying im-
provements in alfalfa and forage yields, biomass and 
persistence, pest pressures, the bioenergy potential 
of alfalfa and other forages, and systems to reduce 
losses during harvest and storage. 
‘‘(51) FOOD
SYSTEMS
VETERINARY
MEDI-
CINE.—Research grants may be made under this 
section to address health issues that affect food-pro-
ducing animals, food safety, and the environment, 
and to improve information resources, curriculum, 
and clinical education of students with respect to 
food animal veterinary medicine and food safety. 
‘‘(52) BIOCHAR
RESEARCH.—Grants may be 
made under this section for research, extension, and 
integrated activities relating to the study of biochar 
production and use, including considerations of agro-
nomic and economic impacts, synergies of coproduc-
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tion with bioenergy, and the value of soil enhance-
ments and soil carbon sequestration.’’; 
(2) by redesignating subsection (h) as sub-
section (j); 
(3) by inserting after subsection (g) the fol-
lowing: 
‘‘(h) POLLINATOR PROTECTION.— 
‘‘(1) RESEARCH AND EXTENSION.— 
‘‘(A) GRANTS.—Research and extension 
grants may be made under this section— 
‘‘(i) to survey and collect data on bee 
colony production and health; 
‘‘(ii) to investigate pollinator biology, 
immunology, 
ecology, 
genomics, 
and 
bioinformatics; 
‘‘(iii) to conduct research on various 
factors that may be contributing to or as-
sociated with colony collapse disorder, and 
other serious threats to the health of honey 
bees and other pollinators, including— 
‘‘(I) parasites and pathogens of 
pollinators; and 
‘‘(II) the sublethal effects of in-
secticides, herbicides, and fungicides 
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on honey bees and native and man-
aged pollinators; 
‘‘(iv) to develop mitigative and pre-
ventative measures to improve native and 
managed pollinator health; and 
‘‘(v) to promote the health of honey 
bees and native pollinators through habitat 
conservation and best management prac-
tices. 
‘‘(B) 
AUTHORIZATION
OF
APPROPRIA-
TIONS.—There is authorized to be appropriated 
to carry out this paragraph $10,000,000 for 
each of fiscal years 2008 through 2012. 
‘‘(2) DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE CAPACITY 
AND INFRASTRUCTURE.— 
‘‘(A) IN GENERAL.—The Secretary shall, 
to the maximum extent practicable, increase the 
capacity and infrastructure of the Depart-
ment— 
‘‘(i) to address colony collapse dis-
order and other long-term threats to polli-
nator health, including the hiring of addi-
tional personnel; and 
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‘‘(ii) to conduct research on colony 
collapse disorder and other pollinator 
issues at the facilities of the Department. 
‘‘(B) 
AUTHORIZATION
OF
APPROPRIA-
TIONS.—There is authorized to be appropriated 
to carry out this paragraph $7,250,000 for each 
of fiscal years 2008 through 2012. 
‘‘(3) HONEY BEE PEST AND PATHOGEN SUR-
VEILLANCE.—There is authorized to be appropriated 
to conduct a nationwide honey bee pest and patho-
gen surveillance program $2,750,000 for each of fis-
cal years 2008 through 2012. 
‘‘(4) ANNUAL REPORT ON RESPONSE TO HONEY 
BEE COLONY COLLAPSE DISORDER.—The Secretary 
shall submit to the Committee on Agriculture of the 
House of Representatives and the Committee on Ag-
riculture, Nutrition, and Forestry of the Senate an 
annual report describing the progress made by the 
Department of Agriculture in— 
‘‘(A) investigating the cause or causes of 
honey bee colony collapse; and 
‘‘(B) finding appropriate strategies to re-
duce colony loss. 
‘‘(i) REGIONAL CENTERS OF EXCELLENCE.— 
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‘‘(1) ESTABLISHMENT.—The Secretary shall 
prioritize regional centers of excellence established 
for specific agricultural commodities for the receipt 
of funding under this section. 
‘‘(2) COMPOSITION.—A regional center of excel-
lence shall be composed of 1 or more colleges and 
universities 
(including 
land-grant 
institutions, 
schools of forestry, schools of veterinary medicine, or 
NLGCA Institutions (as defined in section 1404 of 
the National Agricultural Research, Extension, and 
Teaching Policy Act of 1977 (7 U.S.C. 3103))) that 
provide financial support to the regional center of 
excellence. 
‘‘(3) CRITERIA FOR REGIONAL CENTERS OF EX-
CELLENCE.—The criteria for consideration to be a 
regional center of excellence shall include efforts— 
‘‘(A) to ensure coordination and cost-effec-
tiveness by reducing unnecessarily duplicative 
efforts regarding research, teaching, and exten-
sion; 
‘‘(B) to leverage available resources by 
using public/private partnerships among agri-
cultural industry groups, institutions of higher 
education, and the Federal Government; 
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‘‘(C) to implement teaching initiatives to 
increase awareness and effectively disseminate 
solutions to target audiences through extension 
activities; 
‘‘(D) to increase the economic returns to 
rural communities by identifying, attracting, 
and directing funds to high-priority agricultural 
issues; and 
‘‘(E) to improve teaching capacity and in-
frastructure at colleges and universities (includ-
ing land-grant institutions, schools of forestry, 
and schools of veterinary medicine).’’; and 
(4) in subsection (j) (as redesignated by para-
graph (2)), by striking ‘‘2007’’ and inserting 
‘‘2012’’. 
(b) CONFORMING AMENDMENTS.—Section 1672 of 
the Food, Agriculture, Conservation, and Trade Act of 
1990 (7 U.S.C. 5925) is amended— 
(1) in the first sentence of subsection (a), by 
striking ‘‘(e), (f), and (g)’’ and inserting ‘‘(e) 
through (i)’’; and 
(2) in subsection (b)— 
(A) in paragraph (1), by striking ‘‘para-
graphs (1), (6), (7), and (11)’’ and inserting 
‘‘paragraphs (4), (7), (8), and (11)(B)’’; and 
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(B) in paragraph (2), by striking ‘‘sub-
section (e)’’ and inserting ‘‘subsections (e) 
through (i)’’. 
SEC. 7205. NUTRIENT MANAGEMENT RESEARCH AND EX-
TENSION INITIATIVE. 
Section 1672A of the Food, Agriculture, Conserva-
tion, and Trade Act of 1990 (7 U.S.C. 5925a) is amend-
ed— 
(1) in subsection (b), by striking paragraph (1) 
and inserting the following: 
‘‘(1) IN GENERAL.—Paragraphs (4), (7), (8), 
and (11)(B) of subsection (b) of the Competitive, 
Special, and Facilities Research Grant Act (7 U.S.C. 
450i) shall apply with respect to the making of 
grants under this section.’’; 
(2) by striking subsection (d) and inserting the 
following: 
‘‘(d) PRIORITY.—Following the completion of a peer 
review process for grant proposals received under this sec-
tion, the Secretary shall give priority to those grant pro-
posals that involve— 
‘‘(1) the cooperation of multiple entities; and 
‘‘(2) States or regions with a high concentration 
of livestock, dairy, or poultry operations.’’; 
(3) in subsection (e)— 
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(A) in paragraph (1)(B), by inserting ‘‘and 
dairy and beef cattle waste’’ after ‘‘swine 
waste’’; and 
(B) by striking paragraph (5) and insert-
ing the following: 
‘‘(5) ALTERNATIVE USES AND RENEWABLE EN-
ERGY.—Research and extension grants may be made 
under this section for the purpose of finding innova-
tive methods and technologies to allow agricultural 
operators to make use of animal waste, such as use 
as fertilizer, methane digestion, composting, and 
other useful byproducts.’’; 
(4) by redesignating subsection (g) as sub-
section (f); and 
(5) in subsection (f) (as so redesignated), by 
striking ‘‘2007’’ and inserting ‘‘2012’’. 
SEC. 7206. ORGANIC AGRICULTURE RESEARCH AND EXTEN-
SION INITIATIVE. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—Section 1672B of the Food, Agri-
culture, Conservation, and Trade Act of 1990 (7 U.S.C. 
5925b) (commonly known as the ‘‘Organic Agriculture Re-
search and Extension Initiative’’) is amended— 
(1) in subsection (a)— 
(A) in paragraph (5), by striking ‘‘and’’ 
after the semicolon; 
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(B) in paragraph (6), by striking the pe-
riod at the end and inserting a semicolon; and 
(C) by adding at the end the following: 
‘‘(7) examining optimal conservation and envi-
ronmental outcomes relating to organically produced 
agricultural products; and 
‘‘(8) developing new and improved seed vari-
eties that are particularly suited for organic agri-
culture.’’; and 
(2) by adding at the end the following: 
‘‘(f) FUNDING.— 
‘‘(1) IN GENERAL.—Of the funds of the Com-
modity Credit Corporation, the Secretary shall make 
available to carry out this section— 
‘‘(A) $18,000,000 for fiscal year 2009; and 
‘‘(B) $20,000,000 for each of fiscal years 
2010 through 2012. 
‘‘(2) ADDITIONAL
FUNDING.—In addition to 
amounts made available under paragraph (1), there 
is authorized to be appropriated to carry out this 
section $25,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2009 
through 2012.’’. 
(b) COORDINATION.—In carrying out the amendment 
made by this section, the Secretary shall ensure that the 
Division Chief of the applicable Research, Education, and 
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Extension Office established under section 251 of the De-
partment of Agriculture Reorganization Act of 1994 (7 
U.S.C. 6971) coordinates projects and activities under this 
section to ensure, to the maximum extent practicable, that 
unnecessary duplication of effort is eliminated or mini-
mized. 
SEC. 7207. AGRICULTURAL BIOENERGY FEEDSTOCK AND 
ENERGY EFFICIENCY RESEARCH AND EXTEN-
SION INITIATIVE. 
Title XVI of the Food, Agriculture, Conservation, 
and Trade Act of 1990 (7 U.S.C. 5801 et seq.) is amended 
by inserting after section 1672B (7 U.S.C. 5925b) the fol-
lowing: 
‘‘SEC. 1672C. AGRICULTURAL BIOENERGY FEEDSTOCK AND 
ENERGY EFFICIENCY RESEARCH AND EXTEN-
SION INITIATIVE. 
‘‘(a) ESTABLISHMENT AND PURPOSE.—There is es-
tablished within the Department of Agriculture an agricul-
tural bioenergy feedstock and energy efficiency research 
and extension initiative (referred to in this section as the 
‘Initiative’) for the purpose of enhancing the production 
of biomass energy crops and the energy efficiency of agri-
cultural operations. 
‘‘(b) COMPETITIVE
RESEARCH
AND
EXTENSION 
GRANTS AUTHORIZED.—In carrying out this section, the 
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Secretary shall make competitive grants to support re-
search and extension activities specified in subsections (c) 
and (d). 
‘‘(c) AGRICULTURAL BIOENERGY FEEDSTOCK RE-
SEARCH AND EXTENSION AREAS.— 
‘‘(1) 
IN
GENERAL.—Agricultural 
bioenergy 
feedstock research and extension activities funded 
under the Initiative shall focus on improving agricul-
tural biomass production, biomass conversion in bio-
refineries, and biomass use by— 
‘‘(A) supporting on-farm research on crop 
species, nutrient requirements, management 
practices, environmental impacts, and econom-
ics; 
‘‘(B) supporting the development and oper-
ation of on-farm, integrated biomass feedstock 
production systems; 
‘‘(C) leveraging the broad scientific capa-
bilities of the Department of Agriculture and 
other entities in— 
‘‘(i) plant genetics and breeding; 
‘‘(ii) crop production; 
‘‘(iii) soil and water science; 
‘‘(iv) use of agricultural waste; and 
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‘‘(v) carbohydrate, lipid, protein, and 
lignin chemistry, enzyme development, and 
biochemistry; and 
‘‘(D) supporting the dissemination of any 
of the research conducted under this subsection 
that will assist in achieving the goals of this 
section. 
‘‘(2) SELECTION CRITERIA.—In selecting grant 
recipients for projects under paragraph (1), the Sec-
retary shall consider— 
‘‘(A) the capabilities and experiences of the 
applicant, including— 
‘‘(i) research in actual field condi-
tions; and 
‘‘(ii) engineering and research knowl-
edge relating to biofuels or the production 
of inputs for biofuel production; 
‘‘(B) the range of species types and crop-
ping practices proposed for study (including 
species types and practices studied using side- 
by-side comparisons of those types and prac-
tices); 
‘‘(C) the need for regional diversity among 
feedstocks; 
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‘‘(D) 
the 
importance 
of 
developing 
multiyear data relevant to the production of 
biomass feedstock crops; 
‘‘(E) the extent to which the project in-
volves direct participation of agricultural pro-
ducers; 
‘‘(F) the extent to which the project pro-
posal includes a plan or commitment to use the 
biomass produced as part of the project in com-
mercial channels; and 
‘‘(G) such other factors as the Secretary 
may determine. 
‘‘(d) ENERGY-EFFICIENCY RESEARCH AND EXTEN-
SION AREAS.—On-farm energy-efficiency research and ex-
tension activities funded under the Initiative shall focus 
on developing and demonstrating technologies and produc-
tion practices relating to— 
‘‘(1) improving on-farm renewable energy pro-
duction; 
‘‘(2) encouraging efficient on-farm energy use; 
‘‘(3) promoting on-farm energy conservation; 
‘‘(4) making a farm or ranch energy-neutral; 
and 
‘‘(5) enhancing on-farm usage of advanced tech-
nologies to promote energy efficiency. 
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‘‘(e) BEST PRACTICES DATABASE.—The Secretary 
shall develop a best-practices database that includes infor-
mation, to be available to the public, on— 
‘‘(1) the production potential of a variety of bio-
mass crops; and 
‘‘(2) best practices for production, collection, 
harvesting, storage, and transportation of biomass 
crops to be used as a source of bioenergy. 
‘‘(f) ADMINISTRATION.— 
‘‘(1) IN GENERAL.—Paragraphs (4), (7), (8), 
and (11)(B) of subsection (b) of the Competitive, 
Special, and Facilities Research Grant Act (7 U.S.C. 
450i(b)) shall apply with respect to making grants 
under this section. 
‘‘(2) CONSULTATION AND COORDINATION.—The 
Secretary shall— 
‘‘(A) make the grants in consultation with 
the National Agricultural Research, Extension, 
Education, and Economics Advisory Board; and 
‘‘(B) coordinate projects and activities car-
ried out under the Initiative with projects and 
activities under section 9008 of the Farm Secu-
rity and Rural Investment Act of 2002 to en-
sure, to the maximum extent practicable, that— 
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‘‘(i) unnecessary duplication of effort 
is eliminated or minimized; and 
‘‘(ii) the respective strengths of the 
Department of Agriculture and the De-
partment of Energy are appropriately 
used. 
‘‘(3) GRANT
PRIORITY.—The Secretary shall 
give priority to grant applications that integrate re-
search and extension activities established under 
subsections (c) and (d), respectively. 
‘‘(4) MATCHING FUNDS REQUIRED.—As a con-
dition of receiving a grant under this section, the 
Secretary shall require the recipient of the grant to 
provide funds or in-kind support from non-Federal 
sources in an amount that is at least equal to the 
amount provided by the Federal Government. 
‘‘(5) PARTNERSHIPS ENCOURAGED.—Following 
the completion of a peer review process for grant 
proposals received under this section, the Secretary 
may provide a priority to those grant proposals 
found as a result of the peer review process— 
‘‘(A) to be scientifically meritorious; and 
‘‘(B) that involve cooperation— 
‘‘(i) among multiple entities; and 
‘‘(ii) with agricultural producers. 
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‘‘(g) AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.—There 
is authorized to be appropriated to carry out this section 
$50,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2008 through 2012.’’. 
SEC. 
7208. 
FARM 
BUSINESS 
MANAGEMENT 
AND 
BENCHMARKING. 
The Food, Agriculture, Conservation and Trade Act 
of 1990 is amended by inserting after section 1672C (as 
added by section 7207) the following: 
‘‘SEC. 1672D. FARM BUSINESS MANAGEMENT. 
‘‘(a) IN GENERAL.—The Secretary may make com-
petitive research and extension grants for the purpose of— 
‘‘(1) improving the farm management knowl-
edge and skills of agricultural producers; and 
‘‘(2) establishing and maintaining a national, 
publicly available farm financial management data-
base to support improved farm management. 
‘‘(b) SELECTION CRITERIA.—In allocating funds 
made available to carry out this section, the Secretary may 
give priority to grants that— 
‘‘(1) demonstrate an ability to work directly 
with agricultural producers; 
‘‘(2) collaborate with farm management and 
producer associations; 
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‘‘(3) address the farm management needs of a 
variety of crops and regions of the United States; 
and 
‘‘(4) use and support the national farm finan-
cial management database. 
‘‘(c) ADMINISTRATION.—Paragraphs (4), (7), (8), 
and (11)(B) of subsection (b) of the Competitive, Special, 
and Facilities Research Grant Act (7 U.S.C. 450i(b)) shall 
apply with respect to the making of grants under this sec-
tion. 
‘‘(d) AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.—There 
are authorized to be appropriated such sums as are nec-
essary to carry out this section.’’. 
SEC. 7209. AGRICULTURAL TELECOMMUNICATIONS PRO-
GRAM. 
Section 1673 of the Food, Agriculture, Conservation, 
and Trade Act of 1990 (7 U.S.C. 5926) is repealed. 
SEC. 7210. ASSISTIVE TECHNOLOGY PROGRAM FOR FARM-
ERS WITH DISABILITIES. 
Section 1680(c)(1) of the Food, Agriculture, Con-
servation, and Trade Act of 1990 (7 U.S.C. 5933(c)(1)) 
is amended by striking ‘‘2007’’ and inserting ‘‘2012’’. 
SEC. 7211. RESEARCH ON HONEY BEE DISEASES. 
Section 1681 of the Food, Agriculture, Conservation, 
and Trade Act of 1990 (7 U.S.C. 5934) is repealed. 
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SEC. 
7212. 
NATIONAL 
RURAL 
INFORMATION 
CENTER 
CLEARINGHOUSE. 
Section 2381(e) of the Food, Agriculture, Conserva-
tion, and Trade Act of 1990 (7 U.S.C. 3125b(e)) is 
amended by striking ‘‘2007’’ and inserting ‘‘2012’’. 
Subtitle C—Agricultural Research, 
Extension, and Education Re-
form Act of 1998 
SEC. 7301. PEER AND MERIT REVIEW. 
Section 103(a) of the Agricultural Research, Exten-
sion, and Education Reform Act of 1998 (7 U.S.C. 
7613(a)) is amended by adding at the end the following: 
‘‘(3) CONSIDERATION.—Peer and merit review 
procedures established under paragraphs (1) and (2) 
shall not take the offer or availability of matching 
funds into consideration.’’. 
SEC. 7302. PARTNERSHIPS FOR HIGH-VALUE AGRICUL-
TURAL PRODUCT QUALITY RESEARCH. 
Section 402 of the Agricultural Research, Extension, 
and Education Reform Act of 1998 (7 U.S.C. 7622) is 
repealed. 
SEC. 7303. PRECISION AGRICULTURE. 
Section 403 of the Agricultural Research, Extension, 
and Education Reform Act of 1998 (7 U.S.C. 7623) is 
repealed. 
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SEC. 7304. BIOBASED PRODUCTS. 
(a) PILOT PROJECT.—Section 404(e)(2) of the Agri-
cultural Research, Extension, and Education Reform Act 
of 1998 (7 U.S.C. 7624(e)(2)) is amended by striking 
‘‘2007’’ and inserting ‘‘2012’’. 
(b) AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.—Section 
404(h) of the Agricultural Research, Extension, and Edu-
cation Reform Act of 1998 (7 U.S.C. 7624(h)) is amended 
by striking ‘‘2007’’ and inserting ‘‘2012’’. 
SEC. 7305. THOMAS JEFFERSON INITIATIVE FOR CROP DI-
VERSIFICATION. 
Section 405 of the Agricultural Research, Extension, 
and Education Reform Act of 1998 (7 U.S.C. 7625) is 
repealed. 
SEC. 7306. INTEGRATED RESEARCH, EDUCATION, AND EX-
TENSION COMPETITIVE GRANTS PROGRAM. 
Section 406(f) of the Agricultural Research, Exten-
sion, and Education Reform Act of 1998 (7 U.S.C. 
7626(f)) is amended by striking ‘‘2007’’ and inserting 
‘‘2012’’. 
SEC. 7307. FUSARIUM GRAMINEARUM GRANTS. 
Section 408 of the Agricultural Research, Extension, 
and Education Reform Act of 1998 (7 U.S.C. 7628) is 
amended— 
(1) in subsection (a), in the subsection heading, 
by striking ‘‘GRANT’’ and inserting ‘‘GRANTS’’; and 
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(2) in subsection (e), by striking ‘‘2007’’ and 
inserting ‘‘2012’’. 
SEC. 7308. BOVINE JOHNE’S DISEASE CONTROL PROGRAM. 
Section 409(b) of the Agricultural Research, Exten-
sion, and Education Reform Act of 1998 (7 U.S.C. 
7629(b)) is amended by striking ‘‘2007’’ and inserting 
‘‘2012’’. 
SEC. 7309. GRANTS FOR YOUTH ORGANIZATIONS. 
Section 410 of the Agricultural Research, Extension, 
and Education Reform Act of 1998 (7 U.S.C. 7630) is 
amended by striking subsections (b) and (c) and inserting 
the following: 
‘‘(b) FLEXIBILITY.—The Secretary shall provide 
maximum flexibility in content delivery to each organiza-
tion receiving funds under this section so as to ensure that 
the unique goals of each organization, as well as the local 
community needs, are fully met. 
‘‘(c) REDISTRIBUTION OF FUNDING WITHIN ORGA-
NIZATIONS AUTHORIZED.—Recipients of funds under this 
section may redistribute all or part of the funds received 
to individual councils or local chapters within the councils 
without further need of approval from the Secretary. 
‘‘(d) AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.—There 
are authorized to be appropriated to carry out this section 
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such sums as are necessary for each of fiscal years 2008 
through 2012.’’. 
SEC. 7310. AGRICULTURAL BIOTECHNOLOGY RESEARCH 
AND DEVELOPMENT FOR DEVELOPING COUN-
TRIES. 
Section 411(c) of the Agricultural Research, Exten-
sion, and Education Reform Act of 1998 (7 U.S.C. 
7631(c)) is amended by striking ‘‘2007’’ and inserting 
‘‘2012’’. 
SEC. 7311. SPECIALTY CROP RESEARCH INITIATIVE. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—Title IV of the Agricultural Re-
search, Extension, and Education Reform Act of 1998 (7 
U.S.C. 7621 et seq.) is amended by adding at the end 
the following: 
‘‘SEC. 412. SPECIALTY CROP RESEARCH INITIATIVE. 
‘‘(a) DEFINITIONS.—In this section: 
‘‘(1) INITIATIVE.—The term ‘Initiative’ means 
the specialty crop research and extension initiative 
established by subsection (b). 
‘‘(2) SPECIALTY
CROP.—The term ‘specialty 
crop’ has the meaning given that term in section 3 
of the Specialty Crops Competitiveness Act of 2004 
(7 U.S.C. 1621 note; Public Law 108–465). 
‘‘(b) ESTABLISHMENT.—There is established within 
the Department a specialty crop research and extension 
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initiative to address the critical needs of the specialty crop 
industry by developing and disseminating science-based 
tools to address needs of specific crops and their regions, 
including— 
‘‘(1) research in plant breeding, genetics, and 
genomics to improve crop characteristics, such as— 
‘‘(A) product, taste, quality, and appear-
ance; 
‘‘(B) environmental responses and toler-
ances; 
‘‘(C) nutrient management, including plant 
nutrient uptake efficiency; 
‘‘(D) pest and disease management, includ-
ing resistance to pests and diseases resulting in 
reduced application management strategies; and 
‘‘(E) enhanced phytonutrient content; 
‘‘(2) efforts to identify and address threats 
from pests and diseases, including threats to spe-
cialty crop pollinators; 
‘‘(3) efforts to improve production efficiency, 
productivity, and profitability over the long term (in-
cluding specialty crop policy and marketing); 
‘‘(4) new innovations and technology, including 
improved mechanization and technologies that delay 
or inhibit ripening; and 
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‘‘(5) methods to prevent, detect, monitor, con-
trol, and respond to potential food safety hazards in 
the production and processing of specialty crops, in-
cluding fresh produce. 
‘‘(c) ELIGIBLE ENTITIES.—The Secretary may carry 
out the Initiative through— 
‘‘(1) Federal agencies; 
‘‘(2) national laboratories; 
‘‘(3) colleges and universities; 
‘‘(4) research institutions and organizations; 
‘‘(5) private organizations or corporations; 
‘‘(6) State agricultural experiment stations; 
‘‘(7) individuals; or 
‘‘(8) groups consisting of 2 or more entities de-
scribed in paragraphs (1) through (7). 
‘‘(d) RESEARCH PROJECTS.—In carrying out this 
section, the Secretary shall award grants on a competitive 
basis. 
‘‘(e) ADMINISTRATION.— 
‘‘(1) IN
GENERAL.—With respect to grants 
awarded under subsection (d), the Secretary shall— 
‘‘(A) seek and accept proposals for grants; 
‘‘(B) determine the relevance and merit of 
proposals through a system of peer and merit 
review in accordance with section 103; and 
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‘‘(C) award grants on the basis of merit, 
quality, and relevance. 
‘‘(2) TERM.—The term of a grant under this 
section may not exceed 10 years. 
‘‘(3) MATCHING FUNDS REQUIRED.—The Sec-
retary shall require the recipient of a grant under 
this section to provide funds or in-kind support from 
non-Federal sources in an amount that is at least 
equal to the amount provided by the Federal Gov-
ernment. 
‘‘(4) OTHER CONDITIONS.—The Secretary may 
set such other conditions on the award of a grant 
under this section as the Secretary determines to be 
appropriate. 
‘‘(f) PRIORITIES.—In making grants under this sec-
tion, the Secretary shall provide a higher priority to 
projects that— 
‘‘(1) are multistate, multi-institutional, or mul-
tidisciplinary; and 
‘‘(2) include explicit mechanisms to commu-
nicate results to producers and the public. 
‘‘(g) BUILDINGS
AND FACILITIES.—Funds made 
available under this section shall not be used for the con-
struction of a new building or facility or the acquisition, 
expansion, remodeling, or alteration of an existing build-
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ing or facility (including site grading and improvement, 
and architect fees). 
‘‘(h) FUNDING.— 
‘‘(1) IN GENERAL.—Of the funds of the Com-
modity Credit Corporation, the Secretary shall make 
available to carry out this section $30,000,000 for 
fiscal year 2008 and $50,000,000 for each of fiscal 
years 2009 through 2012, from which activities 
under each of paragraphs (1) through (5) of sub-
section (b) shall be allocated not less than 10 per-
cent. 
‘‘(2) AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.—In 
addition to funds made available under paragraph 
(1), there is authorized to be appropriated to carry 
out this section $100,000,000 for each of fiscal 
years 2008 through 2012. 
‘‘(3) TRANSFER.—Of the funds made available 
to the Secretary under paragraph (1) for fiscal year 
2008 and authorized for use for payment of admin-
istrative expenses under section 1469(a)(3) of the 
National Agricultural Research, Extension, and 
Teaching Policy Act of 1977 (7 U.S.C. 3315(a)(3)), 
the Secretary shall transfer, upon the date of enact-
ment of this section, $200,000 to the Office of Pre-
vention, Pesticides, and Toxic Substances of the En-
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vironmental Protection Agency for use in conducting 
a meta-analysis relating to methyl bromide. 
‘‘(4) AVAILABILITY.—Funds made available 
pursuant to this subsection for a fiscal year shall re-
main available until expended to pay for obligations 
incurred in that fiscal year.’’. 
(b) COORDINATION.—In carrying out the amendment 
made by this section, the Secretary shall ensure that the 
Division Chief of the applicable Research, Education, and 
Extension Office established under section 251 of the De-
partment of Agriculture Reorganization Act of 1994 (7 
U.S.C. 6971) coordinates projects and activities under this 
section to ensure, to the maximum extent practicable, that 
unnecessary duplication of effort is eliminated or mini-
mized. 
SEC. 7312. FOOD ANIMAL RESIDUE AVOIDANCE DATABASE 
PROGRAM. 
Section 604 of the Agricultural Research, Extension, 
and Education Reform Act of 1998 (7 U.S.C. 7642) is 
amended by adding at the end the following: 
‘‘(e) AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.—In ad-
dition to any other funds available to carry out subsection 
(c), there is authorized to be appropriated to carry out 
this section $2,500,000 for each of fiscal years 2008 
through 2012.’’. 
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SEC. 7313. OFFICE OF PEST MANAGEMENT POLICY. 
Section 614(f) of the Agricultural Research, Exten-
sion, and Education Reform Act of 1998 (7 U.S.C. 
7653(f)) is amended by striking ‘‘2007’’ and inserting 
‘‘2012’’. 
Subtitle D—Other Laws 
SEC. 7401. CRITICAL AGRICULTURAL MATERIALS ACT. 
Section 16(a) of the Critical Agricultural Materials 
Act (7 U.S.C. 178n(a)) is amended by striking ‘‘2007’’ 
and inserting ‘‘2012’’. 
SEC. 7402. EQUITY IN EDUCATIONAL LAND-GRANT STATUS 
ACT OF 1994. 
(a) DEFINITION OF 1994 INSTITUTIONS.—Section 
532 of the Equity in Educational Land-Grant Status Act 
of 1994 (7 U.S.C. 301 note; Public Law 103–382) is 
amended by adding at the end the following: 
‘‘(34) Ilisagvik College.’’. 
(b) ENDOWMENT FOR 1994 INSTITUTIONS.—Section 
533 of the Equity in Educational Land-Grant Status Act 
of 1994 (7 U.S.C. 301 note; Public Law 103–382) is 
amended— 
(1) in subsection (a)(3), in the matter pre-
ceding subparagraph (A), by inserting ‘‘this section 
and’’ before ‘‘sections 534,’’; and 
(2) in the first sentence of subsection (b), by 
striking ‘‘2007’’ and inserting ‘‘2012’’. 
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(c) REDISTRIBUTION.—Section 534(a)(3) of the Eq-
uity in Educational Land-Grant Status Act of 1994 (7 
U.S.C. 301 note; Public Law 103–382) is amended— 
(1) by striking ‘‘The amounts’’ and inserting 
the following: 
‘‘(A) IN GENERAL.—Except as provided in 
subparagraph (B), the amounts’’; and 
(2) by adding at the end the following: 
‘‘(B) 
REDISTRIBUTION.—Funds 
that 
would be paid to a 1994 Institution under para-
graph (2) shall be withheld from that 1994 In-
stitution and redistributed among the other 
1994 Institutions if that 1994 Institution— 
‘‘(i) declines to accept funds under 
paragraph (2); or 
‘‘(ii) fails to meet the accreditation re-
quirements under section 533(a)(3).’’. 
(d) INSTITUTIONAL CAPACITY BUILDING GRANTS.— 
Section 535 of the Equity in Educational Land-Grant Sta-
tus Act of 1994 (7 U.S.C. 301 note; Public Law 103– 
382) is amended by striking ‘‘2007’’ each place it appears 
and inserting ‘‘2012’’. 
(e) RESEARCH GRANTS.—Section 536(c) of the Eq-
uity in Educational Land-Grant Status Act of 1994 (7 
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U.S.C. 301 note; Public Law 103–382) is amended in the 
first sentence by striking ‘‘2007’’ and inserting ‘‘2012’’. 
(f) EFFECTIVE DATE.—The amendment made by 
subsection (a) takes effect on October 1, 2008. 
SEC. 7403. SMITH-LEVER ACT. 
(a) PROGRAM.—Section 3(d) of the Smith-Lever Act 
(7 U.S.C. 343(d)) is amended in the second sentence by 
striking ‘‘apply for and receive’’ and all that follows 
through paragraph (2) and inserting ‘‘compete for and re-
ceive funds directly from the Secretary of Agriculture.’’. 
(b) ELIMINATION OF THE GOVERNOR’S REPORT RE-
QUIREMENT FOR EXTENSION ACTIVITIES.—Section 5 of 
the Smith-Lever Act (7 U.S.C. 345) is amended by strik-
ing the third sentence. 
(c) CONFORMING AMENDMENT.—Section 1444(a)(2) 
of the National Agricultural Research, Extension, and 
Teaching Policy Act of 1977 (7 U.S.C. 3221(a)(2)) is 
amended by striking ‘‘after September 30, 1995, under 
section 3(d) of that Act (7 U.S.C. 343(d))’’ and all that 
follows through the end of the sentence and inserting 
‘‘under section 3(d) of that Act (7 U.S.C. 343(d)).’’. 
SEC. 7404. HATCH ACT OF 1887. 
(a) DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA.—Section 3(d)(4) of the 
Hatch Act of 1887 (7 U.S.C. 361c(d)(4)) is amended— 
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(1) in the paragraph heading, by inserting 
‘‘AND THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA’’ after ‘‘AREAS’’; 
(2) in subparagraph (A)— 
(A) by inserting ‘‘and the District of Co-
lumbia’’ after ‘‘United States’’; and 
(B) by inserting ‘‘and the District of Co-
lumbia’’ after ‘‘respectively,’’; and 
(3) in subparagraph (B), by inserting ‘‘or the 
District of Columbia’’ after ‘‘area’’. 
(b) ELIMINATION
OF PENALTY MAIL AUTHORI-
TIES.— 
(1) IN GENERAL.—Section 6 of the Hatch Act 
of 1887 (7 U.S.C. 361f) is amended in the first sen-
tence by striking ‘‘under penalty indicia:’’ and all 
that follows through the end of the sentence and in-
serting a period. 
(2) CONFORMING
AMENDMENTS
IN
OTHER 
LAWS.— 
(A) NATIONAL AGRICULTURAL RESEARCH, 
EXTENSION, AND
TEACHING
POLICY
ACT
OF 
1977.— 
(i) Section 1444(f) of the National 
Agricultural 
Research, 
Extension, 
and 
Teaching Policy Act of 1977 (7 U.S.C. 
3221(f)) is amended by striking ‘‘under 
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penalty indicia:’’ and all that follows 
through the end of the sentence and insert-
ing a period. 
(ii) Section 1445(e) of the National 
Agricultural 
Research, 
Extension, 
and 
Teaching Policy Act of 1977 (7 U.S.C. 
3222(e)) is amended by striking ‘‘under 
penalty indicia:’’ and all that follows 
through the end of the sentence and insert-
ing a period. 
(B) OTHER PROVISIONS.—Section 3202(a) 
of title 39, United States Code, is amended— 
(i) in paragraph (1)— 
(I) in subparagraph (D), by add-
ing ‘‘and’’ at the end; 
(II) in subparagraph (E), by 
striking ‘‘sections; and’’ and inserting 
‘‘sections.’’; and 
(III) by striking subparagraph 
(F); 
(ii) in paragraph (2), by adding ‘‘and’’ 
at the end; 
(iii) in paragraph (3) by striking 
‘‘thereof; and’’ and inserting ‘‘thereof.’’; 
and 
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(iv) by striking paragraph (4). 
SEC. 7405. AGRICULTURAL EXPERIMENT STATION RE-
SEARCH FACILITIES ACT. 
Section 6(a) of the Research Facilities Act (7 U.S.C. 
390d(a)) is amended by striking ‘‘2007’’ and inserting 
‘‘2012’’. 
SEC. 7406. AGRICULTURE AND FOOD RESEARCH INITIA-
TIVE. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—Subsection (b) of the Competitive, 
Special, and Facilities Research Grant Act (7 U.S.C. 
450i(b)) is amended to read as follows: 
‘‘(b) AGRICULTURE AND FOOD RESEARCH INITIA-
TIVE.— 
‘‘(1) ESTABLISHMENT.—There is established in 
the Department of Agriculture an Agriculture and 
Food Research Initiative under which the Secretary 
of Agriculture (referred to in this subsection as ‘the 
Secretary’) may make competitive grants for funda-
mental and applied research, extension, and edu-
cation to address food and agricultural sciences (as 
defined under section 1404 of the National Agricul-
tural Research, Extension, and Teaching Policy Act 
of 1977 (7 U.S.C. 3103)). 
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‘‘(2) PRIORITY AREAS.—The competitive grants 
program established under this subsection shall ad-
dress the following areas: 
‘‘(A) PLANT
HEALTH
AND
PRODUCTION 
AND PLANT PRODUCTS.—Plant systems, includ-
ing— 
‘‘(i) plant genome structure and func-
tion; 
‘‘(ii) molecular and cellular genetics 
and plant biotechnology; 
‘‘(iii) conventional breeding, including 
cultivar and breed development, selection 
theory, 
applied 
quantitative 
genetics, 
breeding for improved food quality, breed-
ing for improved local adaptation to biotic 
stress and abiotic stress, and participatory 
breeding; 
‘‘(iv) plant-pest interactions and bio-
control systems; 
‘‘(v) crop plant response to environ-
mental stresses; 
‘‘(vi) unproved nutrient qualities of 
plant products; and 
‘‘(vii) new food and industrial uses of 
plant products. 
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‘‘(B) ANIMAL HEALTH AND PRODUCTION 
AND ANIMAL PRODUCTS.—Animal systems, in-
cluding— 
‘‘(i) aquaculture; 
‘‘(ii) cellular and molecular basis of 
animal reproduction, growth, disease, and 
health; 
‘‘(iii) animal biotechnology; 
‘‘(iv) conventional breeding, including 
breed development, selection theory, ap-
plied quantitative genetics, breeding for 
improved food quality, breeding for im-
proved local adaptation to biotic stress and 
abiotic stress, and participatory breeding; 
‘‘(v) identification of genes responsible 
for improved production traits and resist-
ance to disease; 
‘‘(vi) improved nutritional perform-
ance of animals; 
‘‘(vii) improved nutrient qualities of 
animal products and uses; and 
‘‘(viii) the development of new and im-
proved animal husbandry and production 
systems that take into account production 
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efficiency, animal well-being, and animal 
systems applicable to aquaculture. 
‘‘(C) FOOD
SAFETY, 
NUTRITION, 
AND 
HEALTH.—Nutrition, food safety and quality, 
and health, including— 
‘‘(i) microbial contaminants and pes-
ticides residue relating to human health; 
‘‘(ii) links between diet and health; 
‘‘(iii) bioavailability of nutrients; 
‘‘(iv) postharvest physiology and prac-
tices; and 
‘‘(v) improved processing technologies. 
‘‘(D) RENEWABLE ENERGY, NATURAL RE-
SOURCES, 
AND
ENVIRONMENT.—Natural re-
sources and the environment, including— 
‘‘(i) fundamental structures and func-
tions of ecosystems; 
‘‘(ii) biological and physical bases of 
sustainable production systems; 
‘‘(iii) minimizing soil and water losses 
and sustaining surface water and ground 
water quality; 
‘‘(iv) global climate effects on agri-
culture; 
‘‘(v) forestry; and 
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‘‘(vi) biological diversity. 
‘‘(E) AGRICULTURE SYSTEMS AND TECH-
NOLOGY.—Engineering, products, and proc-
esses, including— 
‘‘(i) new uses and new products from 
traditional and nontraditional crops, ani-
mals, byproducts, and natural resources; 
‘‘(ii) robotics, energy efficiency, com-
puting, and expert systems; 
‘‘(iii) new hazard and risk assessment 
and mitigation measures; and 
‘‘(iv) water quality and management. 
‘‘(F) 
AGRICULTURE
ECONOMICS
AND 
RURAL
COMMUNITIES.—Markets, trade, and 
policy, including— 
‘‘(i) strategies for entering into and 
being competitive in domestic and overseas 
markets; 
‘‘(ii) farm efficiency and profitability, 
including the viability and competitiveness 
of small and medium-sized dairy, livestock, 
crop and other commodity operations; 
‘‘(iii) new decision tools for farm and 
market systems; 
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‘‘(iv) choices and applications of tech-
nology; 
‘‘(v) technology assessment; and 
‘‘(vi) new approaches to rural develop-
ment, including rural entrepreneurship. 
‘‘(3) TERM.—The term of a competitive grant 
made under this subsection may not exceed 10 
years. 
‘‘(4) GENERAL
ADMINISTRATION.—In making 
grants under this subsection, the Secretary shall— 
‘‘(A) seek and accept proposals for grants; 
‘‘(B) determine the relevance and merit of 
proposals through a system of peer and merit 
review in accordance with section 103 of the 
Agricultural Research, Extension, and Edu-
cation Reform Act of 1998 (7 U.S.C. 7613); 
‘‘(C) award grants on the basis of merit, 
quality, and relevance; 
‘‘(D) solicit and consider input from per-
sons who conduct or use agricultural research, 
extension, or education in accordance with sec-
tion 102(b) of the Agricultural Research, Ex-
tension, and Education Reform Act of 1998 (7 
U.S.C. 7612(b)); and 
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‘‘(E) in seeking proposals for grants under 
this subsection and in performing peer review 
evaluations of such proposals, seek the widest 
participation of qualified individuals in the Fed-
eral Government, colleges and universities, 
State agricultural experiment stations, and the 
private sector. 
‘‘(5) ALLOCATION
OF
FUNDS.—In making 
grants under this subsection, the Secretary shall al-
locate funds to the Agriculture and Food Research 
Initiative to ensure that, of funds allocated for re-
search activities— 
‘‘(A) not less than 60 percent is made 
available to make grants for fundamental re-
search (as defined in subsection (f)(1) of sec-
tion 251 of the Department of Agriculture Re-
organization Act of 1994 (7 U.S.C. 6971)), of 
which— 
‘‘(i) not less than 30 percent is made 
available to make grants for research to be 
conducted by multidisciplinary teams; and 
‘‘(ii) not more than 2 percent is used 
for equipment grants under paragraph 
(6)(A); and 
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‘‘(B) not less than 40 percent is made 
available to make grants for applied research 
(as defined in subsection (f)(1) of section 251 
of the Department of Agriculture Reorganiza-
tion Act of 1994 (7 U.S.C. 6971)). 
‘‘(6) SPECIAL
CONSIDERATIONS.—In making 
grants under this subsection, the Secretary may as-
sist in the development of capabilities in the agricul-
tural, food, and environmental sciences by providing 
grants— 
‘‘(A) to an institution to allow for the im-
provement of the research, development, tech-
nology transfer, and education capacity of the 
institution through the acquisition of special re-
search equipment and the improvement of agri-
cultural education and teaching, except that the 
Secretary shall use not less than 25 percent of 
the funds made available for grants under this 
subparagraph to provide fellowships to out-
standing pre- and post-doctoral students for re-
search in the agricultural sciences; 
‘‘(B) to a single investigator or coinvestiga-
tors who are beginning research careers and do 
not have an extensive research publication 
record, except that, to be eligible for a grant 
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under this subparagraph, an individual shall be 
within 5 years of the beginning of the initial ca-
reer track position of the individual; 
‘‘(C) to ensure that the faculty of small, 
mid-sized, and minority-serving institutions who 
have not previously been successful in obtaining 
competitive grants under this subsection receive 
a portion of the grants; and 
‘‘(D) to improve research, extension, and 
education capabilities in States (as defined in 
section 1404 of the National Agricultural Re-
search, Extension, and Teaching Policy Act of 
1977 (7 U.S.C. 3103)) in which institutions 
have been less successful in receiving funding 
under this subsection, based on a 3-year rolling 
average of funding levels. 
‘‘(7) ELIGIBLE ENTITIES.—The Secretary may 
make grants to carry out research, extension, and 
education under this subsection to— 
‘‘(A) State agricultural experiment sta-
tions; 
‘‘(B) colleges and universities; 
‘‘(C) university research foundations; 
‘‘(D) other research institutions and orga-
nizations; 
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‘‘(E) Federal agencies; 
‘‘(F) national laboratories; 
‘‘(G) private organizations or corporations; 
‘‘(H) individuals; or 
‘‘(I) any group consisting of 2 or more of 
the entities described in subparagraphs (A) 
through (H). 
‘‘(8) 
CONSTRUCTION
PROHIBITED.—Funds 
made available for grants under this subsection shall 
not be used for the construction of a new building 
or facility or the acquisition, expansion, remodeling, 
or alteration of an existing building or facility (in-
cluding site grading and improvement, and architect 
fees). 
‘‘(9) MATCHING FUNDS.— 
‘‘(A) EQUIPMENT GRANTS.— 
‘‘(i) IN
GENERAL.—Except as pro-
vided in clause (ii), in the case of a grant 
made under paragraph (6)(A), the amount 
provided under this subsection may not ex-
ceed 50 percent of the cost of the special 
research equipment or other equipment ac-
quired using funds from the grant. 
‘‘(ii) WAIVER.—The Secretary may 
waive all or part of the matching require-
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ment under clause (i) in the case of a col-
lege, university, or research foundation 
maintained by a college or university that 
ranks in the lowest 1⁄3 of such colleges, 
universities, and research foundations on 
the basis of Federal research funds re-
ceived, if the equipment to be acquired 
using funds from the grant costs not more 
than $25,000 and has multiple uses within 
a single research project or is usable in 
more than 1 research project. 
‘‘(B) APPLIED RESEARCH.—As a condition 
of making a grant under paragraph (5)(B), the 
Secretary shall require the funding of the grant 
to be matched with equal matching funds from 
a non-Federal source if the grant is for applied 
research that is— 
‘‘(i) commodity-specific; and 
‘‘(ii) not of national scope. 
‘‘(10) PROGRAM
ADMINISTRATION.—To the 
maximum extent practicable, the Director of the Na-
tional Institute of Food and Agriculture, in coordi-
nation with the Under Secretary for Research, Edu-
cation, and Economics, shall allocate grants under 
this subsection to high-priority research, taking into 
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consideration, when available, the determinations 
made by the National Agricultural Research, Exten-
sion, Education, and Economics Advisory Board (as 
established under section 1408 of the National Agri-
cultural Research, Extension, and Teaching Policy 
Act of 1977 (7 U.S.C. 3123)). 
‘‘(11) AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.— 
‘‘(A) IN GENERAL.—There is authorized to 
be appropriated to carry out this subsection 
$700,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2008 
through 2012, of which— 
‘‘(i) not less than 30 percent shall be 
made available for integrated research pur-
suant to section 406 of the Agricultural 
Research, Extension, and Education Re-
form Act of 1998 (7 U.S.C. 7626); and 
‘‘(ii) not more than 4 percent may be 
retained by the Secretary to pay adminis-
trative costs incurred by the Secretary in 
carrying out this subsection. 
‘‘(B) AVAILABILITY.—Funds made avail-
able under this paragraph shall— 
‘‘(i) be available for obligation for a 2- 
year period beginning on October 1 of the 
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fiscal year for which the funds are first 
made available; and 
‘‘(ii) remain available until expended 
to pay for obligations incurred during that 
2-year period.’’. 
(b) REPEALS.— 
(1) Section 401 of the Agricultural Research, 
Extension, and Education Reform Act of 1998 (7 
U.S.C. 7621) is repealed. 
(2) Subsection (d) of the Competitive, Special, 
and Facilities Research Grant Act (7 U.S.C. 
450i(d)) is repealed. 
(c) EFFECT
ON CURRENT SOLICITATIONS.—The 
amendments made by this section shall not apply to any 
solicitation for grant applications issued by the Coopera-
tive State Research, Education, and Extension Service be-
fore the date of enactment of this Act. 
(d) CONFORMING AMENDMENTS.— 
(1) Section 1473 of the National Agricultural 
Research, Extension, and Teaching Policy Act of 
1977 (7 U.S.C. 3319) is amended in the first sen-
tence by striking ‘‘and subsection (d)’’. 
(2) Section 1671(d) of the Food, Agriculture, 
Conservation, and Trade Act of 1990 (7 U.S.C. 
5924(d) is amended by striking ‘‘Paragraphs (1), 
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(6), (7), and (11)’’ and inserting ‘‘Paragraphs (4), 
(7), (8), and (11)(B)’’. 
(3) Section 1672B(b) of the Food, Agriculture, 
Conservation, and Trade Act of 1990 (7 U.S.C. 
5925b(b)) is amended by striking ‘‘Paragraphs (1), 
(6), (7), and (11)’’ and inserting ‘‘Paragraphs (4), 
(7), (8), and (11)(B)’’. 
SEC. 7407. AGRICULTURAL RISK PROTECTION ACT OF 2000. 
Section 221 of the Agricultural Risk Protection Act 
of 2000 (7 U.S.C. 6711(g)) is amended by striking sub-
section (g) and inserting the following: 
‘‘(g) AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.—There 
is authorized to be appropriated to carry out this section 
$15,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2007 through 2012.’’. 
SEC. 7408. EXCHANGE OR SALE AUTHORITY. 
Title III of the Department of Agriculture Reorga-
nization Act of 1994 (Public Law 103–354; 108 Stat. 
3238) is amended by adding at the end the following: 
‘‘SEC. 307. EXCHANGE OR SALE AUTHORITY. 
‘‘(a) DEFINITION OF QUALIFIED ITEM OF PERSONAL 
PROPERTY.—In this section, the term ‘qualified item of 
personal property’ means— 
‘‘(1) an animal; 
‘‘(2) an animal product; 
‘‘(3) a plant; or 
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‘‘(4) a plant product. 
‘‘(b) GENERAL AUTHORITY.—Except as provided in 
subsection (c), notwithstanding chapter 5 of subtitle I of 
title 40, United States Code, the Secretary, acting through 
the Under Secretary for Research, Education, and Eco-
nomics, in managing personal property for the purpose of 
carrying out the research functions of the Department, 
may exchange, sell, or otherwise dispose of any qualified 
item of personal property, including by way of public auc-
tion, and may retain and apply the sale or other proceeds, 
without further appropriation and without fiscal year limi-
tation, in whole or in partial payment— 
‘‘(1) to acquire any qualified item of personal 
property; or 
‘‘(2) to offset costs related to the maintenance, 
care, or feeding of any qualified item of personal 
property. 
‘‘(c) EXCEPTION.—Subsection (b) does not apply to 
the free dissemination of new varieties of seeds and 
germplasm in accordance with section 520 of the Revised 
Statutes (commonly known as the ‘Department of Agri-
culture Organic Act’) (7 U.S.C. 2201).’’. 
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SEC. 7409. ENHANCED USE LEASE AUTHORITY PILOT PRO-
GRAM. 
Title III of the Department of Agriculture Reorga-
nization Act of 1994 (Public Law 103–354; 108 Stat. 
3238) (as amended by section 7408) is amended by adding 
at the end the following: 
‘‘SEC. 308. ENHANCED USE LEASE AUTHORITY PILOT PRO-
GRAM. 
‘‘(a) ESTABLISHMENT.—To enhance the use of real 
property administered by agencies of the Department, the 
Secretary may establish a pilot program, in accordance 
with this section, at the Beltsville Agricultural Research 
Center of the Agricultural Research Service and the Na-
tional Agricultural Library to lease nonexcess property of 
the Center or the Library to any individual or entity, in-
cluding agencies or instrumentalities of State or local gov-
ernments. 
‘‘(b) REQUIREMENTS.— 
‘‘(1) IN GENERAL.—Notwithstanding chapter 5 
of subtitle I of title 40, United States Code, the Sec-
retary may lease real property at the Beltsville Agri-
cultural Research Center or the National Agricul-
tural Library in accordance with such terms and 
conditions as the Secretary may prescribe, if the 
Secretary determines that the lease— 
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‘‘(A) is consistent with, and will not ad-
versely affect, the mission of the Department 
agency administering the property; 
‘‘(B) will enhance the use of the property; 
‘‘(C) will not permit any portion of Depart-
ment agency property or any facility of the De-
partment to be used for the public retail or 
wholesale sale of merchandise or residential de-
velopment; 
‘‘(D) will not permit the construction or 
modification of facilities financed by non-Fed-
eral sources to be used by an agency, except for 
incidental use; and 
‘‘(E) will not include any property or facil-
ity required for any Department agency pur-
pose without prior consideration of the needs of 
the agency. 
‘‘(2) TERM.—The term of a lease under this 
section shall not exceed 30 years. 
‘‘(3) CONSIDERATION.— 
‘‘(A) IN
GENERAL.—Consideration pro-
vided for a lease under this section shall be— 
‘‘(i) in an amount equal to fair mar-
ket value, as determined by the Secretary; 
and 
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‘‘(ii) in the form of cash. 
‘‘(B) USE OF FUNDS.— 
‘‘(i) IN GENERAL.—Consideration pro-
vided for a lease under this section shall 
be— 
‘‘(I) deposited in a capital asset 
account to be established by the Sec-
retary; and 
‘‘(II) available until expended, 
without further appropriation, for 
maintenance, 
capital 
revitalization, 
and improvements of the Department 
properties and facilities at the Belts-
ville Agricultural Research Center and 
National Agricultural Library. 
‘‘(ii) BUDGETARY
TREATMENT.—For 
purposes of the budget, the amounts de-
scribed in clause (i) shall not be treated as 
a receipt of any Department agency or any 
other agency leasing property under this 
section. 
‘‘(4) COSTS.—The lessee shall cover all costs 
associated with a lease under this section, including 
the cost of— 
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‘‘(A) the project to be carried out on prop-
erty or at a facility covered by the lease; 
‘‘(B) provision and administration of the 
lease; 
‘‘(C) construction of any needed facilities; 
‘‘(D) provision of applicable utilities; and 
‘‘(E) any other facility cost normally asso-
ciated with the operation of a leased facility. 
‘‘(5) PROHIBITION
OF
USE
OF
APPROPRIA-
TIONS.—The Secretary shall not use any funds made 
available to the Secretary in an appropriations Act 
for the construction or operating costs of any space 
covered by a lease under this section. 
‘‘(6) TERMINATION OF AUTHORITY.—This sec-
tion and the authority provided by this section ter-
minate— 
‘‘(A) on the date that is 5 years after the 
date of enactment of this section; or 
‘‘(B) with respect to any particular leased 
property, on the date of termination of the 
lease. 
‘‘(c) EFFECT OF OTHER LAWS.— 
‘‘(1) UTILIZATION.—Property that is leased 
pursuant to this section shall not be considered to 
be unutilized or underutilized for purposes of section 
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501 of the Stewart B. McKinney Homeless Assist-
ance Act (42 U.S.C. 11411). 
‘‘(2) DISPOSAL.—Property at the Beltsville Ag-
ricultural Research Center or the National Agricul-
tural Library that is leased pursuant to this section 
shall not be considered to be disposed of by sale, 
lease, rental, excessing, or surplusing for purposes of 
section 523 of Public Law 100–202 (101 Stat. 
1329-417). 
‘‘(d) ADMINISTRATION.— 
‘‘(1) IN
GENERAL.—Not later than 90 days 
after the date of enactment of this section, the Sec-
retary shall submit to the Committee on Agriculture 
of the House of Representatives and the Committee 
on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry of the Sen-
ate a report that describes detailed management ob-
jectives and performance measurements by which 
the Secretary intends to evaluate the success of the 
program under this section. 
‘‘(2) REPORTS.—Not later than 1, 3, and 5 
years after the date of enactment of this section, the 
Secretary shall submit to the Committee on Agri-
culture of the House of Representatives and the 
Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry 
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of the Senate a report describing the implementation 
of the program under this section, including— 
‘‘(A) a copy of each lease entered into pur-
suant to this section; and 
‘‘(B) an assessment by the Secretary of the 
success of the program using the management 
objectives and performance measurements de-
veloped by the Secretary.’’. 
SEC. 7410. BEGINNING FARMER AND RANCHER DEVELOP-
MENT PROGRAM. 
(a) GRANTS.—Section 7405(c) of the Farm Security 
and Rural Investment Act of 2002 (7 U.S.C. 3319f(c)) 
is amended— 
(1) by striking paragraph (3) and inserting the 
following: 
‘‘(3) MAXIMUM TERM AND SIZE OF GRANT.— 
‘‘(A) IN
GENERAL.—A grant under this 
subsection shall— 
‘‘(i) have a term that is not more than 
3 years; and 
‘‘(ii) be in an amount that is not more 
than $250,000 for each year. 
‘‘(B) CONSECUTIVE GRANTS.—An eligible 
recipient may receive consecutive grants under 
this subsection.’’; 
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(2) by redesignating paragraphs (5) through 
(7) as paragraphs (8) through (10), respectively; 
(3) by inserting after paragraph (4) the fol-
lowing: 
‘‘(5) 
EVALUATION
CRITERIA.—In 
making 
grants under this subsection, the Secretary shall 
evaluate— 
‘‘(A) relevancy; 
‘‘(B) technical merit; 
‘‘(C) achievability; 
‘‘(D) the expertise and track record of 1 or 
more applicants; 
‘‘(E) the adequacy of plans for the 
participatory evaluation process, outcome-based 
reporting, and the communication of findings 
and results beyond the immediate target audi-
ence; and 
‘‘(F) other appropriate factors, as deter-
mined by the Secretary. 
‘‘(6) REGIONAL BALANCE.—In making grants 
under this subsection, the Secretary shall, to the 
maximum extent practicable, ensure geographical di-
versity. 
‘‘(7) PRIORITY.—In making grants under this 
subsection, the Secretary shall give priority to part-
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nerships and collaborations that are led by or in-
clude nongovernmental and community-based organi-
zations with expertise in new agricultural producer 
training and outreach.’’. 
(b) FUNDING.—Section 7405 of the Farm Security 
and Rural Investment Act of 2002 (7 U.S.C. 3319f) is 
amended by striking subsection (h) and inserting the fol-
lowing: 
‘‘(h) FUNDING.— 
‘‘(1) IN GENERAL.—Of the funds of the Com-
modity Credit Corporation, the Secretary shall make 
available to carry out this section— 
‘‘(A) $18,000,000 for fiscal year 2009; and 
‘‘(B) $19,000,000 for each of fiscal years 
2010 through 2012. 
‘‘(2) AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.—In 
addition to funds provided under paragraph (1), 
there is authorized to be appropriated to carry out 
this section $30,000,000 for each of fiscal years 
2008 through 2012.’’. 
SEC. 7411. PUBLIC EDUCATION REGARDING USE OF BIO-
TECHNOLOGY IN PRODUCING FOOD FOR 
HUMAN CONSUMPTION. 
Section 10802 of the Farm Security and Rural In-
vestment Act of 2002 (7 U.S.C. 5921a) is repealed. 
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SEC. 7412. MCINTIRE-STENNIS COOPERATIVE FORESTRY 
ACT. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—Section 2 of Public Law 87–788 
(commonly known as the ‘‘McIntire-Stennis Cooperative 
Forestry Act’’) (16 U.S.C. 582a–1) is amended by insert-
ing ‘‘and 1890 Institutions (as defined in section 2 of the 
Agricultural Research, Extension, and Education Reform 
Act of 1998 (7 U.S.C. 7601)),’’ before ‘‘and (b)’’. 
(b) EFFECTIVE DATE.—The amendment made by 
subsection (a) takes effect on October 1, 2008. 
SEC. 7413. RENEWABLE RESOURCES EXTENSION ACT OF 
1978. 
(a) AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.—Section 
6 of the Renewable Resources Extension Act of 1978 (16 
U.S.C. 1675) is amended in the first sentence by striking 
‘‘2007’’ and inserting ‘‘2012’’. 
(b) TERMINATION DATE.—Section 8 of the Renew-
able Resources Extension Act of 1978 (16 U.S.C. 1671 
note; Public Law 95–306) is amended by striking ‘‘2007’’ 
and inserting ‘‘2012’’. 
SEC. 7414. NATIONAL AQUACULTURE ACT OF 1980. 
Section 10 of the National Aquaculture Act of 1980 
(16 U.S.C. 2809) is amended by striking ‘‘2007’’ each 
place it appears and inserting ‘‘2012’’. 
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SEC. 7415. CONSTRUCTION OF CHINESE GARDEN AT THE 
NATIONAL ARBORETUM. 
The Act of March 4, 1927 (20 U.S.C. 191 et seq.), 
is amended by adding at the end the following: 
‘‘SEC. 7. CONSTRUCTION OF CHINESE GARDEN AT THE NA-
TIONAL ARBORETUM. 
‘‘A Chinese Garden may be constructed at the Na-
tional Arboretum established under this Act with— 
‘‘(1) funds accepted under section 5; 
‘‘(2) authorities provided to the Secretary of 
Agriculture under section 6; and 
‘‘(3) appropriations provided for this purpose.’’. 
SEC. 7416. NATIONAL AGRICULTURAL RESEARCH, EXTEN-
SION, AND TEACHING POLICY ACT AMEND-
MENTS OF 1985. 
Section 1431 of the National Agricultural Research, 
Extension, and Teaching Policy Act Amendments of 1985 
(Public Law 99–198; 99 Stat. 1556) is amended by strik-
ing ‘‘2007’’ and inserting ‘‘2012’’. 
SEC. 7417. ELIGIBILITY OF UNIVERSITY OF THE DISTRICT 
OF COLUMBIA FOR CERTAIN LAND-GRANT 
UNIVERSITY ASSISTANCE. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—Section 208 of the District of Co-
lumbia Public Postsecondary Education Reorganization 
Act (Public Law 93–471; 88 Stat. 1428) is amended— 
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(1) in subsection (b)(2), by striking ‘‘, except’’ 
and all that follows through the period and inserting 
a period; and 
(2) in subsection (c)— 
(A) by striking ‘‘section 3’’ each place it 
appears and inserting ‘‘section 3(c)’’; and 
(B) by striking ‘‘Such sums may be used 
to pay’’ and all that follows through ‘‘work.’’. 
(b) EFFECTIVE DATE.—The amendments made by 
this section take effect on October 1, 2008. 
Subtitle E—Miscellaneous 
PART I—GENERAL PROVISIONS 
SEC. 7501. DEFINITIONS. 
Except as otherwise provided in this subtitle, in this 
subtitle: 
(1) CAPACITY
AND
INFRASTRUCTURE
PRO-
GRAM.—The term ‘‘capacity and infrastructure pro-
gram’’ has the meaning given the term in subsection 
(f)(1) of section 251 of the Department of Agri-
culture Reorganization Act of 1994 (7 U.S.C. 6971) 
(as added by section 7511(a)(4)). 
(2) CAPACITY AND INFRASTRUCTURE PROGRAM 
CRITICAL BASE FUNDING.—The term ‘‘capacity and 
infrastructure program critical base funding’’ means 
the aggregate amount of Federal funds made avail-
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able for capacity and infrastructure programs for 
fiscal year 2006, as appropriate. 
(3) COMPETITIVE PROGRAM.—The term ‘‘com-
petitive program’’ has the meaning given the term in 
subsection (f)(1) of section 251 of the Department 
of Agriculture Reorganization Act of 1994 (7 U.S.C. 
6971) (as added by section 7511(a)(4)). 
(4) COMPETITIVE
PROGRAM
CRITICAL
BASE 
FUNDING.—The term ‘‘competitive program critical 
base funding’’ means the aggregate amount of Fed-
eral funds made available for competitive programs 
for fiscal year 2006, as appropriate. 
(5) HISPANIC-SERVING
AGRICULTURAL
COL-
LEGES
AND
UNIVERSITIES.—The term ‘‘Hispanic- 
serving agricultural colleges and universities’’ has 
the meaning given the term in section 1404 of the 
National Agricultural Research, Extension, and 
Teaching Policy Act of 1977 (7 U.S.C. 3103). 
(6) NLGCA INSTITUTION.—The term ‘‘NLGCA 
Institution’’ has the meaning given the term in sec-
tion 1404 of the National Agricultural Research, 
Extension, and Teaching Policy Act of 1977 (7 
U.S.C. 3103). 
(7) 1862 INSTITUTION; 1890 INSTITUTION; 1994 
INSTITUTION.—The 
terms 
‘‘1862 
Institution’’, 
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‘‘1890 Institution’’, and ‘‘1994 Institution’’ have the 
meanings given the terms in section 2 of the Agri-
cultural Research, Extension, and Education Reform 
Act of 1998 (7 U.S.C. 7601). 
SEC. 7502. GRAZINGLANDS RESEARCH LABORATORY. 
Except as otherwise specifically authorized by law 
and notwithstanding any other provision of law, the Fed-
eral land and facilities at El Reno, Oklahoma, adminis-
tered by the Secretary (as of the date of enactment of this 
Act) as the Grazinglands Research Laboratory, shall not 
at any time, in whole or in part, be declared to be excess 
or surplus Federal property under chapter 5 of subtitle 
I of title 40, United States Code, or otherwise be conveyed 
or transferred in whole or in part, for the 5-year period 
beginning on the date of enactment of this Act. 
SEC. 7503. FORT RENO SCIENCE PARK RESEARCH FACIL-
ITY. 
The Secretary may lease land to the University of 
Oklahoma at the Grazinglands Research Laboratory at El 
Reno, Oklahoma, on such terms and conditions as the 
University and the Secretary may agree in furtherance of 
cooperative research and existing easement arrangements. 
SEC. 7504. ROADMAP. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—Not later than 90 days after the 
date of enactment of this Act, the Secretary, acting 
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through the Under Secretary of Research, Education, and 
Economics (referred to in this section as the ‘‘Under Sec-
retary’’), shall commence preparation of a roadmap for ag-
ricultural research, education, and extension that— 
(1) identifies current trends and constraints; 
(2) identifies major opportunities and gaps that 
no single entity within the Department of Agri-
culture would be able to address individually; 
(3) involves— 
(A) interested parties from the Federal 
Government and nongovernmental entities; and 
(B) the National Agricultural Research, 
Extension, Education, and Economics Advisory 
Board established under section 1408 of the 
National Agricultural Research, Extension, and 
Teaching Policy Act of 1977 (7 U.S.C. 3123); 
(4) incorporates roadmaps for agricultural re-
search, education, and extension made publicly avail-
able by other Federal entities, agencies, or offices; 
and 
(5) describes recommended funding levels for 
areas of agricultural research, education, and exten-
sion, including— 
(A) competitive programs; 
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(B) capacity and infrastructure programs, 
with attention to the future growth needs of— 
(i) small 1862 Institutions, 1890 In-
stitutions, and 1994 Institutions; 
(ii) Hispanic-serving agricultural col-
leges and universities; 
(iii) NLGCA Institutions; and 
(iv) colleges of veterinary medicine; 
and 
(C) intramural programs at agencies with-
in the research, education, and economics mis-
sion area; and 
(6) describes how organizational changes en-
acted by this Act have impacted agricultural re-
search, extension, and education across the Depart-
ment of Agriculture, including minimization of un-
necessary programmatic and administrative duplica-
tion. 
(b) REVIEWABILITY.—The roadmap described in this 
section shall not be subject to review by any officer or em-
ployee of the Federal Government other than the Sec-
retary (or a designee of the Secretary). 
(c) ROADMAP IMPLEMENTATION AND REPORT.—Not 
later than 1 year after the date on which the Secretary 
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commences preparation of the roadmap under this section, 
the Secretary shall— 
(1) implement and use the roadmap to set the 
research, education, and extension agenda of the De-
partment of Agriculture; and 
(2) make the roadmap available to the public. 
SEC. 7505. REVIEW OF PLAN OF WORK REQUIREMENTS. 
(a) REVIEW.—The Secretary shall work with univer-
sity partners in extension and research to review and iden-
tify measures to streamline the submission, reporting 
under, and implementation of plan of work requirements, 
including those requirements under— 
(1) sections 1444(d) and 1445(c) of the Na-
tional Agricultural Research, Extension, and Teach-
ing Policy Act of 1977 (7 U.S.C. 3221(d) and 
3222(c), respectively); 
(2) section 7 of the Hatch Act of 1887 (7 
U.S.C. 361g); and 
(3) section 4 of the Smith-Lever Act (7 U.S.C. 
344). 
(b) CONSULTATION.—In carrying out the review and 
formulating and compiling the recommendations, the Sec-
retary shall consult with the land-grant institutions. 
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SEC. 7506. BUDGET SUBMISSION AND FUNDING. 
(a) DEFINITION OF COMPETITIVE PROGRAMS.—In 
this section, the term ‘‘competitive programs’’ includes 
only competitive programs for which annual appropria-
tions are requested in the annual budget submission of 
the President. 
(b) BUDGET REQUEST.—The President shall submit 
to Congress, together with the annual budget submission 
of the President, a single budget line item reflecting the 
total amount requested by the President for funding for 
research, education, and extension activities of the Re-
search, Education, and Economics mission area of the De-
partment for that fiscal year and for the preceding 5 fiscal 
years. 
(c) CAPACITY AND INFRASTRUCTURE PROGRAM RE-
QUEST.—Of the funds requested for capacity and infra-
structure programs in excess of the capacity and infra-
structure program critical base funding level, budgetary 
emphasis should be placed on enhancing funding for— 
(1) 1890 Institutions; 
(2) 1994 Institutions; 
(3) NLGCA Institutions; 
(4) Hispanic-serving agricultural colleges and 
universities; and 
(5) small 1862 Institutions. 
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(d) COMPETITIVE
PROGRAM
REQUEST.—Of the 
funds requested for competitive programs in excess of the 
competitive program critical base funding level, budgetary 
emphasis should be placed on— 
(1) enhancing funding for emerging problems; 
and 
(2) finding solutions for those problems. 
PART II—RESEARCH, EDUCATION, AND 
ECONOMICS 
SEC. 7511. RESEARCH, EDUCATION, AND ECONOMICS. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—Section 251 of the Department of 
Agriculture Reorganization Act of 1994 (7 U.S.C. 6971) 
is amended— 
(1) in subsection (a), by inserting ‘‘(referred to 
in this section as the ‘Under Secretary’)’’ before the 
period at the end; 
(2) by striking subsections (b) through (d); 
(3) by redesignating subsection (e) as sub-
section (g); and 
(4) by inserting after subsection (a) the fol-
lowing: 
‘‘(b) CONFIRMATION REQUIRED.—The Under Sec-
retary shall be appointed by the President, by and with 
the advice and consent of the Senate, from among distin-
guished scientists with specialized training or significant 
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experience in agricultural research, education, and eco-
nomics. 
‘‘(c) CHIEF
SCIENTIST.—The Under Secretary 
shall— 
‘‘(1) hold the title of Chief Scientist of the De-
partment; and 
‘‘(2) be responsible for the coordination of the 
research, education, and extension activities of the 
Department. 
‘‘(d) FUNCTIONS OF UNDER SECRETARY.— 
‘‘(1) PRINCIPAL
FUNCTION.—The Secretary 
shall delegate to the Under Secretary those func-
tions and duties under the jurisdiction of the De-
partment that relate to research, education, and eco-
nomics. 
‘‘(2) SPECIFIC FUNCTIONS AND DUTIES.—The 
Under Secretary shall— 
‘‘(A) identify, address, and prioritize cur-
rent and emerging agricultural research, edu-
cation, and extension needs (including funding); 
‘‘(B) ensure that agricultural research, 
education, and extension programs are effec-
tively coordinated and integrated— 
‘‘(i) across disciplines, agencies, and 
institutions; and 
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‘‘(ii) among applicable participants, 
grantees, and beneficiaries; 
‘‘(C) promote the collaborative use of all 
agricultural research, education, and extension 
resources from the local, State, tribal, regional, 
national, and international levels to address pri-
ority needs; and 
‘‘(D) foster communication among agricul-
tural research, education, and extension bene-
ficiaries, including the public, to ensure the de-
livery of agricultural research, education, and 
extension knowledge. 
‘‘(3) ADDITIONAL
FUNCTIONS.—The Under 
Secretary shall perform such other functions and du-
ties as may be required by law or prescribed by the 
Secretary. 
‘‘(e) RESEARCH, EDUCATION, AND EXTENSION OF-
FICE.— 
‘‘(1) ESTABLISHMENT.—The Under Secretary 
shall organize within the office of the Under Sec-
retary 6 Divisions, to be known collectively as the 
‘Research, Education, and Extension Office’, which 
shall coordinate the research programs and activities 
of the Department. 
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‘‘(2) DIVISION DESIGNATIONS.—The Divisions 
within the Research, Education, and Extension Of-
fice shall be as follows: 
‘‘(A) Renewable energy, natural resources, 
and environment. 
‘‘(B) Food safety, nutrition, and health. 
‘‘(C) Plant health and production and 
plant products. 
‘‘(D) Animal health and production and 
animal products. 
‘‘(E) Agricultural systems and technology. 
‘‘(F) Agricultural economics and rural 
communities. 
‘‘(3) DIVISION CHIEFS.— 
‘‘(A) SELECTION.—The Under Secretary 
shall select a Division Chief for each Division 
using available personnel authority under title 
5, United States Code, including— 
‘‘(i) by term, temporary, or other ap-
pointment, without regard to— 
‘‘(I) the provisions of title 5, 
United States Code, governing ap-
pointments in the competitive service; 
‘‘(II) the provisions of subchapter 
I of chapter 35 of title 5, United 
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States Code, relating to retention 
preference; and 
‘‘(III) the provisions of chapter 
51 and subchapter III of chapter 53 
of title 5, United States Code, relating 
to classification and General Schedule 
pay rates; 
‘‘(ii) by detail, notwithstanding any 
Act making appropriations for the Depart-
ment of Agriculture, whether enacted be-
fore, on, or after the date of enactment of 
this paragraph, requiring reimbursement 
for those details unless the appropriation 
Act specifically refers to this subsection 
and specifically includes these details; 
‘‘(iii) by reassignment or transfer 
from any other civil service position; and 
‘‘(iv) by an assignment under sub-
chapter VI of chapter 33 of title 5, United 
States Code. 
‘‘(B) SELECTION
GUIDELINES.—To the 
maximum extent practicable, the Under Sec-
retary shall select Division Chiefs under sub-
paragraph (A) in a manner that— 
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‘‘(i) promotes leadership and profes-
sional development; 
‘‘(ii) enables personnel to interact 
with other agencies of the Department; 
and 
‘‘(iii) maximizes the ability of the 
Under Secretary to allow for rotations of 
Department personnel into the position of 
Division Chief. 
‘‘(C) TERM OF SERVICE.—Notwithstanding 
title 5, United States Code, the maximum 
length of service for an individual selected as a 
Division Chief under subparagraph (A) shall 
not exceed 4 years. 
‘‘(D) QUALIFICATIONS.—To be eligible for 
selection as a Division Chief, an individual shall 
have— 
‘‘(i) conducted exemplary research, 
education, or extension in the field of agri-
culture or forestry; and 
‘‘(ii) earned an advanced degree at an 
institution of higher education (as defined 
in section 101 of the Higher Education 
Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 1001)). 
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‘‘(E) DUTIES OF DIVISION CHIEFS.—Ex-
cept as otherwise provided in this Act, each Di-
vision Chief shall— 
‘‘(i) assist the Under Secretary in 
identifying and addressing emerging agri-
cultural research, education, and extension 
needs; 
‘‘(ii) assist the Under Secretary in 
identifying and prioritizing Department- 
wide agricultural research, education, and 
extension needs, including funding; 
‘‘(iii) assess the strategic workforce 
needs of the research, education, and ex-
tension functions of the Department, and 
develop strategic workforce plans to ensure 
that existing and future workforce needs 
are met; 
‘‘(iv) communicate with research, edu-
cation, and extension beneficiaries, includ-
ing the public, and representatives of the 
research, education, and extension system, 
including the National Agricultural Re-
search, Extension, Education, and Eco-
nomics Advisory Board, to promote the 
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benefits of agricultural research, education, 
and extension; 
‘‘(v) assist the Under Secretary in 
preparing and implementing the roadmap 
for agricultural research, education, and 
extension, as described in section 7504 of 
the Food, Conservation, and Energy Act of 
2008; and 
‘‘(vi) perform such other duties as the 
Under Secretary may determine. 
‘‘(4) GENERAL ADMINISTRATION.— 
‘‘(A) FUNDING.—Notwithstanding any Act 
making appropriations for the Department of 
Agriculture, whether enacted before, on, or 
after the date of enactment of this paragraph 
unless the appropriation Act specifically refers 
to this subsection and specifically includes the 
administration of funds under this section, the 
Secretary may transfer funds made available to 
an agency in the research, education, and eco-
nomics mission area to fund the costs of Divi-
sion personnel. 
‘‘(B) LIMITATION.—To the maximum ex-
tent practicable— 
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‘‘(i) the Under Secretary shall mini-
mize the number of full-time equivalent po-
sitions in the Divisions; and 
‘‘(ii) at no time shall the aggregate 
number of staff for all Divisions exceed 30 
full-time equivalent positions. 
‘‘(C) ROTATION OF PERSONNEL.—To the 
maximum extent practicable, and using the au-
thority described in paragraph (3)(A), the 
Under Secretary shall rotate personnel among 
the Divisions, and between the Divisions and 
agencies of the Department, in a manner 
that— 
‘‘(i) promotes leadership and profes-
sional development; and 
‘‘(ii) enables personnel to interact 
with other agencies of the Department. 
‘‘(5) ORGANIZATION.—The Under Secretary 
shall integrate leadership functions of the national 
program staff of the research agencies into the Re-
search, Education and Extension Office in such form 
as is required to ensure that administrative duplica-
tion does not occur. 
‘‘(f) NATIONAL INSTITUTE
OF FOOD
AND AGRI-
CULTURE.— 
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‘‘(1) DEFINITIONS.—In this subsection: 
‘‘(A) ADVISORY BOARD.—The term ‘Advi-
sory Board’ means the National Agricultural 
Research, Extension, Education, and Econom-
ics Advisory Board established under section 
1408 of the National Agricultural Research, 
Extension, and Teaching Policy Act of 1977 (7 
U.S.C. 3123). 
‘‘(B) APPLIED RESEARCH.—The term ‘ap-
plied research’ means research that includes ex-
pansion of the findings of fundamental research 
to uncover practical ways in which new knowl-
edge can be advanced to benefit individuals and 
society. 
‘‘(C) CAPACITY
AND
INFRASTRUCTURE 
PROGRAM.—The term ‘capacity and infrastruc-
ture program’ means each of the following agri-
cultural research, extension, education, and re-
lated programs for which the Secretary has ad-
ministrative or other authority as of the day be-
fore the date of enactment of the Food, Con-
servation, and Energy Act of 2008: 
‘‘(i) Each program providing funding 
to any of the 1994 Institutions under sec-
tions 533, 534(a), and 535 of the Equity 
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in Educational Land-Grant Status Act of 
1994 (7 U.S.C. 301 note; Public Law 103– 
382). 
‘‘(ii) The program established under 
section 536 of the Equity in Educational 
Land-Grant Status Act of 1994 (7 U.S.C. 
301 note; Public Law 103–382) providing 
research grants for 1994 Institutions. 
‘‘(iii) Each program established under 
subsections (b) and (c) of section 3 of the 
Smith-Lever Act (7 U.S.C. 343). 
‘‘(iv) Each program established under 
the Hatch Act of 1887 (7 U.S.C. 361a et 
seq.). 
‘‘(v) Each program established under 
section 1417(b) of the National Agricul-
tural Research, Extension, and Teaching 
Policy Act of 1977 (7 U.S.C. 3152(b)). 
‘‘(vi) The animal health and disease 
research program established under sub-
title E of the National Agricultural Re-
search, Extension, and Teaching Policy 
Act of 1977 (7 U.S.C. 3191 et seq.). 
‘‘(vii) Each extension program avail-
able to 1890 Institutions established under 
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section 1444 of the National Agricultural 
Research, Extension, and Teaching Policy 
Act of 1977 (7 U.S.C. 3221). 
‘‘(viii) The program established under 
section 1445 of the National Agricultural 
Research, Extension, and Teaching Policy 
Act of 1977 (7 U.S.C. 3222). 
‘‘(ix) The program providing grants to 
upgrade agricultural and food sciences fa-
cilities at 1890 Institutions established 
under section 1447 of the National Agri-
cultural Research, Extension, and Teach-
ing Policy Act of 1977 (7 U.S.C. 3222b). 
‘‘(x) The program providing distance 
education grants for insular areas estab-
lished under section 1490 of the National 
Agricultural 
Research, 
Extension, 
and 
Teaching Policy Act of 1977 (7 U.S.C. 
3362). 
‘‘(xi) The program providing resident 
instruction grants for insular areas estab-
lished under section 1491 of the National 
Agricultural 
Research, 
Extension, 
and 
Teaching Policy Act of 1977 (7 U.S.C. 
3363). 
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‘‘(xii) Each research and development 
and related program established under 
Public Law 87–788 (commonly known as 
the ‘McIntire-Stennis Cooperative Forestry 
Act’) (16 U.S.C. 582a et seq.). 
‘‘(xiii) 
Each 
program 
established 
under the Renewable Resources Extension 
Act of 1978 (16 U.S.C. 1671 et seq.). 
‘‘(xiv) Each program providing fund-
ing to Hispanic-serving agricultural col-
leges and universities under section 1456 
of the National Agricultural Research, Ex-
tension, and Teaching Policy Act of 1977. 
‘‘(xv) The program providing capacity 
grants to NLGCA Institutions under sec-
tion 1473F of the National Agricultural 
Research, Extension, and Teaching Policy 
Act of 1977. 
‘‘(xvi) Other programs that are capac-
ity and infrastructure programs, as deter-
mined by the Secretary. 
‘‘(D) COMPETITIVE PROGRAM.—The term 
‘competitive program’ means each of the fol-
lowing agricultural research, extension, edu-
cation, and related programs for which the Sec-
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retary has administrative or other authority as 
of the day before the date of enactment of the 
Food, Conservation, and Energy Act of 2008: 
‘‘(i) The Agriculture and Food Re-
search Initiative established under section 
2(b) of the Competitive, Special, and Fa-
cilities Research Grant Act (7 U.S.C. 
450i(b)). 
‘‘(ii) The program providing competi-
tive grants for risk management education 
established under section 524(a)(3) of the 
Federal Crop Insurance Act (7 U.S.C. 
1524(a)(3)). 
‘‘(iii) The program providing commu-
nity food project competitive grants estab-
lished under section 25 of the Food and 
Nutrition Act of 2008 (7 U.S.C. 2034). 
‘‘(iv) The program providing grants 
for beginning farmer and rancher develop-
ment established under section 7405 of the 
Farm Security and Rural Investment Act 
of 2002 (7 U.S.C. 3319f). 
‘‘(v) The program providing grants 
under section 1417(j) of the National Agri-
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cultural Research, Extension, and Teach-
ing Policy Act of 1977 (7 U.S.C. 3152(j)). 
‘‘(vi) The program providing grants 
for Hispanic-serving institutions estab-
lished under section 1455 of the National 
Agricultural 
Research, 
Extension, 
and 
Teaching Policy Act of 1977 (7 U.S.C. 
3241). 
‘‘(vii) The program providing competi-
tive grants for international agricultural 
science and education programs under sec-
tion 1459A of the National Agricultural 
Research, Extension, and Teaching Policy 
Act of 1977 (7 U.S.C. 3292b). 
‘‘(viii) The research and extension 
projects carried out under section 1621 of 
the Food, Agriculture, Conservation, and 
Trade Act of 1990 (7 U.S.C. 5811). 
‘‘(ix) The organic agriculture research 
and extension initiative established under 
section 1672B of the Food, Agriculture, 
Conservation, and Trade Act of 1990 (7 
U.S.C. 5925b). 
‘‘(x) The specialty crop research ini-
tiative under section 412 of the Agricul-
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tural Research, Extension, and Education 
Reform Act of 1998. 
‘‘(xi) The administration and manage-
ment of the Agricultural Bioenergy Feed-
stock and Energy Efficiency Research and 
Extension Initiative carried out under sec-
tion 1672C of the Food, Agriculture, Con-
servation, and Trade Act of 1990. 
‘‘(xii) The research, extension, and 
education programs authorized by section 
407 of the Agricultural Research, Exten-
sion, and Education Reform Act of 1998 
(7 U.S.C. 7627) relating to the competi-
tiveness, viability and sustainability of 
small- and medium-sized dairy, livestock, 
and poultry operations. 
‘‘(xiii) Other programs that are com-
petitive programs, as determined by the 
Secretary. 
‘‘(E) DIRECTOR.—The term ‘Director’ 
means the Director of the Institute. 
‘‘(F) 
FUNDAMENTAL
RESEARCH.—The 
term ‘fundamental research’ means research 
that— 
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‘‘(i) increases knowledge or under-
standing of the fundamental aspects of 
phenomena and has the potential for broad 
application; and 
‘‘(ii) has an effect on agriculture, 
food, nutrition, or the environment. 
‘‘(G) INSTITUTE.—The term ‘Institute’ 
means the National Institute of Food and Agri-
culture established by paragraph (2)(A). 
‘‘(2) ESTABLISHMENT OF NATIONAL INSTITUTE 
OF FOOD AND AGRICULTURE.— 
‘‘(A) 
ESTABLISHMENT.—The 
Secretary 
shall establish within the Department an agency 
to be known as the ‘National Institute of Food 
and Agriculture’. 
‘‘(B) TRANSFER
OF
AUTHORITIES.—The 
Secretary shall transfer to the Institute, effec-
tive not later than October 1, 2009, the au-
thorities (including all budget authorities, avail-
able appropriations, and personnel), duties, ob-
ligations, and related legal and administrative 
functions prescribed by law or otherwise grant-
ed to the Secretary, the Department, or any 
other agency or official of the Department 
under— 
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‘‘(i) the capacity and infrastructure 
programs; 
‘‘(ii) the competitive programs; 
‘‘(iii) the research, education, eco-
nomic, cooperative State research pro-
grams, cooperative extension and education 
programs, international programs, and 
other functions and authorities delegated 
by the Under Secretary to the Adminis-
trator of the Cooperative State Research, 
Education, and Extension Service pursuant 
to section 2.66 of title 7, Code of Federal 
Regulations (or successor regulations); and 
‘‘(iv) any and all other authorities ad-
ministered by the Administrator of the Co-
operative State Research, Education, and 
Extension Service. 
‘‘(3) DIRECTOR.— 
‘‘(A) IN GENERAL.—The Institute shall be 
headed by a Director, who shall be an indi-
vidual who is— 
‘‘(i) a distinguished scientist; and 
‘‘(ii) appointed by the President. 
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‘‘(B) SUPERVISION.—The Director shall 
report directly to the Secretary, or the designee 
of the Secretary. 
‘‘(C) FUNCTIONS OF THE DIRECTOR.—The 
Director shall— 
‘‘(i) serve for a 6-year term, subject to 
reappointment for an additional 6-year 
term; 
‘‘(ii) periodically report to the Sec-
retary, or the designee of the Secretary, 
with respect to activities carried out by the 
Institute; and 
‘‘(iii) consult regularly with the Sec-
retary, or the designee of the Secretary, to 
ensure, to the maximum extent practicable, 
that— 
‘‘(I) research of the Institute is 
relevant to agriculture in the United 
States and otherwise serves the na-
tional interest; and 
‘‘(II) the research of the Institute 
supplements and enhances, and does 
not supplant, research conducted or 
funded by other Federal agencies. 
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‘‘(D) COMPENSATION.—The Director shall 
receive basic pay at a rate not to exceed the 
maximum amount of compensation payable to a 
member of the Senior Executive Service under 
subsection (b) of section 5382 of title 5, United 
States Code, except that the certification re-
quirement in that subsection shall not apply to 
the compensation of the Director. 
‘‘(E) AUTHORITY
AND
RESPONSIBILITIES 
OF DIRECTOR.—Except as otherwise specifically 
provided in this subsection, the Director shall— 
‘‘(i) exercise all of the authority pro-
vided to the Institute by this subsection; 
‘‘(ii) formulate and administer pro-
grams in accordance with policies adopted 
by the Institute, in coordination with the 
Under Secretary; 
‘‘(iii) establish offices within the Insti-
tute; 
‘‘(iv) establish procedures for the pro-
vision and administration of grants by the 
Institute; and 
‘‘(v) consult regularly with the Advi-
sory Board. 
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‘‘(4) REGULATIONS.—The Institute shall have 
such authority as is necessary to carry out this sub-
section, including the authority to promulgate such 
regulations as the Institute considers to be necessary 
for governance of operations, organization, and per-
sonnel. 
‘‘(5) ADMINISTRATION.— 
‘‘(A) IN GENERAL.—The Director shall or-
ganize offices and functions within the Institute 
to administer fundamental and applied research 
and extension and education programs. 
‘‘(B) RESEARCH PRIORITIES.—The Direc-
tor shall ensure the research priorities estab-
lished by the Under Secretary through the Re-
search, Education and Extension Office are car-
ried out by the offices and functions of the In-
stitute, where applicable. 
‘‘(C) FUNDAMENTAL
AND
APPLIED
RE-
SEARCH.—The Director shall— 
‘‘(i) determine an appropriate balance 
between fundamental and applied research 
programs and functions to ensure future 
research needs are met; and 
‘‘(ii) designate staff, as appropriate, 
to assist in carrying out this subparagraph. 
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‘‘(D) COMPETITIVELY FUNDED AWARDS.— 
The Director shall— 
‘‘(i) promote the use and growth of 
grants awarded through a competitive 
process; and 
‘‘(ii) designate staff, as appropriate, 
to assist in carrying out this subparagraph. 
‘‘(E) COORDINATION.—The Director shall 
ensure that the offices and functions established 
under subparagraph (A) are effectively coordi-
nated for maximum efficiency. 
‘‘(6) FUNDING.— 
‘‘(A) IN GENERAL.—In addition to funds 
otherwise appropriated to carry out each pro-
gram administered by the Institute, there are 
authorized to be appropriated such sums as are 
necessary to carry out this subsection for each 
fiscal year. 
‘‘(B) ALLOCATION.—Funding made avail-
able under subparagraph (A) shall be allocated 
according to recommendations contained in the 
roadmap described in section 7504 of the Food, 
Conservation, and Energy Act of 2008.’’. 
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(b) FUNCTIONS.—Section 296(b) of the Department 
of Agriculture Reorganization Act of 1994 (7 U.S.C. 
7014(b)) is amended— 
(1) in paragraph (4), by striking ‘‘or’’ at the 
end; 
(2) in paragraph (5), by striking the period at 
the end and inserting ‘‘; or’’; and 
(3) by adding at the end the following: 
‘‘(6) the authority of the Secretary to establish 
in the Department, under section 251— 
‘‘(A) the position of Under Secretary of 
Agriculture for Research, Education, and Eco-
nomics; 
‘‘(B) the Research, Education, and Exten-
sion Office; and 
‘‘(C) the National Institute of Food and 
Agriculture.’’. 
(c) CONFORMING AMENDMENTS.—The following con-
forming amendments shall take effect on October 1, 2009: 
(1) Section 522(d)(2) of the Federal Crop In-
surance Act (7 U.S.C. 1522(d)(2)) is amended by 
striking ‘‘the Cooperative State Research, Edu-
cation, and Extension Service’’ and inserting ‘‘the 
National Institute of Food and Agriculture’’. 
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(2) Section 524(a) of the Federal Crop Insur-
ance Act (7 U.S.C. 1524(a)) is amended in each of 
paragraphs (1)(B) and (3)(A) by striking ‘‘the Co-
operative State Research, Education, and Extension 
Service’’ each place it appears and inserting ‘‘the 
National Institute of Food and Agriculture’’. 
(3) Section 306(a)(11)(C) of the Consolidated 
Farm and Rural Development Act (7 U.S.C. 
1926(a)(11)(C)) is amended by striking ‘‘the Coop-
erative State Research, Education, and Extension 
Service’’ and inserting ‘‘the National Institute of 
Food and Agriculture’’. 
(4) Section 5(b)(2)(E) of the Agricultural Cred-
it Improvement Act of 1992 (7 U.S.C. 1929 note; 
Public Law 102–554) is amended by striking ‘‘Coop-
erative Extension Service’’ and inserting ‘‘National 
Institute of Food and Agriculture’’. 
(5) Section 11(f)(1) of the Food and Nutrition 
Act of 2008 (7 U.S.C. 2020(f)(1)) is amended by 
striking ‘‘Cooperative Extension Service’’ and insert-
ing ‘‘National Institute of Food and Agriculture’’. 
(6) Section 502(h) of the Rural Development 
Act of 1972 (7 U.S.C. 2662(h)) is amended— 
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(A) in paragraph (1), by striking ‘‘Exten-
sion Service’’ and inserting ‘‘National Institute 
of Food and Agriculture’’; and 
(B) in paragraph (4), by striking ‘‘Exten-
sion Service staff’’ and inserting ‘‘National In-
stitute of Food and Agriculture staff’’. 
(7) Section 7404(b)(1)(B) of the Farm Security 
and Rural Investment Act of 2002 (7 U.S.C. 3101 
note; Public Law 107–171) is amended by striking 
clause (vi) and inserting the following: 
‘‘(vi) the National Institute of Food 
and Agriculture.’’. 
(8) Section 1408(b)(4) of the National Agricul-
tural Research, Extension, and Teaching Policy Act 
of 1977 (7 U.S.C. 3123(b)(4)) is amended by strik-
ing ‘‘the Administrator of the Cooperative State Re-
search, Education, and Extension Service’’ and in-
serting ‘‘the Director of the National Institute of 
Food and Agriculture’’. 
(9) Section 2381(a) of the Food, Agriculture, 
Conservation, and Trade Act of 1990 (7 U.S.C. 
3125b(a)) is amended by striking ‘‘Extension Serv-
ice’’ and inserting ‘‘National Institute of Food and 
Agriculture’’. 
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(10) The National Agricultural Research, Ex-
tension, and Teaching Policy Act of 1977 is amend-
ed— 
(A) 
in 
section 
1424A(b) 
(7 
U.S.C. 
3174a(b)), by striking ‘‘the Cooperative State 
Research, Education, and Extension Service’’ 
and inserting ‘‘the National Institute of Food 
and Agriculture’’; and 
(B) in section 1458(a)(10) (7 U.S.C. 
3291(a)(10)), by striking ‘‘the Cooperative 
State Research, Education, and Extension Serv-
ice’’ and inserting ‘‘the National Institute of 
Food and Agriculture’’. 
(11) Section 1587(a) of the Food Security Act 
of 1985 (7 U.S.C. 3175d(a)) is amended by striking 
‘‘Extension Service’’ each place it appears and in-
serting ‘‘National Institute of Food and Agri-
culture’’. 
(12) Section 1444(b)(2)(A) of the National Ag-
ricultural Research, Extension, and Teaching Policy 
Act of 1977 (7 U.S.C. 3221(b)(2)(A)) is amended 
by striking ‘‘Extension Service’’ and inserting ‘‘Na-
tional Institute of Food and Agriculture’’. 
(13) Section 1473D(d) of the National Agricul-
tural Research, Extension, and Teaching Policy Act 
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of 1977 (7 U.S.C. 3319d(d)) is amended by striking 
‘‘the Cooperative State Research Service, the Exten-
sion Service’’ and inserting ‘‘the National Institute 
of Food and Agriculture’’. 
(14) Section 1499(c) of the Food, Agriculture, 
Conservation, and Trade Act of 1990 (7 U.S.C. 
5506(c)) is amended by striking ‘‘the Cooperative 
State Research Service’’ and all that follows through 
‘‘extension services;’’ and inserting ‘‘the National In-
stitute of Food and Agriculture, in conjunction with 
the system of State agricultural experiment stations 
and State and county cooperative extension services; 
the Economic Research Service;’’. 
(15) Section 1622 of the Food, Agriculture, 
Conservation, and Trade Act of 1990 (7 U.S.C. 
5812) is amended— 
(A) in subsection (a)(1), by striking ‘‘the 
Cooperative State Research Service in close co-
operation with the Extension Service’’ and in-
serting ‘‘the National Institute of Food and Ag-
riculture’’; 
(B) in subsection (b)(1)— 
(i) by striking subparagraphs (B) and 
(C) and inserting the following: 
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‘‘(B) the National Institute of Food and 
Agriculture;’’; and 
(ii) by redesignating subparagraphs 
(D) through (L) as subparagraphs (C) 
through (K), respectively. 
(16) Section 1627(d) of the Food, Agriculture, 
Conservation, and Trade Act of 1990 (7 U.S.C. 
5821(d)) is amended by striking ‘‘Extension Serv-
ice’’ and inserting ‘‘National Institute of Food and 
Agriculture’’. 
(17) Section 1629 of the Food, Agriculture, 
Conservation, and Trade Act of 1990 (7 U.S.C. 
5832) is amended— 
(A) in subsection (b), in the first sentence, 
by striking ‘‘the Extension Service’’ and insert-
ing ‘‘the National Institute of Food and Agri-
culture’’; and 
(B) in subsection (h), by striking ‘‘Exten-
sion Service’’ and inserting ‘‘National Institute 
of Food and Agriculture’’. 
(18) Section 1638(b) of the Food, Agriculture, 
Conservation, and Trade Act of 1990 (7 U.S.C. 
5852(b)) is amended— 
(A) in paragraph (3), by striking ‘‘Cooper-
ative State Research Service’’ and inserting 
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‘‘National Institute of Food and Agriculture’’; 
and 
(B) in paragraph (5), by striking ‘‘Cooper-
ative State Research Service’’ and inserting 
‘‘National Institute of Food and Agriculture’’. 
(19) Section 1640(a)(2) of the Food, Agri-
culture, Conservation, and Trade Act of 1990 (7 
U.S.C. 5854(a)(2)) is amended by striking ‘‘the Ad-
ministrator of the Extension Service, the Adminis-
trator of the Cooperative State Research Service’’ 
and inserting ‘‘the Director of the National Institute 
of Food and Agriculture’’. 
(20) Section 1641(a) of the Food, Agriculture, 
Conservation, and Trade Act of 1990 (7 U.S.C. 
5855(a)) is amended— 
(A) in paragraph (2), by striking ‘‘Cooper-
ative State Research Service’’ and inserting 
‘‘National Institute of Food and Agriculture’’; 
and 
(B) in paragraph (4,) by striking ‘‘Exten-
sion Service’’ and inserting ‘‘National Institute 
of Food and Agriculture’’. 
(21) Section 1668(b) of the Food, Agriculture, 
Conservation, and Trade Act of 1990 (7 U.S.C. 
5921(b)) is amended by striking ‘‘Cooperative State 
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Research, Education, and Extension Service’’ and 
inserting ‘‘National Institute of Food and Agri-
culture’’. 
(22) Section 1670(a)(4) of the Food, Agri-
culture, Conservation, and Trade Act of 1990 (7 
U.S.C. 5923(a)(4)) is amended by striking ‘‘the Ad-
ministrator of the Cooperative State Research, Edu-
cation, and Extension Service’’ and inserting ‘‘the 
Director of the National Institute of Food and Agri-
culture’’. 
(23) Section 1677(a) of the Food, Agriculture, 
Conservation, and Trade Act of 1990 (7 U.S.C. 
5930(a)) is amended by striking ‘‘Extension Serv-
ice’’ and inserting ‘‘National Institute of Food and 
Agriculture’’. 
(24) Section 2122(b)(1) of the Food, Agri-
culture, Conservation, and Trade Act of 1990 (7 
U.S.C. 6521(b)(1)) is amended by striking ‘‘Exten-
sion Service’’ and inserting ‘‘National Institute of 
Food and Agriculture’’. 
(25) Section 2371 of the Food, Agriculture, 
Conservation, and Trade Act of 1990 (7 U.S.C. 
6601) is amended— 
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(A) in subsection (a), by striking ‘‘Exten-
sion Service’’ and inserting ‘‘National Institute 
of Food and Agriculture’’; and 
(B) in subsection (c)(3), by striking ‘‘Serv-
ice’’ and inserting ‘‘System’’. 
(26) Section 2377(a) of the Food, Agriculture, 
Conservation, and Trade Act of 1990 (7 U.S.C. 
6615(a)) is amended by striking ‘‘Extension Serv-
ice’’ and inserting ‘‘National Institute of Food and 
Agriculture’’. 
(27) Section 212(a)(2)(A) of the Department of 
Agriculture Reorganization Act of 1994 (7 U.S.C. 
6912(a)(2)(A)) is amended by striking ‘‘251(d),’’ 
and inserting ‘‘251(f),’’. 
(28) Section 537 of the Federal Agriculture Im-
provement and Reform Act of 1996 (7 U.S.C. 7446) 
is amended in each of subsections (a)(2) and 
(b)(3)(B)(i) by striking ‘‘Cooperative State Re-
search, Education, and Extension Service’’ and in-
serting ‘‘cooperative extension’’. 
(29) Section 101(b)(2) of the Agricultural Re-
search, Extension, and Education Reform Act of 
1998 (7 U.S.C. 7611(b)(2)) is amended by striking 
‘‘Cooperative State Research, Education, and Exten-
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sion Service’’ and inserting ‘‘National Institute of 
Food and Agriculture’’. 
(30) Section 103(a) of the Agricultural Re-
search, Extension, and Education Reform Act of 
1998 (7 U.S.C. 7613(a)) is amended— 
(A) in the subsection heading, by striking 
‘‘Cooperative State Research, Education, and 
Extension Service’’ and inserting ‘‘National In-
stitute of Food and Agriculture’’; and 
(B) in each of paragraphs (1) and (2)(A), 
by striking ‘‘the Cooperative State Research, 
Education, and Extension Service’’ and insert-
ing ‘‘the National Institute of Food and Agri-
culture’’. 
(31) Section 407(c) of the Agricultural Re-
search, Extension, and Education Reform Act of 
1998 (7 U.S.C. 7627(c)) is amended by striking 
‘‘the Cooperative State Research, Education, and 
Extension Service’’ and inserting ‘‘the National In-
stitute of Food and Agriculture’’. 
(32) Section 410(a) of the Agricultural Re-
search, Extension, and Education Reform Act of 
1998 (7 U.S.C. 7630(a)) is amended by striking 
‘‘the Administrator of the Cooperative State Re-
search, Education, and Extension Service’’ and in-
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serting ‘‘the Director of the National Institute of 
Food and Agriculture’’. 
(33) Section 307(g)(5) of the Agricultural Risk 
Protection Act of 2000 (7 U.S.C. 8606(g)(5)) is 
amended by striking ‘‘Administrator of the Coopera-
tive State Research, Education, and Extension Serv-
ice’’ and inserting ‘‘Director of the National Insti-
tute of Food and Agriculture’’. 
(34) Section 5(a) of the Renewable Resources 
Extension Act of 1978 (16 U.S.C. 1674a(a)) is 
amended by striking ‘‘Extension Service’’ and insert-
ing ‘‘National Institute of Food and Agriculture’’. 
(35) Section 6(b) of the Cooperative Forestry 
Assistance Act of 1978 (16 U.S.C. 2103b(b)) is 
amended by striking ‘‘the Cooperative State Re-
search, Education, and Extension Service, may pro-
vide technical, financial, and related assistance to 
State foresters, equivalent State officials, or Cooper-
ative Extension officials’’ and inserting ‘‘the Na-
tional Institute of Food and Agriculture, may pro-
vide technical, financial, and related assistance to 
State foresters, equivalent State officials, or coopera-
tive extension officials’’. 
(36) Section 9(g)(2)(A)(viii) of the Cooperative 
Forestry Assistance Act of 1978 (16 U.S.C. 
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HR 6124 PCS
2105(g)(2)(A)(viii)) is amended by striking ‘‘Exten-
sion Service’’ and inserting ‘‘National Institute of 
Food and Agriculture’’. 
(37) Section 19(b)(1)(B)(i) of the Cooperative 
Forestry Assistance Act of 1978 (16 U.S.C. 
2113(b)(1)(B)(i)) is amended by striking ‘‘Extension 
Service’’ and inserting ‘‘National Institute of Food 
and Agriculture’’. 
(38) Section 1261(c)(4) of the Food Security 
Act of 1985 (16 U.S.C. 3861(c)(4)) is amended by 
striking ‘‘Extension Service’’ and inserting ‘‘Na-
tional Institute of Food and Agriculture’’. 
(39) Section 105(a) of the Africa: Seeds of 
Hope Act of 1998 (22 U.S.C. 2293 note; Public Law 
105–385) is amended by striking ‘‘the Cooperative 
State, Research, Education, and Extension Service 
(CSREES)’’ and inserting ‘‘the National Institute of 
Food and Agriculture’’. 
(40) Section 307(a)(4) of the National Aero-
nautic and Space Administration Authorization Act 
of 2005 (42 U.S.C. 16657(a)(4)) is amended by 
striking subparagraph (B) and inserting the fol-
lowing: 
‘‘(B) the program and structure of, peer 
review process of, management of conflicts of 
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interest by, compensation of reviewers of, and 
the effects of compensation on reviewer effi-
ciency and quality within, the National Institute 
of Food and Agriculture of the Department of 
Agriculture;’’. 
PART III—NEW GRANT AND RESEARCH 
PROGRAMS 
SEC. 7521. RESEARCH AND EDUCATION GRANTS FOR THE 
STUDY OF ANTIBIOTIC-RESISTANT BACTERIA. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—The Secretary shall provide re-
search and education grants, on a competitive basis— 
(1) to study the development of antibiotic-re-
sistant bacteria, including— 
(A) movement of antibiotic-resistant bac-
teria into groundwater and surface water; and 
(B) the effect on antibiotic resistance from 
various drug use regimens; and 
(2) to study and ensure the judicious use of 
antibiotics in veterinary and human medicine, in-
cluding— 
(A) methods and practices of animal hus-
bandry; 
(B) safe and effective alternatives to anti-
biotics; 
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(C) the development of better veterinary 
diagnostics to improve decisionmaking; and 
(D) the identification of conditions or fac-
tors that affect antibiotic use on farms. 
(b) ADMINISTRATION.—Paragraphs (4), (7), (8), and 
(11)(B) of subsection (b) of the Competitive, Special, and 
Facilities Research Grant Act (7 U.S.C. 450i) shall apply 
with respect to the making of grants under this section. 
(c) AUTHORIZATION
OF APPROPRIATIONS.—There 
are authorized to be appropriated such sums as are nec-
essary to carry out this section for each of fiscal years 
2008 through 2012. 
SEC. 7522. FARM AND RANCH STRESS ASSISTANCE NET-
WORK. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—The Secretary, in coordination 
with the Secretary of Health and Human Services, shall 
make competitive grants to support cooperative programs 
between State cooperative extension services and nonprofit 
organizations to establish a Farm and Ranch Stress As-
sistance Network that provides stress assistance programs 
to individuals who are engaged in farming, ranching, and 
other agriculture-related occupations. 
(b) ELIGIBLE PROGRAMS.—Grants awarded under 
subsection (a) may be used to initiate, expand, or sustain 
programs that provide professional agricultural behavioral 
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health counseling and referral for other forms of assist-
ance as necessary through— 
(1) farm telephone helplines and websites; 
(2) community education; 
(3) support groups; 
(4) outreach services and activities; and 
(5) home delivery of assistance, in a case in 
which a farm resident is homebound. 
(c) EXTENSION SERVICES.—Grants shall be awarded 
under this subsection directly to State cooperative exten-
sion services to enable the State cooperative extension 
services to enter into contracts, on a multiyear basis, with 
nonprofit, community-based, direct-service organizations 
to initiate, expand, or sustain cooperative programs de-
scribed in subsections (a) and (b). 
(d) AUTHORIZATION
OF APPROPRIATIONS.—There 
are authorized to be appropriated such sums as are nec-
essary to carry out this section for each of fiscal years 
2008 through 2012. 
SEC. 7523. SEED DISTRIBUTION. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—The Secretary shall make com-
petitive grants to eligible entities to carry out a seed dis-
tribution program to administer and maintain the dis-
tribution of vegetable seeds donated by commercial seed 
companies. 
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(b) PURPOSES.—The purposes of this program in-
clude— 
(1) the distribution of seeds donated by com-
mercial seed companies free-of-charge to appro-
priate— 
(A) individuals; 
(B) groups; 
(C) institutions; 
(D) governmental and nongovernmental or-
ganizations; and 
(E) such other entities as the Secretary 
may designate; 
(2) distribution of seeds to underserved commu-
nities, such as communities that experience— 
(A) limited access to affordable fresh vege-
tables; 
(B) a high rate of hunger or food insecu-
rity; or 
(C) severe or persistent poverty. 
(c) ADMINISTRATION.—Paragraphs (4), (7), (8), and 
(11)(B) of subsection (b) of the Competitive, Special, and 
Facilities Research Grant Act (7 U.S.C. 450i) shall apply 
with respect to the making of grants under this section. 
(d) SELECTION.—An eligible entity selected to receive 
a grant under subsection (a) shall have— 
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(1) expertise regarding the distribution of vege-
table seeds donated by commercial seed companies; 
and 
(2) the ability to achieve the purpose of the 
seed distribution program. 
(e) AUTHORIZATION
OF APPROPRIATIONS.—There 
are authorized to be appropriated such sums as are nec-
essary to carry out this section for each of fiscal years 
2008 through 2012. 
SEC. 7524. LIVE VIRUS FOOT AND MOUTH DISEASE RE-
SEARCH. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—The Secretary shall issue a permit 
required under section 12 of the Act of May 29, 1884 (21 
U.S.C. 113a) to the Secretary of Homeland Security for 
work on the live virus of foot and mouth disease at any 
facility that is a successor to the Plum Island Animal Dis-
ease Center and charged with researching high-con-
sequence biological threats involving zoonotic and foreign 
animal diseases (referred to in this section as the ‘‘suc-
cessor facility’’). 
(b) LIMITATION TO SINGLE FACILITY.—Not more 
than 1 facility shall be issued a permit under subsection 
(a). 
(c) LIMITATION ON VALIDITY.—The permit issued 
under this section shall be valid unless the Secretary deter-
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mines that the study of live foot and mouth disease virus 
at the successor facility is not being carried out in accord-
ance with the regulations promulgated by the Secretary 
pursuant to the Agricultural Bioterrorism Protection Act 
of 2002 (7 U.S.C. 8401 et seq.). 
(d) AUTHORITY.—The suspension, revocation, or 
other impairment of the permit issued under this sec-
tion— 
(1) shall be made by the Secretary; and 
(2) is a nondelegable function. 
SEC. 7525. NATURAL PRODUCTS RESEARCH PROGRAM. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—The Secretary shall establish 
within the Department a natural products research pro-
gram. 
(b) DUTIES.—In carrying out the program estab-
lished under subsection (a), the Secretary shall coordinate 
research relating to natural products, including— 
(1) research to improve human health and agri-
cultural productivity through the discovery, develop-
ment, and commercialization of products and 
agrichemicals from bioactive natural products, in-
cluding products from plant, marine, and microbial 
sources; 
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(2) research to characterize the botanical 
sources, production, chemistry, and biological prop-
erties of plant-derived natural products; and 
(3) other research priorities identified by the 
Secretary. 
(c) PEER
AND MERIT REVIEW.—The Secretary 
shall— 
(1) determine the relevance and merit of re-
search under this section through a system of peer 
review established by the Secretary pursuant to sec-
tion 103 of the Agricultural Research, Extension, 
and Education Reform Act of 1998 (7 U.S.C. 7613); 
and 
(2) approve funding for research on the basis of 
merit, quality, and relevance to advancing the pur-
poses of this section. 
(d) BUILDINGS AND FACILITIES.—Funds made avail-
able under this section shall not be used for the construc-
tion of a new building or facility or the acquisition, expan-
sion, remodeling, or alteration of an existing building or 
facility (including site grading and improvement and ar-
chitect fees). 
(e) AUTHORIZATION
OF APPROPRIATIONS.—There 
are authorized to be appropriated to carry out this section 
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such sums as are necessary for each of fiscal years 2008 
through 2012. 
SEC. 7526. SUN GRANT PROGRAM. 
(a) ESTABLISHMENT.—The Secretary shall establish 
and carry out a program to provide grants to the sun 
grant centers and subcenter specified in subsection (b)— 
(1) to enhance national energy security through 
the development, distribution, and implementation of 
biobased energy technologies; 
(2) to promote diversification in, and the envi-
ronmental sustainability of, agricultural production 
in the United States through biobased energy and 
product technologies; 
(3) to promote economic diversification in rural 
areas of the United States through biobased energy 
and product technologies; and 
(4) to enhance the efficiency of bioenergy and 
biomass 
research 
and 
development 
programs 
through improved coordination and collaboration 
among— 
(A) the Department of Agriculture; 
(B) the Department of Energy; and 
(C) land-grant colleges and universities. 
(b) GRANTS.— 
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(1) IN
GENERAL.—The Secretary shall use 
amounts made available under subsection (g) to pro-
vide grants to each of the following: 
(A) NORTH-CENTRAL CENTER.—A north- 
central sun grant center at South Dakota State 
University for the region composed of the 
States of Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Minnesota, 
Montana, Nebraska, North Dakota, South Da-
kota, Wisconsin, and Wyoming. 
(B) SOUTHEASTERN
CENTER.—A south-
eastern sun grant center at the University of 
Tennessee at Knoxville for the region composed 
of— 
(i) the States of Alabama, Florida, 
Georgia, 
Kentucky, 
Mississippi, 
North 
Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee, and 
Virginia; 
(ii) the Commonwealth of Puerto 
Rico; and 
(iii) the United States Virgin Islands. 
(C) SOUTH-CENTRAL CENTER.—A south- 
central sun grant center at Oklahoma State 
University for the region composed of the 
States of Arkansas, Colorado, Kansas, Lou-
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isiana, Missouri, New Mexico, Oklahoma, and 
Texas. 
(D) WESTERN
CENTER.—A western sun 
grant center at Oregon State University for the 
region composed of— 
(i) the States of Alaska, Arizona, 
California, Hawaii, Idaho, Nevada, Oregon, 
Utah, and Washington; and 
(ii) insular areas (as defined in sec-
tion 1404 of the National Agricultural Re-
search, Extension, and Teaching Policy 
Act of 1977 (7 U.S.C. 3103 (other than 
the insular areas referred to in clauses (ii) 
and (iii) of subparagraph (B))). 
(E) NORTHEASTERN
CENTER.—A north-
eastern sun grant center at Cornell University 
for the region composed of the States of Con-
necticut, Delaware, Massachusetts, Maryland, 
Maine, Michigan, New Hampshire, New Jersey, 
New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, 
Vermont, and West Virginia. 
(F) WESTERN
INSULAR
PACIFIC
SUB-
CENTER.—A western insular Pacific sun grant 
subcenter at the University of Hawaii for the 
region of Alaska, Hawaii, Guam, American 
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Samoa, the Commonwealth of the Northern 
Mariana Islands, the Federated States of Mi-
cronesia, the Republic of the Marshall Islands, 
and the Republic of Palau. 
(2) MANNER OF DISTRIBUTION.— 
(A) CENTERS.—In providing any funds 
made available under subsection (g), the Sec-
retary shall distribute the grants in equal 
amounts to the sun grant centers described in 
subparagraphs (A) through (E) of paragraph 
(1). 
(B) SUBCENTER.—The sun grant center 
described in paragraph (1)(D) shall allocate a 
portion of the funds received under paragraph 
(1) to the subcenter described in paragraph 
(1)(F) pursuant to guidance issued by the Sec-
retary. 
(3) FAILURE
TO
COMPLY
WITH
REQUIRE-
MENTS.—If the Secretary finds on the basis of a re-
view of the annual report required under subsection 
(f) or on the basis of an audit of a sun grant center 
or subcenter conducted by the Secretary that the 
center or subcenter has not complied with the re-
quirements of this section, the sun grant center or 
subcenter shall be ineligible to receive further grants 
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under this section for such period of time as may be 
prescribed by the Secretary. 
(c) USE OF FUNDS.— 
(1) COMPETITIVE GRANTS.— 
(A) IN GENERAL.—A sun grant center or 
subcenter shall use 75 percent of the funds de-
scribed in subsection (b) to provide competitive 
grants to entities that are— 
(i) eligible to receive grants under 
subsection (b)(7) of the Competitive, Spe-
cial, and Facilities Research Grant Act (7 
U.S.C. 450i(b)(7)); and 
(ii) located in the region covered by 
the sun grant center or subcenter. 
(B) ACTIVITIES.—Grants described in sub-
paragraph (A) shall be used by the grant recipi-
ent to conduct, in a manner consistent with the 
purposes described in subsection (a), multi-in-
stitutional and multistate— 
(i) research, extension, and education 
programs on technology development; and 
(ii) integrated research, extension, 
and education programs on technology im-
plementation. 
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(C) 
FUNDING
ALLOCATION.—Of 
the 
amount of funds that is used to provide grants 
under subparagraph (A), the sun grant center 
or subcenter shall use— 
(i) not less than 30 percent of the 
funds to carry out the programs described 
in subparagraph (B)(i); and 
(ii) not less than 30 percent of the 
funds to carry out the programs described 
in subparagraph (B)(ii). 
(D) ADMINISTRATION.— 
(i) PEER
AND
MERIT
REVIEW.—In 
making grants under this paragraph, a sun 
grant center or subcenter shall— 
(I) seek and accept proposals for 
grants; 
(II) determine the relevance and 
merit of proposals through a system 
of peer review similar to that estab-
lished by the Secretary pursuant to 
section 103 of the Agricultural Re-
search, Extension, and Education Re-
form Act of 1998 (7 U.S.C. 7613); 
and 
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(III) award grants on the basis 
of merit, quality, and relevance to ad-
vancing the purposes of this section. 
(ii) PRIORITY.—A sun grant center or 
subcenter shall give a higher priority to 
programs that are consistent with the plan 
approved by the Secretary under sub-
section (d). 
(iii) TERM.—A grant awarded by a 
sun grant center or subcenter shall have a 
term that does not exceed 5 years. 
(iv) MATCHING FUNDS REQUIRED.— 
(I) IN GENERAL.—Except as pro-
vided in subclauses (II) and (III), as 
a condition of receiving a grant under 
this paragraph, the sun grant center 
or subcenter shall require that not 
less than 20 percent of the cost of an 
activity described in subparagraph (B) 
be matched with funds, including in- 
kind contributions, from a non-Fed-
eral source. 
(II) EXCLUSION.—Subclause (I) 
shall not apply to fundamental re-
search (as defined in subsection (f)(1) 
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of section 251 of the Department of 
Agriculture Reorganization Act of 
1994 (7 U.S.C. 6971) (as added by 
section 7511(a)(4)). 
(III) 
REDUCTION.—The 
sun 
grant center or subcenter may reduce 
or eliminate the requirement for non- 
Federal funds under subclause (I) for 
applied research (as defined in sub-
section (f)(1) of section 251 of the 
Department of Agriculture Reorga-
nization Act of 1994 (7 U.S.C. 6971) 
(as added by section 7511(a)(4)) if 
the sun grant center or subcenter de-
termines that the reduction is nec-
essary and appropriate pursuant to 
guidance issued by the Secretary. 
(v) BUILDINGS
AND
FACILITIES.— 
Funds made available for grants shall not 
be used for the construction of a new 
building or facility or the acquisition, ex-
pansion, remodeling, or alteration of an ex-
isting building or facility (including site 
grading and improvement and architect 
fees). 
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(vi) 
LIMITATION
ON
INDIRECT 
COSTS.—A sun grant center or subcenter 
may not recover the indirect costs of mak-
ing grants under subparagraph (A). 
(2) ADMINISTRATIVE EXPENSES.—A sun grant 
center or subcenter may use up to 4 percent of the 
funds described in subsection (b) to pay administra-
tive expenses incurred in carrying out paragraph (1). 
(3) RESEARCH, EXTENSION AND EDUCATIONAL 
ACTIVITIES.—The sun grant centers and subcenter 
shall use the remainder of the funds described in 
subsection (b) to conduct, in a manner consistent 
with the purposes described in subsection (a), multi- 
institutional and multistate— 
(A) research, extension, and educational 
programs on technology development; and 
(B) integrated research, extension, and 
educational programs on technology implemen-
tation. 
(d) PLAN FOR RESEARCH ACTIVITIES TO BE FUND-
ED.— 
(1) IN GENERAL.—Subject to the availability of 
funds under subsection (g), and in cooperation with 
land-grant colleges and universities and private in-
dustry in accordance with paragraph (2), the sun 
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grant centers and subcenter shall jointly develop and 
submit to the Secretary for approval a plan for ad-
dressing the bioenergy, biomass, and gasification re-
search priorities of the Department of Agriculture 
and the Department of Energy at the State and re-
gional levels. 
(2) GASIFICATION
COORDINATION.—With re-
spect to gasification research activity, the sun grant 
centers and subcenter shall coordinate planning with 
land-grant colleges and universities in their respec-
tive regions that have ongoing research activities in 
that area. 
(3) FUNDING.—Funds described in subsection 
(c)(2) shall be available to carry out planning coordi-
nation under paragraph (1). 
(4) USE OF PLAN.—The sun grant centers and 
subcenter shall use the plan described in paragraph 
(1) in making grants under subsection (c)(1). 
(e) GRANT INFORMATION ANALYSIS CENTER.—The 
sun grant centers and subcenter shall maintain a Sun 
Grant Information Analysis Center at the sun grant cen-
ter specified in subsection (b)(1)(A) to provide the sun 
grant centers and subcenter with analysis and data man-
agement support. 
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(f) ANNUAL REPORTS.—Not later than 90 days after 
the end of each fiscal year, a sun grant center or subcenter 
receiving a grant under this section shall submit to the 
Secretary a report that describes the policies, priorities, 
and operations of the program carried out by the center 
or subcenter during the fiscal year, including— 
(1) the results of all peer and merit review pro-
cedures 
conducted 
pursuant 
to 
subsection 
(c)(1)(D)(i); and 
(2) a description of progress made in facili-
tating the priorities described in subsection (d)(1). 
(g) AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.—There is 
authorized to be appropriated to carry out this section 
$75,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2008 through 2012, 
of which not more than $4,000,000 for each fiscal year 
shall be made available to carry out subsection (e). 
SEC. 7527. STUDY AND REPORT ON FOOD DESERTS. 
(a) DEFINITION OF FOOD DESERT.—In this section, 
the term ‘‘food desert’’ means an area in the United 
States with limited access to affordable and nutritious 
food, particularly such an area composed of predominantly 
lower-income neighborhoods and communities. 
(b) STUDY AND REPORT.—The Secretary shall carry 
out a study of, and prepare a report on, food deserts. 
(c) CONTENTS.—The study and report shall— 
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(1) assess the incidence and prevalence of food 
deserts; 
(2) identify— 
(A) characteristics and factors causing and 
influencing food deserts; and 
(B) the effect on local populations of lim-
ited access to affordable and nutritious food; 
and 
(3) provide recommendations for addressing the 
causes and effects of food deserts through measures 
that include— 
(A) community and economic development 
initiatives; 
(B) incentives for retail food market devel-
opment, including supermarkets, small grocery 
stores, and farmers’ markets; and 
(C) improvements to Federal food assist-
ance and nutrition education programs. 
(d) COORDINATION WITH OTHER AGENCIES
AND 
ORGANIZATIONS.—The Secretary shall conduct the study 
under this section in coordination and consultation with— 
(1) the Secretary of Health and Human Serv-
ices; 
(2) the Administrator of the Small Business 
Administration; 
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(3) the Institute of Medicine; and 
(4) representatives of appropriate businesses, 
academic institutions, and nonprofit and faith-based 
organizations. 
(e) SUBMISSION TO CONGRESS.—Not later than 1 
year after the date of enactment of this Act, the Secretary 
shall submit to the Committee on Agriculture of the House 
of Representatives and the Committee on Agriculture, Nu-
trition, and Forestry of the Senate the report prepared 
under this section, including the findings and rec-
ommendations described in subsection (c). 
(f) AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.—There is 
authorized to be appropriated to carry out this section 
$500,000. 
SEC. 7528. DEMONSTRATION PROJECT AUTHORITY FOR 
TEMPORARY POSITIONS. 
Notwithstanding section 4703(d)(1) of title 5, United 
States Code, the amendment to the personnel manage-
ment demonstration project established in the Department 
of Agriculture (67 Fed. Reg. 70776 (2002)), shall become 
effective upon the date of enactment of this Act and shall 
remain in effect unless modified by law. 
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SEC. 7529. AGRICULTURAL AND RURAL TRANSPORTATION 
RESEARCH AND EDUCATION. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—The Secretary, in consultation 
with the Secretary of Transportation, shall make competi-
tive grants to institutions of higher education to carry out 
agricultural and rural transportation research and edu-
cation activities. 
(b) ACTIVITIES.—Research and education grants 
made under this section shall be used to address rural 
transportation and logistics needs of agricultural pro-
ducers and related rural businesses, including— 
(1) the transportation of biofuels; and 
(2) the export of agricultural products. 
(c) SELECTION CRITERIA.— 
(1) IN GENERAL.—The Secretary shall award 
grants under this section on the basis of the trans-
portation research, education, and outreach expertise 
of the applicant, as determined by the Secretary. 
(2) PRIORITY.—In awarding grants under this 
section, the Secretary shall give priority to institu-
tions of higher education for use in coordinating re-
search and education activities with other institu-
tions of higher education with similar agricultural 
and rural transportation research and education pro-
grams. 
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(d) DIVERSIFICATION OF RESEARCH.—The Secretary 
shall award grants under this section in areas that are 
regionally diverse and broadly representative of the diver-
sity of agricultural production and related transportation 
needs in the rural areas of the United States. 
(e) MATCHING FUNDS REQUIREMENT.—The Sec-
retary shall require each recipient of a grant under this 
section to provide, from non-Federal sources, in cash or 
in kind, 50 percent of the cost of carrying out activities 
under the grant. 
(f) GRANT REVIEW.—A grant shall be awarded under 
this section on a competitive, peer- and merit-reviewed 
basis in accordance with section 103(a) of the Agricultural 
Research, Extension, and Education Reform Act of 1998 
(7 U.S.C. 7613(a)). 
(g) NO DUPLICATION.—In awarding grants under 
this section, the Secretary shall ensure that activities 
funded under this section do not duplicate the efforts of 
the University Transportation Centers described in sec-
tions 5505 and 5506 of title 49, United States Code. 
(h) AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.—There is 
authorized to be appropriated to carry out this section 
$5,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2008 through 2012. 
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TITLE VIII—FORESTRY 
Subtitle A—Amendments to Coop-
erative Forestry Assistance Act 
of 1978 
SEC. 8001. NATIONAL PRIORITIES FOR PRIVATE FOREST 
CONSERVATION. 
Section 2 of the Cooperative Forestry Assistance Act 
of 1978 (16 U.S.C. 2101) is amended— 
(1) by redesignating subsections (c) and (d) as 
subsections (e) and (f), respectively; and 
(2) by inserting after subsection (b) the fol-
lowing new subsections: 
‘‘(c) PRIORITIES.—In allocating funds appropriated 
or otherwise made available under this Act, the Secretary 
shall focus on the following national private forest con-
servation priorities, notwithstanding other priorities speci-
fied elsewhere in this Act: 
‘‘(1) Conserving and managing working forest 
landscapes for multiple values and uses. 
‘‘(2) Protecting forests from threats, including 
catastrophic wildfires, hurricanes, tornados, wind-
storms, snow or ice storms, flooding, drought, 
invasive species, insect or disease outbreak, or devel-
opment, and restoring appropriate forest types in re-
sponse to such threats. 
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‘‘(3) Enhancing public benefits from private 
forests, including air and water quality, soil con-
servation, biological diversity, carbon storage, forest 
products, forestry-related jobs, production of renew-
able energy, wildlife, wildlife corridors and wildlife 
habitat, and recreation. 
‘‘(d) REPORTING REQUIREMENT.—Not later than 
September 30, 2011, the Secretary shall submit to Con-
gress a report describing how funds were used under this 
Act, and through other programs administered by the Sec-
retary, to address the national priorities specified in sub-
section (c) and the outcomes achieved in meeting the na-
tional priorities.’’. 
SEC. 8002. LONG-TERM STATE-WIDE ASSESSMENTS AND 
STRATEGIES FOR FOREST RESOURCES. 
The Cooperative Forestry Assistance Act of 1978 is 
amended by inserting after section 2 (16 U.S.C. 2101) 
the following new section: 
‘‘SEC. 2A. STATE-WIDE ASSESSMENT AND STRATEGIES FOR 
FOREST RESOURCES. 
‘‘(a) ASSESSMENT AND STRATEGIES FOR FOREST 
RESOURCES.—For a State to be eligible to receive funds 
under the authorities of this Act, the State forester of that 
State or equivalent State official shall develop and submit 
to the Secretary, not later than two years after the date 
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of enactment of the Food, Conservation, and Energy Act 
of 2008, the following: 
‘‘(1) A State-wide assessment of forest resource 
conditions, including— 
‘‘(A) the conditions and trends of forest re-
sources in that State; 
‘‘(B) the threats to forest lands and re-
sources in that State consistent with the na-
tional priorities specified in section 2(c); 
‘‘(C) any areas or regions of that State 
that are a priority; and 
‘‘(D) any multi-State areas that are a re-
gional priority. 
‘‘(2) A long-term State-wide forest resource 
strategy, including— 
‘‘(A) strategies for addressing threats to 
forest resources in the State outlined in the as-
sessment required by paragraph (1); and 
‘‘(B) a description of the resources nec-
essary for the State forester or equivalent State 
official from all sources to address the State- 
wide strategy. 
‘‘(b) UPDATING.—At such times as the Secretary de-
termines to be necessary, the State forester or equivalent 
State official shall update and resubmit to the Secretary 
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‘‘(e) SUFFICIENCY.—Once approved by the Secretary, 
a State-wide assessment and State-wide strategy devel-
oped under subsection (a) shall be deemed to be sufficient 
to satisfy all relevant State planning and assessment re-
quirements under this Act. 
‘‘(f) FUNDING.— 
‘‘(1) AUTHORIZATION
OF
APPROPRIATIONS.— 
There are authorized to be appropriated to carry out 
this section up to $10,000,000 for each of fiscal 
years 2008 through 2012. 
‘‘(2) ADDITIONAL FUNDING SOURCES.—In ad-
dition to the funds appropriated for a fiscal year 
pursuant to the authorization of appropriations in 
paragraph (1) to carry out this section, the Sec-
retary may use any other funds made available for 
planning under this Act to carry out this section, ex-
cept that the total amount of combined funding used 
to 
carry 
out 
this 
section 
may 
not 
exceed 
$10,000,000 in any fiscal year. 
‘‘(g) ANNUAL REPORT ON USE OF FUNDS.—The 
State forester or equivalent State official shall submit to 
the Secretary an annual report detailing how funds made 
available to the State under this Act are being used.’’. 
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SEC. 8003. COMMUNITY FOREST AND OPEN SPACE CON-
SERVATION PROGRAM. 
(a) FINDINGS.—Congress finds that— 
(1) the Forest Service projects that, by cal-
endar year 2030, approximately 44,000,000 acres of 
privately-owned forest land will be developed 
throughout the United States; 
(2) public access to parcels of privately-owned 
forest land for outdoor recreational activities, includ-
ing hunting, fishing, and trapping, has declined and, 
as a result, participation in those activities has also 
declined in cases in which public access is not se-
cured; 
(3) rising rates of obesity and other public 
health problems relating to the inactivity of the citi-
zens of the United States have been shown to be 
ameliorated by improving public access to safe and 
attractive areas for outdoor recreation; 
(4) in rapidly-growing communities of all sizes 
throughout the United States, remaining parcels of 
forest land play an essential role in protecting public 
water supplies; 
(5) forest parcels owned by local governmental 
entities and nonprofit organizations are providing 
important demonstration sites for private land-
owners to learn forest management techniques; 
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(6) throughout the United States, communities 
of diverse types and sizes are deriving significant fi-
nancial and community benefits from managing for-
est land owned by local governmental entities for 
timber and other forest products; and 
(7) there is an urgent need for local govern-
mental entities to be able to leverage financial re-
sources in order to purchase important parcels of 
privately-owned forest land as the parcels are offered 
for sale. 
(b) COMMUNITY FOREST AND OPEN SPACE CON-
SERVATION PROGRAM.—The Cooperative Forestry Assist-
ance Act of 1978 is amended by inserting after section 
7 (16 U.S.C. 2103c) the following new section: 
‘‘SEC. 7A. COMMUNITY FOREST AND OPEN SPACE CON-
SERVATION PROGRAM. 
‘‘(a) DEFINITIONS.—In this section: 
‘‘(1) ELIGIBLE ENTITY.—The term ‘eligible en-
tity’ means a local governmental entity, Indian tribe, 
or nonprofit organization that owns or acquires a 
parcel under the program. 
‘‘(2) INDIAN TRIBE.—The term ‘Indian tribe’ 
has the meaning given the term in section 4 of the 
Indian Self-Determination and Education Assistance 
Act (25 U.S.C. 450b). 
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‘‘(3) LOCAL
GOVERNMENTAL
ENTITY.—The 
term ‘local governmental entity’ includes any munic-
ipal government, county government, or other local 
government body with jurisdiction over local land 
use decisions. 
‘‘(4) NONPROFIT
ORGANIZATION.—The term 
‘nonprofit organization’ means any organization 
that— 
‘‘(A) is described in section 170(h)(3) of 
the Internal Revenue Code of 1986; and 
‘‘(B) operates in accordance with 1 or 
more of the purposes specified in section 
170(h)(4)(A) of that Code. 
‘‘(5) PROGRAM.—The term ‘Program’ means 
the community forest and open space conservation 
program established under subsection (b). 
‘‘(6) SECRETARY.—The term ‘Secretary’ means 
the Secretary of Agriculture, acting through the 
Chief of the Forest Service. 
‘‘(b) ESTABLISHMENT.—The Secretary shall estab-
lish a program, to be known as the ‘community forest and 
open space conservation program’. 
‘‘(c) GRANT PROGRAM.— 
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‘‘(1) IN GENERAL.—The Secretary may award 
grants to eligible entities to acquire private forest 
land, to be owned in fee simple, that— 
‘‘(A) are threatened by conversion to non-
forest uses; and 
‘‘(B) provide public benefits to commu-
nities, including— 
‘‘(i) economic benefits through sus-
tainable forest management; 
‘‘(ii) environmental benefits, including 
clean water and wildlife habitat; 
‘‘(iii) benefits from forest-based edu-
cational programs, including vocational 
education programs in forestry; 
‘‘(iv) benefits from serving as models 
of effective forest stewardship for private 
landowners; and 
‘‘(v) recreational benefits, including 
hunting and fishing. 
‘‘(2) FEDERAL COST SHARE.—An eligible entity 
may receive a grant under the Program in an 
amount equal to not more than 50 percent of the 
cost of acquiring 1 or more parcels, as determined 
by the Secretary. 
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‘‘(3) NON-FEDERAL SHARE.—As a condition of 
receipt of the grant, an eligible entity that receives 
a grant under the Program shall provide, in cash, 
donation, or in kind, a non-Federal matching share 
in an amount that is at least equal to the amount 
of the grant received. 
‘‘(4) APPRAISAL OF PARCELS.—To determine 
the non-Federal share of the cost of a parcel of pri-
vately-owned forest land under paragraph (2), an eli-
gible entity shall require appraisals of the land that 
comply with the Uniform Appraisal Standards for 
Federal Land Acquisitions developed by the Inter-
agency Land Acquisition Conference. 
‘‘(5) APPLICATION.—An eligible entity that 
seeks to receive a grant under the Program shall 
submit to the State forester or equivalent official (or 
in the case of an Indian tribe, an equivalent official 
of the Indian tribe) an application that includes— 
‘‘(A) a description of the land to be ac-
quired; 
‘‘(B) a forest plan that provides— 
‘‘(i) a description of community bene-
fits to be achieved from the acquisition of 
the private forest land; and 
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‘‘(ii) an explanation of the manner in 
which any private forest land to be ac-
quired using funds from the grant will be 
managed; and 
‘‘(C) such other relevant information as 
the Secretary may require. 
‘‘(6) EFFECT ON TRUST LAND.— 
‘‘(A) INELIGIBILITY.—The Secretary shall 
not provide a grant under the Program for any 
project on land held in trust by the United 
States (including Indian reservations and allot-
ment land). 
‘‘(B) ACQUIRED LAND.—No land acquired 
using a grant provided under the Program shall 
be converted to land held in trust by the United 
States on behalf of any Indian tribe. 
‘‘(7) APPLICATIONS TO SECRETARY.—The State 
forester or equivalent official (or in the case of an 
Indian tribe, an equivalent official of the Indian 
tribe) shall submit to the Secretary a list that in-
cludes a description of each project submitted by an 
eligible entity at such times and in such form as the 
Secretary shall prescribe. 
‘‘(d) DUTIES OF ELIGIBLE ENTITY.—An eligible en-
tity shall provide public access to, and manage, forest land 
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acquired with a grant under this section in a manner that 
is consistent with the purposes for which the land was ac-
quired under the Program. 
‘‘(e) PROHIBITED USES.— 
‘‘(1) IN GENERAL.—Subject to paragraphs (2) 
and (3), an eligible entity that acquires a parcel 
under the Program shall not sell the parcel or con-
vert the parcel to nonforest use. 
‘‘(2) REIMBURSEMENT OF FUNDS.—An eligible 
entity that sells or converts to nonforest use a parcel 
acquired under the Program shall pay to the Federal 
Government an amount equal to the greater of the 
current sale price, or current appraised value, of the 
parcel. 
‘‘(3) LOSS OF ELIGIBILITY.—An eligible entity 
that sells or converts a parcel acquired under the 
Program shall not be eligible for additional grants 
under the Program. 
‘‘(f) STATE ADMINISTRATION AND TECHNICAL AS-
SISTANCE.—The Secretary may allocate not more than 10 
percent of all funds made available to carry out the Pro-
gram for each fiscal year to State foresters or equivalent 
officials (including equivalent officials of Indian tribes) for 
Program administration and technical assistance. 
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‘‘(g) AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.—There 
are authorized to be appropriated such sums as are nec-
essary to carry out this section.’’. 
SEC. 8004. ASSISTANCE TO THE FEDERATED STATES OF MI-
CRONESIA, THE REPUBLIC OF THE MAR-
SHALL ISLANDS, AND THE REPUBLIC OF 
PALAU. 
Section 13(d)(1) of the Cooperative Forestry Act of 
1978 (16 U.S.C. 2109(d)(1)) is amended by striking ‘‘the 
Trust Territory of the Pacific Islands,’’ and inserting ‘‘the 
Federated States of Micronesia, the Republic of the Mar-
shall Islands, the Republic of Palau,’’. 
SEC. 8005. CHANGES TO FOREST RESOURCE COORDI-
NATING COMMITTEE. 
Section 19 of the Cooperative Forestry Assistance 
Act of 1978 (16 U.S.C. 2113) is amended by striking sub-
section (a) and inserting the following new subsection: 
‘‘(a) FOREST
RESOURCE
COORDINATING
COM-
MITTEE.— 
‘‘(1) ESTABLISHMENT.—The Secretary shall es-
tablish a committee, to be known as the ‘Forest Re-
source Coordinating Committee’ (in this section re-
ferred to as the ‘Coordinating Committee’), to co-
ordinate nonindustrial private forestry activities 
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within the Department of Agriculture and with the 
private sector. 
‘‘(2) COMPOSITION.—The Coordinating Com-
mittee shall be composed of the following: 
‘‘(A) The Chief of the Forest Service. 
‘‘(B) The Chief of the Natural Resources 
Conservation Service. 
‘‘(C) The Director of the Farm Service 
Agency. 
‘‘(D) The Director of the National Insti-
tute of Food and Agriculture. 
‘‘(E) 
Non-Federal 
representatives 
ap-
pointed by the Secretary to 3 year terms, al-
though initial appointees shall have staggered 
terms, including the following persons: 
‘‘(i) At least three State foresters or 
equivalent State officials from geographi-
cally diverse regions of the United States. 
‘‘(ii) A representative of a State fish 
and wildlife agency. 
‘‘(iii) An owner of nonindustrial pri-
vate forest land. 
‘‘(iv) A forest industry representative. 
‘‘(v) A conservation organization rep-
resentative. 
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‘‘(vi) A land-grant university or col-
lege representative. 
‘‘(vii) A private forestry consultant. 
‘‘(viii) A representative from a State 
Technical Committee established under 
section 1261 of the Food Security Act of 
1985 (16 U.S.C. 3861). 
‘‘(F) Such other persons as determined by 
the Secretary to be appropriate. 
‘‘(3) CHAIRPERSON.—The Chief of the Forest 
Service shall serve as chairperson of the Coordi-
nating Committee. 
‘‘(4) DUTIES.—The Coordinating Committee 
shall— 
‘‘(A) provide direction and coordination of 
actions within the Department of Agriculture, 
and coordination with State agencies and the 
private sector, to effectively address the na-
tional priorities specified in section 2(c), with 
specific focus owners of nonindustrial private 
forest land; 
‘‘(B) clarify individual agency responsibil-
ities of each agency represented on the Coordi-
nating Committee concerning the national pri-
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orities specified in section 2(c), with specific 
focus on nonindustrial private forest land; 
‘‘(C) provide advice on the allocation of 
funds, including the competitive funds set-aside 
by sections 13A and 13B; and 
‘‘(D) assist the Secretary in developing and 
reviewing the report required by section 2(d). 
‘‘(5) MEETING.—The Coordinating Committee 
shall meet annually to discuss progress in addressing 
the national priorities specified in section 2(c) and 
issues regarding nonindustrial private forest land. 
‘‘(6) COMPENSATION.— 
‘‘(A) FEDERAL
MEMBERS.—Members of 
the Coordinating Committee who are full-time 
officers or employees of the United States shall 
receive no additional pay, allowances, or bene-
fits by reason of their service on the Coordi-
nating Committee. 
‘‘(B) NON-FEDERAL MEMBERS.—Non-fed-
eral members of the Coordinating Committee 
shall serve without pay, but may be reimbursed 
for reasonable costs incurred while performing 
their duties on behalf of the Coordinating Com-
mittee.’’. 
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SEC. 8006. CHANGES TO STATE FOREST STEWARDSHIP CO-
ORDINATING COMMITTEES. 
Section 19(b) of the Cooperative Forestry Assistance 
Act of 1978 (16 U.S.C. 2113(b)) is amended— 
(1) in paragraph (1)(B)(ii)— 
(A) by striking ‘‘and’’ at the end of sub-
clause (VII); and 
(B) by adding at the end the following new 
subclause: 
‘‘(IX) the State Technical Com-
mittee.’’. 
(2) in paragraph (2)(C), by striking ‘‘a Forest 
Stewardship Plan under paragraph (3)’’ and insert-
ing ‘‘the State-wide assessment and strategy regard-
ing forest resource conditions under section 2A’’; 
(3) by striking paragraphs (3) and (4); and 
(4) by redesignating paragraphs (5) and (6) as 
paragraphs (3) and (4), respectively. 
SEC. 8007. COMPETITION IN PROGRAMS UNDER COOPERA-
TIVE FORESTRY ASSISTANCE ACT OF 1978. 
The Cooperative Forestry Assistance Act of 1978 is 
amended by inserting after section 13 (16 U.S.C. 2109) 
the following new section: 
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‘‘SEC. 13A. COMPETITIVE ALLOCATION OF FUNDS TO STATE 
FORESTERS OR EQUIVALENT STATE OFFI-
CIALS. 
‘‘(a) COMPETITION.—Beginning not later than 3 
years after the date of the enactment of the Food, Con-
servation, and Energy Act of 2008, the Secretary shall 
competitively allocate a portion, to be determined by the 
Secretary, of the funds available under this Act to State 
foresters or equivalent State officials. 
‘‘(b) DETERMINATION.—In determining the competi-
tive allocation of funds under subsection (a), the Secretary 
shall consult with the Forest Resource Coordinating Com-
mittee established by section 19(a). 
‘‘(c) PRIORITY.—The Secretary shall give priority for 
funding to States for which the long-term State-wide for-
est resource strategies submitted under section 2A(a)(2) 
will best promote the national priorities specified in sec-
tion 2(c).’’. 
SEC. 8008. COMPETITIVE ALLOCATION OF FUNDS FOR CO-
OPERATIVE FOREST INNOVATION PARTNER-
SHIP PROJECTS. 
The Cooperative Forestry Assistance Act of 1978 is 
amended by inserting after section 13A, as added by sec-
tion 8006, the following new section: 
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‘‘SEC. 13B. COMPETITIVE ALLOCATION OF FUNDS FOR CO-
OPERATIVE FOREST INNOVATION PARTNER-
SHIP PROJECTS. 
‘‘(a) COOPERATIVE FOREST INNOVATION PARTNER-
SHIP PROJECTS.—The Secretary may competitively allo-
cate not more than 5 percent of the funds made available 
under this Act to support innovative national, regional, or 
local education, outreach, or technology transfer projects 
that the Secretary determines would substantially increase 
the ability of the Department of Agriculture to address 
the national priorities specified in section 2(c). 
‘‘(b) ELIGIBILITY.—Notwithstanding the eligibility 
limitations contained in this Act, any State or local gov-
ernment, Indian tribe, land-grant college or university, or 
private entity shall be eligible to compete for funds to be 
competitively allocated under subsection (a). 
‘‘(c) COST-SHARE REQUIREMENT.—In carrying out 
subsection (a), the Secretary shall not cover more than 
50 percent of the total cost of a project under such sub-
section. In calculating the total cost of a project and con-
tributions made with regard to the project, the Secretary 
shall include in-kind contributions.’’. 
Subtitle B—Cultural and Heritage 
Cooperation Authority 
SEC. 8101. PURPOSES. 
The purposes of this subtitle are— 
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(1) to authorize the reburial of human remains 
and cultural items on National Forest System land, 
including human remains and cultural items repatri-
ated under the Native American Graves Protection 
and Repatriation Act (25 U.S.C. 3001 et seq.); 
(2) to prevent the unauthorized disclosure of in-
formation regarding reburial sites, including the 
quantity and identity of human remains and cultural 
items on sites and the location of sites; 
(3) to authorize the Secretary of Agriculture to 
ensure access to National Forest System land, to the 
maximum extent practicable, by Indians and Indian 
tribes for traditional and cultural purposes; 
(4) to authorize the Secretary to provide forest 
products, without consideration, to Indian tribes for 
traditional and cultural purposes; 
(5) to authorize the Secretary to protect the 
confidentiality of certain information, including in-
formation that is culturally sensitive to Indian 
tribes; 
(6) to increase the availability of Forest Service 
programs and resources to Indian tribes in support 
of the policy of the United States to promote tribal 
sovereignty and self-determination; and 
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(7) to strengthen support for the policy of the 
United States of protecting and preserving the tradi-
tional, cultural, and ceremonial rites and practices of 
Indian tribes, in accordance with Public Law 95– 
341 (commonly known as the American Indian Reli-
gious Freedom Act; 42 U.S.C. 1996). 
SEC. 8102. DEFINITIONS. 
In this subtitle: 
(1) ADJACENT SITE.—The term ‘‘adjacent site’’ 
means a site that borders a boundary line of Na-
tional Forest System land. 
(2) CULTURAL
ITEMS.—The term ‘‘cultural 
items’’ has the meaning given the term in section 2 
of the Native American Graves Protection and Repa-
triation Act (25 U.S.C. 3001), except that the term 
does not include human remains. 
(3) HUMAN REMAINS.—The term ‘‘human re-
mains’’ means the physical remains of the body of 
a person of Indian ancestry. 
(4) INDIAN.—The term ‘‘Indian’’ means an in-
dividual who is a member of an Indian tribe. 
(5) INDIAN TRIBE.—The term ‘‘Indian tribe’’ 
means any Indian or Alaska Native tribe, band, na-
tion, pueblo, village, or other community the name 
of which is included on a list published by the Sec-
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retary of the Interior pursuant to section 104 of the 
Federally Recognized Indian Tribe List Act of 1994 
(25 U.S.C. 479a–1). 
(6) LINEAL
DESCENDANT.—The term ‘‘lineal 
descendant’’ means an individual that can trace, di-
rectly and without interruption, the ancestry of the 
individual through the traditional kinship system of 
an Indian tribe, or through the common law system 
of descent, to a known Indian, the human remains, 
funerary objects, or other sacred objects of whom 
are claimed by the individual. 
(7) NATIONAL
FOREST
SYSTEM.—The term 
‘‘National Forest System’’ has the meaning given 
the term in section 11(a) of the Forest and Range-
land Renewable Resources Planning Act of 1974 (16 
U.S.C. 1609(a)). 
(8) REBURIAL SITE.—The term ‘‘reburial site’’ 
means a specific physical location at which cultural 
items or human remains are reburied. 
(9) TRADITIONAL AND CULTURAL PURPOSE.— 
The term ‘‘traditional and cultural purpose’’, with 
respect to a definable use, area, or practice, means 
that the use, area, or practice is identified by an In-
dian tribe as traditional or cultural because of the 
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long-established significance or ceremonial nature of 
the use, area, or practice to the Indian tribe. 
SEC. 8103. REBURIAL OF HUMAN REMAINS AND CULTURAL 
ITEMS. 
(a) REBURIAL SITES.—In consultation with an af-
fected Indian tribe or lineal descendant, the Secretary may 
authorize the use of National Forest System land by the 
Indian tribe or lineal descendant for the reburial of human 
remains or cultural items in the possession of the Indian 
tribe or lineal descendant that have been disinterred from 
National Forest System land or an adjacent site. 
(b) REBURIAL.—With the consent of the affected In-
dian tribe or lineal descendent, the Secretary may recover 
and rebury, at Federal expense or using other available 
funds, human remains and cultural items described in sub-
section (a) at the National Forest System land identified 
under that subsection. 
(c) AUTHORIZATION OF USE.— 
(1) IN GENERAL.—Subject to paragraph (2), 
the Secretary may authorize such uses of reburial 
sites on National Forest System land, or on the Na-
tional Forest System land immediately surrounding 
a reburial site, as the Secretary determines to be 
necessary for management of the National Forest 
System. 
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(2) AVOIDANCE OF ADVERSE IMPACTS.—In car-
rying out paragraph (1), the Secretary shall avoid 
adverse impacts to cultural items and human re-
mains, to the maximum extent practicable. 
SEC. 8104. TEMPORARY CLOSURE FOR TRADITIONAL AND 
CULTURAL PURPOSES. 
(a) RECOGNITION OF HISTORIC USE.—To the max-
imum extent practicable, the Secretary shall ensure access 
to National Forest System land by Indians for traditional 
and cultural purposes, in accordance with subsection (b), 
in recognition of the historic use by Indians of National 
Forest System land. 
(b) CLOSING LAND FROM PUBLIC ACCESS.— 
(1) AUTHORITY TO CLOSE.—Upon the approval 
by the Secretary of a request from an Indian tribe, 
the Secretary may temporarily close from public ac-
cess specifically identified National Forest System 
land to protect the privacy of tribal activities for tra-
ditional and cultural purposes. 
(2) LIMITATION.—A closure of National Forest 
System land under paragraph (1) shall affect the 
smallest practicable area for the minimum period 
necessary for activities of the applicable Indian tribe. 
(3) CONSISTENCY.—Access by Indian tribes to 
National Forest System land under this subsection 
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