steel: lined or unlined pipes and fittings, manhole covers 
and other municipal castings, hydrants, tanks, flanges, 
pipe clamps and restraints, valves, structural steel, rein-
forced precast concrete, and construction materials. 
(b) Subsection (a) shall not apply in any case or cat-
egory of cases in which the Secretary of Agriculture (in 
this section referred to as the ‘‘Secretary’’) or the designee 
of the Secretary finds that— 
(1) applying subsection (a) would be incon-
sistent with the public interest; 
(2) iron and steel products are not produced in 
the United States in sufficient and reasonably avail-
able quantities or of a satisfactory quality; or 
(3) inclusion of iron and steel products pro-
duced in the United States will increase the cost of 
the overall project by more than 25 percent. 
(c) If the Secretary or the designee receives a request 
for a waiver under this section, the Secretary or the des-
ignee shall make available to the public on an informal 
basis a copy of the request and information available to 
the Secretary or the designee concerning the request, and 
shall allow for informal public input on the request for 
at least 15 days prior to making a finding based on the 
request. The Secretary or the designee shall make the re-
quest and accompanying information available by elec-
tronic means, including on the official public Internet Web 
site of the Department. 
(d) This section shall be applied in a manner con-
sistent with United States obligations under international 
agreements. 
(e) The Secretary may retain up to 0.25 percent of 
the funds appropriated in this Act for ‘‘Rural Utilities 
Service—Rural Water and Waste Disposal Program Ac-
count’’ for carrying out the provisions described in sub-
section (a)(1) for management and oversight of the re-
quirements of this section. 
(f) Subsection (a) shall not apply with respect to a 
project for which the engineering plans and specifications 
include use of iron and steel products otherwise prohibited 
by such subsection if the plans and specifications have re-
ceived required approvals from State agencies prior to the 
date of enactment of this Act. 
(g) For purposes of this section, the terms ‘‘United 
States’’ and ‘‘State’’ shall include each of the several 
States, the District of Columbia, and each federally recog-
nized Indian tribe. 
SEC. 743. The Secretary shall set aside for Rural 
Economic Area Partnership (REAP) Zones, until August 
15, 2019, an amount of funds made available in title III 
under the headings of Rural Housing Insurance Fund
Program Account, Mutual and Self-Help Housing Grants, 
Rural Housing Assistance Grants, Rural Community Fa-
cilities Program Account, Rural Business Program Ac-
count, Rural Development Loan Fund Program Account, 
and Rural Water and Waste Disposal Program Account, 
equal to the amount obligated in REAP Zones with re-
spect to funds provided under such headings in the most 
recent fiscal year any such funds were obligated under 
such headings for REAP Zones. 
SEC. 744. For the purposes of determining eligibility 
or level of program assistance for Rural Development pro-
grams the Secretary shall not include incarcerated prison 
populations. 
SEC. 745. There is hereby appropriated $1,000,000, 
to remain available until expended, for a pilot program 
for the Secretary to provide grants to qualified non-profit 
organizations and public housing authorities to provide 
technical assistance, including financial and legal services, 
to RHS multi-family housing borrowers to facilitate the 
acquisition of RHS multi-family housing properties in 
areas where the Secretary determines a risk of loss of af-
fordable housing, by non-profit housing organizations and 
public housing authorities as authorized by law that com-
mit to keep such properties in the RHS multi-family hous-
ing program for a period of time as determined by the 
Secretary. 
SEC. 746. None of the funds appropriated by this Act 
may be used in any way, directly or indirectly, to influence 
congressional action on any legislation or appropriation 
matters pending before Congress, other than to commu-
nicate to Members of Congress as described in 18 U.S.C. 
1913. 
SEC. 747. (a) The Secretary of Agriculture (referred 
to in this section as the ‘‘Secretary’’) shall carry out a 
pilot program during fiscal year 2019 with respect to the 
2018 crop year for county-level agriculture risk coverage 
payments under section 1117(b)(1) of the Agricultural Act 
of 2014 (7 U.S.C. 9017(b)(1)), that provides all or some 
of the State Farm Service Agency offices in each State 
the opportunity to provide agricultural producers in the 
State a supplemental payment described in subsection (c) 
based on the alternate calculation method described in 
subsection (b) for 1 or more counties in a State if the 
office for that State determines that the alternate calcula-
tion method is necessary to ensure that, to the maximum 
extent practicable, there are not significant yield calcula-
tion disparities between comparable counties in the State. 
(b) The alternate calculation method referred to in 
subsection (a) is a method of calculating the actual yield
for the 2018 crop year for county-level agriculture risk 
coverage payments under section 1117(b)(1) of the Agri-
cultural Act of 2014 (7 U.S.C. 9017(b)(1)), under 
which— 
(1) county data of the National Agricultural 
Statistics Service (referred to in this section as 
‘‘NASS data’’) is used for the calculations; 
(2) if there is insufficient NASS data for a 
county (as determined under standards of the Sec-
retary in effect as of the date of enactment of this 
Act) or the available NASS data produces a sub-
stantially disparate result, the calculation of the 
county yield is determined using comparable contig-
uous county NASS data as determined by the Farm 
Service Agency office in the applicable State; and 
(3) if there is insufficient NASS data for a 
comparable contiguous county (as determined under 
standards of the Secretary in effect as of the date 
of enactment of this Act), the calculation of the 
county yield is determined using reliable yield data 
from other sources, such as Risk Management Agen-
cy data, National Agricultural Statistics Service dis-
trict data, National Agricultural Statistics Service 
State yield data, or other data as determined by the 
Farm Service Agency office in the applicable State.
(c)(1) A supplemental payment made under the pilot 
program established under this section may be made to 
an agricultural producer who is subject to the alternate 
calculation method described in subsection (b) if that agri-
cultural producer would otherwise receive a county-level 
agriculture risk coverage payment for the 2018 crop year 
in an amount that is less than the payment that the agri-
cultural producer would receive under the alternate cal-
culation method. 
(2) The amount of a supplemental payment to an ag-
ricultural producer under this section may not exceed the 
difference between— 
(A) the payment that the agricultural producer 
would have received without the alternate calculation 
method described in subsection (b); and 
(B) the payment that the agricultural producer 
would receive using the alternate calculation method. 
(d)(1) There is appropriated to the Secretary, out of 
funds of the Treasury not otherwise appropriated, 
$5,000,000, to remain available until September 30, 2020, 
to carry out the pilot program described in this section. 
(2) Of the funds appropriated, the Secretary shall use 
not more than $5,000,000 to carry out the pilot program 
described in this section.
U.S.C. 653) and section 6103(1)(7)(D)(ix) of the Internal 
Revenue Code of 1986 (26 U.S.C. 1603(1)(7)(D)(ix)) to 
verify the income for individuals participating in sections 
502, 504, 521, and 542 of the Housing Act of 1949 (42 
U.S.C. 1472, 1474, 1490a, and 1490r), notwithstanding 
section 453(l)(1) of the Social Security Act. 
SEC. 749. In addition to any other funds made avail-
able in this Act or any other Act, there is appropriated 
$5,000,000 to carry out section 18(g)(8) of the Richard 
B. Russell National School Lunch Act (42 U.S.C. 
1769(g)), to remain available until expended. 
SEC. 750. None of the funds made available by this 
Act may be used by the Food and Drug Administration 
to develop, issue, promote, or advance any regulations ap-
plicable to food manufacturers for population-wide sodium 
reduction actions or to develop, issue, promote or advance 
final guidance applicable to food manufacturers for long 
term population-wide sodium reduction actions until the 
date on which a dietary reference intake report with re-
spect to sodium is completed. 
SEC. 751. There is hereby appropriated $1,000,000, 
to remain available until September 30, 2020, for the cost 
of loans and grants that is consistent with section 4206 
of the Agricultural Act of 2014, for necessary expenses 
of the Secretary to support projects that provide access
to healthy food in underserved areas, to create and pre-
serve quality jobs, and to revitalize low-income commu-
nities. 
SEC. 752. For an additional amount for ‘‘Animal and 
Plant Health Inspection Service—Salaries and Expenses’’, 
$7,500,000, to remain available until September 30, 2020, 
for one-time control and management and associated ac-
tivities directly related to the multiple-agency response to 
citrus greening. 
SEC. 753. None of the funds made available by this 
or any other Act may be used to enforce the final rule 
promulgated by the Food and Drug Administration enti-
tled ‘‘Standards for the Growing, Harvesting, Packing, 
and Holding of Produce for Human Consumption,’’ and 
published on November 27, 2015, with respect to the regu-
lation of the production, distribution, sale, or receipt of 
grape varietals that are grown, harvested and used solely 
for wine and receive commercial processing that ade-
quately reduces the presence of microorganisms of public 
health significance. 
SEC. 754. There is hereby appropriated $20,000,000, 
to remain available until expended, for an additional 
amount for telemedicine and distance learning services in 
rural areas, as authorized by 7 U.S.C. 950aaa et seq., to 
help address the opioid epidemic in rural America.
100 
SEC. 755. There is hereby appropriated $5,000,000, 
to remain available until September 30, 2020, for a pilot 
program for the National Institute of Food and Agri-
culture to provide grants to nonprofit organizations for 
programs and services to establish and enhance farming 
and ranching opportunities for military veterans. 
SEC. 
756. 
There 
is 
hereby 
appropriated 
$425,000,000, to remain available until expended, for an 
additional amount for Sec. 779 of Public Law 115–141. 
SEC. 757. For an additional amount for the cost of 
direct loans and grants made under the ‘‘Rural Water and 
Waste Disposal Program Account’’, $400,000,000, to re-
main available until expended. 
SEC. 758. None of the funds made available by this 
Act may be used to pay the salaries or expenses of per-
sonnel— 
(1) to inspect horses under section 3 of the 
Federal Meat Inspection Act (21 U.S.C. 603); 
(2) to inspect horses under section 903 of the 
Federal Agriculture Improvement and Reform Act of 
1996 (7 U.S.C. 1901 note; Public Law 104–127); or 
(3) to implement or enforce section 352.19 of 
title 9, Code of Federal Regulations (or a successor 
regulation).
101 
SEC. 759. None of the funds made available by this 
Act may be used to revoke an exception made— 
(1) pursuant to the final rule of the Depart-
ment of Agriculture entitled ‘‘Exceptions to Geo-
graphic Areas for Official Agencies Under the 
USGSA’’ (68 Fed. Reg. 19137 (April 18, 2003)); 
and 
(2) on a date before April 14, 2017. 
SEC. 760. The Secretary of Agriculture shall provide 
to any State or county impacted by a volcanic eruption 
covered by a major disaster declared by the President in 
calendar year 2018 in accordance with section 401 of the 
Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency Assist-
ance Act (42 U.S.C. 5170) technical assistance— 
(1) to assess damage to agricultural production 
and rural infrastructure; and 
(2) to develop recovery plans for impacted 
farmers, ranchers, and rural communities. 
RESEARCH ON OCEAN AGRICULTURE 
SEC. 761. (a) The Secretary of Agriculture, in coordi-
nation with the Administrator of the National Oceanic and 
Atmospheric Administration, shall establish a working 
group (referred to in this section as the ‘‘working 
group’’)—
102 
(1) to study how mangroves, kelp forests, tidal 
marshes, and seagrass meadows could help deacidify 
the oceans; 
(2) to study emerging ocean farming practices 
that use kelp and seagrass to deacidify the oceans 
while providing feedstock for agriculture and other 
commercial and industrial inputs; and 
(3) to coordinate and conduct research to de-
velop and enhance pilot-scale research for farming of 
kelp and seagrass in order— 
(A) to deacidify ocean environments; 
(B) to produce a feedstock for agriculture; 
and 
(C) to develop other scalable commercial 
applications for kelp, seagrass, or products de-
rived from kelp or seagrass. 
(b) The working group shall include— 
(1) the Secretary of Agriculture; 
(2) the Administrator of the National Oceanic 
and Atmospheric Administration; 
(3) representatives of any relevant offices with-
in the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Adminis-
tration; and 
(4) the Assistant Secretary of Energy for En-
ergy Efficiency and Renewable Energy.
103 
(c) Not later than 2 years after the date of enactment 
of this Act, the working group shall submit to Congress 
a report that includes— 
(1) the findings of the research described in 
subsection (a); 
(2) the results of the pilot-scale research de-
scribed in subsection (a)(3); and 
(3) any policy recommendations based on those 
findings and results. 
SEC. 762. Not later than 180 days after the date of 
enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Agriculture shall 
submit to Congress a report describing the ways in which 
conservation programs administered by the Natural Re-
sources Conservation Service may be better used for the 
conservation of ocelots (Leopardus pardalis) and any ac-
tion taken by the Chief of the Natural Resources Con-
servation Service relating to the conservation of ocelots. 
SEC. 763. Not later than 1 year after the date of 
enactment of this Act, the Rural Housing Service of the 
Department of Agriculture shall submit to Congress a re-
port including— 
(1) a description of— 
(A) the number of properties assisted 
under title V of the Housing Act of 1949 (42
104 
U.S.C. 1471 et seq.) that are reaching the end 
of their loan term; 
(B) the location of each property described 
in subparagraph (A); 
(C) the number of units in each property 
described in subparagraph (A); and 
(D) the date on which each the loan for 
each property described in subparagraph (A) is 
expected to reach maturity; 
(2) the strategy of the Rural Housing Service 
to preserve the long-term affordability of the prop-
erties described in paragraph (1)(A) when the loan 
matures; and 
(3) a description of the resources and tools that 
the Rural Housing Service needs from Congress in 
order to preserve the long-term affordability of the 
properties described in paragraph (1) (A). 
SEC. 764. Out of amounts appropriated to the Food 
and Drug Administration under title VI, the Secretary of 
Health and Human Services, acting through the Commis-
sioner of Food and Drugs, shall, not later than July 1, 
2019, and following the review required under Executive 
Order 12866 (5 U.S.C. 601 note; relating to regulatory 
planning and review), issue advice revising the advice pro-
vided in the notice of availability entitled ‘‘Advice About
105 
Eating Fish, From the Environmental Protection Agency 
and Food and Drug Administration; Revised Fish Advice; 
Availability’’ (82 Fed. Reg. 6571 (January 19, 2017)), in 
a manner that is consistent with nutrition science recog-
nized by the Food and Drug Administration on the net 
effects of seafood consumption. 
SEC. 765. In administering the pilot program estab-
lished by section 779 of division A of the Consolidated Ap-
propriations Act, 2018 (Public Law 115–141), the Sec-
retary of Agriculture shall— 
(1) ensure that applicants that are determined 
to be ineligible for the pilot program have a means 
of appealing or otherwise challenging that deter-
mination in a timely fashion; and 
(2) in determining whether an entity may over-
build or duplicate broadband expansion efforts made 
by any entity that has received a broadband loan 
from the Rural Utilities Service, not consider loans 
that were rescinded or defaulted on, or loans the 
terms and conditions of which were not met, if the 
entity under consideration has not previously de-
faulted on, or failed to meet the terms and condi-
tions of, a Rural Utilities Service loan or had a 
Rural Utilities Service loan rescinded.
106 
1890 LAND-GRANT COLLEGES, INCLUDING TUSKEGEE 
UNIVERSITY 
SEC. 767. (a) Notwithstanding any other provision 
of this Act, the amounts made available by this Act to 
carry out sections 1444 and 1445, respectively, of the Na-
tional Agricultural Research, Extension, and Teaching 
Policy Act of 1977 (7 U.S.C. 3221, 3222) shall each be 
increased by $3,000,000. 
(b) Notwithstanding any other provision of this Act, 
the amount made available under the heading ‘‘(INCLUD-
ING TRANSFERS OF FUNDS)’’ under the heading ‘‘AGRI-
CULTURE BUILDINGS AND FACILITIES’’ under the heading 
‘‘AGRICULTURAL PROGRAMS’’ in title I shall be de-
creased by $6,000,000. 
SEC. 768. None of the funds made available by this 
Act shall be used to enforce the requirement in the final 
rule entitled ‘‘Food Labeling: Revision of the Nutrition 
and Supplement Facts Labels’’, published in the Federal 
Register on May 27, 2016 (81 Fed. Reg. 33742), that any 
single ingredient sugar, honey, agave, or syrup (including 
maple syrup) that is packaged and offered for sale as a 
single ingredient food bear the declaration ‘‘Includes ‘X’g 
Added Sugars’’. 
SEC. 769. The explanatory statement regarding divi-
sion C of H.R. 21, printed in the Congressional Record
107 
on January 3, 2019, and submitted by the Chair of the 
Committee on Appropriations, shall have the same effect 
with respect to allocation of funds and implementation of 
this Act as if it were a joint explanatory statement of a 
committee of conference. 
SEC. 770. (a) Employees furloughed as a result of 
any lapse in appropriations beginning on or about Decem-
ber 22, 2018 and ending on the date of enactment of this 
Act shall be compensated at their standard rate of com-
pensation, for the period of such lapse in appropriations, 
as soon as practicable after such lapse in appropriations 
ends. 
(b) For purposes of this section, ‘‘employees’’ means 
any Federal employees whose salaries and expenses are 
provided in this Act. 
(c) All obligations incurred in anticipation of the ap-
propriations made and authority granted by this Act for 
the purposes of maintaining the essential level of activity 
to protect life and property and bringing about orderly ter-
mination of Government functions, and for purposes as 
otherwise authorized by law, are hereby ratified and ap-
proved if otherwise in accord with the provisions of this 
Act. 
SEC. 771. (a) If a State (or another Federal grantee) 
used State funds (or the grantee’s non-Federal funds) to
108 
continue carrying out a Federal program or furloughed 
State employees (or the grantee’s employees) whose com-
pensation is advanced or reimbursed in whole or in part 
by the Federal Government— 
(1) such furloughed employees shall be com-
pensated at their standard rate of compensation for 
such period; 
(2) the State (or such other grantee) shall be 
reimbursed for expenses that would have been paid 
by the Federal Government during such period had 
appropriations been available, including the cost of 
compensating such furloughed employees, together 
with interest thereon calculated under section 
6503(d) of title 31, United States Code; and 
(3) the State (or such other grantee) may use 
funds available to the State (or the grantee) under 
such Federal program to reimburse such State (or 
the grantee), together with interest thereon cal-
culated under section 6503(d) of title 31, United 
States Code. 
(b) For purposes of this section, the term ‘‘State’’ 
and the term ‘‘grantee,’’ including United States terri-
tories and possessions, shall have the meaning given such 
terms under the applicable Federal program under sub-
section (a). In addition, ‘‘to continue carrying out a Fed-
109 
eral program’’ means the continued performance by a 
State or other Federal grantee, during the period of a 
lapse in appropriations, of a Federal program that the 
State or such other grantee had been carrying out prior 
to the period of the lapse in appropriations. 
(c) The authority under this section applies with re-
spect to any period in fiscal year 2019 (not limited to peri-
ods beginning or ending after the date of the enactment 
of this Act) during which there occurs a lapse in appro-
priations with respect to any department or agency of the 
Federal Government receiving funding in this Act which, 
but for such lapse in appropriations, would have paid, or 
made reimbursement relating to, any of the expenses re-
ferred to in this section with respect to the program in-
volved. Payments and reimbursements under this author-
ity shall be made only to the extent and in amounts pro-
vided in advance in appropriations Acts. 
This Act may be cited as the ‘‘Agriculture, Rural De-
velopment, Food and Drug Administration, and Related 
Agencies Appropriations Act, 2019’’. 
Passed the House of Representatives January 10, 
2019. 
Attest: 
Clerk.
116TH CONGRESS 
1ST SESSION 
H. R. 265 
AN ACT 
Making appropriations for Agriculture, Rural De-
velopment, Food and Drug Administration, and 
Related Agencies programs for the fiscal year 
ending September 30, 2019, and for other pur-
poses.