HR 3242 RDS 
(2) the number of backlog applications proc-
essed to completion; 
(3) the percentage of backlog applications proc-
essed to completion; and 
(4) the number of backlog applications remain-
ing. 
SEC. 203. REPORT ON SANITARY AND PHYTOSANITARY EX-
PORT ISSUES. 
Not later than 180 days after the date of the enact-
ment of this Act, the Secretary of Agriculture shall submit 
to the Committee on Agriculture of the House of Rep-
resentatives and the Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, 
and Forestry of the Senate a report on significant sanitary 
and phytosanitary issues that affect the export of specialty 
crops. 
TITLE III—SPECIALTY CROP 
RESEARCH 
SEC. 301. METHYL BROMIDE ALTERNATIVES. 
(a) PRIORITY.—The Secretary of Agriculture shall 
elevate the priority of current methyl bromide alternative 
research and extension activities and reexamine the risks 
and benefits of extending the phase-out deadline in effect 
on the date of the enactment of this Act, including the 
estimated cost to the grower or processor associated with 
any alternatives proposed.
HR 3242 RDS 
(b) AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.—For each 
of the fiscal years 2005 through 2009, there is authorized 
to be appropriated to the Secretary of Agriculture 
$5,000,000 to carry out this section. 
SEC. 302. NATIONAL SPECIALTY CROP RESEARCH PRO-
GRAM. 
Section 1672(e) of the Food, Agriculture, Conserva-
tion, and Trade Act of 1990 (7 U.S.C. 5925(e)) is amend-
ed by adding at the end of the following new paragraph: 
‘‘(45) SPECIALTY CROP RESEARCH.—Research 
and extension grants may be made under this sec-
tion for the purpose of improving the efficiency, pro-
ductivity, and profitability of specialty crop produc-
tion in the United States.’’. 
SEC. 303. SPECIALTY CROP COMMITTEE. 
The National Agricultural Research, Extension, and 
Teaching Policy Act of 1977 is amended by inserting after 
section 1408 (7 U.S.C. 3123) the following new section: 
‘‘SEC. 1408A. SPECIALTY CROP COMMITTEE. 
‘‘(a) ESTABLISHMENT.—Not later than 90 days after 
the date of the enactment of the Specialty Crops Competi-
tiveness Act of 2004, the executive committee of the Advi-
sory Board shall establish, and appoint the initial mem-
bers of, a permanent specialty crops committee that will 
be responsible for studying the scope and effectiveness of
HR 3242 RDS 
research, extension, and economics programs affecting the 
specialty crop industry. 
‘‘(b) MEMBERS.—Individuals who are not members 
of the Advisory Board may be appointed as members of 
the specialty crops committee. Members of the specialty 
crops committee shall serve at the discretion of the execu-
tive committee. 
‘‘(c) ANNUAL COMMITTEE REPORT.—Not later than 
180 days after the establishment of the specialty crops 
committee, and annually thereafter, the specialty crops 
committee shall submit to the Advisory Board a report 
containing the findings of its study under subsection (a). 
The specialty crops committee shall include in each report 
recommendations regarding the following: 
‘‘(1) Measures designed to improve the effi-
ciency, productivity, and profitability of specialty 
crop production in the United States. 
‘‘(2) Measures designed to improve competitive-
ness in research, extension, and economics programs 
affecting the specialty crop industry. 
‘‘(3) Programs that would— 
‘‘(A) enhance the quality and shelf-life of 
fresh fruits and vegetables, including their taste 
and appearance;
HR 3242 RDS 
‘‘(B) develop new crop protection tools and 
expand the applicability and cost-effectiveness 
of integrated pest management; 
‘‘(C) prevent the introduction of foreign 
invasive pests and diseases; 
‘‘(D) develop new products and new uses 
of specialty crops; 
‘‘(E) develop new and improved marketing 
tools for specialty crops; 
‘‘(F) enhance food safety regarding spe-
cialty crops; 
‘‘(G) improve mechanization of production 
practices; and 
‘‘(H) enhance irrigation techniques used in 
specialty crop production. 
‘‘(d) CONSIDERATION BY SECRETARY.—In preparing 
the annual budget recommendations for the Department 
of Agriculture, the Secretary shall take into consideration 
those findings and recommendations contained in the 
most-recent report of the specialty crops committee that 
are adopted by the Advisory Board. 
‘‘(e) ANNUAL REPORT BY SECRETARY.—In the budg-
et material submitted to Congress by the Secretary in con-
nection with the budget submitted pursuant to section 
1105 of title 31, United States Code, for a fiscal year,
HR 3242 RDS 
the Secretary shall include a report describing how the 
Secretary addressed each recommendation of the specialty 
crops committee described in subsection (d).’’. 
TITLE IV—PEST AND DISEASE 
RESPONSE FUND 
SEC. 401. PEST AND DISEASE RESPONSE FUND. 
(a) ESTABLISHMENT.—There is established on the 
books of the Treasury an account to be known as the 
‘‘Pest and Disease Response Fund’’. There shall be depos-
ited into the Fund any proceeds received by the Secretary 
of Agriculture as reimbursement for services provided by 
the Secretary using amounts in the Fund. 
(b) AVAILABILITY.—Amounts in the Fund shall re-
main available until expended. 
(c) USE OF FUND.—In implementing the Animal 
Health Protection Act (7 U.S.C. 8301 et seq.) and the 
Plant Protection Act (7 U.S.C. 7701 et seq.), the Sec-
retary of Agriculture shall have complete discretion re-
garding the use of amounts in the Fund to support emer-
gency eradication and research activities in response to 
economic and health threats posed by pests and diseases 
affecting agricultural commodities. 
(d) AUTHORIZATION
OF
APPROPRIATIONS.—For 
each of the fiscal years 2005 through 2009, there is au-
HR 3242 RDS 
thorized to be appropriated to the Secretary of Agriculture 
$1,000,000 for deposit in the Fund. 
SEC. 402. IMPORT AND EXPORT REGULATION REVIEW. 
(a) PEER REVIEW.—The Secretary of Agriculture 
shall enter into an agreement with the National Plant 
Board to obtain a peer review of the procedures and stand-
ards that govern the consideration of import and export 
requests under section 412 of the Plant Protection Act 
(7 U.S.C. 7712). The peer review shall be consistent with 
the guidance by the Office of Management and Budget 
pertaining to peer review and information quality. 
(b) ELEMENTS OF REVIEW.—The peer review re-
quired by subsection (a) shall address, at a minimum—
(1) the preparation of risk assessments; and 
(2) the sufficiency, type, and quality of data 
that should be submitted to the Secretary of Agri-
culture. 
(c) SUBMISSION OF RESULTS.—The results of the 
peer review conducted under subsection (a) shall be sub-
mitted to the Secretary and Congress not later than 180 
days after the date of the enactment of this Act. 
SEC. 403. MAINTENANCE OF FREDERICKSBURG INSPEC-
TION TRAINING CENTER. 
For each of the fiscal years 2005 through 2009, there 
is authorized to be appropriated to the Secretary of Agri-
HR 3242 RDS 
culture $1,500,000 for the maintenance of the Agricul-
tural Marketing Service inspection training center in 
Fredericksburg, Virginia.
Passed the House of Representatives October 7 (leg-
islative day, October 6), 2004. 
Attest: 
JEFF TRANDAHL, 
Clerk.