SEC. 2. CENTERS FOR EXCELLENCE AND LEADERSHIP AT 
1890 INSTITUTIONS. 
The Food, Agriculture, Conservation, and Trade Act 
of 1990 is amended by inserting after section 1673 (7 
U.S.C. 5926) the following: 
‘‘SEC. 1673A. CENTERS FOR EXCELLENCE AND LEADER-
SHIP. 
‘‘(a) ESTABLISHMENT.—The Secretary shall estab-
lish not more than 6 Centers of Excellence and Leadership 
(in this section referred to as the ‘Centers’) to be led by 
not fewer than three and not more than 4 lead 1890 Insti-
tutions selected by the Secretary of Agriculture in con-
sultation with the Director of the National Institute of 
Food and Agriculture. A lead 1890 Institution may not 
be selected to lead more than one Center. 
‘‘(b) TECHNICAL COMMITTEE.— 
‘‘(1) IN GENERAL.—The Secretary shall estab-
lish a technical committee for each Center to man-
age and administer the Center— 
‘‘(A) to ensure the identification of appro-
priate priorities for the scope of the work of the 
Center; 
‘‘(B) to ensure a competitive grant process 
with respect to grants awarded by the Center; 
and 
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‘‘(C) to conduct appropriate assessments 
and evaluations of activities carried out by the 
Center. 
‘‘(2) COMPOSITION.—A technical committee es-
tablished under paragraph (1) for a Center shall be 
composed of— 
‘‘(A) one representative from each 1890 
Institution participating with the Center; and 
‘‘(B) a designee of the 1890 Universities 
Foundation. 
‘‘(c) CENTER AREAS OF FOCUS AND GOALS.—The 
Secretary shall designate Centers of Excellence and Lead-
ership to focus on one or more of the following areas and 
corresponding activities: 
‘‘(1) With respect to student success and work-
force development, such activities as may be nec-
essary to ensure that students have the skills and 
education needed to work in agriculture and food in-
dustries, agriculture science, technology, engineering, 
mathematics, and related fields of study. 
‘‘(2) With respect to nutrition, health, wellness, 
and quality of life, research, education, and exten-
sion activities that increase access to healthy food, 
improve nutrition, mitigate preventable diseases, and 
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develop strategies to assist limited resource individ-
uals in accessing health and nutrition resources. 
‘‘(3) With respect to farming systems, rural 
prosperity, and economic sustainability— 
‘‘(A) sharing best practices with farmers to 
improve agricultural production, processing, 
and marketing; 
‘‘(B) activities designed to reduce urban 
food deserts; 
‘‘(C) examining new uses for traditional 
and nontraditional crops, animals, and natural 
resources; and 
‘‘(D) such activities as are carried out, as 
of the date of the enactment of this section, by 
the Center of Innovative and Sustainable Small 
Farms, Ranches, and Forest Lands. 
‘‘(4) With respect to global food security and 
defense— 
‘‘(A) engaging in international partner-
ships that strengthen agricultural development 
in developing countries; 
‘‘(B) partnering with international re-
searchers regarding new and emerging animal 
and plant pests and diseases; 
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‘‘(C) engaging in agricultural disaster re-
covery; and 
‘‘(D) such activities as are carried out, as 
of the date of the enactment of this section, by 
the Center for International Engagement. 
‘‘(5) With respect to natural resources, energy, 
and the environment, such activities as may be nec-
essary to protect and manage domestic natural re-
sources for current and future production of food 
and agricultural products. 
‘‘(6) With respect to emerging technologies, ac-
tivities related to— 
‘‘(A) developing of emerging technologies 
to increase the agricultural productivity; 
‘‘(B) enhancing small farm economic via-
bility; and 
‘‘(C) improving rural communities by— 
‘‘(i) developing genetic and sensor 
technologies for food and agriculture; and 
‘‘(ii) providing technology training to 
farmers. 
‘‘(d) REPORTS.—Beginning not later than one year 
after the date on which funds are first allocated under 
subsection (g)(2) and annually thereafter, the Secretary 
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shall submit to Congress a comprehensive progress report 
describing— 
‘‘(1) the resources invested in the Centers; and 
‘‘(2) the work done by the Centers. 
‘‘(e) LEAD 1890 INSTITUTION DEFINED.—In this 
section, the term ‘lead 1890 Institution’ means an 1890 
Institution (as defined in section 2 of the Agricultural Re-
search, Extension, and Education Reform Act of 1998 (7 
U.S.C. 7601)) that has the critical mass of faculty, special 
facilities, and capacity to engage in and support the identi-
fied education, extension, and research priorities of a Cen-
ter. 
‘‘(f) AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.—There 
are authorized to be appropriated to carry out this section 
$20,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2019 through 2023.’’. 
Æ 
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