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purposes of developing digital facilities, equipment, and in-
frastructure to enhance digital services to rural areas.’’. 
SEC. 6029. TELEMEDICINE AND DISTANCE LEARNING SERV-
ICES IN RURAL AREAS. 
(a) AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.—Section 
2335A of the Food, Agriculture, Conservation and Trade 
Act of 1990 (7 U.S.C. 950aaa–5) is amended by striking 
‘‘2007’’ and inserting ‘‘2012’’. 
(b) CONFORMING AMENDMENT.—Section 1(b) of 
Public Law 102–551 (7 U.S.C. 950aaa note) is amended 
by striking ‘‘2007’’ and inserting ‘‘2012’’. 
SEC. 6030. GUARANTEES FOR BONDS AND NOTES ISSUED 
FOR ELECTRIFICATION OR TELEPHONE PUR-
POSES. 
Section 313A(f) of the Rural Electrification Act of 
1936 (7 U.S.C. 940c–1(f)) is amended by striking ‘‘2007’’ 
and inserting ‘‘2012’’. 
SEC. 6031. COMPREHENSIVE RURAL BROADBAND STRAT-
EGY. 
Not later than 180 days after the date of the enact-
ment of this Act, the Secretary of Agriculture shall submit 
to the President, the Committee on Agriculture of the 
House of Representatives, and the Committee on Agri-
culture, Nutrition, and Forestry of the Senate a report
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describing a comprehensive rural broadband strategy that 
includes— 
(1) recommendations— 
(A) to promote interagency coordination of 
Federal agencies in regards to policies, proce-
dures, and targeted resources, and to improve 
and streamline the polices, programs, and serv-
ices; 
(B) to coordinate among Federal agencies 
regarding existing rural broadband or rural ini-
tiatives that could be of value to rural 
broadband development; 
(C) to address both short- and long-term 
solutions and needs assessments for a rapid 
build-out of rural broadband solutions and ap-
plications for Federal, State, regional, and local 
government policy makers; 
(D) to identify how specific Federal agency 
programs and resources can best respond to 
rural broadband requirements and overcome ob-
stacles that currently impede rural broadband 
deployment; and 
(E) to promote successful model deploy-
ments and appropriate technologies being used 
in rural areas so that State, regional, and local
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•HR 2419 EH1S 
governments can benefit from the cataloging 
and successes of other State, regional, and local 
governments; and 
(2) a description of goals and timeframes to 
achieve the strategic plans and visions identified in 
the report. 
SEC. 6032. STUDY OF RAILROAD ISSUES. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—The Secretary of Agriculture, in 
coordination with the Secretary of Transportation, shall 
conduct a study of railroad issues regarding the movement 
of agricultural products, domestically produced renewable 
fuels and domestically produced resources for the produc-
tion of electricity for rural America, and economic develop-
ment in rural America. The study shall include an exam-
ination of the following: 
(1) The importance of freight railroads to— 
(A) the delivery of equipment, seed, fer-
tilizer, and other such products important to 
the development of agricultural commodities 
and products; 
(B) the movement of agricultural commod-
ities and products to market; 
(C) the delivery of ethanol and other re-
newable fuels;
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(D) the delivery of domestically produced 
resources for use in the generation of electricity 
for rural America; 
(E) the location of grain elevators, ethanol 
plants, and other facilities; 
(F) the development of manufacturing fa-
cilities in rural America; and 
(G) the vitality and economic development 
of rural communities. 
(2) The sufficiency in rural America of railroad 
capacity, the sufficiency of competition in the rail-
road system, the reliability of rail service, and the 
reasonableness of railroad prices. 
(3) The accessibility to rail customers in rural 
America of Federal processes for the resolution of 
rail customer grievances with the railroads. 
(b) REPORT TO THE CONGRESS.—Within 9 months 
after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary 
of Agriculture shall submit to the Congress a report that 
contains the results of the study required by subsection 
(a), and the recommendations of the Secretary for new 
Federal policies to address any problems identified by the 
study. 
TITLE VII—RESEARCH 
Subtitle A—General Provisions 
Sec. 7101. Definitions.
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Sec. 7102. Budget submission and funding. 
Sec. 7103. Additional purposes of agricultural research and extension. 
Sec. 7104. National agricultural research program office. 
Sec. 7105. Establishment of competitive grant programs under the National In-
stitute for Food and Agriculture. 
Sec. 7106. Merging of IFAFS and NRI. 
Sec. 7107. Capacity building grants for ASCARR institutions. 
Sec. 7108. Establishment of research laboratories for animal diseases. 
Sec. 7109. Grazinglands research laboratory. 
Sec. 7110. Researcher training. 
Sec. 7111. Fort Reno Science Park research facility. 
Sec. 7112. Assessing the nutritional composition of beef products. 
Sec. 7113. Sense of Congress regarding funding for human nutrition research. 
Subtitle B—National Agricultural Research, Extension, and Teaching Policy 
Act of 1977 
Sec. 7201. Advisory board. 
Sec. 7202. Advisory board termination. 
Sec. 7203. Renewable energy committee. 
Sec. 7204. Specialty crop committee report. 
Sec. 7205. Inclusion of UDC in grants and fellowships for food and agricultural 
sciences education. 
Sec. 7206. Grants and fellowships for food and agricultural sciences education. 
Sec. 7207. Grants for research on production and marketing of alcohols and in-
dustrial hydrocarbons from agricultural commodities and forest 
products. 
Sec. 7208. Policy research centers. 
Sec. 7209. Human nutrition intervention and health promotion research pro-
gram. 
Sec. 7210. Pilot research program to combine medical and agricultural re-
search. 
Sec. 7211. Nutrition education program. 
Sec. 7212. Continuing animal health and disease research programs. 
Sec. 7213. Cooperation among eligible institutions. 
Sec. 7214. Appropriations for research on national or regional problems. 
Sec. 7215. Authorization level of extension at 1890 land-grant colleges. 
Sec. 7216. Authorization level for agricultural research at 1890 land-grant col-
leges. 
Sec. 7217. Grants to upgrade agriculture and food sciences facilities at the Dis-
trict of Columbia Land Grant University. 
Sec. 7218. Grants to upgrade agricultural and food sciences facilities at 1890 
land-grant colleges, including Tuskegee University. 
Sec. 7219. National research and training virtual centers. 
Sec. 7220. Matching funds requirement for research and extension activities of 
1890 institutions. 
Sec. 7221. Hispanic-serving institutions. 
Sec. 7222. Hispanic-serving agricultural colleges and universities. 
Sec. 7223. International agricultural research, extension, and education. 
Sec. 7224. Competitive grants for international agricultural science and edu-
cation programs. 
Sec. 7225. Limitation on indirect costs for agricultural research, education, and 
extension programs. 
Sec. 7226. Research equipment grants. 
Sec. 7227. University research.
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Sec. 7228. Extension service. 
Sec. 7229. Supplemental and alternative crops. 
Sec. 7230. Aquaculture Assistance Programs. 
Sec. 7231. Rangeland research. 
Sec. 7232. Special authorization for biosecurity planning and response. 
Sec. 7233. Resident instruction and distance education grants program for in-
sular area institutions of higher education. 
Sec. 7234. Hispanic Serving Institutions. 
Sec. 7235. Specialty crops policy research institute. 
Sec. 7236. Emphasis of Human Nutrition Initiative. 
Sec. 7237. Grants to upgrade agriculture and food sciences facilities at insular 
area land-grant institutions. 
Subtitle C—Food, Agriculture, Conservation, and Trade Act of 1990 
Sec. 7301. National genetics resources program. 
Sec. 7302. National agricultural weather information system. 
Sec. 7303. Partnerships. 
Sec. 7304. Aflatoxin research and extension. 
Sec. 7305. High-priority research and extension areas. 
Sec. 7306. High-priority research and extension initiatives. 
Sec. 7307. Nutrient management research and extension initiative. 
Sec. 7308. Agricultural telecommunications program. 
Sec. 7309. Assistive technology program for farmers with disabilities. 
Sec. 7310. Organic research. 
Sec. 7311. National rural information center clearinghouse. 
Sec. 7312. New era rural technology program. 
Subtitle D—Agricultural Research, Extension, and Education Reform Act of 
1998 
Sec. 7401. Partnerships for high-value agricultural product quality research. 
Sec. 7402. Precision agriculture. 
Sec. 7403. Biobased products. 
Sec. 7404. Thomas Jefferson initiative for crop diversification. 
Sec. 7405. Integrated research, education, and extension competitive grants 
program. 
Sec. 7406. Fusarium graminearum grants. 
Sec. 7407. Bovine Johne’s disease control program. 
Sec. 7408. Grants for youth organizations. 
Sec. 7409. Agricultural biotechnology research and development for developing 
countries. 
Sec. 7410. Agricultural bioenergy and biobased products research initiative. 
Sec. 7411. Specialty crop research initiative. 
Sec. 7412. Office of pest management policy. 
Subtitle E—Other Laws 
Sec. 7501. Critical agricultural materials act. 
Sec. 7502. Equity in Educational Land-Grant Status Act of 1994. 
Sec. 7503. Agricultural experiment station Research Facilities Act. 
Sec. 7504. National Agricultural Research, Extension, and Teaching Policy Act 
Amendments of 1985. 
Sec. 7505. Competitive, Special, and Facilities Research Grant Act (national 
research initiative). 
Sec. 7506. Agricultural Risk Protection Act of 2000 (carbon cycle research).
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Sec. 7507. Renewable Resources Extension Act of 1978. 
Sec. 7508. National Aquaculture Act of 1980. 
Sec. 7509. Construction of a Chinese Garden at the National Arboretum. 
Sec. 7510. Public education regarding use of biotechnology in producing food 
for human consumption. 
Sec. 7511. Fresh cut produce safety grants. 
Sec. 7512. UDC/EFNEP Eligibility. 
Sec. 7513. Hatch Act of 1987. 
Subtitle F—Additional Provisions 
Sec. 7601. Merit review of extension and educational grants. 
Sec. 7602. Review of plan of work requirements. 
Sec. 7603. Multistate and integration funding. 
Sec. 7604. Expanded food and nutrition education program. 
Sec. 7605. Grants to 1890 schools to expand extension capacity. 
Sec. 7606. Borlaug international agricultural science and technology fellowship 
program. 
Sec. 7607. Cost Recovery. 
Sec. 7608. Organic Food and Agricultural Systems Funding. 
Subtitle A—General Provisions 
SEC. 7101. DEFINITIONS. 
For purposes of this title: 
(1) CAPACITY PROGRAM.—The term ‘‘capacity 
program’’ means the capacity program in subpara-
graph (M) and each of the following agricultural re-
search, extension, education, and related programs 
for which the Secretary has administrative or other 
authority as of the day before the date of enactment 
of this Act: 
(A) Each program providing funding to 
any of the 1994 institutions under sections 533, 
534(a), and 535 of the Equity in Educational 
Land-Grant Status Act of 1994 (Public Law 
103–382; 7 U.S.C. 301 note) (commonly known 
as financial assistance, technical assistance, and
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endowments to tribal colleges and the Navajo 
Community College). 
(B) The program established under section 
536 of the Equity in Educational Land-Grant 
Status Act of 1994 (Public Law 103–382; 7 
U.S.C. 301 note) providing research grants for 
1994 institutions. 
(C) Each program established under sub-
sections (b), (c), and (d) of section 3 of the 
Smith-Lever Act (7 U.S.C. 343). 
(D) Each program established under the 
Hatch Act of 1887 (7 U.S.C. 361a et seq.). 
(E) Each program established under sec-
tion 1417(b)(4) of the National Agricultural 
Research, Extension, and Teaching Policy Act 
of 1977 (7 U.S.C. 3152(b)(4)), including grant 
programs under that section (commonly known 
as the 1890 Institution Teaching and Research 
Capacity Building Grants Program). 
(F) The animal health and disease re-
search program established under subtitle E of 
the National Agricultural Research, Extension, 
and Teaching Policy Act of 1977 (7 U.S.C. 
3191 et seq.).
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(G) The program established under section 
1445 of the National Agricultural Research, 
Extension, and Teaching Policy Act of 1977 (7 
U.S.C. 3222) (commonly known as the Evans- 
Allen Program). 
(H) The program providing grants to up-
grade agricultural and food sciences facilities at 
1890 Institutions established under section 
1447 of the National Agricultural Research, 
Extension, and Teaching Policy Act of 1977 (7 
U.S.C. 3222b). 
(I) The program providing distance edu-
cation grants for insular areas established 
under section 1490 of the National Agricultural 
Research, Extension, and Teaching Policy Act 
of 1977 (7 U.S.C. 3362). 
(J) The program providing resident in-
struction grants for insular areas established 
under section 1491 of the National Agricultural 
Research, Extension, and Teaching Policy Act 
of 1977 (7 U.S.C. 3363). 
(K) Each research and development and 
related program established under Public Law 
87–788 (commonly known as the McIntire-
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•HR 2419 EH1S 
Stennis Cooperative Forestry Act; 16 U.S.C. 
582a et seq.). 
(L) Each program established under the 
Renewable Resources Extension Act of 1978 
(16 U.S.C. 1671 et seq.). 
(M) The capacity building grant program 
for ASCARR Institutions established under this 
Act. 
(N) Such other programs or parts of pro-
grams as determined appropriate by the Sec-
retary. 
(O) The program providing competitive ex-
tension grants to eligible 1994 institutions 
under section 3(b)(3) of the Smith-Lever Act (7 
U.S.C. 343(b)(3)). 
(2) COMPETITIVE PROGRAMS.—The term ‘‘com-
petitive programs’’ means the competitive program 
in subparagraph (N) and each of the following agri-
cultural research, extension, education, and related 
programs for which the Secretary has administrative 
or other authority as of the day before the date of 
enactment of this Act: 
(A) Competitive grant programs authorized 
or otherwise administered by the Department of 
Agriculture under the terms of section 2(b) of
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the Competitive, Special and Facilities Research 
Grant (7 U.S.C. 450i). 
(B) Institution Challenge Grants, adminis-
tered under 1417(j) of the National Agricul-
tural Research, Extension, and Teaching Policy 
Act of 1977, as amended (7 U.S.C. 3152(j)). 
(C) Grants and related authorities author-
ized or otherwise administered by the Secretary 
of Agriculture under section 1417(b)(5) of the 
National Agricultural Research, Extension, and 
Teaching Policy Act of 1977, as amended (7 
U.S.C. 3152(b)(5)) (commonly known as the 
Higher Education Multicultural Scholars Pro-
gram). 
(D) Programs authorized or otherwise ad-
ministered under section 1455 of the National 
Agricultural Research, Extension, and Teaching 
Policy Act of 1977 (7 U.S.C. 3241(e)) (com-
monly known as educational grant programs for 
Hispanic-serving institutions). 
(E) Integrated research, education, or ex-
tension programs authorized under section 406 
of the Agricultural Research, Extension, and 
Education Reform Act of 1998 (7 U.S.C. 
7626).
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(F) Sustainable Agriculture Research and 
Education (7 U.S.C. 5811). 
(G) Organic Research and Extension Ini-
tiative (7 U.S.C. 5925b). 
(H) Higher Education Challenge Grants (7 
U.S.C. 3152(b)(1)). 
(I) Food and Agriculture Sciences National 
Needs Graduate and Postgraduate Fellowship 
Grants (7 U.S.C. 3152(b)(6)). 
(J) International Science and Education 
Competitive Grants (7 U.S.C. 3292b). 
(K) Community Food Projects Competitive 
Grants (7 U.S.C. 2034). 
(L) Risk Management Education (7 U.S.C. 
1524). 
(M) High Priority Research and Extension 
Areas (7 U.S.C. 5925). 
(N) Such other programs or parts of pro-
grams as determined appropriate by the Sec-
retary. 
(3) CAPACITY PROGRAM CRITICAL BASE FUND-
ING.—The term ‘‘capacity program critical base 
funding’’ means the aggregate amount of Federal 
funds made available for all or individual capacity 
programs for fiscal year 2007, as appropriate.
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(4) COMPETITIVE
PROGRAM
CRITICAL
BASE 
FUNDING.—The term ‘‘competitive program critical 
base funding’’ means the aggregate amount of Fed-
eral funds made available for all or individual com-
petitive programs for fiscal year 2007, as appro-
priate. 
(5) ASCARR INSTITUTION.— 
(A) IN
GENERAL.—The term ‘‘ASCARR 
Institution’’ means a public college or university 
offering a baccalaureate or higher degree in the 
study of agriculture. 
(B) EXCLUSIONS.—The term ‘‘ASCARR 
Institution’’ does not include Hispanic-serving 
agricultural colleges and universities or any in-
stitution designated under— 
(i) the Act of July 2, 1862 (commonly 
known as the ‘‘First Morrill Act’’; 7 U.S.C. 
301 et seq.); 
(ii) the Act of August 30, 1890 (com-
monly known as the ‘‘Second Morrill Act’’; 
7 U.S.C. 321 et seq.); or 
(iii) the Equity in Educational Land- 
Grant Status Act of 1994 (Public Law 
103–382; 7 U.S.C. 301 note).
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(6) SECRETARY.—The term ‘‘Secretary’’ means 
the Secretary of Agriculture. 
(7) DIRECTORS.—The term ‘‘Directors’’ refers 
to those directors appointed under section 7104. 
(8) UNDER
SECRETARY.—The term ‘‘Under 
Secretary’’ means the Under Secretary of Agri-
culture for Research, Education, and Economics. 
(9) HISPANIC-SERVING
AGRICULTURAL
COL-
LEGE AND UNIVERSITY.—The term ‘‘Hispanic-serv-
ing agricultural college and university’’ means a col-
lege or university that— 
(A) qualifies as an ‘‘Hispanic-serving insti-
tution’’; and 
(B) offers associate, bachelor’s, or other 
accredited degree programs in agricultural re-
lated fields, as determined by the Secretary. 
SEC. 7102. BUDGET SUBMISSION AND FUNDING. 
(a) 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 
capacity programs, and a single budget line item reflecting 
the total amount requested by the President for funding 
for competitive programs for that fiscal year and for the 
previous 5 fiscal years.
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•HR 2419 EH1S 
(b) CAPACITY PROGRAM REQUEST.— 
(1) CRITICAL
BASE
FUNDING.—Up to the 
amount of the capacity program critical base fund-
ing level, any funds requested for capacity programs 
in the budget submission single line item shall be 
apportioned among the capacity programs based on 
priorities established by the Under Secretary in con-
junction with the Directors. 
(2) ADDITIONAL FUNDING.—Of the funds re-
quested for capacity programs in excess of the ca-
pacity program critical base funding level, budgetary 
emphasis should be placed on enhancing funding for 
the 1890, 1994, ASCARR Institutions, Hispanic- 
serving agricultural colleges, and small 1862 institu-
tions. 
(c) COMPETITIVE PROGRAM REQUEST.— 
(1) CRITICAL
BASE
FUNDING.—Up to the 
amount of the competitive program critical base 
funding level, any funds requested for competitive 
programs in the budget submission single line item 
shall be apportioned among the competitive pro-
grams based on priorities established by the Under 
Secretary in conjunction with the Directors. 
(2) ADDITIONAL FUNDING.—Of the funds re-
quested for competitive programs in excess of the
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•HR 2419 EH1S 
competitive program critical base funding level, 
budgetary emphasis shall be placed on enhancing 
funding for emerging problems and their solutions. 
(d) FUNDING.— 
(1) CRITICAL BASE FUNDING.—Up to the total 
aggregate amount of the capacity program critical 
base funding level and the competitive program crit-
ical base funding level, funds appropriated or other-
wise made available shall be apportioned among each 
of the capacity programs and the competitive pro-
grams based on priorities established by the Under 
Secretary in conjunction with the Directors. 
(2) ADDITIONAL FUNDING.— 
(A) CAPACITY
FUNDING.—Of the funds 
appropriated or otherwise made available for 
capacity programs in excess of the capacity pro-
gram critical base funding level, funding em-
phasis should be placed on enhancing funding 
for the 1890, 1994, ASCARR Institutions, His-
panic-serving agricultural colleges, and small 
1862 institutions. 
(B) 
COMPETITIVE
FUNDING.—Of 
the 
funds appropriated or otherwise made available 
for competitive programs in excess of the com-
petitive program critical base funding level,
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•HR 2419 EH1S 
budgetary emphasis shall be placed on enhanc-
ing funding for emerging problems and solu-
tions. 
(e) AUTHORIZATION
OF APPROPRIATIONS.—There 
are authorized to be appropriated such sums as necessary 
to carry out this section. 
(f) COMPETITIVE PROGRAMS.—For the purposes of 
this section, the term ‘‘competitive programs’’ includes 
only those programs for which annual appropriations are 
requested in the President’s budget. 
SEC. 7103. ADDITIONAL PURPOSES OF AGRICULTURAL RE-
SEARCH AND EXTENSION. 
Section 1403 of the National Agricultural Research, 
Extension, and Teaching Policy Act of 1977 (7 U.S.C. 
3102) is amended— 
(1) in paragraph (6), by striking ‘‘and’’ at the 
end; 
(2) in paragraph (7), by striking the period and 
inserting a semicolon; and 
(3) by adding after paragraph (7) the following: 
‘‘(8) to integrate and organize the administra-
tion of the agricultural research, extension, edu-
cation, and related programs administered by the 
Secretary of Agriculture to respond to 21st century 
challenges and continue to meet the needs of society
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•HR 2419 EH1S 
from a local, tribal, State, national, and inter-
national perspective; 
‘‘(9) to minimize duplication, and maximize co-
ordination and integration, among all of the pro-
grams at all levels through a solution-based ap-
proach; and 
‘‘(10) to position the agricultural research, ex-
tension, education, and related programs system to 
increase the contribution of the system to society 
through the expansion of the portfolio of the sys-
tem.’’. 
SEC. 7104. NATIONAL AGRICULTURAL RESEARCH PRO-
GRAM OFFICE. 
(a) ESTABLISHMENT.—The Under Secretary shall 
organize within the office of the Under Secretary 6 re-
search Program Offices to be known collectively as the Na-
tional Agricultural Research Program Office, which shall 
coordinate the programs and activities of the research 
agencies within the mission area in an integrated, multi-
disciplinary, interdisciplinary, interagency, and inter-
institutional manner, to the maximum extent practicable. 
The Program Offices within the National Agricultural Re-
search Program Office are as follows: 
(1) Renewable energy, natural resources, and 
environment.
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•HR 2419 EH1S 
(2) Food safety, nutrition, and health. 
(3) Plant health and production. 
(4) Animal health and production and animal 
products. 
(5) Agriculture systems and technology. 
(6) Agriculture economics and rural commu-
nities. 
(b) QUALIFICATIONS OF DIRECTORS.— 
(1) APPOINTMENT AND CLASSIFICATION.—The 
Under Secretary shall appoint a Director for each 
Program Office as a senior level position in the com-
petitive service. 
(2) QUALIFICATIONS.—To be eligible for ap-
pointment as a Director, an individual shall have— 
(A) conducted outstanding research, edu-
cation, or extension in the field of agriculture or 
forestry; 
(B) earned a doctoral level degree at an in-
stitution of higher education (as defined in sec-
tion 101 of Public Law 89–329 (20 U.S.C. 
1001)); and 
(C) met qualification standards prescribed 
by the Director of the Office of Personnel Man-
agement for appointment to a senior level posi-
tion of the competitive service.
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•HR 2419 EH1S 
(c) DUTIES OF DIRECTORS.—Except as otherwise 
provided in this Act, each Director as appointed by the 
Secretary shall— 
(1) formulate programs in consultation with the 
National Agricultural Research, Extension, Edu-
cation, and Economics Advisory Board (7 U.S.C. 
3123) (hereinafter referred to as the ‘‘Board’’); 
(2) assess strategic workforce needs of research, 
education, extension, and other fields; 
(3) cooperate with the Board to plan programs 
that assist in meeting the future personnel needs of 
disciplines and programs; 
(4) develop strategic planning for department- 
wide research, education, extension, and related ac-
tivities; 
(5) establish department-wide priorities for re-
search, education, extension, and related programs; 
(6) communicate with research, education, and 
extension beneficiaries to identify their needs; and 
(7) perform such other duties deemed necessary 
by the Secretary. 
(d) ADMINISTRATION.—The Under Secretary, in con-
junction with the Directors and in consultation with the 
Board, shall direct and coordinate research, education, 
and extension programs within the relevant agencies of the
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•HR 2419 EH1S 
Department of Agriculture to focus those programs, and 
the participants, grantees, and other beneficiaries of those 
programs, on— 
(1) understanding important problem areas and 
opportunities relating to a program; 
(2) discovering and implementing solutions to 
address those problem areas; 
(3) exploring other opportunities provided 
under the programs; and 
(4) national, regional and local priorities. 
(e) PROGRAM INTEGRATION AND COORDINATION.— 
(1) IN GENERAL.—In accordance with applica-
ble law (including regulations), the Under Secretary, 
in coordination with the Director of each Program 
Office and taking into consideration the advice of 
the Board, shall ensure, to the maximum extent 
practicable, that the research, education, and exten-
sion programs are administered, funded, and carried 
out— 
(A) in an integrated, multidisciplinary, 
interdisciplinary, interagency, and interinstitu-
tional manner that ensures— 
(i) the most efficient collaborative use 
of resources; and
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•HR 2419 EH1S 
(ii) the focus of all resources and ac-
tivities on strategic, priority, problem, op-
portunity, and solution areas identified by 
the Under Secretary and the Directors, 
taking into consideration the advice of the 
Board; and 
(B) among applicable participants, grant-
ees, and beneficiaries, in a coordinated manner 
that encourages and ensures— 
(i) the most efficient collaborative ap-
plication of resources; and 
(ii) the focus of all resources and ac-
tivities on strategic, priority, problem, op-
portunity, and solution areas on a local, 
State, tribal, regional, national, and inter-
national basis, as the Under Secretary and 
each Director, taking into consideration 
the advice of the Board, determine to be 
appropriate. 
(2) SCOPE.—Each Director, in consultation 
with the Under Secretary and the Board, shall en-
sure, through the integration and coordination under 
paragraph (1), that opportunities are maximized 
with respect to—
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•HR 2419 EH1S 
(A) the use of appropriate authorities, 
agencies, institutions, disciplines, and activities; 
and 
(B) the inclusion of appropriate partici-
pants and other beneficiaries in those activities, 
including intramural, extramural, Government, 
university, extension, and international, as de-
termined by the Under Secretary. 
(f) FUNDING.—The Under Secretary shall fund each 
Program Office through the appropriations available to 
the various agencies within the mission area. The aggre-
gate staff for all Program Offices shall not exceed 30 full- 
time equivalent positions and shall be filled by current full- 
time equivalent positions. 
(g) ORGANIZATION.—The Under Secretary shall inte-
grate leadership functions of the national program staff 
of the research agencies into the National Agricultural Re-
search Program Office in such form as required to ensure 
that the Directors of the Program Offices are the primary 
program leaders for the mission areas of the integrated 
agencies and that administrative duplication does not 
occur. 
(h) PRIORITIZING FEDERAL RESEARCH ACTIVITIES 
FOR SPECIALTY CROPS.—The Under Secretary, in coordi-
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•HR 2419 EH1S 
nation with the Directors of relevant Program Offices, 
shall— 
(1) coordinate with and assist producers and 
organizations comprised of program beneficiaries 
working together to develop and implement applied 
research and extension related to the United States 
specialty crop industry; 
(2) facilitate in the delivery of information to 
beneficiaries in a user-friendly form, in addition to 
a standard research publication, and reward pro-
viders for their abilities to deliver information to 
both the scientific community and the end-user; and 
(3) ensure coordination among research initia-
tives funded and sponsored by the Department of 
Agriculture. 
SEC. 7105. ESTABLISHMENT OF COMPETITIVE GRANT PRO-
GRAMS UNDER THE NATIONAL INSTITUTE 
FOR FOOD AND AGRICULTURE. 
Any office established to administer competitive pro-
grams under section 7101(b)(2), including the Agricul-
tural Bioenergy and Biobased Products Research Initia-
tive, the Specialty Crop Research Initiative, and Fresh 
Cut Produce Safety Grants created by this Act, shall be 
referred to as the National Institute of Food and Agri-
culture.
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SEC. 7106. MERGING OF IFAFS AND NRI. 
(a) AMENDMENT.—Subsection (b) of the Competi-
tive, Special, and Facilities Research Grant Act (7 U.S.C. 
450i(b)) is amended to read as follows: 
‘‘(b) COMPETITIVE GRANT PROGRAMS.— 
‘‘(1) COMPETITIVE
BASIS.—The Secretary of 
Agriculture is authorized to make competitive grants 
for the purposes and priorities established under this 
subsection. 
‘‘(2) TERM.—The term of a competitive grant 
made under this subsection may not exceed 10 
years. 
‘‘(3) 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 to advancing the pur-
poses and priorities established under para-
graphs (7) and (11) of this subsection; 
‘‘(D) solicit and consider input from per-
sons who conduct or use agricultural research,
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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 
‘‘(E) in seeking proposals for grants under 
this subsection and in performing peer review 
evaluations of such proposals, seek the widest 
participation of qualified scientists in the Fed-
eral Government, colleges and universities, 
State agricultural experiment stations, and the 
private sector. 
‘‘(4) ELIGIBLE ENTITIES.—The Secretary may 
make a grant under this subsection to State agricul-
tural experiment stations, all colleges and univer-
sities, university research foundations, other re-
search institutions and organizations, Federal agen-
cies, national laboratories, private organizations or 
corporations, and individuals, for research to further 
the programs of the Department of Agriculture. 
‘‘(5) ADMINISTRATIVE COSTS.—Not more than 
4 percent of funds made available pursuant to this 
subsection may be retained by the Secretary to pay 
administrative costs incurred by the Secretary in 
carrying out this subsection.
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‘‘(6) 
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). 
‘‘(7) PURPOSES.—The purposes of the pro-
grams established under paragraph (8) shall reflect 
the purposes and additional purposes of agricultural 
research, extension, and education reflected in sec-
tions 1402 and 1403 of the National Agricultural 
Research, Extension, and Teaching Policy Act of 
1977 (7 U.S.C. 3101 and 3102). 
‘‘(8) BASIC
AND
APPLIED
RESEARCH
PRO-
GRAMS.—The Secretary shall establish 2 distinct 
programs of agricultural research, one to fund fun-
damental, basic research pursuant to paragraph (9) 
to be known as the National Research Initiative and 
one to fund applied, integrated research, education, 
and extension pursuant to paragraph (10) to be 
known as the Initiative for Future Agricultural and 
Food Systems. 
‘‘(9) NATIONAL RESEARCH INITIATIVE.—
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‘‘(A) 
ALLOCATION.—The 
allocation 
of 
funds to the National Research Initiative shall 
be as follows: 
‘‘(i) Not less than 30 percent shall be 
available to make grants for research to be 
conducted by multidisciplinary teams. 
‘‘(ii) Not less than 20 percent shall be 
available to make grants for research to be 
conducted by persons conducting mission- 
linked systems research. 
‘‘(iii) Not less than 10 percent shall 
be available to make grants under subpara-
graphs (D), (F), and (G) of paragraph 
(13) for research and education strength-
ening and research opportunity. 
‘‘(iv) Not more than 2 percent may be 
used for equipment grants under para-
graph (13)(D). 
‘‘(B) MATCHING FUNDS.—Except as pro-
vided in this subparagraph, the Secretary may 
not take the offer or availability of matching 
funds into consideration in making a grant 
under this subsection. In the case of grants 
under paragraph (13)(D), the amount provided 
under this subsection may not exceed 50 per-