I 
114TH CONGRESS 
1ST SESSION H. R. 3828 
To amend the National Agricultural Research, Extension, and Teaching Policy 
Act of 1977 to provide for an equitable distribution of formula funds 
between land-grant colleges and universities, and for other purposes. 
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
OCTOBER 26, 2015 
Ms. BROWN of Florida (for herself, Mr. THOMPSON of Mississippi, Ms. NOR-
TON, Ms. ADAMS, Mr. SCOTT of Virginia, Mr. BUTTERFIELD, Ms. EDDIE 
BERNICE JOHNSON of Texas, Ms. SEWELL of Alabama, Mrs. BEATTY, 
Mrs. WATSON COLEMAN, Mr. JEFFRIES, Ms. EDWARDS, Mr. FATTAH, 
Ms. FUDGE, Mr. BISHOP of Georgia, Ms. PLASKETT, Mr. MEEKS, Mr. 
JOHNSON of Georgia, Mr. CLEAVER, Mr. DANNY K. DAVIS of Illinois, 
Ms. JACKSON LEE, Mr. RICHMOND, Ms. WILSON of Florida, Mr. HAS-
TINGS, Mr. CLYBURN, Ms. CLARKE of New York, Ms. BASS, Mr. AL 
GREEN of Texas, Mr. VEASEY, Ms. MAXINE WATERS of California, Mr. 
RANGEL, Ms. LEE, Mr. RUSH, Mr. CLAY, Mr. LEWIS, and Mr. CUM-
MINGS) introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee 
on Agriculture 
A BILL 
To amend the National Agricultural Research, Extension, 
and Teaching Policy Act of 1977 to provide for an equi-
table distribution of formula funds between land-grant 
colleges and universities, and for other purposes. 
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representa-
tives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, 
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SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE. 
This Act may be cited as the ‘‘The Land-Grant Op-
portunity Act’’. 
SEC. 2. EQUITABLE DISTRIBUTION OF FORMULA FUNDS TO 
LAND-GRANT COLLEGES AND UNIVERSITIES. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—Subtitle G of the National Agri-
cultural Research, Extension, and Teaching Policy Act of 
1977 (7 U.S.C. 3221 et seq.) is amended by adding at 
the end the following new sections: 
‘‘SEC. 1449A. FORMULA FOR DISTRIBUTION OF EXTENSION 
FUNDS TO LAND-GRANT COLLEGES AND UNI-
VERSITIES. 
‘‘(a) DEFINITIONS.—In this section: 
‘‘(1) 1862-INSTITUTION; 1890-INSTITUTION.— 
The terms ‘1862-institution’ and ‘1890-institution’ 
have the meanings given such terms in section 2 of 
the Agricultural Research, Extension, and Education 
Reform Act of 1998 (7 U.S.C. 7601). 
‘‘(2) DISTRIBUTION
FORMULA
STATE.—The 
term ‘distribution formula State’ means a State— 
‘‘(A) in which at least one 1862-institution 
and at least one 1890-institution are located; 
‘‘(B) that provides matching funds in an 
amount equal to more than 50 percent of the 
extension funds to be distributed to such land- 
grant colleges and universities; and 
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‘‘(C)(i) with respect to any 1890-institu-
tion in such State, that does not provide match-
ing funds in an amount equal to the amount of 
Federal funds available to be distributed to 
such institution under section 1444; or 
‘‘(ii) with respect to any 1862-institution 
in such State, that does not provide matching 
funds in an amount equal to the amount of 
Federal funds available to be distributed to 
such institution under the Act of May 8, 1914 
(7 U.S.C. 341 et seq.; commonly known as the 
Smith-Lever Act). 
‘‘(3) EXTENSION FUNDS.—The term ‘extension 
funds’ means funds distributed— 
‘‘(A) in the case of an 1890-institution, 
under section 1444; and 
‘‘(B) in the case of an 1862-institution, 
under the Act of May 8, 1914 (7 U.S.C. 341 
et seq.; commonly known as the Smith-Lever 
Act). 
‘‘(4) FULLY MATCHED RATIO.—The term ‘fully 
matched ratio’ means— 
‘‘(A) in the case of an 1862-institution, if 
the State provided matching funds in an 
amount equal to the amount of Federal funds 
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available to be distributed to the institution 
under the Act of May 8, 1914 (7 U.S.C. 341 
et seq.; commonly known as the Smith-Lever 
Act), for a fiscal year, the ratio that the sum 
of the amount of funds that would be distrib-
uted to such institution under such Act for such 
fiscal year and the amount of matching funds 
the State would provide to such institution for 
such fiscal year would bear to, with respect to 
each other land-grant college or university in 
the State, the sum of the amount of funds that 
would be distributed to such land-grant college 
or university in the State under such Act or 
under section 1444, as the case may be, for 
such fiscal year and the amount of matching 
funds the State would provide to such college or 
university for such fiscal year; or 
‘‘(B) in the case of an 1890-institution, if 
the State provided matching funds in an 
amount equal to the amount of Federal funds 
available to be distributed to the institution 
under section 1444 for a fiscal year, the ratio 
that the sum of the amount of funds that would 
be distributed to such institution under such 
Act for such fiscal year and the amount of 
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matching funds the State would provide to such 
institution for such fiscal year would bear to, 
with respect to each other land-grant college or 
university in the State, the sum of the amount 
of funds that would be distributed to such land- 
grant college or university in the State under 
section 1444 or under the Act of May 8, 1914 
(7 U.S.C. 341 et seq.; commonly known as the 
Smith-Lever Act), as the case may be, for such 
fiscal year and the amount of matching funds 
the State would provide to such college or uni-
versity for such fiscal year. 
‘‘(5) SHORTFALL
PERCENTAGE.—The term 
‘shortfall percentage’ means, with respect to a short-
fall State, the percentage that equals 100 percentage 
points minus the number of percentage points by 
which a shortfall State is deficient in providing 
matching funds below 50 percentage points, as de-
scribed in paragraph (6)(B). 
‘‘(6) SHORTFALL STATE.—The term ‘shortfall 
State’ means a State— 
‘‘(A) in which at least one 1862-institution 
and at least one 1890-institution are located; 
and 
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‘‘(B) that provides matching funds in an 
amount equal to 50 percent or less of the exten-
sion funds to be distributed to such land-grant 
colleges and universities. 
‘‘(b) DETERMINATION OF NON-FEDERAL SOURCES 
OF FUNDS.—Beginning not later than September 30, 
2016, and each September 30 thereafter, each land-grant 
college or university in a distribution formula State shall 
submit to the Secretary a report describing for the pre-
ceding fiscal year— 
‘‘(1) the sources of non-Federal funds made 
available by the State to the land-grant college or 
university for agricultural extension and education 
to meet the requirement of section 1449; and 
‘‘(2) the amount of such funds generally avail-
able from each source. 
‘‘(c) DISTRIBUTION FORMULA.— 
‘‘(1) IN GENERAL.—Beginning with fiscal year 
2016, in the case of a distribution formula State, 
the amount of extension funds to be distributed to 
land-grant colleges and universities in such State 
shall be distributed for a fiscal year in accordance 
with paragraph (2). 
‘‘(2) FORMULA.— 
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‘‘(A) IN
GENERAL.—Of the extension 
funds available to be distributed to a land-grant 
college or university in a distribution formula 
State for a fiscal year, such funds shall be dis-
tributed such that the ratio described in sub-
paragraph (B) for land-grant colleges and uni-
versities in the State is made to equal the fully 
matched ratio for land-grant colleges and uni-
versities in the State. 
‘‘(B) ADJUSTED
DISTRIBUTION
RATIO.— 
The ratio described in this subparagraph is— 
‘‘(i) the ratio that, in the case of an 
1862-institution in a State, the sum of the 
amount of funds to be distributed to such 
institution under the Act of May 8, 1914 
(7 U.S.C. 341 et seq.; commonly known as 
the Smith-Lever Act), for a fiscal year and 
the amount of matching funds the State 
provides to such institution for such fiscal 
year bears to, with respect to each other 
land-grant college or university in the 
State, the sum of the amount of funds to 
be distributed to such land-grant college or 
university in the State under such Act or 
under section 1444, as the case may be, 
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tion of extension funds to land-grant colleges 
and universities in a shortfall State in the same 
manner as such formula applies to the distribu-
tion of extension funds to land-grant colleges 
and universities in a distribution formula State 
for a fiscal year. 
‘‘(B) AMOUNT OF FEDERAL FUNDS AVAIL-
ABLE
FOR
DISTRIBUTION.—In the case of a 
shortfall State, the total amount of extension 
funds available to be distributed to the land- 
grant colleges and universities in such State 
shall equal the product of— 
‘‘(i) the total amount which such col-
leges and universities are eligible to receive 
under the Act of May 8, 1914 (7 U.S.C. 
341 et seq.; commonly known as the 
Smith-Lever Act), and section 1444 for a 
fiscal year; and 
‘‘(ii) the shortfall percentage for such 
State and such fiscal year. 
‘‘SEC. 1449B. FORMULA FOR DISTRIBUTION OF RESEARCH 
FUNDS TO LAND-GRANT COLLEGES AND UNI-
VERSITIES. 
‘‘(a) DEFINITIONS.—In this section: 
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‘‘(1) 1862-INSTITUTION; 1890-INSTITUTION.— 
The terms ‘1862-institution’ and ‘1890-institution’ 
have the meanings given such terms in section 2 of 
the Agricultural Research, Extension, and Education 
Reform Act of 1998 (7 U.S.C. 7601). 
‘‘(2) DISTRIBUTION
FORMULA
STATE.—The 
term ‘distribution formula State’ means a State— 
‘‘(A) in which at least one 1862-institution 
and at least one 1890-institution are located; 
‘‘(B) that provides matching funds in an 
amount equal to more than 50 percent of the 
research funds to be distributed to such land- 
grant colleges and universities; and 
‘‘(C)(i) with respect to any 1890-institu-
tion in such State, that does not provide match-
ing funds in an amount equal to the amount of 
Federal funds available to be distributed to 
such institution under section 1445; or 
‘‘(ii) with respect to any 1862-institution 
in such State, that does not provide matching 
funds in an amount equal to the amount of 
Federal funds available to be distributed to 
such institution under the Act of March 2, 
1887 (7 U.S.C. 361a et seq.; commonly known 
as the Hatch Act of 1887). 
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‘‘(3) FULLY MATCHED RATIO.—The term ‘fully 
matched ratio’ means— 
‘‘(A) in the case of an 1862-institution, if 
the State provided matching funds in an 
amount equal to the amount of Federal funds 
available to be distributed to the institution 
under the Act of March 2, 1887 (7 U.S.C. 361a 
et seq.; commonly known as the Hatch Act of 
1887), for a fiscal year, the ratio that the sum 
of the amount of funds that would be distrib-
uted to such institution under such Act for such 
fiscal year and the amount of matching funds 
the State would provide to such institution for 
such fiscal year would bear to, with respect to 
each other land-grant college or university in 
the State, the sum of the amount of funds that 
would be distributed to such other land-grant 
college or university in the State under such 
Act or under section 1445, as the case may be, 
for such fiscal year and the amount of match-
ing funds the State would provide to such col-
lege or university for such fiscal year; or 
‘‘(B) in the case of an 1890-institution, if 
the State provided matching funds in an 
amount equal to the amount of Federal funds 
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available to be distributed to the institution 
under section 1445 for a fiscal year, the ratio 
that the sum of the amount of funds that would 
be distributed to such institution under such 
Act for such fiscal year and the amount of 
matching funds the State would provide to such 
institution for such fiscal year would bear to, 
with respect to each other land-grant college or 
university in the State, the sum of the amount 
of funds that would be distributed to such land- 
grant college or university in the State under 
section 1445 or under the Act of March 2, 
1887 (7 U.S.C. 361a et seq.; commonly known 
as the Hatch Act of 1887), as the case may be, 
for such fiscal year and the amount of match-
ing funds the State would provide to such col-
lege or university for such fiscal year. 
‘‘(4) RESEARCH
FUNDS.—The term ‘research 
funds’ means funds distributed— 
‘‘(A) in the case of an 1890-institution, 
under section 1445; and 
‘‘(B) in the case of an 1862-institution, 
under the Act of March 2, 1887 (7 U.S.C. 361a 
et seq.; commonly known as the Hatch Act of 
1887). 
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‘‘(5) SHORTFALL
PERCENTAGE.—The term 
‘shortfall percentage’ means, with respect to a short-
fall State, the percentage that equals 100 percentage 
points minus the number of percentage points by 
which a shortfall State is deficient in providing 
matching funds below 50 percentage points, as de-
scribed in paragraph (6)(B). 
‘‘(6) SHORTFALL STATE.—In this section, the 
term ‘shortfall State’ means a State— 
‘‘(A) in which at least one 1862-institution 
and at least one 1890-institution are located; 
and 
‘‘(B) that provides matching funds in an 
amount equal to 50 percent or less of the re-
search funds to be distributed to such land- 
grant colleges and universities. 
‘‘(b) DETERMINATION OF NON-FEDERAL SOURCES 
OF FUNDS.—Beginning not later than September 30, 
2016, and each September 30 thereafter, each land-grant 
college or university in a distribution formula State shall 
submit to the Secretary a report describing for the pre-
ceding fiscal year— 
‘‘(1) the sources of non-Federal funds made 
available by the State to the land-grant college or 
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university for agricultural research to meet the re-
quirement of section 1449; and 
‘‘(2) the amount of such funds generally avail-
able from each source. 
‘‘(c) DISTRIBUTION FORMULA.— 
‘‘(1) IN GENERAL.—Beginning with fiscal year 
2016, in the case of a distribution formula State, 
the amount of research funds to be distributed to 
land-grant colleges and universities in such State 
shall be distributed in accordance with paragraph 
(2). 
‘‘(2) FORMULA.— 
‘‘(A) IN GENERAL.—Of the research funds 
available to be distributed to a land-grant col-
lege or university in a distribution formula 
State for a fiscal year, such funds shall be dis-
tributed such that the ratio described in sub-
paragraph (B) for land-grant colleges and uni-
versities in the State is made to equal the fully 
matched ratio for land-grant colleges and uni-
versities in the State. 
‘‘(B) ADJUSTED
DISTRIBUTION
RATIO.— 
The ratio described in this subparagraph is— 
‘‘(i) the ratio that, in the case of an 
1862-institution in a State, the sum of the 
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