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(1) REPORT REQUIRED.—The Comptroller Gen-
eral of the United States shall prepare a report to de-
termine—
(A) whether socially disadvantaged produc-
ers are underrepresented on State, county, area,
or local committees established under section
8(b)(5) of the Soil Conservation and Domestic
Allotment Act (16 U.S.C. 590h(b)(5)) or local re-
view committees established under section 363 of
the Agricultural Adjustment Act of 1938 (7
U.S.C. 1363) because of racial, ethnic, or gender
prejudice; and
(B) if such underrepresentation exists,
whether it inhibits or interferes with the partici-
pation of socially disadvantaged producers in
programs of the Department of Agriculture.
(2) SUBMISSION
OF
REPORT.—Not later than
February 1, 1995, the Comptroller General shall sub-
mit the report required by this subsection to the Com-
mittee on Agriculture of the House of Representatives
and the Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and
Forestry of the Senate.
(d) DEFINITION.—For purposes of this section, the
term ‘‘socially disadvantaged producer’’ means a producer
who is a member of a group whose members have been sub-
164
jected to racial, ethnic, or gender prejudice because of their
identity as members of a group without regard to their in-
dividual qualities.
SEC. 306. AVIATION INSPECTIONS.
(a) STUDY REGARDING ACCEPTANCE
OF FEDERAL
AVIATION ADMINISTRATION AIRCRAFT INSPECTIONS.—
(1) INTENT OF STUDY.—The intent of the study
required by this subsection is to examine the cost effi-
ciencies of conducting inspections of aircraft and pi-
lots by one Federal agency without reducing aircraft,
passenger, or pilot safety standards or lowering mis-
sion preparedness.
(2) STUDY REQUIRED.—The Secretary of Agri-
culture and the Secretary of Transportation shall
jointly conduct a study of the inspection specifica-
tions and procedures by which aircraft and pilots
contracted by the Department are certified to deter-
mine the cost efficiencies of eliminating duplicative
Department inspection requirements and transferring
some or all inspection requirements to the Federal
Aviation Administration, while ensuring that neither
aircraft, passenger, nor pilot safety is reduced and
that mission preparedness is maintained.
(3) SPECIAL
CONSIDERATIONS.—In conducting
the study, the Secretaries shall evaluate current in-
165
spection specifications and procedures mandated by
the Department and the Forest Service, taking into
consideration the unique requirements and risks of
particular Department and Forest Service missions
that may require special inspection specifications and
procedures to ensure the safety of Department and
Forest Service personnel and their contractees.
(4) MAINTENANCE
OF
STANDARDS
AND
PRE-
PAREDNESS.—In making recommendations to trans-
fer inspection authority or otherwise change Depart-
ment inspection specifications and procedures, the
Secretaries shall ensure that the implementation of
any such recommendations does not lower aircraft or
pilot standards or preparedness for Department or
Forest Service missions.
(5) SUBMISSION OF RESULTS.—Not later than
180 days after the date of the enactment of this Act,
the Secretaries shall submit to Congress the results of
the study, including any recommendations to transfer
inspection authority or otherwise change Department
inspection specifications and procedures and a cost-
benefit analysis of such recommendations.
(b) REVIEW
OF
RECENTLY
ADOPTED
AIRCRAFT
POLICY.—
166
(1) REVIEW REQUIRED.—The Secretary of Agri-
culture shall review the policy initiated by the Sec-
retary on July 1, 1994, to accept Federal Aviation
Administration inspections on aircraft and pilots
that provide ‘‘airport to airport’’ service for the For-
est Service. The policy is currently being coopera-
tively developed by the Department and the Federal
Aviation Administration and is intended to reduce
duplicative inspections and to reduce Government
costs, while maintaining aircraft, passenger, and
pilot safety standards, specifications and procedures
currently required by the Department and the Forest
Service.
(2) EXPANSION OF POLICY.—As part of the re-
view, the Secretary of Agriculture shall examine the
feasibility and desirability of applying this policy on
a Government-wide basis.
(3) SUBMISSION OF RESULTS.—Not later than
one year after the date of the implementation of the
policy, the Secretary of Agriculture shall submit to
Congress the results of the review, including any rec-
167
ommendations that the Secretary considers appro-
priate.
Attest:
Clerk.