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Rural Electrification Act of 1936, borrower interest rates
may exceed 7 percent per year.
In addition, for administrative expenses necessary to
carry out the direct and guaranteed loan programs,
$29,982,000, which shall be transferred to and merged
with the appropriation for ‘‘Salaries and Expenses.’’
RURAL TELEPHONE BANK PROGRAM ACCOUNT
The Rural Telephone Bank is hereby authorized to
make such expenditures, within the limits of funds avail-
able to such corporation in accord with law, and to make
such contracts and commitments without regard to fiscal
year limitations as provided by section 104 of the Govern-
ment Corporation Control Act, as amended, as may be
necessary in carrying out its authorized programs for the
current fiscal year. During fiscal year 1997 and within
the resources and authority available, gross obligations for
the 
principal 
amount 
of 
direct 
loans 
shall 
be
$175,000,000.
For the cost, as defined in section 502 of the Con-
gressional Budget Act of 1974, including the cost of modi-
fying loans, of direct loans authorized by the Rural Elec-
trification Act of 1936, as amended (7 U.S.C. 935),
$2,328,000.
In addition, for administrative expenses necessary to
carry out the loan programs, $3,500,000.
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DISTANCE LEARNING AND MEDICAL LINK PROGRAM
For the cost of direct loans and grants, as authorized
by 7 U.S.C. 950aaa et seq., as amended, $7,500,000
$10,000,000, to remain available until expended, to be
available for loans and grants for telemedicine and dis-
tance learning services in rural areas: Provided, That the
costs of direct loans shall be as defined in section 502 of
the Congressional Budget Act of 1974.
RURAL UTILITIES ASSISTANCE PROGRAM
(INCLUDING TRANSFERS OF FUNDS)
For the cost of direct loans, loan guarantees, and
grants, as authorized by 7 U.S.C. 1926, 1928, and 1932,
except for 381E, 381H, 381N of the Consolidated Farm
and Rural Development Act, $496,868,000 $657,942,000,
to remain available until expended, for direct loans and
loan guarantees and grants for rural water and waste dis-
posal, and solid waste management grants of the Rural
Utilities Service: Provided, That the cost of direct loans
and loan guarantees shall be as defined in section 502 of
the Congressional Budget Act of 1974, as amended: Pro-
vided further, That the amounts appropriated shall be
transferred to loan program and grant accounts as deter-
mined by the Secretary: Provided further, That, through
June 30, 1997, of the total amount appropriated,
$18,700,000 shall be available for the costs of direct loans,
loan guarantees, and grants to be made available for
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empowerment zones and enterprise communities, as au-
thorized by Public Law 103–66: Provided further, That,
of the total amount appropriated, not to exceed
$18,700,000 shall be for water and waste disposal systems
to benefit the Colonias along the United States/Mexico
border, including grants pursuant to section 306C of the
Consolidated Farm and Rural Development Act, as
amended: Provided further, That, of the total amount ap-
propriated, not to exceed $5,000,000 $5,400,000 shall be
available for contracting with qualified national organiza-
tions for a circuit rider program to provide technical as-
sistance for rural water systems: Provided further, That
an amount not less than that available in fiscal year 1996
be set aside and made available for ongoing technical as-
sistance under sections 306(a)(14) (7 U.S.C. 1926) and
310(B)(b) of the Consolidated Farm and Rural Develop-
ment Act (7 U.S.C. 1932).
SALARIES AND EXPENSES
For necessary expenses of the Rural Utilities Service,
including administering the programs authorized by the
Rural Electrification Act of 1936, as amended, and the
Consolidated Farm and Rural Development Act, as
amended, and cooperative agreements, $33,195,000: Pro-
vided, That this appropriation shall be available for em-
ployment pursuant to the second sentence of 706(a) of the
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Organic Act of 1944, and not to exceed $105,000 may
be used for employment under 5 U.S.C. 3109.
TITLE IV
DOMESTIC FOOD PROGRAMS
OFFICE OF THE UNDER SECRETARY FOR FOOD,
NUTRITION AND CONSUMER SERVICES
For necessary salaries and expenses of the Office of
the Under Secretary for Food, Nutrition and Consumer
Services to administer the laws enacted by the Congress
for the Food and Consumer Service, $454,000 $554,000.
CHILD NUTRITION PROGRAMS
(INCLUDING TRANSFERS OF FUNDS)
For necessary expenses to carry out the National
School Lunch Act (42 U.S.C. 1751–1769b), except section
21, and the Child Nutrition Act of 1966 (42 U.S.C. 1772–
1785, 
and 
1789); 
except 
sections 
and 
19;
$8,652,597,000
$8,654,797,000, to remain available
through September 30, 1998, of which $3,218,844,000
$3,221,044,000 is hereby appropriated and $5,433,753,000
shall be derived by transfer from funds available under
section 32 of the Act of August 24, 1935 (7 U.S.C.
612c):–Provided, That none of the funds made available
under this heading shall be used for new studies and eval-
uations: Provided, That not to exceed $2,000,000 of the
funds made available under this heading shall be used for
studies and evaluations: Provided further, That up to
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$4,031,000 shall be available for independent verification
of school food service claims.
SPECIAL SUPPLEMENTAL NUTRITION PROGRAM FOR
WOMEN, INFANTS, AND CHILDREN (WIC)
For necessary expenses to carry out the special sup-
plemental nutrition program as authorized by section 17
of the Child Nutrition Act of 1966 (42 U.S.C. 1786),
$3,729,807,000, to remain available through September
30, 1998: Provided, That none of the funds made available
under this heading may be used to begin more than two
studies and evaluations: Provided further, That up to
$6,750,000 may be used to carry out the farmers’ market
nutrition program from any funds not needed to maintain
current caseload levels:–Provided further, That, of the
total amount of fiscal year 1996 carryover funds that can-
not be spent in fiscal year 1997, any funds in excess of
$100,000,000 may be transferred by the Secretary to
other programs in the Department of Agriculture, exclud-
ing the Forest Service, with prior notification to the House
and Senate Appropriations Committees: Provided further,
That once the amount for fiscal year 1996 carryover funds
has been determined by the Secretary, any funds in excess
of $100,000,000 may be transferred by the Secretary of Ag-
riculture to any loan program of the Department and/or
to make available up to $10,000,000 for the WIC farmers’
market nutrition program: Provided further, That none of
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the funds in this Act shall be available to pay administra-
tive expenses of WIC clinics except those that have an an-
nounced policy of prohibiting smoking within the space
used to carry out the program: Provided further, That
none of the funds provided in this account shall be avail-
able for the purchase of infant formula except in accord-
ance with the cost containment and competitive bidding
requirements specified in section 17 of the Child Nutrition
Act of 1966 (42 U.S.C. 1786): Provided further, That
State agencies required to procure infant formula using a
competitive bidding system may use funds appropriated by
this Act to purchase infant formula under a cost contain-
ment contract entered into after September 30, 1996 only
if the contract was awarded to the bidder offering the lowest
net price, as defined by section 17(b)(20) of the Child Nutri-
tion Act of 1966, unless the State agency demonstrates to
the satisfaction of the Secretary that the weighted average
retail price for different brands of infant formula in the
State does not vary by more than five percent.
FOOD STAMP PROGRAM
For necessary expenses to carry out the Food Stamp
Act (7 U.S.C. 2011–2029 2011 et seq.), $27,615,029,000
$28,521,029,000: Provided, That funds provided herein
shall remain available through September 30, 1997, in ac-
cordance with section 18(a) of the Food Stamp Act: Pro-
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vided further, That $100,000,000 $1,000,000,000 of the
foregoing amount shall be placed in reserve for use only
in such amounts and at such times as may become nec-
essary to carry out program operations:–Provided further,
That none of the funds made available under this heading
shall be used for new studies and evaluations: Provided
further, That not to exceed $6,000,000 of the funds made
available under this heading shall be used for studies and
evaluations: Provided further, That funds provided herein
shall be expended in accordance with section 16 of the
Food Stamp Act: Provided further, That this appropria-
tion shall be subject to any work registration or workfare
requirements as may be required by law: Provided further,
That $1,174,000,000 of the foregoing amount shall be
available for nutrition assistance for Puerto Rico as au-
thorized by 7 U.S.C. 2028.
COMMODITY ASSISTANCE PROGRAM
For necessary expenses to carry out the commodity
supplemental food program as authorized by section 4(a)
of the Agriculture and Consumer Protection Act of 1973
(7 U.S.C. 612c (note)), the Emergency Food Assistance
Act of 1983, as amended, and section 110 of the Hunger
Prevention Act of 1988, $166,000,000, to remain avail-
able through September 30, 1998: Provided, That none
of these funds shall be available to reimburse the Com-
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modity Credit Corporation for commodities donated to the
program.
FOOD DONATIONS PROGRAMS FOR SELECTED GROUPS
For necessary expenses to carry out section 4(a) of
the Agriculture and Consumer Protection Act of 1973 (7
U.S.C. 612c (note)), section 4(b) of the Food Stamp Act
(7 U.S.C. 2013(b)), and section 311 of the Older Ameri-
cans Act of 1965, as amended (42 U.S.C. 3030a),
$205,000,000 $141,250,000, to remain available through
September 30, 1998.
FOOD PROGRAM ADMINISTRATION
For necessary administrative expenses of the domes-
tic food programs funded under this Act, $104,487,000
$107,769,000, of which $5,000,000 shall be available only
for simplifying procedures, reducing overhead costs, tight-
ening regulations, improving food stamp coupon handling,
and assistance in the prevention, identification, and pros-
ecution of fraud and other violations of law: Provided,
That this appropriation shall be available for employment
pursuant to the second sentence of section 706(a) of the
Organic Act of 1944 (7 U.S.C. 2225), and not to exceed
$150,000 shall be available for employment under 5
U.S.C. 3109.
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TITLE V
FOREIGN ASSISTANCE AND RELATED
PROGRAMS
FOREIGN AGRICULTURAL SERVICE AND GENERAL SALES
MANAGER
(INCLUDING TRANSFERS OF FUNDS)
For necessary expenses of the Foreign Agricultural
Service, including carrying out title VI of the Agricultural
Act of 1954, as amended (7 U.S.C. 1761–1768), market
development activities abroad, and for enabling the Sec-
retary to coordinate and integrate activities of the Depart-
ment in connection with foreign agricultural work, includ-
ing not to exceed $128,000 for representation allowances
and for expenses pursuant to section 8 of the Act approved
August 3, 1956 (7 U.S.C. 1766), $128,005,000
$138,561,000, of which $2,792,000 $3,231,000 may be
transferred from the Export Loan Program account in
this Act, and $1,005,000 $1,035,000 may be transferred
from the Public Law 480 program account in this Act:
Provided, That the Service may utilize advances of funds,
or reimburse this appropriation for expenditures made on
behalf of Federal agencies, public and private organiza-
tions and institutions under agreements executed pursu-
ant to the agricultural food production assistance pro-
grams (7 U.S.C. 1736) and the foreign assistance pro-
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grams of the International Development Cooperation Ad-
ministration (22 U.S.C. 2392):–Provided further, That
funds provided for foreign market development to trade
associations, cooperatives and small businesses shall be al-
located only after a competitive bidding process to target
funds to those entities most likely to generate additional
U.S. exports as a result of the expenditure.
None of the funds in the foregoing paragraph shall
be available to promote the sale or export of tobacco or
tobacco products.
PUBLIC LAW 480 PROGRAM AND GRANT ACCOUNTS
(INCLUDING TRANSFERS OF FUNDS)
For expenses during the current fiscal year, not oth-
erwise recoverable, and unrecovered prior years’ costs, in-
cluding interest thereon, under the Agricultural Trade De-
velopment and Assistance Act of 1954, as amended (7
U.S.C. 1691, 1701–1715, 1721–1726, 1727–1727f,
1731–1736g), as follows: (1) $216,400,000 $218,944,000
for Public Law 480 title I credit, including Food for
Progress programs; (2) $13,905,000 is hereby appro-
priated for ocean freight differential costs for the ship-
ment of agricultural commodities pursuant to title I of
said Act and the Food for Progress Act of 1985, as
amended; (3) $837,000,000 is hereby appropriated for
commodities supplied in connection with dispositions
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abroad pursuant to title II of said Act; and (4)
$29,500,000 $40,000,000 is hereby appropriated for com-
modities supplied in connection with dispositions abroad
pursuant to title III of said Act: Provided, That not to
exceed 15 percent of the funds made available to carry
out any title of said Act may be used to carry out any
other title of said Act: Provided further, That such sums
shall remain available until expended (7 U.S.C. 2209b).
For the cost, as defined in section 502 of the Con-
gressional Budget Act of 1974, of direct credit agreements
as authorized by the Agricultural Trade Development and
Assistance Act of 1954, as amended, and the Food for
Progress Act of 1985, as amended, including the cost of
modifying 
credit 
agreements 
under 
said 
Act,
$177,000,000 $179,082,000.
In addition, for administrative expenses to carry out
the Public Law 480 title I credit program, and the Food
for Progress Act of 1985, as amended, to the extent funds
appropriated for Public Law 480 are utilized, $1,750,000
$1,818,000.
COMMODITY CREDIT CORPORATION EXPORT LOANS
PROGRAM ACCOUNT
(INCLUDING TRANSFERS OF FUNDS)
For administrative expenses to carry out the Com-
modity Credit Corporation’s export guarantee program,
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GSM 102 and GSM 103, $3,381,000 $3,820,000; to cover
common overhead expenses as permitted by section 11 of
the Commodity Credit Corporation Charter Act and in
conformity with the Federal Credit Reform Act of 1990,
of which not to exceed $2,792,000 $3,231,000 may be
transferred to and merged with the appropriation for the
salaries and expenses of the Foreign Agricultural Service,
and of which not to exceed $589,000 may be transferred
to and merged with the appropriation for the salaries and
expenses of the Farm Service Agency.
EXPORT CREDIT
The Commodity Credit Corporation shall make avail-
able not less than $5,500,000,000 in credit guarantees
under its export credit guarantee program extended to fi-
nance the export sales of United States agricultural com-
modities and the products thereof, as authorized by sec-
tion 202 (a) and (b) of the Agricultural Trade Act of 1978
(7 U.S.C. 5641).
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TITLE VI
RELATED AGENCIES AND FOOD AND DRUG
ADMINISTRATION
DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN
SERVICES
FOOD AND DRUG ADMINISTRATION
SALARIES AND EXPENSES
For necessary expenses of the Food and Drug Ad-
ministration, including hire and purchase of passenger
motor vehicles; for rental of special purpose space in the
District of Columbia or elsewhere; and for miscellaneous
and emergency expenses of enforcement activities, author-
ized and approved by the Secretary and to be accounted
for solely on the Secretary’s certificate, not to exceed
$25,000; 
$907,499,000, 
of 
which 
not 
to 
exceed
$87,528,000 in fees pursuant to section 736 of the Fed-
eral Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act may be credited to
this appropriation and remain available until expended:
Provided, That fees derived from applications received
during fiscal year 1997 shall be subject to the fiscal year
1997 limitation: Provided further, That none of these
funds shall be used to develop, establish, or operate any
program of user fees authorized by 31 U.S.C. 9701.
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In addition, fees pursuant to section 354 of the Pub-
lic Health Service Act may be credited to this account,
to remain available until expended.
In addition, fees pursuant to section 801 of the Fed-
eral Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act may be credited to
this account, to remain available until expended.
None of the funds appropriated or made available to
the Federal Food and Drug Administration shall be used
to implement any rule finalizing the August 25, 1995 pro-
posed rule entitled ‘‘The Prescription Drug Product La-
beling; Medication Guide Requirements,’’ except as to any
specific drug or biological product where the FDA deter-
mines that without approved patient information there
would be a serious and significant public health risk.
GENERAL PROVISIONS
SECTION 601. EFFECTIVE MEDICATION GUIDES.—
(a) IN GENERAL.—Not later than 30 days after
the date of enactment of this Act, the Secretary of the
Department of Health and Human Services shall re-
quest that national organizations representing health
care professionals, consumer organizations, voluntary
health agencies, the pharmaceutical industry, drug
wholesalers, patient drug information database com-
panies, and other relevant parties collaborate to de-
velop a long-range comprehensive action plan to
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achieve goals consistent with the goals of the proposed
rule of the Food and Drug Administration on ‘‘Pre-
scription Drug Product Labeling: Medication Guide
Requirements’’ (60 Fed. Reg. 44182; relating to the
provision of oral and written prescription informa-
tion to consumers).
(b) PLAN.—The plan described in subsection (a)
shall—
(1) identify the plan goals;
(2) assess the effectiveness of the current pri-
vate-sector approaches used to provide oral and
written prescription information to consumers;
(3) develop guidelines for providing effective
oral and written prescription information con-
sistent with the findings of any such assessment;
(4) develop a mechanism to assess periodi-
cally the quality of the oral and written pre-
scription information and the frequency with
which the information is provided to consumers;
and
(5) provide for compliance with relevant
State board regulations.
(c) LIMITATION ON THE AUTHORITY OF THE SEC-
RETARY.—The Secretary of the Department of Health
and Human Services shall have no authority to im-
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plement the proposed rule described in subsection (a),
or to develop any similar regulation, policy state-
ment, or other guideline specifying a uniform content
or format for written information voluntarily pro-
vided to consumers about prescription drugs if, not
later than 120 days after the date of enactment of this
Act, the national organizations described in sub-
section (a) develop and begin to implement a com-
prehensive, long-range action plan (as described in
subsection (a)) regarding the provision of oral and
written prescription information.
(d) SECRETARY REVIEW.—Not later than Janu-
ary 1, 2001, the Secretary of the Department of
Health and Human Services shall review the status
of private-sector initiatives designed to achieve the
goals of the plan described in subsection (a), and if
such goals are not achieved, the limitation in sub-
section (c) shall not apply, and the Secretary shall
seek public comment on other initiatives that may be
carried out to meet such goals. The Secretary shall
not delegate such review authority to the Commis-
sioner of the Food and Drug Administration.
SEC. 602. Section 3 of the Saccharin Study and La-
beling Act (21 U.S.C 348 nt.) is amended by striking out
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New obligational authority for the boll weevil pro-
gram; up to 10 percent of the screwworm program of the
Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service; Food Safety
and Inspection Service, field automation and information
management project; funds appropriated for rental pay-
ments; funds for the Native American institutions endow-
ment fund in the Cooperative State Research, Education,
and Extension Service, and funds for the competitive re-
search grants (7 U.S.C. 450i(b)), shall remain available
until expended.
SEC. 706. No part of any appropriation contained in
this Act shall remain available for obligation beyond the
current fiscal year unless expressly so provided herein.
SEC. 707. Not to exceed $50,000 of the appropria-
tions available to the Department of Agriculture in this
Act shall be available to provide appropriate orientation
and language training pursuant to Public Law 94–449.
SEC. 708. No funds appropriated by this Act may be
used to pay negotiated indirect cost rates on cooperative
agreements or similar arrangements between the United
States Department of Agriculture and nonprofit institu-
tions in excess of 10 percent of the total direct cost of
the agreement when the purpose of such cooperative ar-
rangements is to carry out programs of mutual interest
between the two parties. This does not preclude appro-