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this limitation by up to 10 percent with notification to the
Appropriations Committees.
FUNDS FOR STRENGTHENING MARKETS, INCOME, AND
SUPPLY (SECTION 32)
(INCLUDING TRANSFERS OF FUNDS)
Funds available under section 32 of the Act of August
24, 1935 (7 U.S.C. 612c) shall be used only for commodity
program expenses as authorized therein, and other related
operating expenses, except for: (1) transfers to the Depart-
ment of Commerce as authorized by the Fish and Wildlife
Act of August 8, 1956; (2) transfers otherwise provided in
this Act; and (3) not more than $10,690,000 for formulation
and administration of marketing agreements and orders
pursuant to the Agricultural Marketing Agreement Act of
1937, as amended, and the Agricultural Act of 1961.
PAYMENTS TO STATES AND POSSESSIONS
For payments to departments of agriculture, bureaus
and departments of markets, and similar agencies for mar-
keting activities under section 204(b) of the Agricultural
Marketing Act of 1946 (7 U.S.C. 1623(b)), $1,200,000.
GRAIN INSPECTION, PACKERS AND STOCKYARDS
ADMINISTRATION
SALARIES AND EXPENSES
For necessary expenses to carry out the provisions of
the United States Grain Standards Act, as amended, for
the administration of the Packers and Stockyards Act, for
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certifying procedures used to protect purchasers of farm
products, and the standardization activities related to grain
under the Agricultural Marketing Act of 1946, as amended,
including field employment pursuant to section 706(a) of
the Organic Act of 1944 (7 U.S.C. 2225), and not to exceed
$25,000 for employment under 5 U.S.C. 3109, $23,583,000:
Provided, That this appropriation shall be available pursu-
ant to law (7 U.S.C. 2250) for the alteration and repair
of buildings and improvements, but the cost of altering any
one building during the fiscal year shall not exceed 10 per-
cent of the current replacement value of the building.
INSPECTION AND WEIGHING SERVICES
LIMITATION ON INSPECTION AND WEIGHING SERVICE
EXPENSES
Not to exceed $43,092,000 (from fees collected) shall be
obligated during the current fiscal year for inspection and
weighing services: Provided, That if grain export activities
require additional supervision and oversight, or other un-
controllable factors occur, this limitation may be exceeded
by up to 10 percent with notification to the Appropriations
Committees.
OFFICE OF THE UNDER SECRETARY FOR FOOD SAFETY
For necessary salaries and expenses of the Office of the
Under Secretary for Food Safety to administer the laws en-
acted by the Congress for the Food Safety and Inspection
Service, $446,000.
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FOOD SAFETY AND INSPECTION SERVICE
For necessary expenses to carry on services authorized
by the Federal Meat Inspection Act, as amended, the Poul-
try Products Inspection Act, as amended, and the Egg
Products Inspection Act, as amended, $590,614,000, and in
addition, $1,000,000 may be credited to this account from
fees collected for the cost of laboratory accreditation as au-
thorized by section 1017 of Public Law 102–237: Provided,
That this appropriation shall not be available for shell egg
surveillance under section 5(d) of the Egg Products Inspec-
tion Act (21 U.S.C. 1034(d)): Provided further, That this
appropriation shall be available for field employment pur-
suant to section 706(a) of the Organic Act of 1944 (7 U.S.C.
2225), and not to exceed $75,000 shall be available for em-
ployment under 5 U.S.C. 3109: Provided further, That this
appropriation shall be available pursuant to law (7 U.S.C.
2250) for the alteration and repair of buildings and im-
provements, but the cost of altering any one building during
the fiscal year shall not exceed 10 percent of the current
replacement value of the building.
OFFICE OF THE UNDER SECRETARY FOR FARM AND
FOREIGN AGRICULTURAL SERVICES
For necessary salaries and expenses of the Office of the
Under Secretary for Farm and Foreign Agricultural Serv-
ices to administer the laws enacted by Congress for the
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Farm Service Agency, Foreign Agricultural Service, the Of-
fice of Risk Management, and the Commodity Credit Cor-
poration, $572,000.
FARM SERVICE AGENCY
SALARIES AND EXPENSES
For necessary expenses for carrying out the adminis-
tration and implementation of programs administered by
the Farm Service Agency, $700,659,000: Provided, That the
Secretary is authorized to use the services, facilities, and
authorities (but not the funds) of the Commodity Credit
Corporation to make program payments for all programs
administered by the Agency: Provided further, That other
funds made available to the Agency for authorized activities
may be advanced to and merged with this account: Provided
further, That these funds shall be available for employment
pursuant to the second sentence of section 706(a) of the Or-
ganic Act of 1944 (7 U.S.C. 2225), and not to exceed
$1,000,000 shall be available for employment under 5
U.S.C. 3109.
STATE MEDIATION GRANTS
For grants pursuant to section 502(b) of the Agricul-
tural Credit Act of 1987, as amended (7 U.S.C. 5101–5106),
$2,000,000.
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DAIRY INDEMNITY PROGRAM
(INCLUDING TRANSFERS OF FUNDS)
For necessary expenses involved in making indemnity
payments to dairy farmers for milk or cows producing such
milk and manufacturers of dairy products who have been
directed to remove their milk or dairy products from com-
mercial markets because it contained residues of chemicals
registered and approved for use by the Federal Government,
and in making indemnity payments for milk, or cows pro-
ducing such milk, at a fair market value to any dairy farm-
er who is directed to remove his milk from commercial mar-
kets because of (1) the presence of products of nuclear radi-
ation or fallout if such contamination is not due to the fault
of the farmer, or (2) residues of chemicals or toxic sub-
stances not included under the first sentence of the Act of
August 13, 1968, as amended (7 U.S.C. 450j), if such
chemicals or toxic substances were not used in a manner
contrary to applicable regulations or labeling instructions
provided at the time of use and the contamination is not
due to the fault of the farmer, $550,000, to remain available
until expended (7 U.S.C. 2209b): Provided, That none of
the funds contained in this Act shall be used to make indem-
nity payments to any farmer whose milk was removed from
commercial markets as a result of his willful failure to fol-
low procedures prescribed by the Federal Government: Pro-
vided further, That this amount shall be transferred to the
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Commodity Credit Corporation: Provided further, That the
Secretary is authorized to utilize the services, facilities, and
authorities of the Commodity Credit Corporation for the
purpose of making dairy indemnity disbursements.
AGRICULTURAL CREDIT INSURANCE FUND PROGRAM
ACCOUNT
(INCLUDING TRANSFERS OF FUNDS)
For gross obligations for the principal amount of di-
rect and guaranteed loans as authorized by 7 U.S.C. 1928–
1929, to be available from funds in the Agricultural Credit
Insurance Fund, as follows: farm ownership loans,
$460,000,000 of which $400,000,000 shall be for guaranteed
loans; 
operating 
loans, 
$2,395,000,000, 
of 
which
$1,700,000,000 shall be for unsubsidized guaranteed loans
and $200,000,000 shall be for subsidized guaranteed loans;
Indian tribe land acquisition loans as authorized by 25
U.S.C. 488, $1,000,000; for emergency insured loans,
$25,000,000 to meet the needs resulting from natural disas-
ters; for boll weevil eradication program loans as authorized
by 7 U.S.C. 1989, $34,653,000; and for credit sales of ac-
quired property, $25,000,000.
For the cost of direct and guaranteed loans, including
the cost of modifying loans as defined in section 502 of the
Congressional Budget Act of 1974, as follows: farm owner-
ship loans, $21,380,000, of which $15,440,000 shall be for
guaranteed loans; operating loans, $71,394,500, of which
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$19,890,000 shall be for unsubsidized guaranteed loans and
$19,280,000 shall be for subsidized guaranteed loans; In-
dian tribe land acquisition loans as authorized by 25
U.S.C. 488, $132,000; for emergency insured loans,
$6,008,000 to meet the needs resulting from natural disas-
ters; for boll weevil eradication program loans as authorized
by 7 U.S.C. 1989, $249,500; and for credit sales of acquired
property, $3,255,000.
In addition, for administrative expenses necessary to
carry out the direct and guaranteed loan programs,
$219,861,000, of which $209,861,000 shall be transferred to
and merged with the ‘‘Farm Service Agency, Salaries and
Expenses’’ account.
RISK MANAGEMENT AGENCY
ADMINISTRATIVE AND OPERATING EXPENSES
For administrative and operating expenses, as author-
ized by the Federal Agriculture Improvement and Reform
Act of 1996 (7 U.S.C. 6933), $64,000,000: Provided, That
not to exceed $700 shall be available for official reception
and representation expenses, as authorized by 7 U.S.C.
1506(i): Provided further, That, of the amount made avail-
able under this sentence, $4,000,000 shall be available for
obligation only after the Administrator of the Risk Manage-
ment Agency issues and begins to implement the plan to
reduce administrative and operating costs of approved in-
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surance providers required under section 508(k)(7) of the
Federal Crop Insurance Act (7 U.S.C. 1508(k)(7)). In addi-
tion, for sales commissions of agents, as authorized by sec-
tion 516 (7 U.S.C. 1516), $202,571,000.
CORPORATIONS
The following corporations and agencies are hereby au-
thorized to make expenditures, within the limits of funds
and borrowing authority available to each such corporation
or agency and in accord with law, and to make contracts
and commitments without regard to fiscal year limitations
as provided by section 104 of the Government Corporation
Control Act, as amended, as may be necessary in carrying
out the programs set forth in the budget for the current fis-
cal year for such corporation or agency, except as herein-
after provided.
FEDERAL CROP INSURANCE CORPORATION FUND
For payments, as authorized subsections (a)(2), (b)(2),
and (c) of section 516 of the Federal Crop Insurance Act,
as amended, such sums as may be necessary to remain
available until expended (7 U.S.C. 2209b).
COMMODITY CREDIT CORPORATION FUND
REIMBURSEMENT FOR NET REALIZED LOSSES
For fiscal year 1998, such sums as may be necessary
to reimburse the Commodity Credit Corporation for net re-
alized losses sustained, but not previously reimbursed (esti-
mated to be $783,507,000 in the President’s fiscal year 1998
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Budget Request (H. Doc. 105–3)), but not to exceed
$783,507,000, pursuant to section 2 of the Act of August
17, 1961, as amended (15 U.S.C. 713a–11).
OPERATIONS AND MAINTENANCE FOR HAZARDOUS WASTE
MANAGEMENT
For fiscal year 1998, the Commodity Credit Corpora-
tion shall not expend more than $5,000,000 for expenses to
comply with the requirement of section 107(g) of the Com-
prehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and
Liability Act, as amended, 42 U.S.C. 9607(g), and section
6001 of the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act, as
amended, 42 U.S.C. 6961: Provided, That expenses shall be
for operations and maintenance costs only and that other
hazardous waste management costs shall be paid for by the
USDA Hazardous Waste Management appropriation in
this Act.
TITLE II
CONSERVATION PROGRAMS
OFFICE OF THE UNDER SECRETARY FOR NATURAL
RESOURCES AND ENVIRONMENT
For necessary salaries and expenses of the Office of the
Under Secretary for Natural Resources and Environment
to administer the laws enacted by the Congress for the For-
est Service and the Natural Resources Conservation Service,
$693,000.
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NATURAL RESOURCES CONSERVATION SERVICE
CONSERVATION OPERATIONS
For necessary expenses for carrying out the provisions
of the Act of April 27, 1935 (16 U.S.C. 590a–590f) includ-
ing preparation of conservation plans and establishment of
measures to conserve soil and water (including farm irriga-
tion and land drainage and such special measures for soil
and water management as may be necessary to prevent
floods and the siltation of reservoirs and to control agricul-
tural related pollutants); administration of research, inves-
tigation, and surveys of watersheds of rivers and other wa-
terways, for small watershed investigations and planning,
and for technical assistance to carry out preventive meas-
ures, in accordance with the Watershed Protection and
Flood Prevention Act (16 U.S.C.1001–1009), and the Flood
Control Act (33 U.S.C. 701); operation of conservation
plant materials centers; classification and mapping of soil;
dissemination of information; acquisition of lands, water,
and interests therein, for use in the plant materials pro-
gram by donation, exchange, or purchase at a nominal cost
not to exceed $100 pursuant to the Act of August 3, 1956
(7 U.S.C. 428a); purchase and erection or alteration or im-
provement of permanent and temporary buildings; and op-
eration and maintenance of aircraft, $729,880,000, to re-
main available until expended (7 U.S.C. 2209b), of which
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not less than $5,835,000 is for snow survey and water fore-
casting and not less than $8,825,000 is for operation and
establishment of the plant materials centers: Provided, That
appropriations hereunder shall be available pursuant to 7
U.S.C. 2250 for construction and improvement of buildings
and public improvements at plant materials centers, except
that the cost of alterations and improvements to other build-
ings and other public improvements shall not exceed
$250,000: Provided further, That when buildings or other
structures are erected on non-Federal land, that the right
to use such land is obtained as provided in 7 U.S.C. 2250a:
Provided further, That this appropriation shall be available
for technical assistance and related expenses to carry out
programs authorized by section 202(c) of title II of the Colo-
rado River Basin Salinity Control Act of 1974, as amended
(43 U.S.C. 1592(c)): Provided further, That no part of this
appropriation may be expended for soil and water con-
servation operations under the Act of April 27, 1935 (16
U.S.C. 590a–590f) in demonstration projects: Provided fur-
ther, That this appropriation shall be available for employ-
ment pursuant to the second sentence of section 706(a) of
the Organic Act of 1944 (7 U.S.C. 2225) and not to exceed
$25,000 shall be available for employment under 5 U.S.C.
3109: Provided further, That qualified local engineers may
be temporarily employed at per diem rates to perform the
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technical planning work of the Service (16 U.S.C. 590e–
2): Provided further, That not less than $80,138,000 shall
be available to provide technical assistance for water re-
sources assistance (Public Law–534 and Public Law–566).
WATERSHED AND FLOOD PREVENTION OPERATIONS
For necessary expenses to carry out preventive meas-
ures, including but not limited to research, engineering op-
erations, methods of cultivation, the growing of vegetation,
rehabilitation of existing works and changes in use of land,
in accordance with the Watershed Protection and Flood
Prevention Act approved August 4, 1954, as amended (16
U.S.C. 1001–1005, 1007–1009), the provisions of the Act
of April 27, 1935 (16 U.S.C. 590a–f), and in accordance
with the provisions of laws relating to the activities of the
Department, $40,000,000, to remain available until ex-
pended (7 U.S.C. 2209b) (of which up to $15,000,000 may
be available for the watersheds authorized under the Flood
Control Act approved June 22, 1936 (33 U.S.C. 701, 16
U.S.C. 1006a), as amended and supplemented: Provided,
That not to exceed $1,000,000 of this appropriation is
available to carry out the purposes of the Endangered Spe-
cies Act of 1973 (Public Law 93–205), as amended, includ-
ing cooperative efforts as contemplated by that Act to relo-
cate endangered or threatened species to other suitable habi-
tats as may be necessary to expedite project construction.
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RESOURCE CONSERVATION AND DEVELOPMENT
For necessary expenses in planning and carrying out
projects for resource conservation and development and for
sound land use pursuant to the provisions of section 32(e)
of title III of the Bankhead-Jones Farm Tenant Act, as
amended (7 U.S.C. 1010–1011; 76 Stat. 607) and, the pro-
visions of the Act of April 27, 1935 (16 U.S.C. 590a–f),
and the provisions of the Agriculture and Food Act of 1981
(16 U.S.C. 3451–3461), $44,700,000, to remain available
until expended (7 U.S.C. 2209): Provided, That this appro-
priation 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 $50,000 shall be avail-
able for employment under 5 U.S.C. 3109.
FORESTRY INCENTIVES PROGRAM
For necessary expenses, not otherwise provided for, to
carry out the program of forestry incentives, as authorized
in the Cooperative Assistance Act of 1978 (16 U.S.C. 2101),
as amended by the Federal Agriculture Improvement and
Reform Act of 1996 (Public Law 104–127), including tech-
nical assistance and related expenses, $6,325,000, to remain
available until expended, as authorized by the Act.
OUTREACH FOR SOCIALLY DISADVANTAGED FARMERS
For grants and contracts pursuant to section 2501 of
the Food, Agriculture, Conservation, and Trade Act of 1990
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(7 U.S.C. 2279), $4,000,000, to remain available until ex-
pended.
TITLE III
RURAL ECONOMIC AND COMMUNITY
DEVELOPMENT PROGRAMS
OFFICE OF THE UNDER SECRETARY FOR RURAL
DEVELOPMENT
For necessary salaries and expenses of the Office of the
Under Secretary for Rural Development to administer pro-
grams under the laws enacted by the Congress for the Rural
Housing Service, Rural Business-Cooperative Service, and
the Rural Utilities Service of the Department of Agri-
culture, $588,000.
RURAL COMMUNITY ADVANCEMENT PROGRAM
(INCLUDING TRANSFERS OF FUNDS)
For the cost of direct loans, loan guarantees, and
grants, as authorized by 7 U.S.C. 1926, 1926a, 1926c, and
1932, except for section 381G of the Consolidated Farm and
Rural Development Act, as amended (7 U.S.C. 2009f),
$644,259,000, to remain available until expended, of which
$27,562,000 shall be for rural community programs de-
scribed in section 381E(d)(1) of the Consolidated Farm and
Rural Development Act, as amended; of which $568,304,000
shall be for the rural utilities programs described in section
381E(d)(2) of such Act; and of which $48,393,000 shall be
for the rural business and cooperative development pro-
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grams described in section 381E(d)(3) of such Act: Pro-
vided, That section 381E(d)(3)(B) of such Act is amended
by inserting after the phrase, ‘‘business and industry’’, the
words, ‘‘direct and’’: Provided further, That of the amount
appropriated for rural utilities programs, not to exceed
$24,500,000 shall be for water and waste disposal systems
to benefit the Colonias along the United States/Mexico bor-
der, including grants pursuant to section 306C of such Act;
not to exceed $15,000,000 shall be for water systems for
rural and native villages in Alaska pursuant to section
306D of such Act; not to exceed $15,000,000 shall be for
technical assistance grants for rural waste systems pursu-
ant to section 306(a)(14) of such Act; and not to exceed
$5,650,000 shall be for contracting with qualified national
organizations for a circuit rider program to provide tech-
nical assistance for rural water systems: Provided further,
That of the total amounts appropriated, not to exceed
$32,163,600 shall be available through June 30, 1998, for
empowerment zones and enterprise communities, as author-
ized by Public Law 103–66, of which $1,614,600 shall be
for rural community programs described in section
381E(d)(1) of such Act; of which $21,952,000 shall be for
the rural utilities programs described in section 381E(d)(2)
of such Act; of which $8,597,000 shall be for the rural busi-
ness and cooperative development programs described in
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section 381E(d)(3) of such Act: Provided further, That any
obligated and unobligated balances available for prior years
for the ‘‘Rural Water and Waste Disposal Grants,’’ ‘‘Rural
Water and Waste Disposal Loans Program Account,’’
‘‘Emergency Community Water Assistance Grants,’’ ‘‘Solid
Waste Management Grants,’’ the community facility grant
program in the ‘‘Rural Housing Assistance Program’’ Ac-
count, ‘‘Community Facility Loans Program Account,’’
‘‘Rural Business Enterprise Grants,’’ ‘‘Rural Business and
Industry Loans Program Account,’’ and ‘‘Local Technical
Assistance and Planning Grants’’ shall be transferred to
and merged with this account.
RURAL HOUSING SERVICE
RURAL HOUSING INSURANCE FUND PROGRAM ACCOUNT
(INCLUDING TRANSFERS OF FUNDS)
For gross obligations for the principal amount of di-
rect and guaranteed loans as authorized by title V of the
Housing Act of 1949, as amended, to be available from
funds in the rural housing insurance fund, as follows:
$3,300,000,000 for loans to section 502 borrowers, as deter-
mined by the Secretary, of which $2,300,000,000 shall be
for unsubsidized guaranteed loans; $30,000,000 for section
504 housing repair loans; $19,700,000 for section 538 guar-
anteed multi-family housing loans; $15,001,000 for section
514 farm labor housing; $128,640,000 for section 515 rental
housing; $600,000 for section 524 site loans; $25,004,000
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for credit sales of acquired property; and $587,000 for sec-
tion 523 self-help housing land development loans.
For the cost of direct and guaranteed loans, including
the cost of modifying loans, as defined in section 502 of
the Congressional Budget Act of 1974, as follows: section
502 loans, $133,390,000, of which $5,290,000 shall be for
unsubsidized guaranteed loans; section 504 housing repair
loans, $10,308,000; section 538 multi-family housing guar-
anteed loans, $1,200,000; section 514 farm labor housing,
$7,388,000; section 515 rental housing, $68,745,000; credit
sales of acquired property, $3,493,000; and section 523 self-
help housing land development loans, $20,000.
In addition, for administrative expenses necessary to
carry out the direct and guaranteed loan programs,
$354,785,000, which shall be transferred to and merged
with the appropriation for ‘‘Rural Housing Service, Sala-
ries and Expenses’’.
RENTAL ASSISTANCE PROGRAM
For rental assistance agreements entered into or re-
newed pursuant to the authority under section 521(a)(2)
or agreements entered into in lieu of debt forgiveness or
payments for eligible households as authorized by section
502(c)(5)(D) of the Housing Act of 1949, as amended,
$541,397,000; and in addition such sums as may be nec-
essary, as authorized by section 521 of the Act, to liquidate
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debt incurred prior to fiscal year 1992 to carry out the rent-
al assistance program under section 521(a)(2) of the Act:
Provided, That of this amount not more than $5,900,000
shall be available for debt forgiveness or payments for eligi-
ble households as authorized by section 502(c)(5)(D) of the
Act, and not to exceed $10,000 per project for advances to
nonprofit organizations or public agencies to cover direct
costs (other than purchase price) incurred in purchasing
projects pursuant to section 502(c)(5)(C) of the Act: Pro-
vided further, That agreements entered into or renewed dur-
ing fiscal year 1998 shall be funded for a five-year period,
although the life of any such agreement may be extended
to fully utilize amounts obligated.
MUTUAL AND SELF-HELP HOUSING GRANTS
For grants and contracts pursuant to section
523(b)(1)(A) of the Housing Act of 1949 (42 U.S.C. 1490c),
$26,000,000, to remain available until expended (7 U.S.C.
2209b).
RURAL COMMUNITY FIRE PROTECTION GRANTS
For grants pursuant to section 7 of the Cooperative
Forestry Assistance Act of 1978 (Public Law 95–313),
$1,285,000 to fund up to 50 percent of the cost of organiz-
ing, training, and equipping rural volunteer fire depart-
ments.
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cooperative agreements, $58,804,000: Provided, That this
appropriation shall be available for employment pursuant
to the second sentence of 706(a) of the Organic Act of 1944,
and not to exceed $520,000 may be used for employment
under 5 U.S.C. 3109.
RURAL BUSINESS-COOPERATIVE SERVICE
RURAL DEVELOPMENT LOAN FUND PROGRAM ACCOUNT
(INCLUDING TRANSFERS OF FUNDS)
For the cost of direct loans, $19,200,000, as authorized
by the Rural Development Loan Fund (42 U.S.C. 9812(a)):
Provided, That such costs, including the cost of modifying
such loans, shall be as defined in section 502 of the Congres-
sional Budget Act of 1974: Provided further, That these
funds are available to subsidize gross obligations for the
principal amount of direct loans of $40,000,000: Provided
further, That through June 30, 1998, of the total amount
appropriated $3,618,750 shall be available for the cost of
direct loans, for empowerment zones and enterprise commu-
nities, as authorized by title XIII of the Omnibus Budget
Reconciliation Act of 1993, to subsidize gross obligations
for the principal amount of direct loans, $7,500,000.
In addition, for administrative expenses to carry out
the direct loan programs, $3,482,000 shall be transferred
to and merged with the appropriation for ‘‘Salaries and
Expenses’’.
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RURAL ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT LOANS PROGRAM
ACCOUNT
(INCLUDING TRANSFERS OF FUNDS)
For the principal amount of direct loans, as authorized
under section 313 of the Rural Electrification Act, as
amended, for the purpose of promoting rural economic de-
velopment and job creation projects, $12,865,000.
For the cost of direct loans, including the cost of modi-
fying loans as defined in section 502 of the Congressional
Budget Act of 1974, $3,076,000.
ALTERNATIVE AGRICULTURAL RESEARCH AND
COMMERCIALIZATION REVOLVING FUND
For necessary expenses to carry out the Alternative Ag-
ricultural Research and Commercialization Act of 1990 (7
U.S.C. 5901–5908), $10,000,000 is appropriated to the al-
ternative agricultural research and commercialization cor-
poration revolving fund.
RURAL COOPERATIVE DEVELOPMENT GRANTS
For rural cooperative development grants authorized
under section 310B(e) of the Consolidated Farm and Rural
Development Act, as amended (7 U.S.C. 1932), $3,000,000,
of which up to $1,500,000 may be available for cooperative
agreements for appropriate technology transfer for rural
areas program.
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SALARIES AND EXPENSES
For necessary expenses of the Rural Business-Coopera-
tive Service, including administering the programs author-
ized by the Consolidated Farm and Rural Development Act,
as amended; section 1323 of the Food Security Act of 1985;
the Cooperative Marketing Act of 1926; for activities relat-
ing to the marketing aspects of cooperatives, including eco-
nomic research findings, as authorized by the Agricultural
Marketing Act of 1946; for activities with institutions con-
cerning the development and operation of agricultural co-
operatives; and cooperative agreements; $25,680,000: Pro-
vided, That this appropriation shall be available for em-
ployment pursuant to the second sentence of 706(a) of the
Organic Act of 1944, and not to exceed $260,000 may be
used for employment under 5 U.S.C. 3109.
RURAL UTILITIES SERVICE
RURAL ELECTRIFICATION AND TELECOMMUNICATIONS
LOANS PROGRAM ACCOUNT
(INCLUDING TRANSFERS OF FUNDS)
Insured loans pursuant to the authority of section 305
of the Rural Electrification Act of 1936, as amended (7
U.S.C. 935), shall be made as follows: 5 percent rural elec-
trification loans, $125,000,000; 5 percent rural tele-
communications loans, $52,756,000; cost of money rural
telecommunications loans, $300,000,000; municipal rate
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rural electric loans, $500,000,000; and loans made pursu-
ant to section 306 of that Act, rural electric, $300,000,000,
and rural telecommunications, $120,000,000, to remain
available until expended.
For the cost, as defined in section 502 of the Congres-
sional Budget Act of 1974, including the cost of modifying
loans, of direct and guaranteed loans authorized by the
Rural Electrification Act of 1936, as amended (7 U.S.C.
935 and 936), as follows: cost of direct loans, $11,393,000;
cost of municipal rate loans, $21,100,000; cost of money
rural telecommunications loans, $60,000; cost of loans guar-
anteed pursuant to section 306, $2,760,000: Provided, That
notwithstanding section 305(d)(2) of the Rural Electrifica-
tion Act of 1936, borrower interest rates may exceed 7 per-
cent 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 available
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 Government
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Corporation Control Act, as amended, as may be necessary
in carrying out its authorized programs for the current fis-
cal year. During fiscal year 1998 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 Congres-
sional Budget Act of 1974, including the cost of modifying
loans, of direct loans authorized by the Rural Electrifica-
tion Act of 1936, as amended (7 U.S.C. 935), $3,710,000.
In addition, for administrative expenses necessary to
carry out the loan programs, $3,000,000.
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, $12,030,000, to
remain available until expended, to be available for loans
and grants for telemedicine and distance 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.
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 amend-
ed, and cooperative agreements, $33,000,000: Provided,
That this appropriation shall be available for employment
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pursuant to the second sentence of 706(a) of the 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 Serv-
ices to administer the laws enacted by the Congress for the
Food and Consumer Service, $454,000.
CHILD NUTRITION PROGRAMS
(INCLUDING TRANSFERS OF FUNDS)
For necessary expenses to carry out the National
School Lunch Act (42 U.S.C. 1751 et seq.), except section
21, and the Child Nutrition Act of 1966 (42 U.S.C. 1772
et seq.), except sections 17 and 21; $7,769,066,000, to re-
main available through September 30, 1999, of which
$2,617,675,000 is hereby appropriated and $5,151,391,000
shall be derived by transfer from funds available under sec-
tion 32 of the Act of August 24, 1935 (7 U.S.C. 612c): Pro-
vided, That $4,124,000 shall be available for independent
verification of school food service claims.
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SPECIAL SUPPLEMENTAL NUTRITION PROGRAM FOR
WOMEN, INFANTS, AND CHILDREN (WIC)
For necessary expenses to carry out the special supple-
mental nutrition program as authorized by section 17 of
the Child Nutrition Act of 1966 (42 U.S.C. 1786),
$3,927,600,000, to remain available through September 30,
1999, of which up to $12,000,000 may be used to carry out
the farmers’ market nutrition program from any funds not
needed to maintain current caseload levels: Provided, That
notwithstanding sections 17 (g), (h), and (i) of such Act,
the Secretary shall adjust fiscal year 1998 State allocations
to reflect food funds available to the State from fiscal year
1997 under section 17(i)(3)(A)(ii) and 17(i)(3)(D): Pro-
vided further, That the Secretary shall allocate funds recov-
ered from fiscal year 1997 first to States to maintain stabil-
ity funding levels, as defined by regulations promulgated
under section 17(g), and then to give first priority for the
allocation of any remaining funds to States whose funding
is less than their fair share of funds, as defined by regula-
tions promulgated under section 17(g): Provided further,
That none of the funds in this Act shall be available to pay
administrative expenses of WIC clinics except those that
have an announced 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
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available for the purchase of infant formula except in ac-
cordance with the cost containment and competitive bidding
requirements specified in section 17 of the Child Nutrition
Act of 1966: Provided further, That State agencies required
to procure infant formula using a competitive bidding sys-
tem may use funds appropriated by this Act to purchase
infant formula under a cost containment contract entered
into after September 30, 1996 only if the contract was
awarded to the bidder offering the lowest net price, as de-
fined by section 17(b)(20) of the Child Nutrition Act of
1966, unless the State agency demonstrates to the satisfac-
tion 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 et seq.), $26,051,479,000, of which
$1,000,000,000 shall be placed in reserve for use only in
such amounts and at such times as may become necessary
to carry out program operations: Provided, That funds pro-
vided herein shall be expended in accordance with section
16 of the Food Stamp Act: Provided, That this appropria-
tion shall be subject to any work registration or workfare
requirements as may be required by law.
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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)), and the Emergency Food Assistance
Act of 1983, as amended, $148,600,000, to remain available
through September 30, 1999: Provided, That none of these
funds shall be available to reimburse the Commodity 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)), and section 311 of the Older Americans Act
of 1965, as amended (42 U.S.C. 3030a), $141,165,000, to
remain available through September 30, 1999.
FOOD PROGRAM ADMINISTRATION
For necessary administrative expenses of the domestic
food programs funded under this Act, $107,719,000, of
which $5,000,000 shall be available only for simplifying
procedures, reducing overhead costs, tightening regulations,
improving food stamp coupon handling, and assistance in
the prevention, identification, and prosecution 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
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U.S.C. 2225), and not to exceed $150,000 shall be available
for employment under 5 U.S.C. 3109.
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 de-
velopment activities abroad, and for enabling the Secretary
to coordinate and integrate activities of the Department in
connection with foreign agricultural work, including not to
exceed $128,000 for representation allowances and for ex-
penses pursuant to section 8 of the Act approved August
3, 1956 (7 U.S.C. 1766), $136,664,000, of which $3,231,000
may be transferred from the Export Loan Program account
in this Act, and $1,066,000 may be transferred from the
Public Law 480 program account in this Act: Provided,
That up to $3,000,000 shall be available in fiscal year 1999
for overseas inflation, subject to documentation by USDA
of actual overseas inflation and deflation: Provided further,
That the Service may utilize advances of funds, or reim-
burse this appropriation for expenditures made on behalf
of Federal agencies, public and private organizations and
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institutions under agreements executed pursuant to the ag-
ricultural food production assistance programs (7 U.S.C.
1736) and the foreign assistance programs of the Inter-
national Development Cooperation Administration (22
U.S.C. 2392).
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 other-
wise recoverable, and unrecovered prior years’ costs, includ-
ing interest thereon, under the Agricultural Trade Develop-
ment and Assistance Act of 1954, as amended (7 U.S.C.
1691, 1701–1715, 1721–1726, 1727–1727f, 1731–1736g), as
follows: (1) $226,900,000 for Public Law 480 title I credit,
including Food for Progress programs; (2) $20,630,000 is
hereby appropriated for ocean freight differential costs for
the shipment 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 com-
modities supplied in connection with dispositions abroad
pursuant to title II of said Act; and (4) $30,000,000 is here-
by appropriated for commodities supplied in connection
with dispositions abroad pursuant to title III of said Act:
Provided, That not to exceed 15 percent of the funds made
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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): Provided further, That, of the amount of
funds made available under title II of said Act, the United
States Agency for International Development should use at
least the same amount of funds to carry out the orphan
feeding program in Haiti during fiscal year 1998 as was
used by the Agency to carry out the program during fiscal
year 1997.
For the cost, as defined in section 502 of the Congres-
sional Budget Act of 1974, of direct credit agreements as
authorized by the Agricultural Trade Development and As-
sistance 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, $176,596,000.
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, $1,881,000.
COMMODITY CREDIT CORPORATION EXPORT LOANS
PROGRAM ACCOUNT
(INCLUDING TRANSFERS OF FUNDS)
For administrative expenses to carry out the Commod-
ity Credit Corporation’s export guarantee program, GSM
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102 and GSM 103, $3,820,000; to cover common overhead
expenses as permitted by section 11 of the Commodity Cred-
it Corporation Charter Act and in conformity with the Fed-
eral Credit Reform Act of 1990, of which not to exceed
$3,231,000 may be transferred to and merged with the ap-
propriation for the salaries and expenses of the Foreign Ag-
ricultural 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 finance the
export sales of United States agricultural commodities and
the products thereof, as authorized by section 202 (a) and
(b) of the Agricultural Trade Act of 1978 (7 U.S.C. 5641).
EMERGING MARKETS EXPORT CREDIT
The Commodity Credit Corporation shall make avail-
able not less than $200,000,000 in credit guarantees under
its export guarantee program for credit expended to finance
the export sales of United States agricultural commodities
and the products thereof to emerging markets, as authorized
by section 1542 of Public Law 101–624 (7 U.S.C. 5622
note).
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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 Adminis-
tration, including hire and purchase of passenger motor ve-
hicles; for rental of special purpose space in the District
of Columbia or elsewhere; and for miscellaneous and emer-
gency expenses of enforcement activities, authorized and ap-
proved by the Secretary and to be accounted for solely on
the 
Secretary’s 
certificate, 
not 
to 
exceed 
$25,000;
$935,175,000, of which not to exceed $91,204,000 in fees
pursuant to section 736 of the Federal Food, Drug, and Cos-
metic Act may be credited to this appropriation and re-
main available until expended: Provided, That fees derived
from applications received during fiscal year 1998 shall be
subject to the fiscal year 1998 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 Public
Health Service Act may be credited to this account, to re-
main available until expended.
In addition, fees pursuant to section 801 of the Federal
Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act may be credited to this ac-
count, to remain available until expended.
In addition, the total amount made available under
this heading shall be increased so as to make available a
total of $34,000,000 for the Food and Drug Administration
children’s tobacco initiative: Provided, That—
(1) the amount that may be expended for equip-
ment or services related to automated data processing,
information technologies, or related items (including
telecommunications equipment and computer hard-
ware and software) under section 4(g) of the Com-
modity Credit Corporation Charter Act (15 U.S.C.
714b(g)) may not exceed $36,914,000 for fiscal year
1998; and
(2) to the extent that funding becomes available
for the Food and Drug Administration children’s to-
bacco initiative as a result of the national tobacco set-
tlement—
(A) any amounts made available under this
Act, allocated for the Food and Drug Adminis-
tration children’s tobacco initiative, and not ex-
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pended on the date that such funding becomes
available shall be rescinded; and
(B) the amount specified in paragraph (1)
shall be increased by the total of the amounts re-
scinded under subparagraph (A):
Provided further, That in carrying out their responsibilities
under the Food and Drug Administration children’s tobacco
initiative, States are encouraged to coordinate their enforce-
ment efforts with enforcement of laws that prohibit under-
age drinking.
BUILDINGS AND FACILITIES
For plans, construction, repair, improvement, exten-
sion, alteration, and purchase of fixed equipment or facili-
ties of or used by the Food and Drug Administration, where
not otherwise provided, $22,900,000, to remain available
until expended (7 U.S.C. 2209b).
RENTAL PAYMENTS (FDA)
(INCLUDING TRANSFERS OF FUNDS)
For payment of space rental and related costs pursu-
ant to Public Law 92-313 for programs and activities of
the Food and Drug Administration which are included in
this Act, $46,294,000: Provided, That in the event the Food
and Drug Administration should require modification of
space needs, a share of the salaries and expenses appropria-
tion may be transferred to this appropriation, or a share
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of this appropriation may be transferred to the salaries and
expenses appropriation, but such transfers shall not exceed
5 percent of the funds made available for rental payments
(FDA) to or from this account.
DEPARTMENT OF THE TREASURY
FINANCIAL MANAGEMENT SERVICE
PAYMENTS TO THE FARM CREDIT SYSTEM FINANCIAL
ASSISTANCE CORPORATION
For necessary payments to the Farm Credit System
Financial Assistance Corporation by the Secretary of the
Treasury, as authorized by section 6.28(c) of the Farm
Credit Act of 1971, as amended, for reimbursement of inter-
est expenses incurred by the Financial Assistance Corpora-
tion on obligations issued through 1994, as authorized,
$7,728,000.
INDEPENDENT AGENCIES
COMMODITY FUTURES TRADING COMMISSION
For necessary expenses to carry out the provisions of
the Commodity Exchange Act, as amended (7 U.S.C. 1 et
seq.), including the purchase and hire of passenger motor
vehicles; the rental of space (to include multiple year leases)
in the District of Columbia and elsewhere; and not to exceed
$25,000 for employment under 5 U.S.C. 3109; $60,101,000
including not to exceed $1,000 for official reception and
representation expenses: Provided, That the Commission is
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authorized to charge reasonable fees to attendees of Commis-
sion sponsored educational events and symposia to cover
the Commission’s costs of providing those events and
symposia, and notwithstanding 31 U.S.C. 3302, said fees
shall be credited to this account, to be available without fur-
ther appropriation.
FARM CREDIT ADMINISTRATION
LIMITATION ON ADMINISTRATIVE EXPENSES
Not to exceed $34,423,000 (from assessments collected
from farm credit institutions and from the Federal Agricul-
tural Mortgage Corporation) shall be obligated during the
current fiscal year for administrative expenses as author-
ized under 12 U.S.C. 2249: Provided, That this limitation
shall not apply to expenses associated with receiverships.
TITLE VII—GENERAL PROVISIONS
SEC. 701. Within the unit limit of cost fixed by law,
appropriations and authorizations made for the Depart-
ment of Agriculture for the fiscal year 1998 under this Act
shall be available for the purchase, in addition to those spe-
cifically provided for, of not to exceed 394 passenger motor
vehicles, of which 391 shall be for replacement only, and
for the hire of such vehicles.
SEC. 702. Funds in this Act available to the Depart-
ment of Agriculture shall be available for uniforms or allow-
ances therefor as authorized by law (5 U.S.C. 5901–5902).
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SEC. 703. Not less than $1,500,000 of the appropria-
tions of the Department of Agriculture in this Act for re-
search and service work authorized by the Acts of August
14, 1946, and July 28, 1954 (7 U.S.C. 427, 1621–1629),
and by chapter 63 of title 31, United States Code, shall
be available for contracting in accordance with said Acts
and chapter.
SEC. 704. The cumulative total of transfers to the
Working Capital Fund for the purpose of accumulating
growth capital for data services and National Finance Cen-
ter operations shall not exceed $2,000,000: Provided, That
no funds in this Act appropriated to an agency of the De-
partment shall be transferred to the Working Capital Fund
without the approval of the agency administrator.
SEC. 705. New obligational authority provided for the
following appropriation items in this Act shall remain
available until expended (7 U.S.C. 2209b): Animal and
Plant Health Inspection Service, the contingency fund to
meet emergency conditions, fruit fly program, and inte-
grated systems acquisition project; Farm Service Agency,
salaries and expenses funds made available to county com-
mittees; and Foreign Agricultural Service, middle-income
country training program.
New obligational authority for the boll weevil program;
up to 10 percent of the screwworm program of the Animal
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SEC. 712. With the exception of grants awarded under
the Small Business Innovation Development Act of 1982,
Public Law 97–219, as amended (15 U.S.C. 638), none of
the funds in this Act shall be available to pay indirect costs
on research grants awarded competitively by the Coopera-
tive State Research, Education, and Extension Service that
exceed 14 percent of total Federal funds provided under each
award.
SEC. 713. Notwithstanding any other provisions of this
Act, all loan levels provided of this Act shall be considered
estimates, not limitations.
SEC. 714. Appropriations to the Department of Agri-
culture for the cost of direct and guaranteed loans made
available in fiscal year 1998 shall remain available until
expended to cover obligations made in fiscal year 1998 for
the following accounts: the rural development loan fund
program account; the Rural Telephone Bank program ac-
count; the rural electrification and telecommunications
loans program account; and the rural economic develop-
ment loans program account.
SEC. 715. Such sums as may be necessary for fiscal
year 1998 pay raises for programs funded by this Act shall
be absorbed within the levels appropriated in this Act.
SEC. 716. Notwithstanding the Federal Grant and Co-
operative Agreement Act, marketing services of the Agricul-
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tural Marketing Service and the Animal and Plant Health
Inspection Service may use cooperative agreements to reflect
a relationship between Agricultural Marketing Service or
the Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service and a
State or Cooperator to carry out agricultural marketing
programs or to carry out programs to protect the Nation’s
animal and plant resources.
SEC. 717. None of the funds in this Act may be used
to retire more than 5 per centum of the Class A stock of
the Rural Telephone Bank or to maintain any account or
subaccount within the accounting records of the Rural Tele-
phone Bank the creation of which has not specifically been
authorized by statute: Provided, That notwithstanding any
other provision of law, none of the funds appropriated or
otherwise made available in this Act may be used to trans-
fer to the Treasury or to the Federal Financing Bank any
unobligated balance of the Rural Telephone Bank telephone
liquidating account which is in excess of current require-
ments and such balance shall receive interest as set forth
for financial accounts in section 505(c) of the Federal Cred-
it Reform Act of 1990.
SEC. 718. None of the funds made available in this
Act may be used to provide assistance to, or to pay the sala-
ries of personnel who carry out a market promotion/market
access program pursuant to section 203 of the Agricultural
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Trade Act of 1978 (7 U.S.C. 5623) that provides assistance
to the United States Mink Export Development Council or
any mink industry trade association.
SEC. 719. Of the funds made available by this Act, not
more than $1,000,000 shall be used to cover necessary ex-
penses of activities related to all advisory committees, pan-
els, commissions, and task forces of the Department of Agri-
culture, except for panels used to comply with negotiated
rule makings and panels used to evaluate competitively
awarded grants.
SEC. 720. None of the funds appropriated in this Act
may be used to carry out the provisions of section 918 of
Public Law 104–127, the Federal Agriculture Improvement
and Reform Act.
SEC. 721. No employee of the Department of Agri-
culture may be detailed or assigned from an agency or office
funded by this Act to any other agency or office of the De-
partment for more than 30 days unless the individual’s em-
ploying agency or office is fully reimbursed by the receiving
agency or office for the salary and expenses of the employee
for the period of assignment.
SEC. 722. None of the funds appropriated or otherwise
made available by this Act shall be used to pay the salaries
and expenses of personnel who carry out an export enhance-
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ment program if the aggregate amount of funds and/or com-
modities under such program exceeds $150,000,000.
SEC. 723. None of the funds made available to the De-
partment of Agriculture by this Act may be used to acquire
new information technology systems or significant up-
grades, as determined by the Office of the Chief Information
Officer, without the approval of the Chief Information Offi-
cer and the concurrence of the Executive Information Tech-
nology Investment Review Board.
SEC. 724. Section 3(c) of the Federal Noxious Weed
Act of 1974 (7 U.S.C. 2802 (c)) is amended by inserting
before the period at the end the following: ‘‘, and includes
kudzu (Pueraria lobata Dc)’’.
SEC. 725. Notwithstanding section 520 of the Housing
Act of 1949, (42 U.S.C. 1490) the Martin Luther King area
of Pawley’s Island, South Carolina, located in Georgetown
County, shall be eligible for loans and grants under section
504 of the Housing Act of 1949, as amended.
SEC. 726. None of the funds made available to the Food
and Drug Administration by this Act shall be used to close
or relocate the Food and Drug Administration Division of
Drug Analysis in St. Louis, Missouri, or to proceed with
a plan to close or consolidate the Food and Drug Adminis-
tration’s Baltimore, Maryland, laboratory.
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SEC. 727. The Secretary of Agriculture, before making
any reduction in the employee level required to carry out
a program or activity under the jurisdiction of the Under
Secretary for Rural Development, shall submit to the Com-
mittee on Appropriations of the House of Representatives
and the Committee on Appropriations of the Senate a plan
(including the justification and cost savings) for reducing
the employee level below the level described in the budget
submitted by the President for fiscal year 1998.
SEC. 728. Effective on October 1, 1998, section 136(a)
of the Agricultural Market Transition Act (7 U.S.C.
7236(a)) is amended—
(1) in paragraph (1)—
(A) by striking ‘‘Subject to paragraph (4),
during’’ and inserting ‘‘During’’; and
(B) in subparagraph (B), by striking ‘‘130’’
and inserting ‘‘134’’;
(2) by striking paragraph (4); and
(3) by redesignating paragraph (5) as para-
graph (4).
SEC. 729. STUDY OF NORTHEAST INTERSTATE DAIRY
COMPACT. (a) DEFINITIONS.—In this section:
(1) CHILD, SENIOR, AND LOW-INCOME NUTRITION
PROGRAMS.—The term ‘‘child, senior, and low-income
nutrition programs’’ includes—
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(A) the food stamp program established
under the Food Stamp Act of 1977 (7 U.S.C.
2011 et seq.);
(B) the school lunch program established
under the National School Lunch Act (42 U.S.C.
1751 et seq.);
(C) the summer food service program for
children established under section 13 of that Act
(42 U.S.C. 1761);
(D) the child and adult care food program
established under section 17 of that Act (42
U.S.C. 1766);
(E) the special milk program established
under section 3 of the Child Nutrition Act of
1966 (42 U.S.C. 1772);
(F) the school breakfast program established
under section 4 of that Act (42 U.S.C. 1773);
(G) the special supplemental nutrition pro-
gram for women, infants, and children author-
ized under section 17 of that Act (42 U.S.C.
1786); and
(H) the nutrition programs and projects
carried out under part C of title III of the Older
Americans Act of 1965 (42 U.S.C. 3030e et seq.).
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(2) COMPACT.—The term ‘‘Compact’’ means the
Northeast Interstate Dairy Compact.
(3) NORTHEAST INTERSTATE DAIRY COMPACT.—
The term ‘‘Northeast Interstate Dairy Compact’’
means the Northeast Interstate Dairy Compact re-
ferred to in section 147 of the Agricultural Market
Transition Act (7 U.S.C. 7256).
(4) DIRECTOR.—The term ‘‘Director’’ means the
Director of the Office of Management and Budget.
(b) EVALUATION.—Not later than December 31, 1997,
the Director shall conduct, complete, and transmit to Con-
gress a comprehensive economic evaluation of the direct and
indirect effects of the Northeast Interstate Dairy Compact
and other factors which affect the price of fluid milk.
(c) COMPONENTS.—In conducting the evaluation, the
Director shall consider, among other factors, the effects of
implementation of the rules and regulations of the Northeast
Interstate Dairy Compact Commission, such as rules and
regulations relating to over-order Class I pricing and pool-
ing provisions. This evaluation shall consider such effects
prior to implementation of the Compact and that would
have occurred in the absence of the implementation of the
Compact. The evaluation shall include an analysis of the
impacts on—
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(1) child, senior, and low-income nutrition pro-
grams including impacts on schools and institutions
participating in the programs, on program recipients,
and other factors;
(2) the wholesale and retail cost of fluid milk;
(3) the level of milk production, the number of
cows, the number of dairy farms, and milk utilization
in the Compact region, including—
(A) changes in the level of milk production,
the number of cows, and the number of dairy
farms in the Compact region relative to trends
in the level of milk production and trends in the
number of cows and dairy farms prior to imple-
mentation of the Compact;
(B) changes in the disposition of bulk and
packaged milk for Class I, II, or III use pro-
duced in the Compact region to areas outside the
region relative to the milk disposition to areas
outside the region;
(C) changes in—
(i) the share of milk production for
Class I use of the total milk production in
the Compact region; and
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(ii) the share of milk production for
Class II and Class III use of the total milk
production in the Compact region;
(4) dairy farmers and dairy product manufac-
turers in States and regions outside the Compact re-
gion with respect to the impact of changes in milk
production, and the impact of any changes in disposi-
tion of milk originating in the Compact region, on
national milk supply levels and farm level milk prices
nationally; and
(5) the cost of carrying out the milk price sup-
port program established under section 141 of the Ag-
ricultural Market Transition Act (7 U.S.C. 7251).
(d) ADDITIONAL STATES AND COMPACTS.—The Sec-
retary shall evaluate and incorporate into the evaluation
required under subsection (b) an evaluation of the economic
impact of adding additional States to the Compact for the
purpose of increasing prices paid to milk producers.
SEC. 730. From proceeds earned from the sale of grain
in the disaster reserve established in the Agricultural Act
of 1970, the Secretary may use up to an additional
$23,000,000 to implement a livestock indemnity program
as established in Public Law 105–18.
SEC. 731. PLANTING OF WILD RICE ON CONTRACT
ACREAGE.—None of the funds appropriated in this Act may
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be used to administer the provision of contract payments
to a producer under the Agricultural Market Transition Act
(7 U.S.C. 7201 et seq.) for contract acreage on which wild
rice is planted unless the contract payment is reduced by
an acre for each contract acre planted to wild rice.
SEC. 732. INSPECTION AND CERTIFICATION OF AGRI-
CULTURAL PROCESSING EQUIPMENT. (a) IN GENERAL.—
Except as provided in subsection (b), none of the funds
made available by this Act or any other Act for any fiscal
year may be used to carry out section 203(h) of the Agricul-
tural Marketing Act of 1946 (7 U.S.C. 1622(h)) unless the
Secretary of Agriculture inspects and certifies agricultural
processing equipment, and imposes a fee for the inspection
and certification, in a manner that is similar to the inspec-
tion and certification of agricultural products under that
section, as determined by the Secretary.
(b) RELATIONSHIP TO OTHER LAW.—Subsection (a)
shall not affect the authority of the Secretary to carry out
the Federal Meat Inspection Act (21 U.S.C. 601 et seq.) or
the Poultry Products Inspection Act (21 U.S.C. 451 et seq.).
SEC. 733. RURAL HOUSING PROGRAMS. (a) HOUSING
IN UNDERSERVED AREAS PROGRAM.—The first sentence of
section 509(f)(4)(A) of the Housing Act of 1949 (42 U.S.C.
1479(f)(4)(A)) is amended by striking ‘‘fiscal year 1997’’
and inserting ‘‘fiscal year 1998’’.
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(b) HOUSING AND RELATED FACILITIES FOR ELDERLY
PERSONS AND FAMILIES AND OTHER LOW-INCOME PER-
SONS AND FAMILIES.—
(1) AUTHORITY
TO
MAKE
LOANS.—Section
515(b)(4) of the Housing Act of 1949 (42 U.S.C.
1485(b)(4)) is amended by striking ‘‘September 30,
1997’’ and inserting ‘‘September 30, 1998’’.
(2) SET-ASIDE FOR NONPROFIT ENTITIES.—The
first sentence of section 515(w)(1) of the Housing Act
of 1949 (42 U.S.C. 1485(w)(1)) is amended by strik-
ing ‘‘fiscal year 1997’’ and inserting ‘‘fiscal year
1998’’.
(3) LOAN TERM.—Section 515 of the Housing
Act of 1949 (42 U.S.C. 1485) is amended—
(A) in subsection (a)(2), by striking ‘‘up to
fifty’’ and inserting ‘‘up to 30’’; and
(B) in subsection (b)—
(i) by striking paragraph (2) and in-
serting the following:
‘‘(2) such a loan may be made for a period of
up to 30 years from the making of the loan, but the
Secretary may provide for periodic payments based
on an amortization schedule of 50 years with a final
payment of the balance due at the end of the term of
the loan;’’;
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(ii) in paragraph (5), by striking
‘‘and’’ at the end;
(iii) in paragraph (6), by striking the
period at the end and inserting ‘‘; and’’;
and
(iv) by adding at the end the following:
‘‘(7) the Secretary may make a new loan to the
current borrower to finance the final payment of the
original loan for an additional period not to exceed
twenty years, if—
‘‘(A) the Secretary determines—
‘‘(i) it is more cost-efficient and serves
the tenant base more effectively to maintain
the current property than to build a new
property in the same location; or
‘‘(ii) the property has been maintained
to such an extent that it warrants retention
in the current portfolio because it can be ex-
pected to continue providing decent, safe,
and affordable rental units for the balance
of the loan; and
‘‘(B) the Secretary determines—
‘‘(i) current market studies show that a
need for low-income rural rental housing
still exists for that area; and
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‘‘(ii) any other criteria established by
the Secretary has been met.’’.
(c) LOAN GUARANTEES FOR MULTIFAMILY RENTAL
HOUSING IN RURAL AREAS.—Section 538 of the Housing
Act of 1949 (42 U.S.C. 1490p–2) is amended—
(1) in subsection (q), by striking paragraph (2)
and inserting the following:
‘‘(2) ANNUAL LIMITATION ON AMOUNT OF LOAN
GUARANTEE.—In each fiscal year, the Secretary may
enter into commitments to guarantee loans under this
section only to the extent that the costs of the guaran-
tees entered into in such fiscal year do not exceed such
amount as may be provided in appropriation Acts for
such fiscal year.’’;
(2) by striking subsection (t) and inserting the
following:
‘‘(t) AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.—There are
authorized to be appropriated for fiscal year 1998 for costs
(as such term is defined in section 502 of the Congressional
Budget Act of 1974) of loan guarantees made under this
section such sums as may be necessary for such fiscal year.’’;
and
(3) in subsection (u), by striking ‘‘1996’’ and in-
serting ‘‘1998’’.
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This Act may be cited as the ‘‘Agriculture, Rural De-
velopment, Food and Drug Administration, and Related
Agencies Appropriations Act, 1998’’.
Attest:
Secretary.
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