(as defined in section 1201(a) of the Higher Education
Act of 1965) to determine whether eligible institutions (as
defined in section 1447(a) of the National Agricultural
Research, Extension, and Teaching Policy Act of 1977)
and 1994 Institutions (as defined in section 532 of the
Equity in Educational Land-Grant Status Act of 1994)
are receiving equitable support to assist the Department
in carrying out its mission.
(b) NUMBER OF MEMBERS.—The advisory committee
shall be composed of not fewer than 5 members and not
more than 25 members, appointed by the Secretary.
(c) PROHIBITION AGAINST COMPENSATION.—
(1) IN GENERAL.—Except as provided in para-
graph (2), the members of the advisory committee
may not receive pay, allowances, or benefits by rea-
son of their service on the advisory committee.
(2) TRAVEL EXPENSES.—Each member of the
advisory committee shall receive travel expenses, in-
cluding per diem in lieu of subsistence, in accord-
ance with sections 5702 and 5703 of title 5, United
States Code.
(d) QUORUM.—One third of the members of the advi-
sory committee shall constitute a quorum.
(e) CHAIRPERSON.—The Secretary (or the delegate
of the Secretary) shall be the chairperson of the advisory
committee.
(f) EXPERTS AND CONSULTANTS.—The chairperson
of the advisory committee may procure temporary and
intermittent services under section 3109(b) of title 5,
United States Code.
(g) STAFF OF FEDERAL AGENCIES.—Upon request
of the chairperson of the advisory committee, the head of
any Federal department or agency may detail, on a reim-
bursable basis, any of the personnel of that department
or agency to the advisory committee to assist it in carrying
out its duties under this section.
(h) POWERS.—
(1) HEARINGS
AND
SESSIONS.—The advisory
committee may, for the purpose of carrying out this
section, hold hearings, sit and act at times and
places, take testimony, and receive evidence as the
advisory committee considers appropriate. The advi-
sory committee may administer oaths or affirma-
tions to witnesses appearing before it.
(2) POWERS OF MEMBERS AND AGENTS.—Any
member or agent of the advisory committee may, if
authorized by the advisory committee, take any ac-
tion which the advisory committee is authorized to
take by this section.
(3) OBTAINING OFFICIAL DATA.—The advisory
committee may secure directly from any department
or agency of the United States information nec-
essary to enable it to carry out this section. Upon
request of the chairperson of the advisory commit-
tee, the head of that department or agency shall fur-
nish that information to the advisory committee.
(4) MAILS.—The advisory committee may use
the United States mails in the same manner and
under the same conditions as other departments and
agencies of the United States.
(i) REPORT.—Within 9 months after the Secretary
appoints the members of the advisory committee, the advi-
sory committee shall submit to the Secretary a report on
the matters described in subsection (a).
(j) TERMINATION.—The advisory committee shall
terminate upon the submission of the report required by
subsection (i).
SEC. 208. FUNDING OF PROGRAM OF OUTREACH AND
TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE TO SOCIALLY DIS-
ADVANTAGED FARMERS.
Section 2501(a)(3) of the Food, Agriculture, Con-
servation, and Trade Act of 1990 (7 U.S.C. 2279(a)(3))
is amended to read as follows:
‘‘(3) APPROPRIATION.—Out of any money in
the Treasury of the United States not otherwise ap-
propriated, there are appropriated to the Secretary
$10,000,000 for each fiscal year to carry out this
section.’’.
SEC. 209. FUNDING OF EXTENSION INDIAN RESERVATION
PROGRAM.
Section 1677(g) of the Food, Agriculture, Conserva-
tion, and Trade Act of 1990 (7 U.S.C. 5930(g)) is amend-
ed to read as follows:
‘‘(g) APPROPRIATION.—Out of any money in the
Treasury of the United States not otherwise appropriated,
there are appropriated to the Secretary $8,000,000 for
each fiscal year to carry out this section.’’.
TITLE III—FUNDING OF FARM
OWNERSHIP AND OPERATING
LOANS
SEC. 301. FUNDING OF FARM OWNERSHIP AND OPERATING
LOAN PROGRAMS.
Section 346(b)(1) of the Consolidated Farm and
Rural Development Act (7 U.S.C. 1994(b)(1)) is amended
by adding at the end the following:
‘‘(H) Out of any money in the Treasury of
the United States not otherwise appropriated,
there are appropriated to the Secretary for fis-
cal year 1998 and for each succeeding fiscal
year $585,000,000 for direct loans, of which—
‘‘(i) $85,000,000 shall be for farm
ownership loans under subtitle A; and
‘‘(ii) $500,000,000 shall be for oper-
ating loans under subtitle B.’’.
Æ