H. R. 2419—355 
(B) integrated research, extension, and educational pro-
grams on technology implementation. 
(d) PLAN FOR RESEARCH ACTIVITIES TO BE FUNDED.— 
(1) IN GENERAL.—Subject to the availability of funds under 
subsection (g), and in cooperation with land-grant colleges and 
universities and private industry in accordance with paragraph 
(2), the sun grant centers and subcenter shall jointly develop 
and submit to the Secretary for approval a plan for addressing 
the bioenergy, biomass, and gasification research priorities of 
the Department of Agriculture and the Department of Energy 
at the State and regional levels. 
(2) GASIFICATION COORDINATION.—With respect to gasifi-
cation research activity, the sun grant centers and subcenter 
shall coordinate planning with land-grant colleges and univer-
sities in their respective regions that have ongoing research 
activities in that area. 
(3) FUNDING.—Funds described in subsection (c)(2) shall 
be available to carry out planning coordination under paragraph 
(1). 
(4) USE OF PLAN.—The sun grant centers and subcenter 
shall use the plan described in paragraph (1) in making grants 
under subsection (c)(1). 
(e) GRANT INFORMATION ANALYSIS CENTER.—The sun grant 
centers and subcenter shall maintain a Sun Grant Information 
Analysis Center at the sun grant center specified in subsection 
(b)(1)(A) to provide the sun grant centers and subcenter with anal-
ysis and data management support. 
(f) ANNUAL REPORTS.—Not later than 90 days after the end 
of each fiscal year, a sun grant center or subcenter receiving a 
grant under this section shall submit to the Secretary a report 
that describes the policies, priorities, and operations of the program 
carried out by the center or subcenter during the fiscal year, 
including— 
(1) the results of all peer and merit review procedures 
conducted pursuant to subsection (c)(1)(D)(i); and 
(2) a description of progress made in facilitating the prior-
ities described in subsection (d)(1). 
(g) AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.—There is authorized 
to be appropriated to carry out this section $75,000,000 for each 
of fiscal years 2008 through 2012, of which not more than $4,000,000 
for each fiscal year shall be made available to carry out subsection 
(e). 
SEC. 7527. STUDY AND REPORT ON FOOD DESERTS. 
(a) DEFINITION OF FOOD DESERT.—In this section, the term 
‘‘food desert’’ means an area in the United States with limited 
access to affordable and nutritious food, particularly such an area 
composed of predominantly lower-income neighborhoods and 
communities. 
(b) STUDY AND REPORT.—The Secretary shall carry out a study 
of, and prepare a report on, food deserts. 
(c) CONTENTS.—The study and report shall— 
(1) assess the incidence and prevalence of food deserts; 
(2) identify— 
(A) characteristics and factors causing and influencing 
food deserts; and
H. R. 2419—356 
(B) the effect on local populations of limited access 
to affordable and nutritious food; and 
(3) provide recommendations for addressing the causes and 
effects of food deserts through measures that include— 
(A) community and economic development initiatives; 
(B) incentives for retail food market development, 
including supermarkets, small grocery stores, and farmers’ 
markets; and 
(C) improvements to Federal food assistance and nutri-
tion education programs. 
(d) COORDINATION WITH OTHER AGENCIES
AND ORGANIZA-
TIONS.—The Secretary shall conduct the study under this section 
in coordination and consultation with— 
(1) the Secretary of Health and Human Services; 
(2) the Administrator of the Small Business Administra-
tion; 
(3) the Institute of Medicine; and 
(4) representatives of appropriate businesses, academic 
institutions, and nonprofit and faith-based organizations. 
(e) SUBMISSION TO CONGRESS.—Not later than 1 year after 
the date of enactment of this Act, the Secretary shall submit to 
the Committee on Agriculture of the House of Representatives 
and the Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry of the 
Senate the report prepared under this section, including the findings 
and recommendations described in subsection (c). 
(f) AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.—There is authorized 
to be appropriated to carry out this section $500,000. 
SEC. 7528. DEMONSTRATION PROJECT AUTHORITY FOR TEMPORARY 
POSITIONS. 
Notwithstanding section 4703(d)(1) of title 5, United States 
Code, the amendment to the personnel management demonstration 
project established in the Department of Agriculture (67 Fed. Reg. 
70776 (2002)), shall become effective upon the date of enactment 
of this Act and shall remain in effect unless modified by law. 
SEC. 7529. AGRICULTURAL AND RURAL TRANSPORTATION RESEARCH 
AND EDUCATION. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—The Secretary, in consultation with the Sec-
retary of Transportation, shall make competitive grants to institu-
tions of higher education to carry out agricultural and rural 
transportation research and education activities. 
(b) ACTIVITIES.—Research and education grants made under 
this section shall be used to address rural transportation and logis-
tics needs of agricultural producers and related rural businesses, 
including— 
(1) the transportation of biofuels; and 
(2) the export of agricultural products. 
(c) SELECTION CRITERIA.— 
(1) IN GENERAL.—The Secretary shall award grants under 
this section on the basis of the transportation research, edu-
cation, and outreach expertise of the applicant, as determined 
by the Secretary. 
(2) PRIORITY.—In awarding grants under this section, the 
Secretary shall give priority to institutions of higher education 
for use in coordinating research and education activities with 
other institutions of higher education with similar agricultural 
and rural transportation research and education programs.
H. R. 2419—357 
(d) DIVERSIFICATION OF RESEARCH.—The Secretary shall award 
grants under this section in areas that are regionally diverse and 
broadly representative of the diversity of agricultural production 
and related transportation needs in the rural areas of the United 
States. 
(e) MATCHING
FUNDS
REQUIREMENT.—The Secretary shall 
require each recipient of a grant under this section to provide, 
from non-Federal sources, in cash or in kind, 50 percent of the 
cost of carrying out activities under the grant. 
(f) GRANT REVIEW.—A grant shall be awarded under this section 
on a competitive, peer- and merit-reviewed basis in accordance 
with section 103(a) of the Agricultural Research, Extension, and 
Education Reform Act of 1998 (7 U.S.C. 7613(a)). 
(g) NO DUPLICATION.—In awarding grants under this section, 
the Secretary shall ensure that activities funded under this section 
do not duplicate the efforts of the University Transportation Centers 
described in sections 5505 and 5506 of title 49, United States 
Code. 
(h) AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.—There is authorized 
to be appropriated to carry out this section $5,000,000 for each 
of fiscal years 2008 through 2012. 
TITLE VIII—FORESTRY 
Subtitle A—Amendments to Cooperative 
Forestry Assistance Act of 1978 
SEC. 8001. NATIONAL PRIORITIES FOR PRIVATE FOREST CONSERVA-
TION. 
Section 2 of the Cooperative Forestry Assistance Act of 1978 
(16 U.S.C. 2101) is amended— 
(1) by redesignating subsections (c) and (d) as subsections 
(e) and (f), respectively; and 
(2) by inserting after subsection (b) the following new sub-
sections: 
‘‘(c) PRIORITIES.—In allocating funds appropriated or otherwise 
made available under this Act, the Secretary shall focus on the 
following national private forest conservation priorities, notwith-
standing other priorities specified elsewhere in this Act: 
‘‘(1) Conserving and managing working forest landscapes 
for multiple values and uses. 
‘‘(2) Protecting forests from threats, including catastrophic 
wildfires, hurricanes, tornados, windstorms, snow or ice storms, 
flooding, drought, invasive species, insect or disease outbreak, 
or development, and restoring appropriate forest types in 
response to such threats. 
‘‘(3) Enhancing public benefits from private forests, 
including air and water quality, soil conservation, biological 
diversity, carbon storage, forest products, forestry-related jobs, 
production of renewable energy, wildlife, wildlife corridors and 
wildlife habitat, and recreation. 
‘‘(d) REPORTING REQUIREMENT.—Not later than September 30, 
2011, the Secretary shall submit to Congress a report describing 
how funds were used under this Act, and through other programs 
administered by the Secretary, to address the national priorities
H. R. 2419—358 
specified in subsection (c) and the outcomes achieved in meeting 
the national priorities.’’. 
SEC. 8002. LONG-TERM STATE-WIDE ASSESSMENTS AND STRATEGIES 
FOR FOREST RESOURCES. 
The Cooperative Forestry Assistance Act of 1978 is amended 
by inserting after section 2 (16 U.S.C. 2101) the following new 
section: 
‘‘SEC. 2A. STATE-WIDE ASSESSMENT AND STRATEGIES FOR FOREST 
RESOURCES. 
‘‘(a) ASSESSMENT AND STRATEGIES FOR FOREST RESOURCES.— 
For a State to be eligible to receive funds under the authorities 
of this Act, the State forester of that State or equivalent State 
official shall develop and submit to the Secretary, not later than 
two years after the date of enactment of the Food, Conservation, 
and Energy Act of 2008, the following: 
‘‘(1) A State-wide assessment of forest resource conditions, 
including— 
‘‘(A) the conditions and trends of forest resources in 
that State; 
‘‘(B) the threats to forest lands and resources in that 
State consistent with the national priorities specified in 
section 2(c); 
‘‘(C) any areas or regions of that State that are a 
priority; and 
‘‘(D) any multi-State areas that are a regional priority. 
‘‘(2) A long-term State-wide forest resource strategy, 
including— 
‘‘(A) strategies for addressing threats to forest 
resources in the State outlined in the assessment required 
by paragraph (1); and 
‘‘(B) a description of the resources necessary for the 
State forester or equivalent State official from all sources 
to address the State-wide strategy. 
‘‘(b) UPDATING.—At such times as the Secretary determines 
to be necessary, the State forester or equivalent State official shall 
update and resubmit to the Secretary the State-wide assessment 
and State-wide strategy required by subsection (a). 
‘‘(c) COORDINATION.—In developing or updating the State-wide 
assessment and State-wide strategy required by subsection (a), 
the State Forester or equivalent State official shall coordinate 
with— 
‘‘(1) the State Forest Stewardship Coordinating Committee 
established for the State under section 19(b); 
‘‘(2) the State wildlife agency, with respect to strategies 
contained in the State wildlife action plans; 
‘‘(3) the State Technical Committee; 
‘‘(4) applicable Federal land management agencies; and 
‘‘(5) for purposes of the Forest Legacy Program under sec-
tion 7, the State lead agency designated by the Governor. 
‘‘(d) INCORPORATION
OF
OTHER
PLANS.—In developing or 
updating the State-wide assessment and State-wide strategy 
required by subsection (a), the State forester or equivalent State 
official shall incorporate any forest management plan of the State, 
including community wildfire protection plans and State wildlife 
action plans.
H. R. 2419—359 
‘‘(e) SUFFICIENCY.—Once approved by the Secretary, a State- 
wide assessment and State-wide strategy developed under sub-
section (a) shall be deemed to be sufficient to satisfy all relevant 
State planning and assessment requirements under this Act. 
‘‘(f) FUNDING.— 
‘‘(1) 
AUTHORIZATION
OF
APPROPRIATIONS.—There 
are 
authorized to be appropriated to carry out this section up 
to $10,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2008 through 2012. 
‘‘(2) ADDITIONAL
FUNDING
SOURCES.—In addition to the 
funds appropriated for a fiscal year pursuant to the authoriza-
tion of appropriations in paragraph (1) to carry out this section, 
the Secretary may use any other funds made available for 
planning under this Act to carry out this section, except that 
the total amount of combined funding used to carry out this 
section may not exceed $10,000,000 in any fiscal year. 
‘‘(g) ANNUAL REPORT ON USE OF FUNDS.—The State forester 
or equivalent State official shall submit to the Secretary an annual 
report detailing how funds made available to the State under this 
Act are being used.’’. 
SEC. 8003. COMMUNITY FOREST AND OPEN SPACE CONSERVATION 
PROGRAM. 
(a) FINDINGS.—Congress finds that— 
(1) the Forest Service projects that, by calendar year 2030, 
approximately 44,000,000 acres of privately-owned forest land 
will be developed throughout the United States; 
(2) public access to parcels of privately-owned forest land 
for outdoor recreational activities, including hunting, fishing, 
and trapping, has declined and, as a result, participation in 
those activities has also declined in cases in which public access 
is not secured; 
(3) rising rates of obesity and other public health problems 
relating to the inactivity of the citizens of the United States 
have been shown to be ameliorated by improving public access 
to safe and attractive areas for outdoor recreation; 
(4) in rapidly-growing communities of all sizes throughout 
the United States, remaining parcels of forest land play an 
essential role in protecting public water supplies; 
(5) forest parcels owned by local governmental entities 
and nonprofit organizations are providing important demonstra-
tion sites for private landowners to learn forest management 
techniques; 
(6) throughout the United States, communities of diverse 
types and sizes are deriving significant financial and commu-
nity benefits from managing forest land owned by local govern-
mental entities for timber and other forest products; and 
(7) there is an urgent need for local governmental entities 
to be able to leverage financial resources in order to purchase 
important parcels of privately-owned forest land as the parcels 
are offered for sale. 
(b) COMMUNITY FOREST AND OPEN SPACE CONSERVATION PRO-
GRAM.—The Cooperative Forestry Assistance Act of 1978 is amended 
by inserting after section 7 (16 U.S.C. 2103c) the following new 
section: 
‘‘SEC. 7A. COMMUNITY FOREST AND OPEN SPACE CONSERVATION PRO-
GRAM. 
‘‘(a) DEFINITIONS.—In this section:
H. R. 2419—360 
‘‘(1) ELIGIBLE ENTITY.—The term ‘eligible entity’ means a 
local governmental entity, Indian tribe, or nonprofit organiza-
tion that owns or acquires a parcel under the program. 
‘‘(2) INDIAN TRIBE.—The term ‘Indian tribe’ has the meaning 
given the term in section 4 of the Indian Self-Determination 
and Education Assistance Act (25 U.S.C. 450b). 
‘‘(3) LOCAL GOVERNMENTAL ENTITY.—The term ‘local govern-
mental entity’ includes any municipal government, county 
government, or other local government body with jurisdiction 
over local land use decisions. 
‘‘(4) 
NONPROFIT
ORGANIZATION.—The 
term 
‘nonprofit 
organization’ means any organization that— 
‘‘(A) is described in section 170(h)(3) of the Internal 
Revenue Code of 1986; and 
‘‘(B) operates in accordance with 1 or more of the 
purposes specified in section 170(h)(4)(A) of that Code. 
‘‘(5) PROGRAM.—The term ‘Program’ means the community 
forest and open space conservation program established under 
subsection (b). 
‘‘(6) SECRETARY.—The term ‘Secretary’ means the Secretary 
of Agriculture, acting through the Chief of the Forest Service. 
‘‘(b) ESTABLISHMENT.—The Secretary shall establish a program, 
to be known as the ‘community forest and open space conservation 
program’. 
‘‘(c) GRANT PROGRAM.— 
‘‘(1) IN
GENERAL.—The Secretary may award grants to 
eligible entities to acquire private forest land, to be owned 
in fee simple, that— 
‘‘(A) are threatened by conversion to nonforest uses; 
and 
‘‘(B) provide public benefits to communities, including— 
‘‘(i) economic benefits through sustainable forest 
management; 
‘‘(ii) environmental benefits, including clean water 
and wildlife habitat; 
‘‘(iii) benefits from forest-based educational pro-
grams, including vocational education programs in for-
estry; 
‘‘(iv) benefits from serving as models of effective 
forest stewardship for private landowners; and 
‘‘(v) recreational benefits, including hunting and 
fishing. 
‘‘(2) FEDERAL COST SHARE.—An eligible entity may receive 
a grant under the Program in an amount equal to not more 
than 50 percent of the cost of acquiring 1 or more parcels, 
as determined by the Secretary. 
‘‘(3) NON-FEDERAL SHARE.—As a condition of receipt of the 
grant, an eligible entity that receives a grant under the Pro-
gram shall provide, in cash, donation, or in kind, a non-Federal 
matching share in an amount that is at least equal to the 
amount of the grant received. 
‘‘(4) APPRAISAL OF PARCELS.—To determine the non-Federal 
share of the cost of a parcel of privately-owned forest land 
under paragraph (2), an eligible entity shall require appraisals 
of the land that comply with the Uniform Appraisal Standards 
for Federal Land Acquisitions developed by the Interagency 
Land Acquisition Conference.
H. R. 2419—361 
‘‘(5) APPLICATION.—An eligible entity that seeks to receive 
a grant under the Program shall submit to the State forester 
or equivalent official (or in the case of an Indian tribe, an 
equivalent official of the Indian tribe) an application that 
includes— 
‘‘(A) a description of the land to be acquired; 
‘‘(B) a forest plan that provides— 
‘‘(i) a description of community benefits to be 
achieved from the acquisition of the private forest land; 
and 
‘‘(ii) an explanation of the manner in which any 
private forest land to be acquired using funds from 
the grant will be managed; and 
‘‘(C) such other relevant information as the Secretary 
may require. 
‘‘(6) EFFECT ON TRUST LAND.— 
‘‘(A) INELIGIBILITY.—The Secretary shall not provide 
a grant under the Program for any project on land held 
in trust by the United States (including Indian reservations 
and allotment land). 
‘‘(B) ACQUIRED LAND.—No land acquired using a grant 
provided under the Program shall be converted to land 
held in trust by the United States on behalf of any Indian 
tribe. 
‘‘(7) APPLICATIONS TO SECRETARY.—The State forester or 
equivalent official (or in the case of an Indian tribe, an equiva-
lent official of the Indian tribe) shall submit to the Secretary 
a list that includes a description of each project submitted 
by an eligible entity at such times and in such form as the 
Secretary shall prescribe. 
‘‘(d) DUTIES OF ELIGIBLE ENTITY.—An eligible entity shall pro-
vide public access to, and manage, forest land acquired with a 
grant under this section in a manner that is consistent with the 
purposes for which the land was acquired under the Program. 
‘‘(e) PROHIBITED USES.— 
‘‘(1) IN GENERAL.—Subject to paragraphs (2) and (3), an 
eligible entity that acquires a parcel under the Program shall 
not sell the parcel or convert the parcel to nonforest use. 
‘‘(2) REIMBURSEMENT OF FUNDS.—An eligible entity that 
sells or converts to nonforest use a parcel acquired under the 
Program shall pay to the Federal Government an amount equal 
to the greater of the current sale price, or current appraised 
value, of the parcel. 
‘‘(3) LOSS OF ELIGIBILITY.—An eligible entity that sells or 
converts a parcel acquired under the Program shall not be 
eligible for additional grants under the Program. 
‘‘(f) STATE ADMINISTRATION AND TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE.—The 
Secretary may allocate not more than 10 percent of all funds made 
available to carry out the Program for each fiscal year to State 
foresters or equivalent officials (including equivalent officials of 
Indian tribes) for Program administration and technical assistance. 
‘‘(g) AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.—There are authorized 
to be appropriated such sums as are necessary to carry out this 
section.’’.
H. R. 2419—362 
SEC. 8004. ASSISTANCE TO THE FEDERATED STATES OF MICRONESIA, 
THE REPUBLIC OF THE MARSHALL ISLANDS, AND THE 
REPUBLIC OF PALAU. 
Section 13(d)(1) of the Cooperative Forestry Act of 1978 (16 
U.S.C. 2109(d)(1)) is amended by striking ‘‘the Trust Territory of 
the Pacific Islands,’’ and inserting ‘‘the Federated States of Micro-
nesia, the Republic of the Marshall Islands, the Republic of Palau,’’. 
SEC. 8005. CHANGES TO FOREST RESOURCE COORDINATING COM-
MITTEE. 
Section 19 of the Cooperative Forestry Assistance Act of 1978 
(16 U.S.C. 2113) is amended by striking subsection (a) and inserting 
the following new subsection: 
‘‘(a) FOREST RESOURCE COORDINATING COMMITTEE.— 
‘‘(1) ESTABLISHMENT.—The Secretary shall establish a com-
mittee, to be known as the ‘Forest Resource Coordinating Com-
mittee’ (in this section referred to as the ‘Coordinating Com-
mittee’), to coordinate nonindustrial private forestry activities 
within the Department of Agriculture and with the private 
sector. 
‘‘(2) COMPOSITION.—The Coordinating Committee shall be 
composed of the following: 
‘‘(A) The Chief of the Forest Service. 
‘‘(B) The Chief of the Natural Resources Conservation 
Service. 
‘‘(C) The Director of the Farm Service Agency. 
‘‘(D) The Director of the National Institute of Food 
and Agriculture. 
‘‘(E) Non-Federal representatives appointed by the Sec-
retary to 3 year terms, although initial appointees shall 
have staggered terms, including the following persons: 
‘‘(i) At least three State foresters or equivalent 
State officials from geographically diverse regions of 
the United States. 
‘‘(ii) A representative of a State fish and wildlife 
agency. 
‘‘(iii) An owner of nonindustrial private forest land. 
‘‘(iv) A forest industry representative. 
‘‘(v) A conservation organization representative. 
‘‘(vi) A land-grant university or college representa-
tive. 
‘‘(vii) A private forestry consultant. 
‘‘(viii) A representative from a State Technical 
Committee established under section 1261 of the Food 
Security Act of 1985 (16 U.S.C. 3861). 
‘‘(F) Such other persons as determined by the Secretary 
to be appropriate. 
‘‘(3) CHAIRPERSON.—The Chief of the Forest Service shall 
serve as chairperson of the Coordinating Committee. 
‘‘(4) DUTIES.—The Coordinating Committee shall— 
‘‘(A) provide direction and coordination of actions 
within the Department of Agriculture, and coordination 
with State agencies and the private sector, to effectively 
address the national priorities specified in section 2(c), 
with specific focus owners of nonindustrial private forest 
land;
H. R. 2419—363 
‘‘(B) clarify individual agency responsibilities of each 
agency represented on the Coordinating Committee con-
cerning the national priorities specified in section 2(c), 
with specific focus on nonindustrial private forest land; 
‘‘(C) provide advice on the allocation of funds, including 
the competitive funds set-aside by sections 13A and 13B; 
and 
‘‘(D) assist the Secretary in developing and reviewing 
the report required by section 2(d). 
‘‘(5) MEETING.—The Coordinating Committee shall meet 
annually to discuss progress in addressing the national prior-
ities specified in section 2(c) and issues regarding nonindustrial 
private forest land. 
‘‘(6) COMPENSATION.— 
‘‘(A) FEDERAL MEMBERS.—Members of the Coordinating 
Committee who are full-time officers or employees of the 
United States shall receive no additional pay, allowances, 
or benefits by reason of their service on the Coordinating 
Committee. 
‘‘(B) NON-FEDERAL MEMBERS.—Non-federal members of 
the Coordinating Committee shall serve without pay, but 
may be reimbursed for reasonable costs incurred while 
performing their duties on behalf of the Coordinating Com-
mittee.’’. 
SEC. 8006. CHANGES TO STATE FOREST STEWARDSHIP COORDINATING 
COMMITTEES. 
Section 19(b) of the Cooperative Forestry Assistance Act of 
1978 (16 U.S.C. 2113(b)) is amended— 
(1) in paragraph (1)(B)(ii)— 
(A) by striking ‘‘and’’ at the end of subclause (VII); 
and 
(B) by adding at the end the following new subclause: 
‘‘(IX) the State Technical Committee.’’. 
(2) in paragraph (2)(C), by striking ‘‘a Forest Stewardship 
Plan under paragraph (3)’’ and inserting ‘‘the State-wide assess-
ment and strategy regarding forest resource conditions under 
section 2A’’; 
(3) by striking paragraphs (3) and (4); and 
(4) by redesignating paragraphs (5) and (6) as paragraphs 
(3) and (4), respectively. 
SEC. 8007. COMPETITION IN PROGRAMS UNDER COOPERATIVE FOR-
ESTRY ASSISTANCE ACT OF 1978. 
The Cooperative Forestry Assistance Act of 1978 is amended 
by inserting after section 13 (16 U.S.C. 2109) the following new 
section: 
‘‘SEC. 13A. COMPETITIVE ALLOCATION OF FUNDS TO STATE FOR-
ESTERS OR EQUIVALENT STATE OFFICIALS. 
‘‘(a) COMPETITION.—Beginning not later than 3 years after the 
date of the enactment of the Food, Conservation, and Energy Act 
of 2008, the Secretary shall competitively allocate a portion, to 
be determined by the Secretary, of the funds available under this 
Act to State foresters or equivalent State officials. 
‘‘(b) DETERMINATION.—In determining the competitive alloca-
tion of funds under subsection (a), the Secretary shall consult