(4) The rural development components of the De-
partment included in the Secretary’s service center
initiative regarding State and field office collocation
implemented pursuant to section 215 of the Depart-
ment of Agriculture Reorganization Act of 1994 (7
U.S.C. 6915).
(c) TIME-TABLE
FOR IMPLEMENTATION.—Not later
than 180 days after the date of the enactment of this Act,
the Secretary shall—
(1) to the maximum extent practicable, complete
the establishment of the electronic filing and retrieval
system required by subsection (a) to the extent nec-
essary to permit the electronic information access re-
quired by paragraph (2) of such subsection;
(2) initiate implementation of the electronic fil-
ing required by paragraph (1) of such subsection by
allowing farmers and other persons to download
forms from the Internet and submit completed forms
via facsimile, mail, or related means; and
(3) modify forms used by the agencies specified
in subsection (b) into a more user-friendly format,
with self-help guidance materials.
(d) INTEROPERABILITY.—In carrying out this section,
the Secretary shall ensure that the agencies specified in sub-
section (b)—
(1) use computer hardware and software that is
compatible among the agencies and will operate in a
common computing environment; and
(2) develop common Internet user-interface loca-
tions and applications to consolidate the agencies’
news, information, and program materials.
(e) COMPLETION
OF IMPLEMENTATION.—Not later
than two years after the date of the enactment of this Act,
the Secretary shall complete the establishment of the elec-
tronic filing and retrieval system required by subsection (a)
to permit the electronic filing required by paragraph (1)
of such subsection.
(f) PROGRESS REPORT.—Not later than 180 days after
the date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary shall
submit to Congress a report describing the progress made
toward establishing the electronic filing and retrieval sys-
tem required by subsection (a).
SEC. 3. AVAILABILITY OF AGENCY INFORMATION TECH-
NOLOGY FUNDS.
(a) RESERVATION
OF FUNDS.—From funds made
available for each agency of the Department of Agriculture
specified in section 2(b) for information technology or infor-
mation resource management, the Secretary of Agriculture
shall reserve an amount equal to not more than the fol-
lowing:
(1) For fiscal year 2001, $3,000,000.
(2) For each subsequent fiscal year, $2,000,000.
(b) TIME FOR RESERVATION.—The Secretary shall no-
tify Congress of the amount to be reserved under subsection
(a) for a fiscal year not later than December 1 of that fiscal
year.
(c) USE OF FUNDS.—Funds reserved under subsection
(a) shall be used to establish the electronic filing and re-
trieval system required by section 2(a). Once the system is
established and operational, reserved amounts shall be used
for maintenance and improvement of the system.
(d) RETURN OF FUNDS.—Funds reserved under sub-
section (a) and unobligated at the end of the fiscal year
shall be returned to the agency from which the funds were
reserved, and such funds shall remain available until ex-
pended.
Amend the title so as to read: ‘‘A bill to require the
Secretary of Agriculture to establish an electronic filing
and retrieval system to enable farmers and other persons
to file paperwork electronically with selected agencies of
the Department of Agriculture and to access public infor-
mation regarding the programs administered by these
agencies.’’.
Union Calendar No. 310
106TH CONGRESS
2D SESSION
H. R. 852
[Report No. 106–565]
A BILL
To require the Department of Agriculture to estab-
lish an electronic filing and retrieval system to
enable the public to file all required paperwork
electronically with the Department and to have
access to public information on farm programs,
quarterly trade, economic, and production re-
ports, and other similar information.
APRIL 10, 2000
Reported with amendments, committed to the Committee
of the Whole House on the State of the Union, and or-
dered to be printed