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(c) STATE CAPACITY BUILDING GRANT PROGRAM.— 
(1) DEFINITIONS.—In this subsection: 
(A) COMMISSION.—The term ‘‘Commission’’ 
means the Northern Border Regional Commis-
sion established by section 15301(a)(3) of title 
40, United States Code. 
(B) COMMISSION STATE.—The term ‘‘Com-
mission State’’ means each of the States of 
Maine, 
New 
Hampshire, 
New 
York, 
and 
Vermont. 
(C) ELIGIBLE COUNTY.—The term ‘‘eligible 
county’’ means a county described in section 
15733 of title 40, United States Code. 
(D) 
PROGRAM.—The 
term 
‘‘program’’ 
means the State capacity building grant pro-
gram established under paragraph (2). 
(2) ESTABLISHMENT.—Not later than 180 days 
after the date of enactment of this Act, the Commis-
sion shall establish a State capacity building grant 
program to provide grants to Commission States to 
carry out the purpose under paragraph (3). 
(3) PURPOSE.—The purpose of the program is to 
support the efforts of Commission States— 
(A) to better support business retention and 
expansion in eligible counties;
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† HR 2 EAS 
(B) to create programs to encourage job cre-
ation and workforce development; 
(C) to prepare economic and infrastructure 
plans for eligible counties; 
(D) 
to 
expand 
access 
to 
high-speed 
broadband; 
(E) to encourage initiatives that drive in-
vestments in transportation, water, wastewater, 
and other critical infrastructure; 
(F) to create initiatives to increase the effec-
tiveness of local or regional economic developers; 
and 
(G) to implement new or innovative eco-
nomic development practices that will better po-
sition the Commission States to compete in the 
global economy. 
(4) USE OF FUNDS.— 
(A) IN
GENERAL.—Funds from a grant 
under the program may be used to support a 
project, program, or expense of the Commission 
State in an eligible county. 
(B) LIMITATION.—Funds from a grant 
under the program shall not be used for— 
(i) the purchase of furniture, fixtures, 
or equipment; or
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† HR 2 EAS 
(ii) the compensation of— 
(I) any State member of the Com-
mission 
(as 
described 
in 
section 
15301(b)(1)(B) of title 40, United 
States Code); or 
(II) any State alternate member 
of the Commission (as described in sec-
tion 15301(b)(2)(B) of title 40, United 
States Code). 
(5) ANNUAL WORK PLAN.— 
(A) IN GENERAL.—For each fiscal year, be-
fore providing a grant under the program, each 
Commission State shall provide to the Commis-
sion an annual work plan that includes the pro-
posed use of the grant. 
(B) APPROVAL.—No grant under the pro-
gram shall be provided to a Commission State 
unless the Commission has approved the annual 
work plan of the State. 
(6) AMOUNT OF GRANT.— 
(A) IN GENERAL.—The amount of a grant 
provided to a Commission State under the pro-
gram shall be an amount equal to the share of 
the State of administrative expenses of the Com-
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† HR 2 EAS 
mission for a fiscal year (as determined under 
section 15304(c) of title 40, United States Code). 
(B) APPROVAL.—For each fiscal year, a 
grant provided under the program shall be ap-
proved and made available as part of the ap-
proval of the annual budget of the Commission. 
(7) GRANT AVAILABILITY.—Funds from a grant 
under the program shall be available only during the 
fiscal year for which the grant is provided. 
(8) REPORT.—Each fiscal year, each Commis-
sion State shall submit to the Commission and make 
publicly available a report that describes the use of 
the grant funds and the impact of the program in the 
State. 
(9) FUNDING.— 
(A) IN GENERAL.—There is authorized to be 
appropriated such sums as the Commission de-
termines to be necessary, subject to the condition 
that the Commission may use not more than 
$5,000,000 to carry out this subsection for any 
fiscal year. 
(B) SUPPLEMENT, NOT SUPPLANT.—Funds 
made available to carry out this subsection shall 
supplement and not supplant funds made avail-
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† HR 2 EAS 
able for the Commission and other activities of 
the Commission. 
(d) NORTHERN BORDER REGIONAL COMMISSION.— 
Section 15733 of title 40, United States Code, is amended— 
(1) in paragraph (2)— 
(A) by inserting ‘‘Belknap,’’ before ‘‘Car-
roll,’’; and 
(B) by inserting ‘‘Cheshire,’’ before ‘‘Coos,’’; 
and 
(2) in paragraph (4)— 
(A) by inserting ‘‘Addison, Bennington,’’ 
before ‘‘Caledonia,’’; 
(B) 
by 
inserting 
‘‘Chittenden,’’ 
before 
‘‘Essex,’’; 
(C) by striking ‘‘and’’ and inserting ‘‘Or-
ange,’’ and 
(D) by inserting ‘‘, Rutland, Washington, 
Windham, and Windsor’’ after ‘‘Orleans’’. 
(e) AUTHORIZATION
OF APPROPRIATIONS.—Section 
15751(a) of title 40, United States Code, is amended by 
striking ‘‘2018’’ and inserting ‘‘2023’’. 
(f) TECHNICAL AMENDMENTS.—Chapters 1, 2, 3, and 
4 of subtitle V of title 40, United States Code, are redesig-
nated as chapters 151, 153, 155, and 157, respectively.
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SEC. 6305. COUNCIL ON RURAL COMMUNITY INNOVATION 
AND ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT. 
(a) FINDINGS.—Congress makes the following findings: 
(1) 16 percent of the population of the United 
States lives in rural counties. 
(2) Strong, sustainable rural communities are 
essential to future prosperity and ensuring United 
States competitiveness in the years ahead. 
(3) Rural communities supply the food, fiber, 
and energy of the United States, safeguard the nat-
ural resources of the United States, and are essential 
to the development of science and innovation. 
(4) Though rural communities face numerous 
challenges, they also present enormous economic po-
tential. 
(5) The Federal Government has an important 
role to play in expanding access to the capital nec-
essary for economic growth, promoting innovation, 
increasing energy resiliency and reliability, improv-
ing access to health care and education, and expand-
ing outdoor recreational activities on public land. 
(b) PURPOSE.—The purpose of this section is to en-
hance the efforts of the Federal Government to address the 
needs of rural areas in the United States by— 
(1) establishing a council to better coordinate 
Federal programs directed to rural communities;
618 
† HR 2 EAS 
(L) The Department of Education. 
(M) The Department of Veterans Affairs. 
(N) The Department of Homeland Security. 
(O) The Environmental Protection Agency. 
(P) The Federal Communications Commis-
sion. 
(Q) The Office of Management and Budget. 
(R) The Office of Science and Technology 
Policy. 
(S) The Office of National Drug Control 
Policy. 
(T) The Council of Economic Advisers. 
(U) The Domestic Policy Council. 
(V) The National Economic Council. 
(W) The Small Business Administration. 
(X) The Council on Environmental Quality. 
(Y) The White House Office of Public En-
gagement. 
(Z) The White House Office of Cabinet Af-
fairs. 
(AA) Such other executive branch depart-
ments, agencies, and offices as the President or 
the Secretary may, from time to time, designate. 
(2) CHAIR.—The Secretary shall serve as the 
Chair of the Council.
619 
† HR 2 EAS 
(3) DESIGNEES.—A member of the Council may 
designate, to perform the Council functions of the 
member, a senior-level official who is— 
(A) part of the department, agency, or office 
of the member; and 
(B) a full-time officer or employee of the 
Federal Government. 
(4) ADMINISTRATION.—The Council shall coordi-
nate policy development through the rural develop-
ment mission area. 
(e) FUNDING.—The Secretary shall provide funding 
and administrative support for the Council to the extent 
permitted by law and within existing appropriations. 
(f) MISSION AND FUNCTION OF THE COUNCIL.—The 
Council shall work across executive departments, agencies, 
and offices to coordinate development of policy rec-
ommendations— 
(1) to maximize the impact of Federal invest-
ment of rural communities; 
(2) to promote economic prosperity and quality 
of life in rural communities; and 
(3) to use innovation to resolve local and re-
gional challenges faced by rural communities. 
(g) DUTIES.—The Council shall—
620 
† HR 2 EAS 
(1) make recommendations to the President, act-
ing through the Director of the Domestic Policy Coun-
cil and the Director of the National Economic Coun-
cil, on streamlining and leveraging Federal invest-
ments in rural areas, where appropriate, to increase 
the impact of Federal dollars and create economic op-
portunities to improve the quality of life in rural 
areas in the United States; 
(2) coordinate and increase the effectiveness of 
Federal engagement with rural stakeholders, includ-
ing agricultural organizations, small businesses, edu-
cation and training institutions, health-care pro-
viders, telecommunications services providers, electric 
service providers, transportation providers, research 
and land grant institutions, law enforcement, State, 
local, and tribal governments, and nongovernmental 
organizations regarding the needs of rural areas in 
the United States; 
(3) coordinate Federal efforts directed toward the 
growth and development of rural geographic regions 
that encompass both metropolitan and nonmetropoli-
tan areas; 
(4) identify and facilitate rural economic oppor-
tunities associated with energy development, outdoor
621 
† HR 2 EAS 
recreation, and other conservation related activities; 
and 
(5) identify common economic and social chal-
lenges faced by rural communities that could be 
served through— 
(A) better coordination of existing Federal 
and non-Federal resources; and 
(B) innovative solutions utilizing govern-
mental and nongovernmental resources. 
(h) EXECUTIVE DEPARTMENTS AND AGENCIES.— 
(1) IN GENERAL.—The heads of executive depart-
ments and agencies shall assist and provide informa-
tion to the Council, consistent with applicable law, as 
may be necessary to carry out the functions of the 
Council. 
(2) EXPENSES.—Each executive department or 
agency shall be responsible for paying any expenses of 
the executive department or agency for participating 
in the Council. 
(i) REPORT ON RURAL SMART COMMUNITIES.— 
(1) IN GENERAL.—Not later than 1 year after 
the establishment of the Council, the Council shall 
submit to Congress a report describing efforts of rural 
areas to integrate ‘‘smart’’ technology into their com-
munities to solve challenges relating to energy, trans-
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† HR 2 EAS 
portation, health care, law enforcement, housing, or 
other relevant local issues, as determined by the Sec-
retary. 
(2) SMART
RURAL
COMMUNITIES.—The report 
under paragraph (1) shall include a description of ef-
forts of rural communities to apply innovative and 
advanced technologies and related mechanisms (such 
as telecommunications, energy, transportation, hous-
ing, economic development)— 
(A) to improve the health and quality of life 
of residents; 
(B) to increase the efficiency and cost-effec-
tiveness of civic operations and services, includ-
ing public safety and other vital public func-
tions; 
(C) to promote economic growth; 
(D) to enhance the use of electricity in the 
community and reduce pollution; and 
(E) to create a more sustainable and resil-
ient community. 
(3) OTHER
INCLUSIONS.—The report under 
paragraph (1) shall include— 
(A) an analysis of efforts to integrate 
‘‘smart’’ technology into rural communities 
across the United States;
623 
† HR 2 EAS 
(B) an analysis of barriers and challenges 
faced by rural areas in integrating ‘‘smart’’ tech-
nology into their communities; 
(C) an analysis of Federal efforts to assist 
rural areas with the development and integra-
tion of ‘‘smart’’ technology into rural commu-
nities; 
(D) recommendations, if any, on how to im-
prove coordination and deployment of Federal ef-
forts to assist rural areas develop and integrate 
‘‘smart’’ technology into their communities; 
(E) recommendations, if any, on how rural 
areas developing ‘‘smart’’ communities can better 
leverage private sector resources; and 
(F) guidelines that establish best practices 
for rural areas that desire to use ‘‘smart’’ tech-
nology to overcome local challenges. 
(j) REVIEW OF PUBLIC BENEFIT TO RURAL COMMU-
NITIES ON THE CREATION OF RURAL SMART COMMUNITY 
DEMONSTRATION PROJECTS.— 
(1) IN GENERAL.—On completion of the report 
under subsection (i)(1), the Council shall review the 
benefits of the creation of a rural smart community 
demonstration projects program for the purposes of 
coordinating Department of Agriculture rural devel-
624 
† HR 2 EAS 
opment, housing, energy, and telecommunication pro-
grams, and other Federal programs specific to rural 
communities, to expand innovative technologies and 
address local challenges specific to rural communities. 
(2) INCLUSIONS.—In the review under para-
graph (1) the Council shall determine whether a rural 
smart community demonstration projects program 
would— 
(A) demonstrate smart community tech-
nologies that can be adapted and repeated by 
other rural communities; 
(B) encourage public, private, local, or re-
gional best practices that can be replicated by 
other rural communities; 
(C) encourage private sector innovation and 
investment in rural communities; 
(D) promote a skilled workforce; and 
(E) promote standards that allow for the 
measurement and validation of the cost savings 
and performance improvements associated with 
the installation and use of smart community 
technologies and practices. 
(k) RURAL SMART COMMUNITY RESOURCE GUIDE.— 
(1) IN GENERAL.—The Council shall create, pub-
lish, and maintain a resource guide designed to assist
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† HR 2 EAS 
States and other rural communities in developing 
and implementing rural smart community programs. 
(2) INCLUSIONS.—A resource guide under para-
graph (1) may include— 
(A) a compilation of existing related Fed-
eral and non-Federal programs available to 
rural communities, including technical assist-
ance, education, training, research and develop-
ment, analysis, and funding; 
(B) available examples of local rural com-
munities engaging private sector entities to im-
plement smart community solutions, including 
public-private partnership models that could be 
used to leverage private sector funding to solve 
similar local challenges; 
(C) available examples of proven methods 
for local rural communities to facilitate integra-
tion of smart technologies with new and existing 
infrastructure and systems; 
(D) best practices and lessons learned from 
demonstration projects, including return on in-
vestment and performance information to help 
other rural communities decide how to initiate 
integration of smart technologies; and
626 
† HR 2 EAS 
(E) such other topics as are requested by in-
dustry entities or local governments or deter-
mined to be necessary by the Council. 
(3) UTILIZATION OF EXISTING GUIDES.—In cre-
ating, publishing, and maintaining the guide under 
paragraph (1), the Council shall consider Federal, 
State, and local guides already published relating to 
smart community goals, activities, and best prac-
tices— 
(A) to prevent duplication of efforts by the 
Federal Government; and 
(B) to leverage existing complementary ef-
forts. 
(4) RESOURCE GUIDE OUTREACH.—The Council 
shall conduct outreach to States, counties, commu-
nities, and other relevant entities— 
(A) to provide interested stakeholders with 
the guide published under paragraph (1); 
(B) to promote the consideration of smart 
community technologies and encourage States 
and local governments to contribute rural smart 
community program and activity information to 
the guide published under paragraph (1); 
(C) to identify—
627 
† HR 2 EAS 
(i) barriers to rural smart community 
technology adoption; and 
(ii) any research, development, and as-
sistance that is needed that could be in-
cluded in the guide published under para-
graph (1); 
(D) to respond to requests for assistance, 
advice, or consultation from rural communities; 
and 
(E) for other purposes, as identified by the 
Council. 
(5) 
SUBSEQUENT
RESOURCE
GUIDES.—The 
Council shall issue an update to the guide published 
under paragraph (1) every 5 years. 
(l) RURAL
BROADBAND
INTEGRATION
WORKING 
GROUP.— 
(1) FINDINGS.—Congress makes the following 
findings: 
(A) Access to high-speed broadband is no 
longer a luxury and is important for United 
States families, businesses, and consumers. 
(B) Affordable, reliable access to high-speed 
broadband is critical to United States economic 
growth and competitiveness.
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† HR 2 EAS 
(C) High-speed broadband enables the peo-
ple of the United States to use the Internet in 
new ways, expands access to health services and 
education, increases the productivity of busi-
nesses, and drives innovation throughout the dig-
ital ecosystem. 
(D) The private sector and Federal, State, 
and local governments have made substantial in-
vestments to expand broadband access in the 
United States, but more must be done to improve 
the availability and quality of high-speed 
broadband, particularly in areas lacking com-
petitive choices. 
(E) Today, more than 50,000,000 people of 
the United States cannot purchase a wired 
broadband connection at speeds for adequate 
broadband service, and only 29 percent of people 
of the United States can choose from more than 
1 service provider at that speed. 
(F) As a result of the statistics described in 
subparagraph (E), the costs, benefits, and avail-
ability of high-speed broadband Internet are not 
evenly distributed, with considerable variation 
among States and between urban and rural 
areas.
629 
† HR 2 EAS 
(G) The Federal Government has an impor-
tant role to play in developing coordinated poli-
cies to promote broadband deployment and adop-
tion, including promoting best practices, break-
ing down regulatory barriers, and encouraging 
further investment, which will help deliver higher 
quality, lower cost broadband to more families, 
businesses, and communities and allow commu-
nities to benefit fully from those investments. 
(2) POLICY.— 
(A) IN GENERAL.—It is the policy of the 
Federal Government for executive departments 
and agencies having statutory authorities appli-
cable to broadband deployment (referred to in 
this subsection as the ‘‘agencies’’) to use all 
available and appropriate authorities— 
(i) to identify and address regulatory 
barriers that may unduly impede either 
wired broadband deployment or the infra-
structure to augment wireless broadband de-
ployment; 
(ii) to encourage further investment in 
broadband networks and services;
630 
† HR 2 EAS 
(iii) to promote the adoption and 
meaningful use of broadband technology; 
and 
(iv) to otherwise encourage or support 
broadband deployment, competition, and 
adoption in ways that promote the public 
interest. 
(B) PRIORITIES.—In carrying out the pol-
icy under subparagraph (A), the agencies shall 
focus on— 
(i) opportunities to promote broadband 
adoption and competition through incen-
tives to new entrants in the market for 
broadband services; 
(ii) modernizing regulations; 
(iii) accurately measuring real-time 
broadband availability and speeds; 
(iv) increasing broadband access for 
underserved 
communities, 
including 
in 
rural areas; 
(v) exploring opportunities to reduce 
costs for potential low-income users; and 
(vi) other possible measures, including 
supporting State, local, and Tribal govern-
631 
† HR 2 EAS 
ments interested in encouraging or invest-
ing in high-speed broadband networks. 
(C) EFFECT.—In carrying out the policy 
under subparagraph (A), the agencies shall en-
sure that existing and planned Federal, State, 
local, and Tribal government missions and capa-
bilities for delivering services to the public, in-
cluding those missions and capabilities relating 
to national security, public safety, and emer-
gency response, are maintained. 
(D) COORDINATION.—The agencies shall co-
ordinate the policy under subparagraph (A) 
through the Rural Broadband Integration Work-
ing Group established under paragraph (3). 
(3) ESTABLISHMENT OF RURAL BROADBAND IN-
TEGRATION WORKING GROUP.— 
(A) IN GENERAL.—There is established the 
Rural Broadband Integration Working Group 
(referred to in this subsection as the ‘‘Working 
Group’’). 
(B) MEMBERSHIP.—The membership of the 
Working Group shall be composed of the heads, 
or their designees, of— 
(i) the Department of Agriculture; 
(ii) the Department of Commerce;
632 
† HR 2 EAS 
(iii) the Department of Defense; 
(iv) the Department of State; 
(v) the Department of the Interior; 
(vi) the Department of Labor; 
(vii) the Department of Health and 
Human Services; 
(viii) the Department of Homeland Se-
curity; 
(ix) the Department of Housing and 
Urban Development; 
(x) the Department of Justice; 
(xi) the Department of Transportation; 
(xii) the Department of the Treasury; 
(xiii) the Department of Energy; 
(xiv) the Department of Education; 
(xv) the Department of Veterans Af-
fairs; 
(xvi) the Environmental Protection 
Agency; 
(xvii) the General Services Adminis-
tration; 
(xviii) the Small Business Administra-
tion; 
(xix) the Institute of Museum and Li-
brary Services;
633 
† HR 2 EAS 
(xx) the National Science Foundation; 
(xxi) the Council on Environmental 
Quality; 
(xxii) the Office of Science and Tech-
nology Policy; 
(xxiii) the Office of Management and 
Budget; 
(xxiv) the Council of Economic Advis-
ers; 
(xxv) the Domestic Policy Council; 
(xxvi) the National Economic Council; 
and 
(xxvii) such other Federal agencies or 
entities as are determined appropriate in 
accordance with subparagraph (E). 
(C) CO-CHAIRS.—The Secretary and the 
Secretary of Commerce shall serve as the Co- 
Chairs of the Working Group. 
(D) CONSULTATION; COORDINATION.— 
(i) 
CONSULTATION.—The 
Working 
Group shall consult, as appropriate, with 
other relevant agencies, including the Fed-
eral Communications Commission. 
(ii) 
COORDINATION.—The 
Working 
Group shall coordinate with existing Fed-
634 
† HR 2 EAS 
eral working groups and committees in-
volved with broadband. 
(E) MEMBERSHIP CHANGES.— 
(i) IN GENERAL.—The Director of the 
National Economic Council and the Direc-
tor of the Office of Science and Technology 
Policy shall review, on a periodic basis, the 
membership of the Working Group to ensure 
that the Working Group— 
(I) includes necessary Federal 
Government entities; and 
(II) is an effective mechanism for 
coordinating among agencies on the 
policy described in paragraph (2). 
(ii) CHANGES.—The Director of the 
National Economic Council and the Direc-
tor of the Office of Science and Technology 
Policy may add or remove members of the 
Council, as appropriate, based on the re-
view under clause (i). 
(4) FUNCTIONS OF THE WORKING GROUP.— 
(A) CONSULTATION.—As permitted by law, 
the members of the Working Group shall consult 
with State, local, Tribal, and territorial govern-
ments, telecommunications companies, utilities,
635 
† HR 2 EAS 
trade associations, philanthropic entities, policy 
experts, and other interested parties to identify 
and assess regulatory barriers described in para-
graphs (1)(G) and (2)(A)(i) and opportunities 
described in clauses (i) and (v) of paragraph 
(2)(B) to determine possible actions relating to 
those barriers and opportunities. 
(B) POINT OF CONTACT.—Not later than 15 
days after the date of enactment of this Act, each 
member of the Working Group shall— 
(i) designate a representative to serve 
as the main point of contact for matters re-
lating to the Working Group; and 
(ii) notify the Co-Chairs of the Work-
ing Group of that designee. 
(C) SURVEY.— 
(i) IN GENERAL.—In Not later than 60 
days after the date of enactment of this Act, 
the members of the Working Group shall 
submit to the Working Group a comprehen-
sive survey of— 
(I) Federal programs, including 
the allocated funding amounts, that 
currently support or could reasonably
636 
† HR 2 EAS 
be modified to support broadband de-
ployment and adoption; and 
(II) all agency-specific policies 
and rules with the direct or indirect ef-
fect of facilitating or regulating invest-
ment in or deployment of wired and 
wireless broadband networks. 
(D) LIST OF ACTIONS.—Not later than 120 
days after the date of enactment of this Act, the 
members of the Working Group shall submit to 
the Working Group an initial list of actions that 
each of the agencies could take to identify and 
address regulatory barriers, incentivize invest-
ment, promote best practices, align funding deci-
sions, and otherwise support wired broadband 
deployment and adoption. 
(E) REPORT.— 
(i) IN GENERAL.—Not later than 150 
days after the date of enactment of this Act, 
after not fewer than 2 meetings of the full 
Working Group, the Working Group shall 
submit to the President, acting through the 
Director of the National Economic Council, 
a coordinated, agreed-to, and prioritized list 
of recommendations of the Working Group
637 
† HR 2 EAS 
on actions that agencies can take to support 
broadband deployment and adoption. 
(ii) INCLUSIONS.—The recommenda-
tions under clause (i) shall include— 
(I) a list of priority actions and 
rulemakings; and 
(II) timelines to complete the pri-
ority actions and rulemakings under 
subclause (I). 
(m) GENERAL PROVISIONS.— 
(1) EFFECT.—Nothing in this section— 
(A) impairs or otherwise affects— 
(i) the authority granted by law to a 
department or agency, or the head thereof; 
(ii) the functions of the Director of the 
Office of Management and Budget relating 
to budgetary, administrative, or legislative 
proposals; or 
(iii) the authority of the Federal Com-
munications Commission concerning spec-
trum allocation decisions; 
(B) requires the disclosure of classified in-
formation, law enforcement sensitive informa-
tion, or other information that shall be protected 
in the interests of national security; or
638 
† HR 2 EAS 
(C) creates any right or benefit, substantive 
or procedural, enforceable at law or in equity by 
any party against the United States, any Fed-
eral department, agency, or entity, any officer, 
employee, or agent, of the United States, or any 
other person. 
(2) IMPLEMENTATION.—This section shall be im-
plemented consistent with applicable law and subject 
to the availability of appropriations. 
TITLE VII—RESEARCH, EXTEN-
SION, 
AND 
RELATED 
MAT-
TERS 
Subtitle A—National Agricultural 
Research, Extension, and Teach-
ing Policy Act of 1977 
SEC. 7101. PURPOSES OF AGRICULTURAL RESEARCH, EX-
TENSION, AND EDUCATION. 
Section 1402 of the National Agricultural Research, 
Extension, and Teaching Policy Act of 1977 (7 U.S.C. 
3101) is amended— 
(1) in paragraph (7), by striking ‘‘and’’ after the 
semicolon; 
(2) in paragraph (8), by striking the period at 
the end and inserting ‘‘; and’’; and 
(3) by adding at the end the following:
639 
† HR 2 EAS 
‘‘(9) support international collaboration that 
leverages resources and advances priority food and 
agricultural interests of the United States, such as— 
‘‘(A) addressing emerging plant and animal 
diseases; 
‘‘(B) improving crop varieties and animal 
breeds; and 
‘‘(C) developing safe, efficient, and nutri-
tious food systems.’’. 
SEC. 7102. MATTERS RELATING TO CERTAIN SCHOOL DES-
IGNATIONS AND DECLARATIONS. 
(a) STUDY OF FOOD AND AGRICULTURAL SCIENCES.— 
Section 1404(14) of the National Agricultural Research, 
Extension, and Teaching Policy Act of 1977 (7 U.S.C. 
3103(14)) is amended— 
(1) by striking subparagraph (A) and inserting 
the following: 
‘‘(A) IN GENERAL.— 
‘‘(i) DEFINITION.—The terms ‘NLGCA 
Institution’ and ‘non-land-grant college of 
agriculture’ mean a public college or uni-
versity offering a baccalaureate or higher 
degree in the study of agricultural sciences, 
forestry, or both in any area of study de-
scribed in clause (ii).
640 
† HR 2 EAS 
‘‘(ii) 
CLARIFICATION.—An 
area 
of 
study referred to in clause (i) may include 
any of the following: 
‘‘(I) Agriculture. 
‘‘(II) Agricultural business and 
management. 
‘‘(III) Agricultural economics. 
‘‘(IV) Agricultural mechanization. 
‘‘(V) Agricultural production op-
erations. 
‘‘(VI) Aquaculture. 
‘‘(VII) 
Agricultural 
and 
food 
products processing. 
‘‘(VIII) Agricultural and domestic 
animal services. 
‘‘(IX) Equestrian or equine stud-
ies. 
‘‘(X) Applied horticulture or hor-
ticulture operations. 
‘‘(XI) Ornamental horticulture. 
‘‘(XII) Greenhouse operations and 
management. 
‘‘(XIII) Turf and turfgrass man-
agement.
641 
† HR 2 EAS 
‘‘(XIV) Plant nursery operations 
and management. 
‘‘(XV) Floriculture or floristry op-
erations and management. 
‘‘(XVI) International agriculture. 
‘‘(XVII) Agricultural public serv-
ices. 
‘‘(XVIII) Agricultural and exten-
sion education services. 
‘‘(XIX) Agricultural communica-
tion or agricultural journalism. 
‘‘(XX) Animal sciences. 
‘‘(XXI) Food science. 
‘‘(XXII) Plant sciences. 
‘‘(XXIII) Soil sciences. 
‘‘(XXIV) Forestry. 
‘‘(XXV) Forest sciences and biol-
ogy. 
‘‘(XXVI) Natural resources or con-
servation. 
‘‘(XXVII) Natural resources man-
agement and policy. 
‘‘(XXVIII) Natural resource eco-
nomics. 
‘‘(XXIX) Urban forestry.
642 
† HR 2 EAS 
‘‘(XXX) Wood science and wood 
products or pulp or paper technology. 
‘‘(XXXI) Range science and man-
agement. 
‘‘(XXXII) Agricultural engineer-
ing. 
‘‘(XXXIII) Any other area, as de-
termined appropriate by the Sec-
retary.’’; and 
(2) in subparagraph (C)— 
(A) in the matter preceding clause (i), by 
inserting ‘‘any institution designated under’’ 
after ‘‘include’’; 
(B) by striking clause (i); and 
(C) in clause (ii)— 
(i) by striking ‘‘(ii) any institution 
designated under—’’; 
(ii) by striking subclause (IV); 
(iii) in subclause (II), by adding ‘‘or’’ 
at the end; 
(iv) in subclause (III), by striking ‘‘; 
or’’ at the end and inserting a period; and 
(v) by redesignating subclauses (I), 
(II), and (III) as clauses (i), (ii), and (iii), 
respectively, and indenting appropriately.
643 
† HR 2 EAS 
(b) DESIGNATION REVIEW.— 
(1) IN GENERAL.—Not later than 90 days after 
the date of enactment of this Act, the Secretary shall 
establish a process to review each designated NLGCA 
Institution (as defined in section 1404(14)(A) of the 
National Agricultural Research, Extension, and 
Teaching Policy Act of 1977 (7 U.S.C. 3103(14)(A))) 
to ensure compliance with that section (as amended 
by subsection (a)). 
(2) VIOLATION.—If the Secretary determines 
under paragraph (1) that an NLGCA Institution is 
not in compliance with section 1404(14)(A) of the Na-
tional Agricultural Research, Extension, and Teach-
ing Policy Act of 1977 (7 U.S.C. 3103(14)(A)) (as 
amended by subsection (a)), the designation of that 
NLGCA Institution shall be revoked. 
SEC. 7103. NATIONAL AGRICULTURAL RESEARCH, EXTEN-
SION, EDUCATION, AND ECONOMICS ADVI-
SORY BOARD. 
Section 1408(h) of the National Agricultural Research, 
Extension, and Teaching Policy Act of 1977 (7 U.S.C. 
3123(h)) is amended by striking ‘‘2018’’ and inserting 
‘‘2023’’.
644 
† HR 2 EAS 
SEC. 7104. CITRUS DISEASE SUBCOMMITTEE OF SPECIALTY 
CROP COMMITTEE. 
Section 1408A(a)(2)(D) of the National Agricultural 
Research, Extension, and Teaching Policy Act of 1977 (7 
U.S.C. 3123a(a)(2)(D)) is amended by striking ‘‘2018’’ and 
inserting ‘‘2023’’. 
SEC. 7105. VETERINARY SERVICES GRANT PROGRAM. 
Section 1415B of the National Agricultural Research, 
Extension, and Teaching Policy Act of 1977 (7 U.S.C. 
3151b) is amended— 
(1) in subsection (c)(2)— 
(A) by striking ‘‘to qualified’’ and inserting 
the following: ‘‘to— 
‘‘(A) qualified’’; 
(B) in subparagraph (A) (as so designated), 
by striking the period at the end and inserting 
‘‘; and’’; and 
(C) by adding at the end the following: 
‘‘(B) qualified entities for the purpose of ex-
posing students in grades 11 and 12 to education 
and career opportunities in food animal medi-
cine.’’; and 
(2) in subsection (h)— 
(A) by striking the subsection designation 
and heading and inserting the following: 
‘‘(h) FUNDING.—
645 
† HR 2 EAS 
‘‘(1) AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.—’’; 
(B) in paragraph (1) (as so designated), by 
striking ‘‘for fiscal year 2014 and each fiscal 
year thereafter’’ and inserting ‘‘for each of fiscal 
years 2014 through 2023’’; and 
(C) by adding at the end the following: 
‘‘(2) PRIORITY.—The Secretary shall award not 
less than 2⁄3 of amounts made available for grants 
under this section to qualified entities with a focus on 
food animal medicine.’’. 
SEC. 7106. GRANTS AND FELLOWSHIPS FOR FOOD AND AG-
RICULTURE SCIENCES EDUCATION. 
Section 1417(m)(2) of the National Agricultural Re-
search, Extension, and Teaching Policy Act of 1977 (7 
U.S.C. 3152(m)(2)) is amended by striking ‘‘2018’’ and in-
serting ‘‘2023’’. 
SEC. 7107. RESEARCH EQUIPMENT GRANTS. 
The National Agricultural Research, Extension, and 
Teaching Policy Act of 1977 is amended by inserting after 
section 1418 (7 U.S.C. 3153) the following: 
‘‘SEC. 1419. RESEARCH EQUIPMENT GRANTS. 
‘‘(a) DEFINITION OF ELIGIBLE INSTITUTION.—In this 
section, the term ‘eligible institution’ means—
646 
† HR 2 EAS 
‘‘(1) an institution of higher education (as de-
fined in section 101(a) of the Higher Education Act 
of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 1001(a))); or 
‘‘(2) a State cooperative institution. 
‘‘(b) GRANTS.—The Secretary may award competitive 
grants to eligible institutions for the acquisition of special 
purpose scientific research equipment for use in the food 
and agricultural sciences programs of those institutions. 
‘‘(c) MAXIMUM AMOUNT.—The amount of a grant 
under subsection (b) shall not exceed $500,000. 
‘‘(d) PROHIBITION ON CHARGE OF INDIRECT COSTS.— 
The cost of the acquisition or depreciation of equipment 
purchased with a grant under this section shall not be— 
‘‘(1) charged as an indirect cost against another 
Federal grant; or 
‘‘(2) included as part of the indirect cost pool for 
purposes of calculating the indirect cost rate of an eli-
gible institution. 
‘‘(e) AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.—There is 
authorized to be appropriated to carry out this section 
$5,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2019 through 2023.’’. 
SEC. 7108. AGRICULTURAL AND FOOD POLICY RESEARCH 
CENTERS. 
Section 1419A(e) of the National Agricultural Re-
search, Extension, and Teaching Policy Act of 1977 (7
647 
† HR 2 EAS 
U.S.C. 3155(e)) is amended by striking ‘‘2018’’ and insert-
ing ‘‘2023’’. 
SEC. 7109. EDUCATION GRANTS TO ALASKA NATIVE SERV-
ING INSTITUTIONS AND NATIVE HAWAIIAN 
SERVING INSTITUTIONS. 
Section 1419B of the National Agricultural Research, 
Extension, and Teaching Policy Act of 1977 (7 U.S.C. 
3156) is amended— 
(1) in subsection (a)(3), by striking ‘‘2018’’ and 
inserting ‘‘2023’’; and 
(2) in subsection (b)(3), by striking ‘‘2018’’ and 
inserting ‘‘2023’’. 
SEC. 7110. NEXT GENERATION AGRICULTURE TECHNOLOGY 
CHALLENGE. 
Subtitle C of the National Agricultural Research, Ex-
tension, and Teaching Policy Act of 1977 (7 U.S.C. 3151 
et seq.) is amended by adding at the end the following: 
‘‘SEC. 1419C. NEXT GENERATION AGRICULTURE TECH-
NOLOGY CHALLENGE. 
‘‘(a) IN GENERAL.—The Secretary shall establish a 
next generation agriculture technology challenge competi-
tion to provide an incentive for the development of innova-
tive mobile technology that removes barriers to entry in the 
marketplace for beginning farmers and ranchers (as defined
650 
† HR 2 EAS 
‘‘(2) institutions designated under the Act of 
July 2, 1862 (commonly known as the ‘First Morrill 
Act’) (12 Stat. 503, chapter 130; 7 U.S.C. 301 et 
seq.).’’. 
SEC. 7116. GRANTS TO UPGRADE AGRICULTURAL AND FOOD 
SCIENCES FACILITIES AT 1890 LAND-GRANT 
COLLEGES, INCLUDING TUSKEGEE UNIVER-
SITY. 
Section 1447(b) of the National Agricultural Research, 
Extension, and Teaching Policy Act of 1977 (7 U.S.C. 
3222b(b)) is amended by striking ‘‘2018’’ and inserting 
‘‘2023’’. 
SEC. 7117. GRANTS TO UPGRADE AGRICULTURE AND FOOD 
SCIENCES FACILITIES AND EQUIPMENT AT 
INSULAR AREA LAND-GRANT INSTITUTIONS. 
Section 1447B(d) of the National Agricultural Re-
search, Extension, and Teaching Policy Act of 1977 (7 
U.S.C. 3222b–2(d)) is amended by striking ‘‘2018’’ and in-
serting ‘‘2023’’. 
SEC. 7118. NEW BEGINNING FOR TRIBAL STUDENTS. 
Subtitle G of the National Agricultural Research, Ex-
tension, and Teaching Policy Act of 1977 (7 U.S.C. 3221 
et seq.) is amended by adding at the end the following:
651 
† HR 2 EAS 
‘‘SEC. 1450. NEW BEGINNING FOR TRIBAL STUDENTS. 
‘‘(a) DEFINITION OF TRIBAL STUDENT.—In this sec-
tion, the term ‘Tribal student’ means a student at a land- 
grant college or university that is a member of an Indian 
tribe (as defined in section 4 of the Indian Self-Determina-
tion and Education Assistance Act (25 U.S.C. 5304)). 
‘‘(b) NEW BEGINNING INITIATIVE.— 
‘‘(1) AUTHORIZATION.—The Secretary may make 
competitive grants to land-grant colleges and univer-
sities to provide identifiable support specifically tar-
geted for Tribal students. 
‘‘(2) APPLICATION.—A land-grant college or uni-
versity that desires to receive a grant under this sec-
tion shall submit an application to the Secretary at 
such time, in such manner, and accompanied by such 
information as the Secretary may require. 
‘‘(3) USE OF FUNDS.—A land-grant college or 
university that receives a grant under this section 
shall use the grant funds to support Tribal students 
through— 
‘‘(A) recruiting; 
‘‘(B) tuition and related fees; 
‘‘(C) experiential learning; and 
‘‘(D) student services, including— 
‘‘(i) tutoring; 
‘‘(ii) counseling;
652 
† HR 2 EAS 
‘‘(iii) academic advising; and 
‘‘(iv) other student services that would 
increase the retention and graduation rate 
of Tribal students enrolled at the land-grant 
college or university, as determined by the 
Secretary. 
‘‘(4) MATCHING FUNDS.—A land-grant college or 
university that receives a grant under this section 
shall provide matching funds toward the cost of car-
rying out the activities described in this section in an 
amount equal to not less than 100 percent of the 
grant award. 
‘‘(5) MAXIMUM AMOUNT PER STATE.—No State 
shall receive, through grants made under this section 
to land-grant colleges and universities located in the 
State, more than $500,000 per year. 
‘‘(c) REPORT.—Not later than 3 years after the date 
of enactment of this section, the Secretary shall submit to 
the Committee on Agriculture of the House of Representa-
tives and the Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and 
Forestry and the Committee on Indian Affairs of the Senate 
a report that includes an itemized list of grant funds dis-
tributed under this section, including the specific form of 
assistance, and the number of Tribal students assisted and
653 
† HR 2 EAS 
the graduation rate of Tribal students at land-grant colleges 
and universities receiving grants under this section. 
‘‘(d) AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATION.—There is 
authorized to be appropriated to carry out this section 
$5,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2019 through 2023.’’. 
SEC. 7119. HISPANIC-SERVING INSTITUTIONS. 
Section 1455(c) of the National Agricultural Research, 
Extension, and Teaching Policy Act of 1977 (7 U.S.C. 
3241(c)) is amended by striking ‘‘2018’’ and inserting 
‘‘2023’’. 
SEC. 7120. BINATIONAL AGRICULTURAL RESEARCH AND DE-
VELOPMENT. 
Section 1458(e) of the National Agricultural Research, 
Extension, and Teaching Policy Act of 1977 (7 U.S.C. 
3291(e)) is amended— 
(1) in the subsection heading, by striking ‘‘FULL 
PAYMENT
OF FUNDS MADE AVAILABLE
FOR CER-
TAIN’’ and inserting ‘‘CERTAIN’’ ; 
(2) by striking ‘‘Notwithstanding’’ and inserting 
the following: 
‘‘(1) FULL
PAYMENT
OF
FUNDS.—Notwith-
standing’’; 
(3) in paragraph (1) (as so designated)— 
(A) by striking ‘‘Israel-United States’’ and 
inserting ‘‘United States-Israel’’; and
654 
† HR 2 EAS 
(B) by inserting ‘‘(referred to in this sub-
section as the ‘BARD Fund’)’’ after ‘‘Develop-
ment Fund’’; and 
(4) by adding at the end the following: 
‘‘(2) ACTIVITIES.—Activities under the BARD 
Fund to promote and support agricultural research 
and development that are of mutual benefit to the 
United States and Israel shall— 
‘‘(A) be carried out by the Secretary in a 
manner consistent with this section; 
‘‘(B) accelerate the demonstration, develop-
ment, and application of agricultural solutions 
resulting from or relating to BARD Fund pro-
grams, including BARD Fund-sponsored re-
search and innovations in drip irrigation, pes-
ticides, aquaculture, livestock, poultry, disease 
control, and farm equipment; and 
‘‘(C) encourage research carried out by gov-
ernmental, nongovernmental, and private enti-
ties, including through collaboration with col-
leges and universities, research institutions, and 
the private sector.’’.
655 
† HR 2 EAS 
SEC. 7121. PARTNERSHIPS TO BUILD CAPACITY IN INTER-
NATIONAL AGRICULTURAL RESEARCH, EX-
TENSION, AND TEACHING. 
The National Agricultural Research, Extension, and 
Teaching Policy Act of 1977 is amended by inserting after 
section 1458 (7 U.S.C. 3291) the following: 
‘‘SEC. 1458A. PARTNERSHIPS TO BUILD CAPACITY IN INTER-
NATIONAL AGRICULTURAL RESEARCH, EX-
TENSION, AND TEACHING. 
‘‘(a) PURPOSE.—The purpose of this section is to build 
the capacity, and improve the performance, of covered Insti-
tutions and agricultural higher education institutions in 
lower and middle income countries performing, or desiring 
to perform, activities substantially similar to agricultural 
research, extension, and teaching activities (referred to in 
this section as ‘agricultural higher education institutions 
in developing countries’) in order to solve food, health, nu-
trition, rural income, and environmental challenges, espe-
cially among chronically food insecure populations, includ-
ing by— 
‘‘(1) promoting partnerships between covered In-
stitutions and agricultural higher education institu-
tions in developing countries; and 
‘‘(2) leveraging the capacity of covered Institu-
tions to partner with agricultural higher education 
institutions in developing countries.
656 
† HR 2 EAS 
‘‘(b) DEFINITIONS.—In this section: 
‘‘(1) 1862 INSTITUTION; 1890 INSTITUTION; 1994 
INSTITUTION.—The terms ‘1862 Institution’, ‘1890 
Institution’, and ‘1994 Institution’ have the meanings 
given the terms in section 2 of the Agricultural Re-
search, Extension, and Education Reform Act of 1998 
(7 U.S.C. 7601). 
‘‘(2) COVERED INSTITUTION.—The term ‘covered 
Institution’ means— 
‘‘(A) an 1862 Institution; 
‘‘(B) an 1890 Institution; 
‘‘(C) a 1994 Institution; 
‘‘(D) an NLGCA Institution; 
‘‘(E) an Hispanic-serving agricultural col-
lege or university; and 
‘‘(F) a cooperating forestry school. 
‘‘(c) AUTHORITY OF THE SECRETARY.—To carry out 
the purpose of this section, the Secretary may promote co-
operation and coordination between covered Institutions 
and agricultural higher education institutions in devel-
oping countries through— 
‘‘(1) improving extension by— 
‘‘(A) encouraging the exchange of research 
materials and results between covered Institu-
657 
† HR 2 EAS 
tions and agricultural higher education institu-
tions in developing countries; 
‘‘(B) facilitating the broad dissemination of 
agricultural research through extension; and 
‘‘(C) assisting with efforts to plan and ini-
tiate extension services in lower and middle in-
come countries; 
‘‘(2) improving agricultural research by— 
‘‘(A) in partnership with agricultural high-
er education institutions in developing countries, 
encouraging research that addresses problems af-
fecting food production and security, human nu-
trition, agriculture, forestry, livestock, and fish-
eries, including local challenges; and 
‘‘(B) supporting and strengthening national 
agricultural research systems in lower and mid-
dle income countries; 
‘‘(3) supporting the participation of covered In-
stitutions in programs of international organizations, 
such as the United Nations, the World Bank, regional 
development banks, and international agricultural re-
search centers; 
‘‘(4) improving agricultural teaching and edu-
cation by—
658 
† HR 2 EAS 
‘‘(A) in partnership with agricultural high-
er education institutions in developing countries, 
supporting education and teaching relating to 
food and agricultural sciences, including tech-
nical assistance, degree training, research col-
laborations, classroom instruction, workforce 
training, and education programs; and 
‘‘(B) assisting with efforts to increase stu-
dent capacity, including to encourage equitable 
access for women and other underserved popu-
lations, at agricultural higher education institu-
tions in developing countries by promoting part-
nerships with, and improving the capacity of, 
covered Institutions; 
‘‘(5) assisting covered Institutions in strength-
ening their capacity for food, agricultural, and re-
lated research, extension, and teaching programs rel-
evant to agricultural development activities in lower 
and middle income countries to promote the applica-
tion of new technology to improve education delivery; 
‘‘(6) providing support for the internationaliza-
tion of resident instruction programs of covered Insti-
tutions; 
‘‘(7) establishing a program, to be coordinated by 
the Director of the National Institute of Food and Ag-
659 
† HR 2 EAS 
riculture and the Administrator of the Foreign Agri-
cultural Service, to place interns from covered Insti-
tutions in, or in service to benefit, lower and middle 
income countries; and 
‘‘(8) establishing a program to provide fellow-
ships to students at covered Institutions to study at 
foreign agricultural colleges and universities. 
‘‘(d) ENHANCING LINKAGES.—The Secretary shall en-
hance the linkages among covered Institutions, the Federal 
Government, international research centers, counterpart re-
search, extension, and teaching agencies and institutions in 
developed countries and developing countries— 
‘‘(1) to carry out the purpose described in sub-
section (a); and 
‘‘(2) to make a substantial contribution to the 
cause of improved food and agricultural progress 
throughout the world. 
‘‘(e) AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.—There is 
authorized to be appropriated to carry out this section 
$10,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2019 through 2023.’’. 
SEC. 7122. COMPETITIVE GRANTS FOR INTERNATIONAL AG-
RICULTURAL SCIENCE AND EDUCATION PRO-
GRAMS. 
Section 1459A(c)(2) of the National Agricultural Re-
search, Extension, and Teaching Policy Act of 1977 (7
660 
† HR 2 EAS 
U.S.C. 3292b(c)(2)) is amended by striking ‘‘2018’’ and in-
serting ‘‘2023’’. 
SEC. 7123. UNIVERSITY RESEARCH. 
Section 1463 of the National Agricultural Research, 
Extension, and Teaching Policy Act of 1977 (7 U.S.C. 
3311) is amended by striking ‘‘2018’’ each place it appears 
in subsections (a) and (b) and inserting ‘‘2023’’. 
SEC. 7124. EXTENSION SERVICE. 
Section 1464 of the National Agricultural Research, 
Extension, and Teaching Policy Act of 1977 (7 U.S.C. 
3312) is amended by striking ‘‘2018’’ and inserting ‘‘2023’’. 
SEC. 7125. SUPPLEMENTAL AND ALTERNATIVE CROPS; 
HEMP. 
Section 1473D of the National Agricultural Research, 
Extension, and Teaching Policy Act of 1977 (7 U.S.C. 
3319d) is amended— 
(1) in subsection (a)— 
(A) by striking ‘‘2018’’ and inserting 
‘‘2023’’; and 
(B) by striking ‘‘crops,’’ and inserting 
‘‘crops (including canola),’’; 
(2) in subsection (b)— 
(A) by inserting ‘‘for agronomic rotational 
purposes and as a habitat for honey bees and 
other pollinators’’ after ‘‘alternative crops’’; and
661 
† HR 2 EAS 
(B) by striking ‘‘commodities whose’’ and 
all that follows through the period at the end and 
inserting ‘‘commodities.’’; 
(3) in subsection (c)(3)(E), by inserting ‘‘(in-
cluding hemp (as defined in section 297A of the Agri-
cultural Marketing Act of 1946))’’ after ‘‘material’’; 
and 
(4) in subsection (e)(2), by striking ‘‘2018’’ and 
inserting ‘‘2023’’. 
SEC. 7126. NEW ERA RURAL TECHNOLOGY PROGRAM. 
Section 1473E of the National Agricultural Research, 
Extension, and Teaching Policy Act of 1977 (7 U.S.C. 
3319e) is amended— 
(1) in subsection (b)(1)(B)— 
(A) in clause (ii), by striking ‘‘and’’ at the 
end; 
(B) in clause (iii), by striking the period at 
the end and inserting ‘‘; and’’; and 
(C) by adding at the end the following: 
‘‘(iv) precision agriculture.’’; and 
(2) in subsection (d), by striking ‘‘2008 through 
2012’’ and inserting ‘‘2019 through 2023’’.
662 
† HR 2 EAS 
SEC. 7127. CAPACITY BUILDING GRANTS FOR NLGCA INSTI-
TUTIONS. 
Section 1473F(b) of the National Agricultural Re-
search, Extension, and Teaching Policy Act of 1977 (7 
U.S.C. 3319i(b)) is amended by striking ‘‘2018’’ and insert-
ing ‘‘2023’’. 
SEC. 7128. AGRICULTURE ADVANCED RESEARCH AND DE-
VELOPMENT AUTHORITY PILOT. 
Subtitle K of the National Agricultural Research, Ex-
tension, and Teaching Policy Act of 1977 (7 U.S.C. 3310 
et seq.) is amended by adding at the end the following: 
‘‘SEC. 1473H. AGRICULTURE ADVANCED RESEARCH AND DE-
VELOPMENT AUTHORITY PILOT. 
‘‘(a) PURPOSE.—The purpose of this section is to pro-
mote advanced research and development through a pilot 
program targeting high-priority research needs for qualified 
products and projects, agricultural technologies, and re-
search tools. 
‘‘(b) DEFINITIONS.—In this section: 
‘‘(1) 
ADVANCED
RESEARCH
AND
DEVELOP-
MENT.—The term ‘advanced research and develop-
ment’ means research and development activities used 
to overcome long-term and high-risk research chal-
lenges in agriculture and food through— 
‘‘(A) targeted acceleration of novel, early 
stage innovative agricultural research with
663 
† HR 2 EAS 
promising technology applications and products; 
or 
‘‘(B) development of qualified products and 
projects, agricultural technologies, or innovative 
research tools, which may include— 
‘‘(i) prototype testing, preclinical de-
velopment, or field experimental use; 
‘‘(ii) assessing and assisting with prod-
uct approval, clearance, or need for a li-
cense under— 
‘‘(I) the Animal Health Protection 
Act (7 U.S.C. 8301 et seq.); 
‘‘(II) the Plant Protection Act (7 
U.S.C. 7701 et seq.); or 
‘‘(III) other applicable law; or 
‘‘(iii) manufacturing and commer-
cialization of a product. 
‘‘(2) AGARDA.—The term ‘AGARDA’ means the 
Agriculture Advanced Research and Development Au-
thority established by subsection (c)(1). 
‘‘(3) AGRICULTURAL
TECHNOLOGY.—The term 
‘agricultural technology’ means machinery and other 
equipment engineered for an applicable and novel use 
in agriculture, natural resources, and food relating to
664 
† HR 2 EAS 
the research and development of qualified products 
and projects. 
‘‘(4) DIRECTOR.—The term ‘Director’ means the 
Director of the AGARDA. 
‘‘(5) FUND.—The term ‘Fund’ means the Agri-
culture Advanced Research and Development Fund es-
tablished by subsection (e)(1). 
‘‘(6) OTHER TRANSACTION.— 
‘‘(A) IN GENERAL.—The term ‘other trans-
action’ means a transaction other than a pro-
curement contract, grant, or cooperative agree-
ment. 
‘‘(B) INCLUSION.—The term ‘other trans-
action’ includes a transaction described in sub-
section (c)(6)(A). 
‘‘(7) PERSON.—The term ‘person’ means— 
‘‘(A) an individual; 
‘‘(B) a partnership; 
‘‘(C) a corporation; 
‘‘(D) an association; 
‘‘(E) an entity; 
‘‘(F) a public or private corporation; 
‘‘(G) a Federal, State, or local government 
agency or department; and
665 
† HR 2 EAS 
‘‘(H) an institution of higher education, in-
cluding a land-grant college or university and a 
non-land-grant college of agriculture. 
‘‘(8) QUALIFIED
PRODUCT
OR
PROJECT.—The 
term ‘qualified product or project’ means advanced 
research and development of— 
‘‘(A) engineering, mechanization, or tech-
nology improvements that will address challenges 
relating to growing, harvesting, handling, proc-
essing, storing, packing, and distribution of agri-
cultural products; 
‘‘(B) plant disease or plant pest recovery 
countermeasures to intentional or unintentional 
biological or natural threats, including— 
‘‘(i) replacement or resistant plant 
cultivars or varieties; 
‘‘(ii) 
other 
enhanced 
management 
strategies, including novel chemical, biologi-
cal, or cultural approaches; or 
‘‘(iii) diagnostic or surveillance tech-
nology; and 
‘‘(C) veterinary countermeasures to inten-
tional or unintentional biological threats (in-
cluding naturally occurring threats), includ-
ing—
666 
† HR 2 EAS 
‘‘(i) animal vaccine or therapeutic 
products (including anti-infective products); 
or 
‘‘(ii) diagnostic or surveillance tech-
nology. 
‘‘(9) RESEARCH TOOL.—The term ‘research tool’ 
means a device, technology, procedure, biological ma-
terial, reagent, computer system, computer software, 
or analytical technique that is developed to assist in 
the discovery, development, or manufacture of a 
qualified product or project. 
‘‘(c) AGRICULTURE ADVANCED RESEARCH AND DE-
VELOPMENT AUTHORITY.— 
‘‘(1) 
ESTABLISHMENT.—There 
is 
established 
within the Department of Agriculture the Agriculture 
Advanced Research and Development Authority to ad-
dress long-term and high-risk challenges in the devel-
opment of— 
‘‘(A) qualified products and projects; 
‘‘(B) agricultural technologies; and 
‘‘(C) research tools. 
‘‘(2) GOALS.—The goals of the AGARDA are— 
‘‘(A) to enhance the economic viability, se-
curity, and sustainability of agriculture to en-
667 
† HR 2 EAS 
sure that the United States is competitive and 
maintains a technological lead globally; 
‘‘(B) to develop and deploy advanced solu-
tions to prevent, prepare, and protect against 
unintentional and intentional threats to agri-
culture and food in the United States; 
‘‘(C) to overcome the long-term and high- 
risk technological barriers in the development of 
agricultural technologies that enhance export 
competitiveness, environmental sustainability, 
and resilience to extreme weather; and 
‘‘(D) to ensure that the United States main-
tains a technological lead in developing and de-
ploying advanced agricultural technologies that 
increase economic opportunities for farmers, 
ranchers, and rural communities. 
‘‘(3) LEADERSHIP.— 
‘‘(A) IN GENERAL.—The AGARDA shall be 
a component of the Office of the Chief Scientist. 
‘‘(B) DIRECTOR.— 
‘‘(i) IN GENERAL.—The AGARDA shall 
be headed by a Director, who shall be ap-
pointed by the Chief Scientist. 
‘‘(ii) QUALIFICATIONS.—The Director 
shall be an individual who, by reason of
668 
† HR 2 EAS 
professional background and experience, is 
especially qualified to advise the Chief Sci-
entist on, and manage research programs 
addressing, matters pertaining to— 
‘‘(I) advanced research and devel-
opment; 
‘‘(II) 
qualified 
products 
and 
projects; 
‘‘(III) agricultural technologies; 
‘‘(IV) research tools; and 
‘‘(V) long-term and high-risk chal-
lenges relating to the matters described 
in subclauses (I) through (IV). 
‘‘(iii) RELATIONSHIP WITHIN THE DE-
PARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE.—The Director 
shall report to the Chief Scientist. 
‘‘(4) DUTIES.—To achieve the goals described in 
paragraph (2), the Secretary, acting through the Di-
rector, shall accelerate advanced research and develop-
ment by— 
‘‘(A) identifying and promoting revolu-
tionary advances in fundamental sciences; 
‘‘(B) translating scientific discoveries and 
cutting-edge inventions into technological inno-
vations;
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‘‘(C) incubating and accelerating trans-
formational advances in areas in which industry 
by itself is not likely to undertake advanced re-
search and development because of the high-risk 
technological or financial uncertainty; 
‘‘(D) collaborating with Federal agencies, 
relevant 
industries, 
academia, 
international 
agencies, the Foundation for Food and Agri-
culture Research, and other persons to carry out 
the goals described in paragraph (2), including 
convening, at a minimum, annual meetings or 
working groups to demonstrate the operation and 
effectiveness of advanced research and develop-
ment of qualified products and projects, agricul-
tural technologies, and research tools; 
‘‘(E) conducting ongoing searches for, and 
support calls for, potential advanced research 
and development of agricultural technologies, 
qualified products and projects, and research 
tools; 
‘‘(F) awarding grants and entering into 
contracts, cooperative agreements, or other trans-
actions under paragraph (6) for advanced re-
search and development of agricultural tech-
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nology, qualified products and projects, and re-
search tools; 
‘‘(G) establishing issue-based multidisci-
plinary discovery teams to reduce the time and 
cost of solving specific problems that— 
‘‘(i) are composed of representatives 
from Federal and State agencies, profes-
sional groups, academia, and industry; 
‘‘(ii) seek novel and effective solutions; 
and 
‘‘(iii) encourage data sharing and 
translation of research to field use; and 
‘‘(H) connecting interested persons with of-
fices or employees authorized by the Secretary to 
advise those persons regarding requirements 
under relevant laws that impact the develop-
ment, commercialization, and technology transfer 
of qualified products and projects, agricultural 
technologies, and research tools. 
‘‘(5) PRIORITY.—In awarding grants and enter-
ing into contracts, cooperative agreements, or other 
transactions under paragraph (4)(F), the Secretary 
shall give priority to projects that accelerate the ad-
vanced research and development of—
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† HR 2 EAS 
‘‘(A) new technologies to address critical re-
search needs for specialty crops; and 
‘‘(B) qualified products and projects that 
prevent, protect, and prepare against intentional 
and unintentional threats to agriculture and 
food. 
‘‘(6) OTHER TRANSACTION AUTHORITIES.— 
‘‘(A) IN
GENERAL.—In carrying out the 
pilot program under this section, the Secretary 
shall have the authority to enter into other trans-
actions in the same manner and subject to the 
same terms and conditions as transactions that 
the Secretary of Defense may enter into under 
section 2371 of title 10, United States Code. 
‘‘(B) SCOPE.—The authority of the Sec-
retary to enter into contracts, cooperative agree-
ments, and other transactions under this sub-
section shall be in addition to the authorities 
under this Act and title I of the Department of 
Agriculture and Related Agencies Appropriation 
Act, 1964 (7 U.S.C. 3318a), to use contracts, co-
operative agreements, and grants in carrying out 
the pilot program under this section.
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‘‘(C) GUIDELINES.—The Secretary shall es-
tablish guidelines regarding the use of the au-
thority under subparagraph (A). 
‘‘(D) TECHNOLOGY TRANSFER.—In entering 
into other transactions, the Secretary may nego-
tiate terms for technology transfer in the same 
manner as a Federal laboratory under para-
graphs (1) through (4) of section 12(b) of the 
Stevenson-Wydler Technology Innovation Act of 
1980 (15 U.S.C. 3710a(b)). 
‘‘(7) AVAILABILITY OF DATA.— 
‘‘(A) IN GENERAL.—The Secretary shall re-
quire that, as a condition of being awarded a 
contract or grant or entering into a cooperative 
agreement or other transaction under paragraph 
(4)(F), a person shall make available to the Sec-
retary on an ongoing basis, and submit to the 
Secretary on request of the Secretary, all data 
relating to or resulting from the activities car-
ried out by the person pursuant to this section. 
‘‘(B) EXEMPTION FROM DISCLOSURE.— 
‘‘(i) IN GENERAL.—This subparagraph 
shall be considered a statute described in 
section 552(b)(3)(B) of title 5, United 
States Code.
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‘‘(ii) EXEMPTION.—The following in-
formation shall be exempt from disclosure 
and withheld from the public: 
‘‘(I) Specific technical data or sci-
entific information that is created or 
obtained under this section that reveals 
significant and not otherwise publicly 
known vulnerabilities of existing agri-
culture and food defenses against bio-
logical, chemical, nuclear, or radio-
logical threats. 
‘‘(II) Trade secrets or commercial 
or financial information that is privi-
leged or confidential (within the mean-
ing of section 552(b)(4) of title 5, 
United States Code) and obtained in 
the conduct of research or as a result 
of activities under this section from a 
non-Federal party participating in a 
contract, grant, cooperative agreement, 
or other transaction under this section. 
‘‘(iii) REVIEW.—Information that re-
sults from research and development activi-
ties conducted under this section and that 
would be a trade secret or commercial or fi-
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† HR 2 EAS 
nancial information that is privileged or 
confidential if the information had been ob-
tained from a non-Federal party partici-
pating in a cooperative agreement or other 
transaction shall be withheld from disclo-
sure under clause (ii) for 5 years. 
‘‘(8) MILESTONE-BASED PAYMENTS ALLOWED.— 
In awarding contracts and grants and entering into 
cooperative agreements or other transactions under 
paragraph (4)(F), the Secretary may— 
‘‘(A) use milestone-based awards and pay-
ments; and 
‘‘(B) terminate a project for not meeting 
technical milestones. 
‘‘(9) USE
OF
EXISTING
PERSONNEL
AUTHORI-
TIES.—In carrying out this subsection, the Secretary 
may appoint highly qualified individuals to scientific 
or professional positions on the same terms and con-
ditions as provided in section 620(b)(4) of the Agri-
cultural Research, Extension, and Education Reform 
Act of 1998 (7 U.S.C. 7657(b)(4)). 
‘‘(10) REPORT AND EVALUATION.— 
‘‘(A) REPORT.—The Secretary shall submit 
to the Committee on Agriculture of the House of 
Representatives and the Committee on Agri-
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† HR 2 EAS 
culture, Nutrition, and Forestry of the Senate an 
annual report examining the actions undertaken 
and results generated by the AGARDA. 
‘‘(B) EVALUATION.—After the date on which 
the AGARDA has been in operation for 3 years, 
the Comptroller General of the United States 
shall conduct an evaluation— 
‘‘(i) to be completed and submitted to 
the Committee on Agriculture of the House 
of Representatives and the Committee on 
Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry of the 
Senate not later than 1 year after the date 
on which the Comptroller General began 
conducting the evaluation; 
‘‘(ii) describing the extent to which the 
AGARDA is achieving the goals described 
in paragraph (2); and 
‘‘(iii) including a recommendation on 
whether the AGARDA should be continued, 
terminated, or expanded. 
‘‘(d) STRATEGIC PLAN.— 
‘‘(1) IN
GENERAL.—Not later than 360 days 
after the date of enactment of this section, the Sec-
retary shall develop and make publically available a
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strategic plan describing the strategic vision that the 
AGARDA shall use— 
‘‘(A) to make determinations for future in-
vestments during the period of effectiveness of 
this section; and 
‘‘(B) to achieve the goals described in sub-
section (c)(2). 
‘‘(2) DISSEMINATION.—The Secretary shall carry 
out such activities as the Secretary determines to be 
appropriate to disseminate the information contained 
in the strategic plan under paragraph (1) to persons 
who may have the capacity to substantially contribute 
to the activities described in that strategic plan. 
‘‘(3) COORDINATION; CONSULTATION.—The Sec-
retary shall— 
‘‘(A) update and coordinate the strategic co-
ordination plan under section 221(d)(7) of the 
Department of Agriculture Reorganization Act of 
1994 with the strategic plan developed under 
paragraph (1) for activities relating to agri-
culture and food defense countermeasure develop-
ment and procurement; and 
‘‘(B) in developing the strategic plan under 
paragraph (1), consult with—
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‘‘(i) the National Agricultural Re-
search, Extension, Education, and Econom-
ics Advisory Board established under sec-
tion 1408(a); 
‘‘(ii) the specialty crops committee es-
tablished under section 1408A(a)(1); 
‘‘(iii) relevant agriculture research 
agencies of the Federal Government; 
‘‘(iv) 
the 
National 
Academies 
of 
Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine; 
‘‘(v) the National Veterinary Stockpile 
Intra-Government Advisory Committee for 
Strategic Steering; and 
‘‘(vi) other appropriate parties, as de-
termined by the Secretary. 
‘‘(e) FUNDS.— 
‘‘(1) ESTABLISHMENT.—There is established in 
the Treasury the Agriculture Advanced Research and 
Development Fund, which shall be administered by 
the Secretary, acting through the Director— 
‘‘(A) for the purpose of carrying out this 
section; and 
‘‘(B) in the same manner and subject to the 
same terms and conditions as are applicable to
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† HR 2 EAS 
the Secretary of Defense under section 2371 of 
title 10, United States Code. 
‘‘(2) DEPOSITS INTO FUND.— 
‘‘(A) IN GENERAL.—The Secretary, acting 
through the Director, may accept and deposit 
into the Fund monies received pursuant to cost 
recovery or contribution under a contract, grant, 
cooperative agreement, or other transaction 
under this section. 
‘‘(B) 
CLARIFICATION.—Nothing 
in 
this 
paragraph authorizes the use of the funds of the 
Commodity Credit Corporation to carry out this 
section. 
‘‘(3) FUNDING.—In addition to funds otherwise 
deposited in the Fund under paragraph (1) or (2), 
there is authorized to be appropriated to the Fund 
$50,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2019 through 
2023, to remain available until expended. 
‘‘(f) TERMINATION OF EFFECTIVENESS.—The author-
ity provided by this section terminates effective September 
30, 2023.’’. 
SEC. 7129. AQUACULTURE ASSISTANCE PROGRAMS. 
Section 1477(a)(2) of the National Agricultural Re-
search, Extension, and Teaching Policy Act of 1977 (7
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† HR 2 EAS 
U.S.C. 3324(a)(2)) is amended by striking ‘‘2018’’ and in-
serting ‘‘2023’’. 
SEC. 7130. REPEAL OF RANGELAND RESEARCH PROGRAMS. 
Subtitle M of the National Agricultural Research, Ex-
tension, and Teaching Policy Act of 1977 (7 U.S.C. 3331 
et seq.) is repealed. 
SEC. 7131. SPECIAL AUTHORIZATION FOR BIOSECURITY 
PLANNING AND RESPONSE. 
Section 1484(a)(2) of the National Agricultural Re-
search, Extension, and Teaching Policy Act of 1977 (7 
U.S.C. 3351(a)(2)) is amended by striking ‘‘2018’’ and in-
serting ‘‘2023’’. 
SEC. 7132. DISTANCE EDUCATION AND RESIDENT INSTRUC-
TION GRANTS PROGRAM FOR INSULAR AREA 
INSTITUTIONS OF HIGHER EDUCATION. 
(a) DISTANCE EDUCATION GRANTS
FOR INSULAR 
AREAS.—Section 1490(f)(2) of the National Agricultural 
Research, Extension, and Teaching Policy Act of 1977 (7 
U.S.C. 3362(f)(2)) is amended by striking ‘‘2018’’ and in-
serting ‘‘2023’’. 
(b) RESIDENT INSTRUCTION GRANTS FOR INSULAR 
AREAS.—Section 1491(c)(2) of the National Agricultural 
Research, Extension, and Teaching Policy Act of 1977 (7 
U.S.C. 3363(c)(2)) is amended by striking ‘‘2018’’ and in-
serting ‘‘2023’’.
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† HR 2 EAS 
SEC. 7133. LIMITATION ON DESIGNATION OF ENTITIES ELI-
GIBLE TO RECEIVE FUNDS UNDER A CAPAC-
ITY PROGRAM. 
Subtitle P of the National Agricultural Research, Ex-
tension, and Teaching Policy Act of 1977 (7 U.S.C. 3371 
et seq.) is amended by adding at the end the following: 
‘‘SEC. 1493. LIMITATION ON DESIGNATION OF ENTITIES ELI-
GIBLE TO RECEIVE FUNDS UNDER A CAPAC-
ITY PROGRAM. 
‘‘(a) DEFINITION OF CAPACITY PROGRAM.—In this 
section, the term ‘capacity program’ means each of the fol-
lowing agricultural research, extension, education, and re-
lated programs: 
‘‘(1) The programs for which funds are made 
available under subsections (b) and (c) of section 3 of 
the Smith-Lever Act (7 U.S.C. 343). 
‘‘(2) The program for which funds are made 
available under the Hatch Act of 1887 (7 U.S.C. 361a 
et seq.). 
‘‘(3) The program for which funds are made 
available under section 1444. 
‘‘(4) The program for which funds are made 
available under section 1445. 
‘‘(5) The grant program authorized under section 
1447.
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‘‘(6) The program for which funds are made 
available under Public Law 87–788 (commonly 
known as the ‘McIntire-Stennis Cooperative Forestry 
Act’) (16 U.S.C. 582a et seq.). 
‘‘(7) Any other agricultural research, extension, 
or education program relating to capacity and infra-
structure, as determined by the Secretary. 
‘‘(b) LIMITATION.— 
‘‘(1) IN GENERAL.—Except as provided under 
paragraph (2), and notwithstanding any other provi-
sion of law, no additional entity designated after the 
date of enactment of this section shall be eligible to 
receive funds under a capacity program. 
‘‘(2) EXCEPTIONS.— 
‘‘(A) 1994 INSTITUTIONS.—Paragraph (1) 
shall not apply in the case of a designation of 
a 1994 Institution under section 2 of Public Law 
87–788 (commonly known as the ‘‘McIntire- 
Stennis Cooperative Forestry Act’’) (16 U.S.C. 
582a–1). 
‘‘(B) EXTRAORDINARY CIRCUMSTANCES.—In 
the case of extraordinary circumstances or a sit-
uation that would lead to an inequitable result, 
as determined by the Secretary, the Secretary 
may determine that an entity designated after
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† HR 2 EAS 
the date of enactment of this section is eligible to 
receive funds under a capacity program. 
‘‘(c) NO INCREASE IN STATE FUNDING.—No State 
shall receive an increase in the amount of capacity program 
funding as a result of the designation of additional entities 
as eligible to receive funds under a capacity program.’’. 
SEC. 7134. SCHOLARSHIP PROGRAM FOR STUDENTS AT-
TENDING 1890 INSTITUTIONS. 
(a) FINDINGS.—Congress finds the following: 
(1) The Act of August 30, 1890 (commonly 
known as the ‘‘Second Morrill Act’’) (26 Stat. 417, 
chapter 841; 7 U.S.C. 321 et seq.), brought about the 
establishment of the following 19 public, African- 
American land-grant colleges and universities: 
(A) Alabama A&M University. 
(B) Alcorn State University. 
(C) Central State University. 
(D) Delaware State University. 
(E) Florida A&M University. 
(F) Fort Valley State University. 
(G) Kentucky State University. 
(H) Langston University. 
(I) Lincoln University. 
(J) North Carolina A&T State University. 
(K) Prairie View A&M University.
683 
† HR 2 EAS 
(L) South Carolina State University. 
(M) Southern University System. 
(N) Tennessee State University. 
(O) Tuskegee University. 
(P) University of Arkansas Pine Bluff. 
(Q) University of Maryland Eastern Shore. 
(R) Virginia State University. 
(S) West Virginia State University. 
(2) Funding for agricultural education, research, 
and extension at the colleges and universities de-
scribed in paragraph (1) is authorized to be appro-
priated to the Department of Agriculture with each 
farm bill, which is enacted approximately every 5 
years. 
(3) The Agricultural Act of 2014 (Public Law 
113–79; 128 Stat. 649) authorizes the appropriation 
of Federal funds for research, education, and exten-
sion activities at the colleges and universities de-
scribed in paragraph (1) and the Agriculture, Rural 
Development, Food and Drug Administration, and 
Related Agencies Appropriations Act, 2016 (Public 
Law 
114–113; 
129 
Stat. 
2245) 
appropriated 
$19,000,000 for education grants for the colleges and 
universities described in paragraph (1).
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† HR 2 EAS 
(4) There is a great need to increase the number 
of young African-Americans seeking careers in the 
food and agricultural sciences (as defined in section 
1404 of the National Agricultural Research, Exten-
sion, and Teaching Policy Act of 1977 (7 U.S.C. 
3103)), including agribusiness, food production, dis-
tribution, and retailing, the clothing industries, en-
ergy and renewable fuels, and farming marketing, fi-
nance, and distribution. 
(5) Scholarship funding provided to increase the 
number of young African-American individuals seek-
ing a career in the food and agricultural sciences 
shall be provided with the caveat that those scholar-
ship students shall commit to pursue a career in the 
food and agricultural sciences, including agribusiness, 
food production, distribution, and retailing, the cloth-
ing industries, energy and renewable fuels, and farm-
ing marketing, finance, and distribution. 
(6) The average age of farmers and producers in 
the United States is 60 years of age and continues to 
rise. 
(7) Beginning farmers and ranchers (as defined 
in section 7405 of the Farm Security and Rural In-
vestment Act of 2002 (7 U.S.C. 3319f)) need greater 
assistance in the financing of their education because
685 
† HR 2 EAS 
of the increased startup costs associated with farming, 
such as the purchase of land and farming equipment. 
(b) PURPOSES.—The purposes of this section and the 
amendment made by this section are— 
(1) to address the national crisis posed by the 
aging farmer and producer population in the United 
States; 
(2) to increase the number of young African- 
American individuals seeking a career in the food 
and agricultural sciences (as defined in section 1404 
of the National Agricultural Research, Extension, and 
Teaching Policy Act of 1977 (7 U.S.C. 3103)), includ-
ing careers in agribusiness, food production, distribu-
tion, and retailing, the clothing industries, energy 
and renewable fuels, and farming marketing, finance, 
and distribution; 
(3) to reduce the average age of farmers and pro-
ducers in the United States; 
(4) to provide greater assistance to beginning 
farmers and ranchers (as defined in section 7405 of 
Farm Security and Rural Investment Act of 2002 (7 
U.S.C. 3319f)); and 
(5) to provide scholarships to 1890 land-grant 
students seeking careers in the food and agricultural 
sciences.
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† HR 2 EAS 
(c) SCHOLARSHIP PROGRAM FOR STUDENTS ATTEND-
ING 1890-INSTITUTIONS.—Subtitle G of the National Agri-
cultural Research, Extension, and Teaching Policy Act of 
1977 (7 U.S.C. 3221 et seq.) (as amended by section 7118) 
is amended by adding at the end the following: 
‘‘SEC. 1451. SCHOLARSHIPS FOR STUDENTS AT 1890 LAND- 
GRANT COLLEGES, INCLUDING TUSKEGEE 
UNIVERSITY. 
‘‘(a) IN GENERAL.—The Secretary shall establish a 
grant program under which the Secretary shall award a 
grant to each 1890 Institution (as defined in section 2 of 
the Agricultural Research, Extension, and Education Re-
form Act of 1998 (7 U.S.C. 7601)) (referred to in this sec-
tion as an ‘eligible institution’), to award scholarships to 
individuals who— 
‘‘(1) seek to attend the eligible institution; and 
‘‘(2) intend to pursue a career in the food and 
agricultural sciences, including a career in agri-
business, food production, distribution, and retailing, 
the clothing industries, energy and renewable fuels, 
and farming marketing, finance, and distribution. 
‘‘(b) FUNDING.— 
‘‘(1) AUTHORIZATION
OF
APPROPRIATIONS.— 
There is authorized to be appropriated to carry out
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† HR 2 EAS 
SEC. 
7205. 
NATIONAL 
STRATEGIC 
GERMPLASM 
AND 
CULTIVAR COLLECTION ASSESSMENT AND 
UTILIZATION PLAN. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—Section 1632(d) of the Food, Agri-
culture, Conservation, and Trade Act of 1990 (7 U.S.C. 
5841(d)) is amended— 
(1) in paragraph (5), by striking ‘‘and’’ at the 
end; 
(2) by redesignating paragraph (6) as para-
graph (7); and 
(3) by inserting after paragraph (5) the fol-
lowing: 
‘‘(6) develop and implement a national strategic 
germplasm and cultivar collection assessment and 
utilization plan that takes into consideration the re-
sources and research necessary to address the signifi-
cant backlog of characterization and maintenance of 
existing accessions considered to be critical to preserve 
the viability of, and public access to, germplasm and 
cultivars; and’’. 
(b) PLAN PUBLICATION.—Section 1633 of the Food, 
Agriculture, Conservation, and Trade Act of 1990 (7 U.S.C. 
5842) is amended by adding at the end the following: 
‘‘(f) PLAN PUBLICATION.—On completion of the devel-
opment of the plan described in section 1632(d)(6), the Sec-
retary shall make the plan available to the public.’’.
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† HR 2 EAS 
SEC. 7206. NATIONAL GENETICS RESOURCES PROGRAM. 
(a) ADVISORY COUNCIL.—Section 1634 of the Food, 
Agriculture, Conservation, and Trade Act of 1990 (7 U.S.C. 
5843) is amended— 
(1) in subsection (a)— 
(A) in the first sentence, by striking ‘‘The 
Secretary’’ and inserting the following: 
‘‘(1) IN GENERAL.—The Secretary’’; 
(B) in the second sentence of paragraph (1) 
(as so designated), by striking ‘‘The advisory’’ 
and inserting the following: 
‘‘(2) MEMBERSHIP.—The advisory’’; 
(C) in paragraph (2) (as so designated), by 
striking ‘‘nine’’ and inserting ‘‘13’’; and 
(D) by adding at the end the following: 
‘‘(3) RECOMMENDATIONS.— 
‘‘(A) 
IN
GENERAL.—In 
making 
rec-
ommendations under paragraph (1), the advi-
sory council shall include recommendations on— 
‘‘(i) the state of public cultivar devel-
opment, including— 
‘‘(I) 
an 
analysis 
of 
existing 
cultivar research investments; 
‘‘(II) the research gaps relating to 
the development of cultivars across a 
diverse range of crops; and
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† HR 2 EAS 
‘‘(III) an assessment of the state 
of commercialization of federally fund-
ed cultivars; 
‘‘(ii) the training and resources needed 
to meet future breeding challenges; 
‘‘(iii) the appropriate levels of Federal 
funding for cultivar development for under-
served crops and geographic areas; and 
‘‘(iv) the development of the plan de-
scribed in section 1632(d)(6).’’; and 
(2) in subsection (c)— 
(A) in paragraph (1)— 
(i) by striking ‘‘Two-thirds’’ and in-
serting ‘‘6’’; and 
(ii) by inserting ‘‘economics and pol-
icy,’’ after ‘‘agricultural sciences,’’; 
(B) in paragraph (2)— 
(i) by striking ‘‘One-third’’ and insert-
ing ‘‘3’’; and 
(ii) by inserting ‘‘community develop-
ment,’’ after ‘‘public policy,’’; and 
(C) by adding at the end the following: 
‘‘(3) 4 of the members shall be appointed from 
among individuals with expertise in public cultivar 
and animal breed development.
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† HR 2 EAS 
‘‘(4) 4 of the members shall be appointed from 
among individuals representing— 
‘‘(A) 1862 Institutions (as defined in sec-
tion 2 of the Agricultural Research, Extension, 
and Education Reform Act of 1998 (7 U.S.C. 
7601)); 
‘‘(B) 1890 Institutions (as defined in sec-
tion 2 of the Agricultural Research, Extension, 
and Education Reform Act of 1998 (7 U.S.C. 
7601)); 
‘‘(C) eligible institutions (as defined in sec-
tion 502(a) of the Higher Education Act of 1965 
(20 U.S.C. 1101a(a))); or 
‘‘(D) 1994 Institutions (as defined in sec-
tion 532 of the Equity in Educational Land- 
Grant Status Act of 1994 (7 U.S.C. 301 note; 
Public Law 103–382)).’’. 
(b) AUTHORIZATION
OF APPROPRIATIONS.—Section 
1635(b)(2) of the Food, Agriculture, Conservation, and 
Trade Act of 1990 (7 U.S.C. 5844(b)(2)) is amended by 
striking ‘‘2018’’ and inserting ‘‘2023’’.
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† HR 2 EAS 
SEC. 7207. NATIONAL AGRICULTURAL WEATHER INFORMA-
TION SYSTEM. 
Section 1641(c) of the Food, Agriculture, Conservation, 
and Trade Act of 1990 (7 U.S.C. 5855(c)) is amended by 
striking ‘‘2018’’ and inserting ‘‘2023’’. 
SEC. 7208. AGRICULTURAL GENOME TO PHENOME INITIA-
TIVE. 
Section 1671 of the Food, Agriculture, Conservation, 
and Trade Act of 1990 (7 U.S.C. 5924) is amended— 
(1) in the section heading, by inserting ‘‘TO 
PHENOME’’ after ‘‘GENOME’’; 
(2) by striking subsection (a) and inserting the 
following: 
‘‘(a) GOALS.—The goals of this section are— 
‘‘(1) to expand knowledge concerning genomes 
and phenomes of crops and animals of importance to 
the agriculture sector of the United States; 
‘‘(2) to understand how variable weather, envi-
ronments, and production systems impact the growth 
and productivity of specific varieties of crops and 
species of animals in order to provide greater accu-
racy in predicting crop and animal performance 
under variable conditions; 
‘‘(3) to support research that leverages plant and 
animal genomic information with phenotypic and en-
vironmental data through an interdisciplinary frame-
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† HR 2 EAS 
work, leading to a novel understanding of plant and 
animal processes that affect growth, productivity, and 
the ability to predict performance, which will result 
in the deployment of superior varieties and species to 
producers and improved crop and animal manage-
ment recommendations for farmers and ranchers; 
‘‘(4) to catalyze and coordinate research that 
links genomics and predictive phenomics at different 
sites across the United States to achieve advances in 
crops and animals that generate societal benefits; 
‘‘(5) to combine fields such as genetics, genomics, 
plant physiology, agronomy, climatology, and crop 
modeling with computation and informatics, statis-
tics, and engineering; 
‘‘(6) to combine fields such as genetics, genomics, 
animal physiology, meat science, animal nutrition, 
and 
veterinary 
science 
with 
computation 
and 
informatics, statistics, and engineering; 
‘‘(7) to focus on crops and animals that will 
yield scientifically important results that will en-
hance the usefulness of many other crops and ani-
mals; 
‘‘(8) to build on genomic research, such as the 
Plant Genome Research Project and the National 
Animal Genome Research Program, to understand
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gene function in production environments that is ex-
pected to have considerable returns for crops and ani-
mals of importance to the agriculture of the United 
States; 
‘‘(9) to develop improved data analytics to en-
hance understanding of the biological function of 
genes; 
‘‘(10) to allow resources developed under this sec-
tion, including data, software, germplasm, and other 
biological materials, to be openly accessible to all per-
sons, subject to any confidentiality requirements im-
posed by law; and 
‘‘(11) to encourage international partnerships 
with each partner country responsible for financing 
its own research.’’; 
(3) by striking subsection (b) and inserting the 
following: 
‘‘(b) DUTIES OF SECRETARY.—The Secretary of Agri-
culture (referred to in this section as the ‘Secretary’) shall 
conduct a research initiative, to be known as the ‘Agricul-
tural Genome to Phenome Initiative’, for the purpose of— 
‘‘(1) studying agriculturally significant crops 
and animals in production environments to achieve 
sustainable and secure agricultural production;
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† HR 2 EAS 
‘‘(2) ensuring that current gaps in existing 
knowledge of agricultural crop and animal genetics 
and phenomics are filled; 
‘‘(3) identifying and developing a functional un-
derstanding of relevant genes from animals and 
agronomically relevant genes from crops that are of 
importance to the agriculture sector of the United 
States; 
‘‘(4) ensuring future genetic improvement of 
crops and animals of importance to the agriculture 
sector of the United States; 
‘‘(5) studying the relevance of diverse germplasm 
as a source of unique genes that may be of importance 
in the future; 
‘‘(6) enhancing genetics to reduce the economic 
impact of pathogens on crops and animals of impor-
tance to the agriculture sector of the United States; 
‘‘(7) disseminating findings to relevant audi-
ences; and 
‘‘(8) otherwise carrying out this section.’’; 
(4) in subsection (c)(1), by inserting ‘‘, acting 
through the National Institute of Food and Agri-
culture,’’ after ‘‘The Secretary’’; 
(5) in subsection (e), by inserting ‘‘to Phenome’’ 
after ‘‘Genome’’; and
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(6) by adding at the end the following: 
‘‘(f) AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.—There is 
authorized to be appropriated to carry out this section 
$30,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2019 through 2023.’’. 
SEC. 7209. HIGH-PRIORITY RESEARCH AND EXTENSION INI-
TIATIVES. 
(a) HIGH-PRIORITY
RESEARCH
AND
EXTENSION 
AREAS.—Section 1672(d) of the Food, Agriculture, Con-
servation, and Trade Act of 1990 (7 U.S.C. 5925(d)) is 
amended by adding at the end the following: 
‘‘(11) NATIONAL TURFGRASS RESEARCH INITIA-
TIVE.—Research and extension grants may be made 
under this section for the purposes of— 
‘‘(A) carrying out or enhancing research re-
lated to turfgrass and sod issues; 
‘‘(B) enhancing production and uses of 
turfgrass for the general public; 
‘‘(C) identifying new turfgrass varieties 
with superior drought, heat, cold, and pest toler-
ance to reduce water, fertilizer, and pesticide use; 
‘‘(D) 
selecting 
genetically 
superior 
turfgrasses and development of improved tech-
nologies for managing commercial, residential, 
and recreational turf areas;
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‘‘(E) producing grasses that aid in miti-
gating soil erosion, protect against pollutant 
runoff into waterways, and provide other envi-
ronmental benefits; 
‘‘(F) investigating, preserving, and pro-
tecting native plant species, including grasses 
not currently used in turf systems; 
‘‘(G) creating systems for more economical 
and viable turfgrass seed and sod production 
throughout the United States; and 
‘‘(H) investigating the turfgrass phytobiome 
and developing biologic products to enhance soil, 
enrich plants, and mitigate pests. 
‘‘(12) NUTRIENT
MANAGEMENT.—Research and 
extension grants may be made under this section for 
the purposes of examining nutrient management 
based on the source, rate, timing, and placement of 
crop nutrients. 
‘‘(13) MACADAMIA TREE HEALTH INITIATIVE.— 
Research and extension grants may be made under 
this section for the purposes of— 
‘‘(A) developing and disseminating science- 
based tools and treatments to combat the maca-
damia felted coccid (Eriococcus ironsidei); and
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‘‘(B) establishing an areawide integrated 
pest management program in areas affected by, 
or areas at risk of being affected by, the maca-
damia felted coccid (Eriococcus ironsidei). 
‘‘(14) CHRONIC
WASTING
DISEASE.—Research 
and extension grants may be made under this section 
for the purposes of supporting research projects at 
land-grant colleges and universities (as defined in sec-
tion 1404 of the National Agricultural Research, Ex-
tension, and Teaching Policy Act of 1977 (7 U.S.C. 
3103)) with established deer research programs for the 
purposes of treating, mitigating, or eliminating 
chronic wasting disease in free-ranging white-tailed 
deer populations.’’. 
(b) PULSE
CROP
HEALTH
INITIATIVE.—Section 
1672(e)(5) of the Food, Agriculture, Conservation, and 
Trade Act of 1990 (7 U.S.C. 5925(e)(5)) is amended by 
striking ‘‘2018’’ and inserting ‘‘2023’’. 
(c) TRAINING COORDINATION FOR FOOD AND AGRI-
CULTURE PROTECTION.—Section 1672(f)(5) of the Food, 
Agriculture, Conservation, and Trade Act of 1990 (7 U.S.C. 
5925(f)(5)) is amended by striking ‘‘2018’’ and inserting 
‘‘2023’’.
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† HR 2 EAS 
(d) POLLINATOR PROTECTION.—Section 1672(g) of the 
Food, Agriculture, Conservation, and Trade Act of 1990 (7 
U.S.C. 5925(g)) is amended— 
(1) in paragraphs (1)(B), (2)(B), and (3), by 
striking ‘‘2018’’ each place it appears and inserting 
‘‘2023’’; 
(2) by redesignating paragraphs (4) and (5) as 
paragraphs (5) and (7), respectively; 
(3) by inserting after paragraph (3) the fol-
lowing: 
‘‘(4) POLLINATOR HEALTH TASK FORCE.— 
‘‘(A) IN
GENERAL.—Not later than 180 
days after the date of enactment of the Agri-
culture Improvement Act of 2018, the Secretary, 
in consultation with the Administrator of the 
Environmental Protection Agency (referred to in 
this paragraph as the ‘Administrator’), shall re-
constitute the Pollinator Health Task Force (re-
ferred to in this paragraph as the ‘Task Force’) 
to carry out the purposes described in subpara-
graph (B). 
‘‘(B) PURPOSES.—The Task Force shall— 
‘‘(i) address issues relating to polli-
nator health and disease, pollinator popu-
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† HR 2 EAS 
lation decline, and Federal pollinator pro-
tection activities; and 
‘‘(ii) ensure effective implementation of 
the 2015 National Pollinator Health Strat-
egy, 
as 
modified 
under 
subparagraph 
(D)(i). 
‘‘(C) COMPOSITION.— 
‘‘(i) CO-CHAIRS.—The Secretary and 
the Administrator shall serve as co-chairs of 
the Task Force. 
‘‘(ii) MEMBERS.— 
‘‘(I) 
IN
GENERAL.—The 
Task 
Force shall be composed of not less 
than 15 members, each of whom shall 
be appointed by the Secretary, in con-
sultation with the Administrator. 
‘‘(II) MEMBERS.—The members of 
the Task Force— 
‘‘(aa) shall include a quali-
fied representative from each of— 
‘‘(AA) the Department 
of State; 
‘‘(BB) the Department 
of Defense;
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† HR 2 EAS 
‘‘(CC) the Department 
of the Interior; 
‘‘(DD) the Department 
of Housing and Urban De-
velopment; 
‘‘(EE) the Department 
of Transportation; 
‘‘(FF) the Department 
of Energy; 
‘‘(GG) the Department 
of Education; 
‘‘(HH) the Council on 
Environmental Quality; 
‘‘(II) the Domestic Pol-
icy Council; 
‘‘(JJ) the General Serv-
ices Administration; 
‘‘(KK) 
the 
National 
Science Foundation; 
‘‘(LL) the National Se-
curity Council; 
‘‘(MM) the Office of 
Management and Budget; 
‘‘(NN) the Food and 
Drug Administration; and
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† HR 2 EAS 
‘‘(OO) 
the 
Office 
of 
Science and Technology Pol-
icy; and 
‘‘(bb) may include— 
‘‘(AA) 1 or more quali-
fied representatives from any 
other 
Federal 
department, 
agency, or office, as deter-
mined by the Secretary and 
the Administrator; and 
‘‘(BB) 1 or more non-
governmental 
individuals 
that possess adequate sci-
entific credentials to make 
meaningful contributions to 
the activities of the Task 
Force, as determined by the 
Secretary and the Adminis-
trator. 
‘‘(D) DUTIES.—The Task Force shall— 
‘‘(i) review and modify the 2015 Na-
tional Pollinator Health Strategy to reflect 
the evolving science on which it is based;
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† HR 2 EAS 
‘‘(ii) implement the 2015 National Pol-
linator Health Strategy as modified under 
clause (i); 
‘‘(iii) ensure that Federal resources are 
used effectively to improve pollinator habi-
tat and health; 
‘‘(iv) engage in regular collaboration 
with the Department of Agriculture, other 
governmental and institutional entities, and 
private persons to leverage Federal funding 
to create public-private partnerships that 
will achieve the long-term improvement of 
pollinator habitat and health, consistent 
with the 2016 Pollinator Partnership Ac-
tion Plan; and 
‘‘(v) not later than 180 days after the 
date of enactment of the Agriculture Im-
provement Act of 2018, host a joint summit 
of the Department of Agriculture and the 
Environmental Protection Agency on crop 
protection tools that examines— 
‘‘(I) the science relating to the im-
pact of crop protection tools on polli-
nators;
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† HR 2 EAS 
‘‘(II) the techniques used to miti-
gate the impact of crop protection 
tools; and 
‘‘(III) the gaps in research relat-
ing to crop protection tools. 
‘‘(E) ANNUAL REPORT.—Not later than De-
cember 31 of each year, the Task Force shall sub-
mit a report— 
‘‘(i) to— 
‘‘(I) the Secretary; 
‘‘(II) the Administrator; 
‘‘(III) the Committee on Agri-
culture of the House of Representatives; 
and 
‘‘(IV) the Committee on Agri-
culture, Nutrition, and Forestry of the 
Senate; and 
‘‘(ii) that describes— 
‘‘(I) the work carried out by the 
Task Force under subparagraph (D); 
and 
‘‘(II) the recommendations of the 
Task Force for the next steps that 
should be taken to carry out the pur-
poses described in subparagraph (B).’’;
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† HR 2 EAS 
(4) by inserting after paragraph (5) (as so redes-
ignated) the following: 
‘‘(6) ENHANCED
COORDINATION
OF
HONEYBEE 
AND POLLINATOR RESEARCH.— 
‘‘(A) IN
GENERAL.—The Chief Scientist 
shall coordinate research, education, and eco-
nomic activities in the Department of Agri-
culture relating to native and managed polli-
nator health. 
‘‘(B) DUTIES.—To carry out subparagraph 
(A), the Chief Scientist shall— 
‘‘(i) assign an individual to serve in 
the Office of the Chief Scientist as a Hon-
eybee and Pollinator Research Coordinator, 
who— 
‘‘(I) may be— 
‘‘(aa) an employee of the De-
partment of Agriculture at the 
time of appointment; and 
‘‘(bb) a detailee from the re-
search, economics, and education 
mission area; and 
‘‘(II) shall be responsible for lead-
ing the efforts of the Chief Scientist in 
carrying out subparagraph (A);
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† HR 2 EAS 
‘‘(ii) implement the pollinator health 
research efforts described in the 2015 report 
of the Pollinator Health Task Force entitled 
‘Pollinator Research Action Plan’; 
‘‘(iii) establish annual strategic prior-
ities and goals for the Department of Agri-
culture for native and managed pollinator 
research; 
‘‘(iv) communicate those priorities and 
goals to each agency in the Department of 
Agriculture, the managed pollinator indus-
try, and relevant grant recipients under 
programs administered by the Secretary; 
and 
‘‘(v) coordinate and identify all re-
search needed and conducted by the Depart-
ment of Agriculture and relevant grant re-
cipients under programs administered by 
the Secretary on native and managed polli-
nator health to ensure consistency and re-
duce unintended duplication of effort. 
‘‘(C) POLLINATOR RESEARCH.— 
‘‘(i) IN GENERAL.—In coordinating re-
search under subparagraph (A), the Chief
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† HR 2 EAS 
Scientist shall ensure that research is con-
ducted— 
‘‘(I) to evaluate the impact of hor-
ticultural and agricultural pest man-
agement practices on native and man-
aged pollinator colonies in diverse 
agro-ecosystems; 
‘‘(II) to document pesticide resi-
dues— 
‘‘(aa) that are found in na-
tive and managed pollinator colo-
nies; and 
‘‘(bb) that are associated 
with typical commercial crop pest 
management practices; 
‘‘(III) with respect to native and 
managed pollinator colonies visiting 
crops for crop pollination or honey 
production purposes, to document— 
‘‘(aa) the strength and health 
of those colonies; 
‘‘(bb) survival, growth, repro-
duction, and production of those 
colonies;
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† HR 2 EAS 
‘‘(cc) pests, pathogens, and 
viruses that affect those colonies; 
‘‘(dd) environmental condi-
tions of those colonies; and 
‘‘(ee) any other relevant in-
formation, as determined by the 
Chief Scientist; 
‘‘(IV) to document best manage-
ment practices and other practices in 
place for managed pollinators and crop 
managers with respect to healthy popu-
lations of managed pollinators; 
‘‘(V) to evaluate the effectiveness 
of— 
‘‘(aa) conservation practices 
that target the specific needs of 
native and managed pollinator 
habitats; and 
‘‘(bb) incentives that allow 
for the expansion of native and 
managed pollinator forage acre-
age; 
‘‘(VI) in the case of commercially 
managed pollinator colonies, to con-
tinue gathering data on—
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† HR 2 EAS 
‘‘(aa) annual colony losses; 
‘‘(bb) rising input costs asso-
ciated with managing colonies; 
and 
‘‘(cc) the overall economic 
value of commercially managed 
pollinators to the food economy; 
and 
‘‘(VII) relating to any other as-
pect of native and managed polli-
nators, as determined by the Chief Sci-
entist, in consultation with scientific 
experts. 
‘‘(ii) 
PUBLIC
AVAILABILITY.—The 
Chief Scientist shall— 
‘‘(I) make publicly available the 
results of the research described in 
clause (i); and 
‘‘(II) in the case of the research 
described in clause (i)(VI), imme-
diately publish any data or reports 
that were previously produced by the 
Department of Agriculture but not 
made publicly available.’’; and 
(5) in paragraph (7) (as so redesignated)—
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† HR 2 EAS 
(A) in the paragraph heading, by inserting 
‘‘AND NATIVE AND MANAGED POLLINATORS’’ after 
‘‘DISORDER’’; and 
(B) in subparagraph (C)— 
(i) by striking ‘‘regarding how’’ and 
inserting the following: ‘‘regarding— 
‘‘(i) how’’; 
(ii) in clause (i) (as so designated), by 
striking the period at the end and inserting 
a semicolon; and 
(iii) by adding at the end the fol-
lowing: 
‘‘(ii) the establishment of a sufficiently 
funded large-scale multiyear field research 
project to evaluate the impact of horti-
cultural and agricultural pest management 
practices on native and managed pollinator 
colonies in diverse agro-ecosystems; and 
‘‘(iii) the development of crop-specific 
best management practices that balance the 
needs of crop managers with the health of 
native and managed pollinator colonies.’’. 
(e) AUTHORIZATION
OF APPROPRIATIONS.—Section 
1672(h) of the Food, Agriculture, Conservation, and Trade
711 
† HR 2 EAS 
Act of 1990 (7 U.S.C. 5925(h)) is amended by striking 
‘‘2018’’ and inserting ‘‘2023’’. 
SEC. 7210. ORGANIC AGRICULTURE RESEARCH AND EXTEN-
SION INITIATIVE. 
Section 1672B of the Food, Agriculture, Conservation, 
and Trade Act of 1990 (7 U.S.C. 5925b) is amended— 
(1) in subsection (a)(7), by striking ‘‘conserva-
tion’’ and inserting ‘‘conservation, soil health,’’; and 
(2) in subsection (e)— 
(A) in paragraph (1)— 
(i) in subparagraph (B), by striking 
‘‘and’’ at the end; 
(ii) in subparagraph (C), by striking 
the period at the end and inserting a semi-
colon; and 
(iii) by adding at the end the fol-
lowing: 
‘‘(D) $40,000,000 for each of fiscal years 
2019 and 2020; 
‘‘(E) $45,000,000 for fiscal year 2021; and 
‘‘(F) $50,000,000 for fiscal year 2022 and 
each fiscal year thereafter.’’; and 
(B) in paragraph (2)—
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† HR 2 EAS 
(i) in the paragraph heading, by strik-
ing ‘‘FOR
FISCAL
YEARS
2014
THROUGH 
2018’’; and 
(ii) by striking ‘‘2018’’ and inserting 
‘‘2023’’. 
SEC. 7211. FARM BUSINESS MANAGEMENT. 
Section 1672D(d)(2) of the Food, Agriculture, Con-
servation, and Trade Act of 1990 (7 U.S.C. 5925f(d)(2)) 
is amended by striking ‘‘2018’’ and inserting ‘‘2023’’. 
SEC. 7212. URBAN, INDOOR, AND OTHER EMERGING AGRI-
CULTURAL PRODUCTION RESEARCH, EDU-
CATION, AND EXTENSION INITIATIVE. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—The Food, Agriculture, Conserva-
tion, and Trade Act of 1990 is amended by inserting after 
section 1672D (7 U.S.C. 5925f) the following: 
‘‘SEC. 1672E. URBAN, INDOOR, AND OTHER EMERGING AGRI-
CULTURAL PRODUCTION RESEARCH, EDU-
CATION, AND EXTENSION INITIATIVE. 
‘‘(a) 
COMPETITIVE
RESEARCH
AND
EXTENSION 
GRANTS AUTHORIZED.—In consultation with the Urban 
Agriculture and Innovative Production Advisory Com-
mittee established under section 222(b) of the Department 
of Agriculture Reorganization Act of 1994, the Secretary 
may make competitive grants to support research, edu-
cation, and extension activities for the purposes of enhanc-
713 
† HR 2 EAS 
ing urban, indoor, and other emerging agricultural produc-
tion by— 
‘‘(1) facilitating the development of urban, in-
door, and other emerging agricultural production, 
harvesting, transportation, aggregation, packaging, 
distribution, and markets; 
‘‘(2) assessing and developing strategies to reme-
diate contaminated sites; 
‘‘(3) determining and developing the best produc-
tion management and integrated pest management 
practices; 
‘‘(4) assessing the impacts of shipping and trans-
portation on nutritional value; 
‘‘(5) identifying and promoting the horticultural, 
social, and economic factors that contribute to success-
ful urban, indoor, and other emerging agricultural 
production; 
‘‘(6) analyzing the means by which new agricul-
tural sites are determined, including an evaluation of 
soil quality, condition of a building, or local commu-
nity needs; 
‘‘(7) exploring new and innovative technologies 
that minimize energy, lighting systems, water, and 
other inputs for increased food production;
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† HR 2 EAS 
‘‘(8) examining building material efficiencies 
and structural upgrades for the purpose of optimizing 
growth of agricultural products; 
‘‘(9) studying and developing new crop varieties 
and innovative agricultural products to connect to 
new markets; or 
‘‘(10) examining the impacts of crop exposure to 
urban elements on environmental quality and food 
safety. 
‘‘(b) GRANT TYPES AND PROCESS.—Subparagraphs 
(A) through (E) of paragraph (4), paragraph (7), and 
paragraph (11)(B) of subsection (b) of the Competitive, 
Special, and Facilities Research Grant Act (7 U.S.C. 3157) 
shall apply with respect to the making of grants under this 
section. 
‘‘(c) PRIORITY.—The Secretary may give priority to 
grant proposals that involve— 
‘‘(1) the cooperation of multiple entities; or 
‘‘(2) States or regions with a high concentration 
of or significant interest in urban farms, rooftop 
farms, and indoor production facilities. 
‘‘(d) FUNDING.— 
‘‘(1) MANDATORY FUNDING.—Of the funds of the 
Commodity Credit Corporation, the Secretary shall 
use to carry out this section $4,000,000 for each of
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† HR 2 EAS 
fiscal years 2019 through 2023, to remain available 
until expended. 
‘‘(2) AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.—In 
addition to amounts made available under paragraph 
(1), there is authorized to be appropriated to carry 
out this section $10,000,000 for each of fiscal years 
2019 through 2023.’’. 
(b) DATA COLLECTION
ON URBAN, INDOOR, AND 
EMERGING AGRICULTURAL PRODUCTION.— 
(1) IN GENERAL.—Not later than 360 days after 
the date of enactment of this Act, the Secretary shall 
conduct as a follow-on study to the census of agri-
culture conducted in the calendar year 2017 under 
section 2 of the Census of Agriculture Act of 1997 (7 
U.S.C. 2204g) a census of urban, indoor, and other 
emerging agricultural production, including informa-
tion about— 
(A) community gardens and farms located 
in urban areas, suburbs, and urban clusters; 
(B) rooftop farms, outdoor vertical produc-
tion, and green walls; 
(C) indoor farms, greenhouses, and high- 
tech vertical technology farms; 
(D) hydroponic, aeroponic, and aquaponic 
farm facilities; and
716 
† HR 2 EAS 
(E) other innovations in agricultural pro-
duction, as determined by the Secretary. 
(2) AUTHORIZATION
OF
APPROPRIATIONS.— 
There is authorized to be appropriated to carry out 
this subsection $14,000,000 for the period of fiscal 
years 2019 through 2021. 
SEC. 7213. CENTERS OF EXCELLENCE AT 1890 INSTITU-
TIONS. 
Section 1673 of the Food, Agriculture, Conservation, 
and Trade Act of 1990 (7 U.S.C. 5926) is amended by add-
ing at the end the following: 
‘‘(d) CENTERS OF EXCELLENCE AT 1890S INSTITU-
TIONS.— 
‘‘(1) ESTABLISHMENT.—The Secretary shall es-
tablish not less than 3 centers of excellence, each led 
by an 1890 Institution (as defined in section 2 of the 
Agricultural Research, Extension, and Education Re-
form Act of 1998 (7 U.S.C. 7601)), to focus on 1 or 
more of the areas described in paragraph (2). 
‘‘(2) AREAS OF FOCUS.— 
‘‘(A) STUDENT SUCCESS AND WORKFORCE 
DEVELOPMENT.—A center of excellence estab-
lished under paragraph (1) may engage in ac-
tivities to ensure that students have the skills 
and education needed to work in agriculture and
717 
† HR 2 EAS 
food industries, agriculture science, technology, 
engineering, mathematics, and related fields of 
study. 
‘‘(B) NUTRITION, HEALTH, WELLNESS, AND 
QUALITY OF LIFE.—A center of excellence estab-
lished under paragraph (1) may carry out re-
search, education, and extension programs that 
increase access to healthy food, improve nutri-
tion, mitigate preventive disease, and develop 
strategies to assist limited resource individuals 
in accessing health and nutrition resources. 
‘‘(C) FARMING
SYSTEMS, 
RURAL
PROS-
PERITY, 
AND
ECONOMIC
SUSTAINABILITY.—A 
center of excellence established under paragraph 
(1) may share best practices with farmers to im-
prove agricultural production, processing, and 
marketing, reduce urban food deserts, examine 
new uses for traditional and nontraditional 
crops, animals, and natural resources, and con-
tinue activities carried out by the Center of In-
novative 
and 
Sustainable 
Small 
Farms, 
Ranches, and Forest Lands. 
‘‘(D) GLOBAL
FOOD
SECURITY
AND
DE-
FENSE.—A center of excellence established under 
paragraph (1) may engage in international
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† HR 2 EAS 
partnerships that strengthen agricultural devel-
opment in developing countries, partner with 
international researchers regarding new and 
emerging animal and plant pests and diseases, 
engage in agricultural disaster recovery, and 
continue activities carried out by the Center for 
International Engagement. 
‘‘(E) NATURAL RESOURCES, ENERGY, AND 
ENVIRONMENT.—A center of excellence established 
under paragraph (1) may focus on protecting 
and managing domestic natural resources for 
current and future production of food and agri-
cultural products. 
‘‘(F) EMERGING TECHNOLOGIES.—A center 
of excellence established under paragraph (1) 
may focus on the development of emerging tech-
nologies to increase agricultural productivity, 
enhance small farm economic viability, and im-
prove rural communities by developing genetic 
and sensor technologies for food and agriculture 
and providing technology training to farmers. 
‘‘(3) REPORT.—Not later than 1 year after the 
date of enactment of the Agriculture Improvement Act 
of 2018, and every year thereafter, the Secretary shall 
submit to the Committee on Agriculture of the House
719 
† HR 2 EAS 
of Representatives and the Committee on Agriculture, 
Nutrition, and Forestry of the Senate a report de-
scribing— 
‘‘(A) the resources invested in the centers of 
excellence established under paragraph (1); and 
‘‘(B) the work being done by those centers of 
excellence. 
‘‘(4) AUTHORIZATION
OF
APPROPRIATIONS.— 
There is authorized to be appropriated to carry out 
this subsection $10,000,000 for each of fiscal years 
2019 through 2023.’’. 
SEC. 7214. ASSISTIVE TECHNOLOGY PROGRAM FOR FARM-
ERS WITH DISABILITIES. 
Section 1680(c)(1)(B) of the Food, Agriculture, Con-
servation, and Trade Act of 1990 (7 U.S.C. 5933(c)(1)(B)) 
is amended by striking ‘‘2018’’ and inserting ‘‘2023’’. 
SEC. 
7215. 
NATIONAL 
RURAL 
INFORMATION 
CENTER 
CLEARINGHOUSE. 
Section 2381(e) of the Food, Agriculture, Conservation, 
and Trade Act of 1990 (7 U.S.C. 3125b(e)) is amended by 
striking ‘‘2018’’ and inserting ‘‘2023’’.
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† HR 2 EAS 
Subtitle C—Agricultural Research, 
Extension, and Education Re-
form Act of 1998 
SEC. 7301. NATIONAL FOOD SAFETY TRAINING, EDUCATION, 
EXTENSION, OUTREACH, AND TECHNICAL AS-
SISTANCE PROGRAM. 
Section 405(j) of the Agricultural Research, Extension, 
and Education Reform Act of 1998 (7 U.S.C. 7625(j)) is 
amended by striking ‘‘there are authorized’’ and all that 
follows through the period at the end and inserting ‘‘there 
is authorized to be appropriated $10,000,000 for each of 
fiscal years 2019 through 2023.’’. 
SEC. 7302. INTEGRATED RESEARCH, EDUCATION, AND EX-
TENSION COMPETITIVE GRANTS PROGRAM. 
Section 406(e) of the Agricultural Research, Extension, 
and Education Reform Act of 1998 (7 U.S.C. 7626(e)) is 
amended by striking ‘‘2018’’ and inserting ‘‘2023’’. 
SEC. 7303. SUPPORT FOR RESEARCH REGARDING DISEASES 
OF WHEAT, TRITICALE, AND BARLEY CAUSED 
BY 
FUSARIUM 
GRAMINEARUM 
OR 
BY 
TILLETIA INDICA. 
Section 408(e) of the Agricultural Research, Extension, 
and Education Reform Act of 1998 (7 U.S.C. 7628(e)) is 
amended—
721 
† HR 2 EAS 
(1) in paragraph (1), by striking ‘‘and’’ at the 
end; 
(2) in paragraph (2), by striking the period at 
the end and inserting ‘‘; and’’; and 
(3) by adding at the end the following: 
‘‘(3) $15,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2019 
through 2023.’’. 
SEC. 7304. GRANTS FOR YOUTH ORGANIZATIONS. 
Section 410(d)(2) of the Agricultural Research, Exten-
sion, and Education Reform Act of 1998 (7 U.S.C. 
7630(d)(2)) is amended by striking ‘‘2018’’ and inserting 
‘‘2023’’. 
SEC. 7305. SPECIALTY CROP RESEARCH INITIATIVE. 
(a) INDUSTRY NEEDS.—Section 412(b) of the Agricul-
tural Research, Extension, and Education Reform Act of 
1998 (7 U.S.C. 7632(b)) is amended— 
(1) in paragraph (1)— 
(A) by redesignating subparagraphs (B) 
through (E) as subparagraphs (C) through (F); 
and 
(B) by inserting after subparagraph (A) the 
following: 
‘‘(B) size-controlling rootstock systems for 
perennial crops;’’;
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† HR 2 EAS 
(2) in paragraph (2), by striking ‘‘including 
threats to specialty crop pollinators;’’ and inserting 
the following: ‘‘such as— 
‘‘(A) threats to specialty crop pollinators; 
‘‘(B) emerging and invasive species; and 
‘‘(C) a more effective understanding and 
utilization of existing natural enemy com-
plexes;’’; 
(3) in paragraph (3)— 
(A) by striking ‘‘efforts to improve’’ and in-
serting the following: ‘‘efforts— 
‘‘(A) to improve’’; 
(B) in subparagraph (A) (as so designated), 
by adding ‘‘and’’ at the end; and 
(C) by adding at the end the following: 
‘‘(B) to achieve a better understanding of— 
‘‘(i) the soil rhizosphere microbiome; 
‘‘(ii) pesticide application systems and 
certified drift-reduction technologies; and 
‘‘(iii) systems to improve and extend 
the storage life of specialty crops;’’; and 
(4) in paragraph (4), by striking ‘‘including im-
proved mechanization and technologies that delay or 
inhibit ripening; and’’ and inserting the following: 
‘‘such as—
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† HR 2 EAS 
‘‘(A) mechanization and automation of 
labor-intensive tasks in production and proc-
essing; 
‘‘(B) technologies that delay or inhibit rip-
ening; 
‘‘(C) decision support systems driven by 
phenology and environmental factors; 
‘‘(D) improved monitoring systems for agri-
cultural pests; and 
‘‘(E) effective systems for preharvest and 
postharvest management of quarantine pests; 
and’’. 
(b) FUNDING.—Section 412(k) of the Agricultural Re-
search, Extension, and Education Reform Act of 1998 (7 
U.S.C. 7632(k)) is amended— 
(1) in paragraph (2)— 
(A) in the paragraph heading, by striking 
‘‘FOR FISCAL YEARS 2014 THROUGH 2018’’; 
(B) by striking ‘‘In addition’’ and inserting 
the following: 
‘‘(A) IN GENERAL.—In addition’’; and 
(C) in subparagraph (A) (as so designated), 
by striking ‘‘2018’’ and inserting ‘‘2023’’;
724 
† HR 2 EAS 
(2) by redesignating paragraph (3) as subpara-
graph (B) of paragraph (2) and indenting appro-
priately; and 
(3) by redesignating paragraphs (4) and (5) as 
paragraphs (3) and (4), respectively. 
SEC. 7306. FOOD ANIMAL RESIDUE AVOIDANCE DATABASE 
PROGRAM. 
Section 604(e) of the Agricultural Research, Extension, 
and Education Reform Act of 1998 (7 U.S.C. 7642(e)) is 
amended by striking ‘‘2018’’ and inserting ‘‘2023’’. 
SEC. 7307. OFFICE OF PEST MANAGEMENT POLICY. 
Section 614(f)(2) of the Agricultural Research, Exten-
sion, and Education Reform Act of 1998 (7 U.S.C. 
7653(f)(2)) is amended by striking ‘‘2018’’ and inserting 
‘‘2023’’. 
SEC. 7308. FORESTRY PRODUCTS ADVANCED UTILIZATION 
RESEARCH. 
Section 617(f)(1) of the Agricultural Research, Exten-
sion, and Education Reform Act of 1998 (7 U.S.C. 
7655b(f)(1)) is amended by striking ‘‘2018’’ and inserting 
‘‘2023’’. 
Subtitle D—Other Laws 
SEC. 7401. CRITICAL AGRICULTURAL MATERIALS ACT. 
(a) HEMP RESEARCH.—Section 5(b)(9) of the Critical 
Agricultural Materials Act (7 U.S.C. 178c(b)(9)) is amend-
725 
† HR 2 EAS 
ed by inserting ‘‘, and including hemp (as defined in section 
297A of the Agricultural Marketing Act of 1946)’’ after ‘‘hy-
drocarbon-containing plants’’. 
(b) AUTHORIZATION
OF APPROPRIATIONS.—Section 
16(a)(2) of the Critical Agricultural Materials Act (7 
U.S.C. 178n(a)(2)) is amended by striking ‘‘2018’’ and in-
serting ‘‘2023’’. 
SEC. 7402. EQUITY IN EDUCATIONAL LAND-GRANT STATUS 
ACT OF 1994. 
(a) DEFINITION OF 1994 INSTITUTION.— 
(1) IN GENERAL.—Section 532 of the Equity in 
Educational Land-Grant Status Act of 1994 (7 
U.S.C. 301 note; Public Law 103–382) is amended— 
(A) by striking paragraph (11); 
(B) by redesignating paragraphs (12) 
through (23) and (25) through (35) as para-
graphs (11) through (22) and (26) through (36), 
respectively; 
(C) in paragraph (20) (as so redesignated), 
by striking ‘‘College’’ and inserting ‘‘Univer-
sity’’; 
(D) by inserting after paragraph (22) (as so 
redesignated) the following: 
‘‘(23) Nueta Hidatsa Sahnish College.’’; and
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† HR 2 EAS 
(E) by inserting after paragraph (24) the 
following: 
‘‘(25) Red Lake Nation College.’’. 
(2) EFFECTIVE DATE.—The amendments made 
by paragraph (1) take effect on October 1, 2018. 
(b) ENDOWMENT FOR 1994 INSTITUTIONS.—Section 
533(b) of the Equity in Educational Land-Grant Status 
Act of 1994 (7 U.S.C. 301 note; Public Law 103–382) is 
amended in the first sentence by striking ‘‘2018’’ and in-
serting ‘‘2023’’. 
(c) INSTITUTIONAL CAPACITY BUILDING GRANTS.— 
Section 535 of the Equity in Educational Land-Grant Sta-
tus Act of 1994 (7 U.S.C. 301 note; Public Law 103–382) 
is amended by striking ‘‘2018’’ each place it appears in 
subsections (b)(1) and (c) and inserting ‘‘2023’’. 
(d) RESEARCH GRANTS.—Section 536(c) of the Equity 
in Educational Land-Grant Status Act of 1994 (7 U.S.C. 
301 note; Public Law 103–382) is amended in the first sen-
tence by striking ‘‘2018’’ and inserting ‘‘2023’’. 
SEC. 7403. RESEARCH FACILITIES ACT. 
Section 6(a) of the Research Facilities Act (7 U.S.C. 
390d(a)) is amended by striking ‘‘2018’’ and inserting 
‘‘2023’’.
727 
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SEC. 7404. AGRICULTURAL AND FOOD RESEARCH INITIA-
TIVE. 
Subsection (b) of the Competitive, Special, and Facili-
ties Research Grant Act (7 U.S.C. 3157(b)) is amended— 
(1) in paragraph (2)— 
(A) in subparagraph (D)— 
(i) in clause (vi), by striking ‘‘and’’ at 
the end; 
(ii) in clause (vii), by striking the pe-
riod at the end and inserting ‘‘; and’’; and 
(iii) by adding at the end the fol-
lowing: 
‘‘(viii) soil health.’’; and 
(B) in subparagraph (E)— 
(i) in clause (iii), by striking ‘‘and’’ at 
the end; 
(ii) in clause (iv), by striking the pe-
riod at the end and inserting ‘‘; and’’; and 
(iii) by adding at the end the fol-
lowing: 
‘‘(v) automation or mechanization in 
the production and distribution of specialty 
crops, with a focus on labor-intensive 
tasks.’’; 
(2) in paragraph (6)—
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† HR 2 EAS 
(A) in subparagraph (D), by striking ‘‘and’’ 
at the end; 
(B) in subparagraph (E), by striking the 
period at the end and inserting ‘‘; and’’; and 
(C) by adding at the end the following: 
‘‘(F) to an institution to carry out collabo-
ration in biomedical and agricultural research 
using existing research models.’’; and 
(3) in paragraph (11)(A), in the matter pre-
ceding clause (i), by striking ‘‘2018’’ and inserting 
‘‘2023’’. 
SEC. 7405. EXTENSION DESIGN AND DEMONSTRATION INI-
TIATIVE. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—The Competitive, Special, and Fa-
cilities Research Grant Act (7 U.S.C. 3157) is amended by 
inserting after subsection (c) the following: 
‘‘(d) EXTENSION DESIGN AND DEMONSTRATION INI-
TIATIVE.— 
‘‘(1) PURPOSE.—The purpose of this subsection 
is to encourage the design of adaptive prototype sys-
tems for extension and education that seek to advance 
the application, translation, and demonstration of 
scientific discoveries and other agricultural research 
for the adoption and understanding of food, agricul-
tural, and natural resources practices, techniques,
729 
† HR 2 EAS 
methods, and technologies using digital or other novel 
platforms. 
‘‘(2) GRANTS.—The Secretary shall award grants 
on a competitive basis— 
‘‘(A) for the design of 1 or more extension 
and education prototype systems— 
‘‘(i) that leverage digital platforms or 
other novel means of translating, delivering, 
or demonstrating agricultural research; and 
‘‘(ii) to adapt, apply, translate, or 
demonstrate scientific findings, data, tech-
nology, and other research outcomes to pro-
ducers, the agricultural industry, and other 
interested persons or organizations; and 
‘‘(B) to demonstrate, by incorporating ana-
lytics and specific metrics, the value, impact, 
and return on the Federal investment of a proto-
type system designed under subparagraph (A) as 
a model for use by other eligible entities de-
scribed in paragraph (3) for improving, modern-
izing, and adapting applied research, demonstra-
tion, and extension services. 
‘‘(3) ELIGIBLE ENTITIES.—An entity that is eli-
gible to receive a grant under paragraph (2) is—
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† HR 2 EAS 
‘‘(A) a State agricultural experiment sta-
tion; and 
‘‘(B) a land-grant college or university (as 
defined in section 1404 of the National Agricul-
tural Research, Extension, and Teaching Policy 
Act of 1977 (7 U.S.C. 3103)). 
‘‘(4) REQUIREMENT.—The Secretary shall award 
grants under paragraph (2) to not fewer than 2 and 
not more than 5 eligible entities described in para-
graph (3) that represent a diversity of regions, com-
modities, and agricultural or food production issues. 
‘‘(5) TERM.—The term of a grant awarded under 
paragraph (2) shall be not longer than 5 years. 
‘‘(6) AUTHORIZATION
OF
APPROPRIATIONS.— 
There is authorized to be appropriated to carry out 
this subsection $5,000,000 for each of fiscal years 
2019 through 2023, to remain available until ex-
pended.’’. 
(b) TECHNICAL
AND CONFORMING AMENDMENTS.— 
The Competitive, Special, and Facilities Research Grant 
Act (7 U.S.C. 3157) is amended— 
(1) in subsection (c)(2), by striking ‘‘sub-
section—’’ in the matter preceding subparagraph (A) 
and all that follows through ‘‘for the planning’’ in
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† HR 2 EAS 
subparagraph (B) and inserting ‘‘subsection for the 
planning’’; and 
(2) in subsection (h), by inserting ‘‘, (d),’’ after 
‘‘subsections (b)’’. 
SEC. 7406. RENEWABLE RESOURCES EXTENSION ACT OF 
1978. 
(a) AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.—Section 6 
of the Renewable Resources Extension Act of 1978 (16 
U.S.C. 1675) is amended in the first sentence by striking 
‘‘2018’’ and inserting ‘‘2023’’. 
(b) TERMINATION DATE.—Section 8 of the Renewable 
Resources Extension Act of 1978 (16 U.S.C. 1671 note; Pub-
lic Law 95–306) is amended by striking ‘‘2018’’ and insert-
ing ‘‘2023’’. 
SEC. 7407. NATIONAL AQUACULTURE ACT OF 1980. 
Section 10 of the National Aquaculture Act of 1980 
(16 U.S.C. 2809) is amended by striking ‘‘2018’’ each place 
it appears and inserting ‘‘2023’’. 
SEC. 7408. REPEAL OF REVIEW OF AGRICULTURAL RE-
SEARCH SERVICE. 
Section 7404 of the Farm Security and Rural Invest-
ment Act of 2002 (7 U.S.C. 3101 note; Public Law 107– 
171) is repealed.
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† HR 2 EAS 
SEC. 7409. BIOMASS RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT. 
Section 9008 of the Farm Security and Rural Invest-
ment Act of 2002 (7 U.S.C. 8108) is amended— 
(1) in subsection (a)(1)— 
(A) in subparagraph (A), by striking ‘‘or’’ 
at the end; 
(B) in subparagraph (B), by striking the 
period at the end and inserting ‘‘; or’’; and 
(C) by adding at the end the following: 
‘‘(C) carbon dioxide that— 
‘‘(i) is intended for permanent seques-
tration or utilization; and 
‘‘(ii) is a byproduct of the production 
of the products described in subparagraphs 
(A) and (B).’’; 
(2) in subsection (d)(2)(A)— 
(A) in clause (xii), by striking ‘‘and’’ at the 
end; 
(B) by redesignating clause (xiii) as clause 
(xiv); and 
(C) by inserting after clause (xii) the fol-
lowing: 
‘‘(xiii) an individual with expertise in 
carbon dioxide capture, utilization, and se-
questration; and’’; 
(3) in subsection (e)—
733 
† HR 2 EAS 
(A) in paragraph (2)(B)— 
(i) in clause (ii), by striking ‘‘and’’ at 
the end; and 
(ii) by adding at the end the following: 
‘‘(iv) to permanently sequester or uti-
lize carbon dioxide that is produced as a 
byproduct of the production of biobased 
products; and’’; and 
(B) in paragraph (3)(B)— 
(i) in clause (i), by striking ‘‘and’’ at 
the end; 
(ii) in clause (ii), by striking the pe-
riod at the end and inserting ‘‘; and’’; and 
(iii) by adding at the end the fol-
lowing: 
‘‘(iii) the development of technologies to 
permanently sequester or utilize carbon di-
oxide that is produced as a byproduct of the 
production of biobased products.’’; and 
(4) in subsection (h)— 
(A) in paragraph (1)— 
(i) in subparagraph (D), by striking 
‘‘and’’ at the end;
734 
† HR 2 EAS 
(ii) in subparagraph (E), by striking 
the period at the end and inserting ‘‘; and’’; 
and 
(iii) by adding at the end the fol-
lowing: 
‘‘(F) $3,000,000 for each of fiscal years 
2019 through 2023.’’; and 
(B) in paragraph (2), by striking ‘‘2018’’ 
and inserting ‘‘2023’’. 
SEC. 7410. REINSTATEMENT OF MATCHING REQUIREMENT 
FOR FEDERAL FUNDS USED IN EXTENSION 
WORK AT THE UNIVERSITY OF THE DISTRICT 
OF COLUMBIA. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—Section 208(c) of the District of Co-
lumbia Public Postsecondary Education Reorganization 
Act (88 Stat. 1428; sec. 38–1202.09(c), D.C. Official Code) 
is amended by inserting after the first sentence the fol-
lowing: ‘‘Such sums may be used to pay not more than 1⁄2 
of the total cost of providing such extension work.’’. 
(b) EFFECTIVE DATE.—The amendment made by sub-
section (a) shall take effect on October 1, 2018.
735 
† HR 2 EAS 
SEC. 7411. ENHANCED USE LEASE AUTHORITY PILOT PRO-
GRAM. 
Section 308 of the Federal Crop Insurance Reform and 
Department of Agriculture Reorganization Act of 1994 (7 
U.S.C. 3125a note; Public Law 103–354) is amended— 
(1) in subsection (b)(6)(A), by striking ‘‘10 
years’’ and inserting ‘‘15 years’’; and 
(2) in subsection (d)(2), in the matter preceding 
subparagraph (A), by striking ‘‘6, 8, and 10 years’’ 
and inserting ‘‘13 years’’. 
SEC. 7412. TRANSFER OF ADMINISTRATIVE JURISDICTION 
OVER 
PORTION 
OF 
HENRY 
A. 
WALLACE 
BELTSVILLE AGRICULTURAL RESEARCH CEN-
TER, BELTSVILLE, MARYLAND. 
(a) TRANSFER AUTHORIZED.—Subject to subsection 
(e), the Secretary may transfer to the Secretary of the 
Treasury administrative jurisdiction over a parcel of real 
property at the Henry A. Wallace Beltsville Agricultural 
Research Center consisting of approximately 100 acres, 
which was originally acquired by the United States through 
land acquisitions in 1910 and 1925, and is generally lo-
cated off of Poultry Road lying between Powder Mill Road 
and Odell Road in Beltsville, Maryland, for the purpose 
of facilitating the establishment of Bureau of Engraving 
and Printing facilities on the parcel. 
(b) LEGAL DESCRIPTION AND MAP.—
736 
† HR 2 EAS 
(1) PREPARATION.—The Secretary shall prepare 
a legal description and map of the parcel of real 
property to be transferred under subsection (a). 
(2) FORCE OF LAW.—The legal description and 
map prepared under paragraph (1) shall have the 
same force and effect as if included in this Act, except 
that the Secretary may correct errors in the legal de-
scription and map. 
(c) TERMS AND CONDITIONS.—The transfer of admin-
istrative jurisdiction under subsection (a) shall be subject 
to easements, valid existing rights, and such other reserva-
tions, terms, and conditions as the Secretary considers to 
be necessary. 
(d) WAIVER.—The parcel of real property under sub-
section (a) is exempt from Federal screening for other pos-
sible use due to an identified Federal need for the parcel 
as the site of Bureau of Engraving and Printing facilities. 
(e) CONDITIONS FOR TRANSFER.—As a condition of 
the transfer of administrative jurisdiction under subsection 
(a), the Secretary of the Treasury shall agree to pay the 
Secretary the costs incurred to carry out the transfer of ad-
ministrative jurisdiction under subsection (a), including 
the costs for—
737 
† HR 2 EAS 
(1) any environmental or administrative anal-
ysis required by law with respect to the parcel to be 
transferred under subsection (a); 
(2) a survey, if needed; and 
(3) any hazardous substances assessment of the 
parcel to be transferred under subsection (a). 
(f) HAZARDOUS MATERIALS.— 
(1) IN GENERAL.—For the parcel to be trans-
ferred under subsection (a), the Secretary shall meet 
the applicable disclosure requirements relating to haz-
ardous substances. 
(2) REMEDIATION.—The Secretary shall not be 
required to remediate or abate any hazardous sub-
stances disclosed under paragraph (1) or any other 
hazardous pollutants, contaminants, or waste that 
may be present at or on the parcel on the date of the 
transfer of administrative jurisdiction under sub-
section (a). 
SEC. 7413. FOUNDATION FOR FOOD AND AGRICULTURE RE-
SEARCH. 
Section 7601 of the Agricultural Act of 2014 (7 U.S.C. 
5939) is amended— 
(1) in subsection (d)(1)(D), by inserting ‘‘and 
agriculture stakeholders’’ after ‘‘community’’; 
(2) in subsection (e)—
738 
† HR 2 EAS 
(A) in paragraph (2)(C)(ii)(I), by inserting 
‘‘agriculture or’’ before ‘‘agricultural research’’; 
and 
(B) in paragraph (4)(A)— 
(i) in clause (iii), by striking ‘‘and’’ at 
the end; 
(ii) by redesignating clause (iv) as 
clause (v); and 
(iii) by inserting after clause (iii) the 
following: 
‘‘(iv) actively solicit and accept funds, 
gifts, grants, devises, or bequests of real or 
personal property made to the Foundation, 
including from private entities; and’’; 
(3) in subsection (f)— 
(A) in paragraph (2)(A)(iii), by striking 
‘‘any’’; and 
(B) in paragraph (3)(B)— 
(i) in clause (i)(I)— 
(I) in the matter preceding item 
(aa), by inserting ‘‘and post online’’ 
before ‘‘a report’’; 
(II) in item (aa), by striking ‘‘ac-
complishments; and’’ and inserting 
‘‘accomplishments and how those ac-
739 
† HR 2 EAS 
tivities align to the challenges identi-
fied in the strategic plan under clause 
(iv);’’; 
(III) in item (bb), by striking the 
period at the end and inserting ‘‘; 
and’’; and 
(IV) by adding at the end the fol-
lowing: 
‘‘(cc) a description of avail-
able agricultural research pro-
grams and priorities for the up-
coming fiscal year.’’; and 
(ii) by adding at the end the following: 
‘‘(iii) 
STAKEHOLDER
NOTICE.—The 
Foundation shall publish an annual notice 
with a description of agricultural research 
priorities under this section for the upcom-
ing fiscal year, including— 
‘‘(I) a schedule for funding com-
petitions; 
‘‘(II) a discussion of how applica-
tions for funding will be evaluated; 
and 
‘‘(III) how the Foundation will 
communicate information about fund-
740 
† HR 2 EAS 
ed awards to the public to ensure that 
grantees and partners understand the 
objectives of the Foundation. 
‘‘(iv) STRATEGIC
PLAN.—Not later 
than 1 year after the date of enactment of 
the Agriculture Improvement Act of 2018, 
the Foundation shall submit to the Com-
mittee on Agriculture of the House of Rep-
resentatives and the Committee on Agri-
culture, Nutrition, and Forestry of the Sen-
ate a strategic plan describing a path for 
the Foundation to become self-sustaining, 
including— 
‘‘(I) a forecast of major agricul-
tural challenge opportunities identified 
by the scientific advisory councils of 
the Foundation and approved by the 
Board, including short- and long-term 
objectives; 
‘‘(II) an overview of the efforts 
that the Foundation will take to be 
transparent in each of the processes of 
the Foundation, including— 
‘‘(aa) processes relating to 
grant awards, including the selec-
741 
† HR 2 EAS 
tion, 
review, 
and 
notification 
processes; 
‘‘(bb) communication of past, 
current, and future research pri-
orities; and 
‘‘(cc) plans to solicit and re-
spond to public input on the op-
portunities identified in the stra-
tegic plan; 
‘‘(III) a description of financial 
goals and benchmarks for the next 10 
years, including a detailed plan for 
raising funds in amounts greater than 
the amounts required under this sec-
tion; and 
‘‘(IV) other related issues, as de-
termined by the Board.’’; and 
(4) in subsection (g)(1)— 
(A) in the paragraph heading, by striking 
‘‘MANDATORY FUNDING’’ and inserting ‘‘FUND-
ING’’; 
(B) in subparagraph (A)— 
(i) by striking ‘‘On the date’’ and in-
serting the following:
742 
† HR 2 EAS 
‘‘(i) ESTABLISHMENT
FUNDING.—On 
the date’’; and 
(ii) by adding at the end the following: 
‘‘(ii) ENHANCED
FUNDING.—On the 
date of enactment of the Agriculture Im-
provement Act of 2018, of the funds of the 
Commodity Credit Corporation, the Sec-
retary shall transfer to the Foundation to 
carry out this section $200,000,000, to re-
main available until expended.’’; and 
(C) in subparagraph (B)— 
(i) by striking ‘‘The Foundation’’ and 
inserting the following: 
‘‘(i) IN GENERAL.—The Foundation’’; 
(ii) in clause (i) (as so designated)— 
(I) by striking ‘‘purposes’’ and in-
serting ‘‘purposes, duties, and powers’’; 
and 
(II) 
by 
striking 
‘‘non-Federal 
matching funds for each expenditure’’ 
and inserting ‘‘matching funds from a 
non-Federal source, including a generic 
agricultural commodity promotion, re-
search, and information program’’; 
and
743 
† HR 2 EAS 
(iii) by adding at the end the fol-
lowing: 
‘‘(ii) EFFECT.—Nothing in this section 
requires the Foundation to require a match-
ing contribution from an individual grantee 
as a condition of receiving a grant under 
this section.’’. 
SEC. 7414. ASSISTANCE FOR FORESTRY RESEARCH UNDER 
THE MCINTIRE-STENNIS COOPERATIVE FOR-
ESTRY ACT. 
Section 2 of Public Law 87–788 (commonly known as 
the ‘‘McIntire-Stennis Cooperative Forestry Act’’) (16 
U.S.C. 582a–1) is amended in the second sentence— 
(1) by striking ‘‘and’’ before ‘‘1890 Institutions’’; 
and 
(2) by inserting ‘‘and 1994 Institutions (as de-
fined in section 532 of the Equity in Educational 
Land-Grant Status Act of 1994 (7 U.S.C. 301 note; 
Public Law 103–382)) that offer an associate’s degree 
or a baccalaureate degree in forestry,’’ before ‘‘and 
(b)’’. 
SEC. 7415. LEGITIMACY OF INDUSTRIAL HEMP RESEARCH. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—Section 7606 of the Agricultural 
Act of 2014 (7 U.S.C. 5940) is amended—
744 
† HR 2 EAS 
(1) by redesignating subsections (a) and (b) as 
subsections (b) and (a), respectively, and moving the 
subsections so as to appear in alphabetical order; 
(2) in subsection (b) (as so redesignated), in the 
subsection heading, by striking ‘‘IN GENERAL’’ and 
inserting ‘‘INDUSTRIAL HEMP RESEARCH’’; and 
(3) by adding at the end the following: 
‘‘(c) STUDY AND REPORT.— 
‘‘(1) IN GENERAL.—The Secretary shall conduct 
a study of agricultural pilot programs— 
‘‘(A) to determine the economic viability of 
the domestic production and sale of industrial 
hemp; and 
‘‘(B) that shall include a review of— 
‘‘(i) each agricultural pilot program; 
and 
‘‘(ii) any other agricultural or aca-
demic research relating to industrial hemp. 
‘‘(2) REPORT.—Not later than 120 days after the 
date of enactment of this subsection, the Secretary 
shall submit to Congress a report describing the re-
sults of the study conducted under paragraph (1).’’. 
(b) REPEAL.—Effective on the date that is 1 year after 
the date on which the Secretary establishes a plan under 
section 297C of the Agricultural Marketing Act of 1946, sec-
745 
† HR 2 EAS 
tion 7606 of the Agricultural Act of 2014 (7 U.S.C. 5940) 
is repealed. 
SEC. 7416. COLLECTION OF DATA RELATING TO BARLEY 
AREA PLANTED AND HARVESTED. 
For all acreage reports published after the date of en-
actment of this Act, the Secretary, acting through the Ad-
ministrator of the National Agricultural Statistics Service, 
shall include the State of New York in the States surveyed 
to produce the table entitled ‘‘Barley Area Planted and 
Harvested’’ in those reports. 
SEC. 7417. COLLECTION OF DATA RELATING TO THE SIZE 
AND LOCATION OF DAIRY FARMS. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—Not later than 120 days after the 
date of enactment of this Act, the Secretary, acting through 
the Administrator of the Economic Research Service, shall 
update the report entitled ‘‘Changes in the Size and Loca-
tion of US Dairy Farms’’ contained in the report of the 
Economic Research Service entitled ‘‘Profits, Costs, and the 
Changing Structure of Dairy Farming’’ and published in 
September 2007. 
(b) REQUIREMENT.—In updating the report described 
in subsection (a), the Secretary shall include an expanded 
Table 2 of that report containing the full range of herd sizes 
that are detailed in Table 1 of that report.
746 
† HR 2 EAS 
SEC. 
7418. 
AGRICULTURE 
INNOVATION 
CENTER 
DEM-
ONSTRATION PROGRAM. 
Section 6402 of the Farm Security and Rural Invest-
ment Act of 2002 (7 U.S.C. 1632b) is amended— 
(1) in subsection (e)(1), by striking ‘‘subsection 
(i)’’ and inserting ‘‘subsection (h)’’; 
(2) by striking subsection (g); 
(3) by redesignating subsections (h) and (i) as 
subsections (g) and (h), respectively; and 
(4) in subsection (h) (as so redesignated), by 
striking ‘‘is authorized’’ and all that follows through 
‘‘2018’’ and inserting ‘‘are authorized to be appro-
priated such sums as are necessary to carry out this 
section’’. 
SEC. 7419. SMITH-LEVER COMMUNITY EXTENSION PRO-
GRAM. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—Section 3(d) of the Smith-Lever Act 
(7 U.S.C. 343(d)) is amended— 
(1) by striking ‘‘The Secretary’’ and inserting 
the following: 
‘‘(d) ADMINISTRATION, TECHNICAL, AND EXTENSION 
SERVICES.— 
‘‘(1) IN GENERAL.—The Secretary’’; 
(2) in paragraph (1) (as designated by para-
graph (1)), by striking the second sentence; and 
(3) by adding at the end the following:
747 
† HR 2 EAS 
‘‘(2) COMPETITIVE FUNDING.—The Secretary of 
Agriculture may provide funding, on a competitive 
basis, to— 
‘‘(A) a college or university eligible to re-
ceive funds under the Act of August 30, 1890 (7 
U.S.C. 321–326a and 328), including Tuskegee 
University; or 
‘‘(B) a 1994 Institution (as defined in sec-
tion 532 of the Equity in Educational Land- 
Grant Status Act of 1994 (7 U.S.C. 301 note; 
Public Law 103–382)) for— 
‘‘(i) the Children, Youth, and Families 
at Risk funding program under subsection 
(b)(3); and 
‘‘(ii) the Federally Recognized Tribes 
Extension Program.’’. 
(b) CONFORMING AMENDMENTS.— 
(1) Section 3(f) of the Smith Lever Act (7 U.S.C. 
343(f)) is amended— 
(A) by striking ‘‘There shall’’ and inserting 
the following: 
‘‘(1) IN GENERAL.—There shall’’; and 
(B) by adding at the end the following: 
‘‘(2) EXCEPTION NOT APPLICABLE.—Paragraph 
(1) shall not apply to a 1994 Institution receiving
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funding under subsection (d)(2)(B) for the Children, 
Youth, and Families at Risk funding program under 
subsection (b)(3) or for the Federally Recognized 
Tribes Extension Program.’’. 
(2) Section 533(a)(2)(A) of the Equity in Edu-
cational Land-Grant Status Act of 1994 (7 U.S.C. 
301 note; Public Law 103–382) is amended by strik-
ing clause (ii) and inserting the following: 
‘‘(ii) the Smith-Lever Act (7 U.S.C. 
341 et seq.), except as provided under— 
‘‘(I) section 3(b)(3) of that Act (7 
U.S.C. 343(b)(3)); or 
‘‘(II) paragraph (2) of section 
3(d) of that Act (7 U.S.C. 343(d)); or’’. 
Subtitle E—Food, Conservation, 
and Energy Act of 2008 
PART I—AGRICULTURAL SECURITY 
SEC. 7501. AGRICULTURAL BIOSECURITY COMMUNICATION 
CENTER. 
Section 14112(c)(2) of the Food, Conservation, and 
Energy Act of 2008 (7 U.S.C. 8912(c)(2)) is amended by 
striking ‘‘2018’’ and inserting ‘‘2023’’.
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SEC. 7502. ASSISTANCE TO BUILD LOCAL CAPACITY IN AG-
RICULTURAL BIOSECURITY PLANNING, PREP-
ARATION, AND RESPONSE. 
Section 14113 of the Food, Conservation, and Energy 
Act of 2008 (7 U.S.C. 8913) is amended— 
(1) in subsection (a)(2)(B), by striking ‘‘2018’’ 
and inserting ‘‘2023’’; and 
(2) in subsection (b)(2)(B), by striking ‘‘2018’’ 
and inserting ‘‘2023’’. 
SEC. 7503. RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT OF AGRICUL-
TURAL COUNTERMEASURES. 
Section 14121(b)(2) of the Food, Conservation, and 
Energy Act of 2008 (7 U.S.C. 8921(b)(2)) is amended by 
striking ‘‘2018’’ and inserting ‘‘2023’’. 
SEC. 7504. AGRICULTURAL BIOSECURITY GRANT PROGRAM. 
Section 14122(e)(2) of the Food, Conservation, and 
Energy Act of 2008 (7 U.S.C. 8922(e)(2)) is amended by 
striking ‘‘2018’’ and inserting ‘‘2023’’. 
PART II—MISCELLANEOUS PROVISIONS 
SEC. 7511. FARM AND RANCH STRESS ASSISTANCE NET-
WORK. 
Section 7522 of the Food, Conservation, and Energy 
Act of 2008 (7 U.S.C. 5936) is amended— 
(1) in subsection (a), by striking ‘‘to support co-
operative programs between State cooperative exten-
750 
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sion services and nonprofit organizations’’ and insert-
ing ‘‘to eligible entities described in subsection (c)’’; 
(2) in subsection (b)— 
(A) by striking paragraph (5); 
(B) 
by 
redesignating 
paragraphs 
(1) 
through (4) as subparagraphs (A) through (D), 
respectively, and indenting the subparagraphs 
appropriately; 
(C) by striking subparagraph (B) (as so re-
designated) and inserting the following: 
‘‘(B) training, including training programs 
and workshops, for— 
‘‘(i) advocates for individuals who are 
engaged in farming, ranching, and other oc-
cupations relating to agriculture; and 
‘‘(ii) other individuals and entities 
that may assist individuals who— 
‘‘(I) are engaged in farming, 
ranching, and other occupations relat-
ing to agriculture; and 
‘‘(II) are in crisis;’’; 
(D) in subparagraph (C) (as so redesig-
nated), by adding ‘‘and’’ after the semicolon at 
the end;
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(E) in subparagraph (D) (as so redesig-
nated), by striking ‘‘activities; and’’ and insert-
ing ‘‘activities, including the dissemination of 
information and materials; or’’; 
(F) in the matter preceding subparagraph 
(A) (as so redesignated), by striking ‘‘be used to 
initiate’’ and inserting the following: ‘‘be used— 
‘‘(1) to initiate’’; and 
(G) by adding at the end the following: 
‘‘(2) to enter into contracts, on a multiyear 
basis, with community-based, direct-service organiza-
tions to initiate, expand, or sustain programs de-
scribed in paragraph (1) and subsection (a).’’; and 
(3) by striking subsections (c) and (d) and in-
serting the following: 
‘‘(c) ELIGIBLE
RECIPIENTS.—The Secretary may 
award a grant under this section to— 
‘‘(1) a State department of agriculture; 
‘‘(2) a State cooperative extension service; 
‘‘(3) a qualified nonprofit organization, as deter-
mined by the Secretary; 
‘‘(4) an entity providing appropriate services, as 
determined by the Secretary, in 1 or more States; or 
‘‘(5) a partnership carried out by 2 or more en-
tities described in paragraphs (1) through (4).
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‘‘(d) AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.—There is 
authorized to be appropriated to the Secretary to carry out 
this section $10,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2019 
through 2023. 
‘‘(e) REPORT TO CONGRESS.— 
‘‘(1) IN GENERAL.—Not later than 1 year after 
the date of enactment of this subsection, the Secretary, 
in coordination with the Secretary of Health and 
Human Services, shall submit to Congress and any 
other relevant Federal department or agency, and 
make publicly available, a report describing the state 
of behavioral and mental health of individuals who 
are engaged in farming, ranching, and other occupa-
tions relating to agriculture. 
‘‘(2) CONTENTS.—The report under paragraph 
(1) shall include— 
‘‘(A) an inventory and assessment of efforts 
to support the behavioral and mental health of 
individuals who are engaged in farming, ranch-
ing, and other occupations relating to agri-
culture by— 
‘‘(i) the Federal Government, States, 
and units of local government; 
‘‘(ii) communities comprised of those 
individuals;
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‘‘(iii) healthcare providers; 
‘‘(iv) State cooperative extension serv-
ices; and 
‘‘(v) other appropriate entities, as de-
termined by the Secretary; 
‘‘(B) a description of the challenges faced by 
individuals who are engaged in farming, ranch-
ing, and other occupations relating to agri-
culture that may impact the behavioral and 
mental health of farmers and ranchers; 
‘‘(C) a description of how the Department of 
Agriculture can improve coordination and co-
operation with Federal health departments and 
agencies, including the Department of Health 
and Human Services, the Substance Abuse and 
Mental Health Services Administration, the 
Health Resources and Services Administration, 
the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 
and the National Institutes of Health, to best ad-
dress the behavioral and mental health of indi-
viduals who are engaged in farming, ranching, 
and other occupations relating to agriculture; 
‘‘(D) a long-term strategy for responding to 
the challenges described under subparagraph (B) 
and recommendations based on best practices for
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further action to be carried out by appropriate 
Federal departments or agencies to improve Fed-
eral Government response and seek to prevent 
suicide among individuals who are engaged in 
farming, ranching, and other occupations relat-
ing to agriculture; and 
‘‘(E) an evaluation of the impact of suicide 
among individuals who are engaged in farming, 
ranching, and other occupations relating to agri-
culture on— 
‘‘(i) the agricultural workforce; 
‘‘(ii) agricultural production; 
‘‘(iii) rural families and communities; 
and 
‘‘(iv) succession planning.’’. 
SEC. 7512. NATURAL PRODUCTS RESEARCH PROGRAM. 
Section 7525(e) of the Food, Conservation, and Energy 
Act of 2008 (7 U.S.C. 5937(e)) is amended by striking 
‘‘2018’’ and inserting ‘‘2023’’. 
SEC. 7513. SUN GRANT PROGRAM. 
Section 7526(g) of the Food, Conservation, and Energy 
Act of 2008 (7 U.S.C. 8114(g)) is amended by striking 
‘‘2018’’ and inserting ‘‘2023’’.
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SEC. 7514. MECHANIZATION AND AUTOMATION FOR SPE-
CIALTY CROPS. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—Not later than 180 days after the 
date of enactment of this Act, the Secretary shall conduct 
a review of the programs of the Department of Agriculture 
that affect the production or processing of specialty crops. 
(b) REQUIREMENTS.—The review under subsection (a) 
shall identify— 
(1) programs that currently are, or previously 
have been, effectively used to accelerate the develop-
ment and use of automation or mechanization in the 
production or processing of specialty crops; and 
(2) programs that may be more effectively used 
to accelerate the development and use of automation 
or mechanization in the production or processing of 
specialty crops. 
(c) STRATEGY.—With respect to programs identified 
under subsection (b), the Secretary shall develop and imple-
ment a strategy to accelerate the development and use of 
automation and mechanization in the production or proc-
essing of specialty crops.
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Subtitle F—Matching Funds 
Requirement 
SEC. 7601. MATCHING FUNDS REQUIREMENT. 
(a) REPEAL.—Subtitle P of the National Agricultural 
Research, Extension, and Teaching Policy Act of 1977 (7 
U.S.C. 3371) is repealed. 
(b) CONFORMING AMENDMENTS.— 
(1) NATIONAL
AGRICULTURAL
RESEARCH, EX-
TENSION, AND TEACHING POLICY ACT OF 1977.— 
(A) NATIONAL
AGRICULTURAL
RESEARCH, 
EXTENSION, EDUCATION, AND ECONOMICS ADVI-
SORY
BOARD.—Section 1408(c)(1) of the Na-
tional Agricultural Research, Extension, and 
Teaching 
Policy 
Act 
of 
1977 
(7 
U.S.C. 
3123(c)(1)) is amended by striking subpara-
graph (B) and inserting the following: 
‘‘(B) the annual establishment of national 
priorities, as determined by the Board;’’. 
(B) GRANTS TO ENHANCE RESEARCH CA-
PACITY
IN
SCHOOLS
OF
VETERINARY
MEDI-
CINE.—Section 1415(a) of the National Agricul-
tural Research, Extension, and Teaching Policy 
Act of 1977 (7 U.S.C. 3151(a)) is amended— 
(i) by striking ‘‘The Secretary’’ and 
inserting the following:
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‘‘(1) IN GENERAL.—The Secretary’’; and 
(ii) by adding at the end the following: 
‘‘(2) MATCHING REQUIREMENT.—A State receiv-
ing a grant under paragraph (1) shall provide State 
matching funds equal to not less than the amount of 
the grant.’’. 
(C) AQUACULTURE ASSISTANCE GRANT PRO-
GRAM.—Section 1475(b) of the National Agricul-
tural Research, Extension, and Teaching Policy 
Act of 1977 (7 U.S.C. 3322(b)) is amended by 
striking ‘‘The Secretary’’ and all that follows 
through the period at the end and inserting the 
following: 
‘‘(1) IN GENERAL.—Subject to paragraph (3), the 
Secretary may make competitive grants to entities eli-
gible for grants under paragraph (2) for research and 
extension to facilitate or expand promising advances 
in the production and marketing of aquacultural food 
species and products and to enhance the safety and 
wholesomeness of those species and products, includ-
ing the development of reliable supplies of seed stock 
and therapeutic compounds. 
‘‘(2) ELIGIBLE ENTITIES.—The Secretary may 
make a competitive grant under paragraph (1) to—
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† HR 2 EAS 
‘‘(A) a land-grant or seagrant college or 
university; 
‘‘(B) a State agricultural experiment sta-
tion; 
‘‘(C) a college, university, or Federal lab-
oratory having a demonstrable capacity to con-
duct aquacultural research, as determined by the 
Secretary; or 
‘‘(D) a nonprofit private research institu-
tion. 
‘‘(3) MATCHING STATE GRANTS.— 
‘‘(A) IN GENERAL.—Except as provided in 
subparagraph (B), the Secretary shall not make 
a grant under paragraph (1) unless the State in 
which the grant recipient is located makes a 
grant to that recipient in an amount equal to 
not less than the amount of the grant under 
paragraph (1) (of which State amount an in- 
kind contribution shall not exceed 50 percent). 
‘‘(B) FEDERAL
LABORATORIES.—Subpara-
graph (A) shall not apply to a grant to a Fed-
eral laboratory.’’. 
(2) FOOD, AGRICULTURE, CONSERVATION, AND 
TRADE ACT OF 1990.—
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(A) FEDERAL-STATE MATCHING GRANT PRO-
GRAM.—Section 1623(d)(2) of the Food, Agri-
culture, Conservation, and Trade Act of 1990 (7 
U.S.C. 5813(d)(2)) is amended by striking the 
second sentence. 
(B) AGRICULTURAL GENOME INITIATIVE.— 
Section 1671 of the Food, Agriculture, Conserva-
tion, and Trade Act of 1990 (7 U.S.C. 5924) (as 
amended by section 7208) is amended— 
(i) by redesignating subsection (f) as 
subsection (g); and 
(ii) by inserting after subsection (e) the 
following: 
‘‘(f) MATCHING FUNDS REQUIREMENT.— 
‘‘(1) IN
GENERAL.—Subject to paragraph (3), 
with respect to a grant or cooperative agreement 
under this section that provides a particular benefit 
to a specific agricultural commodity, the recipient of 
funds under the grant or cooperative agreement shall 
provide non-Federal matching funds (including funds 
from a generic agricultural commodity promotion, re-
search, and information program) equal to not less 
than the amount provided under the grant or cooper-
ative agreement.
760 
† HR 2 EAS 
‘‘(2) IN-KIND SUPPORT.—Non-Federal matching 
funds described in paragraph (1) may include in- 
kind support. 
‘‘(3) WAIVER.—The Secretary may waive the 
matching funds requirement under paragraph (1) 
with respect to a research project if the Secretary de-
termines that— 
‘‘(A) the results of the project are of a par-
ticular benefit to a specific agricultural com-
modity, but those results are likely to be applica-
ble to agricultural commodities generally; or 
‘‘(B)(i) the project— 
‘‘(I) involves a minor commodity; and 
‘‘(II) deals with scientifically impor-
tant research; and 
‘‘(ii) the recipient is unable to satisfy the 
matching funds requirement.’’. 
(C) HIGH-PRIORITY RESEARCH AND EXTEN-
SION INITIATIVES.—Section 1672(a) of the Food, 
Agriculture, Conservation, and Trade Act of 
1990 (7 U.S.C. 5925(a)) is amended— 
(i) by striking ‘‘The Secretary of Agri-
culture’’ and inserting the following: 
‘‘(1) IN
GENERAL.—The Secretary of Agri-
culture’’;
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† HR 2 EAS 
(ii) in paragraph (1) (as so des-
ignated), in the second sentence, by striking 
‘‘The Secretary shall’’ and inserting the fol-
lowing: 
‘‘(3) CONSULTATION.—The Secretary shall’’; and 
(iii) by inserting after paragraph (1) 
the following: 
‘‘(2) MATCHING FUNDS REQUIREMENT.— 
‘‘(A) IN
GENERAL.—Subject to subpara-
graph (C), an entity receiving a grant under 
paragraph (1) shall provide non-Federal match-
ing funds (including funds from a generic agri-
cultural commodity promotion, research, and in-
formation program) equal to not less than the 
amount of the grant. 
‘‘(B) 
IN-KIND
SUPPORT.—Non-Federal 
matching funds described in subparagraph (A) 
may include in-kind support. 
‘‘(C) WAIVER.—The Secretary may waive 
the matching funds requirement under subpara-
graph (A) with respect to a research project if 
the Secretary determines that— 
‘‘(i) the results of the project are of a 
particular benefit to a specific agricultural 
commodity, but those results are likely to be
762 
† HR 2 EAS 
applicable to agricultural commodities gen-
erally; or 
‘‘(ii)(I) the project— 
‘‘(aa) involves a minor com-
modity; and 
‘‘(bb) deals with scientifically im-
portant research; and 
‘‘(II) the recipient is unable to satisfy 
the matching funds requirement.’’. 
(D) ORGANIC AGRICULTURE RESEARCH AND 
EXTENSION
INITIATIVE.—Section 1672B of the 
Food, Agriculture, Conservation, and Trade Act 
of 1990 (7 U.S.C. 5925b) (as amended by section 
7210) is amended— 
(i) by redesignating subsections (c), 
(d), and (e) as subsections (d), (e), and (f), 
respectively; and 
(ii) by inserting after subsection (b) 
the following: 
‘‘(c) MATCHING REQUIREMENT.— 
‘‘(1) IN GENERAL.—Subject to paragraph (3), an 
entity receiving a grant under subsection (a) shall 
provide non-Federal matching funds (including funds 
from a generic agricultural commodity promotion, re-
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† HR 2 EAS 
search, and information program) equal to not less 
than the amount of the grant. 
‘‘(2) IN-KIND SUPPORT.—Non-Federal matching 
funds described in paragraph (1) may include in- 
kind support. 
‘‘(3) WAIVER.—The Secretary may waive the 
matching funds requirement under paragraph (1) 
with respect to a research project if the Secretary de-
termines that— 
‘‘(A) the results of the project are of a par-
ticular benefit to a specific agricultural com-
modity, but those results are likely to be applica-
ble to agricultural commodities generally; or 
‘‘(B)(i) the project— 
‘‘(I) involves a minor commodity; and 
‘‘(II) deals with scientifically impor-
tant research; and 
‘‘(ii) the recipient is unable to satisfy the 
matching funds requirement.’’. 
(3) AGRICULTURAL RESEARCH, EXTENSION, AND 
EDUCATION REFORM ACT OF 1998.— 
(A) INTEGRATED
RESEARCH, EDUCATION, 
AND
EXTENSION
COMPETITIVE
GRANTS
PRO-
GRAM.—Section 406 of the Agricultural Re-
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† HR 2 EAS 
search, Extension, and Education Reform Act of 
1998 (7 U.S.C. 7626) is amended— 
(i) by redesignating subsections (d) 
and (e) as subsections (e) and (f), respec-
tively; and 
(ii) by inserting after subsection (c) the 
following: 
‘‘(d) MATCHING FUNDS REQUIREMENT.— 
‘‘(1) IN
GENERAL.—Subject to paragraph (3), 
with respect to a grant under this section that pro-
vides a particular benefit to a specific agricultural 
commodity, the recipient of the grant shall provide 
non-Federal matching funds (including funds from a 
generic agricultural commodity promotion, research, 
and information program) equal to not less than the 
amount of the grant. 
‘‘(2) IN-KIND SUPPORT.—Non-Federal matching 
funds described in paragraph (1) may include in- 
kind support. 
‘‘(3) WAIVER.—The Secretary may waive the 
matching funds requirement under paragraph (1) 
with respect to a research project if the Secretary de-
termines that— 
‘‘(A) the results of the project are of a par-
ticular benefit to a specific agricultural com-
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† HR 2 EAS 
modity, but those results are likely to be applica-
ble to agricultural commodities generally; or 
‘‘(B)(i) the project— 
‘‘(I) involves a minor commodity; and 
‘‘(II) deals with scientifically impor-
tant research; and 
‘‘(ii) the recipient is unable to satisfy the 
matching funds requirement.’’. 
(B) SPECIALTY
CROP
RESEARCH
INITIA-
TIVE.—Section 412(g) of the Agricultural Re-
search, Extension, and Education Reform Act of 
1998 (7 U.S.C. 7632(g)) is amended— 
(i) by redesignating paragraph (3) as 
paragraph (4); and 
(ii) by inserting after paragraph (2) 
the following: 
‘‘(3) MATCHING REQUIREMENT.— 
‘‘(A) IN GENERAL.—An entity receiving a 
grant under this section shall provide non-Fed-
eral matching funds (including funds from a ge-
neric agricultural commodity promotion, re-
search, and information program) equal to not 
less than the amount of the grant.
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† HR 2 EAS 
‘‘(B) 
IN-KIND
SUPPORT.—Non-Federal 
matching funds described in subparagraph (A) 
may include in-kind support.’’. 
(4) OTHER LAWS.— 
(A) 
SUN
GRANT
PROGRAM.—Section 
7526(c)(1)(C)(iv) of the Food, Conservation, and 
Energy Act of 2008 (7 U.S.C. 8114(c)(1)(C)(iv)) 
is amended by striking subclause (IV). 
(B) AGRICULTURE
AND
FOOD
RESEARCH 
INITIATIVE.—Subsection (b)(9) of the Competi-
tive, Special, and Facilities Research Grant Act 
(7 U.S.C. 3157(b)(9)) is amended— 
(i) in subparagraph (A), by striking 
clause (iii); 
(ii) in subparagraph (B)— 
(I) in clause (i), by striking 
‘‘clauses (ii) and (iii),’’ and inserting 
‘‘clause (ii),’’; and 
(II) by striking clause (iii); and 
(iii) by adding at the end the fol-
lowing: 
‘‘(C) APPLIED
RESEARCH.—An entity re-
ceiving a grant under paragraph (5)(B) for ap-
plied research that is commodity-specific and not 
of national scope shall provide non-Federal
767 
† HR 2 EAS 
matching funds equal to not less than the 
amount of the grant.’’. 
(c) APPLICATION OF AMENDMENTS.— 
(1) GRANTS AWARDED AFTER OCTOBER 1, 2018.— 
The amendments made by subsections (a) and (b) 
shall apply with respect to grants described in sub-
section (b) that are awarded after October 1, 2018. 
(2) GRANTS AWARDED ON OR BEFORE OCTOBER 
1, 2018.—Notwithstanding the amendments made by 
subsections (a) and (b), a matching funds require-
ment in effect on the day before the date of enactment 
of this Act under a provision of law amended by sub-
section (a) or (b) shall continue to apply to a grant 
described in subsection (b) that is awarded on or be-
fore October 1, 2018. 
SEC. 7602. EXTENSION AND AGRICULTURAL RESEARCH AT 
1890 
LAND-GRANT 
COLLEGES, 
INCLUDING 
TUSKEGEE UNIVERSITY. 
(a) EXTENSION.—Section 1444 of the National Agri-
cultural Research, Extension, and Teaching Policy Act of 
1977 (7 U.S.C. 3221) is amended— 
(1) in subsection (a), by adding at the end the 
following: 
‘‘(5) FISCAL YEAR 2019, 2020, 2021, OR 2022.—In 
addition to other amounts authorized to be appro-
768 
† HR 2 EAS 
priated to carry out this section, there are authorized 
to be appropriated for 1 of fiscal year 2019, 2020, 
2021, or 2022 such sums as are necessary to ensure 
that an eligible institution receiving a distribution of 
funds under this section for that fiscal year receives 
not less than the amount of funds received by that eli-
gible institution under this section for the preceding 
fiscal year.’’; and 
(2) in subsection (b)— 
(A) in the undesignated matter following 
paragraph (2)(B)— 
(i) by striking ‘‘paragraph (2) of this 
subsection’’ and inserting ‘‘this paragraph’’; 
and 
(ii) by striking ‘‘In computing’’ and 
inserting the following: 
‘‘(C) In computing’’; 
(B) in paragraph (2)— 
(i) in subparagraph (B), by striking 
‘‘Of the remainder’’ and inserting ‘‘Except 
as provided in paragraph (4), of the re-
mainder’’; and 
(ii) by striking ‘‘(2) any funds’’ and 
inserting the following: 
‘‘(3) ADDITIONAL AMOUNT.—Any funds’’;
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† HR 2 EAS 
(C) in paragraph (1)— 
(i) by striking ‘‘are allocated’’ and in-
serting ‘‘were allocated’’; and 
(ii) by striking ‘‘; and’’ and inserting 
‘‘, as so designated as of that date.’’; 
(D) by striking ‘‘(b) Beginning’’ in the mat-
ter preceding paragraph (1) and all that follows 
through ‘‘any funds’’ in paragraph (1) and in-
serting the following: 
‘‘(b) DISTRIBUTION OF FUNDS.— 
‘‘(1) IN GENERAL.—Funds made available under 
this section shall be distributed among eligible institu-
tions in accordance with this subsection. 
‘‘(2) BASE AMOUNT.—Any funds’’; and 
(E) by adding at the end the following: 
‘‘(4) SPECIAL AMOUNT FOR FISCAL YEAR 2019, 
2020, 2021, OR 2022.— 
‘‘(A) IN
GENERAL.—Subject to subpara-
graph (B), for 1 of fiscal year 2019, 2020, 2021, 
or 2022, if the calculation under paragraph 
(3)(B) would result in a distribution of less than 
$3,000,000 to an eligible institution that first re-
ceived funds under this section after the date of 
enactment of the Agricultural Act of 2014 (Pub-
lic Law 113–79; 128 Stat. 649) for a fiscal year,
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† HR 2 EAS 
that institution shall receive a distribution of 
$3,000,000 for that fiscal year. 
‘‘(B) LIMITATION.—Subparagraph (A) shall 
apply only if amounts are appropriated under 
subsection (a)(5) to ensure that an eligible insti-
tution receiving a distribution of funds under 
this section for fiscal year 2019, 2020, 2021, or 
2022, as applicable, receives not less than the 
amount of funds received by that eligible institu-
tion under this section for the preceding fiscal 
year.’’. 
(b) RESEARCH.—Section 1445 of the National Agricul-
tural Research, Extension, and Teaching Policy Act of 1977 
(7 U.S.C. 3222) is amended— 
(1) in subsection (a), by adding at the end the 
following: 
‘‘(6) FISCAL YEAR 2019, 2020, 2021, OR 2022.—In 
addition to other amounts authorized to be appro-
priated to carry out this section, there are authorized 
to be appropriated for 1 of fiscal year 2019, 2020, 
2021, or 2022 such sums as are necessary to ensure 
that an eligible institution receiving a distribution of 
funds under this section for that fiscal year receives 
not less than the amount of funds received by that eli-
771 
† HR 2 EAS 
gible institution under this section for the preceding 
fiscal year.’’; and 
(2) in subsection (b)— 
(A) in paragraph (2)— 
(i) by adding at the end the following: 
‘‘(D) SPECIAL AMOUNT FOR FISCAL YEAR 
2019, 2020, 2021, OR 2022.— 
‘‘(i) IN
GENERAL.—Subject to clause 
(ii), for 1 of fiscal year 2019, 2020, 2021, 
or 2022, if the calculation under subpara-
graph (C) would result in a distribution of 
less than $3,000,000 to an eligible institu-
tion that first received funds under this sec-
tion after the date of enactment of the Agri-
cultural Act of 2014 (Public Law 113–79; 
128 Stat. 649), that institution shall receive 
a distribution of $3,000,000 for that fiscal 
year. 
‘‘(ii) LIMITATION.—Clause (i) shall 
apply only if amounts are appropriated 
under subsection (a)(6) to ensure that an el-
igible institution receiving a distribution of 
funds under this section for fiscal year 
2019, 2020, 2021, or 2022, as applicable, 
receives not less than the amount of funds
772 
† HR 2 EAS 
received by that eligible institution under 
this section for the preceding fiscal year.’’; 
(ii) in subparagraph (B), by striking 
‘‘(B) Of funds’’ and inserting the following: 
‘‘(C) ADDITIONAL AMOUNT.—Except as pro-
vided in subparagraph (D), of funds’’; 
(iii) in subparagraph (A)— 
(I) by striking ‘‘are allocated’’ 
and inserting ‘‘were allocated’’; 
(II) by inserting ‘‘, as so des-
ignated as of that date’’ before the pe-
riod at the end; and 
(III) by striking ‘‘(A) Funds’’ and 
inserting the following: 
‘‘(B) BASE AMOUNT.—Funds’’; and 
(iv) in the matter preceding subpara-
graph (B) (as so designated), by striking 
‘‘(2) The’’ and all that follows through ‘‘fol-
lows:’’ and inserting the following: 
‘‘(3) DISTRIBUTIONS.— 
‘‘(A) 
IN
GENERAL.—After 
allocating 
amounts under paragraph (2), the remainder 
shall be allotted among the eligible institutions 
in accordance with this paragraph.’’;
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(B) in paragraph (1), by striking ‘‘(1) 
Three per centum’’ and inserting the following: 
‘‘(2) ADMINISTRATION.—3 percent’’; and 
(C) in the matter preceding paragraph (2) 
(as so designated), by striking ‘‘(b) Beginning’’ 
and all that follows through ‘‘follows:’’ and in-
serting the following: 
‘‘(b) DISTRIBUTION OF FUNDS.— 
‘‘(1) IN GENERAL.—Funds made available under 
this section shall be distributed among eligible institu-
tions in accordance with this subsection.’’. 
TITLE VIII—FORESTRY 
Subtitle A—Cooperative Forestry 
Assistance Act of 1978 
SEC. 8101. STATE AND PRIVATE FOREST LANDSCAPE-SCALE 
RESTORATION PROGRAM. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—Section 13A of the Cooperative For-
estry Assistance Act of 1978 (16 U.S.C. 2109a) is amended 
to read as follows: 
‘‘SEC. 13A. STATE AND PRIVATE FOREST LANDSCAPE-SCALE 
RESTORATION PROGRAM. 
‘‘(a) PURPOSE.—The purpose of this section is to en-
courage collaborative, science-based restoration of priority 
forest landscapes. 
‘‘(b) DEFINITIONS.—In this section:
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‘‘(1) 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. 5304). 
‘‘(2) NONINDUSTRIAL PRIVATE FOREST LAND.— 
The term ‘nonindustrial private forest land’ means 
land that— 
‘‘(A) is rural, as determined by the Sec-
retary; 
‘‘(B) has existing tree cover or is suitable 
for growing trees; and 
‘‘(C) is owned by any private individual, 
group, association, corporation, Indian tribe, or 
other private legal entity. 
‘‘(3) STATE FOREST LAND.—The term ‘State for-
est land’ means land that— 
‘‘(A) is rural, as determined by the Sec-
retary; and 
‘‘(B) is under State or local governmental 
ownership and considered to be non-Federal for-
est land. 
‘‘(c) ESTABLISHMENT.—The Secretary, in consultation 
with State foresters or appropriate State agencies, shall es-
tablish a competitive grant program to provide financial
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and technical assistance to encourage collaborative, science- 
based restoration of priority forest landscapes. 
‘‘(d) ELIGIBILITY.—To be eligible to receive a grant 
under this section, an applicant shall submit to the Sec-
retary, through the State forester or appropriate State agen-
cy, a State and private forest landscape-scale restoration 
proposal based on a restoration strategy that— 
‘‘(1) is complete or substantially complete; 
‘‘(2) is for a multiyear period; 
‘‘(3) covers nonindustrial private forest land or 
State forest land; 
‘‘(4) is accessible by wood-processing infrastruc-
ture; and 
‘‘(5) is based on the best available science. 
‘‘(e) PLAN CRITERIA.—A State and private forest 
landscape-scale restoration proposal submitted under this 
section shall include plans— 
‘‘(1) to reduce the risk of uncharacteristic 
wildfires; 
‘‘(2) to improve fish and wildlife habitats, in-
cluding the habitats of threatened and endangered 
species; 
‘‘(3) to maintain or improve water quality and 
watershed function;
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‘‘(4) to mitigate invasive species, insect infesta-
tion, and disease; 
‘‘(5) to improve important forest ecosystems; 
‘‘(6) to measure ecological and economic benefits, 
including air quality and soil quality and produc-
tivity; and 
‘‘(7) to take other relevant actions, as determined 
by the Secretary. 
‘‘(f) PRIORITIES.—In making grants under this sec-
tion, the Secretary shall give priority to plans that— 
‘‘(1) further a statewide forest assessment and re-
source strategy; 
‘‘(2) promote cross boundary landscape collabo-
ration; and 
‘‘(3) leverage public and private resources. 
‘‘(g) COLLABORATION AND CONSULTATION.—The Chief 
of the Forest Service, the Chief of the Natural Resources 
Conservation Service, and relevant stakeholders shall col-
laborate and consult on an ongoing basis regarding— 
‘‘(1) administration of the program established 
under this section; and 
‘‘(2) identification of other applicable resources 
for landscape-scale restoration. 
‘‘(h) MATCHING FUNDS REQUIRED.—As a condition 
of receiving a grant under this section, the Secretary shall
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require the recipient of the grant to provide funds or in- 
kind support from non-Federal sources in an amount that 
is at least equal to the amount of Federal funds. 
‘‘(i) COORDINATION AND PROXIMITY ENCOURAGED.— 
In making grants under this section, the Secretary may 
consider coordination with and proximity to other land-
scape-scale projects on other land under the jurisdiction of 
the Secretary, the Secretary of the Interior, or a Governor 
of a State, including under— 
‘‘(1) the Collaborative Forest Landscape Restora-
tion Program established under section 4003 of the 
Omnibus Public Land Management Act of 2009 (16 
U.S.C. 7303); 
‘‘(2) landscape areas designated for insect and 
disease treatments under section 602 of the Healthy 
Forests Restoration Act of 2003 (16 U.S.C. 6591a); 
‘‘(3) good neighbor authority under section 19; 
‘‘(4) stewardship end result contracting projects 
authorized under section 604 of the Healthy Forests 
Restoration Act of 2003 (16 U.S.C. 6591c); 
‘‘(5) appropriate State-level programs; and 
‘‘(6) other relevant programs, as determined by 
the Secretary.
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‘‘(j) REGULATIONS.—The Secretary shall promulgate 
such regulations as the Secretary determines necessary to 
carry out this section. 
‘‘(k) REPORT.—Not later than 3 years after the date 
of enactment of this section, the Secretary shall submit to 
the Committee on Agriculture of the House of Representa-
tives and the Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and 
Forestry of the Senate a report on— 
‘‘(1) the status of development, execution, and 
administration of selected projects; 
‘‘(2) the accounting of program funding expendi-
tures; and 
‘‘(3) specific accomplishments that have resulted 
from landscape-scale projects. 
‘‘(l) FUND.— 
‘‘(1) IN GENERAL.—There is established in the 
Treasury a fund, to be known as the ‘State and Pri-
vate Forest Landscape-Scale Restoration Fund’ (re-
ferred to in this subsection as the ‘Fund’), to be used 
by the Secretary to make grants under this section. 
‘‘(2) CONTENTS.—The Fund shall consist of such 
amounts as are appropriated to the Fund under 
paragraph (3). 
‘‘(3) AUTHORIZATION
OF
APPROPRIATIONS.— 
There is authorized to be appropriated to the Fund
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$20,000,000 for each fiscal year beginning with the 
first full fiscal year after the date of enactment of this 
subsection through fiscal year 2023, to remain avail-
able until expended.’’. 
(b) CONFORMING AMENDMENTS.— 
(1) Section 13B of the Cooperative Forestry As-
sistance Act of 1978 (16 U.S.C. 2109b) is repealed. 
(2) Section 19(a)(4)(C) of the Cooperative For-
estry 
Assistance 
Act 
of 
1978 
(16 
U.S.C. 
2113(a)(4)(C)) is amended by striking ‘‘sections 13A 
and 13B’’ and inserting ‘‘section 13A’’. 
Subtitle B—Forest and Rangeland 
Renewable Resources Research 
Act of 1978 
SEC. 8201. REPEAL OF RECYCLING RESEARCH. 
Section 9 of the Forest and Rangeland Renewable Re-
sources Research Act of 1978 (16 U.S.C. 1648) is repealed. 
SEC. 8202. REPEAL OF FORESTRY STUDENT GRANT PRO-
GRAM. 
Section 10 of the Forest and Rangeland Renewable Re-
sources Research Act of 1978 (16 U.S.C. 1649) is repealed.
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Subtitle C—Global Climate Change 
Prevention Act of 1990 
SEC. 8301. REPEALS. 
(a) BIOMASS ENERGY DEMONSTRATION PROJECTS.— 
Section 2410 of the Global Climate Change Prevention Act 
of 1990 (7 U.S.C. 6708) is repealed. 
(b) INTERAGENCY COOPERATION TO MAXIMIZE BIO-
MASS GROWTH.—Section 2411 of the Global Climate 
Change Prevention Act of 1990 (7 U.S.C. 6709) is amended 
in the matter preceding paragraph (1) by striking ‘‘to— 
’’ and all that follows through ‘‘such forests and lands’’ in 
paragraph (2) and inserting ‘‘to develop a program to man-
age forests and land on Department of Defense military in-
stallations’’. 
Subtitle D—Healthy Forests 
Restoration Act of 2003 
SEC. 8401. PROMOTING CROSS-BOUNDARY WILDFIRE MITI-
GATION. 
Section 103 of the Healthy Forests Restoration Act of 
2003 (16 U.S.C. 6513) is amended by adding at the end 
the following: 
‘‘(e) CROSS-BOUNDARY HAZARDOUS FUEL REDUCTION 
PROJECTS.— 
‘‘(1) DEFINITIONS.—In this subsection:
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‘‘(A) 
HAZARDOUS
FUEL
REDUCTION 
PROJECT.—The term ‘hazardous fuel reduction 
project’ means a hazardous fuel reduction project 
described in paragraph (2). 
‘‘(B) NON-FEDERAL LAND.—The term ‘non- 
Federal land’ includes— 
‘‘(i) State land; 
‘‘(ii) county land; 
‘‘(iii) Tribal land; 
‘‘(iv) private land; and 
‘‘(v) other non-Federal land. 
‘‘(2) GRANTS.—The Secretary may make grants 
to State foresters to support hazardous fuel reduction 
projects that incorporate treatments in landscapes 
across ownership boundaries on Federal and non-Fed-
eral land, particularly in areas identified as prior-
ities in applicable State-wide forest resource assess-
ments or strategies under section 2A(a) of the Cooper-
ative Forestry Assistance Act of 1978 (16 U.S.C. 
2101a(a)), as mutually agreed to by the State forester 
and the Regional Forester. 
‘‘(3) LAND TREATMENTS.—To conduct and fund 
treatments for hazardous fuel reduction projects car-
ried out by State foresters using grants under para-
graph (2), the Secretary may use the authorities of
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† HR 2 EAS 
the Secretary relating to cooperation and technical 
and financial assistance, including the good neighbor 
authority under— 
‘‘(A) section 8206 of the Agricultural Act of 
2014 (16 U.S.C. 2113a); and 
‘‘(B) section 331 of the Department of the 
Interior and Related Agencies Appropriations 
Act, 2001 (16 U.S.C. 1011 note; Public Law 
106–291). 
‘‘(4) COOPERATION.—In carrying out a haz-
ardous fuel reduction project using a grant under 
paragraph (2) on non-Federal land, the State forester, 
in consultation with the Secretary— 
‘‘(A) shall consult with any applicable own-
ers of the non-Federal land; and 
‘‘(B) shall not implement the hazardous fuel 
reduction project on non-Federal land without 
the consent of the owner of the non-Federal land. 
‘‘(5) AUTHORIZATION
OF
APPROPRIATIONS.— 
There is authorized to be appropriated to carry out 
this subsection $20,000,000 for each of fiscal years 
2019 through 2023.’’.
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SEC. 8402. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS FOR HAZ-
ARDOUS 
FUEL 
REDUCTION 
ON 
FEDERAL 
LAND. 
Section 108 of the Healthy Forests Restoration Act of 
2003 
(16 
U.S.C. 
6518) 
is 
amended 
by 
striking 
‘‘$760,000,000 for each fiscal year’’ and inserting 
‘‘$660,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2019 through 2023’’. 
SEC. 8403. REPEAL OF BIOMASS COMMERCIAL UTILIZATION 
GRANT PROGRAM. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—Section 203 of the Healthy Forests 
Restoration Act of 2003 (16 U.S.C. 6531) is repealed. 
(b) CONFORMING AMENDMENT.—The table of contents 
for the Healthy Forests Restoration Act of 2003 (16 U.S.C. 
6501 note; Public Law 108–148) is amended by striking 
the item relating to section 203. 
SEC. 8404. WATER SOURCE PROTECTION PROGRAM. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—Title III of the Healthy Forests 
Restoration Act of 2003 (16 U.S.C. 6541 et seq.) is amended 
by adding at the end the following: 
‘‘SEC. 303. WATER SOURCE PROTECTION PROGRAM. 
‘‘(a) DEFINITIONS.—In this section: 
‘‘(1) END WATER USER.—The term ‘end water 
user’ means a non-Federal entity, including— 
‘‘(A) a State; 
‘‘(B) a political subdivision of a State; 
‘‘(C) an Indian tribe;
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† HR 2 EAS 
‘‘(D) a utility; 
‘‘(E) a municipal water system; 
‘‘(F) an irrigation district; 
‘‘(G) a nonprofit organization; and 
‘‘(H) a corporation. 
‘‘(2) FOREST MANAGEMENT ACTIVITY.—The term 
‘forest management activity’ means a project carried 
out by the Secretary on National Forest System land. 
‘‘(3) FOREST
PLAN.—The term ‘forest plan’ 
means a land management plan prepared by the For-
est Service for a unit of the National Forest System 
pursuant to section 6 of the Forest and Rangeland 
Renewable Resources Planning Act of 1974 (16 
U.S.C. 1604). 
‘‘(4) NON-FEDERAL PARTNER.—The term ‘non- 
Federal partner’ means an end water user with whom 
the Secretary has entered into a partnership agree-
ment under subsection (c)(1). 
‘‘(5) PROGRAM.—The term ‘Program’ means the 
Water Source Protection Program established under 
subsection (b). 
‘‘(6) SECRETARY.—The term ‘Secretary’ means 
the Secretary of Agriculture, acting through the Chief 
of the Forest Service.
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† HR 2 EAS 
‘‘(7) WATER SOURCE MANAGEMENT PLAN.—The 
term ‘water source management plan’ means the 
water source management plan developed under sub-
section (d)(1). 
‘‘(b) ESTABLISHMENT.—The Secretary shall establish 
and maintain a program, to be known as the ‘Water Source 
Protection Program’, to carry out watershed protection and 
restoration projects on National Forest System land. 
‘‘(c) WATER SOURCE INVESTMENT PARTNERSHIPS.— 
‘‘(1) IN
GENERAL.—In carrying out the Pro-
gram, the Secretary may enter into water source in-
vestment partnership agreements with end water 
users to protect and restore the condition of National 
Forest watersheds that provide water to the end water 
users. 
‘‘(2) FORM.—A partnership agreement described 
in paragraph (1) may take the form of— 
‘‘(A) a memorandum of understanding; 
‘‘(B) a cost-share or collection agreement; 
‘‘(C) a long-term funding matching commit-
ment; or 
‘‘(D) another appropriate instrument, as 
determined by the Secretary. 
‘‘(d) WATER SOURCE MANAGEMENT PLAN.—
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‘‘(1) IN
GENERAL.—In carrying out the Pro-
gram, the Secretary, in cooperation with the non-Fed-
eral partners and applicable State, local, and Tribal 
governments, may develop a water source manage-
ment plan that describes the proposed implementation 
of watershed protection and restoration projects under 
the Program. 
‘‘(2) REQUIREMENT.—A water source manage-
ment plan shall be conducted in a manner consistent 
with the forest plan applicable to the National Forest 
System land on which the watershed protection and 
restoration project is carried out. 
‘‘(3) ENVIRONMENTAL ANALYSIS.—The Secretary 
may conduct a single environmental impact state-
ment or similar analysis required under the National 
Environmental Policy Act of 1969 (42 U.S.C. 4321 et 
seq.)— 
‘‘(A) for each watershed protection and res-
toration project included in the water source 
management plan; or 
‘‘(B) as part of the development of, or after 
the finalization of, the water source management 
plan. 
‘‘(e) FOREST MANAGEMENT ACTIVITIES.—
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† HR 2 EAS 
‘‘(1) IN
GENERAL.—To the extent that forest 
management activities are necessary to protect, main-
tain, or enhance water quality, and in accordance 
with paragraph (2), the Secretary shall carry out for-
est management activities as part of watershed pro-
tection and restoration projects carried out on Na-
tional Forest System land, with the primary purpose 
of— 
‘‘(A) protecting a municipal water supply 
system; 
‘‘(B) restoring forest health from insect in-
festations and disease; or 
‘‘(C) any combination of the purposes de-
scribed in subparagraphs (A) and (B). 
‘‘(2) COMPLIANCE.—The Secretary shall carry 
out forest management activities under paragraph (1) 
in accordance with— 
‘‘(A) this Act; 
‘‘(B) the applicable water source manage-
ment plan; 
‘‘(C) the applicable forest plan; and 
‘‘(D) other applicable laws. 
‘‘(f) ENDANGERED SPECIES ACT OF 1973.—In car-
rying out the Program, the Secretary may use the Manual 
on Adaptive Management of the Department of the Interior,
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† HR 2 EAS 
including any associated guidance, to comply with the En-
dangered Species Act of 1973 (16 U.S.C. 1531 et seq.). 
‘‘(g) FUNDS AND SERVICES.— 
‘‘(1) IN
GENERAL.—In carrying out the Pro-
gram, the Secretary may accept and use funding, 
services, and other forms of investment and assistance 
from non-Federal partners to implement the water 
source management plan. 
‘‘(2) MATCHING
FUNDS
REQUIRED.—The Sec-
retary shall require the contribution of funds or in- 
kind support from non-Federal partners to be in an 
amount that is at least equal to the amount of Fed-
eral funds. 
‘‘(3) MANNER OF USE.—The Secretary may ac-
cept and use investments described in paragraph (1) 
directly or indirectly through the National Forest 
Foundation. 
‘‘(4) WATER SOURCE PROTECTION FUND.— 
‘‘(A) IN
GENERAL.—Subject to the avail-
ability of appropriations, the Secretary may es-
tablish a Water Source Protection Fund to 
match funds or in-kind support contributed by 
non-Federal partners under paragraph (1). 
‘‘(B) USE
OF
APPROPRIATED
FUNDS.— 
There is authorized to be appropriated to carry
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† HR 2 EAS 
out this section $10,000,000 for each of fiscal 
years 2019 through 2023. 
‘‘(C) 
PARTNERSHIP
AGREEMENTS.—The 
Secretary may make multiyear commitments, if 
necessary, to implement 1 or more partnership 
agreements under subsection (c).’’. 
(b) CONFORMING AMENDMENT.—The table of contents 
for the Healthy Forests Restoration Act of 2003 (16 U.S.C. 
6501 note; Public Law 108–148) is amended by striking 
the item relating to section 303 and inserting the following: 
‘‘Sec. 303. Water Source Protection Program.’’. 
SEC. 8405. WATERSHED CONDITION FRAMEWORK. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—Title III of the Healthy Forests 
Restoration Act of 2003 (16 U.S.C. 6541 et seq.) (as amend-
ed by section 8404(a)) is amended by adding at the end 
the following: 
‘‘SEC. 304. WATERSHED CONDITION FRAMEWORK. 
‘‘(a) IN GENERAL.—The Secretary of Agriculture, act-
ing through the Chief of the Forest Service (referred to in 
this section as the ‘Secretary’), shall establish and maintain 
a Watershed Condition Framework for National Forest Sys-
tem land— 
‘‘(1) to evaluate and classify the condition of wa-
tersheds, taking into consideration— 
‘‘(A) water quality and quantity; 
‘‘(B) aquatic habitat and biota;
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† HR 2 EAS 
‘‘(C) riparian and wetland vegetation; 
‘‘(D) the presence of roads and trails; 
‘‘(E) soil type and condition; 
‘‘(F) groundwater-dependent ecosystems; 
‘‘(G) relevant terrestrial indicators, such as 
fire regime, risk of catastrophic fire, forest and 
rangeland vegetation, invasive species, and in-
sects and disease; and 
‘‘(H) other significant factors, as deter-
mined by the Secretary; 
‘‘(2) to identify for protection and restoration up 
to 5 priority watersheds in each National Forest, and 
up to 2 priority watersheds in each national grass-
land, taking into consideration the impact of the con-
dition of the watershed condition on— 
‘‘(A) wildfire behavior; 
‘‘(B) flood risk; 
‘‘(C) fish and wildlife; 
‘‘(D) drinking water supplies; 
‘‘(E) irrigation water supplies; 
‘‘(F) forest-dependent communities; and 
‘‘(G) other significant impacts, as deter-
mined by the Secretary;
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† HR 2 EAS 
‘‘(3) to develop a watershed protection and res-
toration action plan for each priority watershed 
that— 
‘‘(A) takes into account existing restoration 
activities being implemented in the watershed; 
and 
‘‘(B) includes, at a minimum— 
‘‘(i) the major stressors responsible for 
the impaired condition of the watershed; 
‘‘(ii) a set of essential projects that, 
once completed, will address the identified 
stressors and improve watershed conditions; 
‘‘(iii) 
a 
proposed 
implementation 
schedule; 
‘‘(iv) potential partners and funding 
sources; and 
‘‘(v) a monitoring and evaluation pro-
gram; 
‘‘(4) to prioritize protection and restoration ac-
tivities for each watershed restoration action plan; 
‘‘(5) to implement each watershed protection and 
restoration action plan; and 
‘‘(6) to monitor the effectiveness of protection 
and restoration actions and indicators of watershed 
health.
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† HR 2 EAS 
‘‘(b) COORDINATION.—In carrying out subsection (a), 
the Secretary shall— 
‘‘(1) coordinate with interested non-Federal 
landowners and State, Tribal, and local governments 
within the relevant watershed; and 
‘‘(2) provide for an active and ongoing public 
engagement process. 
‘‘(c) EMERGENCY
DESIGNATION.—Notwithstanding 
paragraph (2) of subsection (a), the Secretary may identify 
a watershed as a priority for rehabilitation in the Water-
shed Condition Framework without using the process de-
scribed in that subsection if a Forest Supervisor determines 
that— 
‘‘(1) a wildfire has significantly diminished the 
condition of the watershed; and 
‘‘(2) the emergency stabilization activities of the 
Burned Area Emergency Response Team are insuffi-
cient to return the watershed to proper function.’’. 
(b) CONFORMING AMENDMENT.—The table of contents 
for the Healthy Forests Restoration Act of 2003 (16 U.S.C. 
6501 note; Public Law 108–148) (as amended by section 
8404(b)) is amended by inserting after the item relating 
to section 303 the following: 
‘‘Sec. 304. Watershed Condition Framework.’’.
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† HR 2 EAS 
SEC. 8406. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS TO COM-
BAT INSECT INFESTATIONS AND RELATED 
DISEASES. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—Section 406 of the Healthy Forests 
Restoration Act of 2003 (16 U.S.C. 6556) is amended to 
read as follows: 
‘‘SEC. 406. TERMINATION OF EFFECTIVENESS. 
‘‘The authority provided by this title terminates effec-
tive October 1, 2023.’’. 
(b) CONFORMING AMENDMENT.—The table of contents 
for the Healthy Forests Restoration Act of 2003 (16 U.S.C. 
6501 note; Public Law 108–148) is amended by striking 
the item relating to section 406 and inserting the following: 
‘‘Sec. 406. Termination of effectiveness.’’. 
SEC. 8407. HEALTHY FORESTS RESERVE PROGRAM REAU-
THORIZATION. 
Section 508(b) of the Healthy Forests Restoration Act 
of 2003 (16 U.S.C. 6578(b)) is amended— 
(1) in the subsection heading, by striking ‘‘2018’’ 
and inserting ‘‘2023’’; and 
(2) by striking ‘‘2018.’’ and inserting ‘‘2023.’’. 
SEC. 8408. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS FOR DES-
IGNATION OF TREATMENT AREAS. 
Section 602 of the Healthy Forests Restoration Act of 
2003 (16 U.S.C. 6591a) is amended by striking subsection 
(f).
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† HR 2 EAS 
SEC. 8409. ADMINISTRATIVE REVIEW OF COLLABORATIVE 
RESTORATION PROJECTS. 
Section 603(c) of the Healthy Forests Restoration Act 
of 2003 (16 U.S.C. 6591b(c)) is amended by adding at the 
end the following: 
‘‘(4) 
EXTRAORDINARY
CIRCUMSTANCES.—The 
Secretary shall apply the extraordinary circumstances 
procedures under section 220.6 of title 36, Code of 
Federal Regulations (or successor regulations), when 
using the categorical exclusion under this section.’’. 
Subtitle E—Repeal or Reauthoriza-
tion of Miscellaneous Forestry 
Programs 
SEC. 8501. REPEAL OF REVISION OF STRATEGIC PLAN FOR 
FOREST INVENTORY AND ANALYSIS. 
Section 8301 of the Agricultural Act of 2014 (16 
U.S.C. 1642 note; Public Law 113–79) is repealed. 
SEC. 8502. SEMIARID AGROFORESTRY RESEARCH CENTER. 
Section 1243(d) of the Food, Agriculture, Conserva-
tion, and Trade Act of 1990 (16 U.S.C. 1642 note; Public 
Law 101–624) is amended by striking ‘‘annually’’ and in-
serting ‘‘for each of fiscal years 2019 through 2023’’. 
SEC. 8503. NATIONAL FOREST FOUNDATION ACT. 
(a) MATCHING FUNDS.—Section 405(b) of the Na-
tional Forest Foundation Act (16 U.S.C. 583j–3(b)) is 
amended by striking ‘‘2018’’ and inserting ‘‘2023’’.
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† HR 2 EAS 
(b) AUTHORIZATION
OF APPROPRIATIONS.—Section 
410(b) of the National Forest Foundation Act (16 U.S.C. 
583j–8(b)) is amended by striking ‘‘2018’’ and inserting 
‘‘2023’’. 
SEC. 8504. CONVEYANCE OF FOREST SERVICE ADMINISTRA-
TIVE SITES. 
Section 503(f) of the Forest Service Facility Realign-
ment and Enhancement Act of 2005 (16 U.S.C. 580d note; 
Public Law 109–54) is amended by striking ‘‘2016’’ and 
inserting ‘‘2023’’. 
Subtitle F—Forest Management 
SEC. 8601. DEFINITIONS. 
In this subtitle: 
(1) NATIONAL FOREST SYSTEM.—The term ‘‘Na-
tional Forest System’’ has the meaning given the term 
in section 11(a) of the Forest and Rangeland Renew-
able Resources Planning Act of 1974 (16 U.S.C. 
1609(a)). 
(2) PUBLIC LAND.—The term ‘‘public land’’ has 
the meaning given the term ‘‘public lands’’ in section 
103 of the Federal Land Policy and Management Act 
of 1976 (43 U.S.C. 1702).
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† HR 2 EAS 
PART I—EXPEDITED ENVIRONMENTAL ANALYSIS 
AND AVAILABILITY OF CATEGORICAL EXCLU-
SIONS TO EXPEDITE FOREST MANAGEMENT 
ACTIVITIES 
SEC. 8611. CATEGORICAL EXCLUSION FOR GREATER SAGE- 
GROUSE AND MULE DEER HABITAT. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—Title VI of the Healthy Forests Res-
toration Act of 2003 (16 U.S.C. 6591 et seq.) is amended 
by adding at the end the following: 
‘‘SEC. 606. CATEGORICAL EXCLUSION FOR GREATER SAGE- 
GROUSE AND MULE DEER HABITAT. 
‘‘(a) DEFINITIONS.—In this section: 
‘‘(1) COVERED VEGETATION MANAGEMENT ACTIV-
ITY.— 
‘‘(A) IN GENERAL.—The term ‘covered vege-
tation management activity’ means any activity 
described in subparagraph (B) that— 
‘‘(i)(I) is carried out on National For-
est System land administered by the Forest 
Service; or 
‘‘(II) is carried out on public land ad-
ministered by the Bureau of Land Manage-
ment; 
‘‘(ii) with respect to public land, meets 
the objectives of the order of the Secretary of
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the Interior numbered 3336 and dated Jan-
uary 5, 2015; 
‘‘(iii) conforms to an applicable forest 
plan or land use plan; 
‘‘(iv) protects, restores, or improves 
greater sage-grouse or mule deer habitat in 
a sagebrush steppe ecosystem as described 
in— 
‘‘(I) Circular 1416 of the United 
States Geological Survey entitled ‘Res-
toration 
Handbook 
for 
Sagebrush 
Steppe Ecosystems with Emphasis on 
Greater Sage-Grouse Habitat—Part 1. 
Concepts for Understanding and Ap-
plying Restoration’ (2015); or 
‘‘(II) the habitat guidelines for 
mule deer published by the Mule Deer 
Working Group of the Western Associa-
tion of Fish and Wildlife Agencies; 
‘‘(v) will not permanently impair— 
‘‘(I) the natural state of the treat-
ed area; 
‘‘(II) outstanding opportunities 
for solitude;
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† HR 2 EAS 
‘‘(III) outstanding opportunities 
for primitive, unconfined recreation; 
‘‘(IV) economic opportunities con-
sistent with multiple-use management; 
or 
‘‘(V) the identified values of a 
unit of the National Landscape Con-
servation System; 
‘‘(vi)(I) restores native vegetation fol-
lowing a natural disturbance; 
‘‘(II) prevents the expansion into 
greater sage-grouse or mule deer habitat 
of— 
‘‘(aa) juniper, pinyon pine, or 
other associated conifers; or 
‘‘(bb) nonnative or invasive vege-
tation; 
‘‘(III) reduces the risk of loss of greater 
sage-grouse or mule deer habitat from wild-
fire or any other natural disturbance; or 
‘‘(IV) provides emergency stabilization 
of soil resources after a natural disturbance; 
and 
‘‘(vii) provides for the conduct of res-
toration treatments that—
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† HR 2 EAS 
‘‘(I) maximize the retention of 
old-growth and large trees, as appro-
priate for the forest type; 
‘‘(II) consider the best available 
scientific information to maintain or 
restore the ecological integrity, includ-
ing maintaining or restoring structure, 
function, 
composition, 
and 
connectivity; 
‘‘(III) are developed and imple-
mented through a collaborative process 
that— 
‘‘(aa) includes multiple in-
terested persons representing di-
verse interests; and 
‘‘(bb)(AA) is transparent and 
nonexclusive; or 
‘‘(BB) meets the require-
ments for a resource advisory 
committee under subsections (c) 
through (f) of section 205 of the 
Secure Rural Schools and Com-
munity Self-Determination Act of 
2000 (16 U.S.C. 7125); and
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‘‘(IV) may include the implemen-
tation of a proposal that complies with 
the eligibility requirements of the Col-
laborative Forest Landscape Restora-
tion Program under section 4003(b) of 
the Omnibus Public Land Management 
Act of 2009 (16 U.S.C. 7303(b)). 
‘‘(B) DESCRIPTION OF ACTIVITIES.—An ac-
tivity referred to in subparagraph (A) is— 
‘‘(i) manual cutting and removal of ju-
niper trees, pinyon pine trees, other associ-
ated conifers, or other nonnative or invasive 
vegetation; 
‘‘(ii) mechanical mastication, cutting, 
or mowing, mechanical piling and burning, 
chaining, broadcast burning, or yarding; 
‘‘(iii) removal of cheat grass, medusa 
head rye, or other nonnative, invasive vege-
tation; 
‘‘(iv) collection and seeding or planting 
of native vegetation using a manual, me-
chanical, or aerial method; 
‘‘(v) seeding of nonnative, noninvasive, 
ruderal vegetation only for the purpose of 
emergency stabilization;
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† HR 2 EAS 
‘‘(vi) targeted use of an herbicide, sub-
ject to the condition that the use shall be in 
accordance with applicable legal require-
ments, Federal agency procedures, and land 
use plans; 
‘‘(vii) targeted livestock grazing to 
mitigate hazardous fuels and control nox-
ious and invasive weeds; 
‘‘(viii) temporary removal of wild 
horses or burros in the area in which the 
activity is being carried out to ensure treat-
ment objectives are met; 
‘‘(ix) in coordination with the affected 
permit holder, modification or adjustment 
of permissible usage under an annual plan 
of use of a grazing permit issued by the Sec-
retary concerned to achieve restoration 
treatment objectives; 
‘‘(x) installation of new, or modifica-
tion of existing, fencing or water sources in-
tended to control use or improve wildlife 
habitat; or 
‘‘(xi) necessary maintenance of, repairs 
to, rehabilitation of, or reconstruction of an 
existing permanent road or construction of
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† HR 2 EAS 
temporary roads to accomplish the activities 
described in this subparagraph. 
‘‘(C) EXCLUSIONS.—The term ‘covered vege-
tation management activity’ does not include— 
‘‘(i) any activity conducted in a wil-
derness area or wilderness study area; 
‘‘(ii) any activity for the construction 
of a permanent road or permanent trail; 
‘‘(iii) any activity conducted on Fed-
eral land on which, by Act of Congress or 
Presidential proclamation, the removal of 
vegetation is restricted or prohibited; 
‘‘(iv) any activity conducted in an 
area in which activities under subpara-
graph (B) would be inconsistent with the 
applicable land and resource management 
plan; or 
‘‘(v) any activity conducted in an 
inventoried roadless area. 
‘‘(2) SECRETARY CONCERNED.—The term ‘Sec-
retary concerned’ means— 
‘‘(A) the Secretary of Agriculture, with re-
spect to National Forest System land; and 
‘‘(B) the Secretary of the Interior, with re-
spect to public land.
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‘‘(3) TEMPORARY ROAD.—The term ‘temporary 
road’ means a road that is— 
‘‘(A) authorized— 
‘‘(i) by a contract, permit, lease, other 
written authorization; or 
‘‘(ii) pursuant to an emergency oper-
ation; 
‘‘(B) not intended to be part of the perma-
nent transportation system of a Federal depart-
ment or agency; 
‘‘(C) not necessary for long-term resource 
management; 
‘‘(D) designed in accordance with standards 
appropriate for the intended use of the road, tak-
ing into consideration— 
‘‘(i) safety; 
‘‘(ii) the cost of transportation; and 
‘‘(iii) impacts to land and resources; 
and 
‘‘(E) managed to minimize— 
‘‘(i) erosion; and 
‘‘(ii) the introduction or spread of 
invasive species. 
‘‘(b) CATEGORICAL EXCLUSION.—
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‘‘(1) IN GENERAL.—Not later than 1 year after 
the date of enactment of this section, the Secretary 
concerned shall develop a categorical exclusion (as de-
fined in section 1508.4 of title 40, Code of Federal 
Regulations (or a successor regulation)) for covered 
vegetation management activities carried out to pro-
tect, restore, or improve habitat for greater sage- 
grouse or mule deer. 
‘‘(2) ADMINISTRATION.—In developing and ad-
ministering the categorical exclusion under para-
graph (1), the Secretary concerned shall— 
‘‘(A) comply with the National Environ-
mental Policy Act of 1969 (42 U.S.C. 4321 et 
seq.); 
‘‘(B) with respect to National Forest System 
land, apply the extraordinary circumstances 
procedures under section 220.6 of title 36, Code 
of Federal Regulations (or successor regulations), 
in determining whether to use the categorical ex-
clusion; 
‘‘(C) with respect to public land, apply the 
extraordinary circumstances procedures under 
section 46.215 of title 43, Code of Federal Regu-
lations (or successor regulations), in determining 
whether to use the categorical exclusion; and
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† HR 2 EAS 
‘‘(D) consider— 
‘‘(i) the relative efficacy of landscape- 
scale habitat projects; 
‘‘(ii) the likelihood of continued de-
clines in the populations of greater sage- 
grouse and mule deer in the absence of 
landscape-scale vegetation management; and 
‘‘(iii) the need for habitat restoration 
activities after wildfire or other natural dis-
turbances. 
‘‘(c) IMPLEMENTATION
OF
COVERED
VEGETATIVE 
MANAGEMENT ACTIVITIES WITHIN THE RANGE OF GREAT-
ER SAGE-GROUSE AND MULE DEER.—If the categorical ex-
clusion developed under subsection (b) is used to implement 
a covered vegetative management activity in an area within 
the range of both greater sage-grouse and mule deer, the cov-
ered vegetative management activity shall protect, restore, 
or improve habitat concurrently for both greater sage-grouse 
and mule deer. 
‘‘(d) LONG-TERM MONITORING AND MAINTENANCE.— 
Before commencing any covered vegetation management ac-
tivity that is covered by the categorical exclusion under sub-
section (b), the Secretary concerned shall develop a long- 
term monitoring and maintenance plan, covering at least 
the 20-year period beginning on the date of commencement,
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† HR 2 EAS 
to ensure that management of the treated area does not de-
grade the habitat gains secured by the covered vegetation 
management activity. 
‘‘(e) DISPOSAL OF VEGETATIVE MATERIAL.—Subject 
to applicable local restrictions, any vegetative material re-
sulting from a covered vegetation management activity that 
is covered by the categorical exclusion under subsection (b) 
may be— 
‘‘(1) used for— 
‘‘(A) fuel wood; or 
‘‘(B) other products; or 
‘‘(2) piled or burned, or both. 
‘‘(f) TREATMENT FOR TEMPORARY ROADS.— 
‘‘(1) IN GENERAL.—Notwithstanding subsection 
(a)(1)(B)(xi), any temporary road constructed in car-
rying out a covered vegetation management activity 
that is covered by the categorical exclusion under sub-
section (b)— 
‘‘(A) shall be used by the Secretary con-
cerned for the covered vegetation management ac-
tivity for not more than 2 years; and 
‘‘(B) shall be decommissioned by the Sec-
retary concerned not later than 3 years after the 
earlier of the date on which—
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† HR 2 EAS 
‘‘(i) the temporary road is no longer 
needed; and 
‘‘(ii) the project is completed. 
‘‘(2) REQUIREMENT.—A treatment under para-
graph (1) shall include reestablishing native vegeta-
tive cover— 
‘‘(A) as soon as practicable; but 
‘‘(B) not later than 10 years after the date 
of completion of the applicable covered vegetation 
management activity. 
‘‘(g) LIMITATIONS.— 
‘‘(1) PROJECT SIZE.—A covered vegetation man-
agement activity that is covered by the categorical ex-
clusion under subsection (b) may not exceed 3,000 
acres. 
‘‘(2) LOCATION.—A covered vegetation manage-
ment activity carried out on National Forest System 
land that is covered by the categorical exclusion under 
subsection (b) shall be limited to areas designated 
under section 602(b), as of the date of enactment of 
this section.’’. 
(b) CONFORMING AMENDMENTS.—The table of contents 
for the Healthy Forests Restoration Act of 2003 (16 U.S.C. 
6501 note; Public Law 108–148) is amended by adding at 
the end of the items relating to title VI the following: 
‘‘Sec. 602. Designation of treatment areas.
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‘‘Sec. 603. Administrative review. 
‘‘Sec. 604. Stewardship end result contracting projects. 
‘‘Sec. 605. Wildfire resilience projects. 
‘‘Sec. 606. Categorical exclusion for greater sage-grouse and mule deer habitat.’’. 
PART II—MISCELLANEOUS FOREST 
MANAGEMENT ACTIVITIES 
SEC. 8621. ADDITIONAL AUTHORITY FOR SALE OR EX-
CHANGE OF SMALL PARCELS OF NATIONAL 
FOREST SYSTEM LAND. 
(a) INCREASE IN MAXIMUM VALUE OF SMALL PAR-
CELS.—Section 3 of Public Law 97–465 (commonly known 
as the ‘‘Small Tract Act of 1983’’) (16 U.S.C. 521e) is 
amended in the matter preceding paragraph (1) by striking 
‘‘$150,000’’ and inserting ‘‘$500,000’’. 
(b) ADDITIONAL CONVEYANCE PURPOSES.—Section 3 
of Public Law 97–465 (16 U.S.C. 521e) (as amended by 
subsection (a)) is amended— 
(1) in paragraph (2), by striking ‘‘; or’’ and in-
serting a semicolon; 
(2) in paragraph (3), by striking the period at 
the end and inserting a semicolon; and 
(3) by adding at the end the following: 
‘‘(4) parcels of 40 acres or less that are deter-
mined by the Secretary— 
‘‘(A) to be physically isolated from other 
Federal land; 
‘‘(B) to be inaccessible; or
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† HR 2 EAS 
‘‘(C) to have lost National Forest character; 
‘‘(5) parcels of 10 acres or less that are not eligi-
ble for conveyance under paragraph (2) but are en-
croached on by a permanent habitable improvement 
for which there is no evidence that the encroachment 
was intentional or negligent; or 
‘‘(6) parcels used as a cemetery (including a 
parcel of not more than 1 acre adjacent to the parcel 
used as a cemetery), a landfill, or a sewage treatment 
plant under a special use authorization issued or oth-
erwise authorized by the Secretary.’’. 
(c) DISPOSITION OF PROCEEDS.—Section 2 of Public 
Law 97–465 (16 U.S.C. 521d) is amended— 
(1) in the matter preceding paragraph (1), by 
striking ‘‘The Secretary is authorized’’ and inserting 
the following: 
‘‘(a) CONVEYANCE AUTHORITY; CONSIDERATION.—The 
Secretary is authorized’’; 
(2) in paragraph (2), in the second sentence, by 
striking ‘‘The Secretary shall insert’’ and inserting 
the following: 
‘‘(b) INCLUSION OF TERMS, COVENANTS, CONDITIONS, 
AND RESERVATIONS.— 
‘‘(1) IN GENERAL.—The Secretary shall insert’’; 
(3) in subsection (b) (as so designated)—
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(A) by striking ‘‘convenants’’ and inserting 
‘‘covenants’’; and 
(B) in the second sentence by striking ‘‘The 
preceding sentence shall not’’ and inserting the 
following: 
‘‘(2) LIMITATION.—Paragraph (1) shall not’’; 
and 
(4) by adding at the end the following: 
‘‘(c) DISPOSITION OF PROCEEDS.— 
‘‘(1) DEPOSIT IN SISK FUND.—The net proceeds 
derived from any sale or exchange conducted under 
paragraph (4), (5), or (6) of section 3 shall be depos-
ited in the fund established under Public Law 90–171 
(commonly known as the ‘Sisk Act’) (16 U.S.C. 
484a). 
‘‘(2) USE.—Amounts deposited under paragraph 
(1) shall be available to the Secretary until expended 
for— 
‘‘(A) the acquisition of land or interests in 
land for administrative sites for the National 
Forest System in the State from which the 
amounts were derived; 
‘‘(B) the acquisition of land or interests in 
land for inclusion in the National Forest System 
in that State, including land or interests in land
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† HR 2 EAS 
that enhance opportunities for recreational ac-
cess; or 
‘‘(C) the reimbursement of the Secretary for 
costs incurred in preparing a sale conducted 
under the authority of section 3 if the sale is a 
competitive sale.’’. 
SEC. 8622. FOREST SERVICE PARTICIPATION IN ACES PRO-
GRAM. 
Section 8302 of the Agricultural Act of 2014 (16 
U.S.C. 3851a) is amended— 
(1) by striking ‘‘The Secretary’’ and inserting 
the following: 
‘‘(a) IN GENERAL.—The Secretary’’; and 
(2) by adding at the end the following: 
‘‘(b) TERMINATION OF EFFECTIVENESS.—The author-
ity provided to the Secretary to carry out this section termi-
nates effective October 1, 2023.’’. 
SEC. 8623. AUTHORIZATION FOR LEASE OF FOREST SERV-
ICE SITES. 
(a) DEFINITIONS.—In this section: 
(1) ADMINISTRATIVE SITE.— 
(A) IN GENERAL.—The term ‘‘administra-
tive site’’ means— 
(i) any facility or improvement, in-
cluding curtilage, that was acquired or is
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† HR 2 EAS 
used specifically for purposes of administra-
tion of the National Forest System; 
(ii) any Federal land that— 
(I) is associated with a facility or 
improvement described in clause (i) 
that was acquired or is used specifi-
cally for purposes of administration of 
Forest Service activities; and 
(II) underlies or abuts the facility 
or improvement; and 
(iii) for each fiscal year, not more than 
10 isolated, undeveloped parcels of not more 
than 40 acres each. 
(B) EXCLUSIONS.—The term ‘‘administra-
tive site’’ does not include— 
(i) any land within a unit of the Na-
tional Forest System that is exclusively des-
ignated for natural area or recreational 
purposes; 
(ii) any land within— 
(I) a component of the National 
Wilderness Preservation System; 
(II) a component of the National 
Wild and Scenic Rivers System; or 
(III) a National Monument; or
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† HR 2 EAS 
(iii) any Federal land that the Sec-
retary determines— 
(I) is needed for resource manage-
ment purposes or to provide access to 
other land or water; or 
(II) would be in the public inter-
est not to lease. 
(2) FACILITY OR IMPROVEMENT.—The term ‘‘fa-
cility or improvement’’ includes— 
(A) a forest headquarters; 
(B) a ranger station; 
(C) a research station or laboratory; 
(D) a dwelling; 
(E) a warehouse; 
(F) a scaling station; 
(G) a fire-retardant mixing station; 
(H) a fire-lookout station; 
(I) a guard station; 
(J) a storage facility; 
(K) a telecommunication facility; and 
(L) any other administrative installation 
for conducting Forest Service activities. 
(3) MARKET ANALYSIS.—The term ‘‘market anal-
ysis’’ means the identification and study of the mar-
ket for a particular economic good or service.