†
980
HR 2419 EAS
‘‘(B) interest earned on the endowment fund
corpus.
‘‘(4) INVESTMENTS.—The Secretary of the Treas-
ury shall invest the endowment fund corpus and in-
come in interest-bearing obligations of the United
States.
‘‘(5) WITHDRAWALS AND EXPENDITURES.—
‘‘(A) CORPUS.—The Secretary of the Treas-
ury may not make a withdrawal or expenditure
from the endowment fund corpus.
‘‘(B) WITHDRAWALS.—On September 30,
2008, and each September 30 thereafter, the Sec-
retary of the Treasury shall withdraw the
amount of the income from the endowment fund
for the fiscal year and warrant the funds to the
Secretary of Agriculture who, after making ad-
justments for the cost of administering the en-
dowment fund, shall distribute the adjusted in-
come as follows:
‘‘(i) 60 percent shall be distributed
among the Hispanic-serving agricultural
colleges and universities on a pro rata basis
based on the Hispanic enrollment count of
each institution.
†
981
HR 2419 EAS
‘‘(ii) 40 percent shall be distributed in
equal shares to the Hispanic-serving agri-
cultural colleges and universities.
‘‘(6) ENDOWMENTS.—Amounts made available
under this subsection shall be held and considered to
be granted to Hispanic-serving agricultural colleges
and universities to establish an endowment in accord-
ance with this subsection.
‘‘(7) AUTHORIZATION
OF
APPROPRIATIONS.—
There are authorized to be appropriated to the Sec-
retary such sums as are necessary to carry out this
subsection for fiscal year 2008 and each fiscal year
thereafter.
‘‘(c) AUTHORIZATION FOR ANNUAL PAYMENTS.—
‘‘(1) IN GENERAL.—For fiscal year 2008 and
each fiscal year thereafter, there are authorized to be
appropriated to the Department of Agriculture to
carry out this subsection an amount equal to the
product obtained by multiplying—
‘‘(A) $80,000; by
‘‘(B) the number of Hispanic-serving agri-
cultural colleges and universities.
‘‘(2) PAYMENTS.—For fiscal year 2008 and each
fiscal year thereafter, the Secretary of the Treasury
shall pay to the treasurer of each Hispanic-Serving
†
982
HR 2419 EAS
agricultural college and university an amount equal
to—
‘‘(A) the total amount made available by
appropriations under subparagraph (A); divided
by
‘‘(B) the number of Hispanic-serving agri-
cultural colleges and universities.
‘‘(3) USE OF FUNDS.—
‘‘(A) IN GENERAL.—Amounts authorized to
be appropriated under this subsection shall be
used in the same manner as is prescribed for col-
leges under the Act of August 30, 1890 (com-
monly known as the ‘Second Morrill Act’) (7
U.S.C. 321 et seq.).
‘‘(B) RELATIONSHIP TO OTHER LAW.—Ex-
cept as otherwise provided in this subsection, the
requirements of that Act shall apply to His-
panic-serving agricultural colleges and univer-
sities under this section.
‘‘(d) INSTITUTIONAL CAPACITY-BUILDING GRANTS.—
‘‘(1) IN GENERAL.—For fiscal year 2008 and
each fiscal year thereafter, the Secretary shall make
grants to assist Hispanic-serving agricultural colleges
and universities in institutional capacity building
†
983
HR 2419 EAS
(not including alteration, repair, renovation, or con-
struction of buildings).
‘‘(2) CRITERIA
FOR
INSTITUTIONAL
CAPACITY-
BUILDING GRANTS.—
‘‘(A) REQUIREMENTS
FOR
GRANTS.—The
Secretary shall make grants under this sub-
section on the basis of a competitive application
process under which Hispanic-serving agricul-
tural colleges and universities may submit appli-
cations to the Secretary at such time, in such
manner, and containing such information as the
Secretary may require.
‘‘(B) DEMONSTRATION OF NEED.—
‘‘(i) IN GENERAL.—As part of an ap-
plication for a grant under this subsection,
the Secretary shall require the applicant to
demonstrate need for the grant, as deter-
mined by the Secretary.
‘‘(ii) OTHER SOURCES OF FUNDING.—
The Secretary may award a grant under
this subsection only to an applicant that
demonstrates a failure to obtain funding for
a project after making a reasonable effort to
otherwise obtain the funding.
†
984
HR 2419 EAS
‘‘(C) PAYMENT OF NON-FEDERAL SHARE.—
A grant awarded under this subsection shall be
made only if the recipient of the grant pays a
non-Federal share in an amount that is specified
by the Secretary and based on assessed institu-
tional needs.
‘‘(3) AUTHORIZATION
OF
APPROPRIATIONS.—
There are authorized to be appropriated to the Sec-
retary such sums as are necessary to carry out this
subsection for fiscal year 2008 and each fiscal year
thereafter.
‘‘(e) COMPETITIVE GRANTS PROGRAM.—
‘‘(1) IN GENERAL.—The Secretary shall establish
a competitive grants program to fund fundamental
and applied research at Hispanic-serving agricultural
colleges and universities in agriculture, human nutri-
tion, food science, bioenergy, and environmental
science.
‘‘(2) AUTHORIZATION
OF
APPROPRIATIONS.—
There are authorized to be appropriated to the Sec-
retary such sums as are necessary to carry out this
subsection for fiscal year 2008 and each fiscal year
thereafter.’’.
(b) EXTENSION.—Section 3 of the Smith-Lever Act (7
U.S.C. 343) is amended—
†
985
HR 2419 EAS
(1) in subsection (b), by adding at the end the
following:
‘‘(4) ANNUAL
APPROPRIATION
FOR
HISPANIC-
SERVING
AGRICULTURAL
COLLEGES
AND
UNIVER-
SITIES.—
‘‘(A) 
AUTHORIZATION
OF
APPROPRIA-
TIONS.—There are authorized to be appropriated
to the Secretary such sums as are necessary to
carry out this paragraph for fiscal year 2008
and each fiscal year thereafter.
‘‘(B) ADDITIONAL AMOUNT.—Amounts made
available under this paragraph shall be in addi-
tion to any other amounts made available under
this section to States, the Commonwealth of
Puerto Rico, or any other territory or possession
of the United States.
‘‘(C) 
ADMINISTRATION.—Amounts 
made
available under this paragraph shall be—
‘‘(i) distributed on the basis of a com-
petitive application process to be developed
and implemented by the Secretary and paid
by the Secretary to the State institutions es-
tablished in accordance with the Act of July
2, 1862 (commonly known as the ‘First
Morrill Act’) (7 U.S.C. 301 et seq.); and
†
986
HR 2419 EAS
‘‘(ii) administered by State institu-
tions through cooperative agreements with
the Hispanic-serving agricultural colleges
and universities (as defined in section 1456
of the National Agricultural Research, Ex-
tension and Teaching Policy Act of 1977)
in the State in accordance with regulations
promulgated by the Secretary.’’; and
(2) in subsection (f)—
(A) in the subsection heading, by inserting
‘‘AND HISPANIC-SERVING AGRICULTURAL COL-
LEGES AND UNIVERSITIES’’ after ‘‘1994 INSTITU-
TIONS’’; and
(B) by striking ‘‘pursuant to subsection
(b)(3)’’ and inserting ‘‘or Hispanic-serving agri-
cultural colleges and universities in accordance
with paragraphs (3) and (4) of subsection (b)’’.
SEC. 7025. INTERNATIONAL AGRICULTURAL RESEARCH, EX-
TENSION, AND EDUCATION.
Section 1458(a) of the National Agricultural Research,
Extension, and Teaching Policy Act of 1977 (7 U.S.C.
3291(a)) is amended—
(1) in paragraph (1)—
(A) in subparagraph (A), by striking ‘‘and’’
after the semicolon;
†
987
HR 2419 EAS
(B) in subparagraph (B), by adding ‘‘and’’
at the end; and
(C) by adding at the end the following:
‘‘(C) giving priority to those institutions
with existing memoranda of understanding,
agreements, or other formal ties to United States
institutions, or Federal or State agencies;’’;
(2) in paragraph (3), by inserting ‘‘Hispanic-
serving agricultural colleges and universities,’’ after
‘‘universities,’’;
(3) in paragraph (7)(A), by striking ‘‘and land-
grant colleges and universities’’ and inserting ‘‘, land-
grant colleges and universities, and Hispanic-serving
agricultural colleges and universities’’;
(4) in paragraph (9)—
(A) in subparagraph (A), by striking ‘‘or
other colleges and universities’’ and inserting ‘‘,
Hispanic-serving agricultural colleges and uni-
versities, or other colleges and universities’’; and
(B) in subparagraph (D), by striking ‘‘and’’
at the end;
(5) in paragraph (10), by striking the period at
the end and inserting ‘‘; and’’; and
(6) by adding at the end the following:
†
988
HR 2419 EAS
‘‘(11) establish a program for the purpose of pro-
viding fellowships to United States or foreign students
to study at foreign agricultural colleges and univer-
sities working under agreements provided for under
paragraph (3).’’.
SEC. 7026. COMPETITIVE GRANTS FOR INTERNATIONAL AG-
RICULTURAL SCIENCE AND EDUCATION PRO-
GRAMS.
Section 1459A(c) of the National Agricultural Re-
search, Extension, and Teaching Policy Act of 1977 (7
U.S.C. 3292b(c)) is amended by striking ‘‘2007’’ and insert-
ing ‘‘2012’’.
SEC. 7027. INDIRECT COSTS.
Section 1462(a) of the National Agricultural Research,
Extension, and Teaching Policy Act of 1977 (7 U.S.C.
3310(a)) is amended by striking ‘‘shall not exceed 19 per-
cent’’ and inserting ‘‘shall be the negotiated indirect rate
of cost established for an institution by the appropriate
Federal audit agency for the institution, not to exceed 30
percent’’.
SEC. 7028. RESEARCH EQUIPMENT GRANTS.
Section 1462A(e) of the National Agricultural Re-
search, Extension, and Teaching Policy Act of 1977 (7
U.S.C. 3310a(e)) is amended by striking ‘‘2007’’ and insert-
ing ‘‘2012’’.
†
989
HR 2419 EAS
SEC. 7029. 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 ‘‘2007’’ each place it appears
in subsections (a) and (b) and inserting ‘‘2012’’.
SEC. 7030. 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 ‘‘2007’’ and inserting ‘‘2012’’.
SEC. 7031. INDIRECT COST RECOVERY.
Section 1473A of the National Agricultural Research,
Extension, and Teaching Policy Act of 1977 (7 U.S.C.
3319a) is amended in the second sentence by striking ‘‘not
exceeding 10 percent of the direct cost’’ and inserting ‘‘and
shall be the negotiated indirect rate of cost for an institution
by the appropriate Federal audit agency for the institution,
not to exceed 30 percent.’’
SEC. 7032. SUPPLEMENTAL AND ALTERNATIVE CROPS.
Section 1473D(a) of the National Agricultural Re-
search, Extension, and Teaching Policy Act of 1977 (7
U.S.C. 3319d(a)) is amended by striking ‘‘2007’’ and in-
serting ‘‘2012’’.
SEC. 7033. AQUACULTURE RESEARCH FACILITIES.
(a) FISH DISEASE PROGRAM.—Section 1475(f) of the
National Agricultural Research, Extension, and Teaching
Policy Act of 1977 (7 U.S.C. 3322(f)) is amended—
†
990
HR 2419 EAS
(1) by striking ‘‘The Secretary’’ and inserting
the following:
‘‘(1) IN GENERAL.—The Secretary’’; and
(2) by adding at the end the following:
‘‘(2) VIRAL HEMORRHAGIC SEPTICEMIA.—
‘‘(A) IN GENERAL.—The study of viral hem-
orrhagic septicemia (referred to in this para-
graph as ‘VHS’) and VHS management shall be
considered an area of priority research under
this subsection.
‘‘(B) CONSULTATION.—
‘‘(i) IN GENERAL.—The Secretary shall
consult with appropriate directors of State
and tribal natural resource management
and agriculture agencies in areas that are
VHS positive as of the date of enactment of
this paragraph to develop and implement a
comprehensive set of priorities for man-
aging VHS, including providing funds for
research into the spread and control of the
disease, surveillance, monitoring, risk eval-
uation, enforcement, screening, education
and outreach, and management.
‘‘(ii) CONSIDERATION.—The Secretary
shall provide special consideration to the
†
991
HR 2419 EAS
recommendations of the directors described
in clause (i) in the development of the VHS
priorities.’’.
(b) AUTHORIZATION
OF APPROPRIATIONS.—Section
1477 of the National Agricultural Research, Extension, and
Teaching Policy Act of 1977 (7 U.S.C. 3324) is amended
by striking ‘‘2007’’ and inserting ‘‘2012’’.
SEC. 7034. RANGELAND RESEARCH.
(a) GRANTS.—Section 1480(a) of the National Agri-
cultural Research, Extension, and Teaching Policy Act of
1977 (7 U.S.C. 3333(a)) is amended—
(1) in paragraph (1), by striking ‘‘; and’’ and
inserting a semicolon;
(2) in paragraph (2), by striking the period at
the end and inserting ‘‘; and’’; and
(3) by adding at the end the following:
‘‘(3) pilot programs to coordinate and conduct
collaborative projects to address natural resources
management issues and facilitate the collection of in-
formation and analysis to provide Federal and State
agencies, private landowners, and the public with in-
formation to allow for improved management of pub-
lic and private rangeland.’’.
(b) MATCHING REQUIREMENTS.—Section 1480(b)(2)
of the National Agricultural Research, Extension, and
†
992
HR 2419 EAS
Teaching Policy Act of 1977 (7 U.S.C. 3333(b)(2)) is
amended by striking ‘‘subsection (a)(2)’’ and inserting
‘‘paragraph (2) or (3) of subsection (a)’’.
(c) AUTHORIZATION
OF APPROPRIATIONS.—Section
1483(a) of the National Agricultural Research, Extension,
and Teaching Policy Act of 1977 (7 U.S.C. 3336(a)) is
amended by striking ‘‘2007’’ and inserting ‘‘2012’’.
SEC. 7035. SPECIAL AUTHORIZATION FOR BIOSECURITY
PLANNING AND RESPONSE.
Section 1484(a) of the National Agricultural Research,
Extension, and Teaching Policy Act of 1977 (7 U.S.C.
3351(a)) is amended by striking ‘‘2007’’ and inserting
‘‘2012’’.
SEC. 7036. RESIDENT INSTRUCTION AND DISTANCE EDU-
CATION GRANTS PROGRAM FOR INSULAR
AREA INSTITUTIONS OF HIGHER EDUCATION.
(a) DISTANCE EDUCATION GRANTS
FOR INSULAR
AREAS.—Section 1490(f) of the National Agricultural Re-
search, Extension, and Teaching Policy Act of 1977 (7
U.S.C. 3362(f)) is amended by striking ‘‘2007’’ and insert-
ing ‘‘2012’’.
(b) RESIDENT INSTRUCTION GRANTS FOR INSULAR
AREAS.—Section 1491 of the National Agricultural Re-
search, Extension, and Teaching Policy Act of 1977 (7
U.S.C. 3363) is amended—
†
993
HR 2419 EAS
(1) by redesignating subsection (e) as subsection
(c); and
(2) in subsection (c) (as so redesignated), by
striking ‘‘2007’’ and inserting ‘‘2012’’.
SEC. 7037. FARM MANAGEMENT TRAINING AND PUBLIC
FARM BENCHMARKING DATABASE.
Subtitle K of the National Agricultural Research, Ex-
tension, and Teaching Policy Act of 1977 is amended by
inserting after section 1467 (7 U.S.C. 3313) the following:
‘‘SEC. 1468. FARM MANAGEMENT TRAINING AND PUBLIC
FARM BENCHMARKING DATABASE.
‘‘(a) DEFINITIONS.—In this section:
‘‘(1) BENCHMARK, BENCHMARKING.—The term
‘benchmark’ or ‘benchmarking’ means the process of
comparing the performance of an agricultural enter-
prise against the performance of other similar enter-
prises, through the use of comparable and reliable
data, in order to identify business management
strengths, weaknesses, and steps necessary to improve
management performance and business profitability.
‘‘(2) FARM
MANAGEMENT
ASSOCIATION.—The
term ‘farm management association’ means a public
or nonprofit organization or educational program—
‘‘(A) the purpose of which is to assist farm-
ers, ranchers, and other agricultural operators to
†
994
HR 2419 EAS
improve financial management and business
profitability by providing training on farm fi-
nancial planning and analysis, record keeping,
and other farm management topics; and
‘‘(B) that is affiliated with a land-grant
college or university, other institution of higher
education, or nonprofit entity.
‘‘(3) NATIONAL FARM MANAGEMENT CENTER.—
The term ‘National Farm Management Center’ means
a land-grant college or university that, as determined
by the Secretary—
‘‘(A) has collaborative partnerships with
more than 5 farm management associations that
are representative of agricultural diversity in
multiple regions of the United States;
‘‘(B) has maintained and continues to
maintain farm financial analysis software ap-
plicable to the production and management of a
wide range of crop and livestock agricultural
commodities (including some organic commod-
ities);
‘‘(C) has established procedures that enable
producers—
‘‘(i) to benchmark the farms of the pro-
ducers against peer groups; and
†
995
HR 2419 EAS
‘‘(ii) to query the benchmarking data-
base by location, farm type, farm size, and
commodity at the overall business and indi-
vidual enterprise levels; and
‘‘(D) has provided and continues to provide
public online access to farm and ranch financial
benchmarking databases.
‘‘(b) ESTABLISHMENT.—
‘‘(1) IN GENERAL.—The Secretary shall establish
a National Farm Management Center to improve the
farm management knowledge and skills of individuals
directly involved in production agriculture through—
‘‘(A) participation in a farm management
education and training program; and
‘‘(B) direct access to a public farm
benchmarking database.
‘‘(2) PROPOSALS.—The Secretary shall request
proposals from appropriate land-grant colleges and
universities for the establishment of a National Farm
Management Center in accordance with this section.
‘‘(3) 
REQUIREMENTS.—The 
National 
Farm
Management Center established under paragraph (1)
shall—
‘‘(A) 
coordinate 
standardized 
financial
analysis methodologies for use by farmers, ranch-
†
996
HR 2419 EAS
ers, other agricultural operators, and farm man-
agement associations;
‘‘(B) provide the software tools necessary for
farm management associations, farmers, ranch-
ers, and other agricultural operators to perform
the necessary financial analyses, including the
benchmarking of individual enterprises; and
‘‘(C) develop and maintain a national farm
financial database to facilitate those financial
analyses and benchmarking that is available on-
line to farmers, ranchers, other agricultural op-
erators, farm management associations, and the
public.
‘‘(c) ASSOCIATION DESIGNATION.—
‘‘(1) IN
GENERAL.—The Secretary shall des-
ignate collaborating farm management associations to
collaborate with the National Farm Management Cen-
ter established under this section.
‘‘(2) SELECTION.—
‘‘(A) IN GENERAL.—The Secretary shall re-
quest proposals from farm management associa-
tions and make selections in consultation with
the National Farm Management Center.
‘‘(B) 
NATIONAL
SCOPE.—The 
National
Farm Management Center and the Secretary
†
997
HR 2419 EAS
shall encourage the establishment, nomination,
and designation of qualified farm management
associations to provide farmers, ranchers, and
other agricultural operators in each State with
access to the training and benchmarking tools
described in this section.
‘‘(3) SELECTION AND DESIGNATION CRITERIA.—
The designation of each collaborating farm manage-
ment association shall be based upon—
‘‘(A) in the case of an established farm
management association in a State or geo-
graphic region—
‘‘(i) working with farmers, ranchers,
and other agricultural operators to improve
their financial management and business
profitability; and
‘‘(ii) contributing farm, ranch, and
other agricultural operation financial anal-
ysis data to a publicly available online
benchmarking database; and
‘‘(B) in the case in which there is no estab-
lished farm management association in a par-
ticular State or geographic region, a farm man-
agement association may be designated as a col-
laborating farm management association if the
†
998
HR 2419 EAS
National Farm Management Center and the Sec-
retary determine that there is a strong likelihood
that the association will meet the ongoing re-
quirements described in subsection (d).
‘‘(d) ASSOCIATION REQUIREMENTS.—Each collabo-
rating farm management association designated under sub-
section (c) and receiving funds under this section shall—
‘‘(1) maintain a farm management education
and training program that is open to all agricultural
producers;
‘‘(2) provide individualized education to farmers,
ranchers, and other agricultural operators on ac-
counting, financial planning, and business manage-
ment;
‘‘(3) provide an annual farm financial analysis
to each participating farmer, rancher, or other agri-
cultural operator;
‘‘(4) use standardized farm business analysis
procedures as specified by the National Farm Man-
agement Center;
‘‘(5) contribute farm and ranch financial anal-
ysis data to the public online benchmarking database
in a form and manner determined by the National
Farm Management Center; and
†
999
HR 2419 EAS
‘‘(6) facilitate and encourage producers’ sign-up
for ongoing multi-year participation in the training
and benchmarking programs.
‘‘(e) LIMITATION ON INDIRECT COSTS.—Indirect costs
charged against funds provided under this section shall not
be charged at a rate in excess of the rate at which the appli-
cable institution charged, or could have charged, indirect
costs during fiscal year 2007 against funds received as de-
scribed in section 1462 of the National Agricultural Re-
search, Extension, and Teaching Policy Act of 1977 (7
U.S.C. 3310).
‘‘(f) ADMINISTRATIVE EXPENSES.—Not more than 8
percent of the funds made available to carry out this section
may be used for the payment of administrative expenses
of the Department of Agriculture in carrying out this sec-
tion.
‘‘(g) FUNDING.—The Secretary shall make available
each fiscal year not less than 25 percent of funds appro-
priated under subsection (h) to the National Farm Manage-
ment Center designated under subsection (b).
‘‘(h) AUTHORIZATION
OF APPROPRIATIONS.—There
are authorized to be appropriated such sums as are nec-
essary to carry out this section.’’.
†
1000
HR 2419 EAS
SEC. 7038. TROPICAL AND SUBTROPICAL AGRICULTURAL
RESEARCH.
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. 1473E. TROPICAL AND SUBTROPICAL AGRICULTURAL
RESEARCH.
‘‘(a) DEFINITION OF CARIBBEAN AND PACIFIC BA-
SINS.—In this section, the term ‘Caribbean and Pacific ba-
sins’, means—
‘‘(1) the States of Florida and Hawaii;
‘‘(2) the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico;
‘‘(3) the United States Virgin Islands;
‘‘(4) Guam;
‘‘(5) American Samoa;
‘‘(6) the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana
Islands;
‘‘(7) the Federated States of Micronesia;
‘‘(8) the Republic of the Marshall Islands; and
‘‘(9) the Republic of Palau.
‘‘(b) ESTABLISHMENT.—The Secretary shall establish
a program, to be known as the ‘Tropical and Subtropical
Agricultural Research Program’, to sustain the agriculture
and environment of the Caribbean and Pacific basins, by
supporting the full range of research relating to food and
†
1001
HR 2419 EAS
agricultural sciences in the Caribbean and Pacific basins,
with an emphasis on—
‘‘(1) pest management;
‘‘(2) deterring introduction and establishment of
invasive species;
‘‘(3) enhancing existing and developing new
tropical and subtropical agricultural products; and
‘‘(4) expanding value-added agriculture in trop-
ical and subtropical ecosystems.
‘‘(c) GRANTS.—
‘‘(1) IN GENERAL.—In carrying out this section,
the Secretary shall provide grants to be awarded com-
petitively to support tropical and subtropical agricul-
tural research in the Caribbean and Pacific basins.
‘‘(2) ELIGIBLE ENTITIES.—To be eligible to re-
ceive a grant, an entity shall be a land-grant college
or university, or affiliated with a land-grant college
or university, that is located in any region of the
Caribbean and Pacific basin.
‘‘(3) REQUIREMENTS.—
‘‘(A) EQUAL AMOUNTS.—The total amount
of grants provided under this subsection shall be
equally divided between the Caribbean and Pa-
cific basins, as determined by the Secretary.
†
1002
HR 2419 EAS
‘‘(B) RESEARCH INFRASTRUCTURE AND CA-
PABILITY PRIORITY.—In providing grants under
this subsection, the Secretary shall give priority
to projects of eligible entities that—
‘‘(i) expand the infrastructure and ca-
pability of the region of the eligible entity;
‘‘(ii) scientifically and culturally ad-
dress regional agricultural and environ-
mental challenges; and
‘‘(iii) sustain agriculture in the region
of the eligible entity.
‘‘(C) TERM.—The term of a grant provided
under this subsection shall not exceed 5 years.
‘‘(D) PROHIBITIONS.—A grant provided
under this subsection shall not be used for the
planning, repair, rehabilitation, acquisition, or
construction of any building or facility.
‘‘(d) FUNDING.—
‘‘(1) SET-ASIDE.—Not less than 25 percent of the
funds made available to carry out this section during
a fiscal year shall be used to support programs and
services that—
‘‘(A) address the pest management needs of
a region in the Caribbean and Pacific basins; or
†
1003
HR 2419 EAS
‘‘(B) minimize the impact to a region in
the Caribbean and Pacific basins of invasive spe-
cies.
‘‘(2) ADMINISTRATIVE
COSTS.—The Secretary
shall use not more than 4 percent of the funds made
available under subsection (e) for administrative costs
incurred by the Secretary in carrying out this section.
‘‘(e) AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.—There are
authorized to be appropriated to the Secretary to carry out
this section such sums as are necessary for each of fiscal
years 2008 through 2012.’’.
SEC. 7039. REGIONAL CENTERS OF EXCELLENCE.
Subtitle K of the National Agricultural Research, Ex-
tension, and Teaching Policy Act of 1977 (7 U.S.C. 3310
et seq.) (as amended by section 7036) is amended by adding
at the end the following:
‘‘SEC. 1473F. REGIONAL CENTERS OF EXCELLENCE.
‘‘(a) PURPOSES.—The purposes of this section are—
‘‘(1) to authorize regional centers of excellence for
specific agricultural commodities; and
‘‘(2) to develop a national, coordinated program
of research, teaching, and extension for commodities
that will—
†
1004
HR 2419 EAS
‘‘(A) be cost effective by reducing duplica-
tive efforts regarding research, teaching, and ex-
tension;
‘‘(B) leverage available resources by using
public/private 
partnerships 
among 
industry
groups, institutions of higher education, and the
Federal Government;
‘‘(C) increase the economic returns to agri-
cultural commodity industries by identifying, at-
tracting, and directing funds to high-priority in-
dustry issues; and
‘‘(D) more effectively disseminate industry
issue solutions to target audiences through web-
based 
extension 
information, 
instructional
courses, and educational or training modules.
‘‘(b) DEFINITIONS.—In this section:
‘‘(1) AGRICULTURAL COMMODITY.—The term ‘ag-
ricultural commodity’ has the meaning given the term
in section 513 of the Commodity Promotion, Re-
search, and Information Act of 1996 (7 U.S.C. 7412).
‘‘(2) 
LAND-GRANT
COLLEGES
AND
UNIVER-
SITIES.—The term ‘land-grant colleges and univer-
sities’ means—
‘‘(A) 1862 Institutions (as defined in sec-
tion 2 of the Agricultural Research, Extension,
†
1005
HR 2419 EAS
and Education Reform Act of 1998 (7 U.S.C.
7601));
‘‘(B) 1890 Institutions (as defined in sec-
tion 2 of that Act); and
‘‘(C) 1994 Institutions (as defined in sec-
tion 2 of that Act).
‘‘(c) ESTABLISHMENT.—
‘‘(1) ORIGINAL
COMPOSITION.—The Secretary
shall establish regional centers of excellence for spe-
cific agricultural commodities that are each com-
prised of—
‘‘(A) a lead land-grant college or university;
and
‘‘(B) 1 or more member land-grant colleges
and universities that provide financial support
to the regional center of excellence.
‘‘(2) BOARD OF DIRECTORS.—Each regional cen-
ter of excellence shall be administered by a board of
directors consisting of 15 members, as determined by
the lead and member land-grant colleges and univer-
sities of the center.
‘‘(3) ADDITIONAL
DIRECTORS
AND
INSTITU-
TIONS.—Each board of directors of a regional center
of excellence may—
†
1006
HR 2419 EAS
‘‘(A) designate additional land-grant col-
leges and universities as members of the center;
and
‘‘(B) designate representatives of the addi-
tional land-grant colleges and universities and
agriculture industry groups to be additional
members of the board of directors.
‘‘(d) PROGRAMS.—Each regional center of excellence
shall achieve the purposes of this section through—
‘‘(1) research initiatives focused on issues per-
taining to the specific agricultural commodity;
‘‘(2) teaching initiatives at lead and member
land-grant colleges and universities to provide inten-
sive education relating to the specific agricultural
commodity; and
‘‘(3) extension initiatives focusing on an inter-
net-based information gateway to provide for relevant
information development, warehousing, and delivery.
‘‘(e) FUNDING.—
‘‘(1) IN GENERAL.—Each regional center of ex-
cellence shall be funded through the use of—
‘‘(A) grants made by the Secretary; and
‘‘(B) matching funds provided by land-
grant colleges and universities and agriculture
industry groups.
†
1007
HR 2419 EAS
‘‘(2) PROCESS.—The board of directors of each
regional center of excellence shall have the responsi-
bility for submitting grant proposals to the Secretary
to carry out the research, education, and extension
program activities described in subsection (d).
‘‘(3) TERM
OF
GRANT.—The term of a grant
under this subsection may not exceed 5 years.
‘‘(f) POULTRY SUSTAINABILITY CENTER OF EXCEL-
LENCE.—
‘‘(1) IN GENERAL.—The Secretary shall establish
a poultry sustainability center of excellence—
‘‘(A) to identify challenges and develop solu-
tions to enhance the economic and environmental
sustainability of the poultry industry in the
southwest region of the United States;
‘‘(B) to research, develop, and implement
programs—
‘‘(i) to recover energy and other useful
products from poultry waste;
‘‘(ii) to identify new technologies for
the storage, treatment, and use of animal
waste; and
‘‘(iii) to assist the poultry industry in
ensuring that emissions of animal waste
and discharges of the industry are main-
†
1008
HR 2419 EAS
tained at levels at or below applicable regu-
latory standards;
‘‘(C) to provide technical assistance, train-
ing, applied research, and monitoring to eligible
applicants;
‘‘(D) to develop environmentally effective
programs in the poultry industry; and
‘‘(E) to collaborate with eligible applicants
to work with the Federal Government (including
Federal agencies) in the development of conserva-
tion and watershed programs to help private
landowners and agricultural producers meet ap-
plicable water quality standards.
‘‘(2) REPORTS.—Not later than 2 years after the
date of enactment of this section, and for each fiscal
year thereafter, the Secretary shall submit to Congress
a report describing—
‘‘(A) each project for which funds are pro-
vided under this subsection; and
‘‘(B) any advances in technology resulting
from the implementation of this subsection.
‘‘(g) AUTHORIZATION
OF APPROPRIATIONS.—There
are authorized to be appropriated to carry out this section
such sums as are necessary for each of fiscal years 2008
through 2012.’’.
†
1009
HR 2419 EAS
SEC. 7040. NATIONAL DROUGHT MITIGATION CENTER.
Subtitle K of the National Agricultural Research, Ex-
tension, and Teaching Policy Act of 1977 (7 U.S.C. 3310
et seq.) (as amended by section 7037) is amended by adding
at the end the following:
‘‘SEC. 1473G. NATIONAL DROUGHT MITIGATION CENTER.
‘‘(a) IN GENERAL.—The Secretary shall offer to enter
into an agreement with the National Drought Mitigation
Center, under which the Center shall—
‘‘(1) continue to produce the United States
Drought Monitor;
‘‘(2) maintain a clearinghouse and internet por-
tal on drought; and
‘‘(3) develop new drought mitigation and pre-
paredness strategies, responses, models, and meth-
odologies for the agricultural community.
‘‘(b) AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.—There is
authorized to be appropriated to carry out this section
$5,000,000 for each fiscal year.’’.
SEC. 7041. AGRICULTURAL DEVELOPMENT IN THE AMER-
ICAN-PACIFIC REGION.
Subtitle K of the National Agricultural Research, Ex-
tension, and Teaching Policy Act of 1977 (7 U.S.C. 3310
et seq.) (as amended by section 7038) is amended by adding
at the end the following:
†
1010
HR 2419 EAS
‘‘SEC. 1473H. AGRICULTURAL DEVELOPMENT IN THE AMER-
ICAN-PACIFIC REGION.
‘‘(a) DEFINITIONS.—In this section:
‘‘(1) 
AMERICAN-PACIFIC
REGION.—The 
term
‘American-Pacific 
region’ 
means 
the 
region
encompassing—
‘‘(A) American Samoa;
‘‘(B) Guam;
‘‘(C) the Commonwealth of the Northern
Mariana Islands;
‘‘(D) the Federated States of Micronesia;
‘‘(E) the Republic of the Marshall Islands;
‘‘(F) the Republic of Palau;
‘‘(G) the State of Hawaii; and
‘‘(H) the State of Alaska.
‘‘(2) 
CONSORTIUM.—The 
term 
‘consortium’
means a collaborative group that—
‘‘(A) is composed of each eligible institution;
and
‘‘(B) submits to the Secretary an applica-
tion for a grant under subsection (b)(2).
‘‘(3) ELIGIBLE INSTITUTION.—The term ‘eligible
institution’ means a land-grant college or university
that is located in the American-Pacific region.
‘‘(b) AGRICULTURAL DEVELOPMENT IN THE AMERICAN
PACIFIC GRANTS.—
†
1011
HR 2419 EAS
‘‘(1) IN
GENERAL.—The Secretary may make
grants to a consortium of eligible institutions to carry
out integrated research, extension, and instruction
programs in support of food and agricultural
sciences.
‘‘(2) APPLICATION.—To receive a grant under
paragraph (1), a consortium of eligible institutions
shall submit to the Secretary an application that
includes—
‘‘(A) for each eligible institution, a descrip-
tion of each objective, procedure, and proposed
use of funds relating to any funds provided by
the Secretary to the consortium under paragraph
(1); and
‘‘(B) the method of allocation proposed by
the consortium to distribute to each eligible insti-
tution any funds provided by the Secretary to
the consortium under paragraph (1).
‘‘(3) USE OF FUNDS.—
‘‘(A) IN GENERAL.—An eligible institution
that receives funds through a grant under para-
graph (1) shall use the funds—
‘‘(i) to acquire the equipment, instru-
mentation, networking capability, hardware
and software, digital network technology,
†
1012
HR 2419 EAS
and infrastructure required to integrate re-
search, extension, and instruction programs
in the American-Pacific region;
‘‘(ii) to develop and provide support
for conducting research, extension, and in-
struction programs in support of food and
agricultural sciences relevant to the Amer-
ican-Pacific region, with special emphasis
on—
‘‘(I) the management of pests; and
‘‘(II) the control of the spread of
invasive alien species; and
‘‘(iii) to provide leadership develop-
ment to administrators, faculty, and staff of
the eligible institution with responsibility
for programs relating to agricultural re-
search, extension, and instruction.
‘‘(B) PROHIBITED USES.—An eligible insti-
tution that receives funds through a grant under
paragraph (1) may not use the funds for any
cost relating to the planning, acquisition, con-
struction, rehabilitation, or repair of any build-
ing or facility of the eligible institution.
‘‘(4) GRANT TERM.—A grant under paragraph
(1) shall have a term of not more than 5 years.
†
1013
HR 2419 EAS
‘‘(5) ADMINISTRATION.—
‘‘(A) AUTHORITY OF SECRETARY.—The Sec-
retary may carry out this section in a manner
that recognizes the different needs of, and oppor-
tunities for, each eligible institution.
‘‘(B) ADMINISTRATIVE
COSTS.—The Sec-
retary shall use not more than 4 percent of the
amount appropriated under subsection (d) for a
fiscal year to pay administrative costs incurred
in carrying out this section.
‘‘(c) NO EFFECT ON DISTRIBUTION OF FUNDS.—Noth-
ing in this section affects any basis for distribution of funds
by a formula in existence on the date of enactment of this
section relating to—
‘‘(1) the Federated States of Micronesia;
‘‘(2) the Republic of the Marshall Islands; or
‘‘(3) the Republic of Palau.
‘‘(d) AUTHORIZATION
OF APPROPRIATIONS.—There
are authorized to be appropriated such sums as are nec-
essary to carry out this section for each of fiscal years 2008
through 2012.’’.
†
1014
HR 2419 EAS
SEC. 
7042. 
BORLAUG 
INTERNATIONAL 
AGRICULTURAL
SCIENCE 
AND 
TECHNOLOGY 
FELLOWSHIP
PROGRAM.
Subtitle K of the National Agricultural Research, Ex-
tension, and Teaching Policy Act of 1977 (7 U.S.C. 3310
et seq.) (as amended by section 7039) is amended by adding
at the end the following:
‘‘SEC. 1473I. BORLAUG INTERNATIONAL AGRICULTURAL
SCIENCE 
AND 
TECHNOLOGY 
FELLOWSHIP
PROGRAM.
‘‘(a) FELLOWSHIP PROGRAM.—
‘‘(1) IN GENERAL.—The Secretary shall establish
a fellowship program, to be known as the ‘Borlaug
International Agricultural Science and Technology
Fellowship Program,’ to provide fellowships for sci-
entific training and study in the United States to in-
dividuals from eligible countries (as described in sub-
section (b)) who specialize in agricultural education,
research, and extension.
‘‘(2) PROGRAMS.—The Secretary shall carry out
the fellowship program by implementing 3 programs
designed to assist individual fellowship recipients,
including—
‘‘(A) a graduate studies program in agri-
culture to assist individuals who participate in
†
1015
HR 2419 EAS
graduate agricultural degree training at a
United States institution;
‘‘(B) an individual career improvement
program to assist agricultural scientists from de-
veloping countries in upgrading skills and un-
derstanding in agricultural science and tech-
nology; and
‘‘(C) a Borlaug agricultural policy executive
leadership course to assist senior agricultural
policy makers from eligible countries, with an
initial focus on individuals from sub-Saharan
Africa and the newly independent states of the
former Soviet Union.
‘‘(b) ELIGIBLE COUNTRIES.—An eligible country is a
developing country, as determined by the Secretary using
a gross national income per capita test selected by the Sec-
retary.
‘‘(c) PURPOSE OF FELLOWSHIPS.—A fellowship pro-
vided under this section shall—
‘‘(1) promote food security and economic growth
in eligible countries by—
‘‘(A) educating a new generation of agricul-
tural scientists;
†
1016
HR 2419 EAS
‘‘(B) increasing scientific knowledge and
collaborative research to improve agricultural
productivity; and
‘‘(C) extending that knowledge to users and
intermediaries in the marketplace; and
‘‘(2) shall support—
‘‘(A) training and collaborative research op-
portunities through exchanges for entry level
international agricultural research scientists,
faculty, and policymakers from eligible countries;
‘‘(B) collaborative research to improve agri-
cultural productivity;
‘‘(C) the transfer of new science and agri-
cultural technologies to strengthen agricultural
practice; and
‘‘(D) the reduction of barriers to technology
adoption.
‘‘(d) FELLOWSHIP RECIPIENTS.—
‘‘(1) ELIGIBLE
CANDIDATES.—The Secretary
may provide fellowships under this section to individ-
uals from eligible countries who specialize in or have
experience in agricultural education, research, exten-
sion, or related fields, including—
‘‘(A) individuals from the public and pri-
vate sectors; and
†
1017
HR 2419 EAS
‘‘(B) private agricultural producers.
‘‘(2) CANDIDATE
IDENTIFICATION.—The Sec-
retary shall use the expertise of United States land
grant colleges and universities and similar univer-
sities, international organizations working in agricul-
tural research and outreach, and national agricul-
tural research organizations to help identify program
candidates for fellowships under this section from the
public and private sectors of eligible countries.
‘‘(e) USE OF FELLOWSHIPS.—A fellowship provided
under this section shall be used—
‘‘(1) to promote collaborative programs among
agricultural professionals of eligible countries, agri-
cultural professionals of the United States, the inter-
national agricultural research system, and, as appro-
priate, United States entities conducting research;
and
‘‘(2) to support fellowship recipients through
programs described in subsection (a)(2).
‘‘(f) PROGRAM
IMPLEMENTATION.—The Secretary
shall provide for the management, coordination, evaluation,
and monitoring of the overall Borlaug International Agri-
cultural Science and Technology Fellowship Program and
for the individual programs described in subsection (a)(2),
except that the Secretary may contract out to 1 or more
†
1018
HR 2419 EAS
collaborating universities the management of 1 or more of
the fellowship programs.
‘‘(g) AUTHORIZATION
OF APPROPRIATIONS.—There
are authorized to be appropriated such sums as are nec-
essary to carry out this section, to remain available until
expended.’’.
SEC. 7043. NEW ERA RURAL TECHNOLOGY PROGRAM.
Subtitle K of the National Agricultural Research, Ex-
tension, and Teaching Policy Act of 1977 (7 U.S.C. 3310
et seq.) (as amended by section 7040) is amended by adding
at the end the following:
‘‘SEC. 1473J. NEW ERA RURAL TECHNOLOGY PROGRAM.
‘‘(a) DEFINITION OF RURAL COMMUNITY COLLEGE.—
In this section, the term ‘rural community college’ means
an institution of higher education that—
‘‘(1) admits as regular students individuals
who—
‘‘(A) are beyond the age of compulsory
school attendance in the State in which the insti-
tution is located; and
‘‘(B) have the ability to benefit from the
training offered by the institution, in accordance
with criteria established by the Secretary;
†
1019
HR 2419 EAS
‘‘(2) does not provide an educational program
for which it awards a bachelor’s degree or an equiva-
lent degree;
‘‘(3)(A) provides an educational program of not
less than 2 years that is acceptable for full credit to-
ward such a degree; or
‘‘(B) offers a 2-year program in engineering,
technology, mathematics, or the physical, chemical or
biological sciences that is designed to prepare a stu-
dent 
to 
work 
as 
a 
technician 
or 
at 
the
semiprofessional level in engineering, scientific, or
other technological fields requiring the understanding
and application of basic engineering, scientific, or
mathematical principles of knowledge; and
‘‘(4) is located in a rural area (as defined in sec-
tion 343(a) of the Consolidated Farm and Rural De-
velopment Act (7 U.S.C. 1991(a)).
‘‘(b) PROGRAM.—
‘‘(1) IN GENERAL.—The Secretary shall establish
a program, to be known as the ‘New Era Rural Tech-
nology Program’, under which the Secretary shall
make grants available for technology development, ap-
plied research, and training to aid in the development
of an agriculture-based renewable energy workforce.
†
1020
HR 2419 EAS
‘‘(2) FIELDS.—In making grants under the pro-
gram, the Secretary shall support the fields of—
‘‘(A) bioenergy;
‘‘(B) pulp and paper manufacturing; and
‘‘(C) agriculture-based renewable energy re-
sources.
‘‘(c) ELIGIBILITY.—To be eligible to receive a grant
under this section, an entity shall—
‘‘(1) be a rural community college or advanced
technological center (as determined by the Secretary),
in existence on the date of the enactment of this sec-
tion, that participates in agricultural or bioenergy re-
search and applied research;
‘‘(2) have a proven record of development and
implementation of programs to meet the needs of stu-
dents, educators, business, and industry to supply the
agriculture-based, renewable energy, or pulp and
paper manufacturing fields with certified technicians,
as determined by the Secretary; and
‘‘(3) have the ability to leverage existing partner-
ships and occupational outreach and training pro-
grams for secondary schools, 4-year institutions, and
relevant nonprofit organizations.
†
1021
HR 2419 EAS
‘‘(d) GRANT PRIORITY.—In making grants under this
section, the Secretary shall give preference to rural commu-
nity colleges working in partnership—
‘‘(1) to improve information sharing capacity;
and
‘‘(2) to maximize the ability of eligible recipients
to meet the purposes of this section.
‘‘(e) AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.—There are
authorized to be appropriated such sums as are necessary
to carry out this section for each of fiscal years 2008
through 2012.’’.
SEC. 7044. FARM AND RANCH STRESS ASSISTANCE NET-
WORK.
Subtitle K of the National Agricultural Research, Ex-
tension, and Teaching Policy Act of 1977 (7 U.S.C. 3310
et seq.) (as amended by section 7041) is amended by adding
at the end the following:
‘‘SEC. 1473K. FARM AND RANCH STRESS ASSISTANCE NET-
WORK.
‘‘(a) IN GENERAL.—The Secretary, in cooperation
with the Secretary of Health and Human Services, shall
establish a network, to be known as the ‘Farm and Ranch
Stress Assistance Network’ (referred to in this section as the
‘Network’).
†
1022
HR 2419 EAS
‘‘(b) PURPOSE.—The purpose the network shall be to
provide behavioral health programs to participants in the
agricultural sector in the United States.
‘‘(c) GRANTS.—The Secretary, in collaboration with
the extension service at the National Institute of Food and
Agriculture, shall provide grants on a competitive basis to
States and nonprofit organizations for use in carrying out
pilot projects to achieve the purpose of the Network.
‘‘(d) AUTHORIZATION
OF APPROPRIATIONS.—There
are authorized to be appropriated such sums as are nec-
essary to carry out this section for each of fiscal years 2008
through 2012.’’.
SEC. 7045. RURAL ENTREPRENEURSHIP AND ENTERPRISE
FACILITATION PROGRAM.
Subtitle K of the National Agricultural Research, Ex-
tension, and Teaching Policy Act of 1977 (7 U.S.C. 3310
et seq.) (as amended by section 7042) is amended by adding
at the end the following:
‘‘SEC. 1473L. RURAL ENTREPRENEURSHIP AND ENTERPRISE
FACILITATION PROGRAM.
‘‘(a) DEFINITION OF REGIONAL RURAL DEVELOPMENT
CENTER.—In this section, the term ‘regional rural develop-
ment center’ means—
‘‘(1) the North Central Regional Center for
Rural Development (or a designee);
†
1023
HR 2419 EAS
‘‘(2) the Northeast Regional Center for Rural De-
velopment (or a designee);
‘‘(3) the Southern Rural Development Center (or
a designee); and
‘‘(4) the Western Rural Development Center (or
a designee).
‘‘(b) PROJECTS.—The Secretary shall carry out re-
search, extension, and education projects to obtain data,
convey knowledge, and develop skills through projects that—
‘‘(1) transfer practical, reliable, and timely in-
formation to rural entrepreneurs and rural entrepre-
neurial development organizations concerning busi-
ness management, business planning, microenterprise,
marketing, entrepreneurial education and training,
and the development of local and regional entrepre-
neurial systems in rural areas and rural commu-
nities;
‘‘(2) provide education, training, and technical
assistance to newly-operational and growing rural
businesses;
‘‘(3) improve access to diverse sources of capital,
such as microenterprise loans and venture capital;
‘‘(4) determine the best methods to train entre-
preneurs with respect to preparing business plans,
†
1024
HR 2419 EAS
recordkeeping, tax rules, financial management, and
general business practices;
‘‘(5) promote entrepreneurship among—
‘‘(A) rural youth, minority, and immigrant
populations;
‘‘(B) women; and
‘‘(C) low- and moderate-income rural resi-
dents;
‘‘(6) create networks of entrepreneurial support
through partnerships among rural entrepreneurs,
local business communities, all levels of government,
nonprofit organizations, colleges and universities, and
other sectors;
‘‘(7) study and facilitate entrepreneurial develop-
ment systems that best align with the unique needs
and strengths of particular rural areas and commu-
nities; and
‘‘(8) explore promising strategies for building an
integrated system of program delivery to rural entre-
preneurs.
‘‘(c) AGREEMENTS.—To carry out projects under sub-
section (b), the Secretary shall provide grants to—
‘‘(1) land-grant colleges and universities, includ-
ing cooperative extension services, agricultural experi-
†
1025
HR 2419 EAS
ment stations, and regional rural development cen-
ters;
‘‘(2) other colleges and universities;
‘‘(3) community, junior, technical, and voca-
tional colleges and other 2-year institutions of higher
education, and post-secondary business and commerce
schools;
‘‘(4) elementary schools and secondary schools;
‘‘(5) nonprofit organizations; and
‘‘(6) Federal, State, local, and tribal govern-
mental entities.
‘‘(d) SELECTION AND PRIORITY OF PROJECTS.—
‘‘(1) IN GENERAL.—In selecting projects to be
carried out under this section, the Secretary shall take
into consideration—
‘‘(A) the relevance of the project to the pur-
poses of this section;
‘‘(B) the appropriateness of the design of the
project;
‘‘(C) the likelihood of achieving the objec-
tives of the project; and
‘‘(D) the national or regional applicability
of the findings and outcomes of the project.
†
1026
HR 2419 EAS
‘‘(2) PRIORITY.—In carrying out projects under
this section, the Secretary shall give priority to
projects that—
‘‘(A) enhance widespread access to entrepre-
neurial education, including access to such edu-
cation in community-based settings for low- and
moderate-income entrepreneurs and potential en-
trepreneurs;
‘‘(B) closely coordinate research and edu-
cation activities, including outreach education
efforts;
‘‘(C) indicate the manner in which the find-
ings of the project will be made readily usable to
rural entrepreneurs and to rural community
leaders;
‘‘(D) maximize the involvement and co-
operation of rural entrepreneurs; and
‘‘(E) involve cooperation and partnerships
between rural entrepreneurs, nonprofit organiza-
tions, entrepreneurial development organizations,
educational institutions at all levels, and govern-
ment agencies at all levels.
‘‘(e) COMPETITIVE BASIS.—Grants under this section
shall be awarded on a competitive basis, in accordance with
†
1027
HR 2419 EAS
such criteria as the national administrative council estab-
lished under subsection (j)(1) may establish.
‘‘(f) TERM.—The term of a grant provided under this
section shall be not more than 5 years.
‘‘(g) LIMITATION.—Not more than 20 percent of the
total amount of grants provided under this section shall be
provided to projects in which cooperative extension services
are involved as the sole or lead entity of the project.
‘‘(h) DIVERSIFICATION
OF RESEARCH, EXTENSION,
AND EDUCATION PROJECTS.—The Secretary shall carry out
projects under this section in areas that the Secretary deter-
mines to be broadly representative of the diversity of the
rural areas of the United States, and of rural entrepreneur-
ship in the United States, including entrepreneurship in-
volving youth, minority populations, microenterprise, and
women, with a focus on nonagricultural businesses or food
and agriculturally-based businesses, but not direct agri-
culture production.
‘‘(i) ADMINISTRATION.—The Secretary shall admin-
ister projects carried out under this section acting through
the Administrator of the National Institute of Food and Ag-
riculture.
‘‘(j) NATIONAL ADMINISTRATIVE COUNCIL.—
‘‘(1) ESTABLISHMENT.—The Secretary shall es-
tablish, in accordance with this subsection, a national