HR 2534 RFS1S
makes available out of non-Federal funds for cooper-
ative extension work.
‘‘(2) 
FAILURE
TO
PROVIDE
MATCHING
FUNDS.—If a State fails to comply with the require-
ment to provide matching funds for a fiscal year
under paragraph (1), the Secretary of Agriculture
shall withhold from payment to the State for that
fiscal year an amount equal to the difference be-
tween—
‘‘(A) the amount that would be allotted
and paid to the State under subsections (b) and
(c) (if the full amount of matching funds were
provided by the State); and
‘‘(B) the amount of matching funds actu-
ally provided by the State.
‘‘(3) REAPPORTIONMENT.—The Secretary shall
reapportion amounts withheld under paragraph (2)
for a fiscal year among the States satisfying the
matching requirement for that fiscal year. Any re-
apportionment of funds under this paragraph shall
be subject to the matching requirement specified in
paragraph (1).
‘‘(f) MATCHING FUNDS EXCEPTION FOR 1994 INSTI-
TUTIONS.—There shall be no matching requirement for
HR 2534 RFS1S
funds made available to 1994 Institutions pursuant to
subsection (b)(3).’’.
(c) TECHNICAL CORRECTIONS.—
(1) RECOGNITION OF STATEHOOD OF ALASKA
AND HAWAII.—Section 1 of the Hatch Act of 1887
(7 U.S.C. 361a) is amended by striking ‘‘Alaska,
Hawaii,’’.
(2) ROLE OF SECRETARY OF AGRICULTURE.—
Section 3 of the Smith-Lever Act (7 U.S.C. 343) is
amended—
(A) in subsection (b)(1), by striking ‘‘Fed-
eral Extension Service’’ and inserting ‘‘Sec-
retary of Agriculture’’;
(B) in subsection (c)1, by striking ‘‘Fed-
eral Extension Service’’ and inserting ‘‘Sec-
retary of Agriculture’’;
(C) in subsection (d), by striking ‘‘Federal
Extension Service’’ and inserting ‘‘Secretary of
Agriculture’’; and
(D) in subsection (g)(1), by striking
‘‘through the Federal Extension Service’’.
(3) REFERENCES
TO
REGIONAL
RESEARCH
FUND.—The Hatch Act of 1887 is amended—
(A) in section 3 (7 U.S.C. 361c)—
HR 2534 RFS1S
(i) in subsection (b)(1), by striking
‘‘subsection 3(c)(3)’’ and inserting ‘‘sub-
section (c)3’’; and
(ii) in subsection (e), by striking ‘‘sub-
section 3(c)3’’ and inserting ‘‘subsection
(c)3’’; and
(B) in section 5 (7 U.S.C. 361e), by strik-
ing ‘‘regional research fund authorized by sub-
section 3(c)(3)’’ and inserting ‘‘Regional re-
search fund, State agricultural experiment sta-
tions’’.
SEC. 203. PLANS OF WORK TO ADDRESS CRITICAL RE-
SEARCH AND EXTENSION ISSUES AND USE OF
PROTOCOLS 
TO 
MEASURE 
SUCCESS 
OF
PLANS.
(a) SMITH-LEVER ACT.—Section 4 of the Smith-
Lever Act (7 U.S.C. 344) is amended—
(1) by striking ‘‘SEC. 4.’’ and inserting the fol-
lowing:
‘‘SEC. 4. ASCERTAINMENT OF ENTITLEMENT OF STATE TO
FUNDS, TIME AND MANNER OF PAYMENT,
STATE 
REPORTING 
REQUIREMENTS, 
AND
PLANS FOR WORK.
‘‘(a) ASCERTAINMENT OF ENTITLEMENT.—’’;
HR 2534 RFS1S
(2) in the last sentence, by striking ‘‘Such
sums’’ and inserting the following:
‘‘(b) TIME AND MANNER OF PAYMENT; RELATED
REPORTS.—The amount to which a State is entitled’’; and
(3) by adding at the end the following new sub-
sections:
‘‘(c) REQUIREMENTS
RELATED
TO
PLAN
OF
WORK.—Each extension plan of work for a State required
under subsection (a) shall contain descriptions of the fol-
lowing:
‘‘(1) The critical short-term, intermediate, and
long-term agricultural issues in the State and the
current and planned extension programs and
projects targeted to address such issues.
‘‘(2) The process established to consult with ex-
tension users regarding the identification of critical
agricultural issues in the State and the development
of extension programs and projects targeted to ad-
dress such issues.
‘‘(3) The efforts made to identify and collabo-
rate with other colleges and universities within the
State and other States that have unique capacity to
address the identified agricultural issues in the State
and current and emerging efforts to work with these
other institutions and States.
HR 2534 RFS1S
‘‘(4) The manner in which research and exten-
sion, including research and extension activities
funded other than through formula funds, will co-
operate to address the critical issues in the State, in-
cluding the activities to be carried out separately,
the activities to be carried out sequentially, and the
activities to be carried out jointly.
‘‘(5) The education and outreach programs al-
ready underway to convey currently available re-
search results that are pertinent to a critical agricul-
tural issue, including efforts to encourage multi-
county cooperation in the dissemination of research
results.
‘‘(d) EXTENSION PROTOCOLS.—The Secretary of Ag-
riculture shall develop protocols to be used to evaluate the
success of multi-State, multi-institutional, and multidisci-
plinary extension activities and joint research and exten-
sion activities in addressing critical agricultural issues
identified in the plans of work submitted under subsection
(a). The Secretary shall develop the protocols in consulta-
tion with the National Agricultural Research, Extension,
Education, and Economics Advisory Board and land-grant
colleges and universities.
‘‘(e) TREATMENT OF PLANS OF WORK FOR OTHER
PURPOSES.—To the extent practicable, the Secretary shall
HR 2534 RFS1S
consider plans of work submitted under subsection (a) to
satisfy other appropriate Federal reporting require-
ments.’’.
(b) HATCH ACT OF 1887.—Section 7 of the Hatch
Act of 1887 (7 U.S.C. 361g), as amended by section
104(b), is further amended—
(1) by striking ‘‘SEC. 7.’’ and inserting the fol-
lowing:
‘‘SEC. 7. DUTIES OF SECRETARY, ASCERTAINMENT OF ENTI-
TLEMENT OF STATE TO FUNDS, AND PLANS
FOR WORK.
‘‘(a) DUTIES OF SECRETARY.—’’;
(2) by striking ‘‘On or before’’ and inserting
the following:
‘‘(b) ASCERTAINMENT OF ENTITLEMENT.—On or be-
fore’’;
(3) by striking ‘‘Whenever it shall appear’’ and
inserting the following:
‘‘(c) EFFECT OF FAILURE TO EXPEND FULL ALLOT-
MENT.—Whenever it shall appear’’; and
(4) by adding at the end the following new sub-
sections:
‘‘(d) PLAN OF WORK REQUIRED.—Before funds may
be provided to a State under this Act for any fiscal year,
plans for the work to be carried on under this Act shall
HR 2534 RFS1S
be submitted by the proper officials of the State and ap-
proved by the Secretary of Agriculture.
‘‘(e) REQUIREMENTS
RELATED
TO
PLAN
OF
WORK.—Each research plan of work for a State required
under subsection (d) shall contain descriptions of the fol-
lowing:
‘‘(1) The critical short-term, intermediate, and
long-term agricultural issues in the State and the
current and planned research programs and projects
targeted to address such issues.
‘‘(2) The process established to consult with
users of agricultural research regarding the identi-
fication of critical agricultural issues in the State
and the development of research programs and
projects targeted to address such issues.
‘‘(3) The efforts made to identify and collabo-
rate with other colleges and universities within the
State and other States that have unique capacity to
address the identified agricultural issues in the State
and current and emerging efforts (including regional
efforts) to work with these other institutions and
States.
‘‘(4) The manner in which research and exten-
sion, including research and extension activities
funded other than through formula funds, will co-
HR 2534 RFS1S
operate to address the critical issues in the State, in-
cluding the activities to be carried out separately,
the activities to be carried out sequentially, and the
activities to be carried out jointly.
‘‘(f) RESEARCH PROTOCOLS.—The Secretary of Agri-
culture shall develop protocols to be used to evaluate the
success of multi-State, multi-institutional, and multidisci-
plinary research activities and joint research and extension
activities in addressing critical agricultural issues identi-
fied in the plans of work submitted under subsection (d).
The Secretary shall develop the protocols in consultation
with the National Agricultural Research, Extension, Edu-
cation, and Economics Advisory Board and land-grant col-
leges and universities.
‘‘(g) TREATMENT OF PLANS OF WORK FOR OTHER
PURPOSES.—To the extent practicable, the Secretary shall
consider plans of work submitted under subsection (d) to
satisfy other appropriate Federal reporting require-
ments.’’.
(c) EFFECTIVE DATE.—
(1) IN GENERAL.—The amendments made by
this section shall take effect on October 1, 1998.
(2) DELAYED APPLICABILITY.—With respect to
a particular State, the Secretary of Agriculture may
delay the applicability of the requirements imposed
HR 2534 RFS1S
by the amendments made by this section until not
later than October 1, 1999, if the Secretary finds
that the State will be unable to meet such require-
ments by October 1, 1998, despite the good faith ef-
forts of the State.
Subtitle B—National Agricultural
Research, Extension, and Teach-
ing Policy Act of 1977
SEC. 211. PLANS OF WORK FOR 1890 LAND-GRANT COL-
LEGES TO ADDRESS CRITICAL RESEARCH
AND EXTENSION ISSUES AND USE OF PROTO-
COLS TO MEASURE SUCCESS OF PLANS.
(a) EXTENSION AT 1890 INSTITUTIONS.—Section
1444(d) of the National Agricultural Research, Extension,
and Teaching Policy Act of 1977 (7 U.S.C. 3221(d)) is
amended—
(1) by striking ‘‘(d)’’ and inserting the follow-
ing:
‘‘(d) ASCERTAINMENT OF ENTITLEMENT TO FUNDS;
TIME AND MANNER OF PAYMENT; STATE REPORTING
REQUIREMENTS; AND PLANS FOR WORK.—
‘‘(1) ASCERTAINMENT OF ENTITLEMENT.—’’;
(2) in the last sentence, by striking ‘‘Such
sums’’ and inserting the following:
HR 2534 RFS1S
‘‘(2) TIME AND MANNER OF PAYMENT; RELAT-
ED REPORTS.—The amount to which an eligible in-
stitution is entitled’’; and
(3) by adding at the end the following new
paragraphs:
‘‘(3) REQUIREMENTS
RELATED
TO
PLAN
OF
WORK.—Each extension plan of work for an eligible
institution required under this section shall contain
descriptions of the following:
‘‘(A) The critical short-term, intermediate,
and long-term agricultural issues in the State
in which the eligible institution is located and
the current and planned extension programs
and projects targeted to address such issues.
‘‘(B) The process established to consult
with extension users regarding the identification
of critical agricultural issues in the State and
the development of extension programs and
projects targeted to address such issues.
‘‘(C) The efforts made to identify and col-
laborate with other colleges and universities
within the State and other States that have
unique capacity to address the identified agri-
cultural issues in the State and current and
emerging efforts (including regional research ef-
HR 2534 RFS1S
forts) to work with these other institutions and
States.
‘‘(D) The manner in which research and
extension, including research and extension ac-
tivities funded other than through formula
funds, will cooperate to address the critical
issues in the State, including the activities to be
carried out separately, the activities to be car-
ried out sequentially, and the activities to be
carried out jointly.
‘‘(E) The education and outreach pro-
grams already underway to convey currently
available research results that are pertinent to
a critical agricultural issue, including efforts to
encourage multi-county cooperation in the dis-
semination of research results.
‘‘(4) EXTENSION PROTOCOLS.—The Secretary
of Agriculture shall develop protocols to be used to
evaluate the success of multi-State, multi-institu-
tional, and multidisciplinary extension activities and
joint research and extension activities in addressing
critical agricultural issues identified in the plans of
work submitted under this section. The Secretary
shall develop the protocols in consultation with the
HR 2534 RFS1S
Advisory Board and land-grant colleges and univer-
sities.
‘‘(5) TREATMENT
OF
PLANS
OF
WORK
FOR
OTHER PURPOSES.—To the extent practicable, the
Secretary shall consider plans of work submitted
under this section to satisfy other appropriate Fed-
eral reporting requirements.’’.
(b) AGRICULTURAL RESEARCH AT 1890 INSTITU-
TIONS.—Section 1445(c) of such Act (7 U.S.C. 3222(c))
is amended—
(1) by striking ‘‘(c)’’ and inserting the follow-
ing:
‘‘(c) PROGRAM AND PLANS FOR WORK.—
‘‘(1) INITIAL COMPREHENSIVE PROGRAM OF AG-
RICULTURAL RESEARCH.—’’; and
(2) by adding at the end the following new
paragraphs:
‘‘(2) PLAN OF WORK REQUIRED.—Before funds
may be provided to an eligible institution under this
section for any fiscal year, plans for the work to be
carried on under this section shall be submitted by
the research director specified in subsection (d) and
approved by the Secretary of Agriculture.
‘‘(3) REQUIREMENTS
RELATED
TO
PLAN
OF
WORK.—Each research plan of work required under
HR 2534 RFS1S
paragraph (2) shall contain descriptions of the fol-
lowing:
‘‘(A) The critical short-term, intermediate,
and long-term agricultural issues in the State
in which the eligible institution is located and
the current and planned research programs and
projects targeted to address such issues.
‘‘(B) The process established to consult
with users of agricultural research regarding
the identification of critical agricultural issues
in the State and the development of research
programs and projects targeted to address such
issues.
‘‘(C) Other colleges and universities in the
State and other States that have unique capac-
ity to address the identified agricultural issues
in the State.
‘‘(D) The current and emerging efforts to
work with these other institutions and States to
build on each other’s experience and take ad-
vantage of each institution’s unique capacities.
‘‘(E) The manner in which research and
extension, including research and extension ac-
tivities funded other than through formula
funds, will cooperate to address the critical
HR 2534 RFS1S
issues in the State, including the activities to be
carried out separately, the activities to be car-
ried out sequentially, and the activities to be
carried out jointly.
‘‘(4) RESEARCH PROTOCOLS.—The Secretary of
Agriculture shall develop protocols to be used to
evaluate the success of multi-State, multi-institu-
tional, and multidisciplinary research activities and
joint research and extension activities in addressing
critical agricultural issues identified in the plans of
work submitted under paragraph (2). The Secretary
shall develop the protocols in consultation with the
Advisory Board and land-grant colleges and univer-
sities.’’.
(c) EFFECTIVE DATE.—
(1) IN GENERAL.—The amendments made by
this section shall take effect on October 1, 1998.
(2) DELAYED APPLICABILITY.—With respect to
a particular eligible institution (as described in sec-
tions 1444(a) and 1445(a) of the National Agricul-
tural Research, Extension, and Teaching Policy Act
of 1977 (7 U.S.C. 3221(a), 3222(a))), the Secretary
of Agriculture may delay the applicability of the re-
quirements imposed by the amendments made by
this section until not later than October 1, 1999, if
HR 2534 RFS1S
the Secretary finds that the eligible institution will
be unable to meet such requirements by October 1,
1998, despite the good faith efforts of the eligible in-
stitution.
SEC. 212. MATCHING FUNDS REQUIREMENT FOR RE-
SEARCH AND EXTENSION ACTIVITIES AT 1890
LAND-GRANT 
COLLEGES, 
INCLUDING
TUSKEGEE UNIVERSITY.
(a) IMPOSITION OF REQUIREMENT.—Subtitle G of
the National Agricultural Research, Extension, and
Teaching Policy Act of 1977 is amended by inserting after
section 1448 (7 U.S.C. 3222c) the following new section:
‘‘SEC. 1449. MATCHING FUNDS REQUIREMENT FOR RE-
SEARCH AND EXTENSION ACTIVITIES AT ELI-
GIBLE INSTITUTIONS.
‘‘(a) DEFINITIONS.—In this section:
‘‘(1) ELIGIBLE INSTITUTION.—The term ‘eligi-
ble institution’ means a college eligible to receive
funds under the Act of August 30, 1890 (7 U.S.C.
321 et seq.) (commonly known as the Second Morrill
Act), including Tuskegee University.
‘‘(2) FORMULA
FUNDS.—The term ‘formula
funds’ means the formula allocation funds distrib-
uted to eligible institutions under sections 1444 and
1445.
HR 2534 RFS1S
‘‘(b) DETERMINATION OF NON-FEDERAL SOURCES
OF FUNDS.—Not later than September 30, 1999, each eli-
gible institution shall submit to the Secretary a report de-
scribing for fiscal year 1999 the sources of non-Federal
funds available to the eligible institution and the amount
of funds generally available from each such source.
‘‘(c) MATCHING FORMULA.—Notwithstanding any
other provision of this subtitle, the distribution of formula
funds to an eligible institution shall be subject to the fol-
lowing matching requirements:
‘‘(1) In fiscal year 2000, the institution shall
provide matching funds from non-Federal sources in
an amount equal to not less than 30 percent of the
formula funds to be distributed to the eligible insti-
tution.
‘‘(2) In fiscal year 2001, the institution shall
provide matching funds from non-Federal sources in
an amount equal to not less than 45 percent of the
formula funds to be distributed to the eligible insti-
tution.
‘‘(3) In fiscal year 2002, and each fiscal year
thereafter, the institution shall provide matching
funds from non-Federal sources in an amount equal
to not less than 50 percent of the formula funds to
be distributed to the eligible institution.
HR 2534 RFS1S
‘‘(d) LIMITED WAIVER AUTHORITY.—Notwithstand-
ing subsection (f), the Secretary may waive the matching
funds requirement under subsection (c)(1) for fiscal year
2000 if the Secretary determines with regard to a particu-
lar eligible institution, based on the report received under
subsection (b), that the eligible institution will be unlikely
to satisfy the matching requirement. The waiver of the
matching requirements for subsequent fiscal years is not
permitted.
‘‘(e) USE OF MATCHING FUNDS.—Under terms and
conditions established by the Secretary, matching funds
provided as required by subsection (c) may be used by an
eligible institution for research, education, and extension
activities.
‘‘(f) REDISTRIBUTION
OF FUNDS.—Federal funds
that are not matched by an eligible institution in accord-
ance with subsection (c) for a fiscal year shall be redistrib-
uted by the Secretary to eligible institutions satisfying the
matching funds requirement for that fiscal year. Any re-
distribution of funds under this subsection shall be subject
to the applicable matching requirement specified in sub-
section (c) and shall be made in a manner consistent with
sections 1444 and 1445, as determined by the Secretary.’’.
(b) CONFORMING AMENDMENT.—Section 1445(g) of
such Act (7 U.S.C. 3222(g)) is amended—
HR 2534 RFS1S
(1) by striking paragraph (2); and
(2) by redesignating paragraph (4) as para-
graph (2).
(c) REFERENCES TO TUSKEGEE UNIVERSITY.—Such
Act is further amended—
(1) in section 1404 (7 U.S.C. 3103), by striking
‘‘Tuskegee Institute’’ in paragraphs (10) and
(16)(B) and inserting ‘‘Tuskegee University’’;
(2) in section 1444 (7 U.S.C. 3221)—
(A) by striking the section heading and
‘‘SEC. 1444.’’ and inserting the following:
‘‘SEC. 1444. EXTENSION AT 1890 LAND-GRANT COLLEGES, IN-
CLUDING TUSKEGEE UNIVERSITY.’’; and
(B) in subsections (a) and (b), by striking
‘‘Tuskegee Institute’’ both places it appears and
inserting ‘‘Tuskegee University’’; and
(3) in section 1445 (7 U.S.C. 3222)—
(A) by striking the section heading and
‘‘SEC. 1445.’’ and inserting the following:
‘‘SEC. 1445. AGRICULTURAL RESEARCH AT 1890 LAND-
GRANT COLLEGES, INCLUDING TUSKEGEE
UNIVERSITY.’’; and
(B) in subsections (a) and (b)(2)(B), by
striking ‘‘Tuskegee Institute’’ both places it ap-
pears and inserting ‘‘Tuskegee University’’.
HR 2534 RFS1S
SEC. 213. INTERNATIONAL RESEARCH, EXTENSION, AND
TEACHING.
(a) INCLUSION OF TEACHING.—Section 1458 of the
National Agricultural Research, Extension, and Teaching
Policy Act of 1977 (7 U.S.C. 3291) is amended—
(1) in the section heading, by striking ‘‘RE-
SEARCH
AND
EXTENSION’’ and inserting ‘‘RE-
SEARCH, EXTENSION, AND TEACHING’’;
(2) in subsection (a)—
(A) in paragraph (1)—
(i) by striking ‘‘related research and
extension’’ and inserting ‘‘related research,
extension, and teaching’’; and
(ii) in subparagraph (B), by striking
‘‘research and extension on’’ and inserting
‘‘research, extension, and teaching activi-
ties addressing’’;
(B) in paragraphs (2) and (6), by striking
‘‘education’’ and inserting ‘‘teaching’’;
(C) in paragraph (4), by striking ‘‘sci-
entists and experts’’ and inserting ‘‘science and
education experts’’;
(D) in paragraph (5), by inserting ‘‘teach-
ing,’’ after ‘‘development,’’;
HR 2534 RFS1S
(E) in paragraph (7), by striking ‘‘research
and extension that is’’ and inserting ‘‘research,
extension, and teaching programs’’; and
(F) in paragraph (8), by striking ‘‘research
capabilities’’ and inserting ‘‘research, extension,
and teaching capabilities’’; and
(3) in subsection (b), by striking ‘‘counterpart
agencies’’ and inserting ‘‘counterpart research, ex-
tension, and teaching agencies’’.
(b) FULL PAYMENT OF FUNDS MADE AVAILABLE
FOR CERTAIN BINATIONAL PROJECT.—Such section is
further amended by adding at the end the following new
subsection:
‘‘(d) FULL PAYMENT OF FUNDS MADE AVAILABLE
FOR CERTAIN BINATIONAL PROJECTS.—Notwithstanding
any other provision of law, the full amount of any funds
appropriated or otherwise made available to carry out co-
operative projects under the arrangement entered into be-
tween the Secretary and the Government of Israel to sup-
port the Israel-United States Binational Agricultural Re-
search and Development Fund shall be paid directly to
the Fund.’’.
(c) CONFORMING AMENDMENT.—The subtitle head-
ing of subtitle I of title XIV of the National Agricultural
HR 2534 RFS1S
Research, Extension, and Teaching Policy Act of 1977 (7
U.S.C. 3291 et seq.) is amended to read as follows:
‘‘Subtitle 
I—International 
Re-
search, Extension, and Teach-
ing’’.
SEC. 214. TASK FORCE ON 10-YEAR STRATEGIC PLAN FOR
AGRICULTURAL RESEARCH FACILITIES.
(a) TRANSFER OF EXISTING PROVISION.—Section 4
of the Research Facilities Act (7 U.S.C. 390b)—
(1) is transferred to the National Agricultural
Research, Extension, and Teaching Policy Act of
1977 (7 U.S.C. 3101 et seq.);
(2) is redesignated as section 1473B;
(3) is inserted after section 1473A of the Na-
tional Agricultural Research, Extension, and Teach-
ing Policy Act of 1977 (7 U.S.C. 3319a); and
(4) is amended in subsection (f), by striking
‘‘Notwithstanding section 2(1), in’’ and inserting
‘‘In’’.
(b) CONFORMING REPEAL.—The Research Facilities
Act (7 U.S.C. 390 et seq.) is repealed.
HR 2534 RFS1S
Subtitle C—Food, Agriculture, Con-
servation, and Trade Act of 1990
SEC. 231. AGRICULTURAL GENOME INITIATIVE.
(a) ESTABLISHMENT
AND
PURPOSE
OF
INITIA-
TIVE.—Section 1671 of the Food, Agriculture, Conserva-
tion, and Trade Act of 1990 (7 U.S.C. 5924) is amended
by striking the section heading and subsection (a) and in-
serting the following:
‘‘SEC. 1671. AGRICULTURAL GENOME INITIATIVE.
‘‘(a) PROGRAM REQUIRED.—The Secretary of Agri-
culture shall conduct a research initiative for the purpose
of—
‘‘(1) supporting basic and applied research and
technology development in the area of genome struc-
ture and function in support of agriculturally impor-
tant species, with a particular focus on research
projects that will yield scientifically important re-
sults that will enhance the usefulness of many agri-
culturally important species;
‘‘(2) studying and mapping agriculturally sig-
nificant genes to achieve sustainable and secure ag-
ricultural production;
‘‘(3) ensuring that current gaps in existing ag-
ricultural genetics knowledge are filled;
HR 2534 RFS1S
Subtitle E—Other Existing Laws
SEC. 251. FINDINGS, AUTHORITIES, AND COMPETITIVE RE-
SEARCH 
GRANTS 
UNDER 
FOREST 
AND
RANGELAND RENEWABLE RESOURCES RE-
SEARCH ACT OF 1978.
(a) FINDINGS.—Section 2 of the Forest and Range-
land Renewable Resources Research Act of 1978 (16
U.S.C. 1641) is amended by striking ‘‘SEC. 2.’’ and sub-
section (a) and inserting the following:
‘‘SEC. 2. FINDINGS AND PURPOSE.
‘‘(a) FINDINGS.—Congress finds the following:
‘‘(1) Forests and rangelands, and the resources
of forests and rangelands, are of strategic economic
and ecological importance to the United States, and
the Federal Government has an important and sub-
stantial role in ensuring the continued health, pro-
ductivity, and sustainability of the Nation’s forests
and rangelands.
‘‘(2) Over 75 percent of the productive commer-
cial forest land in the United States is in private
ownership, with some 60 percent owned by small
nonindustrial private owners. These 10,000,000 non-
industrial private owners are critical to providing
both commodity and noncommodity values to the
citizens of the United States.
HR 2534 RFS1S
‘‘(3) The National Forest System manages only
17 percent of the Nation’s commercial timberlands,
with over half of the standing softwoods inventory
located on those lands. Dramatic changes in Federal
agency policy during the early 1990’s have signifi-
cantly curtailed the management of this vast timber
resource, causing abrupt shifts in the supply of tim-
ber from public to private ownership. As a result of
these shifts in supply, some 60 percent of total wood
production in the United States is now coming from
private forest lands in the southern United States.
‘‘(4) At the same time that pressures are build-
ing for the removal of even more land from commer-
cial production, the Federal Government is signifi-
cantly reducing its commitment to productivity-relat-
ed research regarding forests and rangelands, which
is critically needed by the private sector for the sus-
tained management of remaining available timber
and forage resources for the benefit of all species.
‘‘(5) Uncertainty over the availability of the
United States timber supply, increasing regulatory
burdens, and the lack of Federal Government sup-
port for research is causing domestic wood and
paper producers to move outside the United States
to find reliable sources of wood supplies, which in
HR 2534 RFS1S
turns results in a worsening of the United States
trade balance, the loss of employment and infra-
structure investments, and an increased risk of in-
festations of exotic pests and diseases from imported
wood products.
‘‘(6) Wood and paper producers in the United
States are being challenged not only by shifts in
Government policy, but also by international com-
petition from tropical countries where growth rates
of trees far exceed those in the United States. Wood
production per acre will need to quadruple from
1996 levels for the United States forestry sector to
remain internationally competitive on an ever de-
creasing forest land base.
‘‘(7) 
Better 
and 
more 
frequent 
forest
inventorying and analysis is necessary to identify
productivity-related forestry research needs and to
provide forest managers with the current data nec-
essary to make timely and effective management de-
cisions.’’.
(b) HIGH PRIORITY FORESTRY RESEARCH AND EDU-
CATION.—Subsection (d) of section 3 of the Forest and
Rangeland Renewable Resources Research Act of 1978
(16 U.S.C. 1642) is amended to read as follows:
HR 2534 RFS1S
‘‘(d) HIGH PRIORITY FORESTRY AND RANGELANDS
RESEARCH AND EDUCATION.—The Secretary may con-
duct, support, and cooperate in forestry and rangelands
research and education that is of the highest priority to
the United States and to users of public and private forest
lands and rangelands in the United States. Such research
and education priorities include the following:
‘‘(1) The biology of forest organisms and range-
land organisms.
‘‘(2) Functional characteristics and cost-effec-
tive management of forest and rangeland eco-
systems.
‘‘(3) Interactions between humans and forests
and rangelands.
‘‘(4) Wood and forage as a raw material.
‘‘(5) International trade, competition, and co-
operation.’’.
(c) FOREST INVENTORY AND ANALYSIS.—Section 3
of the Forest and Rangeland Renewable Resources Re-
search Act of 1978 (16 U.S.C. 1642) is amended by add-
ing at the end the following new subsection:
‘‘(e) FOREST INVENTORY AND ANALYSIS.—
‘‘(1) PROGRAM REQUIRED.—In compliance with
existing statutory authority, the Secretary shall es-
tablish a program to inventory and analyze, in a
HR 2534 RFS1S
timely manner, public and private forests and their
resources in the United States.
‘‘(2) ANNUAL
STATE
INVENTORY.—Not later
than the end of each full fiscal year beginning after
the date of the enactment of this subsection, the
Secretary shall prepare for each State, in coopera-
tion with the State forester for the State, an inven-
tory of forests and their resources in the State. For
purposes of preparing the inventory for a State, the
Secretary shall measure annually 20 percent of all
sample plots that are included in the inventory pro-
gram for that State. Upon completion of the inven-
tory for a year, the Secretary shall make available
to the public a compilation of all data collected for
that year from measurements of sample plots as well
as any analysis made of such samples.
‘‘(3) FIVE-YEAR
REPORTS.—At intervals not
greater than every five full fiscal years after the date
of the enactment of this subsection, the Secretary
shall prepare, publish, and make available to the
public a report, prepared in cooperation with State
foresters, that—
‘‘(A) contains a description of each State
inventory of forests and their resources, incor-
porating all sample plot measurements con-
HR 2534 RFS1S
ducted during the five years covered by the re-
port;
‘‘(B) displays and analyzes on a nationwide
basis the results of the annual reports required
by paragraph (2); and
‘‘(C) contains an analysis of forest health
conditions and trends over the previous two
decades, with an emphasis on such conditions
and trends during the period subsequent to the
immediately preceding report under this para-
graph.
‘‘(4) NATIONAL
STANDARDS
AND
DEFINI-
TIONS.—To ensure uniform and consistent data col-
lection for all public and private forest ownerships
and each State, the Secretary shall develop, in con-
sultation with State foresters and Federal land man-
agement agencies not under the jurisdiction of the
Secretary, and publish national standards and defi-
nitions to be applied in inventorying and analyzing
forests and their resources under this subsection.
The standards shall include a core set of variables
to be measured on all sample plots under paragraph
(2) and a standard set of tables to be included in
the reports under paragraph (3).
HR 2534 RFS1S
‘‘(5) PROTECTION
FOR
PRIVATE
PROPERTY
RIGHTS.—The Secretary shall obtain written author-
ization from property owners prior to collecting data
from sample plots located on private property pursu-
ant to paragraphs (2) and (3).
‘‘(6) STRATEGIC
PLAN.—Not later than 180
days after the date of the enactment of this sub-
section, the Secretary shall prepare and submit to
Congress a strategic plan to implement and carry
out this subsection, including the annual updates re-
quired by paragraph (2) and the reports require by
paragraph (3), that shall describe in detail—
‘‘(A) the financial resources required to
implement and carry out this subsection, in-
cluding the identification of any resources re-
quired in excess of the amounts provided for
forest inventorying and analysis in recent ap-
propriations Acts;
‘‘(B) the personnel necessary to implement
and carry out this subsection, including any
personnel in addition to personnel currently
performing inventorying and analysis functions;
‘‘(C) the organization and procedures nec-
essary to implement and carry out this sub-
section, including proposed coordination with
HR 2534 RFS1S
Federal land management agencies and State
foresters;
‘‘(D) the schedules for annual sample plot
measurements in each State inventory required
by paragraph (2) within the first five-year in-
terval after the date of the enactment of this
subsection;
‘‘(E) the core set of variables to be meas-
ured in each sample plot under paragraph (2)
and the standard set of tables to be used in
each State and national report under paragraph
(3); and
‘‘(F) the process for employing, in coordi-
nation with the Department of Energy and the
National Aeronautics and Space Administra-
tion, remote sensing, global positioning systems,
and other advanced technologies to carry out
this subsection, and the subsequent use of such
technologies.’’.
(d) FORESTRY AND RANGELANDS COMPETITIVE RE-
SEARCH GRANTS.—Section 5 of the Forest and Rangeland
Renewable Resources Research Act of 1978 (16 U.S.C.
16442) is amended—
(1) by striking the section heading and ‘‘SEC.
5.’’ and inserting the following:
HR 2534 RFS1S
‘‘SEC. 5. FORESTRY AND RANGELANDS COMPETITIVE RE-
SEARCH GRANTS.
‘‘(a) COMPETITIVE GRANT AUTHORITY.—’’; and
(2) by adding at the end the following new sub-
sections:
‘‘(b) EMPHASIS ON CERTAIN HIGH PRIORITY FOR-
ESTRY RESEARCH.—The Secretary may use up to five
percent of the amounts made available for research under
section 3 to make competitive grants regarding forestry
research in the high priority research areas identified in
section 3(d).
‘‘(c) EMPHASIS ON CERTAIN HIGH PRIORITY RANGE-
LANDS RESEARCH.—The Secretary may use up to five
percent of the amounts made available for research under
section 3 to make competitive grants regarding rangelands
research in the high priority research areas identified in
section 3(d).
‘‘(d) PRIORITIES.—In making grants under sub-
sections (b) and (c), the Secretary shall give priority to
research proposals in which—
‘‘(1) the proposed research will be collaborative
research organized through a center of scientific ex-
cellence;
‘‘(2) the applicant agrees to provide matching
funds (in the form of direct funding or in-kind sup-
HR 2534 RFS1S
port) in an amount equal to not less than 50 percent
of the grant amount; and
‘‘(3) the proposed research will be conducted as
part of an existing private and public partnership or
cooperative research effort and involves several inter-
ested research partners.’’.
TITLE III—EXTENSION OR RE-
PEAL OF RESEARCH, EXTEN-
SION, AND EDUCATION INI-
TIATIVES
Subtitle A—Extensions
SEC. 301. NATIONAL RESEARCH INITIATIVE UNDER COM-
PETITIVE, 
SPECIAL, 
AND 
FACILITIES 
RE-
SEARCH GRANT ACT.
Subsection (b)(10) of the Competitive, Special, and
Facilities Research Grant Act (7 U.S.C. 450i(b)(10)) is
amended by striking ‘‘1997’’ and inserting ‘‘2002’’.
SEC. 302. EQUITY IN EDUCATIONAL LAND-GRANT STATUS
ACT OF 1994.
Sections 533(b) and 535 of the Equity in Educational
Land-Grant Status Act of 1994 (Public Law 103–382; 7
U.S.C. 301 note) are amended by striking ‘‘2000’’ each
place it appears and inserting ‘‘2002’’.
HR 2534 RFS1S
SEC. 303. EDUCATION GRANTS PROGRAMS FOR HISPANIC-
SERVING INSTITUTIONS.
Section 1455(c) of the National Agricultural Re-
search, Extension, and Teaching Policy Act of 1977 (7
U.S.C. 3241(c)) is amended by striking ‘‘fiscal year 1997’’
and inserting ‘‘each of the fiscal years 1997 through
2002’’.
SEC. 304. GENERAL AUTHORIZATION FOR AGRICULTURAL
RESEARCH PROGRAMS.
Section 1463 of the National Agricultural Research,
Extension, and Teaching Policy Act of 1977 (7 U.S.C.
3311) is amended in subsections (a) and (b) by striking
‘‘1997’’ each place it appears and inserting ‘‘2002’’.
SEC. 305. GENERAL AUTHORIZATION FOR EXTENSION EDU-
CATION.
Section 1464 of the National Agricultural Research,
Extension, and Teaching Policy Act of 1977 (7 U.S.C.
3312) is amended by striking ‘‘1997’’ and inserting
‘‘2002’’.
SEC. 306. GRANTS AND FELLOWSHIPS FOR FOOD AND AGRI-
CULTURAL SCIENCES EDUCATION.
Section 1417(j) of the National Agricultural Re-
search, Extension, and Teaching Policy Act of 1977 (7
U.S.C. 3152(j)) is amended by striking ‘‘1997’’ and in-
serting ‘‘2002’’.
HR 2534 RFS1S
SEC. 307. GRANTS FOR RESEARCH ON THE PRODUCTION
AND MARKETING OF ALCOHOLS AND INDUS-
TRIAL 
HYDROCARBONS 
FROM 
AGRICUL-
TURAL COMMODITIES AND FOREST PROD-
UCTS.
Section 1419(d) of the National Agricultural Re-
search, Extension, and Teaching Policy Act of 1977 (7
U.S.C. 3154(d)) is amended by striking ‘‘1997’’ and in-
serting ‘‘2002’’.
SEC. 308. POLICY RESEARCH CENTERS.
Section 1419A(d) of the National Agricultural Re-
search, Extension, and Teaching Policy Act of 1977 (7
U.S.C. 3155(d)) is amended by striking ‘‘fiscal years 1996
and 1997’’ and inserting ‘‘each of fiscal years 1996
through 2002’’.
SEC. 309. HUMAN NUTRITION INTERVENTION AND HEALTH
PROMOTION RESEARCH PROGRAM.
Section 1424(d) of the National Agricultural Re-
search, Extension, and Teaching Policy Act of 1977 (7
U.S.C. 3174(d)) is amended by striking ‘‘fiscal years 1996
and 1997’’ and inserting ‘‘each of fiscal years 1996
through 2002’’.
SEC. 310. PILOT RESEARCH PROGRAM TO COMBINE MEDI-
CAL AND AGRICULTURAL RESEARCH.
Section 1424A(d) of the National Agricultural Re-
search, Extension, and Teaching Policy Act of 1977 (7
HR 2534 RFS1S
U.S.C. 3174a(d)) is amended by striking ‘‘fiscal year
1997’’ and inserting ‘‘each of fiscal years 1997 through
2002’’.
SEC. 311. FOOD AND NUTRITION EDUCATION PROGRAM.
Section 1425(c)(3) of the National Agricultural Re-
search, Extension, and Teaching Policy Act of 1977 (7
U.S.C. 3175(c)(3)) is amended by striking ‘‘and 1997’’
and inserting ‘‘through 2002’’.
SEC. 312. ANIMAL HEALTH AND DISEASE CONTINUING RE-
SEARCH.
Section 1433(a) of the National Agricultural Re-
search, Extension, and Teaching Policy Act of 1977 (7
U.S.C. 3195(a)) is amended in the first sentence by strik-
ing ‘‘1997’’ and inserting ‘‘2002’’.
SEC. 313. ANIMAL HEALTH AND DISEASE NATIONAL OR RE-
GIONAL RESEARCH.
Section 1434(a) of the National Agricultural Re-
search, Extension, and Teaching Policy Act of 1977 (7
U.S.C. 3196(a)) is amended by striking ‘‘1997’’ and in-
serting ‘‘2002’’.
SEC. 314. GRANT PROGRAM TO UPGRADE AGRICULTURAL
AND FOOD SCIENCES FACILITIES AT 1890
LAND-GRANT COLLEGES.
Section 1447(b) of the National Agricultural Re-
search, Extension, and Teaching Policy Act of 1977 (7
HR 2534 RFS1S
U.S.C. 3222b(b)) is amended by striking ‘‘and 1997’’ and
inserting ‘‘through 2002’’.
SEC. 315. NATIONAL RESEARCH AND TRAINING CENTEN-
NIAL CENTERS.
Section 1448 of the National Agricultural Research,
Extension, and Teaching Policy Act of 1977 (7 U.S.C.
3222c) is amended—
(1) in subsection (a)(1), by striking ‘‘and 1997’’
and inserting ‘‘through 2002’’; and
(2) in subsection (f), by striking ‘‘1997’’ and
inserting ‘‘2002’’.
SEC. 316. SUPPLEMENTAL AND ALTERNATIVE CROPS RE-
SEARCH.
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 ‘‘1997’’ and in-
serting ‘‘2002’’.
SEC. 317. AQUACULTURE RESEARCH AND EXTENSION.
Section 1477 of the National Agricultural Research,
Extension, and Teaching Policy Act of 1977 (7 U.S.C.
3324) is amended by striking ‘‘1997’’ and inserting
‘‘2002’’.
SEC. 318. RANGELAND RESEARCH.
Section 1483(a) of the National Agricultural Re-
search, Extension, and Teaching Policy Act of 1977 (7
HR 2534 RFS1S
U.S.C. 3336(a)) is amended by striking ‘‘1997’’ and in-
serting ‘‘2002’’.
SEC. 319. FEDERAL AGRICULTURAL RESEARCH FACILITIES.
Section 1431 of the National Agricultural Research,
Extension, and Teaching Policy Act Amendments of 1985
(Public Law 99–198; 99 Stat. 1566) is amended by strik-
ing ‘‘1997’’ and inserting ‘‘2002’’.
SEC. 320. WATER QUALITY RESEARCH, EDUCATION, AND
COORDINATION.
Section 1481(d) of the Food, Agriculture, Conserva-
tion, and Trade Act of 1990 (7 U.S.C. 5501(d)) is amend-
ed by striking ‘‘1997’’ and inserting ‘‘2002’’.
SEC. 321. NATIONAL GENETICS RESOURCES PROGRAM.
Section 1635(b) of the Food, Agriculture, Conserva-
tion, and Trade Act of 1990 (7 U.S.C. 5844(b)) is amend-
ed by striking ‘‘1997’’ and inserting ‘‘2002’’.
SEC. 322. AGRICULTURAL TELECOMMUNICATIONS PRO-
GRAM.
Section 1673(h) of the Food, Agriculture, Conserva-
tion, and Trade Act of 1990 (7 U.S.C. 5926(h)) is amend-
ed by striking ‘‘1997’’ and inserting ‘‘2002’’.
SEC. 323. ASSISTIVE TECHNOLOGY PROGRAM FOR FARM-
ERS WITH DISABILITIES.
Section 1680 of the Food, Agriculture, Conservation,
and Trade Act of 1990 (7 U.S.C. 5933) is amended—
HR 2534 RFS1S
(1) in subsection (a)(6)(B), by striking ‘‘1997’’
and inserting ‘‘2002’’; and
(2) in subsection (b)(2), by striking ‘‘1997’’
and inserting ‘‘2002’’.
SEC. 324. NATIONAL RURAL INFORMATION CENTER CLEAR-
INGHOUSE.
Section 2381(e) of the Food, Agriculture, Conserva-
tion, and Trade Act of 1990 (7 U.S.C. 3125b(e)) is
amended by striking ‘‘1997’’ and inserting ‘‘2002’’.
SEC. 325. CRITICAL AGRICULTURAL MATERIALS ACT.
Section 16(a) of the Critical Agricultural Materials
Act (7 U.S.C. 178n(a)) is amended by striking ‘‘1997’’
and inserting ‘‘2002’’.
Subtitle B—Repeals
SEC. 341. AQUACULTURE RESEARCH FACILITIES.
Section 1476 of the National Agricultural Research,
Extension, and Teaching Policy Act of 1977 (7 U.S.C.
3323) is repealed.
SEC. 342. AGRICULTURAL RESEARCH PROGRAM UNDER NA-
TIONAL AGRICULTURAL RESEARCH, EXTEN-
SION, AND TEACHING POLICY ACT AMEND-
MENTS OF 1981.
Subsection (b) of section 1432 of the National Agri-
cultural Research, Extension, and Teaching Policy Act
HR 2534 RFS1S
Amendments of 1981 (Public Law 97–98; 7 U.S.C. 3222
note) is repealed.
SEC. 343. LIVESTOCK PRODUCT SAFETY AND INSPECTION
PROGRAM.
Section 1670 of the Food, Agriculture, Conservation,
and Trade Act of 1990 (7 U.S.C. 5923) is repealed.
SEC. 344. GENERIC AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.
Sections 897 and 898 of the Federal Agriculture Im-
provement and Reform Act of 1996 (Public Law 104–127;
110 Stat. 1184) are repealed.
TITLE IV—NEW RESEARCH, EX-
TENSION, 
AND 
EDUCATION
INITIATIVES
Subtitle A—Partnerships for High-
Value 
Agricultural 
Product
Quality Research
SEC. 401. DEFINITIONS.
For the purposes of this subtitle:
(1) ELIGIBLE PARTNERSHIP.—The term ‘‘eligi-
ble partnership’’ means a partnership consisting of
a land-grant college or university and other entities
specified in paragraph (1) of subsection (b) of sec-
tion 402 that satisfies the eligibility criteria con-
tained in such subsection.
HR 2534 RFS1S
(2) SECRETARY.—The term ‘‘Secretary’’ means
the Secretary of Agriculture.
SEC. 402. ESTABLISHMENT AND CHARACTERISTICS OF
PARTNERSHIPS.
(a) ESTABLISHMENT BY GRANT.—
(1) IN
GENERAL.—The Secretary may make
grants to an eligible partnership to coordinate and
manage research and extension activities to enhance
the quality of high-value agricultural products.
(2) AWARDING
OF
GRANTS.—Grants under
paragraph (1) shall be awarded on a competitive
basis.
(b) CRITERIA FOR AN ELIGIBLE PARTNERSHIP.—
(1) PRIMARY
INSTITUTIONS
IN
PARTNER-
SHIP.—The primary institution involved in an eligi-
ble partnership shall be a land-grant college or uni-
versity, acting in partnership with other colleges or
universities, nonprofit research and development en-
tities, and Federal laboratories.
(2) PRIORITIZATION
OF
RESEARCH
ACTIVI-
TIES.—An eligible partnership shall prioritize re-
search and extension activities in order to—
(A) enhance the competitiveness of United
States agricultural products;
(B) increase exports of such products; and
HR 2534 RFS1S
(C) substitute such products for imported
products.
(3) COORDINATION.—An eligible partnership
shall coordinate among the entities comprising the
partnership the activities supported by the eligible
partnership, including the provision of mechanisms
for sharing resources between institutions and lab-
oratories and the coordination of public and private
sector partners to maximize cost-effectiveness.
(c) TYPES OF RESEARCH AND EXTENSION ACTIVI-
TIES.—Research or extension supported by an eligible
partnership may address the full spectrum of production,
processing, packaging, transportation, and marketing
issues related to a high-value agricultural product. Such
issues include—
(1) environmentally responsible—
(A) pest management alternatives and bio-
technology;
(B) sustainable farming methods; and
(C) soil conservation and enhanced re-
source management;
(2) genetic research to develop improved agri-
cultural-based products;
HR 2534 RFS1S
(3) refinement of field production practices and
technology to improve quality, yield, and production
efficiencies;
(4) processing and package technology to im-
prove product quality, stability, or flavor intensity;
(5) marketing research regarding consumer per-
ceptions and preferences;
(6) economic research, including industry char-
acteristics, growth, competitive analysis; and
(7) research to facilitate diversified, value-added
enterprises in rural areas.
SEC. 403. ELEMENTS OF GRANT MAKING PROCESS.
(a) PERIOD OF GRANT.—The Secretary may award
a grant under this subtitle for a period not to exceed five
years.
(b) PREFERENCES.—In making grants under this
subtitle, the Secretary shall give preference to proposals
that—
(1) demonstrate linkages with—
(A) agencies of the Department of Agri-
culture;
(B) other related Federal research labora-
tories and agencies;
(C) colleges and universities; and
(D) private industry; and
HR 2534 RFS1S
(2) guarantee matching funds in excess of the
amounts required by subsection (c).
(c) MATCHING FUNDS.—An eligible partnership shall
contribute an amount of non-Federal funds for the oper-
ation of the partnership that is at least equal to the
amount of grant funds received under this subtitle.
(d) LIMITATION ON USE OF GRANT FUNDS.—Funds
provided under this subtitle may not be used for the plan-
ning, repair, rehabilitation, acquisition, or construction of
a building or facility.
SEC. 404. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS AND RE-
LATED PROVISIONS.
(a) AUTHORIZATION
OF APPROPRIATIONS.—There
are authorized to be appropriated such funds as may be
necessary to carry out this subtitle for each of the fiscal
years 1998 through 2002.
(b) LIMITATION ON ADMINISTRATIVE COSTS.—Not
more than four percent of the funds appropriated to carry
out this subtitle may be retained by the Secretary to pay
administrative costs incurred by the Secretary to carry out
this subtitle.
Subtitle B—Precision Agriculture
SEC. 411. DEFINITIONS.
For purposes of this subtitle:
HR 2534 RFS1S
(1) PRECISION AGRICULTURE.—The term ‘‘pre-
cision agriculture’’ means an integrated information-
and production-based farming system that is de-
signed to increase long-term, site specific and whole
farm production efficiencies, productivity, and profit-
ability while minimizing unintended impacts on wild-
life and the environment by—
(A) combining agricultural sciences, agri-
cultural inputs and practices, agronomic pro-
duction databases, and precision agriculture
technologies to efficiently manage agronomic
and livestock production systems;
(B) gathering on-farm information pertain-
ing to the variation and interaction of site-spe-
cific spatial and temporal factors affecting crop
and livestock production;
(C) integrating such information with ap-
propriate data derived from field scouting, re-
mote sensing, and other precision agriculture
technologies in a timely manner in order to fa-
cilitate on-farm decisionmaking; or
(D) using such information to prescribe
and deliver site-specific application of agricul-
tural inputs and management practices in agri-
cultural production systems.
HR 2534 RFS1S
(2) 
PRECISION
AGRICULTURE
TECH-
NOLOGIES.—The term ‘‘precision agriculture tech-
nologies’’ includes—
(A) instrumentation and techniques rang-
ing from sophisticated sensors and software
systems to manual sampling and data collection
tools that measure, record, and manage spatial
and temporal data;
(B) technologies for searching out and as-
sembling information necessary for sound agri-
cultural production decision making;
(C) open systems technologies for data net-
working and processing that produce valued
systems for farm management decisionmaking;
or
(D) machines that deliver information
based management practices.
(3) ADVISORY
BOARD.—The term ‘‘Advisory
Board’’ means the National Agricultural Research,
Extension, Education, and Economics Advisory
Board established under section 1408 of the Na-
tional Agricultural Research, Extension, and Teach-
ing Policy Act of 1977 (7 U.S.C. 3123).
(4) AGRICULTURAL INPUTS.—The term ‘‘agri-
cultural inputs’’ includes all farm management, ag-
HR 2534 RFS1S
ronomic, and field applied agricultural production in-
puts, such as machinery, labor, time, fuel, irrigation
water, commercial nutrients, feed stuffs, veterinary
drugs and vaccines, livestock waste, crop protection
chemicals, agronomic data and information, applica-
tion and management services, seed, and other in-
puts used in agriculture production.
(5) ELIGIBLE ENTITY.—The term ‘‘eligible en-
tity’’ means—
(A) a State agricultural experiment sta-
tion;
(B) a college or university;
(C) a research institution or organization;
(D) a Federal or State government entity
or agency;
(E) a national laboratory;
(F) a private organization or corporation;
(G) an agricultural producer or other land
manager; or
(H) a precision agriculture partnership re-
ferred to in section 414.
(6) SYSTEMS RESEARCH.—The term ‘‘systems
research’’ means an integrated, coordinated, and
iterative investigative process, which considers the
multiple interacting components and aspects of pre-
HR 2534 RFS1S
cision agriculture systems, including synthesis of
new knowledge regarding the physical-chemical-bio-
logical processes and complex interactions with crop-
ping, livestock production practices, and natural re-
source systems, precision agriculture technologies
development and implementation, data and informa-
tion collection and interpretation, production scale
planning, production-scale implementation, and farm
production efficiencies, productivity, and profit-
ability.
SEC. 412. COMPETITIVE GRANTS TO PROMOTE PRECISION
AGRICULTURE.
(a) GRANTS AUTHORIZED.—The Secretary of Agri-
culture may make competitive grants, for periods not to
exceed five years, to eligible entities to conduct research,
education, or information dissemination projects for the
development and advancement of precision agriculture.
Such grants shall be limited to those projects that the Sec-
retary determines are unlikely to be financed by the pri-
vate sector in the absence of a grant under this section.
The Secretary shall make such grants in consultation with
the Advisory Board.
(b) PURPOSE OF PROJECTS.—Research, education,
or information dissemination projects supported by a
HR 2534 RFS1S
grant under subsection (a) shall address one or more of
the following:
(1) The study and promotion of components of
precision agriculture technologies using a systems
research approach that would increase long-term,
site-specified and whole farm production efficiencies,
productivity, profitability.
(2) The improvement in the understanding of
agronomic systems, including, soil, water, land cover
(including grazing lands), pest management systems,
and meteorological variability.
(3) The provision of training and educational
programs for State cooperative extension services
agents, and other professionals involved in the agri-
cultural production and transfer of integrated preci-
sion agriculture technology.
(4) The development, demonstration, and dis-
semination of information regarding precision agri-
culture technologies and systems and the potential
benefits of precision agriculture as it relates to in-
creased long-term farm production efficiencies, pro-
ductivity, profitability, and the maintenance of the
environment, and improvements in international
trade into an integrated program to educate agricul-
HR 2534 RFS1S
tural producers and consumers, including family
owned and operated farms.
(c) GRANT PRIORITIES.—In making grants to eligible
entities under subsection (a), the Secretary, in consulta-
tion with the Advisory Board, shall give priority to re-
search, education, or information dissemination projects
designed to accomplish the following:
(1) Evaluate the use of precision agriculture
technologies using a systems research approach to
increase long-term site-specific and whole farm pro-
duction efficiencies, productivity, profitability.
(2) Integrate research, education, and informa-
tion dissemination components in a practical and
readily available manner so that the findings of the
project will be made readily usable by farmers.
(3) Demonstrate the efficient use of agricul-
tural inputs, rather than the uniform reduction in
the use of agricultural inputs.
(4) Maximize the involvement and cooperation
of precision agriculture producers, certified crop ad-
visers, State cooperative extension services agents,
agricultural input machinery, product and service
providers, nonprofit organizations, agribusiness, vet-
erinarians, land-grant colleges and universities, and
Federal agencies in precision agriculture systems re-
HR 2534 RFS1S
search projects involving on-farm research, edu-
cation, and information dissemination of precision
agriculture.
(5) Maximize collaboration with multiple agen-
cies and other partners that include leveraging of
funds and resources.
(d) MATCHING FUNDS.—The amount of a grant
under this section to an eligible entity (other than a Fed-
eral agency) may not exceed the amount which the eligible
entity makes available out of non-Federal funds for preci-
sion agriculture research and for the establishment and
maintenance of facilities necessary for conducting preci-
sion agriculture research.
SEC. 413. RESERVATION OF FUNDS FOR EDUCATION AND
INFORMATION DISSEMINATION PROJECTS.
Of the funds made available for grants under section
412, the Secretary of Agriculture shall reserve a portion
of such funds for grants for projects regarding precision
agriculture related to education or information dissemina-
tion.
SEC. 414. PRECISION AGRICULTURE PARTNERSHIPS.
In carrying out this subtitle, the Secretary of Agri-
culture, in consultation with the Advisory Board, shall en-
courage the establishment of appropriate multi-state and
national partnerships or consortia between—
HR 2534 RFS1S
(1) land-grant colleges and universities, State
agricultural experiment stations, State cooperative
extension services, other colleges and universities
with demonstrable expertise regarding precision agri-
culture, agencies of the Department of Agriculture,
national laboratories, agribusinesses, agricultural
equipment and input manufacturers and retailers,
certified crop advisers, commodity organizations,
veterinaries, other Federal or State government enti-
ties and agencies, or nonagricultural industries and
nonprofit organizations with demonstrable expertise
regarding precision agriculture; and
(2) agricultural producers or other land man-
agers.
SEC. 415. MISCELLANEOUS PROVISIONS.
(a) PROHIBITION ON USE OF FUNDS FOR CERTAIN
PURPOSES.—The Secretary of Agriculture may not make
a grant under section 412 for the planning, repair, reha-
bilitation, acquisition, or construction of a building or fa-
cility.
(b) APPLICATION OF OTHER LAWS.—The Federal
Advisory Committee Act (5 U.S.C. App.) and title XVIII
of the Food and Agriculture Act of 1977 (7 U.S.C. 2281
et seq.) shall not apply to a panel or board created for
HR 2534 RFS1S
the purpose of reviewing applications or proposals submit-
ted under this subtitle.
SEC. 416. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.
(a) AUTHORIZATION
OF APPROPRIATIONS.—There
are hereby authorized to be appropriated to carry out this
subtitle $40,000,000 for each of the fiscal years 1998
through 2002.
(b) ADMINISTRATIVE COSTS.—Not more than 3 per-
cent of the amount appropriated under this subtitle may
be retained by the Secretary to pay the administrative
costs incurred by the Secretary in carrying out this sub-
title.
(c) AVAILABILITY OF FUNDS.—Funds made available
under paragraph (a) shall be available for obligation for
a two-year period beginning on October 1 of the fiscal year
for which the funds are made available.
Subtitle C—Other Initiatives
SEC. 421. HIGH-PRIORITY RESEARCH AND EXTENSION INI-
TIATIVES.
Section 1672 of the Food, Agriculture, Conservation,
and Trade Act of 1990 (7 U.S.C. 5925) is amended to
read as follows:
HR 2534 RFS1S
‘‘SEC. 1672. HIGH-PRIORITY RESEARCH AND EXTENSION
INITIATIVES.
‘‘(a) COMPETITIVE SPECIALIZED RESEARCH
AND
EXTENSION GRANTS AUTHORIZED.—The Secretary of
Agriculture, in consultation with the National Agricultural
Research, Education, Extension, and Economics Advisory
Board, may make competitive grants to support research
and extension activities in the high-priority research and
extension areas specified in subsection (e).
‘‘(b) GRANT TYPES AND PROCESS; PROHIBITION ON
CONSTRUCTION.—Paragraphs (6), (7), and (11) of sub-
section (b) of the Competitive, Special, and Facilities Re-
search Grant Act (7 U.S.C. 450i) shall apply with respect
to the making of grants under this section.
‘‘(c) MATCHING FUNDS REQUIRED.—
‘‘(1) IN GENERAL.—The Secretary shall require
the recipient of a grant under this section to provide
funds or in-kind support from non-Federal sources
in an amount at least equal to the amount provided
by the Federal Government.
‘‘(2) WAIVER AUTHORITY.—The Secretary may
waive the matching funds requirement specified in
paragraph (1) with respect to a research project if
the Secretary determines that—
‘‘(A) the results of the project, while of
particular benefit to a specific agricultural com-
HR 2534 RFS1S
modity, are likely to be applicable to agricul-
tural commodities generally; or
‘‘(B) the project involves a minor commod-
ity, deals with scientifically important research,
and the grant recipient would be unable to sat-
isfy the matching funds requirement.
‘‘(d) PARTNERSHIPS ENCOURAGED.—Following the
completion of a peer review process for grant proposals
received under this section, the Secretary may give priority
to those grant proposals found to be scientifically meritori-
ous that involve the cooperation of multiple institutions.
‘‘(e) HIGH-PRIORITY RESEARCH
AND EXTENSION
AREAS.—
‘‘(1) BROWN
CITRUS
APHID
AND
CITRUS
TRISTEZA VIRUS RESEARCH AND EXTENSION.—Re-
search and extension grants may be made under this
section for the purpose of—
‘‘(A) developing methods to control or
eradicate the brown citrus aphid and the citrus
tristeza virus from citrus crops grown in the
United States; or
‘‘(B) adapting citrus crops grown in the
United States to the brown citrus aphid and the
citrus tristeza virus.
HR 2534 RFS1S
‘‘(2) ETHANOL RESEARCH AND EXTENSION.—
Research and extension grants may be made under
this section for the purpose of carrying on or en-
hancing research on ethanol derived from agricul-
tural crops as an alternative fuel source.
‘‘(3) AFLATOXIN RESEARCH AND EXTENSION.—
Research and extension grants may be made under
this section for the purpose of identifying and con-
trolling aflatoxin in the food and feed chains.
‘‘(4) MESQUITE RESEARCH AND EXTENSION.—
Research and extension grants may be made under
this section for the purpose of developing enhanced
production methods and commercial uses of mes-
quite.
‘‘(5) PRICKLY
PEAR
RESEARCH
AND
EXTEN-
SION.—Research and extension grants may be made
under this section for the purpose of investigating
enhanced genetic selection and processing techniques
of prickly pears.
‘‘(6) DEER TICK ECOLOGY RESEARCH AND EX-
TENSION.—Research and extension grants may be
made under this section for the purpose of studying
the population ecology of deer ticks and other in-
sects and pests which transmit Lyme disease.
HR 2534 RFS1S
‘‘(7) RED MEAT SAFETY RESEARCH AND EX-
TENSION.—Research and extension grants may be
made under this section for the purpose of develop-
ing—
‘‘(A) intervention strategies that reduce
microbial contamination on carcass surfaces;
‘‘(B) microbiological mapping of carcass
surfaces; and
‘‘(C) model hazard analysis and critical
control point plans.
‘‘(8) GRAIN SORGHUM ERGOT RESEARCH AND
EXTENSION.—Research and extension grants may be
made under this section for the purpose of develop-
ing techniques for the eradication of sorghum ergot.
‘‘(9) ANIMAL WASTE AND ODOR MANAGEMENT
RESEARCH AND EXTENSION.—Research and exten-
sion grants may be made under this section for the
purpose of—
‘‘(A) identifying, evaluating, and dem-
onstrating innovative technologies for animal
waste management and odor control; and
‘‘(B) conducting information workshops to
disseminate the results of such research.
‘‘(10) FIRE ANT RESEARCH AND EXTENSION.—
Research and extension grants may be made under
HR 2534 RFS1S
this section for the purpose of control, management,
and eradication of fire ants.
‘‘(11) WHEAT
SCAB
RESEARCH
AND
EXTEN-
SION.—Research and extension grants may be made
under this section to a consortium of land-grant col-
leges and universities for the purpose of understand-
ing and combating diseases of wheat and barley
caused by Fusarium graminearum and related fungi
(commonly known as wheat scab).
‘‘(12) PEANUT
MARKET
ENHANCEMENT
RE-
SEARCH AND EXTENSION.—Research and extension
grants may be made under this section for the pur-
pose of evaluating the economics of applying innova-
tive technologies for peanut processing in a commer-
cial environment.
‘‘(13) DAIRY
FINANCIAL
RISK
MANAGEMENT
RESEARCH AND EXTENSION.—Research and exten-
sion grants may be made under this section for the
purpose of providing research, development, or edu-
cation materials, information, and outreach pro-
grams regarding risk management strategies for
dairy producers and for dairy cooperatives and other
processors and marketers of milk.
‘‘(14) COTTON RESEARCH AND EXTENSION.—
Research and extension grants may be made under
HR 2534 RFS1S
this section for the purpose of improving pest man-
agement, fiber quality enhancement, economic as-
sessment, textile production, and optimized produc-
tion systems for short staple cotton.
‘‘(15) METHYL BROMIDE RESEARCH AND EX-
TENSION.—Research and extension grants may be
made under this section for the purpose of—
‘‘(A) developing and evaluating chemical
and nonchemical alternatives, and use and
emission reduction strategies, for pre-planting
and post-harvest uses of methyl bromide; and
‘‘(B) transferring the results of such re-
search for agricultural producer use.
‘‘(16) WATER
QUALITY
AND
AQUATIC
ECO-
SYSTEM RESEARCH AND EXTENSION.—Research and
extension grants may be made under this section for
the purpose of investigating the impact on aquatic
food webs, especially commercially important aquatic
species and their habitats, of microorganisms of the
genus Pfiesteria and other microorganisms that are
a threat to human or animal health.
‘‘(17) POTATO RESEARCH AND EXTENSION.—
Research and extension grants may be made under
this section for the purpose of developing and evalu-
ating new strains of potatoes which are resistant to
HR 2534 RFS1S
blight and other diseases, as well as insects. Empha-
sis may be placed on developing potato varieties that
lend themselves to innovative marketing approaches.
‘‘(18) WOOD UTILIZATION RESEARCH AND EX-
TENSION.—Research and extension grants may be
made under this section for the purpose of develop-
ing new uses for wood from underutilized tree spe-
cies as well as investigating methods of modifying
wood and wood fibers to produce better building ma-
terials.
‘‘(19) LOW-BUSH BLUEBERRY RESEARCH AND
EXTENSION.—Research and extension grants may be
made under this section for the purpose of evaluat-
ing methods of propagating and developing low-bush
blueberry as a marketable crop.
‘‘(20) FORMOSAN TERMITE ERADICATION RE-
SEARCH AND EXTENSION.—Research and extension
grants may be made under this section for the pur-
pose of—
‘‘(A) conducting research for the control,
management, and possible eradication of For-
mosan termites in the United States; and
‘‘(B) collecting data on the effectiveness of
research projects conducted under this para-
graph.
HR 2534 RFS1S
‘‘(21) SWINE WASTE MANAGEMENT AND ODOR
CONTROL
RESEARCH
AND
EXTENSION.—Research
and extension grants may be made under this sec-
tion for the purpose of investigating the microbiology
of swine waste and developing improved methods to
effectively manage air and water quality in animal
husbandry.
‘‘(22) WETLANDS UTILIZATION RESEARCH AND
EXTENSION.—Research and extension grants may be
made under this section for the purpose of better
utilizing wetlands in diverse ways to provide various
economic, agricultural, and environmental benefits.
‘‘(23) WILD
PAMPAS
GRASS
CONTROL
AND
ERADICATION
RESEARCH
AND
EXTENSION.—Re-
search and extension grants may be made under this
section for the purpose of control, management, and
eradication of wild pampas grass.
‘‘(24) PATHOGEN DETECTION AND LIMITATION
RESEARCH AND EXTENSION.—Research and exten-
sion grants may be made under this section for the
purpose of identifying advanced detection and proc-
essing methods to limit the presence of pathogens,
including hepatitis A and E. coli 0157:H7, in domes-
tic and imported foods.
HR 2534 RFS1S
‘‘(25) FINANCIAL
RISK
MANAGEMENT
RE-
SEARCH AND EXTENSION.—Research and extension
grants may be made under this section for the pur-
pose of providing research, development, or edu-
cation materials, information, and outreach pro-
grams regarding financial risk management strate-
gies for agricultural producers and for cooperatives
and other processors and marketers of any agricul-
tural commodity.
‘‘(26) ORNAMENTAL TROPICAL FISH RESEARCH
AND
EXTENSION.—Research and extension grants
may be made under this section for the purpose of
meeting the needs of commercial producers of orna-
mental tropical fish and aquatic plants for improve-
ments in the areas of fish reproduction, health, nu-
trition, predator control, water use, water quality
control, and farming technology.
‘‘(27) SHEEP SCRAPIE RESEARCH AND EXTEN-
SION.—Research and extension grants may be made
under this section for the purpose of investigating
the genetic aspects of scrapie in sheep.
‘‘(28) ANIMAL WASTE MANAGEMENT AT RURAL/
URBAN
INTERFACES.—Research 
and 
extension
grants may be made under this section for the pur-
pose of identifying, evaluating, and demonstrating
HR 2534 RFS1S
innovative technologies to be used for animal waste
management (including odor control) in rural areas
adjacent to urban or suburban areas in connection
with waste management activities undertaken in
urban or suburban areas.
‘‘(29) GYPSY
MOTH
RESEARCH
AND
EXTEN-
SION.—Research and extension grants may be made
under this section for the purpose of developing bio-
logical control, management, and eradication meth-
ods against nonnative insects, including Lymantria
dispar (commonly known as the Gypsy Moth), that
contribute to significant agricultural, economical, or
environmental harm.
‘‘(30) DAIRY EFFICIENCY, PROFITABILITY, AND
COMPETITIVENESS
RESEARCH
AND
EXTENSION.—
Research and extension grants may be made under
this section for the purpose of improving the effi-
ciency, profitability, and competitiveness of dairy
production on farms that are heavily dependent on
manufacturing uses of milk.
‘‘(31) ANIMAL FEED RESEARCH AND EXTEN-
SION.—Research and extension grants may be made
under this section for the purpose of maximizing nu-
trition management for livestock, while limiting
HR 2534 RFS1S
risks, such as mineral bypass, associated with live-
stock feeding practices.
‘‘(32) FORESTRY
RESEARCH
AND
EXTEN-
SION.—Research and extension grants may be made
under this section to develop and distribute new,
high-quality, science-based information for the pur-
pose of improving the long-term productivity of for-
est resources and contributing to forest-based eco-
nomic development by addressing such issues as for-
est land use policies, multiple-use forest manage-
ment, including wildlife habitat development, im-
proved forest regeneration systems, and timber sup-
ply, and improved development, manufacturing, and
marketing of forest products.
‘‘(f) AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.—There
are authorized to be appropriated for each of the fiscal
years 1998 through 2002 such sums as may be necessary
to make grants under this section in each of the high-
priority research and extension areas specified in sub-
section (e).
‘‘(g) USE OF TASK FORCES.—
‘‘(1) ESTABLISHMENT.—To facilitate the mak-
ing of research and extension grants under this sec-
tion in a high-priority research and extension area
specified in subsection (e), the Secretary may ap-
HR 2534 RFS1S
point a task force to make recommendations to the
Secretary.
‘‘(2) LIMITATION
ON
COSTS.—The Secretary
may not incur costs in excess of $1,000 in any fiscal
year in connection with each task force established
under this subsection.
‘‘(3) APPLICATION OF OTHER LAWS.—The Fed-
eral Advisory Committee Act (5 U.S.C. App.) and
title XVIII of the Food and Agriculture Act of 1977
(7 U.S.C. 2281 et seq.) shall not apply to a task
force established under this subsection.’’.
SEC. 422. ORGANIC AGRICULTURE RESEARCH AND EXTEN-
SION INITIATIVE.
The Food, Agriculture, Conservation, and Trade Act
of 1990 is amended by inserting after section 1672 (7
U.S.C. 5925) the following new section:
‘‘SEC. 1672A. ORGANIC AGRICULTURE RESEARCH AND EX-
TENSION INITIATIVE.
‘‘(a) COMPETITIVE SPECIALIZED RESEARCH
AND
EXTENSION GRANTS AUTHORIZED.—The Secretary of
Agriculture, in consultation with the National Agricultural
Research, Education, Extension, and Economics Advisory
Board, may make competitive grants to support research
and extension activities regarding organically grown and
processed agricultural commodities for the purpose of—
HR 2534 RFS1S
‘‘(1) facilitating the development of organic ag-
riculture production and processing methods;
‘‘(2) evaluating the potential economic benefits
to producers and processors who use organic meth-
ods; and
‘‘(3) exploring international trade opportunities
for organically grown and processed agricultural
commodities.
‘‘(b) GRANT TYPES AND PROCESS, PROHIBITION ON
CONSTRUCTION.—Paragraphs (6), (7), and (11) of sub-
section (b) of the Competitive, Special, and Facilities Re-
search Grant Act (7 U.S.C. 450i) shall apply with respect
to the making of grants under this section.
‘‘(c) MATCHING FUNDS REQUIRED.—
‘‘(1) IN GENERAL.—The Secretary shall require
the recipient of a grant under this section to provide
funds or in-kind support from non-Federal sources
in an amount at least equal to the amount provided
by the Federal Government.
‘‘(2) WAIVER AUTHORITY.—The Secretary may
waive the matching funds requirement specified in
paragraph (1) with respect to a research project if
the Secretary determines that—
‘‘(A) the results of the project, while of
particular benefit to a specified agricultural
HR 2534 RFS1S
commodity, are likely to be applicable to agri-
cultural commodities generally; or
‘‘(B) the project involves a minor commod-
ity, deals with scientifically important research,
and grant recipient would be unable to satisfy
the matching funds requirement.
‘‘(d) PARTNERSHIPS ENCOURAGED.—Following the
completion of a peer review process for grant proposals
received under this section, the Secretary may give priority
to those grant proposals found to be scientifically meritori-
ous that involved the cooperation of multiple institutions.
‘‘(e) AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.—There
are authorized to be appropriated for each of the fiscal
years 1998 through 2002 such sums as may be necessary
to make grants under this section.’’.
SEC. 423. UNITED STATES-MEXICO JOINT AGRICULTURAL
RESEARCH.
Subtitle I of the National Agricultural Research, Ex-
tension, and Teaching Policy Act of 1977 is amended by
inserting after section 1458 (7 U.S.C. 3291) the following
new section:
‘‘SEC. 1459. UNITED STATES-MEXICO JOINT AGRICULTURAL
RESEARCH.
‘‘(a) RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT PROGRAM.—
The Secretary may provide for an agricultural research
HR 2534 RFS1S
and development program with the United States/Mexico
Foundation for Science, which will focus on binational
problems facing agricultural producers and consumers in
the two countries, in particular pressing problems in the
areas of food safety, plant and animal pest control, and
the natural resources base on which agriculture depends.
‘‘(b) ADMINISTRATION.—Grants under the research
and development program shall be awarded competitively
through the Foundation.
‘‘(c) MATCHING REQUIREMENTS.—The provision of
funds to the Foundation by the United States Government
shall be subject to the condition that the Government of
Mexico match, on at least an equal ratio, any funds pro-
vided by the United States Government.
‘‘(d) LIMITATION ON USE OF FUNDS.—Funds pro-
vided under this section may not be used for the planning,
repair, rehabilitation, acquisition, or construction of a
building or facility.’’.
SEC. 424. COMPETITIVE GRANTS FOR INTERNATIONAL AG-
RICULTURAL SCIENCE AND EDUCATION PRO-
GRAMS.
Subtitle I of the National Agricultural Research, Ex-
tension, and Teaching Policy Act of 1977 (7 U.S.C. 3291
et seq.) is amended by inserting after section 1459, as
added by section 423, the following new section:
HR 2534 RFS1S
‘‘SEC. 1459A. COMPETITIVE GRANTS FOR INTERNATIONAL
AGRICULTURAL SCIENCE AND EDUCATION
PROGRAMS.
‘‘(a) COMPETITIVE GRANTS AUTHORIZED.—The Sec-
retary may make competitive grants to colleges and uni-
versities in order to strengthen United States economic
competitiveness and to promote international market de-
velopment.
‘‘(b) PURPOSE OF GRANTS.—Grants under this sec-
tion shall be directed to agricultural research, extension,
and teaching activities that will—
‘‘(1) enhance the international content of the
curricula in colleges and universities so as to ensure
that United States students acquire an understand-
ing of the international dimensions and trade impli-
cations of their studies;
‘‘(2) ensure that United States scientists, exten-
sion agents, and educators involved in agricultural
research and development activities outside of the
United States have the opportunity to convey the
implications of their activities and findings to their
peers and students in the United States and to the
users of agricultural research, extension, and teach-
ing;
‘‘(3) enhance the capabilities of colleges and
universities to do collaborative research with other
HR 2534 RFS1S
countries, in cooperation with other Federal agen-
cies, on issues relevant to United States agricultural
competitiveness;
‘‘(4) enhance the capabilities of colleges and
universities to provide cooperative extension edu-
cation to promote the application of new technology
developed in foreign countries to United States agri-
culture; and
‘‘(5) enhance the capability of United States
colleges and universities, in cooperation with other
Federal agencies, to provide leadership and edu-
cational programs that will assist United States nat-
ural resources and food production, processing, and
distribution businesses and industries to compete
internationally, including product market identifica-
tion, international policies limiting or enhancing
market production, development of new or enhance-
ment of existing markets, and production effi-
ciencies.
‘‘(c) AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.—There
are authorized to be appropriated such sums as may be
necessary to carry out this section.’’.
HR 2534 RFS1S
SEC. 425. FOOD ANIMAL RESIDUE AVOIDANCE DATABASE
PROGRAM.
(a) CONTINUATION OF PROGRAM.—The Secretary of
Agriculture shall continue operation of the Food Animal
Residue Avoidance Database program (referred to in this
section as the ‘‘FARAD program’’) through appropriate
colleges or universities.
(b) ACTIVITIES.—In carrying out the FARAD pro-
gram, the Secretary of Agriculture shall—
(1) provide livestock producers, extension spe-
cialists, scientists, and veterinarians with informa-
tion to prevent drug, pesticide, and environmental
contaminant residues in food animal products;
(2) maintain up-to-date information concern-
ing—
(A) withdrawal times on FDA-approved
food animal drugs and appropriate withdrawal
intervals for drugs used in food animals in the
United States, as established under section
512(a) of the Federal Food, Drug, and Cos-
metic Act (21 U.S.C. 360b(a));
(B) official tolerances for drugs and pes-
ticides in tissues, eggs, and milk;
(C) descriptions and sensitivities of rapid
screening tests for detecting residues in tissues,
eggs, and milk; and
HR 2534 RFS1S
(D) data on the distribution and fate of
chemicals in food animals;
(3) publish periodically a compilation of food
animal drugs approved by the Food and Drug Ad-
ministration;
(4) make information on food animal drugs
available to the public through handbooks and other
literature, computer software, a telephone hotline,
and the Internet;
(5) furnish producer quality-assurance pro-
grams with up-to-date data on approved drugs;
(6) maintain a comprehensive and up-to-date,
residue avoidance database;
(7) provide professional advice for determining
the withdrawal times necessary for food safety in the
use of drugs in food animals; and
(8) engage in other activities designed to pro-
mote food safety.
(c) GRANTS.—The Secretary of Agriculture, in con-
sultation with the National Agricultural Research, Edu-
cation, Extension, and Economics Advisory Board, may
make grants to colleges and universities to operate the
FARAD program. The term of a grant shall be three
years, with options to extend the term of the grant tri-
ennially.
HR 2534 RFS1S
SEC. 426. DEVELOPMENT AND COMMERCIALIZATION OF
NEW BIOBASED PRODUCTS.
(a) BIOBASED PRODUCT DEFINED.—For purposes of
this section, the term ‘‘biobased product’’ means a product
suitable for food or nonfood use that is derived in whole
or in part from renewable agricultural and forestry mate-
rials.
(b) COOPERATIVE
AGREEMENTS
FOR
BIOBASED
PRODUCTS.—The Secretary of Agriculture may enter into
cooperative agreements with private entities described in
subsection (c), under which the facilities and technical ex-
pertise of the Agricultural Research Service may be made
available to operate pilot plants and other large-scale pre-
parative facilities for the purpose of bringing technologies
necessary for the development and commercialization of
new biobased products to the point of practical applica-
tion. Cooperative activities may include research on poten-
tial environmental impacts of a biobased product, methods
to reduce the cost of manufacturing a biobased product,
and other appropriate research.
(c) ELIGIBLE PARTNERS.—The following entities
shall be eligible to enter into a cooperative agreement
under this section:
(1) A party that has entered into a cooperative
research and development agreement with the Sec-
retary under section 12 of the Stevenson-Wydler
HR 2534 RFS1S
Technology Innovation Act of 1980 (15 U.S.C.
3710a).
(2) A recipient of funding from the Alternative
Agricultural Research and Commercialization Cor-
poration established under section 1658 of the Food,
Agriculture, Conservation, and Trade Act of 1990 (7
U.S.C. 5902).
(3) A recipient of funding from the Bio-
technology Research and Development Corporation.
(4) A recipient of funding from the Secretary
under a Small Business Innovation Research Pro-
gram established under section 9 of the Small Busi-
ness Act (15 U.S.C. 638).
(d) SOURCE OF FUNDS.—To carry out this section,
the Secretary may use—
(1) funds appropriated to carry out this section;
and
(2) funds available for cooperative research and
development agreements (as described in subsection
(b)).
(e) SALE
OF DEVELOPED PRODUCTS.—The Sec-
retary shall authorize the private partner or partners in
a cooperative agreement consistent with this section to sell
new biobased products produced at a pilot plant under the
HR 2534 RFS1S
agreement for the purpose of determining the market po-
tential for the products.
(f) AUTHORIZATION
OF APPROPRIATIONS.—There
are authorized to be appropriated such sums as may be
necessary to carry out this section.
SEC. 427. THOMAS JEFFERSON INITIATIVE FOR CROP DI-
VERSIFICATION.
(a) INITIATIVE REQUIRED.—The Secretary of Agri-
culture shall provide for a research initiative (to be known
as the ‘‘Thomas Jefferson Initiative for Crop Diversifica-
tion’’) for the purpose of conducting research and develop-
ment, in cooperation with other public and private entities,
on the production and marketing of new and nontradi-
tional crops needed to strengthen and diversify the agri-
cultural production base of the United States. The initia-
tive shall include research and education efforts regarding
new and nontraditional crops designed—
(1) to identify and overcome agronomic barriers
to profitable production;
(2) to identify and overcome other production
and marketing barriers; and
(3) to develop processing and utilization tech-
nologies for new and nontraditional crops.
(b) PURPOSES.—The initiative is established—
HR 2534 RFS1S
(1) to develop a focused program of research
and development at the regional and national level
to overcome barriers to development of new crop op-
portunities for farmers and related value-added en-
terprise development in rural communities; and
(2) to ensure a broad-based effort encompass-
ing research, education, market development, and
support of entrepreneurial activity leading to in-
creased agricultural diversification.
(c) ESTABLISHMENT OF INITIATIVE.—The Secretary
shall coordinate the initiative through a nonprofit center
or institute that will coordinate research and education
programs in cooperation with other public and private en-
tities. The Secretary shall administer research and edu-
cation grants made under this section.
(d) REGIONAL EMPHASIS.—The Secretary shall sup-
port development of multi-State regional efforts in crop
diversification. Of funding made available to carry out the
initiative, 50 percent shall be used for regional efforts cen-
tered at land-grant colleges and universities in order to
facilitate site-specific crop development efforts.
(e) ELIGIBLE GRANTEE.—The Secretary may award
funds under this section to colleges or universities, non-
profit organizations, or public agencies.
(f) ADMINISTRATION.—
HR 2534 RFS1S
(1) GRANTS AND CONTRACTS.—Grants awarded
through the initiative shall be selected on a competi-
tive basis. The recipient of a grant may use a por-
tion of the grant funds for standard contracts with
private businesses, such as for test processing of a
new or nontraditional crop.
(2) TERMS.—The term of a grant awarded
through the initiative may not exceed five years.
(3) MATCHING FUNDS.—The Secretary shall re-
quire the recipient of a grant awarded through the
initiative to contribute an amount of funds from
non-Federal sources at least equal to the amount
provided by the Federal Government.
(g) AUTHORIZATION
OF APPROPRIATIONS.—There
are authorized to be appropriated such sums as may be
necessary to carry out this section.
SEC. 428. INTEGRATED RESEARCH, EDUCATION, AND EX-
TENSION COMPETITIVE GRANTS PROGRAM.
(a) PURPOSE.—It is the purpose of this section to
authorize the Secretary of Agriculture to establish an inte-
grated research, education, and extension competitive
grant program to provide funding for integrated, multi-
functional research, education, and extension activities.
(b) COMPETITIVE GRANTS AUTHORIZED.—Subject to
the appropriation of funds to carry out this section, the
HR 2534 RFS1S
Secretary may award grants to colleges and universities
(as defined in section 1404(4) of the National Agricultural
Research, Extension, and Teaching Policy Act of 1977 (7
U.S.C. 3103(4))) on a competitive basis for integrated re-
search, education, and extension projects in accordance
with the provisions of this section.
(c) CRITERIA FOR GRANTS.—Grants under this sec-
tion shall be awarded to address priorities in United
States agriculture, determined by the Secretary in con-
sultation with the National Agricultural Research, Exten-
sion, Education, and Economics Advisory Board, which in-
volve integrated research, education, and extension activi-
ties.
(d) MATCHING OF FUNDS.—
(1) GENERAL REQUIREMENT.—If a grant under
this section is to the particular benefit of a specific
agricultural commodity, the Secretary shall require
the recipient of the grant to provide funds or in-kind
support to match the amount of funds provided by
the Secretary in the grant.
(2) WAIVER.—The Secretary may waive the
matching funds requirement specified in paragraph
(1) with respect to a grant if the Secretary deter-
mines that—
100
HR 2534 RFS1S
(A) the results of the project, while of par-
ticular benefit to a specific agricultural com-
modity, are likely to be applicable to agricul-
tural commodities generally; or
(B) the project involves a minor commod-
ity, deals with scientifically important research,
and the grant recipient would be unable to sat-
isfy the matching funds requirement.
(e) AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.—There is
authorized to be appropriated such sums as may be nec-
essary for each of the fiscal years 1998 through 2002 to
carry out this section.
SEC. 429. RESEARCH GRANTS UNDER EQUITY IN EDU-
CATIONAL LAND-GRANT STATUS ACT OF 1994.
The Equity in Educational Land-Grant Status Act
of 1994 (Public Law 103–382; 7 U.S.C. 301 note) is
amended by adding at the end the following new section—
‘‘SEC. 536. RESEARCH GRANTS.
‘‘(a) RESEARCH GRANTS AUTHORIZED.—The Sec-
retary of Agriculture may make grants under this section
on the basis of a competitive application process (and in
accordance with such regulations that the Secretary may
promulgate) to a 1994 Institution to assist the 1995 Insti-
tution to conduct agricultural research that addresses high
101
HR 2534 RFS1S
priority concerns of tribal, national, or multi-state signifi-
cance.
‘‘(b) REQUIREMENTS.—Grant applications submitted
under this section shall certify that the research to be con-
ducted will be performed under a cooperative agreement
with at least one other land-grant college or university (ex-
clusive of another 1994 Institution).
‘‘(c) AUTHORIZATION
OF APPROPRIATION.—There
are authorized to be appropriated such sums as may be
necessary to carry out this section for each of the fiscal
years 1998 through 2002. Amounts appropriated shall re-
main available until expended.’’.
TITLE V—MISCELLANEOUS
PROVISIONS
SEC. 501. ROLE OF SECRETARY OF AGRICULTURE REGARD-
ING FOOD AND AGRICULTURAL SCIENCES
RESEARCH, EDUCATION, AND EXTENSION.
The Secretary of Agriculture shall be the principal
official in the executive branch responsible for coordinat-
ing all Federal research and extension activities related
to food and agricultural sciences.
SEC. 502. OFFICE OF PEST MANAGEMENT POLICY.
(a) OBJECTIVE.—The establishment of an Office of
Pest Management Policy pursuant to this section is in-
tended to provide for the effective coordination of agricul-
102
HR 2534 RFS1S
tural policies and activities within the Department of Agri-
culture related to pesticides and of the development and
use of pest management tools, while taking into account
the effects of regulatory actions of other government agen-
cies.
(b) ESTABLISHMENT
OF OFFICE; PRINCIPAL RE-
SPONSIBILITIES.—The Secretary of Agriculture shall es-
tablish in the Department of Agriculture an Office of Pest
Management Policy, which shall be responsible for—
(1) the development and coordination of De-
partment of Agriculture policy on pest management
and pesticides;
(2) the coordination of activities and services of
the Department, including research, extension, and
education activities, regarding the development,
availability, and use of economically and environ-
mentally sound pest management tools and prac-
tices;
(3) assisting the Department in fulfilling its re-
sponsibilities related to pest management or pes-
ticides under the Food Quality Protection Act of
1996 (Public Law 104–170; 110 Stat. 1489), the
Federal Insecticide, Fungicide, and Rodenticide Act
(7 U.S.C. 136 et seq.), the Federal Food, Drug, and
103
HR 2534 RFS1S
Cosmetic Act (21 U.S.C. 301 et seq.), or other law;
and
(4) performing such other functions as may be
required by law or prescribed by the Secretary.
(c) INTERAGENCY COORDINATION.—In support of its
responsibilities under subsection (a), the Office of Pest
Management Policy shall provide leadership to ensure co-
ordination of interagency activities with the Environ-
mental Protection Agency, the Food and Drug Adminis-
tration, and other Federal and State agencies.
(d) OUTREACH.—The Office of Pest Management
Policy shall consult with agricultural producers that may
be affected by pest management or pesticide-related activi-
ties or actions of the Department or other agencies as nec-
essary in carrying out the Office’s responsibilities under
this section.
(e) DIRECTOR.—The Office of Pest Management Pol-
icy shall be under the direction of a Director appointed
by the Secretary who shall report directly to the Secretary
or a designee of the Secretary.
(f) AUTHORIZATION
OF APPROPRIATIONS.—There
are authorized to be appropriated such sums as may be
necessary to carry out this section.
104
HR 2534 RFS1S
SEC. 503. FOOD SAFETY RESEARCH INFORMATION OFFICE
AND NATIONAL CONFERENCE.
(a) FOOD SAFETY RESEARCH INFORMATION OF-
FICE.—
(1) ESTABLISHMENT AND PURPOSE.—The Sec-
retary of Agriculture shall establish a Food Safety
Research Information Office at the National Agri-
cultural Library. The Office shall provide to the re-
search community and the general public informa-
tion on publicly funded, and to the extent possible,
privately funded food safety research initiatives for
the purpose of—
(A) preventing unintended duplication of
food safety research; and
(B) assisting the executive and legislative
branches of the Government and private re-
search entities to assess food safety research
needs and priorities.
(2) COOPERATION.—The Office shall carry out
paragraph (1) in cooperation with the National In-
stitutes of Health, the Food and Drug Administra-
tion, the Centers for Disease Control and Preven-
tion, public institutions, and on a voluntary basis,
private research interests.
(b) NATIONAL CONFERENCE.—Not later than 120
days after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Sec-
105
HR 2534 RFS1S
retary shall sponsor a conference to be known as the ‘‘Na-
tional Conference on Food Safety Research’’, for the pur-
pose of beginning the task of food safety research
prioritization. The Secretary shall sponsor annual work-
shops in each of the subsequent four years after the con-
ference so that priorities can be updated or adjusted to
reflect changing food safety concerns.
(c) FOOD SAFETY REPORT.—With regard to the
study and report to be prepared by the National Academy
of Sciences on the scientific and organizational needs for
an effective food safety system, the study shall include rec-
ommendations to ensure that the food safety inspection
system, within the resources traditionally available to ex-
isting food safety agencies, protects the public health.
SEC. 504. NUTRIENT COMPOSITION DATA.
(a) IN GENERAL.—The Secretary of Agriculture shall
update, on a periodic basis, nutrient composition data.
(b) REPORT.—Not later than 180 days after the date
of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary shall submit
to Congress a report that describes—
(1) the method the Secretary will use to update
nutrient composition data, including the quality as-
surance criteria that will be used and the method for
generating the data; and
(2) the timing for updating the data.
106
HR 2534 RFS1S
SEC. 505. AVAILABILITY OF FUNDS RECEIVED OR COL-
LECTED ON BEHALF OF NATIONAL ARBORE-
TUM.
Section 6(b) of the Act of March 4, 1927 (20 U.S.C.
196(b)), is amended by striking ‘‘Treasury’’ and inserting
‘‘Treasury. Amounts in the special fund shall be available
to the Secretary of Agriculture, without further appropria-
tion,’’.
SEC. 506. RETENTION AND USE OF AGRICULTURAL RE-
SEARCH SERVICE PATENT CULTURE COLLEC-
TION FEES.
All funds collected by the Agricultural Research Serv-
ice of the Department of Agriculture in connection with
the acceptance of microorganisms for deposit in, or the
distribution of microorganisms from, the Patent Culture
Collection maintained and operated by the Agricultural
Research Service shall be credited to the appropriation
supporting the maintenance and operation of the Patent
Culture Collection. The collected funds shall be available
to the Agricultural Research Service, without further ap-
propriation or fiscal-year limitation, to carry out its re-
sponsibilities under law (including international treaty)
with respect to the Patent Culture Collection.
107
HR 2534 RFS1S
SEC. 507. REIMBURSEMENT OF EXPENSES INCURRED
UNDER SHEEP PROMOTION, RESEARCH, AND
INFORMATION ACT OF 1994.
Using funds available to the Agricultural Marketing
Service, the Service may reimburse the American Sheep
Industry Association for expenses incurred by American
Sheep Industry Association between February 6, 1996,
and May 17, 1996, in preparation for the implementation
of a sheep and wool promotion, research, education, and
information order under the Sheep Promotion, Research,
and Information Act of 1994 (7 U.S.C. 7101 et seq.).
SEC. 508. DESIGNATION OF KIKA DE LA GARZA SUB-
TROPICAL AGRICULTURAL RESEARCH CEN-
TER, WESLACO, TEXAS.
(a) DESIGNATION.—The Federal facilities located at
2413 East Highway 83, and 2301 South International
Boulevard, in Weslaco, Texas, and known as the Sub-
tropical Agricultural Research Center, shall be known and
designated as the ‘‘Kika de la Garza Subtropical Agricul-
tural Research Center’’.
(b) REFERENCES.—Any reference in a law, map, reg-
ulation, document, paper, or other record of the United
States to the Federal facilities referred to in subsection
(a) shall be deemed to be a reference to the ‘‘Kika de la
Garza Subtropical Agricultural Research Center’’.
108
HR 2534 RFS1S
SEC. 509. SENSE OF CONGRESS REGARDING AGRICUL-
TURAL RESEARCH SERVICE EMPHASIS ON IN
FIELD RESEARCH REGARDING METHYL BRO-
MIDE ALTERNATIVES.
It is the sense of Congress that, of the Agricultural
Research Service funds made available for a fiscal year
for research regarding the development for agricultural
use of alternatives to methyl bromide, the Secretary of Ag-
riculture should use a substantial portion of such funds
for research to be conducted in real field conditions, in
particular pre-planting and post-harvest conditions, so as
to expedite the development and commercial use of methyl
bromide alternatives.
SEC. 510. SENSE OF CONGRESS REGARDING IMPORTANCE
OF 
SCHOOL-BASED 
AGRICULTURAL 
EDU-
CATION.
It is the sense of Congress that the Secretary of Agri-
culture and the Secretary of Education should collaborate
and cooperate in providing both instructional and tech-
nical support for school-based agricultural education.
SEC. 511. SENSE OF CONGRESS REGARDING DESIGNATION
OF 
DEPARTMENT 
CRISIS 
MANAGEMENT
TEAM.
(a) FINDINGS.—Congress finds the following:
(1) The Department of Agriculture plays a cru-
cial role in ensuring that the United States is a
109
HR 2534 RFS1S
world leader in maintaining the most affordable,
abundant, wholesome, and safe food supply for its
citizens.
(2) It is in the best interest of consumers, pro-
ducers, processors, retailers, government officials,
and other interested parties to ensure that any crisis
that may affect the operation of the Department or
the production of a safe and wholesome food supply
is addressed in an effective manner.
(3) Unforeseen circumstances, including natural
disaster, personnel management problems, threats to
public health, and trade disruptions, have the poten-
tial to undermine the operation of the Department
and the Nation’s ability to efficiently provide a safe,
affordable, abundant, and wholesome food supply.
(4) Department of Agriculture employees, con-
sumer confidence, and the food production sector
have been adversely impacted as a result of the chal-
lenges associated with Federal agencies’ ability to
respond to incidents in a coordinated and timely
fashion.
(5) An effective response to crises, emergencies,
and similar situations depends upon the timely and
efficient coordination of Federal, State, and local
government agencies.
110
HR 2534 RFS1S
(6) It is in the best interests of the Nation to
ensure that whenever a crisis occurs the appropriate
Federal agencies coordinate their activities.
(7) The Department of Agriculture should take
the lead in ensuring a safe and wholesome supply of
food for the Nation because of its broad and diverse
relationship with consumers and the food production
sector.
(b) SENSE OF CONGRESS.—It is the sense of Con-
gress that the Secretary of Agriculture should—
(1) designate a Crisis Management Team with-
in the Department of Agriculture, which would be
composed of senior departmental personnel with
strong subject matter expertise selected from each
relevant agency of the Department and would be
headed by a team leader with strong management
and communications skills;
(2) upon establishment of such a Crisis Man-
agement Team, direct that the Crisis Management
Team—
(A) develop a department-wide crisis man-
agement plan, taking into account similar plans
developed by other government agencies and
other large organizations;