demonstrable capacity to carry out the 
teaching 
of 
food 
and 
agricultural 
sciences.’’. 
(c) COMPETITIVE, SPECIAL, AND FACILITIES RE-
SEARCH GRANTS.—Subsection (b) of the Competitive, 
Special, and Facilities Research Grant Act (7 U.S.C. 
3157(b)) is amended— 
(1) in paragraph (6)(A), by striking ‘‘teaching’’ 
and inserting ‘‘teaching, including paid work-based 
learning (as defined in section 3 of the Carl D. Per-
kins Career and Technical Education Act of 2006 
(20 U.S.C. 2302))’’; and 
(2) in paragraph (7)(B), by inserting ‘‘, junior 
or community colleges (as defined in section 312 of 
the Higher Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 
1058)), and postsecondary vocational institutions (as 
defined in section 102(c) of the Higher Education 
Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 1002(c)))’’ after ‘‘colleges 
and universities’’. 
SEC. 6. NRCS DIRECT HIRE AUTHORITY. 
Section 1242 of the Food Security Act of 1985 (16 
U.S.C. 3842) is amended by adding at the end the fol-
lowing: 
‘‘(j) NRCS DIRECT HIRE AUTHORITY.— 
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‘‘(1) IN
GENERAL.—The Secretary may ap-
point, without regard to the provisions of subchapter 
I of chapter 33 of title 5, United States Code (other 
than sections 3303 and 3328 of that title), qualified 
candidates, as described in paragraph (2), directly to 
positions within the Natural Resources Conservation 
Service that provide technical assistance under con-
servation programs administered by the Natural Re-
sources Conservation Service. 
‘‘(2) QUALIFICATIONS.—Paragraph (1) applies 
to any candidate who— 
‘‘(A) is qualified to provide the technical 
assistance described in paragraph (1), as deter-
mined by the Secretary; and 
‘‘(B) meets qualification standards estab-
lished by the Office of Personnel Manage-
ment.’’. 
SEC. 7. PRIMARY REGULATORY OVERSIGHT FOR DOMES-
TIC, WILD-CAUGHT, INVASIVE CATFISH. 
(a) EXEMPTION FROM OVERSIGHT.— 
(1) FOOD SAFETY AND INSPECTION SERVICE.— 
Section 1(w)(2) of the Federal Meat Inspection Act 
(21 U.S.C. 601(w)(2)) is amended by inserting ‘‘, 
except for domestic, wild-caught blue catfish 
(Ictalurus furcatus) and flathead catfish (Pylodictis 
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olivaris) invasive to the Chesapeake Bay ecosystem’’ 
before the semicolon. 
(2) 
USDA 
GRADING
PROGRAM.—Section 
203(n)(1) of the Agricultural Marketing Act of 1946 
(7 U.S.C. 1622(n)(1)) is amended by inserting ‘‘, ex-
cept for domestic, wild-caught blue catfish (Ictalurus 
furcatus) and flathead catfish (Pylodictis olivaris) 
invasive to the Chesapeake Bay ecosystem’’ before 
the semicolon. 
(b) INTERAGENCY COORDINATION.—Not later than 
90 days after the date of enactment of this Act, the Sec-
retary of Agriculture (referred to in this section as the 
‘‘Secretary’’) shall execute a memorandum of under-
standing with the Commissioner of Food and Drugs (re-
ferred to in this section as the ‘‘Commissioner’’) for the 
purpose of transferring primary regulatory oversight of 
the domestic and import inspection of domestic, wild- 
caught blue catfish (Ictalurus furcatus) and flathead cat-
fish (Pylodictis olivaris) invasive to the Chesapeake Bay 
ecosystem from the Secretary to the Commissioner, pursu-
ant to the authorities of the Commissioner under the Fed-
eral Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act (21 U.S.C. 301 et 
seq.), the Fair Packaging and Labeling Act (15 U.S.C. 
1451 et seq.), and the Public Health Service Act (42 
U.S.C. 201 et seq.). 
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(c) REGULATIONS.—Not later than 180 days after 
the date of enactment of this Act, the Secretary, in con-
sultation with the Commissioner, shall issue final regula-
tions to carry out this section and the amendments made 
by this section in a manner that ensures that there is no 
duplication in inspection activities relating to domestic, 
wild-caught blue catfish (Ictalurus furcatus) and flathead 
catfish (Pylodictis olivaris) invasive to the Chesapeake 
Bay ecosystem. 
Æ 
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