7 U.S.C. § 3101 (AGRICULTURE)
§ 3101. Purposes of agricultural research, extension, and education
The purposes of federally supported agricultural research, extension, and education are to—
(1) enhance the competitiveness of the United States agriculture and food industry in an increasingly competitive world environment;
(2) increase the long-term productivity of the United States agriculture and food industry while maintaining and enhancing the natural resource base on which rural America and the United States agricultural economy depend;
(3) develop new uses and new products for agricultural commodities, such as alternative fuels, and develop new crops;
(4) support agricultural research and extension to promote economic opportunity in rural communities and to meet the increasing demand for information and technology transfer throughout the United States agriculture industry;
(5) improve risk management in the United States agriculture industry;
(6) improve the safe production and processing of, and adding of value to, United States food and fiber resources using methods that maintain the balance between yield and environmental soundness;
(7) support higher education in agriculture to give the next generation of Americans the knowledge, technology, and applications necessary to enhance the competitiveness of United States agriculture; and
(8) maintain an adequate, nutritious, and safe supply of food to meet human nutritional needs and requirements.
(Pub. L. 95–113, title XIV, § 1402, as added Pub. L. 101–624, title XVI, § 1602(a), Nov. 28, 1990, 104 Stat. 3705; amended Pub. L. 104–127, title VIII, § 801, Apr. 4, 1996, 110 Stat. 1156.)
heading: Prior Provisions
text: A prior section 3101, Pub. L. 95–113, title XIV, § 1402, Sept. 29, 1977, 91 Stat. 981; Pub. L. 97–98, title XIV, § 1402, Dec. 22, 1981, 95 Stat. 1294; Pub. L. 99–198, title XIV, § 1402, Dec. 23, 1985, 99 Stat. 1542, stated Congressional findings, prior to repeal by Pub. L. 101–624, title XVI, § 1601(f)(1)(A), Nov. 28, 1990, 104 Stat. 3704.
heading: Amendments
text: 1996—Pub. L. 104–127 amended section generally, substituting present provisions for provisions which set out six purposes of federally funded agricultural research and extension programs.
heading: Short Title of 2004 Amendment
text: Pub. L. 108–465, § 1, Dec. 21, 2004, 118 Stat. 3882, provided that: “This Act [enacting sections 3123a, 7712a, and 8321 of this title, amending section 5925 of this title, and enacting provisions set out as notes under sections 1621 and 5925 of this title] may be cited as the ‘Specialty Crops Competitiveness Act of 2004’.”
heading: Short Title of 2003 Amendment
text: Pub. L. 108–161, § 1, Dec. 6, 2003, 117 Stat. 2014, provided that: “This Act [enacting section 3151a of this title] may be cited as the ‘National Veterinary Medical Service Act’.”
heading: Short Title of 1985 Amendment
text: Pub. L. 99–198, title XIV, § 1401, Dec. 23, 1985, 99 Stat. 1542, provided that: “This title [enacting sections 1632, 3224, 3292, 3319a to 3319d, and 4701 to 4710 of this title, amending this section and sections 178c, 342, 343, 390 to 390d, 390f, 390h, 390i, 390j, 2266, 2662, 2663, 3103, 3121 to 3123, 3124a, 3125, 3151, 3152, 3157, 3194 to 3196, 3221 to 3223, 3291, 3311, 3312, 3318, 3319, 3322, 3324, 3335, and 3336 of this title, repealing sections 390e, 390g, 3174, 3177, 3301 to 3304, and 3323 of this title, enacting provisions set out as notes under sections 343, 390, 390c, 3157, 3173, 3292, 3311, 3312, and 4701 of this title, amending provisions set out as a note under section 3222 of this title, and repealing provisions set out as a note under section 2281 of this title] may be cited as the ‘National Agricultural Research, Extension, and Teaching Policy Act Amendments of 1985’.”
heading: Short Title of 1981 Amendment
text: Pub. L. 97–98, title XIV, § 1401, Dec. 22, 1981, 95 Stat. 1294, provided that: “This title [enacting sections 2271, 2661 to 2667, 3124a, 3223, 3317 to 3319, 3321 to 3324, and 3331 to 3336 of this title, amending this section and sections 322, 361c, 390c, 3102, 3103, 3121 to 3124, 3125 to 3128, 3151 to 3154, 3157, 3175, 3177, 3191, 3192, 3194 to 3196, 3221, 3222, 3263, 3282, 3291, 3311, and 3312 of this title, section 5315 of Title 5, Government Organization and Employees, sections 582a, 582a–1, and 582a–3 to 582a–5 of Title 16, Conservation, section 483 of former Title 40, Public Buildings, Property, and Works, and sections 6651 and 8852 of Title 42, The Public Health and Welfare, repealing sections 2670 and 3176 of this title, omitting section 2668 of this title, and enacting provisions set out as notes under sections 2281 and 3176 of this title] may be cited as the ‘National Agricultural Research, Extension, and Teaching Policy Act Amendments of 1981’.”
heading: Short Title of 1935 Amendment
text: Act June 29, 1935, ch. 338, 49 Stat. 436 (see Tables for classification), is popularly known as the “Agricultural Research Act” and also as the “Bankhead-Jones Act”.
heading: Short Title
text: Pub. L. 95–113, title XIV, § 1401, Sept. 29, 1977, 91 Stat. 981, provided that: “This title [enacting this chapter and sections 2669 and 2670 of this title, amending sections 341, 342, 343, 361c, 390 to 390j, 1923, 1942, 2662, 2663, 2667, 3104, and 3157 of this title and section 6651 of Title 42, The Public Health and Welfare, and repealing section 390k of this title] may be cited as the ‘National Agricultural Research, Extension, and Teaching Policy Act of 1977’.”
heading: Review of Agricultural Research Service
text: Pub. L. 107–171, title VII, § 7404, May 13, 2002, 116 Stat. 457, as amended by Pub. L. 108–11, title II, § 2101(b), Apr. 16, 2003, 117 Stat. 589; Pub. L. 110–234, title VII, § 7511(c)(7), May 22, 2008, 122 Stat. 1267; Pub. L. 110–246, § 4(a), title VII, § 7511(c)(7), June 18, 2008, 122 Stat. 1664, 2029, provided that:
“(a) In General.—
Not later than 90 days after the date of enactment of this Act [May 13, 2002], the Secretary [of Agriculture] shall establish a task force to—
“(1) conduct a review of the Agricultural Research Service; and
“(2) evaluate the merits of establishing one or more National Institutes focused on disciplines important to the progress of food and agricultural science.
“(b) Membership.—
“(1) In general.—
The Task Force shall consist of 8 members, appointed by the Secretary, that—
“(A) have a broad-based background in plant, animal, and agricultural sciences research, food, nutrition, biotechnology, crop production methods, environmental science, or related disciplines; and
“(B) are familiar with the role and infrastructure used to conduct Federal and private research, including—
“(i) the Agricultural Research Service;
“(ii) the National Institutes of Health;
“(iii) the National Science Foundation;
“(iv) the National Aeronautics and Space Administration;
“(v) the Department of Energy laboratory system; or
“(vi) the National Institute of Food and Agriculture.
“(2) Private sector.—
Of the members appointed under paragraph (1), the Secretary shall appoint at least 6 members that are members of the private sector or come from institutions of higher education.
“(3) Plant and agricultural sciences research.—
Of the members appointed under paragraph (1), the Secretary shall appoint at least 3 members that have an extensive background and preeminence in the field of plant, animal, and agricultural sciences research.
“(4) Chairperson.—
Of the members appointed under paragraph (1), the Secretary shall designate a Chairperson that has significant leadership experience in educational and research institutions and indepth knowledge of the research enterprises of the United States.
“(5) Consultation.—
Before appointing members of the Task Force under this subsection, the Secretary shall consult with the National Academy of Sciences and the Office of Science and Technology Policy.
“(c) Duties.—
The Task Force shall—
“(1) conduct a review of the purpose, efficiency, effectiveness, and impact on agricultural research of the Agricultural Research Service;
“(2) conduct a review and evaluation of the merits of establishing one or more National Institutes (such as National Institutes for Plant and Agricultural Sciences) focused on disciplines important to the progress of food and agricultural sciences, and, if establishment of one or more National Institutes is recommended, provide further recommendations to the Secretary, including the structure for establishing each Institute, the multistate area location of each Institute, and the amount of funding necessary to establish each Institute; and
“(3) submit the reports required by subsection (d).
“(d) Reports.—
Not later than 12 months after the date of enactment of this Act [May 13, 2002], the Task Force shall submit to the Committee on Agriculture of the House of Representatives, the Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry of the Senate, and the Secretary—
“(1) a report on the review and evaluation required under subsection (c)(1); and
“(2) a report on the review and evaluation required under subsection (c)(2).
“(e) Funding.—
The Secretary shall use to carry out this section not more than $499,000 of the amount of appropriations available to the Department of Agriculture for fiscal year 2003.”