instruction:
In this task, you are given text for US Congressional and California state bills, your task is to generate a summary for this bill.
question:
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

    This Act may be cited as the ``Coastal Services and Performance 
Evaluation Act of 2003''.

SEC. 2. TABLE OF CONTENTS.

    The table of contents for this Act is as follows:

Sec. 1. Short title.
Sec. 2. Table of contents.
Sec. 3. Amendment of Coastal Zone Management Act of 1972.
Sec. 4. Policy.
Sec. 5. Coastal Zone Management Fund.
Sec. 6. Coastal services.
Sec. 7. Review of performance.
Sec. 8. Amendments relating to Walter B. Jones Awards for Excellence in 
                            Coastal Zone Management.
Sec. 9. Reports.
Sec. 10. Authorization of appropriations.
Sec. 11. Technical corrections.
Sec. 12. Coastal zone management outcome indicators and monitoring and 
                            performance evaluation system.

SEC. 3. AMENDMENT OF COASTAL ZONE MANAGEMENT ACT OF 1972.

    Except as otherwise expressly provided, whenever in this Act an 
amendment or repeal is expressed in terms of an amendment to, or repeal 
of, a section or other provision, the reference shall be considered to 
be made to a section or other provision of the Coastal Zone Management 
Act of 1972 (16 U.S.C. 1451 et seq.).

SEC. 4. POLICY.

    Section 303 (16 U.S.C. 1452) is amended in paragraph (2)(J) by 
striking ``State'' the second place it appears and inserting ``State 
and Federal fish''.

SEC. 5. COASTAL ZONE MANAGEMENT FUND.

    Section 308 (16 U.S.C. 1456a) is amended--
            (1) in subsection (a) by striking paragraph (2) and 
        inserting the following:
    ``(2) Loan repayments made pursuant to this subsection--
                    ``(A) shall be retained by the Secretary and 
                deposited into the Coastal Zone Management Fund 
                established under subsection (b); and
                    ``(B) subject to amounts provided in appropriation 
                Acts, shall be available to the Secretary for purposes 
                of this title and transferred to the Operations, 
                Research, and Facilities account to offset the costs of 
                implementing this title.''; and
            (2) in subsection (b)--
                    (A) by striking paragraphs (2) and (3); and
                    (B) by striking ``(b)(1)'' and inserting ``(b)''.

SEC. 6. COASTAL SERVICES.

    Section 310 (16 U.S.C. 1456c) is amended--
            (1) by striking so much as precedes subsection (b) and 
        inserting the following:

     ``coastal services, training, education, and technical support

    ``Sec. 310. (a)(1) The Secretary shall conduct a program of 
training, education, technical assistance, technology transfer, 
management-oriented research, and other services to support--
            ``(A) State coastal management programs and national 
        estuarine reserves designated under this title; and
            ``(B) other Federal agencies, local governments, Indian 
        tribes, other persons, and international cooperative efforts 
        relating to the comprehensive planning, conservation, and 
        management of ocean and coastal resources.
    ``(2) The Secretary may, in implementing this program, take into 
consideration the need to address regional or local concerns, including 
the unique needs of island States and territories, in order to provide 
effective and efficient support and develop expertise.
    ``(3) The Secretary shall coordinate the technical assistance, 
studies, management-oriented research, and other activities under this 
section with any other relevant activities conducted by or subject to 
the authority of the Secretary.'';
            (2) in subsection (b) by inserting ``Coordination and 
        Consultation.--'' after ``(b)''; and
            (3) by adding at the end the following:
    ``(c) Assistance From Other Agencies and Persons.--(1) Each 
department, agency, and instrumentality of the executive branch of the 
Federal Government may assist the Secretary, on a reimbursable basis or 
otherwise, in carrying out the purposes of this section, including the 
furnishing of information to the extent permitted by law, the transfer 
of personnel with their consent and without prejudice to their position 
and rating, and the performance of any research, study, and technical 
assistance that does not interfere with the performance of the primary 
duties of such department, agency, or instrumentality.
    ``(2) The Secretary may enter into contracts or other arrangements 
with other Federal agencies and any other qualified person for the 
purposes of carrying out this section.''.

SEC. 7. REVIEW OF PERFORMANCE.

    Section 312 (16 U.S.C. 1458) is amended by striking ``Sec. 312.'' 
and all that follows through subsection (a) and inserting the 
following:
    ``Sec. 312. (a) Review.--No less than every 5 years, the Secretary 
shall conduct a review of the performance of a coastal State's 
management program. Each review shall include a written evaluation with 
an assessment and detailed findings concerning the extent to which the 
State has implemented and enforced the program approved by the 
Secretary, addressed the coastal management needs identified in section 
303(2)(A) through (K), met any outcome indicators established by the 
Secretary under section 12 of the Coastal Services and Performance 
Evaluation Act of 2003, and adhered to the terms of any grant, loan, or 
cooperative agreement funded under this title.''.

SEC. 8. AMENDMENTS RELATING TO WALTER B. JONES AWARDS FOR EXCELLENCE IN 
              COASTAL ZONE MANAGEMENT.

    Section 314 (16 U.S.C. 1460) is amended--
            (1) by amending subsection (a) to read as follows:
    ``(a) Authorization of Program.--(1) The Secretary may implement a 
program to promote excellence in coastal zone management by identifying 
and making awards acknowledging outstanding accomplishments in the 
field of coastal zone management. An award under this section shall be 
known as a `Walter B. Jones Award'.
    ``(2) Awards under this section may include, subject to the 
availability of appropriations--
            ``(A) cash awards of not more than $5,000 each;
            ``(B) research grants; and
            ``(C) public ceremonies to acknowledge accomplishments in 
        the field of coastal zone management.'';
            (2) in subsection (b) in the matter preceding paragraph 
        (1), by striking ``shall elect annually'' and inserting ``may 
        select annually for an award under this section''; and
            (3) by repealing subsection (e).

SEC. 9. REPORTS.

    Section 316(a) (16 U.S.C. 1462(a)) is amended--
            (1) in subsection (a)--
                    (A) by striking ``to the President for 
                transmittal''; and
                    (B) in clause (10) by striking ``and an evaluation 
                of the effectiveness of financial assistance under 
                section 308 in dealing with such consequences''; and
            (2) by amending subsection (c) to read as follows:
    ``(c) State of the Coast Report.--Not less than 24 months after the 
date of the enactment of this subsection, and not less than every 24 
months thereafter, the Secretary shall provide a coastal status report 
to the Congress that includes the following:
            ``(1) An assessment of the ecological status and trends of 
        United States marine resources.
            ``(2) An identification and analysis of the changes in 
        those status and trends since the previous report.
            ``(3) An identification and assessment of Government 
        performance measures that track the status and trends of United 
        States marine resources.
            ``(4) An evaluation of the adequacy of marine resource 
        monitoring and assessment programs.''.

SEC. 10. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.

    Section 318(a) (16 U.S.C. 1464(a)) is amended--
            (1) in paragraph (1) by striking ``and'' after the 
        semicolon at the end;
            (2) in paragraph (2) by striking the period at the end and 
        inserting ``; and''; and
            (3) by adding at the end the following:
            ``(3) to carry out section 310 and for awards under section 
        314--
                    ``(A) $28,000,000 for fiscal year 2004;
                    ``(B) $29,000,000 for fiscal year 2005; and
                    ``(C) $30,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2006 
                through 2008.''.

SEC. 11. TECHNICAL CORRECTIONS.

    The Coastal Zone Management Act of 1972 is amended--
            (1) in section 304(5) (16 U.S.C. 1453(5)) by striking the 
        semicolon and inserting a colon;
            (2) in section 306(a), as redesignated by this Act, in 
        paragraph (10)(A) by inserting a comma after ``development'';
            (3) by striking ``coastal state'' each place it appears and 
        inserting ``coastal State'';
            (4) by striking ``coastal states'' each place it appears 
        and inserting ``coastal States'';
            (5) by striking ``coastal state's'' each place it appears 
        and inserting ``coastal State's'';
            (6) by striking the term ``state'' each place it appears in 
        reference to a State of the United States (other than in the 
        term ``coastal state'') and inserting ``State'';
            (7) by striking the term ``states'' each place it appears 
        in reference to States of the United States (other than in the 
        term ``coastal states'') and inserting ``States''; and
            (8) by striking the term ``state's'' each place it appears 
        in reference to a State of the United States (other than in the 
        term ``coastal state's'') and inserting ``State's''.

SEC. 12. COASTAL ZONE MANAGEMENT OUTCOME INDICATORS AND MONITORING AND 
              PERFORMANCE EVALUATION SYSTEM.

    (a) In General.--
            (1) Performance guidelines and evaluation.--The Secretary 
        of Commerce shall, by not later than 1 year after the date of 
        enactment of this Act, submit to the Committee on Resources of 
        the House of Representatives a report identifying a common set 
        of measurable outcome indicators to evaluate the performance of 
        State coastal zone management programs in furthering the goals 
        and objectives identified in the States' approved coastal 
        management programs, and in the achievement of the national 
        policy declared in section 303 of the Coastal Zone Management 
        Act of 1972 (16 U.S.C. 1452).
            (2) Assessment of coastal and marine monitoring, 
        assessment, and other information.--The Secretary shall, by not 
        later than 2 years after the date of enactment of this Act, 
        submit to the Committee on Resources of the House of 
        Representatives a report providing--
                    (A) an assessment of the adequacy of coastal and 
                marine monitoring, assessment, and other information 
                necessary to establish a coastal zone management 
                outcome monitoring and performance evaluation system; 
                and
                    (B) recommendations for improving the availability 
                of such information, including funding needs.
            (3) Outcome monitoring and performance evaluation system.--
        The Secretary shall, by not later than 3 years after the date 
        of the enactment of this Act, establish a national coastal zone 
        management outcome monitoring and performance evaluation system 
        that uses the common set of indicators identified in the report 
        under paragraph (1).
    (b) Consultation.--
            (1) State consultation.--In preparing each of the reports 
        under subsection (a), the Secretary shall consult with and 
        provide a copy of the draft report to each coastal State, 
        through the Governor of the State or the head of the State 
        agency designated by such Governor pursuant to section 
        310(d)(6) of the Coastal Zone Management Act of 1972 (16 U.S.C. 
        1455(d)(6)).
            (2) Public comment and participation.--The Secretary shall 
        also implement a public process to solicit the views and 
        comments of Federal agencies, local governments, regional 
        organizations, port authorities, and other interested public 
        and private persons regarding such reports, and shall make 
        available to such persons copies of each draft of such reports 
        for review and comment.
            (3) Response to comments.--The Secretary shall include in 
        each final report under subsection (a)--
                    (A) any comments on each draft of the report 
                received from a Governor or the head of such a 
                designated State agency, and the Secretary's responses 
                to such comments; and
                    (B) a summary of other public comments regarding 
                the report, and the Secretary's response to those 
                comments.
    (c) Authorization of Appropriations.--To carry out this section, 
there are authorized to be appropriated to the Secretary $1,000,000 for 
each of the fiscal years 2004, 2005, and 2006.
answer:
Coastal Services and Performance Evaluation Act of 2003 - Amends Federal law to make loan repayments deposited in the Coastal Zone Management Fund available to offset costs of implementing coastal zone management programs.Requires the Secretary of Commerce to provide training, education, and technical assistance for coastal zone management. Authorizes Federal agencies and instrumentalities to assist the Secretary on a reimbursable basis.Revises review requirements for coastal State management programs to change the frequency of review from continuing to every five years.Makes the Walter B. Jones Excellence in Coastal Zone Management Awards program discretionary instead of mandatory.Requires the Secretary to establish a national coastal zone management outcome indicators monitoring and performance evaluation system that provides for public comment and participation and uses a common set of measurable outcome indicators to evaluate the performance of State coastal zone management programs.


question:
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

    This Act may be cited as the ``Small Business Health Tax Credit 
Act''.

SEC. 2. SMALL BUSINESS TAX CREDIT FOR 50 PERCENT OF HEALTH PREMIUMS.

    (a) In General.--Subpart D of part IV of subchapter A of chapter 1 
of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 (relating to business-related 
credits) is amended by adding at the end the following:

``SEC. 45G. EMPLOYEE HEALTH INSURANCE EXPENSES.

    ``(a) General Rule.--For purposes of section 38, in the case of a 
qualified small employer, the employee health insurance expenses credit 
determined under this section is an amount equal to the applicable 
percentage of the amount paid by the taxpayer during the taxable year 
for qualified employee health insurance expenses.
    ``(b) Applicable Percentage.--For purposes of subsection (a), the 
applicable percentage is equal to--
            ``(1) 50 percent in the case of an employer with less than 
        26 qualified employees,
            ``(2) 40 percent in the case of an employer with more than 
        25 but less than 36 qualified employees, and
            ``(3) 30 percent in the case of an employer with more than 
        35 but less than 51 qualified employees.
    ``(c) Per Employee Dollar Limitation.--The amount of qualified 
employee health insurance expenses taken into account under subsection 
(a) with respect to any qualified employee for any taxable year shall 
not exceed the maximum employer contribution for self-only coverage or 
family coverage (as applicable) determined under section 8906(a) of 
title 5, United States Code, for the calendar year in which such 
taxable year begins.
    ``(d) Definitions and Special Rules.--For purposes of this 
section--
            ``(1) Qualified small employer.--
                    ``(A) In general.--The term `qualified small 
                employer' means any small employer which provides 
                eligibility for health insurance coverage (after any 
                waiting period (as defined in section 9801(b)(4))) to 
                all qualified employees of the employer.
                    ``(B) Small employer.--
                            ``(i) In general.--For purposes of this 
                        paragraph, the term `small employer' means, 
                        with respect to any calendar year, any employer 
                        if such employer employed an average of not 
                        less than 2 and not more than 50 qualified 
                        employees on business days during either of the 
                        2 preceding calendar years. For purposes of the 
                        preceding sentence, a preceding calendar year 
                        may be taken into account only if the employer 
                        was in existence throughout such year.
                            ``(ii) Employers not in existence in 
                        preceding year.--In the case of an employer 
                        which was not in existence throughout the 1st 
                        preceding calendar year, the determination 
                        under clause (i) shall be based on the average 
                        number of qualified employees that it is 
                        reasonably expected such employer will employ 
                        on business days in the current calendar year.
            ``(2) Qualified employee health insurance expenses.--
                    ``(A) In general.--The term `qualified employee 
                health insurance expenses' means any amount paid by an 
                employer for health insurance coverage to the extent 
                such amount is attributable to coverage provided to any 
                employee while such employee is a qualified employee.
                    ``(B) Exception for amounts paid under salary 
                reduction arrangements.--No amount paid or incurred for 
                health insurance coverage pursuant to a salary 
                reduction arrangement shall be taken into account under 
                subparagraph (A).
                    ``(C) Health insurance coverage.--The term `health 
                insurance coverage' has the meaning given such term by 
                paragraph (1) of section 9832(b) (determined by 
                disregarding the last sentence of paragraph (2) of such 
                section).
            ``(3) Qualified employee.--The term `qualified employee' 
        means an employee of an employer who, with respect to any 
period, is not provided health insurance coverage under--
                    ``(A) a health plan of the employee's spouse,
                    ``(B) title XVIII, XIX, or XXI of the Social 
                Security Act,
                    ``(C) chapter 17 of title 38, United States Code,
                    ``(D) chapter 55 of title 10, United States Code,
                    ``(E) chapter 89 of title 5, United States Code, or
                    ``(F) any other provision of law.
            ``(4) Employee--The term `employee'--
                    ``(A) means any individual, with respect to any 
                calendar year, who is reasonably expected to receive at 
                least $5,000 of compensation from the employer during 
                such year,
                    ``(B) does not include an employee within the 
                meaning of section 401(c)(1), and
                    ``(C) includes a leased employee within the meaning 
                of section 414(n).
            ``(5) Compensation.--The term `compensation' means amounts 
        described in section 6051(a)(3).
    ``(e) Certain Rules Made Applicable.--For purposes of this section, 
rules similar to the rules of section 52 shall apply.
    ``(f) Denial of Double Benefit.--No deduction or credit under any 
other provision of this chapter shall be allowed with respect to 
qualified employee health insurance expenses taken into account under 
subsection (a).''.
    (b) Credit To Be Part of General Business Credit.--Section 38(b) of 
the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 (relating to current year business 
credit) is amended by striking ``plus'' at the end of paragraph (14), 
by striking the period at the end of paragraph (15) and inserting ``, 
plus'', and by adding at the end the following:
            ``(16) the employee health insurance expenses credit 
        determined under section 45G.''.
    (c) Credit Allowed Against Minimum Tax.--
            (1) In general.--Subsection (c) of section 38 of the 
        Internal Revenue Code of 1986 (relating to limitation based on 
        amount of tax) is amended by redesignating paragraph (4) as 
        paragraph (5) and by inserting after paragraph (3) the 
        following new paragraph:
            ``(4) Special rules for employee health insurance credit.--
                    ``(A) In general.--In the case of the employee 
                health insurance credit--
                            ``(i) this section and section 39 shall be 
                        applied separately with respect to the credit, 
                        and
                            ``(ii) in applying paragraph (1) to the 
                        credit--
                                    ``(I) the amounts in subparagraphs 
                                (A) and (B) thereof shall be treated as 
                                being zero, and
                                    ``(II) the limitation under 
                                paragraph (1) (as modified by subclause 
                                (I)) shall be reduced by the credit 
                                allowed under subsection (a) for the 
                                taxable year (other than the employee 
                                health insurance credit).
                    ``(B) Employee health insurance credit.--For 
                purposes of this subsection, the term `employee health 
                insurance credit' means the credit allowable under 
                subsection (a) by reason of section 45G(a).''.
            (2) Conforming amendments.--
                    (A) Subclause (II) of section 38(c)(2)(A)(ii) of 
                such Code is amended by inserting ``or the employee 
                health insurance credit'' after ``employee credit''.
                    (B) Subclause (II) of section 38(c)(3)(A)(ii) of 
                such Code is amended by inserting ``or the employee 
                health insurance credit'' after ``employee credit''.
    (d) No Carrybacks.--Subsection (d) of section 39 of the Internal 
Revenue Code of 1986 (relating to carryback and carryforward of unused 
credits) is amended by adding at the end the following:
            ``(11) No carryback of section 45g credit before effective 
        date.--No portion of the unused business credit for any taxable 
        year which is attributable to the employee health insurance 
        expenses credit determined under section 45G may be carried 
        back to a taxable year ending before the date of the enactment 
        of section 45G.''.
    (e) Clerical Amendment.--The table of sections for subpart D of 
part IV of subchapter A of chapter 1 of the Internal Revenue Code of 
1986 is amended by adding at the end the following:

                              ``Sec. 45G. Employee health insurance 
                                        expenses.''.
    (f) Employer Outreach.--The Internal Revenue Service shall, in 
conjunction with the Small Business Administration, develop materials 
and implement an educational program to ensure that business personnel 
are aware of--
            (1) the eligibility criteria for the tax credit provided 
        under section 45G of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 (as 
        added by this section),
            (2) the methods to be used in calculating such credit,
            (3) the documentation needed in order to claim such credit, 
        and
            (4) any available health plan purchasing alliances 
        established under title II,
so that the maximum number of eligible businesses may claim the tax 
credit.
    (g) Effective Date.--The amendments made by this section shall 
apply to amounts paid or incurred in taxable years beginning after the 
date of the enactment of this Act.
answer:
Small Business Health Tax Credit Act - Amends the Internal Revenue Code to allow small business employers (employers with between two and 50 employees) an income tax credit of between 30 to 50 percent (depending upon the number of employees) of the amount paid for employee health insurance, subject to a dollar limitation for each employee. Allows the employer to apply such credit against its minimum tax liability. Directs the Internal Revenue Service, in conjunction with the Small Business Administration, to educate small business personnel about this tax credit.


question:
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

    This Act may be cited as the ``Food Research, Education, Safety, 
and Health Act of 1998''.

SEC. 2. DEFINITIONS.

    In this Act:
            (1) Committee of jurisdiction.--The term ``committee of 
        jurisdiction'' means--
                    (A) the Committee on Agriculture of the House of 
                Representatives;
                    (B) the Committee on Commerce of the House of 
                Representatives;
                    (C) the Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition and 
                Forestry of the Senate; and
                    (D) the Committee on Labor and Human Resources of 
                the Senate.
            (2) Food.--The term ``food'' means food intended for human 
        consumption.
            (3) Secretary.--The term ``Secretary'' means the Secretary 
        of Agriculture.
            (4) State.--The term ``State'' means a State of the United 
        States, the District of Columbia, the Commonwealth of Puerto 
        Rico, and any other territory or possession of the United 
        States.

SEC. 3. CONSUMER EDUCATION FOOD SAFETY BLOCK GRANTS.

    (a) Authority.--The Secretary shall make grants to States to enable 
the States to carry out consumer education food safety programs.
    (b) Application.--To receive a grant under this section, a State 
shall submit to the Secretary an application at such time, in such 
manner, and containing such information as the Secretary may require, 
including--
            (1) a description of the activities that the State will 
        carry out using funds received under this section;
            (2) a designation of an appropriate State agency to 
        administer the funds; and
            (3) a description of the steps to be taken to ensure that 
        the funds are used in accordance with subsection (e).
    (c) Amount of Grant.--
            (1) In general.--From the amounts available to carry out 
        this section for a fiscal year, the Secretary shall allot to 
        each State an amount that bears the same proportion to the 
        amounts available as the population of the State bears to the 
        population of all of the States.
            (2) Determinations of population.--In determining 
        population figures for purposes of this subsection, the 
        Secretary shall use the latest available annual estimates 
        prepared by the Secretary of Commerce.
    (d) Payments.--
            (1) In general.--If the Secretary approves an application 
        submitted by a State under subsection (b), the Secretary shall 
        make a payment to the State in an amount that is equal to its 
        allotment under subsection (c).
            (2) Form of payments.--The Secretary may make payments 
        under this section to a State in installments, and in advance 
        or by way of reimbursement, with necessary adjustments on 
        account of overpayments or underpayments, as the Secretary may 
        determine.
            (3) Reallotments.--If the Secretary determines that any 
        portion of the allotment of a State under subsection (c) will 
        not be used to carry out this section in accordance with an 
        approved State application under subsection (b), the Secretary 
        shall reallot to the other States in proportion to the original 
        allotments to the other States.
    (e) Use of Funds.--Funds received by a State under this section 
shall be used to carry out consumer education food safety programs 
under which education is provided to consumers and other persons on 
safe food practices at each step in the food chain (including 
agricultural production, handling, processing, distribution, and 
preparation of food in restaurants, grocery stores, and homes) using 
the mechanisms described in subsection (g).
    (f) Matching Funds.--As a condition of receipt of funds under this 
section, the Secretary may require a State to provide matching funds 
(at the option of the Secretary, in the form of direct funding or in-
kind support).
    (g) Authorization of Appropriations.--There is authorized to be 
appropriated to carry out this section $10,000,000 for each of fiscal 
years 1999 through 2001.

SEC. 4. IRRADIATION OF FOODS.

    (a) In General.--In conjunction with the Director of the Centers 
for Disease Control and Prevention, the Commissioner of Food and Drugs, 
and the Director of the National Institutes of Health, the Secretary 
shall carry out consumer education initiatives on the irradiation of 
foods, especially ground beef and poultry.
    (b) Study.--Not later than 30 days after the date of enactment of 
this Act, the Secretary shall--
            (1) conduct a study of the cost and feasibility of 
        irradiating fruits and vegetables and of new irradiation 
        technologies; and
            (2) report the results of the study to each of the 
        committees of jurisdiction.
    (c) Authorization of Appropriations.--There is authorized to be 
appropriated to carry out this section $1,000,000 for each of fiscal 
years 1999 through 2001.

SEC. 5. FOOD SAFETY COUNCIL.

    (a) Establishment.--There is established a Food Safety Council 
composed of 12 members, including--
            (1) the Secretary;
            (2) the Secretary of Health and Human Services;
            (3) the Commissioner of Food and Drugs;
            (4) 3 members appointed by the President;
            (5) 3 members appointed by the Majority Leader of the 
        Senate; and
            (6) 3 members appointed by the Speaker of the House.
    (b) Terms.--
            (1) In general.--A member of the Council appointed under 
        paragraph (4), (5), or (6) of subsection (a) shall be appointed 
        for a term of not to exceed 3 years.
            (2) Vacancies.--An individual appointed to complete an 
        unexpired term of a member of the Council described in 
        paragraph (1) shall serve only for the remainder of the term.
    (c) Administration.--
            (1) Chairperson.--The Secretary shall serve as chairperson 
        of the Council.
            (2) Meetings.--
                    (A) In general.--The Council shall meet at least 
                twice a year at the call of the Chairperson.
                    (B) Public meetings.--A meeting of the Council 
                shall be open to the public.
                    (C) Quorum.--Five members of the Council shall 
                constitute a quorum.
    (d) Duties.--The Council shall--
            (1) evaluate, and establish priorities for, food safety 
        research and education, and food-related illness prevention 
        activities, conducted by the Federal Government;
            (2) direct that Federal agencies conduct any necessary 
        updates of science, technology, and public health activities 
        that relate to food safety; and
            (3) submit to the committees of jurisdiction an annual 
        report on actions taken to carry out this section, including 
        any recommendations for improvements in food safety.
    (e) Compensation; Expenses.--
            (1) Compensation of members.--
                    (A) Nonfederal members.--A member of the Council 
                who is not otherwise an officer or employee of the 
                Federal Government shall be compensated at a rate equal 
                to the daily equivalent of the annual rate of basic pay 
                prescribed for a position at level IV of the Executive 
                Schedule under section 5315 of title 5, United States 
                Code, for each day (including travel time) during which 
                the member is engaged in the performance of the duties 
                of the Council.
                    (B) Federal members.--A member of the Council who 
                is otherwise an officer or employee of the United 
                States shall serve without compensation in addition to 
                that received for services as an officer or employee of 
                the United States.
            (2) Travel expenses.--A member of the Council shall be 
        allowed travel expenses, including per diem in lieu of 
        subsistence, at rates authorized for employees of agencies 
        under subchapter I of chapter 57 of title 5, United States 
        Code, while away from the home or regular place of business of 
        the member in the performance of service for the Council.
    (f) Funding.--From funds of the Department of Agriculture, the 
Secretary shall use to carry out this section not more than $100,000 
for each of fiscal years 1999 through 2001.

SEC. 6. COMPETITIVE RESEARCH GRANTS FOR REDUCING THREATS OF FOOD-BORNE 
              PATHOGENS.

    (a) In General.--The Secretary shall make competitive grants, for 
periods not to exceed 5 years, to colleges and universities, State 
agricultural experiment stations, other research institutions and 
organizations, Federal agencies, and private persons for research to 
reduce and control the health and other threats posed by deadly food-
borne pathogens.
    (b) Participation in Grant Process.--In seeking proposals for 
grants under this section and in performing peer review evaluations of 
the proposals, the Secretary shall seek the widest participation of 
qualified scientists in the Federal Government, colleges and 
universities, State agricultural experiment stations, and private 
persons.
    (c) Use of Funds.--Funds received under this section shall not be 
used for the planning, repair, rehabilitation, acquisition, or 
construction of a building or facility.
    (d) Report.--Not later than December 1, 2001, the Secretary shall 
submit to the committees of jurisdiction a report on actions taken to 
carry out this section.
    (e) Authorization of Appropriations.--There is authorized to be 
appropriated to carry out this section $20,000,000 for each of fiscal 
years 1999 through 2001.

SEC. 7. DEMONSTRATION PROJECTS FOR REDUCING THREATS OF FOOD-BORNE 
              PATHOGENS.

    (a) Demonstration Projects.--The Secretary shall conduct a 
sufficient number of demonstration projects to--
            (1) determine the epidemiology and ecology of potential 
        food-borne pathogens; and
            (2) develop interventions.
    (b) Report.--Not later than December 1, 2001, the Secretary shall 
submit to the committees of jurisdiction a report on actions taken to 
carry out this section.
    (c) Funding.--From funds of the Department of Agriculture, the 
Secretary shall use to carry out this section not more than $100,000 
for each of fiscal years 1999 through 2001.

SEC. 8. DETECTION AND MEDICAL TREATMENTS FOR FOOD-BORNE PATHOGENS.

    (a) Detection.--There is authorized to be appropriated $5,000,000 
for each of fiscal years 1999 through 2001 to enable the Centers for 
Disease Control and Prevention to improve the detection of food-borne 
pathogens through--
            (1) the creation of new employment positions for 
        scientists; and
            (2) the acquisition of scientific equipment.
    (b) Medical Treatments.--There is authorized to be appropriated 
$5,000,000 for each of fiscal years 1999 through 2001 to enable the 
National Institutes of Health to conduct research concerning medical 
treatments for individuals infected with food-borne pathogens.

SEC. 9. FOOD SAFETY RESEARCH INFORMATION OFFICE.

    (a) Establishment.--The Secretary shall establish a Food Safety 
Research Information Office in the National Agricultural Library.
    (b) Duties.--In cooperation with the Director of the Centers for 
Disease Control and Prevention, the Commissioner of Food and Drugs, the 
Director of the National Institutes of Health, and other providers of 
relevant information, the Food Safety Research Information Office shall 
provide the scientific community and other interested persons with 
information on public and private research initiatives on food safety.

SEC. 10. RISK ASSESSMENTS.

    (a) In General.--In cooperation with the Director of the Centers 
for Disease Control and Prevention, the Commissioner of Food and Drugs, 
and the Director of the National Institutes of Health, the Secretary 
shall conduct--
            (1) a risk assessment for each species of animal that is 
        used to produce food in the United States, at each step in the 
        food chain (including agricultural production, handling, 
        processing, distribution, and preparation of food in 
        restaurants, grocery stores, and homes) to determine the risks 
        of pathogens posed by the species;
            (2) a risk assessment for each type of fruit and vegetable 
        that is intended for human consumption in the United States to 
        determine the risks of pathogens posed by the type; and
            (3) a risk assessment on food safety practices conducted in 
        homes to determine the risks of pathogens posed by the 
        practices.
    (b) Working Groups.--After the risk assessments required under 
subsection (a)(1) are completed, the Secretary shall, in cooperation 
with producer groups, establish species-specific working groups to 
address potential pathogens on farms.
    (c) Report.--Not later than 1 year after the date of enactment of 
this Act, the Secretary shall submit to each of the committees of 
jurisdiction a report describing the results of the risk assessments 
required under this section.

SEC. 11. SAFETY AND HEALTH RISKS OF IMPORTED FOOD.

    There is authorized to be appropriated $10,340,000 for each of 
fiscal years 1999 through 2001 to enable the Commissioner of Food and 
Drugs to decrease the safety and health risks of imported food 
through--
            (1) the creation of new employment positions for 
        microbiologists and inspectors; and
            (2) the acquisition of scientific equipment.
answer:

Food Research, Education, Safety, and Health Act of 1998 - Directs the Secretary of Agriculture to make grants to States for consumer education food safety programs.  Authorizes appropriations. 
(Sec. 4) Directs the Secretary to:  (1) carry out consumer education initiatives on food irradiation, especially ground beef and poultry; and (2) study the cost and feasibility of fruit and vegetable irradiation, and of new irradiation technologies.  Authorizes appropriations. 
(Sec. 5) Establishes a Food Safety Council which shall:  (1) establish priorities for Federal food safety and related illness prevention activities, including necessary Federal agency updates; and (2) report annually to the appropriate committees.  Authorizes appropriations. 
(Sec. 6) Directs the Secretary to make competitive grants to academic, governmental, and private entities for research to reduce the threat of food-borne pathogens.  Authorizes appropriations. 
(Sec. 7) Directs the Secretary to conduct demonstration projects to reduce the threat of food-borne pathogens.  Obligates Department of Agriculture funds for such purpose. 
(Sec. 8) Authorizes appropriations for Centers for Disease Control and Prevention detection of food-borne pathogens through equipment acquisition and new employment positions for scientists. 
Authorizes appropriations for National Institutes of Health research on treatment of food-borne illnesses. 
(Sec. 9) Directs the Secretary to establish a Food Safety Research Information Office in the National Agricultural Library. 
(Sec. 10) Directs the Secretary to conduct pathogen risk assessments with respect to food animals, fruits and vegetables, and home food safety practices. 
(Sec. 11) Authorizes appropriations for the Commissioner of Food and Drugs to decrease imported food health risks through equipment acquisition and new employment positions for microbiologists and inspectors.