Agricultural Research, Extension, and Education Reform Act of 1998
PL 105-185 (S.1150), enacted 06/23/1998

PUBLIC LAW 105-185-^UNE 23, 1998 
112 STAT. 523 
Public Law 105-185 
105th Congress 
An Act 
To ensure that federally funded agricultural research, extension, and education 
address high-priority concerns with national or multistate significance, to reform, 
extend, and eliminate certain agricultural research programs, and for other pur-
poses. 
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of 
the United States of 
America in Congress assembled, 
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE; TABLE OF CONTENTS. 
(a) SHORT TITLE.—This Act may be cited as the "Agricultural 
Research, Extension, and Education Reform Act of 1998". 
(b) TABLE OF CONTENTS.—The table of contents of this Act 
is as follows: 
Sec. 1. Short title; table of contents. 
Sec. 2. Definitions. 
Sec. 3. Short titles for Smith-Lever Act and Hatch Act of 1887. 
TITLE I—PRIORITIES, SCOPE, REVIEW, AND COORDINATION OF 
AGRICULTURAL RESEARCH, EXTENSION, AND EDUCATION 
Sec. 101. Standards for Federal funding of agricultural research, extension, and 
education. 
Sec. 102. Priority setting process. 
Sec. 103. Relevance and merit of agricultural research, extension, and education 
funded by the Department. 
Sec. 104. Research formula funds for 1862 Institutions. 
Sec. 105. Extension formula funds for 1862 Institutions. 
Sec. 106. Research facilities. 
TITLE II—REFORM OF EXISTING AGRICULTURAL RESEARCH, 
EXTENSION, AND EDUCATION AUTHORITIES 
Subtitle A—Smith-Lever Act and Hatch Act of 1887 
Sec. 201. Cooperative agricultural extension work by 1862, 1890, and 1994 Institu-
tions. 
Sec. 202. PIEUIS of work to address critical research and extension issues and use 
of protocols to measure success of plans. 
Sec. 203. Consistent matching funds requirements under Hatch Act of 1887 and 
Smith-Lever Act. 
Sec. 204. Integration of research and extension. 
Subtitle B—Competitive, Special, and Facilities Research Grant Act 
Sec. 211. Competitive grants. 
Sec. 212. Special grants. 
Subtitle C—^National Agricultural Research, Extension, and Teaching 
Policy Act of 1977 
Sec. 221. Definitions regarding agricultural research, extension, and education. 
Sec. 222. Advisory Board. 
Sec. 223. Grants and fellowships for food and agricultural sciences education. 
Sec. 224. Policy research centers. 
Sec. 225. Plans of work for 1890 Institutions to address critical research and exten-
sion issues and use of protocols to measure success of plans. 
June 23, 1998 
[S. 1150] 
Agricultural 
Research, 
Extension, and 
Education 
Reform Act of 
1998 
7 u s e 7601 note. 
69-139 O - 98 (185) 
112 STAT. 524 
PUBLIC LAW 105-185-^JUNE 23, 1998 
Sec. 226. Matching funds requirement for research and extension activities at 1890 
Institutions. 
Sec. 227. International research^ extension, and teaching. 
Sec. 228. United States-Mexico joint agricultural research. 
Sec. 229. Competitive grants for international agricultural science and education 
programs. 
Sec. 230. General administrative costs. 
Sec. 231. Expansion of authority to enter into cost-reimbursable agreements. 
Subtitle D—^Food, Agriculture, Conservation, and Trade Act of 1990 
Sec. 241. Agricultural Genome Initiative. 
Sec. 242. High-priority research and extension initiatives. 
Sec. 243. Nutrient management research and extension initiative. 
Sec. 244. Organic agriculture research and extension initiative. 
Sec. 245. Agricultural telecommunications program. 
Sec. 246. Assistive technology program for farmers with disabilities. 
Subtitle E—Other Laws 
Sec. 251. Equity in Educational Land-Grant Status Act of 1994. 
Sec. 252. Fund for Rural America. 
Sec. 253. Forest and rangeland renewable resources research. 
TITLE m—EXTENSION OR REPEAL OF AGRICULTURAL RESEARCH, 
EXTENSION, AND EDUCATION AUTHORITIES 
Sec. 301. Extensions. 
Sec. 302. Repeals. 
TITLE IV—NEW AGRICULTURAL RESEARCH, EXTENSION, AND 
EDUCATION INITIATIVES 
Sec. 401. Initiative for Future Agriculture and Food Systems. 
Sec. 402. Partnerships for high-value agricultural product quality research. 
Sec. 403. Precision agriculture. 
Sec. 404. Biobased products. 
Sec. 405. Thomas Jefferson Initiative for Crop Diversification. 
Sec. 406. Integrated research, education, and extension competitive grants pro-
gram. 
Sec. 407. Coordinated program of research, extension, and education to improve vi-
ability of small and medium size dairy, livestock, and poultry oper-
ations. 
Sec. 408. Support for research regarding diseases of wheat and barley caused by 
Fusarium graminearum. 
TITLE V—AGRICULTURAL PROGRAM ADJUSTMENTS 
Subtitle A—^Food Stamp Program 
Sec. 501. Reductions in funding of employment and training programs. 
Sec. 502. Reductions in payments for administrative costs. 
Sec. 503. Extension of eligibility period for refugees and certain other qualified 
aliens from 5 to 7 years. 
Sec. 504. Food stamp eligibility for certain disabled aliens. 
Sec. 505. Food stamp eligibility for certain Indians. 
Sec. 506. Food stamp eligibility for certain elderly individuals. 
Sec. 507. Food stamp eligibility for certain children. 
Sec. 508. Food stamp eligibility for certain Hmong and Highland Laotians. 
Sec. 509. Conforming amendments. 
Sec. 510. Effective dates. 
Subtitle B—Information Technology Funding 
Sec. 521. Information technology funding. 
Subtitle C—Crop Insurance 
Sec. 531. Funding. 
Sec. 532. Budgetary offsets. 
Sec. 533. Procedures for responding to certain inquiries. 
Sec. 534. Time period for responding to submission of new policies. 
Sec. 535. Crop insurance study. 
Sec. 536. Required terms and conditions of Standard Reinsurance Agreements. 
Sec. 537. Effective date. 
TITLE VI—MISCELLANEOUS PROVISIONS 
Subtitle A—Existing Authorities 
Sec. 601. Retention and use of fees. 
PUBLIC LAW 105-185—JUNE 23, 1998 
112 STAT. 525 
Sec. 602. Office of Energy Policy and New Uses. 
Sec. 603. Kiwifruit research, promotion, and consumer information program. 
Sec. 604. Food Animal Residue Avoidance Database program. 
Sec. 605. Honey research, promotion, and consumer information. 
Sec. 606. Technical corrections. 
Subtitle B—^New Authorities 
Sec. 611. Nutrient composition data. 
Sec. 612. National Swine Research Center. 
Sec. 613. Role of Secretary regarding food and agricultural sciences research and 
extension. 
Sec. 614. Office of Pest Management Policy. 
Sec. 615. Food Safety Research Information Office and National Conference. 
Sec. 616. Safe food handling education. 
Sec. 617. Reimbursement of expenses incurred under Sheep Promotion, Research, 
and Information Act of 1994. 
Sec. 618. Designation of Crisis Management Team within Department. 
Sec. 619. Designation of Kika de la Garza Subtropical Agricultural Research Cen-
ter, Weslaco, Texas. 
Subtitle C—Studies 
Sec. 631. Evaluation and assessment of agricultural research, extension, and edu-
cation programs. 
Sec. 632. Study of federally funded agricultural research, extension, and education. 
Subtitle D—Senses of Congress 
Sec. 641. Sense of Congress regarding Agricultural Research Service emphasis on 
field research regarding methj^ bromide alternatives. 
Sec. 642. Sense of Congress regarding importance of school-based agricultural edu-
cation. 
SEC. 2. DEFINITIONS. 
7 USC 7601. 
In this Act: 
(1) 1862 INSTITUTION.—The term "1862 Institution" means 
a college or university eligible to receive funds under the Act 
of July 2, 1862 (12 Stat. 503, chapter 130; 7 U.S.C. 301 et 
seq.). 
(2) 1890 INSTITUTION.—The term "1890 Institution" means 
a college or university eligible to receive funds under the Act 
of August 30, 1890 (26 Stat. 419, chapter 841; 7 U.S.C. 321 
et seq.), including Tuskegee University. 
(3) 1994 INSTITUTION.—The term "1994 Institution" means 
1 of the 1994 Institutions (as defined in section 532 of the 
Equity in Educational Land-Grant Status Act of 1994 (Public 
Law 103-382; 7 U.S.C. 301 note)) (as amended by section 
251(a)). 
(4) ADVISORY BOARD.—The term "Advisory Board" means 
the National Agricultural Research, Extension, Education, and 
Economics Advisory Board established under section 1408 of 
the National Agricultural Research, Extension, and Teaching 
Policy Act of 1977 (7 U.S.C. 3123). 
(5) DEPARTMENT.—^The term "Department" means 
the 
Department of Agriculture. 
(6) SECRETARY.—The term "Secretary means the Secretary 
of Agriculture. 
SEC. 3. SHORT TITLES FOR SMITH-LEVER ACT AND HATCH ACT OF 
1887. 
(a) SMITH-LEVER ACT.—The Act of May 8, 1914 (commonly 
known as the "Smith-Lever Act") (38 Stat. 372, chapter 79; 7 
U.S.C. 341 et seq.), is amended by adding at the end the following: 
"SEC 11. SHORT TITLE. 
7 USC 341 note. 
"This Act may be cited as the 'Smith-Lever Act'.". 
112 STAT. 526 
PUBLIC LAW 105-185-JUNE 23, 1998 
(b) HATCH ACT OF 1887.—The Act of March 2, 1887 (commonly 
known as the "Hatch Act of 1887") (24 Stat. 440, chapter 314; 
7 U.S.C. 361a et seq.), is amended by adding at the end the 
following: 
7 use 361a note. 
"SEC. 10. SHORT TITLE. 
"This Act may be cited as the 'Hatch Act of 1887'.". 
TITLE I—PRIORITIES, SCOPE, REVIEW, 
AND COORDINATION OF AGRICUL-
TURAL RESEARCH, EXTENSION, AND 
EDUCATION 
7 use 7611. 
SEC. 101. STANDARDS FOR FEDERAL FUNDING OF AGRICULTURAL 
RESEARCH, EXTENSION, AND EDUCATION. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—The Secretary shall ensure that agricultural 
research, extension, or education activities described in subsection 
(b) address a concern that— 
(1) is a priority, as determined imder section 102(a); and 
(2) has national, multistate, or regional significance. 
(b) APPLICATION.—Subsection (a) applies to— 
(1) research activities conducted by the Agricultural 
Research Service; and 
(2) research, extension, or education activities adminis-
tered, on a competitive basis, by the Cooperative State 
Research, Education, and Extension Service. 
7 use 7612. 
SEC. 102. PRIORITY SETTING PROCESS. 
(a) ESTABLISHMENT.—Consistent with section 1402 of the 
National Agricultural Research, Extension, and Teaching PoUcy 
Act of 1977 (7 U.S.C. 3101), the Secretary shall establish priorities 
for agricultural research, extension, and education activities con-
ducted or funded by the Department, 
(b) RESPONSIBILITIES OF SECRETARY.—In establishing priorities 
for agricultural research, extension, and education activities con-
ducted or funded by the Department, the Secretary shall solicit 
and consider input and recommendations from persons who conduct 
or use agricultural resesirch, extension, or education. 
(c) RESPONSIBILITIES OF 1862, 1890, AND 1994 INSTITUTIONS.— 
Effective date. 
(1) PROCESS.—Effective October 1, 1999, to obtain agricul-
tural research, extension, or education formula funds from the 
Secretary, each 1862 Institution, 1890 Institution, and 1994 
Institution shall establish and implement a process for obtain-
ing input from persons who conduct or use agricultural 
research, extension, or education concerning the use of the 
funds. 
(2) REGULATIONS.—The Secretary shall promulgate regula-
tions that prescribe— 
(A) the requirements for an institution referred to in 
para^aph (1) to comply with paragraph (1); and 
(B) the consequences for an institution of not compljong 
with paragraph (1), which may include the withholding 
or redistribution of funds to which the institution may 
be entitled until the institution complies with paragraph 
(1). 
PUBLIC LAW 105-185-^IUNE 23, 1998 
112 STAT. 527 
(d) MANAGEMENT PRINCIPLES.—TO the maximum extent prac-
ticable, the Secretary shall ensure that federally supported and 
conducted agricultural research, extension, and education activities 
are accomplished in a manner that— 
(1) integrates agricultural research, extension, and edu-
cation functions to better link research to technology transfer 
and information dissemination activities; 
(2) encourages regional and multistate programs to address 
relevant issues of common concern and to better leverage scarce 
resources; and 
(3) achieves agricultural research, extension, and education 
objectives through multi-institutional 
and 
multifunctional 
approaches and by conducting research at facilities and institu-
tions best equipped to achieve those objectives. 
SEC. 103. RELEVANCE AND MERIT OF AGRICULTURAL RESEARCH, 
7 USC 7613. 
EXTENSION, AND EDUCATION FUNDED BY THE DEPART-
MENT. 
(a) REVIEW OF COOPERATIVE STATE RESEARCH, EDUCATION, AND Procedures. 
EXTENSION SERVICE.— 
(1) PEER REVIEW OF RESEARCH GRANTS.—The Secretary 
shall establish procedures that provide for scientific peer review 
of each agricultural research grant administered, on a competi-
tive basis, by the Cooperative State Research, Education, and 
Extension Service of the Department. 
(2) MERIT REVIEW OF EXTENSION AND EDUCATION GRANTS.— 
(A) ESTABLISHMENT OF PROCEDURES.—The Secretary 
shall establish procedures that provide for merit review 
of each agricultural extension or education grant adminis-
tered, on a competitive basis, by the Cooperative State 
Research, Education, and Extension Service. 
(B) CONSULTATION WITH ADVISORY BOARD.—The Sec-
retary shall consult with the Advisory Board in establishing 
the merit review procedures. 
(b) ADVISORY BOARD REVIEW.—On an annual basis, the 
Advisory Board shall review— 
(1) the relevance to the priorities established under section 
102(a) of the funding of all agricultural research, extension, 
or education activities conducted or funded by the Department; 
and 
(2) the adequacy of the funding. 
(c) REQUESTS FOR PROPOSALS.— 
(1) REVIEW RESULTS.—^As soon as practicable after the 
review is conducted under subsection (b) for a fiscal year, 
the Secretary shall consider the results of the review when 
formulating each request for proposals, and evaluating propos-
als, involving an agricultural research, extension, or education 
activity funded, on a competitive basis, by the Depgirtment. 
(2) INPUT.—In formulating a request for proposals described 
in para^aph (1) for a fiscal year, the Secretary shall solicit 
and consider input from persons who conduct or use agricultural 
research, extension, or education regarding the prior year's 
request for proposals. 
(d) SCIENTIFIC PEER REVIEW OF AGRICULTURAL RESEARCH.— 
(1) PEER REVIEW PROCEDURES.—The Secretary shall estab-
lish procedures that ensure scientific peer review of all research 
activities conducted by the Department. 
112 STAT. 528 
PUBLIC LAW 105-185-JUNE 23, 1998 
Effective date. 
Effective date. 
(2) REVIEW PANEL REQUIRED.—AS part of the procedures 
established tinder paragraph (1), a review panel shall verify, 
at least once every 5 years, that each research activity of 
the Department and research conducted under each research 
program of the Department has scientific merit and relevance. 
(3) MISSION AREA.—If the research activity or program 
to be reviewed is included in the research, educational, and 
economics mission area of the Department, the review panel 
shall consider— 
(A) the scientific merit and relevance of the activity 
or research in light of the priorities established pursuant 
to section 102; and 
(B) the national or multistate significance of the activ-
ity or research. 
(4) COMPOSITION OF REVIEW PANEL.— 
(A) IN GENERAL.—^A review panel shall be composed 
of individugils with scientific expertise, a majority of whom 
are not employees of the agency whose research is being 
reviewed. 
(B) SCIENTISTS FROM COLLEGES AND UNIVERSITIES.— 
To the maximum extent practicable, the Secretary shall 
use scientists fi*om colleges and universities to serve on 
the review panels. 
(5) SUBMISSION OF RESULTS.—The results of the panel 
reviews shall be submitted to the Advisory Board. 
(e) MERIT REVIEW.— 
(1) 1862 AND 1890 INSTITUTIONS.—Effective October 1, 1999, 
to be eligible to obtedn agricultural research or extension fiinds 
fi*om the Secretary for an activity, each 1862 Institution and 
1890 Institution shall— 
(A) establish a process for merit review of the activity; 
and 
(B) review the activity in accordance with the process. 
(2) 1994 INSTITUTIONS.—Effective October 1, 1999, to be 
eligible to obtain agricultural extension funds from the Sec-
retary for an activity, each 1994 Institution shall— 
(A) establish a process for merit review of the activity; 
and 
(B) review the activity in accordance with the process. 
(f) REPEAL OF PROVISIONS FOR WITHHOLDING FUNDS.— 
(1) SMITH-LEVER ACT.—Section 6 of the Smith-Lever Act 
(7 U.S.C. 346) is repealed. 
(2) HATCH ACT OF ISST.—Section 7 of the Hatch Act of 
1887 (7 U.S.C. 361g) is amended by striking the last paragraph. 
(3) NATIONAL AGRICULTURAL RESEARCH, EXTENSION, AND 
TEACHING POLICY ACT OF 1977.—The National Agricultural 
Research, Extension, and Teaching Policy Act of 1977 is amend-
ed— 
(A) in section 1444 (7 U.S.C. 3221)— 
(i) by striking subsection (f); and 
(ii) by redesignating subsection (g) as subsection 
(f); 
(B) in section 1445(g) (7 U.S.C. 3222(g)), by striking 
paragraph (3); and 
(C) by striking section 1468 (7 U.S.C. 3314). 
PUBLIC LAW 105-185-JUNE 23, 1998 
112 STAT. 529 
SEC. IW. RE^Iil^CH FORMULA FUNDS FOR 1862 INSTITUTICH^S. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—Section 3 of the Hatch Act of 1887 (7 U.S.C. 
361c) is amended— 
(1) in subsection (c)— 
(A) by redesignating paragraphs 1, 2, 3, and 5 as 
paragraphs (1), (2), (3), and (4), respectively; and 
(B) by striking paragraph (3) and inserting the follow-
ing: 
"(3) Not less than 25 percent shall be allotted to the States 
for 
cooperative 
research 
employing 
multidisciplinary 
approaches in which a State agricultural experiment station, 
working with another State agricultural experiment station, 
the Agricultural Research Service, or a college or university, 
cooperates to solve problems that concern more than 1 State. 
The funds available under this paragraph, together with the 
funds available under subsection (b) for a similar purpose, 
shall be designated as the 'Multistate Research Fund, State 
Agricultural Experiment Stations'."; and 
(2) by adding at the end the following: 
"(h) PEER REVIEW AND PLAN OF WORK.— 
"(1) PEER REVIEW.—Research carried out under subsection 
(c)(3) shall be subject to scientific peer review. The review 
of a project conducted under this paragraph shall be considered 
to satisfy the merit review requirements of section 103(e) of 
the Agricultural Research, Extension, and Education Reform 
Act of 1998. 
"(2) PLAN OF WORK.—The State shall include in the plan 
of work of the State required under section 7 a description 
*' ; 
of the manner in which the State will meet the requirements 
of subsection (c)(3).". 
(b) CONFORMING AMENDMENTS.—Section 3 of the Hatch Act 
of 1887 (7 U.S.C. 361c) is amended— 
(1) in subsection (b)(1), by striking "subsection 3(c)(3)" and 
inserting "subsection (c)(3)"; and 
(2) in subsection (e), by striking "subsection 3(c)3" and 
inserting "subsection (c)(3)". 
SEC. 105. EXTENSION FORMULA FUNDS FOR 1862 INSTrrUTIONS. 
Section 3 of the Smith-Lever Act (7 U.S.C. 343) is amended 
by adding at the end the following: 
"(h) MULTISTATE COOPERATIVE EXTENSION ACTIVITIES.— 
"(1) IN GENERAL.—Not less than the applicable percentage 
specified under paragraph (2) of the amounts that are paid 
to a State under subsections (b) and (c) during a fiscal year 
shall be expended by States for cooperative extension activities 
in which 2 or more States cooperate to solve problems that 
concern more than 1 State (referred to in this subsection as 
'multistate activities'). 
"(2) APPLICABLE PERCENTAGES.— 
"(A) 1997 EXPENDITURES ON MULTISTATE ACTIVITIES.— 
Of the Federed formula funds that were paid to each State 
for fiscal year 1997 under subsections (b) and (c), the 
Secretary of Agriculture shall determine the percentage 
that the State expended for multistate activities. 
"(B) REQUIRED EXPENDITURES ON MULTISTATE ACTIVI-
TIES.—Of the Federal formula funds that are paid to each 
State for fiscal year 2000 £ind each subsequent fiscal year 
112 STAT. 530 
PUBLIC LAW 105-185-JUNE 23, 1998 
under subsections (b) and (c), the State shall expend for 
1 
the fiscal year for multistate activities a percentage that 
is at least equal to the lesser of— 
"(i) 25 percent; or 
' 
"(ii) twice the percentage for the State determined 
under subparagraph (A). 
* 
"(C) REDUCTION BY SECRETARY.—The Secretary may 
reduce the minimum percentage required to be expended 
for multistate activities under subparagraph (B) by a State 
' 
in a case of hardship, infeasibility, or other similar cir-
cumstance beyond the control of the State, as determined 
by the Secretary. 
: 
"(D) PLAN OF WORK.—The State shall include in the 
plan of work of the State required under section 4 a descrip-
tion of the msinner in which the State will meet the require-
ments of this paragraph. 
"(3) APPLICABILITY.—This subsection does not apply to 
funds provided— 
"(A) by a State or local government pursuant to a 
matching requirement; 
"(B) to a 1994 Institution (as defined in section 532 
5
, . of the Equity in Educational Land-Grant Status Act of 
1994 (Pubhc Law 103-382; 7 U.S.C. 301 note)); or 
"(C) to the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, the Virgin 
Islands, or Guam, 
"(i) MERIT REVIEW.— 
Effective date. 
"(1) REVIEW REQUIRED.—Effective October 1, 1999, exten-
sion activity carried out under subsection (h) shall be subject 
to merit review. 
"(2) OTHER 
REQUIREMENTS.—An extension activity for 
which merit review is conducted under paragraph (1) shall 
be considered to have satisfied the requirements for review 
under section 103(e) of the Agricultural Research, Extension, 
and Education Reform Act of 1998.". 
SEC. 106. RESEARCH FACILITIES. 
(a) 
CRITERIA FOR APPROVAL.—Section 3(c)(2)(C)(ii) of the 
Research Facilities Act (7 U.S.C. 390a(c)(2)(C)(ii)) is amended by 
striking "regional needs" and inserting "national or multistate 
needs". 
(b) NATIONAL OR MULTISTATS NEEDS SERVED BY A R S FACILI-
TIES.—Section 3 of the Research Facilities Act (7 U.S.C. 390a) 
is amended by adding at the end the following: 
"(e) NATIONAL OR MULTISTATE NEEDS SERVED BY ARS FACILI-
TIES.—^The Secretary shall ensure that each research activity con-
ducted by a facility of the Agricultural Research Service serves 
a national or multistate need.". 
(c) 10-YEAR STRATEGIC PLAN.—Section 4(d) of the Research 
Facilities Act (7 U.S.C. 390b(d)) is amended by striking "regional" 
and inserting "multistate". 
(d) COMPREHENSIVE RESEARCH CAPACITY.—Section 4 of the 
Research Facilities Act (7 U.S.C. 390b) is amended by adding at 
the end the following: 
"(g) COMPREHENSIVE RESEARCH CAPACITY.—After submission 
of the 10-year strategic plan required under subsection (d), the 
PUBLIC LAW 105-185^JUNE 23, 1998 
112 STAT. 531 
Secretary shall continue to review periodically each operating agri-
cultural research facility constructed in whole or in part with Fed-
eral funds, and each planned agricultural research facility proposed 
to be constructed in whole or in part with Federal funds, pursuant 
to criteria established by the Secretary, to ensure that a comprehen-
sive research capacity is maintained.". 
TITLE II—REFORM OF EXISTING AGRI-
CULTURAL RESEARCH, EXTENSION, 
AND EDUCATION AUTHORITIES 
Subtitle A—Smith-Lever Act and Hatch Act 
of 1887 
SEC. 201. COOPERATIVE AGRICULTURAL EXTENSION WORK BY 1862, 
1890, AND 1994 INSTITUTIONS. 
Section 3(b)(3) of the Smith-Lever Act (7 U.S.C. 343(b)(3)) is 
amended in the last sentence by striking "State institutions" Eind 
all that follows through the period at the end and inserting "1994 
Institutions (in accordance with regulations that the Secretary may 
promulgate) and may be administered by the 1994 Institutions 
through cooperative agreements with colleges and universities 
eligible to receive funds under the Act of July 2, 1862 (12 Stat. 
503, chapter 130; 7 U.S.C. 301 et seq.), or the Act of August 
30, 1890 (26 Stat. 419, chapter 841; 7 U.S.C. 321 et seq.), including 
Tuskegee University, located in any State.". 
SEC. 202. PLANS OF WORK TO ADDRESS CRITICAL RESEARCH 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 following: 
"SEC. 4. ASCERTAINMENT OF ENTITLEMENT OF STATE TO FUNDS; 
TIME AND MANNER OF PAYMENT; STATE REPORTING 
REQUIREMENTS; PLANS OF WORK. 
"(a) ASCERTAINMENT OF ENTITLEMENT.—"; 
(2) in the last sentence, by striking "Such sums" and insert-
ing 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: 
"(c) REQUIREMENTS RELATED TO PLAN OF WoRK.—Each exten-
sion plan of work for a State required under subsection (a) shall 
contain descriptions of the following: 
"(1) The criticsd short-term, intermediate, and long-term 
agricultural issues in the State and the current and planned 
extension programs and projects targeted to address the issues. 
"(2) 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 the issues. 
"(3) The efforts made to identify and collaborate with other 
colleges and universities within the State, and within other 
112 STAT. 532 
PUBLIC LAW 105-185-^JUNE 23, 1998 
States, that have a iinique capacity to address the identified 
agricultural issues in the State ana the extent of current and 
emerging efforts (including regional efforts) to work with those 
other institutions. 
"(4) The meinner in which research and extension, including 
research and extension activities 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 carried out sequentially, and the activities 
to be carried out jointly. 
"(5) The education and outreach programs already under-
way to convey available research results that are pertinent 
to a critical agricultural issue, including efforts to encourage 
multicounty cooperation in the dissemination of research 
results. 
"(d) EXTENSION PROTOCOLS.— 
"(1) DEVELOPMENT.—The Secretary of Agriculture shall 
develop protocols to be used to evaluate the success of 
multistate, multi-institutional, and multidisciplinary extension 
activities and joint research and extension activities in address-
ing critical agricultural issues identified in the plans of work 
submitted under subsection (a). 
"(2) CONSULTATION.—The Secretary of Agriculture shall 
develop the protocols in consultation with the National Agricul-
tural Research, Extension, Education, and Economics Advisory 
Board established under section 1408 of the National Agricul-
tural Research, Extension, and Teaching Policy Act of 1977 
(7 U.S.C. 3123) and land-grant colleges and universities. 
"(e) TREATMENT OF PLANS OF WORK FOR OTHER PURPOSES.— 
To the maximum extent practicable, the Secretary shall consider 
a plan of work submitted under subsection (a) to satisfy other 
appropriate Federal reporting requirements.". 
(b) HATCH ACT OF 1887.—Section 7 of the Hatch Act of 1887 
(7 U.S.C. 361g) (as amended by section 103(f)(2)) is amended— 
(1) by striking "SEC. 7." and inserting the following: 
«SEC. 7. DUTIES OF SECRETARY; ASCERTAINMENT OF ENTITLEMENT 
OF STATE TO FUNDS; PLANS OF WORK. 
"(a) DUTIES OF SECRETARY.—"; 
(2) by striking "On or before" and inserting the following: 
"(b) ASCERTAINMENT OF ENTITLEMENT.—On or before"; 
(3) by striking "Whenever it shall appear" and inserting 
the following: 
"(c) EFFECT OF FAILURE TO EXPEND FULL ALLOTMENT.—When-
ever it shall appear"; and 
(4) by adding at the end the following: 
"(d) PLAN OF WORK REQUIRED.—Before funds may be provided 
to a State under this Act for any fiscal year, a plan of work 
to be carried out under this Act shall be submitted by the proper 
officials of the State and shall be approved by the Secretary of 
Agriculture. 
"(e) REQUIREMENTS RELATED TO PLAN OF WORK.—Each plan 
of work for a State required under subsection (d) shall contain 
descriptions of the following: 
"(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 the issues. 
PUBLIC LAW 1 0 5 - 1 8 5 - ^ U N E 23, 1998 
112 STAT. 533 
"(2) The process established to consult with users of agricul-
tural research regarding the identification of critical agricul-
tural issues in the State and the development of research 
programs and projects targeted to address the issues. 
"(3) The efforts made to identify and collaborate with other 
colleges and universities within the State, and within other 
States, that have a unique capacity to address the identified 
agricultural issues in the State and the extent of current and 
emerging efforts (including regional efforts) to work with those 
other institutions. 
"(4) The manner in which research and extension, including 
research and extension activities 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 carried out sequentially, and the activities 
to be carried out jointly. 
"(f) RESEARCH PROTOCOLS.— 
"(1) DEVELOPMENT.—^The Secretary of Agriculture shall 
develop protocols to be used to evaluate the success of 
multistate, multi-institutional, and multidisciplinary research 
activities £ind joint research and extension activities in address-
ing critical agricultural issues identified in the plans of work 
submitted under subsection (d). 
"(2) CONSULTATION.—^The Secretary of Agriculture shall 
develop the protocols in consultation with the National Agricul-
tural Research, Extension, Education, and Economics Advisory 
Board established under section 1408 of the National Agricul-
tural Research, Extension, and Teaching Policy Act of 1977 
(7 U.S.C. 3123) and land-grant colleges and universities. 
"(g) TREATMENT OF PLANS OF WORK FOR OTHER PURPOSES.— 
To the maximum extent practicable, the Secretary shall consider 
a plan of work submitted under subsection (d) to satisfy other 
appropriate Federal reporting requirements.". 
(c) EFFECTIVE DATE.—^The amendments made by this section 7 use 344 note, 
take effect on October 1,1999. 
SEC. 203. CONSISTENT MATCHING FUNDS REQUIREMENTS UNDER 
HATCH ACT OF 1887 AND SMITH-LEVER ACT. 
(a) HATCH ACT OF 1887.—Section 3 of the Hatch Act of 1887 
(7 U.S.C. 361c) is amended by striking subsection (d) and inserting 
the following: 
"(d) MATCHING FUNDS.— 
"(1) REQUIREMENT.—No allotment shall be made to a State 
under subsection (b) or (c), and no payments from the allotment 
shall be made to a State, in excess of the amount that the 
State makes available out of non-Federal funds for agricultural 
research and for the establishment and maintenance of facilities 
for the performance of the research. 
"(2) FAILURE TO PROVIDE MATCHING FUNDS.—If a State 
fails to comply with the requirement to provide matching funds 
for a fiscal year under paragraph (1), the Secretary of Agri-
culture shall withhold from pajnnent to the State for that 
fiscal year an amount equal to the difference between— 
"(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 
112 STAT. 534 
PUBLIC LAW 105-185—JUNE 23, 1998 
"(B) the amount of matching funds actually provided 
by the State. 
"(3) REAPPORTIONMENT.— 
"(A) IN GENERAL.—The Secretary of Agriculture shall 
reapportion amounts withheld under paragraph (2) for a 
fiscal year among the States satisfying the matching 
requirement for that fiscal yeeir. 
"(B) MATCHING REQUIREMENT.—Any reapportionment 
of funds under this paragraph shall be subject to the match-
ing requirement specified in paragraph (1).". 
(b) SMITH-LEVER ACT.—Section 3 of the Smith-Lever Act (7 
U.S.C. 343) is amended— 
(1) in subsection (c)— 
(A) by redesignating paragraphs 1 and 2 as paragraphs 
(1) and (2), respectively; and 
(B) in paragraph (2) (as so redesignated), by striking 
"census: Provided, That pa3anents" and all that follows 
through "Provided further, That any" and inserting "census. 
Anj^'; and 
(2) by striking subsections (e) and (f) and inserting the 
following: 
"(e) MATCHING FUNDS.— 
"(1) REQUIREMENT.—Except as provided in subsection (f), 
no allotment shall be made to a State imder subsection (b) 
or (c), and no payments from the allotment shall be made 
to a State, in excess of the amount that the State makes 
available out of non-Federal funds for cooperative extension 
work. 
"(2) FAILURE TO PROVIDE MATCHING FUNDS.—If a State 
fails to comply with the requirement to provide matching funds 
for a fiscal year under paragraph (1), the Secretary of Agri-
culture shall withhold from pajonent to the State for that 
fiscal year an amount equal to the difference between— 
"(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 actually provided 
by the State. 
"(3) REAPPORTIONMENT.— 
"(A) IN GENERAL.—The Secretary of Agriculture shall 
reapportion amoimts withheld under paragraph (2) for a 
fiscal year among the States satisfying the matching 
requirement for that fiscal year. 
"(B) MATCHING REQUIREMENT.—Any reapportionment 
of funds under this paragraph shall be subject to the match-
ing requirement specified in paragraph (1). 
"(f) MATCHING FUNDS EXCEPTION FOR 1994 INSTITUTIONS.— 
There shall be no matching requirement for funds made available 
to a 1994 Institution 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 
in the second sentence by striking "Alaska, Hawaii,". 
(2) ROLE OF SECRETARY OF AGRICULTURE.—Section 3 of 
the Smith-Lever Act (7 U.S.C. 343) is amended— 
PUBLIC LAW 105-185^JUNE 23, 1998 
112 STAT. 535 
(A) in subsections (b)(1), (c), and (d), by striking "Fed-
eral Extension Service" each place it appears and inserting 
"Secretary of Agriculture"; and 
(B) in subsection (gXD, by striking "through the Fed-
eral Extension Service". 
(3) REFERENCES TO REGIONAL RESEARCH FUND.—Section 
5 of the Hatch Act of 1887 (7 U.S.C. 361e) is amended in 
the first sentence by striking "regional research fiind authorized 
by subsection 3(c)(3)" and inserting "Multistate Research Fund, 
State Agricultural Experiment Stations", 
SEC. 204. INTEGRATION OF RESEARCH AND EXTENSION. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—Section 3 of the Hatch Act of 1887 (7 U.S.C. 
361c) (as amended by section 104(aX2)) is amended by adding 
at the end the following: 
"(i) INTEGRATION OF RESEARCH AND EXTENSION.— 
"(1) IN GENERAL.—Not less than the appUcable percentage 
specified under paragraph (2) of the Federal formula funds 
that are paid under this Act and subsections (b) and (c) of 
section 3 of the Smith-Lever Act (7 U.S.C. 343) to colleges 
and universities eligible to receive funds under the Act of 
July 2, 1862 (12 Stat. 503, chapter 130; 7 U.S.C. 301 et seq.), 
during a fiscal year shall be e^mended for activities that 
integrate cooperative research and extension (referred to in 
this subsection as 'integrated activities'). 
"(2) APPLICABLE PERCENTAGES.— 
"(A) 1997 EXPENDITURES ON MULTISTATS ACTIVITIES.— 
Of the Federal formula funds that were paid to each State 
for fiscal year 1997 under this Act and subsections (b) 
and (c) of section 3 of the Smith-Lever Act (7 U.S.C. 343), 
the Secretary of Agriculture shall determine the percentage 
that the State expended for integrated activities. 
"(B) REQUIRED EXPENDITURES ON MULTISTATS ACTIVI-
TIES.—Of the Federal formula funds that are paid to each 
State for fiscal year 2000 and each subsequent fiscal year 
under this Act and subsections (b) and (c) of section 3 
of the Smith-Lever Act (7 U.S.C. 343), the State shall 
expend for the fiscal year for integrated activities a percent-
age that is at least equal to the lesser of— 
"(i) 25 percent; or 
"(ii) twice the percentage for the State determined 
under subparagraph (A). 
"(C) REDUCTION BY SECRETARY.—The Secretary of Agri-
culture may reduce the minimum percentage required to 
be expended by a State for integrated activities under 
subparagraph (B) in a case of hardship, infeasibility, or 
other similar circumstance beyond the control of the State, 
as determined by the Secretary. 
"(D) PLAN OF WORK.—The State shall include in the 
plan of work of the State required under section 7 of 
this Act or section 4 of the Smith-Lever Act (7 U.S.C. 
344), as applicable, a description of the manner in which 
the State will meet the requirements of this paragraph. 
"(3) APPLICABILITY.—^This subsection does not apply to 
fiinds provided— 
"(A) by a State or local government pursuant to a 
matching requirement; 
112 STAT. 536 
PUBLIC LAW 1 0 5 - 1 8 5 - ^ U N E 23, 1998 
"(B) to a 1994 Institution (as defined in section 532 
of the Equity in Educational Land-Grant Status Act of 
1994 (Public Law 103-382; 7 U.S.C. 301 note)); or 
"(C) to the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, the Virgin 
Islands, or Guam. 
"(4) RELATIONSHIP TO OTHER REQUIREMENTS.—Federal for-
mula fiinds described in paragraph (1) that are used by a 
State for a fiscal year for integrated activities in accordance 
with paragraph (2)(B) may also be used to satisfy the multistate 
activities requirements of subsection (c)(3) of this section and 
section 3(h) of the Smith-Lever Act (7 U.S.C. 343(h)) for the 
same fiscal year.". 
(b) CONFORMING AMENDMENT.—Section 3 of the Smith-Lever 
Act (7 U.S.C. 343) (as amended by section 105) is amended by 
adding at the end the following: 
Applicability. 
"(j) INTEGRATION OF RESEARCH AND EXTENSION.—Section 3(i) 
of the Hatch Act of 1887 (7 U.S.C. 361c(i)) shall apply to amounts 
made available to carry out this Act.". 
Subtitle B—Competitive, Special, and 
Facilities Research Grant Act 
SEC. 211. COMPETITIVE GRANTS. 
The Competitive, Special, and Facilities Research Grant Act 
(7 U.S.C. 450i) is amended in subsection (b)— 
(1) in the first sentence of paragraph (1), by inserting 
"national laboratories," after "Federal agencies,"; 
(2) in paragraph (2), by striking "regional" and inserting 
"multistate"; 
(3) in the second sentence of paragraph (3)(E), by striking 
"an individual shall have less than" and all that follows through 
"research experience" and inserting "an individual shall be 
within 5 years of the individual's initial career track position"; 
and 
(4) in paragraph (8)(B)— 
(A) by striking "the cost" and inserting "the cost of; 
and 
(B) by adding at the end the following: "The Secretary 
may waive all or part of the matching requirement under 
this subparagraph in the case of a smaller college or univer-
sity (as described in section 793(c)(2)(C)(ii) of the Federal 
Agriculture Improvement £ind Reform Act of 1996 (7 U.S.C. 
2204f(c)(2)(C)(ii))) if the equipment to be acquired costs 
not more than $25,000 and has multiple uses within a 
single research project or is usable in more than 1 research 
project.". 
SEC. 212. SPECIAL GRANTS. 
The Competitive, Special, and Facilities Research Grant Act 
(7 U.S.C. 450i) is amended in subsection (c)— 
(1) in paragraph (1)— 
(A) by striking "5 years" and inserting "3 years"; 
(B) in subparagraph (A), by inserting ", extension, or 
education activities" after "conducting research"; and 
(C) in subparagraph (B)— 
" -i^*^!*?^? 
PUBLIC LAW 105-185-^JUNE 23, 1998 
112 STAT. 537 
(i) in the matter preceding clause (i), by inserting 
", extension, or education" after "agricultural research'; 
(ii) in clause (i), bv inserting ", extension, or edu-
cation" after "research , and 
(iii) in clause (iv), by striking "among States 
through regional research" and inserting ", extension, 
or education among States through regional"; and 
(2) by adding at the end the following: 
"(5) REVIEW REQUIREMENTS.— 
"(A) RESEARCH ACTiviTiES.^The Secretary shall make 
a grant under this subsection for a research activity only 
if the activity has imdergone scientific peer review arranged 
by the grantee in accordance with regulations promulgated 
by the Secretary. 
"(B) EXTENSION AND EDUCATION ACTIVITIES.—The Sec- Regulations. 
retary shall make a grant under this subsection for an 
extension or education activity only if the activity has 
undergone merit review arranged by the grantee in accord-
ance with regulations promulgated by the Secretary. 
"(6) REPORTS.— 
"(A) IN GENERAL.—^A recipient of a grant imder this 
subsection shall submit to the Secretary on an annual 
basis a report describing the results of the research, exten-
sion, or education activity and the merit of the results. 
"(B) PUBLIC AVAILABILITY.— 
"(i) IN GENERAL.—Except as provided in clause 
(ii), on request, the Secretary shall make the report 
avEiilable to the public. 
"(ii) EXCEPTIONS.—Clause (i) shall not apply to 
the extent that making the report, or a part of the 
report, available to the public is not authorized or 
permitted by section 552 of title 5, United States Code, 
or section 1905 of title 18, United States Code.". 
Subtitle 
C—^National 
Agricultural 
Re-
search, Extension, and Teaching Policy 
Act of 1977 
SEC. 221. DEFINITIONS 
REGARDING 
AGRICULTURAL 
RESEARCH, 
EXTENSION, AND EDUCATION. 
(a) FOOD AND AGRICULTURAL SCIENCES.—Section 1404 of the 
National Agricultural Research, Extension, and Teaching Policy 
Act of 1977 (7 U.S.C. 3103) is amended by striking paragraph 
(8) and inserting the following: 
"(8) FOOD AND AGRICULTURAL SCIENCES.—The term 'food 
and agricultural sciences' means basic, applied, and develop-
mental research, extension, and teaching activities in food and 
fiber, agricultural, renewable natural resources, forestry, and 
physical and social sciences, including activities relating to 
the following: 
"(A) Animal health, production, and well-being. 
"(B) Plant health and production. 
"(C) Animal and plsint germ plasm collection and 
preservation. 
"(D) Aquaculture. 
112 STAT. 538 
PUBLIC LAW 105-185—JUNE 23, 1998 
"(E) Food safety. 
"(F) Soil £ind water conservation and improvement. 
"(G) Forestry, horticulture, and range management. 
"(H) Nutritional sciences and promotion. 
"(I) Farm enhancement, including financial manage-
ment, input efficiency, and profitability. 
"(J) Home economics. 
"(K) Rural human ecology. 
"(L) Youth development and agricultural education, 
including 4-H clubs. 
"(M) Expansion of domestic and international markets 
for agricultural commodities and products, including agri-
cultural trade barrier identification and analysis. 
"(N) Information management and technology transfer 
related to agriculture. 
"(O) Biotechnology related to agriculture. 
"(P) The processing, distributing, marketing, and utili-
zation of food and agricultural products.". 
(b) REFERENCES TO TEACHING OR EDUCATION.—Section 1404(14) 
of the National Agricultural Research, Extension, and Teaching 
PoUcy Act of 1977 (7 U.S.C. 3103(14)) is amended by striking 
"the term 'teaching* mesins" and inserting "TEACHING AND EDU-
CATION.—The terms 'teaching' and 'education' mean". 
(c) CONFORMING AMENDMENTS.—Section 1404 of the National 
Agricultural Research, Extension, and Teaching Policy Act of 1977 
(7 U.S.C. 3103) is amended— 
(1) in the matter preceding paragraph (1), by striking 
"title—" and inserting "title:"; 
(2) in paragraphs (1), (2), (3), (5), (6), (7), (10) through 
(13), (15), (16), and (17), by striking "the term" each place 
it appears and inserting "The term"; 
(3) in paragraph (4), by striking "the terms" and inserting 
"The terms"; 
(4) in paragraph (9), by striking "the term" the first place 
it appears and inserting "The term"; 
(5) by striking the semicolon at the end of paragraphs 
(1) through (7) and (9) through (15) and inserting a period; 
and 
(6) in paragraph (16)(F), by striking "; and" and inserting 
a period. 
SEC. 222. ADVISORY BOARD. 
(a) REPRESENTATION 
ON BOARD.—Section 1408(b) of the 
National Agricultural Research, Extension, and Teaching Policy 
Act of 1977 (7 U.S.C. 3123(b)) is amended by adding at the end 
the following: 
"(7) EQUAL REPRESENTATION OF PUBLIC AND PRIVATE SECTOR 
MEMBERS.—In appointing members to serve on the Advisory 
Board, the Secretary shall ensure, to the maximum extent 
practicable, equal representation of public and private sector 
members.". 
(b) CONSULTATION.—Section 1408(d) of the National Agricul-
tural Research, Extension, and Teaching Policy Act of 1977 (7 
U.S.C. 3123(d)) is amended— 
(1) by striking "In" and inserting the following: 
"(1) DUTIES OF ADVISORY BOARD.—In"; and 
(2) by adding at the end the following: 
PUBLIC LAW 105-185-^UNE 23, 1998 
112 STAT. 539 
"(2) DUTIES OF SECRETARY.—To comply with a provision 
of this title or any other law that requires the Secretary to 
consult or cooperate with the Advisory Board or that authorizes 
the Advisory Board to submit recommendations to the Sec-
retary, the Secretary shall— 
"(A) solicit the written opinions eind recommendations 
of the Advisory Board; and 
"(B) provide a written response to the Advisory Board 
regarding the manner and extent to which the Secretary 
will 
implement 
recommendations 
submitted 
by the 
Advisory Board.". 
(c) LIMITATION ON EXPENSES OF ADVISORY BOARD.—Section 
1408 of the National Agricultural Research, Extension, and Teach-
ing Policy Act of 1977 (7 U.S.C. 3123) is amended— 
(1) by redesignating subsection (g) as subsection (h); and 
(2) by inserting after subsection (f) the following: 
"(g) ANNUAL LIMITATION ON ADVISORY BOARD EXPENSES.— 
"(1) MAXIMUM AMOUNT.—Not more than $350,000 may be 
used to cover the necessary expenses of the Advisory Board 
. for each fiscal year. 
"(2) GENERAL LIMITATION.—^The expenses of the Advisory 
Board shall not be counted toward any general limitation on 
the expenses of advisory committees, panels, commissions, and 
task forces of the Department of Agriculture contained in any 
Act making appropriations for the Department of Agriculture, 
whether enacted before, on, or after the date of enactment 
of this paragraph, unless the appropriation Act specifically 
refers to this subsection and specifically includes this Advisory 
Board within the general limitation.". 
SEC. 223. GRANTS AND FELLOWSHIPS FOR FOOD AND AGRICULTURAL 
SCIENCES EDUCATION. 
Section 1417 of the National Agricultural Research, Extension, 
and Teaching Policy Act of 1977 (7 U.S.C. 3152) is amended— 
(1) by redesignating subsections (c), (d), (e), (f), (g), (h), 
(i), and (j) as subsections (d), (f), (g), (h), (i), (j), (k), and 
(1), respectively; 
(2) by inserting after subsection (b) the following: 
"(c) PRIORITIES.—In awarding grants under subsection (b), the 
Secretary shsdl give priority to— 
"(1) applications for teaching enhancement projects that 
demonstrate enhanced coordination among all types of institu-
tions eligible for funding under this section; and 
"(2) applications for teaching enhancement projects that 
focus on innovative, multidisciplinary education programs, 
material, and curricula."; and 
(3) by inserting after subsection (d) (as redesignated by 
paragraph (1)) the following: 
"(e) FOOD AND AGRICULTURAL EDUCATION INFORMATION SYS-
TEM.—From amounts made available for grants under this section, 
the Secretary may maintain a national food and agricultural edu-
cation information system that contains— 
"(1) information on enrollment, degrees awarded, faculty, 
and emplojmtient placement in the food and agricultural 
sciences; and 
"(2) such other similar information as the Secretary consid-
ers appropriate.". 
112 STAT. 540 
PUBLIC LAW 105-185^JUNE 23, 1998 
SEC. 224. POLICY RESEARCH CENTERS. 
Section 1419A(a) of the National Agricultural Research, Exten-
sion, and Teaching Policy Act of 1977 (7 U.S.C. 3155(a)) is amended 
by inserting "smd trade agreements" after "public policies". 
SEC. 225. PLANS OF WORK FOR 1890 INSTITUTIONS TO ADDRESS 
CRITICAL RESEARCH AND EXTENSION ISSUES AND USE 
OF PROTOCOLS TO AOIASURE 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 following: 
"(D) ASCERTAINMENT OF ENTITLEMENT TO FUNDS; TIME AND 
MANNER OF PAYMENT; STATE REPORTING REQUIREMENTS; PLANS 
OF WORK.— 
"(1) ASCERTAINMENT OF ENTITLEMENT.—"; 
(2) in the last sentence, by striking "Such sums" and insert-
ing the following: 
"(2) TIME AND MANNER OF PAYMENT; RELATED REPORTS.— 
The amount to which an eligible institution is entitled"; and 
(3) by adding at the end the following: 
"(3) REQUIREMENTS RELATED TO PLAN OF WORK.—Each 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 the 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 pro-
grams and projects targeted to address the issues. 
"(C) The efforts made to identify and collaborate with 
other colleges and universities within the State, and within 
other States, that have a unique capacity to address the 
identified agricultural issues in the State and the extent 
of current and emerging efforts (including regional exten-
sion efforts) to work with those other institutions. 
"(D) The manner in which research and extension, 
including research and extension activities 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 carried out 
sequentially, and the activities to be carried out jointly. 
"(E) The education and outreach programs already 
underway to convey currently available research results 
that are pertinent to a critical agricultural issue, including 
efforts to encourage multicounty cooperation in the dissemi-
nation of research results. 
"(4) EXTENSION PROTOCOLS.— 
"(A) IN GENERAL.—^The Secretary shall develop proto-
cols to be used to evaluate the success of multistate, multi-
institutional, and multidisciplinaiy extension activities and 
joint research and extension activities in addressing critical 
agricultural issues identified in the plans of work submitted 
under this section. 
' S S y ^ ^ ^ " . 
PUBLIC LAW 105-185-JUNE 23, 1998 
112 STAT. 541 
"(B) CONSULTATION.—The Secretary shall develop the 
protocols in consultation with the Advisory Board and land-
grgint colleges and universities. 
"(5) TREATMENT OF PLANS OF WORK FOR OTHER PURPOSES.— 
To the maximum extent practicable, the Secretary shall con-
sider a plan of work submitted under this section to satisfy 
other appropriate Federal reporting requirements.", 
(b) AGRICULTURAL RESEARCH AT 1890 INSTITUTIONS.—Section 
1445(c) of the National Agricultural Research, Extension, and 
Teaching Pohcy Act of 1977 (7 U.S.C. 3222(c)) is amended— 
(1) by striking "(c)" and inserting the following: 
"(c) PROGRAM AND PLANS OF WORK.— 
"(1) INITIAL COMPREHENSIVE PROGRAM OF AGRICULTURAL 
RESEARCH.—"; and 
(2) by adding at the end the following: 
"(2) PLAN OF WORK REQUIRED.—Before funds may be pro-
vided to an eligible institution under this section for any fiscal 
year, a plan of work to be carried out under this section shall 
be submitted by the research director specified in subsection 
(d) and shall be approved by the Secretary. 
"(3) REQUIREMENTS RELATED TO PLAN OF WORK.—Each plan 
of work required under paragraph (2) 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 smd planned research 
programs and projects targeted to address the issues. 
"(B) The process established to consult with users of 
agricultural research reg£irding the identification of critical 
agricultural issues in the State suid the development of 
research programs and projects targeted to address the 
issues. 
"(C) Other colleges and universities within the State, 
and within other States, that have a unique capacity to 
address the identified agricultural issues in the State. 
"(D) The current and emerging efforts to work with 
those other institutions to build on each other's experience 
and take advantage of each institution's unique capacities. 
"(E) The manner in which research and extension, 
including research and extension activities fiinded 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 carried out 
sequentially, and the activities to be carried out jointly. 
"(4) RESEARCH PROTOCOLS.— 
"(A) IN GENERAL.—The Secretary shall develop proto-
cols to be used to evaluate the success of multistate, multi-
institutional, 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). 
"(B) CONSULTATION.—The Secretary shall develop the 
protocols in consultation with the Advisory Board and land-
grant colleges and xiniversities. 
112 STAT. 542 
PUBLIC LAW 105-185-,TUNE 23, 1998 
"(5) TREATMENT OF PLANS OF WORK FOR OTHER PURPOSES.— 
To the meiximum extent practicable, the Secretary shall con-
sider a plan of work submitted under paragraph (2) to satisfy 
other appropriate Federal reporting requirements.". 
7 use 3221 note. 
(c) EFFECTIVE DATE.—^The amendments made by this section 
take effect on October 1, 1999. 
SEC. 226. MATCHING FUNDS REQUIREMENT FOR RESEARCH AND 
EXTENSION ACTIVITIES AT 1890 INSTITUTIONS. 
(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: 
7USC3222d. 
«SEC. 1449. MATCHING FUNDS REQUIREMENT FOR RESEARCH AND 
EXTENSION ACTIVITIES AT ELIGIBLE INSTITUTIONS. 
"(a) DEFINITIONS.—In this section: 
"(1) ELIGIBLE INSTITUTION.—The term 'eligible 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 distributed to eligible institutions 
under sections 1444 and 1445. 
Reports. 
"(b) DETERMINATION OF NON-FEDERAL SOURCES OF FUNDS.— 
Not later than September 30, 1999, each eligible institution shall 
submit to the Secretary a report describing for fiscal yeeir 1999— 
"(1) the sources of non-Federal funds made available by 
the State to the eligible institution for agricultural research, 
extension, and education to meet the requirements of this sec-
tion; and 
"(2) the amount of such funds generally available from 
each source. 
"(c) MATCHING FORMULA.—Notwithstanding £iny other provision 
of this subtitle, the distribution of formula rands to an eligible 
institution shall be subject to the following matching requirements: 
"(1) For fiscal year 2000, the State 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 institution. 
"(2) For fiscal year 2001, the State shall provide matching 
funds from non-Federal sources in £in amount equal to not 
less than 45 percent of the formula funds to be distributed 
to the eligible institution. 
"(3) For fiscal year 2002 and each fiscal year thereafter, 
the State 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. 
"(d) LIMITED WAIVER AUTHORITY.— 
"(1) FISCAL YEAR 2000.—Notwithstanding subsection (f), the 
Secretary may waive the matching funds requirement under 
subsection (c)(1) for fiscal year 2000 for an eligible institution 
of a State if the Secretary determines that, based on the report 
received imder subsection (b), the State will be unlikely to 
satisfy the matching requirement. 
"(2) FUTURE FISCAL YEARS.—The Secretary may not waive 
the matching requirement under subsection (c) for any fiscal 
year other than fiscal year 2000. 
PUBLIC LAW 1 0 5 - 1 8 5 - ^ U N E 23, 1998 
112 STAT. 543 
"(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 agricul-
tural research, extension, and education activities. 
"(f) REDISTRIBUTION OP FUNDS.— 
"(1) REDISTRIBUTION REQUIRED.—Federal funds that are 
not matched by a State in accordance with subsection (c) for 
a fiscal year shall be redistributed by the Secretary to eligible 
institutions whose States have satisfied the matching funds 
requirement for that fiscal year. 
"(2) ADMINISTRATION.—^Any redistribution of funds under 
this subsection shall be subject to the appHcable matching 
requirement specified in subsection (c) and shall be made in 
a manner consistent with sections 1444 and 1445, as deter-
mined by the Secretary.". 
(b) CONFORMING AMENDMENTS.—Section 1445(g) of the National 
Agricultural Research, Extension, and Teaching Policy Act of 1977 
(7 U.S.C. 3222(g)) is amended— 
(1) by striking paragraph (2); and 
(2) by redesignating paragraph (4) as paragraph (2). 
(c) REFERENCES TO TUSKEGEE UNIVERSITY.—The National Agri-
cultural Research, Extension, and Teaching Policy Act of 1977 is 
amended— 
(1) in section 1404 (7 U.S.C. 3103), by striking "the 
Tuskegee Institute" in paragraphs (10) and (16)(B) and insert-
ing "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, INCLUDING 
TUSKEGEE UNIYERSITY."; 
and 
(B) in subsections (a) and (b), by striking "Tuskegee 
Institute" each place 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 COL-
LEGES, INCLUDING TUSKEGEE UNIVERSITY."; 
and 
(B) in subsections (a) and (b)(2)(B), by striking 
"Tuskegee Institute" each place it appears and inserting 
"Tuskegee University". 
SEC. 227. INTERNATIONAL RESEARCH, EXTENSION, AND TEACHING. 
(a) INCLUSION OF TEACHING.—Section 1458 of the National 
Agriculturgd Research, Extension, and Teaching Policy Act of 1977 
(7 U.S.C. 3291) is amended— 
(1) in the section heading, by striking "RESEARCH AND 
EXTENSION" 
and 
inserting 
"RESEARCH, 
EXTENSION, AND 
TEACHING"; 
(2) in subsection (a)— 
(A) in paragraph (1)— 
112 STAT. 544 
PUBLIC LAW 1 0 5 - 1 8 5 - ^ U N E 23, 1998 
(i) by striking "related research and extension" 
and inserting "related research, extension, and teach-
ing"; and 
(ii) in subparagraph (B), by striking "research and 
extension on" and inserting "research, extension, and 
teaching activities that address"; 
(B) in paragraphs (2) and (6), by striking "education" 
each place it appears and inserting "teaching"; 
(C) in paragraph (4), by striking "scientists and 
experts" and inserting "science and education experts"; 
(D) in paragraph (5), by inserting "teaching," after 
"development,"; 
(E) in paragraph (7), by striking "research and exten-
sion that is" and inserting "research, extension, and teach-
ing programs"; and 
(F) in paragraph (8), by striking "research capabilities" 
and inserting "research, extension, and teaching capabili-
ties"; and 
(3) in subsection (b), by striking "counterpart agencies" 
and inserting "counterpart research, extension, and teaching 
agencies". 
(b) GRANTS FOR COLLABORATIVE PROJECTS.—Section 1458(a) 
of the National Agricultural Research, Extension, and Teaching 
Policy Act of 1977 (7 U.S.C. 3291(a)) is amended— 
(1) in paragraph (7), by striking "and" at the end; 
(2) in paragraph (8), by striking the period at the end 
and inserting "; and"; and 
(3) by adding at the end the following: 
"(9) make competitive grants for collaborative projects 
that— 
"(A) involve Federal scientists or scientists from land-
grant colleges and universities or other colleges and univer-
sities with scientists at international agricultural research 
centers in other nations, including the international agri-
cultural research centers of the Consultative Group on 
International Agriculture Research; 
"(B) focus on developing and using new technologies 
and programs for— 
"(i) increasing the production of food and fiber, 
while safeguarding the environment worldwide and 
enhancing the global competitiveness of United States 
agriculture; or 
"(ii) training scientists; 
"(C) are mutually beneficial to the United States and 
other countries; and 
"(D) encourage private sector involvement and the 
leveraging of private sector fimds.". 
(c) REPORTS.—Section 1458 of the National 
Agricultural 
Research, Extension, and Teaching Policy Act of 1977 (7 U.S.C. 
3291) is amended by adding at the end the following: 
"(d) REPORTS.—The Secretary shall provide biennial reports 
to the Committee on Agriculture of the House of Representatives 
and the Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry of the 
Senate on efforts of the Federal Government— 
"(1) to coordinate international agricultural research within 
the Federal Government; and 
PUBLIC LAW 105-185-JUNE 23, 1998 
112 STAT. 545 
"(2) to more effectively link the activities of domestic and 
international agricultural researchers, particularly researchers 
of the -Agricultural Research Service.". 
(d) FULL PAYMENT OF FUNDS MADE AVAILABLE FOR CERTAIN 
BiNATiONAL PROJECTS.—Section 1458 of the National Agricultural 
Resesirch, Extension, and Teaching Policy Act of 1977 (7 U.S.C. 
3291) is amended by inserting after subsection (d) (as added by 
subsection (c) of this section) the following: 
"(e) 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 cooperative projects under the arrangement 
entered into between the Secretaiy and the Government of Israel 
to support 
the 
Israel-United 
States 
Binational 
Agricultural 
Research and Development Fund shall be paid directly to the 
Fund.". 
(e) SUBTITLE HEADING.—Subtitle I of title XIV of the National 
Agricultural Research, Extension, and Teaching Policy Act of 1977 
(7 U.S.C. 3291 et seq.) is amended by striking the subtitle heading 
and inserting the following: 
"Subtitle I—International Research, 
Extension, and Teaching". 
SEC. 228. UNITED STATES-MEXICO JOINT AGRICULTURAL RESEARCH. 
Subtitle I of the National Agricultural Research, Extension, 
and Teaching Policy Act of 1977 is amended by inserting after 
section 1458 (7 U.S.C. 3291) the following: 
"SEC. 1459. UNITED 
STATES-MEXICO 
JOINT 
AGRICULTURAL 
7USC3292a. 
RESEARCH. 
"(a) RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT PROGRAM.—The Secretary 
may provide for an agricultural research and development program 
with the United States/Mexico Foundation for Science. The program 
shall focus on binational problems facing agricultural producers 
and consumers in the 2 countries, in particular pressing problems 
in the areas of food scifety, plant and animal pest control, and 
the natural resources base on which agriculture depends. 
"(b) ADMINISTRATION.—Grants under the research and develop-
ment program shall be awarded competitively through the Founda-
tion. 
"(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 
a doUar-for-doUar basis, £iny funds provided by the United States 
Government. 
"(d) LIMITATION ON USE OF FUNDS.—Funds provided under 
this section may not be used for the planning, repair, rehabilitation, 
acquisition, or construction of a building or facility.". 
SEC. 229. COMPETITIVE GRANTS FOR INTERNATIONAL AGRICUL-
TURAL SCIENCE AND EDUCATION PROGRAMS. 
Subtitle I of the National Agricultural Research, Extension, 
and Teaching Policy Act of 1977 (7 U.S.C. 3291 et seq.) is amended 
by inserting after section 1459 (as added by section 228) the follow-
ing: 
112 STAT. 546 
PUBLIC LAW 105-185—JUNE 23, 1998 
7 use 3292b. 
"SEC. 1459A. COMPETITIVE GRANTS FOR INTERNATIONAL AGRICUL-
TURAL SCIENCE AND EDUCATION PROGRAMS. 
"(a) COMPETITIVE GRANTS AUTHORIZED.—The Secretary may 
make competitive grants to colleges and universities in order to 
strengthen United States economic competitiveness and to promote 
international market development. 
"(b) PURPOSE OF GRANTS.—Grants under this section 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 understanding of the international dimen-
sions and trade implications of their studies; 
"(2) ensure that United States scientists, extension agents, 
and educators involved in agricultural research and develop-
ment activities outside of the United States have the oppor-
tunity 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 teaching; 
"(3) enhance the capabilities of colleges and universities 
to do collaborative research with other countries, in cooperation 
with other Federal agencies, on issues relevant to United States 
agricultural competitiveness; 
"(4) enhance the capabilities of colleges and universities 
to provide cooperative extension education to promote the 
application of new technology developed in foreign countries 
to United States agriculture; and 
"(5) enhance the capability of United States colleges and 
universities, in cooperation with other Federal agencies, to 
provide leadership and educational programs that will assist 
United States natural resources and food production, process-
ing, and distribution businesses and industries to compete inter-
nationally, including product market identification, 
inter-
national policies limiting or enhancing market production, 
development of new or enhancement of existing markets, and 
production efficiencies. 
"(c) AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.—There are authorized 
to be appropriated such sums as are necessary to carry out this 
section for each of fiscal years 1999 through 2002.". 
SEC. 230. GENERAL ADMINISTRATIVE COSTS. 
(a) LIMITATION ON CHARGING INDIRECT COSTS.—Subtitle K of 
the National Agricultural Research, Extension, and Teaching Policy 
Act of 1977 is amended by inserting before section 1463 (7 U.S.C. 
3311) the following: 
7 use 3310. 
"SEC. 1462. LIMITATION ON INDIRECT COSTS FOR AGRICULTURAL 
RESEARCH, EDUCATION, AND EXTENSION PROGRAMS. 
"Except as otherwise provided in law, indirect costs charged 
against a competitive agricultural research, education, or extension 
grant awarded under this Act or any other Act pursuant to authority 
delegated to the Under Secretary of Agriculture for Research, Edu-
cation, and Economics shall not exceed 19 percent of the total 
Federal funds provided under the grant award, as determined by 
the Secretary.". 
PUBLIC LAW 105-185-^JUNE 23, 1998 
112 STAT. 547 
(b) LIMITATION ON DEPARTMENT ADMINISTRATIVE COSTS.—Sec-
tion 1469 of the National Agriciiltural Research, Extension, and 
Teaching Pohcy Act of 1977 (7 U.S.C. 3315) is amended— 
(1) by striking the section heading and all that follows 
through "Except as" and inserting the following: 
<^EC. 1469. AUDITING, REPORTING, BOOKKEEPING, AND ADMINISTRA-
TIVE REQUIREMENTS. 
"(a) IN GENERAL.—Except as"; 
(2) by striking paragraph (3) and inserting the following: 
"(3) the Secretary may retain up to 4 percent of amounts 
appropriated for agricultural research, extension, and teaching 
assistance programs for the administration of those programs 
authorized luider this Act or any other Act; and"; and 
(3) by adding at the end the following: 
"(b) COMMUNITY FOOD PROJECTS.—The Secretary may retain, 
for the administration of community food projects under section 
25 of the Food Stamp Act of 1977 (7 U.S.C. 2034), 4 percent 
of amounts available for the projects, notwithstanding the availabil-
ity of any appropriation for administrative expenses of the projects. 
"(c) PEER PANEL EXPENSES.—Notwithstanding any other provi-
sion of law reggirding a competitive research, education, or extension 
grant program of the Department of Agriculture, the Secretary 
may use grant program funds, as necessary, to supplement funds 
otherwise available for progreim administration, to pay for the costs 
associated with peer review of grant proposals imder the program. 
"(d) DEFINITION OF IN-KIND SUPPORT.—In any law relating 
to agricultural research, education, or extension activities adminis-
tered by the Secretary, the term 'in-kind support', with regard 
to a requirement that the recipient of funds provided by the Sec-
retary match all or part of the amount of the fluids, means contribu-
tions such as office space, equipment, and staff support.". 
SEC. 231. EXPANSION OF AUTHORITY TO ENTER INTO COST-
REIMBURSABLE AGREEMENTS. 
Section 1473A of the National Agricultural Research, Extension, 
and Teaching PoUcy Act of 1977 (7 U.S.C. 3319a) is amended 
in the first sentence by inserting "or other colleges and universities" 
after "institutions". 
Subtitle D—^Food, Agriculture, 
Conservation, and Trade Act of 1990 
SEC. 241. AGRICULTURAL GENOME INITIATIVE. 
Section 1671 of the Food, Agricxilture, Conservation, and Trade 
Act of 1990 (7 U.S.C. 5924) is amended to read as follows: 
«SEC. 1671. AGRICULTURAL GENOME INITIATIVE. 
"(a) GOALS.—^The goeds of this section are— 
"(1) to expand the knowledge of public and private sector 
entities and persons concerning genomes for species of impor-
tance to the food and agriculture sectors in order to maximize 
the retiuTi on the investment in genomics of agriculturally 
important species; 
112 STAT. 548 
PUBLIC LAW 1 0 5 - 1 8 5 - J U N E 23, 1998 
"(2) to focus on the species that will yield scientifically 
important results that will enhance the usefulness of many 
agriculturally important species; 
"(3) to budld on genomic research, such as the Human 
Genome Initiative and the Arabidc^sis Grenome Project, to 
understand gene structure and function that is expected to 
have considerable payoffs in agriculturally important species; 
"(4) to develop improved bioinformatics to enhance both 
sequence or structure determination and analysis of the 
biological function of genes and gene products; 
"(5) to encourage Federal Government participants to maxi-
mize the utility of public and private partnerships for agricul-
tural genome research; 
"(6) to allow resources developed under this section, includ-
ing data, software, germplasm, and other biological materials, 
to be openly accessible to all persons, subject to any confiden-
tiality requirements imposed by law; and 
"(7) to encourage international partnerships with each part-
ner coimtry responsible for financing its own strategy for agri-
cultural genome research. 
"(b) DUTIES OF SECRETARY.—The Secretary of Agriculture 
(referred to in this section as the 'Secretary*) shall conduct a 
research initiative (to be known as the 'Agricultural Genome Initia-
tive') for the purpose of— 
"(1) stud5dng and mapping agriculturally significant genes 
to achieve sustainable and secure agricultural production; 
"(2) ensuring that current gaps in existing agricultural 
genetics knowledge are filled; 
"(3) identifying and developing a fiinctional underst£inding 
of genes responsible for economically important traits in agri-
culturally important species, including emerging plant and ani-
mal diseases causing economic hardship; 
"(4) ensuring future genetic improvement of agriculturally 
important species; 
"(5) supporting preservation of diverse germplasm; 
"(6) ensuring preservation of biodiversity to maintain access 
to genes that may be of importance in the future; and 
"(7) otherwise carrying out this section. 
"(c) GRANTS AND COOPERATIVE AGREEMENTS.— 
"(1) AUTHORITY.—The Secretary may make grants or enter 
into cooperative agreements with individuals and organizations 
in accordance with section 1472 of the National Agricultural 
Research, Extension, and Teaching Policy Act of 1977 (7 U.S.C. 
3318). 
"(2) COMPETITIVE BASIS.—^A grant or cooperative agreement 
under this subsection shall be made or entered into on a 
competitive basis. 
ApplicabiUty. 
"(d) ADMINISTRATION.—Paragraphs (1), (6), (7), and (11) of sub-
section (b) of the Competitive, Special, and Facilities Research 
Grant Act (7 U.S.C. 450i) shall apply with respect to the making 
of a grant or cooperative agreement under this section. 
"(e) MATCHING OF FUNDS.— 
"(1) GENERAL REQUIREMENT.—If a grant or cooperative 
agreement under this section provides a particular benefit to 
* a specific agricultural commodity, the Secretary shall require 
the recipient to provide funds or in-kind support to match 
PUBLIC LAW 105-185^JUNE 23, 1998 
112 STAT. 549 
the amount of funds provided by the Secretary under the grant 
or cooperative agreement. 
"(2) WAIVER.—The Secretary may waive the matching funds 
requirement of paragraph (1) with respect to a research project 
if the Secretsiry determines that— 
"(A) the results of the project, while of particular bene-
fit to a specific agricultural commodity, are likely to be 
applicable to agricultural commodities generally; or 
"(B) the project involves a minor commodity, the project 
deals with scientifically important research, and the recipi-
ent is \inable to satisfy the matching funds requirement. 
"(f) CONSULTATION WITH NATIONAL ACADEMY OF SCIENCES.— 
The Secretary may use funds made available under this section 
to consult with the National Academy of Sciences regarding the 
administration of the Agricultural Genome Initiative.". 
SEC. 242. HIGH-PRIORITY RESEARCH AND EXTENSION INITIATIVES. 
Section 1672 of the Food, Agriculture, Conservation, and Trade 
Act of 1990 (7 U.S.C. 5925) is amended to read as follows: 
••SEC. 1672. HIGH-PRIORITY RESEARCH AND EXTENSION INITIATIVES. 
"(a) 
COMPETITIVE SPECIALIZED RESEARCH AND EXTENSION 
GRANTS AUTHORIZED.—^The Secretary of Agriculture (referred to 
in this section as the 'Secretary") may meJte competitive grants 
to support research and extension activities specified in subsections 
(e), (f), and (g). The Secretary shall make the grants in consultation 
with the National Agricultural Research, Extension, Education, and 
Economics Advisory Board. 
"(b) ADMINISTRATION.— 
"(1) IN GENERAL.—Except as otherwise provided in this 
section, paragraphs (1), (6), (7), and (11) of subsection (b) of 
the Competitive, Special, and Facilities Research Grant Act 
(7 U.S.C. 450i) shall apply with respect to the making of grants 
imder this section. 
"(2) USE OF TASK FORCES.—TO facilitate the making of 
research and extension grants under this section in the research 
and extension areas specified in subsection (e), the Secretary 
may appoint a task force for each such area to make rec-
ommendations to the Secretary. The Secretary may not incur 
costs in excess of $1,000 for any fiscal year in connection 
with each task force established under this paragraph. 
"(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 bene-
fit to a specific agricultural commodity, are likely to be 
applicable to agricultursil commodities generally; or 
"(B) the project involves a minor commodity, the project 
de£ils with scientifically important research, and the grant 
recipient is unable to satisfy the matching funds require-
ment. 
112 STAT. 550 
PUBLIC LAW 105-185—JUNE 23, 1998 
"(d) PARTNERSHIPS ENCOURAGED.—Following the completion of 
a peer review process for grant proposals received under this sec-
tion, the Secretary may provide a priority to those grant proposals, 
found in the peer review process to be scientific^ly meritorious, 
that involve the cooperation of multiple entities. 
"(e) HIGH-PRIORITY RESEARCH AND EXTENSION AREAS.— 
"(1) 
BROWN CITRUS APHID AND CITRUS TRISTEZA VIRUS 
RESEARCH AND EXTENSION.—Research and extension grants 
may be made imder 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. 
"(2) ETHANOL RESEARCH AND EXTENSION.—Research and 
extension grants may be made under this section for the pur-
pose of carrying out or enhancing research on ethanol derived 
from agricultural crops as an alternative fuel source. 
"(3) AFLATOXIN RESEARCH AND EXTENSION.—Research and 
extension grants may be made under this section for the pur-
pose of identifying and controlling siflatoxin in the food and 
feed chains. 
"(4) MESQUITE RESEARCH AND EXTENSION.—Research and 
extension grants may be made under this section for the pur-
pose of developing enhanced production methods and commer-
cial uses of mesquite. 
"(5) PRICKLY PEAR RESEARCH AND EXTENSION.—Research 
and extension grants may be made under this section for the 
purpose of investigating enhanced genetic selection and process-
ing techniques of prickly pears. 
"(6) 
DEER TICK ECOLOGY RESEARCH AND EXTENSION.— 
Research and extension grants may be made imder this section 
for the purpose of studying the population ecology of deer 
ticks and other insects and pests that tremsmit Lyme disease. 
"(7) 
RED 
MEAT 
SAFETY 
RESEARCH 
AND 
EXTENSION.— 
Research and extension grants may be made under this section 
for the purpose of developing— 
"(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 developing techniques for the eradication 
of sorghum ergot. 
"(9) PEANUT MARKET ENHANCEMENT RESEARCH AND EXTEN-
SION.—Research and extension grants may be made under this 
section for the purpose of evaluating the economics of applying 
innovative technologies for peanut processing in a commerci^ 
environment. 
"(10) 
DAIRY FINANCIAL RISK MANAGEMENT RESEARCH AND 
EXTENSION.—Research and extension grants may be made 
under this section for the purpose of providing research, 
development, or education materials, information, and outreach 
programs regarding risk management strategies for dairy 
PUBLIC LAW 105-185^JUNE 23, 1998 
112 STAT. 551 
producers and for dairy cooperatives £ind other processors and 
marketers of milk. 
"(11) 
COTTON RESEARCH AND EXTENSION.—Research 
and 
extension grants may be made under this section for the pur-
pose of improving pest management, fiber quahty enhancement, 
economic assessment, textile production, and optimized produc-
tion systems for short staple cotton. 
"(12) 
METHYL 
BROMIDE 
RESEARCH 
AND 
EXTENSION.— 
Research and extension grants may be made imder this section 
for the purpose o
f
— 
"(A) developing and evaluating chemical and nonchemi-
cal alternatives, and use and emission reduction strategies, 
for pre-planting and post-harvest uses of methyl bromide; 
and 
"(B) transferring the results of the research for use 
by agricultural producers. 
"(13) 
POTATO RESEARCH AND EXTENSION.—Research 
and 
extension grants may be made under this section for the pur-
pose of developing and evaluating new strains of potatoes that 
are resistant to blight and other diseases, as well as insects. 
Emphasis may be placed on developing potato varieties that 
lend themselves to innovative marketing approaches. 
"(14) WOOD USE RESEARCH AND EXTENSION.—Research and 
extension grants may be made under this section for the pur-
pose of developing new uses for wood from underused tree 
species as well as investigating methods of modifying wood 
£ind wood fibers to produce better building materials. 
"(15) 
LOW-BUSH BLUEBERRY RESEARCH AND EXTENSION.— 
Research and extension grants may be made under this section 
for the purpose of evaluating methods of propagating and devel-
oping low-bush blueberry as a marketable crop. 
"(16) WETLANDS USE RESEARCH AND EXTENSION.—Research 
and extension grants may be made under this section for the 
purpose of better use of wetlands in diverse ways to provide 
various economic, agricultural, and environmental benefits. 
"(17) 
WILD PAMPAS GRASS CONTROL, MANAGEMENT, AND 
ERADICATION RESEARCH AND EXTENSION.—Research and exten-
sion grsuits may be made under this section for the purpose 
of control, management, smd eradication of wild pampas grass. 
"(18) FOOD SAFETY, INCLUDING PATHOGEN DETECTION AND 
LIMITATION, RESEARCH AND EXTENSION.—Research and exten-
sion grants may be made under this section for the purpose 
of increasing food safety, including the identification 
of 
advanced detection and processing methods to limit the pres-
ence of pathogens (including hepatitis A and E. coli 0157:H7) 
in domestic and imported foods. 
"(19) FINANCIAL RISK MANAGEMENT RESEARCH AND EXTEN-
SION.—Research and extension grants may be made under this 
section for the purpose of providing research, development, 
or education materials, information, and outreach programs 
regarding financial risk management strategies for agricultural 
producers and for cooperatives and other processors and 
marketers of any agricultural commodity. 
"(20) 
ORNAMENTAL TROPICAL FISH RESEARCH AND EXTEN-
SION.—Research and extension grants may be made under this 
section for the purpose of meeting the needs of commercial 
producers of ornamental tropical fish and aquatic plants for 
58-194 O - 98 - 19: QL 3 Part 1 
112 STAT. 552 
PUBLIC LAW 105-185^JUNE 23, 1998 
Establishment. 
Publication. 
improvements in the areas of fish reproduction, health, nutri-
tion, predator control, water use, water quality control, and 
farming technology. 
"(21) SHEEP SCRAPIE RESEARCH AND EXTENSION.—Research 
and extension grants may be made under this section for the 
purpose of investigating the genetic aspects of scrapie in sheep. 
"(22) 
GYPSY MOTH RESEARCH AND EXTENSION.—Research 
and extension grants may be made under this section for the 
purpose of developing biological control, management, and 
eradication 
methods against nonnative insects, 
including 
L3nnantria dispar (commonly known as the 'gypsy moth'), that 
contribute to significant agricultural, economic, or environ-
mental harm. 
"(23) FORESTRY RESEARCH AND EXTENSION.—Research and 
extension grsints may be made under this section to develop 
and distribute new, high-quality, science-based information for 
the purpose of improving the long-term productivity of forest 
resources and contributing to forest-based economic develop-
ment by addressing such issues as— 
"(A) forest land use policies; 
"(B) multiple-use forest management, including wildlife 
habitat development, improved forest regeneration systems, 
and timber supply; and 
"(C) 
improved 
development, 
manufacturing, 
and 
marketing of forest products. 
"(24) TOMATO SPOTTED WILT VIRUS RESEARCH AND EXTEN-
SION.—Research and extension grants may be made under this 
section for the purpose of control, management, and eradication 
of tomato spotted wilt virus. 
"(f) IMPORTED FIRE ANT CONTROL, MANAGEMENT, AND ERADI-
CATION.— 
"(1) TASK FORCE.—The Secretary shall establish a task 
force pursuant to subsection (b)(2) regarding the control, 
management, and eradication of imported fire ants. The Sec-
retary shall solicit and evaluate grant proposals under this 
subsection in consultation with the task force. 
"(2) INITIAL GRANTS.— 
"(A) REQUEST FOR PROPOSALS.—The Secretary shall 
publish a request for proposals for grants for research 
or demonstration projects related to the control, manage-
ment, and possible eradication of imported fire sints. 
"(B) SELECTION.—Not later than 1 year after the date 
of publication of the request for proposals, the Secretary 
shall evaluate the grant proposals submitted in response 
to the request and may select meritorious research or dem-
onstration projects related to the control, management, 
and possible eradication of imported fire eints to receive 
an initial grant under this subsection. 
"(3) SUBSEQUENT GRANTS.— 
"(A) EVALUATION OF INITIAL GRANTS.—If the Secretary 
awards grants under paragraph (2)(B), the Secretary shall 
evaluate all of the research or demonstration projects con-
ducted under the grants for their use as the basis of a 
national plan for the control, management, and possible 
eradication of imported fire ants by the Federal Govern-
ment, State and local governments, and owners and opera-
tors of land. 
PUBLIC LAW 1 0 5 - 1 8 5 - ^ U N E 23, 1998 
112 STAT. 553 
"(B) SELECTION.—On the basis of the evaluation under 
subparagraph (A), the Secretary may select the projects 
that the Secretary considers most promising for additional 
research or demonstration related to preparation of a 
national plan for the control, management, and possible 
i 
eradication of imported fire ants. The Secretsiry shall notify 
Notification. 
the task force of the projects selected under this subpeira-
graph. 
"(4) SELECTION AND SUBMISSION OF NATIONAL PLAN.— 
"(A) EVALUATION OF SUBSEQUENT GRANTS.—If the Sec-
retary awards grants luider paragraph (3)(B), the Secretary 
shall evaluate all of the research or demonstration projects 
conducted under the grants for use as the basis of a 
national plan for the control, management, and possible 
eradication of imported fire ants by the Federal Govern-
ment, State and local governments, and owners and opera-
tors of land. 
"(B) SELECTION.—On the basis of the evaluation under 
subparagraph (A), the Secretary shall select 1 project 
funded imder paragraph (3)(B), or a combination of those 
projects, for award of a grant for final preparation of the 
national plan. 
"(C) SUBMISSION.—The Secretary shall submit to Con-
gress the final national plan prepared under subparagraph 
(B) for the control, msinagement, and possible eradication 
of imported fire ants. 
"(g) FoRMOSAN TERMITE RESEARCH AND ERADICATION.— 
"(1) RESEARCH PROGRAM.—The Secretary may make 
competitive research grants under this subsection to regional 
and multijurisdictional entities, local government planning 
organizations, and local governments for the purpose of conduct-
ing research for the control, management, and possible eradi-
cation of Formos£in termites in the United States. 
"(2) ERADICATION PROGRAM.—The Secretary may enter into 
cooperative agreements with regional and multijurisdictional 
entities, local government planning organizations, and local 
governments for the purposes o
f
— 
"(A) conducting projects for the control, management, 
and possible eradication of Formosan termites in the 
United States; and 
"(B) collecting data on the effectiveness of the projects. 
"(3) FUNDING PRIORITY.—In allocating fimds made available 
to carry out paragraph (2), the Secretary shall provide a higher 
priority for regions or locations with the highest historical 
rates of infestation of Formosan termites. 
"(4) MANAGEMENT COORDINATION.—The program manage-
ment of research grants, cooperative agreements, and projects 
under this subsection shall be conducted under existing author-
ity in coordination with the national formosan termite manage-
ment and research demonstration program conducted by the 
Agricultural Research Service. 
"(h) AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.—There are authorized 
to be appropriated such sums as are necessary to carry out this 
section for each of fiscal years 1999 through 2002.". 
112 STAT. 554 
PUBLIC LAW 105-185-^UNE 23, 1998 
SEC. 243. NUTRIENT MANAGEMENT RESEARCH AND EXTENSION INI-
TIATIVE. 
The Food, Agriculture, Conservation, and Trade Act of 1990 
is amended by inserting after section 1672 (7 U.S.C. 5925) the 
following: 
7 use 5925a. 
"SEC. 1672A. NUTRIENT MANAGEMENT RESEARCH AND EXTENSION 
INTTIATrVE. 
"(a) COMPETITIVE RESEARCH AND EXTENSION GRANTS AUTHOR-
IZED.—The Secretary of Agriculture (referred to in this section 
as the 'Secretary*) may make competitive grants to support resesirch 
and extension activities specified in subsection (e). The Secretary 
shall make the grants in consultation with the National Agricultural 
Research, Extension, Education, and Economics Advisory Board. 
"(b) ADMINISTRATION.— 
ApplicabUity. 
"(1) IN GENERAL.—Paragraphs (1), (6), (7), and (11) of sub-
section (b) of the Competitive, Special, and Facilities Research 
Grant Act (7 U.S.C. 450i) shall apply with respect to the making 
of grants under this section. 
"(2) USE OF TASK FORCES.—TO facilitate the making of 
research and extension grants under this section in the research 
and extension areas specified in subsection (e), the Secretary 
may appoint a task force for each such area to make rec-
ommendations to the Secretary. The Secretary may not incur 
costs in excess of $1,000 for any fiscal year in connection 
with each task force established under this paragraph. 
"(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 
fi"om 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 fluids 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 bene-
fit to a specific agricultural commodity, are likely to be 
applicable to agricultural commodities generally; or 
"(B) the project involves a minor commodity, the project 
deals with scientifically important research, and the grant 
recipient is unable to satisfy the matching funds require-
ment. 
"(d) PARTNERSHIPS ENCOURAGED.—Following the completion of 
a peer review process for grant proposals received under this sec-
tion, the Secretary may provide a priority to those grant proposals, 
foiuid in the peer review process to be scientificsJly meritorious, 
that involve the cooperation of multiple entities. 
"(e) 
NUTRIENT 
MANAGEMENT 
RESEARCH 
AND EXTENSION 
AREAS.— 
"(1) ANIMAL WASTE AND ODOR MANAGEMENT.—Research and 
extension grants may be made under this section for the pur-
pose of— 
"(A) identifying, evaluating, and demonstrating innova-
tive technologies for sinimal waste management and related 
air quality management and odor control; 
"(B) investigating the unique microbiology of specific 
animal wastes, such as swine waste, to develop improved 
methods to effectively manage air and water quality; and 
PUBLIC LAW 105-185^JUNE 23, 1998 
112 STAT. 555 
"(C) conducting information workshops to disseminate 
the results of the research. 
"(2) WATER QUALITY AND AQUATIC ECOSYSTEMS.—Research 
and extension greints may be made under this section for the 
purpose of investigating the impact on aquatic food webs, espe-
cially commercially important aquatic species and their habi-
tats, of microorganisms of the genus Pfiesteria and other micro-
organisms that are a threat to human or animal health. 
"(3) RURAL AND URBAN INTERFACE.—Research and exten-
sion grants may be made under this section for the purpose 
of identifying, evaluating, and demonstrating innovative tech-
nologies to be used for animal waste management (including 
odor control) in rural areas adjacent to urbgm or suburban 
areas in connection with waste management activities under-
taken in urban or suburban areas. 
"(4) ANIMAL FEED.—Research and extension grants may 
be made under this section for the purpose of maximizing 
nutrition management for livestock, while limiting risks, such 
as mineral bypass, associated with livestock feeding practices. 
"(5) ALTERNATIVE USES OF ANIMAL WASTE.—Research and 
extension grants may be made under this section for the pur-
pose of finding innovative methods and technologies for eco-
nomic use or disposal of animal waste. 
"(g) AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRL^TIONS.—There are authorized 
to be appropriated such sums as are necessary to carry out this 
section for each of fiscal years 1999 through 2002.". 
SEC. 244. ORGANIC AGRICULTURE RESEARCH AND EXTENSION INI-
TIATIVE. 
The Food, Agriculture, Conservation, and Trade Act of 1990 
is amended by inserting after section 1672A (as added by section 
243) the following: 
"SEC. 1672B. ORGANIC AGRICULTURE RESEARCH AND EXTENSION INI- 
7USC5925b. 
TIATIVE. 
"(a) 
COMPETITIVE 
SPECIALIZED 
RESEARCH AND EXTENSION 
GRANTS AUTHORIZED.—In consultation with the National Agricul-
tural Research, Extension, Education, and Economics Advisory 
Board, the Secretary of Agriculture (referred to in this section 
as the 'Secretary') may make competitive grants to support research 
and extension activities regarding organically grown and processed 
agricultural commodities for the purposes o
f
— 
"(1) facilitating the development of organic agriculture 
production and processing methods; 
"(2) evaluating the potential economic benefits to producers 
and processors who use organic methods; and 
"(3) exploring international trade opportunities for organi-
cally grown and processed agricultural commodities. 
"(b) GRANT TYPES AND PROCESS, PROHIBITION ON CONSTRUC- Applicability. 
TION.—Paragraphs (1), (6), (7), and (11) of subsection (b) of the 
Competitive, Special, and Facilities Research 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 
fi-om non-Federal sources in an amount at least equal to the 
amount provided by the Federal Government. 
112 STAT. 556 
PUBLIC LAW 1 0 5 - 1 8 5 - J U N E 23, 1998 
"(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 bene-
fit to a specified agricultural commodity, are likely to be 
applicable to agricultural commodities generally; or 
"(B) the project involves a minor commodity, the project 
deals with scientifically important research, and the grant 
recipient is unable to satisfy the matching funds require-
ment. 
"(d) PARTNERSHIPS ENCOURAGED.—Following the completion of 
a peer review process for grant proposals received under this sec-
tion, the Secretary may provide a priority to those grant proposals, 
found in the peer review process to be scientifically meritorious, 
that involve the cooperation of multiple entities. 
"(e) AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.—There are authorized 
to be appropriated such sums as are necessary to carry out this 
section for each of fiscal years 1999 through 2002.". 
SEC. 246. AGRICULTURAL TELECOMMUNICATIONS PROGRAM. 
Section 1673 of the Food, Agriculture, Conservation, and Trade 
Act of 1990 (7 U.S.C. 5926) is amended— 
(1) in subsection (c)— 
(A) by redesignating paragraphs (1) through (5) as 
paragraphs (2) through (6), respectively; 
(B) by inserting before paragraph (2) (as so redesig-
nated) the following: 
"(1) A*DEC.—The term 'A*DEC' means the distance edu-
cation consortiimi known as A*DEC."; and 
(C) by adding at the end the following: 
"(7) SECRETARY.—Except as provided in subsection (d)(1), 
the term 'Secretary* means the Secretary of Agriculture, acting 
through A*DEC."; 
(2) in subsection (d)(1), by striking "The Secretary shall 
estabhsh a program, to be administered by the Assistant Sec-
retary for Science and Education," and inserting "The Secretary 
of Agriculture shall establish a program, to Be administered 
through a grant provided to A*DEC under terms £ind conditions 
estabfished by the Secretary of Agriculture,"; and 
(3) in the first sentence of subsection (f)(2), by striking 
"the Assistant Secretary for Science and Education" and insert-
ing "A*DEC". 
SEC. 246. ASSISTIVE TECHNOLOGY PROGRAM FOR FARMERS WITH 
DISABILITIES. 
Section 1680 of the Food, Agriculture, Conservation, and Trade 
Act of 1990 (7 U.S.C. 5933) is amended— 
(1) in subsection (a), by striking paragraph (6); 
(2) in subsection (b)— 
(A) by striking "DISSEMINATION.—" and all that follows 
through "GENERAL.—The" and inserting "DISSEMINATION.— 
The"; and 
(B) by striking paragraph (2); and 
(3) by adding at the end the following: 
"(c) AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.— 
"(1) IN GENERAL.—Subject to paragraph (2), there is author-
ized to be appropriated to carry out this section $6,000,000 
for each of fiscal years 1999 through 2002. 
PUBLIC LAW 105-185-^UNE 23, 1998 
112 STAT. 557 
"(2) NATIONAL GRANT.—Not more than 15 percent of the 
amounts made available under pgiragraph (1) for a fiscal year 
shall be used to carry out subsection (b).". 
Subtitle E—Other Laws 
SEC. 251. EQUITY IN EDUCATIONAL LAND-GRANT STATUS ACT OF 1994. 
(a) DEFINITION OF 1994 
INSTITUTIONS.—Section 532 of 
the 
Equity in Educational Land-Grcint Status Act of 1994 (Public Law 
103-382; 7 U.S.C. 301 note) is amended by adding at the end 
the following: 
"(30) Little Priest Tribal College.". 
(b) ACCREDITATION.—Section 533(a) of the Equity in Edu-
cational Land-Grant Status Act of 1994 (Pubhc Law 103-382; 7 
U.S.C. 301 note) is amended by adding at the end the following: 
"(3) ACCREDITATION.—To receive funding under sections 
534 and 535, a 1994 Institution shall certify to the Secretary 
that the 1994 Institution— 
"(A) is accredited by a nationally recognized accrediting 
agency or association determined by the Secretary, in con-
sultation with the Secretary of Education, to be a reliable 
authority regarding the quality of training offered; or 
"(B) is making progress toward the accreditation, as 
determined by the nationally recognized accrediting agency 
or association.". 
(c) RESEARCH GRANTS.—The Equity in Educational Land-Grant 
Status Act of 1994 (Pubhc Law 103-382; 7 U.S.C. 301 note) is 
amended by adding at the end the following: 
«SEC. 536. RESEARCH GRANTS. 
"(a) RESEARCH GRANTS AUTHORIZED.—The Secretary of Agri-
culture may make grants under this section, on the basis of a 
competitive application process (and in accordance with such regula-
tions as the Secretary may promulgate), to a 1994 Institution to 
assist the Institution to conduct agricultural research that addresses 
high priority concerns of tribal, national, or multistate significance. 
"(b) REQUIREMENTS.—Grant applications submitted under this 
section shall certify that the research to be conducted will be 
performed under a cooperative agreement with at least 1 other 
land-grant college or university (exclusive of another 1994 Institu-
tion). 
"(c) AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.—There are authorized 
to be appropriated such sums as are necessary to carry out this 
section for each of fiscal years 1999 through 2002. Amounts appro-
priated shall remain available until expended.". 
SEC. 252. FUND FOR RURAL AMERICA. 
Section 793(b) of the Federal Agriculture Improvement and 
Reform Act of 1996 (7 U.S.C. 2204f[b)) is amended by striking 
paragraph (1) and inserting the following: 
"(1) IN GENERAL.—On October 1, 1998, and each October 
1 thereafter through October 1, 2002, out of any funds in 
the Treasury not otherwise appropriated, the Secretary of the 
Treasury shall transfer $60,000,000 to the Account.". 
Certification. 
Certification. 
112 STAT. 558 
PUBLIC LAW 105-185--JUNE 23, 1998 
SEC. 253. FOREST 
AND 
RANGELAND 
RENEWABLE 
RESOURCES 
RESEARCH. 
(a) FINDINGS.—Section 2 of the Forest and Rangeland Renew-
able Resources Research Act of 1978 (16 U.S.C. 1641) is amended 
by striking "SEC. 2." and subsection (a) eind inserting the following: 
'<SEC. 2. FINDINGS AND PURPOSE. 
"(a) FINDINGS.—Congress finds the following: 
"(1) Forests and rangeland, and the resources of forests 
and rangeland, are of strategic economic and ecological impor-
tance to the United States, and the Federal Government has 
an important and substantial role in ensuring the continued 
health, productivity, and sustainability of the forests and range-
land of the United States. 
"(2) Over 75 percent of the productive commercial forest 
land in the United States is privately owned, with some 60 
percent owned by small nonindustrial private owners. These 
10,000,000 nonindustrial private owners are critical to provid-
ing both commodity and noncommodity values to the citizens 
of the United States. 
"(3) The National Forest System manages only 17 percent 
of the commercial timberland of the United States, with over 
half of the standing softwoods inventory located on that land. 
Dramatic changes in Federal agency policy during the e£u*ly 
1990's have significantly curtailed the management of this vast 
timber resource, causing abrupt shifts in the supply of timber 
fi:om pubhc 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 fi*om private forest land in the 
southern United States. 
"(4) At the same time that pressures are building for the 
removal of even more land fi"om commercial production, the 
Federed Government is significantly reducing its commitment 
to productivity-related research regarding forests and range-
land, which is criticgJly needed by the private sector for tiie 
sustained management of remaining available timber and for-
age 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 support for resegu-ch is causing domestic 
wood and paper producers to move outside the United States 
to find reliable sources of wood supplies, which in turn results 
in a worsening of the United States trade balance, the loss 
of emplo5maent and infi"astructure 
investments, 
and 
an 
increased risk of infestations of exotic pests and diseases fi-om 
imported wood products. 
"(6) Wood and paper producers in the United States are 
being challenged not only by shifts in Federal Government 
policy, but also by international competition from tropical coun-
tries 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 decreasing 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 
PUBLIC LAW 105-185-JUNE 23, 1998 
112 STAT. 559 
data necessary to make timely and effective management 
decisions.". 
(b) HIGH PRIORITY FORESTRY AND RANGELAND RESEARCH AND 
EDUCATION.—Section 3 of the Forest and Rangeland Renewable 
Resources Research Act of 1978 (16 U.S.C. 1642) is amended by 
striking subsection (d) and inserting the following: 
"(d) HIGH PRIORITY FORESTRY AND RANGELAND RESEARCH AND 
EDUCATION.— 
"(1) IN GENERAL.—^The Secretary may conduct, support, 
and cooperate in forestry and rangeland resesirch and education 
that is of the highest priority to the United States and to 
users of public and private forest land and rangeland in the 
United States. 
"(2) PRIORITIES.—The research and education priorities 
include the following: 
"(A) The biology of forest organisms and rangeland 
organisms. 
"(B) Functional 
characteristics 
and 
cost-effective 
management of forest and rangeland ecosystems. 
"(C) Interactions between humans and forests and 
rangeland. 
"(D) Wood and forage as a raw material. 
"(E) International trade, competition, £ind cooperation. 
"(3) NORTHEASTERN STATES RESEARCH COOPERATIVE.—The 
Secretary may cooperate with the northeastern States of New 
Hampshire, New York, Maine, and Vermont, land-grant colleges 
and universities of those States, natural resources smd forestry 
schools of those States, other Federal agencies, and other 
interested persons in those States to coordinate and improve 
ecological and economic research relating to agricultural 
research, extension, and education, including— 
"(A) research on ecosystem health, forest management, 
product development, economics, and related fields; 
"(B) research to assist those States and landowners 
in those States to achieve sustainable forest management; 
"(C) technology transfer to the wood products industry 
of technologies that promote efficient processing, pollution 
prevention, and energy conservation; 
"(D) dissemination of existing and new information 
to landowners, public and private resource managers. State 
forest citizen advisory committees, and the general public 
through professional associations, publications, and other 
information clearinghouse activities; and 
"(E) analysis of strategies for the protection of areas 
of outstanding ecological significance or high biological 
diversity, and strategies for the provision of important 
recreational opportunities and traditional uses, including 
strategies for areas identified through State land conserva-
tion planning processes.". 
(c) FOREST INVENTORY AND ANALYSIS.—Section 3 of the Forest 
and Rangelgind Renewable Resources Research Act of 1978 (16 
U.S.C. 1642) is amended by adding at the end the following: 
"(e) FOREST INVENTORY AND ANALYSIS.— 
"(1) 
PROGRAM 
REQUIRED.—In 
compliance 
with 
other 
applicable provisions of law, the Secretary shall establish a 
program to inventory and analyze, in a timely manner, public 
and private forests £ind their resources in the United States. 
112 STAT. 560 
PUBLIC LAW 105-185—JUNE 23, 1998 
Public 
information. 
Publication. 
Public 
information. 
Publication. 
"(2) ANNUAL STATE INVENTORY.— 
"(A) IN GENERAL.—Not later than the end of each full 
fiscal year beginning after the date of enactment of this 
subsection, the Secretary shall prepare for each State, in 
cooperation with the State forester for the State, an inven-
tory of forests and their resources in the State. 
"(B) SAMPLE PLOTS.—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 program for that State. 
"(C) COMPILATION OF INVENTORY.—On completion of 
the inventory for a year, the Secretary shall make available 
to the public a compilation of all data collected for that 
year fi*om measurements of sample plots as well as any 
analysis made of the samples. 
"(3) 5-YEAR REPORTS.—Not more often than every 5 full 
fiscal years after the date of 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, incorporating all sample 
E
lot measurements conducted during the 5 years covered 
y the report; 
"(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 2 decades, with an emphasis 
on such conditions and trends during the period subsequent 
to the immediately preceding report under this paragraph. 
"(4) NATIONAL STANDARDS AND DEFINITIONS.—To ensure 
uniform and consistent data collection for all forest land that 
is publicly or privately owned and for each State, the Secretary 
shall develop, in consultation with State foresters and Federal 
l£ind management agencies not under the jurisdiction of the 
Secretary, and publish national standards and definitions 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). 
"(5) PROTECTION FOR PRIVATE PROPERTY RIGHTS.—The Sec-
retary shall obtain authorization fi-om property owners prior 
to collecting data fi-om sample plots located on private property 
pursuant to paragraphs (2) and (3). 
"(6) STRATEGIC PLAN.—Not later than 180 days after the 
date of enactment of this subsection, the Secretary shall prepare 
and submit to Congress a strategic plan to implement and 
carry out this subsection, including the annual updates required 
by paragraph (2) and the reports required by paragraph (3), 
that shall describe in detail— 
"(A) the financial resources required to implement £ind 
carry out this subsection, including the identification of 
any resources required in excess of the amounts provided 
for forest inventor5dng and analysis in recent appropria-
tions Acts; 
PUBLIC LAW 105-185^JUNE 23, 1998 
112 STAT. 561 
"(B) the personnel necessary to implement and carry 
out this subsection, including any personnel in addition 
to personnel currently performing inventorjdng and analy-
sis functions; 
"(C) the organization and procedures necessary to 
implement and carry out this subsection, including pro-
posed coordination with Federal land management agencies 
and State foresters; 
"(D) the schedules for annual sample plot measure-
ments in each State inventory required by paragraph (2) 
within the first 5-year interval after the date of enactment 
of this subsection; 
"(E) the core set of variables to be measured 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 coordination with 
the Secretary of Energy and the Administrator of the 
National Aeronautics and Space Administration, remote 
sensing, global positioning systems, and other advanced 
technologies to carry out this subsection, £uid the subse-
quent use of the teclmologies.". 
(d) 
FORESTRY 
AND 
RANGELAND 
COMPETITIVE 
RESEARCH 
GRANTS.—Section 5 of the Forest and Rangeland Renewable 
Resources Research Act of 1978 (16 U.S.C. 1644) is amended— 
(1) by striking the section heading and "SEC. 5." and insert-
ing the following: 
'<SEC. 5. FORESTRY AND RANGELAND 
COMPETITIVE 
RESEARCH 
GRANTS. 
"(a) COMPETITIVE GRANT AUTHORITY.—"; and 
(2) by adding at the end the following: 
"(b) 
EMPHASIS 
ON 
CERTAIN 
HIGH 
PRIORITY 
FORESTRY 
RESEARCH.—^The Secretary may use up to 5 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 under section 3(d). 
"(c) 
EMPHASIS 
ON 
CERTAIN 
HIGH 
PRIORITY 
RANGELAND 
RESEARCH.—^The Secretary may use up to 5 percent of the amounts 
made available for research under section 3 to make competitive 
grants regarding rsuigeland research in the high priority research 
areas identified under section 3(d). 
"(d) PRIORITIES.—In making grants imder subsections (b) and 
(c), the Secretary shall give priority to research proposals xrnder 
which— 
"(1) the proposed research will be collaborative research 
organized through a center of scientific excellence; 
"(2) the applicant agrees to provide matching funds (in 
the form of direct funding or in-kind support) in an amoimt 
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 interested research part-
ners.". 
112 STAT. 562 
PUBLIC LAW 1 0 5 - 1 8 5 - J U N E 23, 1998 
TITLE III—EXTENSION OR REPEAL OF 
AGRICULTURAL RESEARCH, EXTEN-
SION, AND EDUCATION AUTHORITIES 
SEC. 301. EXTENSIONS. 
(a) 
NATIONAL 
AGRICULTURAL 
RESEARCH, 
EXTENSION, 
AND 
TEACHING 
POLICY 
ACT 
OF 1977.—The National 
Agricultural 
Research, Extension, and Teaching PoHcy Act of 1977 is amended— 
(1) in subsection (1) of section 1417 (7 U.S.C. 3152) (as 
redesignated by section 223(1)), by striking "1997" and inserting 
"2002"; 
(2) in section 1419(d) (7 U.S.C. 3154(d)), by striking "1997" 
and inserting "2002"; 
(3) in section 1419A(d) (7 U.S.C. 3155(d)), by striking "fiscal 
years 1996 and 1997" and inserting "each of fiscal years 1996 
through 2002"; 
(4) in section 1424(d) (7 U.S.C. 3174(d)), by striking "fiscal 
years 1996 and 1997" and inserting "each of fiscsd years 1996 
through 2002"; 
(5) in section 1424A(d) (7 U.S.C. 3174a(d)), by striking 
"fiscal year 1997" and inserting "each of fiscal years 1997 
through 2002"; 
(6) in section 1425(c)(3) (7 U.S.C. 3175(c)(3)), by striking 
"and 1997" and inserting "through 2002"; 
(7) in the first sentence of section 1433(a) (7 U.S.C. 3195(a)), 
by striking "1997" and inserting "2002"; 
(8) in section 1434(a) (7 U.S.C. 3196(a)), by striking "1997" 
and inserting "2002"; 
(9) in section 1447(b) (7 U.S.C. 3222b(b)), by striking "and 
1997" and inserting "through 2002"; 
(10) in section 1448 (7 U.S.C. 3222c)— 
(A) in subsection (a)(1), by striking "and 1997" and 
inserting "through 2002"; and 
(B) in subsection (f), by striking "1997" and inserting 
"2002"; 
(11) in section 1455(c) (7 U.S.C. 3241(c)), by striking "fiscal 
year 1997" and inserting "each of fiscal yesirs 1997 through 
2002"; 
(12) in section 1463 (7 U.S.C. 3311), by striking "1997" 
each place it appears in subsections (a) and (b) and inserting 
"2002"; 
(13) in section 1464 (7 U.S.C. 3312), by striking "1997" 
and inserting "2002"; 
(14) in section 1473D(a) (7 U.S.C. 3319d(a)), by striking 
"1997" and inserting "2002"; 
(15) in the first sentence of section 1477 (7 U.S.C. 3324), 
by striking "1997" and inserting "2002"; and 
(16) in section 1483(a) (7 U.S.C. 3336(a)), by striking "1997" 
and inserting "2002". 
(b) FOOD, AGRICULTURE, CONSERVATION, AND TRADE ACT OF 
1990.—The Food, Agriculture, Conservation, and Trade Act of 1990 
is amended— 
(1) in section 1635(b) (7 U.S.C. 5844(b)), by striking "1997" 
and inserting "2002"; 
PUBLIC LAW 1 0 5 - 1 8 5 - ^ U N E 23, 1998 
112 STAT. 563 
(2) in section 1673(h) (7 U.S.C. 5926(h)), by striking "1997" 
and inserting "2002"; 
(3) in section 2381(e) (7 U.S.C. 3125b(e)), by striking "1997" 
and inserting "2002". 
(c) CRITICAL AGRICULTURAL MATERIALS ACT.—Section 16(a) of 
the (Critical Agricultural Materials Act (7 U.S.C. 178n(a)) is amend-
ed by striking "1997" and inserting "2002". 
(d) RESEARCH FACILITIES ACT.—Section 6(a) of the Research 
FaciHties Act (7 U.S.C. 390d(a)) is amended by striking "fiscal 
years 1996 and 1997" and inserting "each of fiscal years 1996 
through 2002". 
(e) 
NATIONAL 
AGRICULTURAL 
RESEARCH, 
EXTENSION, AND 
TEACHING POLICY ACT AMENDMENTS OF 1985.—Section 1431 of 
the National Agricultural Research, Extension, and Teaching Policy 
Act Amendments of 1985 (Public Law 99-198; 99 Stat. 1556) is 
amended by striking "1997" and inserting "2002". 
(f) COMPETITIVE, SPECL\L, AND FACILITIES RESEARCH 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". 
(g) 
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". 
(h) RENEWABLE RESOURCES EXTENSION ACT OF 1978.—Section 
6 of the Renewable Resources Extension Act of 1978 (16 U.S.C. 
1675) is amended in the first sentence by striking "the fiscal year 
ending September 30, 1988," and all that follows through the period 
at the end and inserting "each of fiscal years 1987 through 2002.". 
(i) NATIONAL AQUACULTURE ACT OF 1980.—Section 10 of the 
National Aquaculture Act of 1980 (16 U.S.C. 2809) is amended 
by striking "the fiscal years 1991, 1992, and 1993" each place 
it appears and inserting "fiscal years 1991 through 2002". 
SEC. 302. REPEALS. 
(a) 
NATIONAL 
AGRICULTURAL 
RESEARCH, 
EXTENSION, AND 
TEACHING POLICY ACT OF 1977.—Section 1476 of the National Agri-
cultural Research, Extension, and Teaching Policy Act of 1977 (7 
U.S.C. 3323) is repealed. 
(b) 
NATIONAL 
AGRICULTURAL 
RESEARCH, 
EXTENSION, AND 
TEACHING POLICY ACT AMENDMENTS OF 1981.—Subsection (b) of 
section 1432 of the National Agricultural Research, Extension, and 
Teaching Policy Act Amendments of 1981 (PubHc Law 97-98; 7 
U.S.C. 3222 note) is repealed. 
(c) FOOD, AGRICULTURE, CONSERVATION, AND TRADE ACT OF 
1990.—Subtitle G of title XIV and sections 1670 and 1675 of the 
Food, Agriculture, Conservation, and Trade Act of 1990 (7 U.S.C. 
5501 et seq., 5923, 5928) are repealed. 
(d) FEDERAL AGRICULTURE IMPROVEMENT AND REFORM ACT OF 
1996.—Subtitle E of title VIII of the Federal Agriculture Improve-
ment and Reform Act of 1996 (Pubhc Law 104-127; 110 Stat. 
1184) is repealed. 
112 STAT. 564 
PUBLIC LAW 105-185--JUNE 23, 1998 
TITLE 
IV—NEW AGRICULTURAL 
RE-
SEARCH, 
EXTENSION, 
AND 
EDU-
CATION INITIATIVES 
7 use 7621. 
SEC. 401. INITIATIVE FOR FUTURE AGRICULTURE AND FOOD SYSTEMS. 
(a) TREASURY ACCOUNT.—^There is established in the Treasury 
of the United States an account to be known as the Initiative 
for Future Agriculture and Food Systems (referred to in this section 
as the 'Account") to provide funds for activities authorized under 
this section. 
(b) FUNDING.— 
Effective date. 
(1) IN GENERAL.—On October 1, 1998, and each October 
Termination 
1 thereafter through October 1, 2002, out of any funds in 
"**•• 
the Treasury not otherwise appropriated, the Secretary of the 
Treasury shall transfer $120,000,000 to the Account. 
(2) ENTITLEMENT.—The Secretary of Agriculture— 
(A) shall be entitled to receive the funds transferred 
to the Account under paragraph (1); 
(B) shall accept the funds; and 
(C) shall use the funds to carry out this section. 
(c) PURPOSES.— 
(1) CRITICAL EMERGING ISSUES.—The Secretary shall use 
the fluids in the Account— 
(A) subject to paragraph (2), for research, extension, 
and education grants (referred to in this section as "grants") 
to address critical emerging agricultural issues related to— 
(i) future food production; 
(ii) environmental quality and natural resource 
management; or 
(iii) farm income; and 
(B) for activities carried out under the Alternative 
Agricultural Research and Commercialization Act of 1990 
(7 U.S.C. 5901 et seq.). 
(2) PRIORITY MISSION AREAS.—In making grants under this 
section, the Secretary, in consultation with the Advisory Board, 
shall address priority mission areas related to— 
(A) agricultural genome; 
(B) food safety, food technology, and human nutrition; 
(C) new and alternative uses and production of agricul-
tural commodities and products; 
(D) agricultural biotechnology; 
(E) natural resource management, including precision 
agriculture; and 
(F) farm efficiency and profitability, including the 
viability and competitiveness of small- and medium-sized 
dairy, livestock, crop, and other commodity operations. 
(d) ELIGIBLE GRANTEES.—The Secretary may make a grant 
under this section to— 
(1) a Federed research agency; 
(2) a national laboratory; 
(3) a college or university or a research foundation main-
tained by a college or university; or 
(4) a private research organization with an established 
and demonstrated capacity to perform research or technology 
transfer. 
PUBLIC LAW 105-185^JUNE 23, 1998 
112 STAT. 565 
(e) SPECIAL CONSIDERATIONS.— 
(1) SMALLER INSTITUTIONS.—The Secretary may award 
grants under this section in a manner that ensures that the 
faculty of small and mid-sized institutions that have not pre-
viously been successful in obtaining competitive grants under 
subsection (b) of the Competitive, Special, and Facilities 
Research Grant Act (7 U.S.C. 450i(b)) receive a portion of 
the grants under this section. 
(2) PRIORITIES.—In making grants under this section, the 
Secretary shall provide a higher priority to— 
(A) a project that is multistate, multi-institutional, or 
multidisciplinary; or 
(B) a project that integrates agricultural research, 
extension, and education. 
(f) ADMINISTRATION.— 
(1) IN GENERAL.—In making grants imder this section, 
the Secretary shall— 
(A) seek and accept proposals for grants; 
(B) determine the relevance and merit of proposals 
through a system of peer review in accordance with section 
103; 
(C) award grants on the basis of merit, quality, and 
relevance to advancing the purposes and priority mission 
areas established under subsection (c); and 
(D) solicit and consider input from persons who conduct 
or use agricultural research, extension, or education in 
accordance with section 102(b). 
(2) COMPETITIVE BASIS.—^A grant under this section shall 
be awarded on a competitive basis. 
(3) TERM.—^A grant under this section shall have a term 
that does not exceed 5 years. 
(4) MATCHING FUNDS.—^As a condition of making a grant 
under this section, the Secretary shall require the funding 
of the grant be matched with equal matching funds from a 
non-Federal source if the grant is— 
(A) for applied research that is commodity-specific; and 
(B) not of national scope. 
(5) DELEGATION.—The Secretary shall administer this sec-
tion through the Cooperative State Research, Education, and 
Extension Service of the Department. The Secretary may estab-
lish 1 or more institutes to carry out all or part of the activities 
authorized imder this section, 
(6) AVAILABILITY OF FUNDS.—Funds for grants under this 
section shall be available to the Secretary for obligation for 
a 2-year period. 
(7) ADMINISTRATIVE COSTS.—The Secretary may 
use 
not 
more than 4 percent of the funds made available for grants 
under this section for administrative costs incurred by the 
Secretary in carrying out this section. 
(8) BUILDINGS AND FACILITIES.—Funds made available for 
grants under this section shall not be used for the construction 
of a new building or facility or the acquisition, expansion, 
remodeling, or alteration of an existing building or facility 
(including site grading and improvement and architect fees). 
112 STAT. 566 
PUBLIC LAW 105-185-^JUNE 23, 1998 
7 use 7622. 
SEC. 402. PARTNERSHIPS FOR mGH-VALUE AGRICULTURAL PROD-
UCT QUALITY RESEARCH. 
(a) DEFINITION OF ELIGIBLE PARTNERSHIP.—In this section, the 
term "eligible partnership" means a partnership consisting of a 
land-grant college or university and other entities specified in sub-
section (c)(1) that satisfies the eligibility criteria specified in sub-
section (c). 
(b) ESTABLISHMENT OF PARTNERSHIPS BY GRANT.—The Sec-
retary of Agriculture may make competitive grants to an eligible 
partnership to coordinate and manage research and extension activi-
ties to ennance the quality of high-value agricultural products. 
(c) CRITERIA FOR AN ELIGIBLE PARTNERSHIP.— 
(1) PRIMARY INSTITUTIONS IN PARTNERSHip.^The primary 
institution involved in an eligible partnership shall be a land-
grant college or university, acting in partnership with other 
colleges or universities, noni)rofit research and development 
entities, and Federal laboratories. 
(2) PRIORITIZATION OF RESEARCH ACTIVITIES.—An eligible 
partnership shall prioritize research and extension activities 
in order to— 
(A) enhance the competitiveness of United States agri-
cultural products; 
(B) increase exports of such products; and 
(C) substitute such products for imported products. 
(3) (COORDINATION.—^An eligible partnership shall coordi-
nate among the entities comprising the partnership the activi-
ties supported by the eligible partnership, including the provi-
sion of mechanisms for sharing resources between institutions 
and laboratories and the coordination of public and private 
sector partners to maximize cost-effectiveness. 
(d) TYPES OF RESEARCH AND EXTENSION ACTIVITIES.—Research 
or extension supported by an eligible partnership may address 
the full spectrum of production, processing, packaging, trsmspor-
tation, and marketing issues related to a high-value agricultural 
product. Such issues include— 
(1) environmentally responsible— 
(A) pest management alternatives £ind biotechnology; 
(B) sustainable farming methods; and 
(C) soil conservation and enhanced resource manage-
ment; 
(2) genetic research to develop improved agricultural-based 
products; 
(3) refinement of field production practices £ind technology 
to improve queJity, yield, and production efficiencies; 
(4) processing and package technology to improve product 
quality, stability, or flavor intensity; 
(5) marketing research regarding consumer perceptions and 
preferences; 
(6) economic research, including industry characteristics, 
growlii, and competitive analysis; and 
(7) research to facilitate diversified, value-added enter-
prises in rural areas. 
(e) ELEMENTS OF GRANT MAKING PROCESS.— 
(1) PERIOD OF GRANT.—The Secretary may award a grant 
imder this section for a period not to exceed 5 years. 
(2) PREFERENCES.—In making grants under this section, 
the Secretary shall provide a preference to proposals that— 
PUBLIC LAW 105-185-JUNE 23, 1998 
112 STAT. 567 
(A) demonstrate linkages with— 
(i) agencies of the Department; 
(ii) other related Federal research laboratories and 
agencies; 
(iii) colleges and iiniversities; and 
(iv) private industry; and 
(B) guarantee matching funds in excess of the amounts 
required by paragraph (3). 
(3) 
MATCHING FUNDS.—^An eligible partnership 
shall 
contribute an amount of non-Federal funds for the operation 
of the partnership that is at least equal to the amount of 
grant funds received by the partnership under this section. 
(f) LIMITATION ON USE OF GRANT FUNDS.—Fimds provided 
under this section may not be used for the planning, repair, 
rehabilitation, acquisition, or construction of a building or facility. 
(g) AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.—There are authorized 
to be appropriated such sums as are necessary to carry out this 
section for each of fiscal years 1999 through 2002. 
SEC. 403. PRECISION AGRICULTURE. 
7 USC 7623. 
(a) DEFINITIONS.—In this section: 
(1) AGRICULTURAL INPUTS.—The term "agricultural inputs" 
includes all farm management, agronomic, and 
field-applied 
agricultural production inputs, such as machinery, labor, time, 
fiiel, irrigation water, commercial nutrients, feed stuffs, veteri-
nary drugs and vaccines, livestock waste, crop protection chemi-
cals, agronomic data and information, application and manage-
ment services, seed, and other inputs used in agricultural 
production. 
(2) ELIGIBLE ENTITY.—^The term "eligible entity" means— 
(A) a State agricultural experiment station; 
(B) a college or imiversity; 
(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 agriculkiral producer or other land manager; 
or 
(H) a precision agriculture partnership referred to in 
subsection (g). 
(3) PRECISION AGRICULTURE.—The term "precision agri-
culture" means an integrated information- and production-
based farming system that is designed to increase long-term, 
site-specific, and whole farm production efficiencies, productiv-
ity, and profitability while minimizing unintended impacts on 
wildHfe and the environment by— 
(A) combining agricultural sciences, agricultural inputs 
and practices, agronomic production databases, and preci-
sion agriculture technologies to efficiently manage agro-
nomic and livestock production systems; 
(B) gathering on-farm information pertaining to the 
variation and interaction of site-specific spatial and tem-
poral factors affecting crop and livestock production; 
(C) integrating such information with appropriate data 
derived fi'om field scouting, remote sensing, and other preci-
sion agriculture technologies in a timely msumer in order 
to facilitate on-farm decisionmaking; or 
112 STAT. 568 
PUBLIC LAW 1 0 5 - 1 8 5 - ^ U N E 23, 1998 
(D) using such information to prescribe and deliver 
site-specific application of agricultural inputs and manage-
ment practices in agricultural production systems. 
(4) PRECISION AGRICULTURE TECHNOLOGIES.—The term 
"precision agriculture technologies" includes— 
(A) instrumentation and techniques ranging from 
sophisticated sensors and software systems to manual sam-
pling and data collection tools that measure, record, and 
manage spatial and temporal data; 
(B) technologies for searching out and assembling 
information necessary for sound agricultural production 
decisionmaking; 
(C) open systems technologies for data networking and 
processing that produce valued systems for farm manage-
ment decisionmaking; or 
(D) machines that deliver information-based manage-
ment practices. 
(5) SYSTEMS RESEARCH.—The term "systems research" 
means an integrated, coordinated, and iterative investigative 
process that involves— 
(A) the multiple interacting components and aspects 
of precision agriculture systems, including S3mthesis of new 
knowledge regarding the physical-chemical-biological proc-
esses and complex interactions of the systems with crop-
ping, livestock production practices, and natural resource 
systems; 
(B) precision agriculture technologies development and 
implementation; 
(C) data and information collection and interpretation; 
(D) production-scale planning; 
(E) production-scale implementation; and 
(F) farm production efficiencies, productivity, and 
profitability. 
(b) GRANTS AUTHORIZED.— 
(1) IN GENERAL.—The Secretary of Agriculture may make 
competitive grants, for periods not to exceed 5 years, to eligible 
entities to conduct research, education, or information dissemi-
nation projects for the development and advancement of preci-
sion agriculture. 
(2) PRIVATE SECTOR FINANCING.—A grant imder this section 
shall be used to support only a project that the Secretary 
determines is unlikely to be financed by the private sector. 
(3) CONSULTATION WITH ADVISORY BOARD.—The Secretary 
shall make grants under this section in consultation with the 
Advisory Board. 
(c) PURPOSES OF PROJECTS.—^A research, education, or informa-
tion dissemination project supported by a grant under this section 
shall address 1 or more of the following purposes: 
(1) The study and promotion of components of precision 
agriculture technologies using a systems research approach 
designed to increase long-term site-specific and whole-farm 
production efficiencies, productivity, and profitability. 
(2) The improvement in the understanding of agronomic 
systems, including, soil, water, land cover (including grazing 
land), pest management systems, and meteorological varia-
bihty. 
PUBLIC LAW 105-185--JUNE 23, 1998 
112 STAT. 569 
(3) The provision of training and educational programs 
for State cooperative extension services agents, and other 
professionals involved in the production and transfer of 
integrated precision agriculture technology. 
(4) The development, demonstration, and dissemination of 
information regarding precision agriculture technologies and 
systems and the potential costs and benefits of precision agri-
culture as it relates to— 
(A) increased long-term farm production efficiencies, 
productivity, and profitability; 
(B) the maintenance of the environment; 
(C) improvements in international trade; and 
(D) an integrated program of education for agricultural 
/ 
producers and consumers, including family owned and oper- 
/ 
ated farms. 
(5) The promotion of systems research and education 
projects focusing on the integration of the multiple aspects 
of precision agriculture, including development, production-
scale 
implementation, 
and 
farm 
production 
efficiencies, 
productivity, and profitability. 
(6) The study of whether precision agriculture technologies 
are applicable and accessible to small and medium-size farms 
£ind the study of methods of improving the applicability of 
precision agriculture technologies to those farms. 
(d) GRANT PRIORITIES.—In making grants to eligible entities 
under this section, the Secretary, in consultation with the Advisory 
Board, shall give priority to research, 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 production efficiencies, productivity, 
and profitability. 
(2) Integrate research, education, and information dissemi-
nation components in a practical eind readily available manner 
so that the findings of the project will be made readily usable 
by agricultural producers. 
(3) Demonstrate the efficient use of agricultural inputs, 
rather than the uniform reduction in the use of agricultural 
inputs. 
(4) Maximize the involvement and cooperation of precision 
agriculture producers, certified crop advisers. State cooperative 
extension services agents, agricultural input machinery, prod-
uct and service providers, nonprofit 
organizations, agri-
businesses, veterinarigms, Isuid-grant colleges gmd universities, 
and Federal agencies in precision agriculture systems research 
projects involving on-farm research, education, and dissemina-
tion of precision agriculture information. 
(5) Maximize collaboration with multiple agencies and other 
partners, including through leveraging of funds and resources. 
(e) MATCHING FUNDS.—The amount of a grant under this sec-
tion to an eUgible entity (other than a Federal agency) may not 
exceed the amount that the eligible entity makes available out 
of non-Federal funds for precision agriculture research and for 
the establishment gind maintenance of facilities necessary for 
conducting precision agriculture research. 
(f) RESERVATION OF FUNDS FOR EDUCATION AND INFORMATION 
DISSEMINATION PROJECTS.—Of the funds made available for grants 
112 STAT. 570 
PUBLIC LAW 105-185^JUNE 23, 1998 
under this section, the Secretary shall reserve a portion of the 
funds for greints for projects regarding precision agriculture related 
to education or information dissemination. 
(g) PRECISION AGRICULTURE PARTNERSHIPS.—In carrying out 
this section, the Secretary, in consultation with the Advisory Board, 
shall encourage the establishment of appropriate multistate and 
national partnerships or consortia between— 
(1) land-grant colleges and universities, State agricultural 
experiment stations, State cooperative extension services, other 
colleges and universities with demonstrable expertise regarding 
precision agriculture, agencies of the Department, national lab-
oratories, agribusinesses, agricultural equipment and input 
manufacturers and retailers, certified crop advisers, commodity 
organizations, veterinarians, other Federal or State government 
entities and agencies, or nonagricultural industries and non-
profit organizations with demonstrable expertise regarding 
precision agriculture; and 
(2) agricultural producers or other land managers. 
(h) LIMITATION REGARDING FACILITIES.—A grant made under 
this section may not be used for the planning, repair, rehabilitation, 
acquisition, or construction of a building or facility. 
(i) AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.— 
(1) IN GENERAL.—There are authorized to be appropriated 
such sums as are necessary to carry out this section for each 
of fiscal years 1999 through 2002, of which, for each fiscal 
year— 
(A) not less than 30 percent shall be available to make 
grants for research to be conducted by multidisciplinary 
teams; and 
(B) not less than 40 percent shall be available to make 
grants for research to be conducted by eligible entities 
conducting systems research directly applicable to produc-
ers and agricultural production systems. 
(2) AVAILABILITY OF FUNDS.—Funds made available under 
paragraph (1) shall be available for obligation for a 2-year 
period beginning on October 1 of the fiscal year for which 
the funds are made available. 
7 use 7624. 
SEC. 404. BIOBASED PRODUCTS. 
(a) DEFINITION OF BIOBASED PRODUCT.—In 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 materials. 
(b) COORDINATION OF BIOBASED PRODUCT ACTIVITIES.—The Sec-
retary of Agriculture shall— 
(1) coordinate the research, technical expertise, economic 
information, and market information resources and activities 
of the Department to develop, commercialize, and promote the 
use of biobased products; 
(2) solicit input from private sector persons who produce, 
or are interested in producing, biobased products; 
(3) provide a centralized contact point for advice and tech-
nical assistance for promising and innovative biobased products; 
and 
Reports. 
(4) Submit an annual report to Congress describing the 
coordinated research, marketing, and commercialization activi-
ties of the Department relating to biobased products. 
PUBLIC LAW 1 0 5 - 1 8 5 - J U N E 23, 1998 
112 STAT. 571 
(c) COOPERATIVE AGREEMENTS FOR BiOBASED PRODUCTS.— 
(1) AGREEMENTS AUTHORIZED.—The Secretary may enter 
into cooperative agreements with private entities described in 
subsection (d), under which the facilities and technical expertise 
of the Agricultural Research Service may be made available 
to operate pilot plants and other large-scale preparation faciU-
ties for the purpose of bringing teclmologies necessary for the 
development and commercialization of new biobased products 
to the point of practical application. 
(2) DESCRIPTION OF COOPERATIVE ACTIVITIES.—Cooperative 
activities may include— 
(A) research on potential environmental impacts of 
a biobased product; 
(B) methods to reduce the cost of manufacturing a 
biobased product; and 
(C) other appropriate research. 
(d) ELIGIBLE PARTNERS.—The following entities shall be eligible 
to enter into a cooperative agreement under subsection (c): 
(1) A party that has entered into a cooperative research 
and development agreement with the Secretary under section 
\ 
12 of the Stevenson-Wydler Technology Innovation Act of 1980 
(15 U.S.C. 3710a). 
(2) A recipient of funding from the Alternative Agricultural 
Research and Commercialization Corporation 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 Biotechnology Research 
and Development Corporation. 
(4) A recipient of funding from the Secretary under a 
Small Business Innovation Research Program established under 
section 9 of the Small Business Act (15 U.S.C. 638). 
(e) PILOT PROJECT.—^The Secretary, acting through the Agricul-
tural Research Service, may establish and carry out a pilot project 
under which grants are provided, on a competitive basis, to sci-
entists of the Agricultural Research Service to— 
(1) encourage innovative and collaborative science; and 
(2) during each of fiscal years 1999 through 2001, develop 
biobased products with promising commercial potential. 
(f) SOURCE OF FUNDS.— 
(1) IN GENERAL.—Except as provided in paragraph (2), to 
carry out this section, the Secretary may use— 
(A) funds appropriated to carry out this section; and 
(B) funds otherwise available for cooperative research 
and development agreements under the Stevenson-Wydler 
Technology Innovation Act of 1980 (15 U.S.C. 3701 et seq.). 
(2) EXCEPTION.—^The Secretary may not use funds referred 
to in paragraph (1)(B) to carry out subsection (e). 
(g) SALE OF DEVELOPED PRODUCTS.— For the purpose of deter-
mining the market potential for new biobased products produced 
at a pilot plant or other large-scale preparation facility under a 
cooperative agreement under this section, the Secretary shall 
authorize the private partner or partners to the agreement to 
sell the products. 
(h) AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.—There are authorized 
to be appropriated such sums as £
U
"
e necessary to carry out this 
section for each of fiscal years 1999 through 2002. 
112 STAT. 572 
PUBLIC LAW 105-185-^JUNE 23, 1998 
7 use 7625. 
SEC. 405. THOMAS JEFFERSON INITIATIVE FOR CROP DIVERSIFICA. 
TION. 
(a) INITIATIVE REQUIRED.—The Secretary of Agriculture shall 
provide for a research initiative (to be known as the "Thomas 
Jefferson Initiative for Crop Diversification") for the purpose of 
conducting research and development, in cooperation with other 
public and private entities, on the production and marketing of 
new and nontraditional crops needed to strengthen and diversify 
the agricultural production base of the United States. 
(b) RESEARCH AND EDUCATION EFFORTS.—The initiative shall 
include research and education efforts regarding new and nontradi-
tional crops designed— 
(1) to identify and overcome agronomic barriers to profit-
able production; 
(2) to identify and overcome other production and market-
ing barriers; and 
(3) to develop processing and utilization technologies for 
new and nontraditional crops. 
(c) PURPOSES.—^The purposes of the initiative are— 
(1) to develop a focused program of research and develop-
ment at the regional and national levels to overcome barriers 
to the development of— 
(A) new crop opportunities for agricultural producers; 
and 
(B) related value-added enterprises in rural commu-
nities; and 
(2) to ensure a broad-based effort encompassing research, 
education, market development, and support of entrepreneurial 
activity leading to increased agricultural diversification. 
(d) ESTABLISHMENT OF INITIATIVE.—The Secretary shall coordi-
nate the initiative through a nonprofit center or institute that 
will coordinate research and education progreuns in cooperation 
with other public and private entities. The Secretciry shall admin-
ister research and education grants made under this section. 
(e) REGIONAL EMPHASIS.— 
(1) REQUIRED.—The Secretary shall support development 
of multistate regional efforts in crop diversification. 
(2) SITE-SPECIFIC CROP DEVELOPMENT EFFORTS.—Of funding 
made available to carry out the initiative, not less than 50 
percent shall be used for regional efforts centered at colleges 
and imiversities in order to facilitate site-specific crop develop-
ment efforts. 
(f) ELIGIBLE GRANTEE.—The Secretary may award funds imder 
this section to colleges or universities, nonprofit organizations, pub-
lic agencies, or individuals. 
(g) ADMINISTRATION.— 
(1) GRANTS AND CONTRACTS.—Grants awarded through the 
initiative shall be selected on a competitive basis. 
(2) PRIVATE BUSINESSES.—^The recipient of a grant may 
use a portion of the grant fimds for standard contracts with 
private businesses, such as for test processing of a new or 
nontraditional crop. 
(3) TERMS.—The term of a grant awarded through the 
initiative may not exceed 5 years. 
(4) MATCHING FUNDS.—The Secretary shall require the 
recipient of a grant awarded through the initiative to contribute 
PUBLIC LAW 1 0 5 - 1 8 5 - ^ U N E 23, 1998 
112 STAT. 573 
an amount of funds from non-Federal sources that is at least 
equal to the amount provided by the Federal Government, 
(h) AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.—There are authorized 
to be appropriated such sums as are necessary to carry out this 
section for each of fiscal years 1999 through 2002. 
SEC. 406. INTEGRATED 
RESEARCH, 
EDUCATION, 
AND EXTENSION 
7 USC 7626. 
COMPETITIVE GRANTS PROGRAM. 
(a) PURPOSE.—It is the purpose of this section to authorize 
the Secretary of Agriculture to establish an integrated research, 
education, and extension competitive grant program to provide fund-
ing for integrated, multifunctional agricultural research, extension, 
and education activities. 
(b) COMPETITIVE GRANTS AUTHORIZED.—Subject to the avail-
ability of appropriations to carry out this section, the Secretary 
may award grsuits to colleges and universities (as defined in section 
1404 of the National Agricultural Research, Extension, and Teach-
ing Policy Act of 1977 (7 U.S.C. 3103)) on a competitive basis 
' 
for integrated agricultural research, education, and extension 
projects in accordance with this section. 
(c) CRITERIA FOR GRANTS.—Grants under this section shall 
be awarded to address priorities in United States agriculture, deter-
mined by the Secretary in consultation with the Advisory Board, 
that involve integrated research, extension, and education activities. 
(d) MATCHING OF FUNDS.— 
(1) GENERAL REQUIREMENT.—If a grant under this section 
provides a particular benefit to a specific agricultural commod-
ity, 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 determines that— 
(A) the results of the project, while of particular benefit 
to a specific agricultural commodity, are likely to be 
appUcable to agricultural commodities generally; or 
(B) the project involves a minor commodity, the project 
deals with scientifically important research, and the grant 
recipient is unable to satisfy the matching funds require-
ment. 
(e) AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.—There are authorized 
to be appropriated such sums as are necessary to carry out this 
section for each of fiscal years 1999 through 2002. 
SEC. 407. COORDINATED PROGRAM OF RESEARCH, EXTENSION, AND 
7 USC 7627. 
EDUCATION 
TO IMPROVE VIABILITY OF SMALL AND 
MEDIUM SIZE DAIRY, LIVESTOCK, AND POULTRY OPER-
ATIONS. 
(a) PROGRAM AUTHORIZED.—The Secretary of Agriculture may 
carry out a coordinated program of research, extension, and edu-
cation to improve the competitiveness, viability, and sustainability 
of small and medium size dairy, livestock, and poultry operations 
(referred to in this section as "operations"). 
(b) COMPONENTS.—To the extent the Secretary elects to carry 
out the program, the Secretary shall conduct— 
(1) research, development, and on-farm extension and edu-
cation concerning low-cost production facilities and practices. 
112 STAT. 574 
PUBLIC LAW 105-185-^UNE 23, 1998 
management systems, and genetics that are appropriate for 
the operations; 
(2) in the case of dairy and livestock operations, research 
and extension on management-intensive grazing systems for 
dairy and Hvestock production to realize the potential for 
reduced capital and feed costs through greater use of manage-
ment skills, labor availability optimization, £ind the natural 
benefits of grazing pastures; 
(3) research and extension on integrated crop and livestock 
or poultry systems that increase efficiencies, reduce costs, and 
prevent environmental pollution to strengthen the competitive 
position of the operations; 
(4) economic analyses and market feasibility studies to 
identify new and expanded opportimities for producers on the 
operations that provide tools and strategies to meet consumer 
demand in domestic and international markets, such as 
cooperative marketing and value-added strategies for milk, 
meat, and poultry prodfuction and processing; and 
(5) technology assessment that compares the technological 
resources of large specialized producers with the technological 
needs of producers on the operations to identify and transfer 
existing technology across all sizes and scales and to identify 
the specific research and education needs of the producers, 
(c) ADMINISTRATION.—The Secretary may use the funds, facili-
ties, and technical expertise of the Agricultural Research Service 
and the Cooperative State Research, Education, and Extension Serv-
ice and other funds available to the Secretary (other than funds 
of the Commodity Credit Corporation) to carry out this section. 
7 use 7628. 
SEC. 408. SUPPORT FOR RESEARCH REGARDING DISEASES OF WHEAT 
AND BARLEY CAUSED BY FUSARIUM GRAMINEARUM. 
(a) RESEARCH GRANT AUTHORIZED.—The Secretary of Agri-
culture may make a grant to a consortium of land-grant colleges 
and universities to enhance the ability of the consortium to carry 
out a multi-State research project aimed at imderstanding and 
combating diseases of wheat and barley caused by Fusarium 
graminearum and related fungi (referred to in this section as "wheat 
scab"). 
(b) RESEARCH COMPONENTS.—Funds provided under this section 
shall be available for the following collaborative, multi-State 
research activities: 
(1) Identification and understanding of the epidemiology 
of wheat scab and the toxicological properties of vomitoxin, 
a toxic metabolite commonly occurring in wheat and barley 
infected with wheat scab. 
(2) Development of crop management strategies to reduce 
the risk of wheat scab occurrence. 
(3) Development o
f
— 
(A) efficient and accurate methods' to monitor wheat 
and barley for the presence of wheat scab and resulting 
vomitoxin contamination; 
(B) post-harvest management techniques for wheat and 
barley infected with wheat scab; and 
(C) milling and food processing techniques to render 
contaminated grain safe. 
(4) Strengthening and expansion of plant-breeding activi-
ties to enhance the resistance of wheat and barley to wheat 
PUBLIC LAW 105-185-JUNE 23, 1998 
112 STAT. 575 
scab, including the establishment of a regional advanced breed-
ing material evaluation nursery and a germplasm introduction 
and evaluation system. 
(5) Development and deployment of alternative fungicide 
application systems and formulations to control wheat scab 
and consideration of other chemical control strategies to assist 
farmers imtil new more resistant wheat and barley varieties 
are available. 
(c) COMMUNICATIONS NETWORKS.—Funds provided under this 
section shall be available for efforts to concentrate, integrate, and 
disseminate research, extension, and outreach-orientated informa-
tion regarding wheat scab. 
(d) MANAGEMENT.—^To oversee the use of a grant made imder 
this section, the Secretary may establish a committee composed 
of the directors of the agricultural experiment stations in the States 
in which land-grant colleges and universities that are members 
of the consortium are located. 
(e) AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.—There is authorized 
to be appropriated to carry out this section $5,200,000 for each 
of fiscal years 1999 through 2002. 
TITLE V—AGRICULTURAL PROGRAM 
ADJUSTMENTS 
Subtitle A—^Food Stamp Program 
SEC. 501. REDUCTIONS IN FUNDING OF EMPLOYMENT AND TRAINING 
PROGRAMS. 
Section 16(hXl)(A) of the Food Stamp Act of 1977 (7 U.S.C. 
2025(h)(1)(A)) is amended— 
(1) in clause (iv)(II), by striking "$131,000,000" and insert-
ing "$31,000,000"; and 
(2) in clause (v)(II), by striking "$131,000,000" and insert-
ing "$86,000,000". 
SEC. 502. REDUCTIONS IN PAYMENTS FOR ADMINISTRATIVE COSTS. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—Section 16 of the Food Stamp Act of 1977 
(7 U.S.C. 2025) is amended— 
(1) in the first sentence of subsection (a), by striking "The 
Secretary" and inserting "Subject to subsection (k), the Sec-
retard'; and 
(2) by adding at the end the following: 
"(k) REDUCTIONS IN PAYMENTS FOR ADMINISTRATIVE COSTS.— 
"(1) DEFINITIONS.—In this subsection: 
"(A) AFDC PROGRAM.—The term *AFDC program' 
means the program of aid to families with dependent chil-
dren established under part A of title IV of the Social 
Security Act (42 U.S.C. 601 et seq. (as in effect, with 
respect to a State, during the base period for that State)). 
"(B) BASE PERIOD.—^The term 'base period' mesins the 
period used to determine the amount of the State family 
assistance grant for a State imder section 403 of the Social 
Security Act (42 U.S.C. 603). 
"(C) MEDICAID PROGRAM.—The term 'medicaid pro-
gram' means the program of medical assistance under a 
112 STAT. 576 
PUBLIC LAW 105-185—JUNE 23, 1998 
Effective date. 
Termination 
date. 
Applicability. 
Notification. 
State plan or under a waiver of the plan under title XIX 
of the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 1396 et seq.). 
"(2) DETERMINATIONS OF AMOUNTS ATTRIBUTABLE TO BENE-
FITING PROGRAMS.—Not later than 180 days after the date 
of enactment of this subsection, the Secretary of Health and 
Human Services, in consultation with the Secretary of Agri-
culture and the States, shall, with respect to the base period 
for each State, determine— 
"(A) the annualized amount the State received under 
section 403(a)(3) of the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 
603(a)(3) (as in effect during the base period)) for adminis-
trative costs common to determining the eligibility of 
individuals, families, £ind households eligible or applying 
for the AFDC program and the food stamp program, the 
AFDC program and the medicaid program, and the AFDC 
program, the food stamp program, and the medicaid pro-
gram that were allocated to the AFDC program; and 
"(B) the annualized amount the State would have 
received under section 403(a)(3) of the Social Security Act 
(42 U.S.C. 603(a)(3) (as so in effect)), section 1903(a)(7) 
of the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 1396b(a)(7) (as so 
in effect)), and subsection (a) of this section (as so in 
effect), for administrative costs common to determining 
the eligibility of individuals, families, and households 
eligible or applying for the AFDC program and the food 
stamp program, the AFDC program and the medicaid pro-
gram, and the AFDC program, the food stamp program, 
and the medicaid program, if those costs had been allocated 
equally among such programs for which the individual, 
family, or household was eligible or applied for. 
"(3) REDUCTION IN PAYMENT.— 
"(A) IN GENERAL.—Notwithstanding any other provi-
sion of this section, effective for each of fiscal years 1999 
through 2002, the Secretary shall reduce, for each fiscal 
year, the amount paid under subsection (a) to each State 
by an amount equal to the amount determined for the 
food stamp program under paragraph (2)(B). The Secretary 
shall, to the extent practicable, make the reductions 
required by this paragraph on a quarterly basis. 
"(B) APPLICATION.—If the Secretary of Health and 
Human 
Services does not make the 
determinations 
required by paragraph (2) by September 30, 1999— 
"(i) during the fiscal year in which the determina-
tions are made, the Secretary shall reduce the amount 
paid under subsection (a) to each State by an amount 
equal to the sum of the amounts determined for the 
food stamp program under paragraph (2)(B) for fiscal 
year 1999 through the fiscal year during which the 
determinations are made; and 
"(ii) for each subsequent fiscal year through fiscal 
year 2002, subparagraph (A) applies. 
"(4) APPEAL OF DETERMINATIONS.— 
"(A) IN GENERAL.—Not later than 5 days after the 
date on which the Secretary of Health and Human Services 
makes any determination required by paragraph (2) with 
respect to a State, the Secretary sh^l notify the chief 
executive officer of the State of the determination. 
PUBLIC LAW 105-185-^JUNE 23, 1998 
112 STAT. 577 
"(B) REVIEW BY ADMINISTRATIVE LAW JUDGE.— 
"(i) IN GENERAL.—Not later than 60 days after Deadline, 
the date on which a State receives notice under 
subparagraph (A) of a determination, the State may 
appeal the determination, in whole or in part, to an 
administrative law judge of the Department of Health 
and Human Services by filing an appeal with the 
administrative law judge. 
"(ii) DOCUMENTATION.—The administrative 
law 
judge shall consider an appeal filed by a State under 
clause (i) on the basis of such documentation as the 
State may submit and as the administrative law judge 
may require to support the final decision of the 
administrative law judge. 
"(iii) REVIEW.—In deciding whether to uphold a 
determination, in whole or in part, the administrative 
law judge shall conduct a thorough review of the issues 
and t£ike into account all relevant evidence. 
"(iv) DEADLINE.—Not later than 60 days after the 
date on which the record is closed, the administrative 
law judge shall— 
"(I) make a final decision with respect to an 
appeal filed under clause (i); and 
"(II) notify the chief executive officer of the 
Notification. 
State of the decision. 
"(C) REVIEW BY DEPARTMENTAL APPEALS BOARD.— 
"(i) IN GENERAL.—Not later than 30 days after Deadline, 
the date on which a State receives notice under 
subparagraph (B) of a final decision, the State may 
appeal the decision, in whole or in part, to the Depart-
mental Appeals Board established in the Department 
of Health and Human Services (referred to in this 
paragraph as the 'Board') by filing an appeal with 
the Board. 
"(ii) REVIEW.—The Board shall review the decision 
on the record. 
"(iii) DEADLINE.—Not later than 60 days after the 
date on which the appeal is filed, the Board shall— 
"(I) m£ike a final decision with respect to an 
appeal filed under clause (i); and 
"(II) notify the chief executive officer of the 
State of the decision. 
"(D) JUDICIAL REVIEW.—The determinations of the Sec-
retary of Health and Human Services under paragraph 
(2), and a final decision of the administrative law judge 
or Board imder subparagraphs (B) and (C), respectively, 
shall not be subject to judicial review. 
"(E) REDUCED PAYMENTS PENDING APPEAL.—The pend-
ency of an appeal luider this paragraph shall not affect 
the requirement that the Secretary reduce pa3mients in 
accordance with paragraph (3). 
"(5) ALLOCATION OF ADMINISTRATIVE COSTS.— 
"(A) IN GENERAL.—No funds or expenditures described 
in subparagraph (B) may be used to pay for costs— 
"(i) eligible for reimbursement under subsection 
(a) (or costs that would have been eligible for 
reimbursement but for this subsection); sind 
112 STAT. 578 
PUBLIC LAW 105-185—JUNE 23, 1998 
"(ii) allocated for reimbursement to the food stamp 
program under a plan submitted by a State to the 
Secretary of Health and Human Services to allocate 
administrative costs for public assistance programs. 
"(B) 
FUNDS AND EXPENDITURES.—Subparagraph 
(A) 
applies to— 
"(i) funds made available to carry out part A of 
title IV, or title XX, of the Social Security Act (42 
U.S.C. 601 et seq., 1397 et seq.); 
"(ii) expenditures made as qualified State expendi-
tures (as defined in section 409(a)(7)(B) of that Act 
(42 U.S.C. 609(a)(7)(B))); 
"(iii) any other Federal funds (except funds pro-
vided under subsection (a)); and 
"(iv) any other State funds that are— 
"(I) expended as a condition of receiving Fed-
eral funds; or 
"(II) used to match Federal funds under a 
Federal program other than the food stamp pro-
gram.". 
Deadline. 
(b) REVIEW OF METHODOLOGY USED TO MAKE CERTAIN DETER-
7 use 2025 note. MINATIONS.—Not later than 1 year after the date of enactment, 
the Comptroller General of the United States shall— 
(1) review the adequacy of the methodology used in making 
the determinations required under section 16(k)(2)(B) of the 
Food Stamp Act of 1977 (as added by subsection (a)(2)); and 
Reports. 
(2) submit a written report on the results of the review 
to the Committee on Agriculture of the House of Representa-
tives and the Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry 
of the Senate. 
SEC. 503. EXTENSION OF ELIGIBILITy PERIOD FOR REFUGEES AND 
CERTAIN OTHER QUALIFIED ALIENS FROM 5 TO 7 YEARS. 
Section 402(a)(2)(A) of the Personal Responsibility and Work 
Opportunity Reconcihation Act of 1996 (8 U.S.C. 1612(a)(2)(A)) is 
amended— 
(1) by striking clause (ii); 
(2) by striking "ASYLEES.—" and all that follows through 
"paragraph (3)(A) and inserting "ASYLEES.—With respect to 
the specified Federal programs described in paragraph (3)"; 
and 
(3) by redesignating subclauses (I) through (V) as clauses 
(i) through (v) and indenting appropriately. 
SEC. 504. FOOD STAMP ELIGIBILITY FOR CERTAIN DISABLED ALIENS. 
Section 402(a)(2)(F) of the Personal Responsibility and Work 
Opportunity Reconcihation Act of 1996 (8 U.S.C. 1612(a)(2)(F)) is 
amended— 
(1) by striking "program defined in paragraph (3)(A) (relat-
ing to the supplemental security income program)" and insert-
ing "specified Federal programs described in paragraph (3)"; 
and 
(2) in clause (ii)— 
(A) by inserting "(I) in the case of the specified Federal 
program described in paragraph (3)(A)," after "(ii)"; 
(B) by striking the period at the end and inserting 
"; and"; and 
(C) by adding at the end the following: 
PUBLIC LAW 1 0 5 - 1 8 5 - ^ U N E 23, 1998 
112 STAT. 579 
"(11) in the case of the specified Federal program 
described in paragraph (3)(B), is receiving benefits or 
assistsince for bUndness or disabiUty (within the mean-
ing of section 3(r) of the Food Stamp Act of 1977 
(7 U.S.C. 2012(r))).". 
SEC. 506. FOOD STAMP ELIGIBILITY FOR CERTAIN INDIANS. 
Section 402(a)(2)(G) of the Personal Responsibility and Work 
Opportunity Reconcihation Act of 1996 (8 U.S.C. 1612(a)(2)(G)) 
is amended— 
(1) in the subparagraph heading, by striking "SSI EXCEP-
TION" and inserting "EXCEPTION"; and 
(2) by striking "program defined in paragraph (3)(A) (relat-
ing to the supplemental security income program)" and insert-
ing "specified Federal programs described in paragraph (3)". 
SEC. 506. FOOD STAMP EUGIBILITY FOR CERTAIN ELDERLY INDIVID-
UALS. 
Section 402(a)(2) of the Personal Responsibility and Work 
Opportimity Reconcihation Act of 1996 (8 U.S.C. 1612(a)(2)) is 
amended by adding at the end the following: 
"(I) 
FOOD STAMP EXCEPTION FOR CERTAIN ELDERLY 
INDIVIDUALS.—^With respect to eligibility for benefits for 
the specified Federal program described in paragraph 
(3)(B), paragraph (1) shall not apply to any individual 
who on August 22,1996— 
"(i) was lawfully residing in the United States; 
and 
"(ii) was 65 years of age or older.". 
SEC. 507. FOOD STAMP EUGIBILITY FOR CERTAIN CHILDREN. 
Section 402(a)(2) of the Personal Responsibility £ind Work 
Opportunity Reconcihation Act of 1996 (8 U.S.C. 1612(a)(2)) (as 
amended by section 506) is amended by adding at the end the 
following: 
"(J) FOOD STAMP EXCEPTION FOR CERTAIN CHILDREN.— 
With respect to eligibility for benefits for the specified 
Federal program described in paragraph (3)(B), paragraph 
(1) shall not apply to any individual who— 
"(i) was lawfully residing in the United States 
on August 22,1996; and 
"(ii) is under 18 years of age.". 
SEC. 508. FOOD STAMP EUGIBILITY FOR CERTAIN HMONG AND mOH-
LAND LAOTIANS. 
Section 402(a)(2) of the Personal Responsibility and Work 
Opportimity Reconcihation Act of 1996 (8 U.S.C. 1612(a)(2)) (as 
amended by section 507) is amended by adding at the end the 
following: 
"(K) FOOD STAMP EXCEPTION FOR CERTAIN HMONG AND 
HIGHLAND LAOTIANS.—^With respect to eligibility for benefits 
for the specified Federsd program described in paragraph 
(3)(B), paragraph (1) shall not apply to— 
"(i) any individual who— 
"(I) is lawfully residing in the United States; 
and 
"(II) was a member of a Hmong or Highland 
Laotian tribe at the time that the tribe rendered 
112 STAT. 580 
PUBLIC LAW 105-185-JUNE 23, 1998 
assistance to United States personnel by taking 
part in a military or rescue operation during the 
Vietnam era (as defined in section 101 of title 
38, United States Code); 
"(ii) the spouse, or an unmarried dependent child, 
of such an individual; or 
"(iii) the unremarried surviving spouse of such 
an individual who is deceased.". 
SEC. 509. CONFORMING AMENDMENTS. 
Section 403(d) of the Personal Responsibility and Work Oppor-
tunity Reconciliation Act of 1996 (8 U.S.C. 1613(d)) is amended— 
(1) in the subsection heading, by striking "SSI" and all 
that follows through "INDIANS" and inserting "BENEFITS FOR 
CERTAIN GROUPS"; 
(2) by striking "not apply to an individual" and inserting 
"not apply to— 
"(1) an individual"; 
(3) by striking "(a)(3)(A)" and inserting "(a)(3)"; and 
(4) by striking the period at the end and inserting "; or"; 
and 
(5) by adding at the end the following: 
"(2) an individual, spouse, or dependent described in section 
402(aX2)(K), but only with respect to the specified Federal 
program described in section 402(a)(3)(B).". 
SEC. 510. EFFECTIVE DATES. 
7 use 2025 note. 
(a) REDUCTIONS.—The amendments made by sections 501 and 
502 take effect on the date of enactment of this Act. 
8 use 1612 note. 
(b) FooD STAMP ELIGIBILITY.—The amendments made by sec-
tions 503 through 509 take effect on November 1, 1998. 
Subtitle B—Information Technology 
Funding 
SEC. 521. INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY FUNDING. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—Section 4(g) of the Commodity Credit Cor-
poration Charter Act (15 U.S.C. 714b(g)) is amended in the first 
sentence by striking "$275,000,000" and inserting "$193,000,000". 
15 use 714b 
(b) EFFECTIVE DATE.—^The amendment made by subsection (a) 
note. 
takes effect on October 1, 1997. 
Subtitle C—Crop Insurance 
SEC. 631. FUNDING. 
Section 516 of the Federal Crop Insurance Act (7 U.S.C. 1516) 
is amended— 
(1) in subsection (a)— 
(A) by striking paragraph (1) and inserting the follow-
ing: 
"(1) DISCRETIONARY EXPENSES.—There are authorized to 
be appropriated for fiscal year 1999 and each subsequent fiscal 
year such sums as are necessary to cover the ssdaries and 
expenses of the Corporation."; and 
(B) in paragraph (2)— 
PUBLIC LAW 105-185-JUNE 23, 1998 
112 STAT. 581 
(i) by inserting after "are necessary to cover" the 
I 
following: "for each of the 1999 and subsequent reinsur-
ance years"; and 
1 
(ii) by striking subparagraph (A) and inserting 
the following: 
"(A) the administrative and operating expenses of the 
Corporation for the sales commissions of agents; and"; and 
(2) by striking subsection (b) and inserting the following: 
"(b) PAYMENT OF CORPORATION EXPENSES FROM INSURANCE 
FUND.— 
"(1) EXPENSES GENERALLY.—For each of the 1999 and sub-
sequent reinsurance years, the Corporation may pay from the 
insurance fund established under subsection (c) all expenses 
of the Corporation (other than expenses covered by subsection 
(a)(1) and expenses covered by paragraph (2)(A)), including— 
"(A) premium subsidies and indemnities; 
"(B) administrative and operating expenses of the Cor-
poration necessary to pay the sales commissions of agents; 
and 
"(C) 
all 
administrative 
and 
operating 
expense 
reimbursements due under a reinsurance agreement with 
an approved insurance provider. 
"(2) RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT EXPENSES.— 
"(A) IN GENERAL.—For each of the 1999 and subsequent 
reinsurance years, the Corporation may pay from the insur-
ance fund established under subsection (c) research and 
development expenses of the Corporation, but not to exceed 
$3,500,000 for each fiscal year. 
"(B) DAIRY OPTIONS PILOT PROGRAM.—Amounts nec-
essary to carry out the dairy options pilot program shall 
not be counted toward the limitation on research and 
development expenses specified in subparagraph (A).". 
SEC. 532. BUDGETARY OFFSETS. 
(a) ADMINISTRATIVE FEE FOR CATASTROPHIC RISK 
PROTEC-
TION.—Section 508(b) of the Federal Crop Insurance Act (7 U.S.C. 
1508(b)) is amended by striking paragraph (5) and inserting the 
following: 
"(5) ADMINISTRATIVE FEE.— 
"(A) BASIC FEE.—Each producer shall pay an adminis-
trative fee for catastrophic risk protection in an amount 
equal to 10 percent of the premium for the catastrophic 
risk protection or $50 per crop per county, whichever is 
greater, as determined by the Corporation. 
"(B) ADDITIONAL FEE.—In addition to the amount 
required under subparagraph (A), the producer shall pay 
a $10 fee for each amount determined under subparagraph 
(A). 
"(C) TIME FOR PAYMENT.—The amounts required under 
subparagraphs (A) and (B) shall be paid by the producer 
on the date that premium for a policy of additional coverage 
would be paid by the producer. 
"(D) USE OF FEES.— 
"(i) IN GENERAL.—^The amounts paid under this 
paragraph shall be deposited in the crop insurance 
fund established under section 516(c), to be available 
for the programs and activities of the Corporation. 
112 STAT. 582 
PUBLIC LAW 105-185-^JUNE 23, 1998 
"(ii) LIMITATION.—No funds deposited in the crop 
insurance fund under this subparagraph may be used 
to compensate an approved insurance provider or agent 
for the deHvery of services under this subsection. 
"(E) WAIVER OF FEE.—The Corporation shall waive the 
amounts required under this paragraph for limited resource 
farmers, as defined by the Corporation,". 
(b) ADMINISTRATIVE FEE FOR ADDITIONAL COVERAGE.—Section 
508(c)(10) of the Federal Crop Insurance Act (7 U.S.C. 1508(c)(10)) 
is amended— 
(1) by striking subparagraph (A) and inserting the follow-
ing: 
"(A) FEE REQUIRED.—Except as otherwise provided in 
this paragraph, if a producer elects to purchase additional 
coverage for a crop at a level that is less than 65 percent 
of the recorded or appraised average jdeld indemnified 
at 100 percent of the expected market price, or an equiva-
lent coverage, the producer shall pay an administrative 
fee for the additional coverage. The administrative fee for 
the producer shall be $50 per crop per county, but not 
to exceed $200 per producer per county, up to a maximum 
of $600 per producer for all counties in which a producer 
has insured crops. Subparagraphs (D) and (E) of subsection 
(b)(5) shall apply with respect to the use of administrative 
fees under this subparagraph."; and 
(2) in subparagraph (C), by striking "$10" and inserting 
"$20". 
(c) 
REIMBURSEMENT FOR ADMINISTRATIVE AND OPERATING 
COSTS.—Section 508(k) of the Federal Crop Insurance Act (7 U.S.C. 
1508(k)) is amended by striking paragraph (4) and inserting the 
following: 
"(4) RATE.— 
"(A) IN GENERAL.—Except as provided in subparagraph 
(B), the rate established by the Board to reimburse 
approved insurance providers and agents for the adminis-
trative and operating costs of the providers and agents 
shall not exceed— 
"(i) for the 1998 reinsurance year, 27 percent of 
the premium used to define loss ratio; and 
"(ii) for each of the 1999 and subsequent reinsur-
ance years, 24.5 percent of the premium used to define 
loss ratio. 
"(B) PROPORTIONAL REDUCTIONS.—^A policy of addi-
tional coverage that received a rate of reimbursement for 
administrative and operating costs for the 1998 reinsurance 
year that is lower than the rate specified in subparagraph 
(A)(i) shall receive a reduction in the rate of reimbursement 
that is proportional to the reduction in the rate of 
reimbursement between clauses (i) and (ii) of subparagraph 
(A).". 
(d) Loss ADJUSTMENT EXPENSES FOR CATASTROPHIC RISK 
PROTECTION.—Section 508(b) of the Federal Crop Insurance Act 
(7 U.S.C. 1508(b)) is amended by adding at the end the following: 
"(11) Loss ADJUSTMENT.—The rate for reimbursing an 
approved insurance provider or agent for expenses incurred 
by the approved insurance provider or agent for loss adjustment 
in connection with a policy of catastrophic risk protection shall 
PUBLIC LAW 1 0 5 - 1 8 5 - J U N E 23, 1998 
112 STAT. 583 
not exceed 11 percent of the premium for catastrophic risk 
protection that is used to define loss ratio,". 
SEC. 533. PROCEDURES FOR RESPONDING TO CERTAIN INQUIRIES. 
Section 506 of the Federal Crop Insurance Act (7 U.S.C. 1506) 
is amended by adding at the end the following: 
"(s) PROCEDURES FOR RESPONDING TO CERTAIN INQUIRIES.— 
''(1) PROCEDURES REQUIRED.—The Corporation shall estab-
lish procedures under which the Corporation will provide a 
' 
final agency determination in response to an inquiry regarding 
the interpretation by the Corporation of this title or any regula-
tion issued under this title. 
"(2) IMPLEMENTATION.—^Not later than 180 days after the Deadline, 
date of enactment of this subsection, the Corporation shall Regulations, 
issue regulations to implement this subsection. At a minimum, 
the regulations shall establish— 
"(A) the manner in which inquiries described in para-
graph (1) are required to be submitted to the Corporation; 
and 
"(B) a reasonable maximum number of days within 
which the Corporation will respond to all inquiries. 
"(3) EFFECT OF FAILURE TO TIMELY RESPOND.—If the Cor-
poration fails to respond to an inquiry in accordance with 
the procedures established pursuant to this subsection, the 
person requesting the interpretation of this title or regulation 
may assume the interpretation is correct for the applicable 
reinsurance year.". 
SEC. 534. TIME PERIOD FOR RESPONDING TO SUBMISSION OF NEW 
POLICIES. 
Section 508(h) of the Federal Crop Insurance Act (7 U.S.C. 
1508(h)) is amended by adding at the end the following: 
"(10) TIME LIMITS FOR RESPONSE TO SUBMISSION OF NEW 
POLICIES.— 
"(A) IN GENERAL.—The Board shall estabUsh a reason-
able time period within which the Board shall approve 
or disapprove a proposal from a person regarding a new 
policy submitted in accordance with this subsection. 
"(B) EFFECT OF FAILURE TO MEET TIME LIMITS.—Except 
as provided in subparagraph (C), if the Board fails to 
provide a response to a proposal described in subparagraph 
(A) in accordance with subparagraph (A), the new policy 
shall be deemed to be approved by the Board for purposes 
of this subsection for the initial reinsurance year designated 
for the new poUcy in the request. 
"(C) EXCEPTIONS.—Subparagraph (B) shall not apply 
to a proposal submitted under this subsection if the Board 
and the person submitting the request agree to an exten-
sion of the time period.". 
SEC. 535. CROP INSURANCE STUDY. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—Not later than 90 days after the date of Deadline, 
enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Agriculture shall enter Contracts. 
into a contract, with 1 or more entities outside the Federal Govern-
ment with expertise in the establishment and delivery of crop 
and revenue insurance to agricultural producers, under which the 
contractor shall conduct a study of crop insurance issues specified 
in the contract, including— 
59-194 O - 98 - 20: QL 3 Part 1 
112 STAT. 684 
PUBLIC LAW 1 0 5 - 1 8 5 - ^ U N E 23, 1998 
Deadline. 
Reports. 
Deadline. 
(1) improvement of crop insurance service to agricultural 
producers; 
(2) options for transforming the role of the Federal Govern-
ment from a crop insurance provider to solely that of a crop 
insurance regulator; and 
(3) privatization of crop insurance coverage. 
(b) CONTRACTOR.—Not later than 180 days after the date the 
contract is entered into, the contractor shgdl complete the study 
and submit a report on the study, including appropriate rec-
ommendations, to the Secretary. 
(c) REPORT.—Not later than 30 days after the date the Secretary 
receives the report, the Secretary shall submit the report, and 
£Uiy comments on the report, to the Committee on Agriculture 
of the House of Representatives and the Committee on Agriculture, 
Nutrition, and Forestry of the Senate. 
7 use 1506 note. 
SEC. 536. REQUIRED 
TERMS 
AND 
CONDITIONS 
OF 
STANDARD 
REINSURANCE AGREEMENTS. 
(a) DEFINITIONS.—In this section, the terms "approved insur-
ance provider" and "Corporation" have the meanings given the 
terms in section 502(b) of the Federal Crop Insurance Act (7 U.S.C. 
1502(b)). 
(b) TERMS AND CONDITIONS.— 
(1) INCORPORATION OF AMENDMENTS.—For each of the 1999 
and subsequent reinsurance years, the Corporation shall ensxire 
that each Standsird Reinsurance Agreement between 
an 
approved insurance provider and the Corporation reflects the 
amendments to the Federal Crop Insurance Act (7 U.S.C. 1501 
et seq.) that are made by this subtitle to the extent the amend-
ments are applicable to approved insurance providers. 
(2) RETENTION OF EXISTING PROVISIONS.—Except to 
the 
extent necessary to implement the simendments made by this 
subtitle, each Stsindard Reinsurance Agreement described in 
paragraph (1) shall contain the following provisions of the 
Standard Reinsurance Agreement for the 1998 reinsurance 
year: 
(A) Section II, concerning the terms of reinsurance 
and underwriting gain and loss for an approved insurance 
provider. 
(B) Section III, concerning the terms for subsidies and 
administrative fees for an approved insurance provider. 
(C) Section IV, concerning the terms for loss adjust-
ment for an approved insurance provider under cata-
strophic risk protection, 
(D) Section V.C., concerning interest payments between 
the Corporation and an approved insurance provider. 
(E) Section V.I.5., concerning liquidated damages. 
(c) IMPLEMENTATION.—To implement this subtitle and the 
amendments made by this subtitle, the Corporation is not required 
to amend provisions of the Standard Reinsurance Agreement not 
specifically affected by this subtitle or an amendment made by 
this subtitle. 
7 use 1506 note. 
SEC. 537. EFFECTIVE DATE. 
Except as provided in section 535, this subtitle £ind the amend-
ments made by this subtitle take effect on July 1,1998. 
PUBLIC LAW 105-185^JUNE 23, 1998 
112 STAT. 585 
TITLE VI—MISCELLANEOUS 
PROVISIONS 
Subtitle A—^Existing Authorities 
SEC. 601. RETENTION AND USE OF FEES. 
(a) ORGANIC CERTIFICATION.—Section 2107 of the Organic Foods 
Production Act of 1990 (7 U.S.C. 6506) is amended by adding 
at the end the following: 
"(d) AVAILABILITY OF FEES.— 
"(1) ACCOUNT.—Fees collected under subsection (a)(10) 
(including late payment penalties and interest earned from 
investment of the fees) shall be credited to the account that 
incurs the cost of the services provided under this title. 
"(2) USE.—^The collected fees shall be available to the Sec-
retary, without further appropriation or fiscal-year limitation, 
to pay the expenses of tne Secretary incurred in providing 
accreditation services imder this title.". 
(b) NATIONAL ARBORETUM.—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 fiirther appropriation,". 
(c) PATENT CULTURE COLLECTION FEES.— 
7 use 764i. 
(1) RETENTION.—^All funds collected by the Agricultural 
Research Service of the Department of Agriculture in connection 
with the acceptance of microorganisms for deposit in, or the 
distribution of microorganisms from, the Patent Culture Collec-
tion maintained and operated by the Agricultural Research 
Service shall be credited to the appropriation supporting the 
maintenance and operation of the Patent Culture Collection. 
(2) USE.—^The collected ftinds shall be available to the 
Agricultural Research Service, without further appropriation 
or fiscal-year limitation, to carry out its responsibilities under 
law (including international treaties) with respect to the Patent 
Culture Collection. 
SEC. 602. OFFICE OF ENERGY POUCY AND NEW USES. 
The Department of Agriculture Reorganization Act of 1994 
is amended by inserting after section 219 (7 U.S.C. 6919) the 
following: 
"SEC. 220. OFFICE OF ENERGY POUCY AND NEW USES. 
Establishment. 
"The Secretary shall establish for the Department, in the Office 
of the Secretary, an Office of Energy Policy and New Uses.". 
SEC. 603. KIWIFRUIT 
RESEARCH, 
PROMOTION, 
AND CONSUMER 
INFORMATION PROGRAM. 
(a) AMENDMENTS TO ORDERS.—Section 554(c) of the National 
Kiwifiniit Research, Promotion, and Consumer Information Act (7 
U.S.C. 7463(c)) is amended in the second sentence by inserting 
before the period at the end the following: ", except that an amend-
ment to an order shall not require a referendum to become effec-
tive". 
(b) NATIONAL KIWIFRUIT BOARD.—Section 555 of the National 
Kiwifruit Research, Promotion, and Consumer Information Act (7 
U.S.C. 7464) is amended— 
112 STAT. 586 
PUBLIC LAW 105-185-JUNE 23, 1998 
(1) in subsection (a), by striking paragraphs (1) through 
(3) and inserting the following: 
"(1) 10 members who are producers, exporters, or importers 
(or their representatives), based on a proportional representa-
tion of the level of domestic production and imports of kiwifruit 
(as determined by the Secretary), 
"(2) 1 member appointed from the general public"; 
(2) in subsection (b)— 
(A) by striking "MEMBERSHIP.—" and all that follows 
through "paragraph (2), the" and inserting "MEMBERSHIP.— 
Subject to the 11-member limit, the"; and 
(B) by striking paragraph (2); and 
(3) in subsection (c)— 
(A) in paragraph (2), by inserting "who are producers" 
after "members"; 
(B) in paragraph (3)— 
(i) by inserting "who are importers or exporters" 
after "members"; and 
(ii) by striking "(a)(2)" and inserting "(a)(1)"; and 
(C) in the second sentence of paragraph (5), by insert-
ing "and alternate" after "meml)er". 
7 use 7642. 
SEC. 604. 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 pro-
gram") through contracts, grants, or cooperative agreements with 
appropriate colleges or universities. 
(b) ACTIVITIES.—In canying out the FARAD program, the Sec-
retsiry shall— 
(1) provide livestock producers, extension specialists, sci-
entists, and veterinarians with information to prevent drug, 
pesticide, £ind environmental contaminant residues in food ani-
mal products; 
Records. 
(2) maintain up-to-date information concerning— 
(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 Cosmetic 
Act (21 U.S.C. 360b(a)); 
(B) official tolerances for drugs and pesticides in tis-
sues, eggs, and milk; 
(C) descriptions and sensitivities of rapid screening 
tests for detecting residues in tissues, eggs, and milk; and 
(D) data on the distribution and fate of chemicals in 
food euiimals; 
Publication. 
(3) publish periodically a compilation of food animal drugs 
approved by the Food and Drug Administration; 
Public 
(4) maJce information on food animal drugs available to 
information. 
the public through handbooks and other literature, computer 
software, a telephone hotline, and the Internet; 
(5) fiimish producer quality-assurance programs with up-
to-date data on approved drugs; 
Records. 
(6) maintain a comprehensive and up-to-date, residue 
avoidance database; 
PUBLIC LAW 105-185-^UNE 23, 1998 
112 STAT. 587 
(7) provide professional advice for determining the with-
drawgil times necessary for food safety in the use of drugs 
in food animals; and 
(8) engage in other activities designed to promote food 
safety. 
(c) CONTRACT, GRANTS, AND COOPERATIVE AGREEMENTS.—The 
Secretary shall offer to enter into a contract, grant, or cooperative 
agreement with 1 or more appropriate colleges and universities 
to operate the FARAD program. The term of the contract, grant, 
or cooperative agreement shall be 3 years, with options to extend 
the term of the contract triennially. 
(d) INDIRECT COSTS.—Federal funds provided by the Secretary 
under a contract, grant, or cooperative agreement under this section 
shall be subject to reduction for indirect costs of the recipient 
of the funds in an Eimount not to exceed 19 percent of the total 
Federal funds provided under the contract, grant, or cooperative 
agreement. 
SEC. 605. HONEY RESEARCH, PROMOTION, AND CONSUMER INFORMA-
TION. 
(a) FINDINGS AND PURPOSES.—Section 2 of the Honey Research, 
Promotion, and Consumer Information Act (7 U.S.C. 4601) is 
amended— 
(1) by striking the section heading and all that follows 
through "The Congress finds that:" and inserting the following: 
"SEC. 2. FINDINGS AND PURPOSES. 
"(a) FINDINGS.—Congress makes the following findings:"; 
(2) in subsection (a) (as so designated)— 
(A) in paragraphs (6) and (7), by striking "and con-
sumer education" each place it appears and inserting "con-
sumer education, and industry information"; £ind 
(B) by inserting after paragraph (7) the following: 
"(8) The ability to develop and maintain purity standards 
for honey and honey products is critical to maintaining the 
consumer confidence, safety, and trust that are essential compo-
nents of any undertaking to maintain and develop markets 
for honey and honey products. 
"(9) Research directed at improving the cost effectiveness 
and efficiency of beekeeping, as well as developing better means 
of dealing with pest and disease problems, is essential to keep-
ing honey and honey product prices competitive and facilitating 
market growth as well as maintaining the financial well-being 
of the honey industry. 
"(10) Research involving the quality, safety, and image 
of honey and honey products and how that quality, safety, 
and image may be affected during the extraction, processing, 
packaging, marketing, and other stages of the honey and honey 
product production and distribution process, is highly important 
to building and maintaining markets for honey and honey 
products."; and 
(3) by striking subsection (b) and inserting the following: 
"(b) PURPOSES.—The purposes of this Act are— 
"(1) to authorize the establishment of an orderly procedure 
for the development and financing, through an adequate assess-
ment, of an effective, continuous, and nationally coordinated 
program of promotion, research, consumer education, and 
industry information designed to— 
112 STAT. 588 
PUBLIC LAW 106-185-^JUNE 23, 1998 
"(A) strengthen the position of the honey industry in 
the marketplace; 
"(B) maintain, develop, and expand domestic and for-
eign markets and uses for honey and honey products; 
"(C) maintain and improve the competitiveness and 
efficiency of the honey industry; and 
"(D) sponsor research to develop better means of deal-
ing with pest and disease problems; 
"(2) to maintain and expand the markets for all honey 
and honey products in a manner that— 
"(A) is not designed to maintain or expand any individ-
ual producer's, importer's, or handler's share of the market; 
and 
"(B) does not compete with or replace individu£d 
advertising or promotion efforts designed to promote 
individual brand name or trade name honey or honey prod-
ucts; and 
"(3) to authorize and fund programs that result in govern-
ment speech promoting government objectives. 
"(c) ADMINISTRATION.—Nothing in this A
c
1
>
— 
"(1) prohibits the sale of various grades of honey; 
"(2) provides for control of honey production; 
"(3) limits the right of the individual honey producer to 
produce honey; or 
"(4) creates a trade barrier to honey or honey products 
produced in a foreign country.". 
(b) DEFINITIONS.—Section 3 of the Honey Research, Promotion, 
and Consumer Information Act (7 U.S.C. 4602) is amended— 
(1) by striking paragraph (7) and inserting the following: 
"(7) HANDLE.— 
"(A) IN GENERAL.—^The term liandle' means to process, 
package, sell, transport, purchase, or in any other way 
place or cause to be placed in commerce, honey or a honey 
product. 
"(B) INCLUSION.—The term 'handle' includes selling 
unprocessed honey that will be consumed or used without 
further processing or packaging. 
"(C) 
EXCLUSIONS.—The term 
Tiandle' does not 
include— 
"(i) the transportation of unprocessed honey by 
a producer to a handler; 
"(ii) the transportation by a commercial carrier 
of honey, whether processed or unprocessed, for a han-
dler or producer; or 
"(iii) the purchase of honey or a honey product 
by a consumer or other end-user of the honey or honey 
product."; 
(2) by adding at the end the following: 
"(19) DEPARTMENT.—^The term 'Department' means the 
Department of Agriculture. 
"(20) HONEY PRODUCTION.—The term 'honey production' 
means all beekeeping operations related to— 
"(A) managing honey bee colonies to produce honey; 
"(B) harvesting honey from the colonies; 
"(C) extracting honey from ihe honeycombs; and 
"(D) preparing honey for sale for furdier processing. 
PUBLIC LAW 105-185-^UNE 23, 1998 
112 STAT. 589 
"(21) INDUSTRY INFORMATION.—The term 'industry informa-
, tion' means information or a program that will lead to the 
development of new markets, new marketing strategies, or 
increased efficiency for the honey industry, or an activity to 
enhance the image of honey and honey products and of the 
honey industry. 
"(22) 
NATIONAL HONEY MARKETING COOPERATIVE.—The 
term 'national honey marketing cooperative' means a coopera-
tive that markets its products in at least 2 of the following 
4 regions of the United States, as determined by the Secretary: 
"(A) The Atlantic Coast, including the District of 
Columbia and the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico. 
"(B) The Mideast. 
"(C) The Midwest. 
"(D) The Pacific, including the States of Alaska and 
Hawaii. 
"(23) 
QUALIFIED NATIONAL ORGANIZATION REPRESENTING 
HANDLER INTERESTS.—The term 'qualified national organization 
representing handler interests' means an organization that the 
Secretary certifies as being eligible to recommend nominations 
for the Committee handler, handler-importer, alternate hsm-
dler, and alternate handler-importer members of the Honey 
Board under section 7(b). 
"(24) 
QUALIFIED NATIONAL ORGANIZATION REPRESENTING 
IMPORTER INTERESTS.—^The term 'qualified national organiza-
tion representing importer interests' means an organization 
that the Secretary certifies as being eligible to recommend 
nominations for the Committee importer, handler-importer, 
alternate importer, and alternate handler-importer members 
of the Honey Board under section 7(b)."; and 
(3) by reordering the paragraphs so that they are in 
alphabetical order by term defined and redesignating the para-
graphs accordingly. 
(c) HONEY RESEARCH, PROMOTION, AND CONSUMER INFORMA-
TION ORDER.—Section 4 of the Honey Research, Promotion, and 
Consumer Information Act (7 U.S.C. 4603) is amended by inserting 
"and regulations" after "orders". 
(d) NOTICE AND HEARING.—Section 5 of the Honey Research, 
Promotion, and Consumer Information Act (7 U.S.C. 4604) is 
amended to read as follows: 
"SEC. 5. NOTICE AND HEARING. 
"(a) NOTICE AND COMMENT.—In issuing an order under this 
Act, an amendment to an order, or a regulation to carry out this 
Act, the Secretary shall comply with section 553 of title 5, United 
States Code. 
"(b) FORMAL AGENCY ACTION.—Sections 556 and 557 of that 
title shall not apply with respect to the issuance of an order, 
an amendment to an order, or a regulation under this Act. 
"(c) PROPOSAL OF AN ORDER.—^A proposal for an order may 
be submitted to the Secretary by £iny organization or interested 
person affected by this Act.". 
(e) FINDINGS AND ISSUANCE OF ORDER.—Section 6 of the Honey 
Research, Promotion, and Consumer Information Act (7 U.S.C. 
4605) is amended to read as follows: 
112 STAT. 590 
PUBLIC LAW 1 0 5 - 1 8 5 - J U N E 23, 1998 
"SEC. 6. FINDINGS AND ISSUANCE OF ORDER. 
"After notice and opportunity for comment has been provided 
in accordance with section 5(a), the Secretary shall issue an order, 
an amendment to an order, or a regulation under this Act, if 
the Secretary finds, and specifies in the order, amendment, or 
regulation, that the issuance of the order, amendment, or regulation 
wUl assist in carrying out the purposes of this Act.". 
(f) REQUIRED TERMS OF AN ORDER.— 
(1) NATIONAL HONEY NOMINATIONS COMMITTEE.—Section 
7(b) of the Honey Research, Promotion, and Consumer Informa-
tion Act (7 U.S.C. 4606(b)) is amended— 
(A) in paragraph (2), by striking "except" and all that 
follows through "three-year terms" and inserting "except 
that the term of appointments to the Committee may be 
staggered periodically, as determined by the Secretary"; 
and 
(B) in paragraph (5)— 
(i) in the second sentence, by striking "after the 
first annual meeting"; and 
(ii) in the third sentence, by striking "per centum" 
and inserting "percent". 
(2) HONEY BOARD.—Section 7(c) of the Honey Research, 
Promotion, and Consumer Information Act (7 U.S.C. 4606(c)) 
is amended— 
(A) by redesignating paragraphs (3) through (6) as 
paragraphs (8) through (11), respectively; 
(B) in paragraph (2>— 
(i) in subparagraph (A), by striking "seven" and 
inserting "7"; and 
(ii) by striking subparagraphs (B) tiirough (E) and 
all that follows and inserting the following: 
"(B) 2 members who are handlers appointed fi-om 
nominations submitted by the Committee fi*om rec-
ommendations made by qualified national organizations 
representing handler interests; 
"(C) if approved in a referendum conducted under this 
Act, 2 members who— 
"(i) are handlers of honey; 
"(ii) during any 3 of the preceding 5 years, were 
also importers of record of at least 40,000 pounds of 
honey; and 
"(iii) are appointed fi-om nominations submitted 
by the Committee fi-om recommendations made by— 
"(I) qualified national organizations represent-
ing 
hsmdler 
interests 
or qualified 
national 
organizations representing importer interests; or 
"(II) if the Secretary determines that there 
is not a qualified national organization represent-
ing handler interests or a quaUfied national 
organization 
representing 
importer 
interests, 
individual hamdlers or importers that have paid 
assessments to the Honey Board on imported 
honey or honey products; 
"(D) 2 members who are importers appointed fi-om 
nominations submitted by the Committee fi*om rec-
ommendations made by— 
PUBLIC LAW 105-185^JUNE 23, 1998 
112 STAT. 591 
"(i) qualified national organizations representing 
importer interests; or 
"(ii) if the Secretary determines that there is not 
a qualified national organization representing importer 
interests, individual importers that have paid assess-
ments to the Honey Board on imported honey or honey 
products; and 
"(E) 1 member who is an officer, director, or employee 
of a nation£il honey marketing cooperative appointed from 
nominations submitted by the Committee fi-om rec-
ommendations made by qusdified national honey marketing 
cooperatives."; 
(C) by inserting sifter paragraph (2) the following: 
"(3) ALTERNATES.—^The Committee shall submit nomina-
tions for an alternate for each member of the Honey Board 
described in paragraph (2). An alternate shall be appointed 
in the same manner as a member and shall serve when the 
member is absent 
fi*om 
a meeting or is disqualified. 
"(4) RECONSTITUTION.— 
"(A) REVIEW.—If approved in a referendum conducted Regulations. 
under this Act and in accordance with rules issued by 
the Secretary, the Honey Board shall review, at times 
determined under subparagraph (E)— 
"(i) the geographic distribution of the quantities 
of domestically produced honey assessed under the 
order; eind 
"(ii) changes in the annual average percentage of 
assessments owed by importers under the order rel-
ative to assessments owed by producers and handlers 
of domestic honey, including— 
"(I) whether any changes in assessments owed 
on imported quantities are owed by importers 
described in paragraph (5)(B); or 
"(II) whether such importers are handler-
importers described in paragraph (2)(C). 
"(B) RECOMMENDATIONS.—If warranted and in accord-
ance with this subsection, the Honey Board shall rec-
ommend to the Secretary— 
"(i) changes in the regional representation of honey 
producers established by the Secretary; 
"(ii) if necessary to reflect any changes in the 
proportion of domestic £ind imported honey assessed 
under the order or the source of assessments on 
imported honey or honey products, the reallocation 
of— 
"(I) heuidler-importer member positions under 
paragraph (2)(C) as handler member positions 
under paragraph (2)(B); 
"(II) importer member positions under para-
graph (2)(D) as handler-importer member positions 
under paragraph (2)(C); or 
"(III) 
handler-importer 
member 
positions 
imder paragraph (2)(C) as importer member posi-
tions under paragraph (2)(D); or 
"(iii) if necessary to reflect any changes in the 
proportion of domestic and imported honey or honey 
products assessed under the order, the addition of 
112 STAT. 592 
PUBLIC LAW 105-185—JUNE 23, 1998 
members to the Honey Board under subparagraph (A), 
(B), (C), or (D) of paragraph (2). 
"(C) SCOPE OF REVIEW.—The review required under 
subparagraph (A) shall be based on data from the 5-year 
period preceding the year in which the review is conducted. 
"(D) BASIS FOR RECOMMENDATIONS.— 
"(i) IN GENERAL.—Except as provided in subpara-
raph (F), recommendations made under subparagraph 
(B) 
B) shall be based on-
"(I) the 5-year average annual assessments, 
excluding the 2 years containing the highest and 
lowest disparity between the proportion of assess-
ments owed from imported and domestic honey 
or honey products, determined pursuant to the 
review that is conducted under subparagraph (A); 
and 
"(II) whether any change in the average 
£innual assessments is from the assessments owed 
by importers described in paragraph (5)(B) or from 
the 
assessments 
owed 
by 
handler-importers 
described in paragraph (2)(C). 
"(ii) PROPORTIONS.—The Honey Board shall rec-
ommend a reallocation or addition of members pursu-
ant to clause (ii) or (iii) of subparagraph (B) only if 
1 or more of the following proportions change by more 
than 6 percent from the base period proportion deter-
mined in accordance with subparagraph (F): 
"(I) The proportion of assessments owed by 
handler-importers described in paragraph (2)(C) 
compared with the proportion of assessments owed 
by importers described in paragraph (2)(D). 
"(II) The proportion of assessments owed by 
importers compared with the proportion of assess-
ments owed on domestic honey by producers and 
handlers. 
"(E) TIMING OF REVIEW.— 
"(i) IN GENERAL.—The Honey Board shall conduct 
the reviews required under this paragraph not more 
than once during each 5-year period. 
"(ii) INITIAL REVIEW.—The Honey Board shall con-
duct the initial review required under this paragraph 
prior to the initial continuation referendum conducted 
under section 13(c) following the referendum conducted 
under section 14. 
"(F) BASE PERIOD PROPORTIONS.— 
"(i) IN GENERAL.—The base period proportions for 
determining the magnitude of change under subpara-
graph (D) shall be the proportions determined during 
the prior review conducted under this paragraph. 
"(ii) INITIAL REVIEW.—In the case of the initial 
review required under subparagraph (E)(ii), the base 
E
eriod proportions shall be the proportions determined 
y the Honey Board for fiscal year 1996. 
"(5) 
RESTRICTIONS ON NOMINATION AND APPOINTMENT.— 
"(A) PRODUCER-PACKERS AS PRODUCERS.—NO producer-
packer that, during any 3 of the preceding 5 years, pur-
chased for resale more honey than the producer-packer 
\ 
\ 
\ 
PUBLIC LAW 105-185-^UNE 23, 1998 
112 STAT. 593 
produced shall be eligible for nomination or appointment 
to the Honey Board as a producer described in paragraph 
(2)(A) or as an alternate to such a producer. 
"(B) IMPORTERS.—No importer that, during any 3 of 
the preceding 5 yeeirs, did not receive at least 75 percent 
of the gross income generated by the sale of honey and 
honey products from the sale of imported honey and honey 
products shall be eligible for nomination or appointment 
to the Honey Board as an importer described in paragraph 
(2)(D) or an alternate to such an importer. 
"(6) CERTIFICATION OF ORGANIZATIONS.— 
"(A) IN GENERAL.—^The eligibility of an organization 
to participate in the making of recommendations to the 
Committee for nomination to the Honey Board to represent 
handlers or importers under this section shall be certified 
by the Secretary. 
"(B) ELIGIBILITY CRITERIA.—Subject to the other provi-
sions of this paragraph, the Secretary shall certify an 
organization that the Secretary determines meets the eligi-
bility criteria established by the Secretary under this para-
graph. 
"(C) FINALITY.—An eligibility determination of the Sec-
retary under this paragraph shall be final. 
"(D) BASIS FOR CERTIFICATION.—Certification of an Reports, 
organization under this paragraph shall be based on, in 
addition to other avsdlable information, a factual report 
submitted by the organization that contains information 
considered relevant by the Secretary, including— 
"(i) the geographic territory covered by the active 
membership of the organization; 
"(ii) the nature and size of the active membership 
of the organization, including the proportion of the 
total number of active handlers or importers rep-
resented by the organization; 
"(iii) evidence of the stability and permanency of 
the organization; 
"(iv) sources from which the operating funds of 
the organization are derived; 
"(v) the fiinctions of the organization; and 
"(vi) the ability and willingness of the organization 
to further the purposes of this Act. 
"(E) PRIMARY CONSIDERATIONS.—A primary consider-
ation in determining the eligibility of an organization under 
this paragraph shall be whether— 
"(i) the membership of the organization consists 
primarily of hsindlers or importers that derive a 
substantial quantity of their income from sales of honey 
and honey products; and 
"(ii) the organization has an interest in the market-
ing of honey and honey products. 
"(F) NONMEMBERS.—^As a condition of certification 
under this paragraph, an orgeinization shall agree— 
"(i) to notify nonmembers of the organization of Notification. 
Honey Board nomination opportunities for which the 
organization is certified to make recommendations to 
the Committee; and 
112 STAT. 594 
PUBLIC LAW 1 0 5 - 1 8 5 - J U N E 23, 1998 
"(ii) to consider the nomination of nonmembers 
when making the nominations of the organization to 
the Committee, if nonmembers indicate an interest 
in serving on the Honey Board. 
"(7) MINIMUM PERCENTAGE OF HONEY PRODUCERS.—Not-
withstanding any other provision of this subsection, at least 
50 percent of the members of the Honey Board shall be honey 
producers."; and 
(D) in paragraph (8) (as so redesignated), by striking 
"except" £ind all that follows through "three-year terms" 
and inserting "except that appointments to the Honey 
Board may be staggered periodically, as determined by 
the Secretary, to msdntain continuity of the Honey Board 
with respect to all members and with respect to members 
representing particular groups.". 
(3) ASSESSMENTS.—Section 7(e) of the Honey Research, Pro-
motion, emd Consumer Information Act (7 U.S.C. 4606(e)) is 
amended— 
(A) by redesignating paragraphs (2) and (3) as para-
graphs (4) and (5), respectively; 
(B) by striking paragraph (1) and inserting the follow-
ing: 
"(1) IN GENERAL.—The Honey Board shall administer collec-
tion of the assessment provided for in this subsection, and 
may accept voluntary contributions from other sources, to 
finance the expenses described in subsections (d) and (f). 
"(2) RATE.—Except as provided in paragraph (3), the assess-
ment rate shall be $0.0075 per pound (payable in the manner 
described in section 9), with— 
"(A) in the case of honey produced in the United States, 
$0.0075 per poimd payable by honey producers; and 
"(B) in the case of honey or honey products imported 
into the United States, $0.0075 per poimd payable by honey 
importers. 
"(3) 
ALTERNATIVE RATE APPROVED IN REFERENDUM.—If 
approved in a referendum conducted under this Act, the assess-
ment rate shall be $0,015 per pound (payable in the manner 
described in section 9)— 
"(A) in the case of honey produced in the United 
States— 
"(i) $0.0075 per pound payable by— 
"(I) honey producers; and 
"(II) producer-packers on all honey produced 
by the producer-packers; and 
"(ii) $0.0075 per pound payable by— 
"(I) handlers; and 
"(II) producer-packers on all honey and honey 
products handled by the producer-packers, includ-
ing honey produced by the producer-packers); and 
"(B) in the case of honey and honey products imported 
into the United States, $0,015 per pound payable by honey 
importers, of which $0.0075 per pound represents the 
assessment due from the handler to be paid by the importer 
on behalf of the heindler."; 
(C) in paragraph (4) (as so redesignated), by striking 
subparagraph (B) and inserting the following: 
"(B) SMALL QUANTITIES.— 
PUBLIC LAW 105-185—JUNE 23, 1998 
112 STAT. 595 
**(i) IN GENERAL.—^A producer, producer-packer, 
handler, or importer that produces, imports, or handles 
during a year less than 6,000 pounds of honey or 
honey products shall be exempt in that year from 
pajnnent of an assessment on honey or honey products 
that the person distributes directly through local retail 
outlets, as determined by the Secretary, during that 
year. 
"(ii) INAPPLICABILITY.—If a person no longer meets 
the requirements of clause (i) for an exemption, the 
person shall— 
"(I) file a report with the Honey Board in Reports. 
the form and manner prescribed by the Honey 
Board; and 
;/ 
"(II) pay an assessment on or before March 
15 of the subsequent year on all honey or honey 
products produced, imported, or handled by the 
^ 
person during the year in which the person no 
longer meets the requirements of clause (i) for 
an exemption."; and 
(D) in paragraph (5) (as so redesignated)— 
(i) by inserting "handler," after "producer-packer" 
each place it appears; 
(ii) by striking "paragraph (2)" and inserting "para-
graph (4)"; and 
(iii) by inserting ", handler," after "producer" the 
last place it appears. 
(4) USE OF FUNDS.—Section 7(f) of the Honey Research, 
Promotion, and Consumer Information Act (7 U.S.C. 4606(f)) 
is amended— 
(A) by striking "(f) Funds collected by the Honey Board 
from the assessments" and inserting the following: 
"(f) FUNDS.— 
"(1) USE.—Funds collected by the Honey Board"; 
(B) by striking "The Secretary shall" and inserting 
the following: 
"(3) REIMBURSEMENT.—The Secretary shall"; and 
(C) by inserting after paragraph (1) (as designated 
by subparagraph (A)) the following: 
"(2) RESEARCH PROJECTS.— 
"(A) IN GENERAL.—If approved in a referendum con-
ducted under this Act, the Honey Board shall reserve at 
least 8 percent of all assessments collected during a year 
for expenditure on approved research projects designed 
to advance the cost effectiveness, competitiveness, effi-
ciency, pest and disease control, and other management 
aspects of beekeeping, honey production, and honey bees. 
"(B) CARRYOVER.—If all funds reserved imder subpara-
graph (A) are not £dlocated to approved reseairch projects 
in a year, any reserved funds remaining unallocated shall 
be carried forward for allocation and expenditure under 
subparagraph (A) in subsequent years.". 
(5) FALSE OR UNWARRANTED CLAIMS OR STATEMENTS.—Sec-
tion 7(g) of the Honey Research, Promotion, and Consumer 
Information Act (7 U.S.C. 4606(g)) is amended by striking ^Vith 
assessments collected" and inserting "by the Honey Board". 
112 STAT. 596 
PUBLIC LAW 105-185-^JUNE 23, 1998 
(6) INFLUENCING GOVERNMENTAL POLICY OR ACTION.—Sec-
tion 7(h) of the Honey Research, Promotion, and Consumer 
Information Act (7 U.S.C. 4606(h)) is amended by striking 
"through assessments authorized by" and inserting "by the 
Honey Board under", 
(g) PERMISSIVE TERMS A
N
D PROVISIONS.—Section 8 of the Honey 
Research, Promotion, and Consumer Information Act (7 U.S.C. 
4607) is amended— 
(1) by inserting "(a) IN GENERAL.—" before "On"; and 
(2) by adding at the end the following: 
"(8) If approved in a referendum conducted under this 
Act, providing authority for the development of programs and 
related rules and regulations that will, with the approval of 
the Secretary, establish minimum purity standards for honey 
and honey products that are designed to maintain a positive 
and wholesome marketing image for honey and honey products. 
"(b) INSPECTION AND MONITORING SYSTEM.— 
"(1) INSPECTION.—^Any program, rule, or regulation under 
subsection (a)(8) may provide for the inspection, by the Sec-
retary, of honey and honey products being sold for domestic 
consumption in, or for export from, the United States. 
"(2) MONITORING SYSTEM.—The Honey Board may develop 
and recommend to the Secretary a system for monitoring the 
purity of honey and honey products being sold for domestic 
consumption in, or for export from, the United States, including 
a system for identifying adulterated honey. 
"(3) COORDINATION WITH OTHER FEDERAL AGENCIES.—The 
Secretary may coordinate, to the maximum extent practicable, 
with the head of any otJier Federal agency that has authority 
to ensure compliance with labeling or other requirements relat-
ing to the purity of honey and honey products concerning an 
er^orcement action agednst any person that does not comply 
with a rule or regulation issued by any other Federal agency 
concerning the labeling or purity requirements of honey and 
honey products. 
"(4) AUTHORITY TO ISSUE REGULATIONS.—The Secretary 
may issue such rules and regulations as are necessary to carry 
out this subsection. 
"(c) VOLUNTARY QUALITY ASSURANCE PROGRAM.— 
"(1) IN GENERAL.—In addition to or independent of any 
program, rule, or regulation imder subsection (b), the Honey 
Board, with the approval of the Secretary, may establish and 
carry out a voluntary quality assurance program concerning 
purity standards for hon^ and honey products. 
"(2) COMPONENTS.—^TTie program may include— 
"(A) the estabUshment of an official Honey Board seal 
of approval to be displayed on honey and honey products 
of producers, handlers, euid importers that participate in 
the voluntary program and are found to meet such stand-
ards of purity as are established under the program; 
"(B) actions to encourage producers, handlers, and 
importers to participate in the progreim; 
"(C) actions to encourage consumers to purchase honey 
and honey products bearing the official seal of approval; 
and 
"(D) periodic inspections by the Secretary, or other 
parties approved by the Secretary, of honey and honey 
PUBLIC LAW 1 0 5 - 1 8 5 - ^ U N E 23, 1998 
112 STAT. 597 
products of producers, handlers, and importers that partici-
pate in the voluntary program. 
"(3) DISPLAY OF SEAL OF APPROVAL.—TO be eligible to dis-
play the official seal of approval established under paragraph 
(2)(A) on a honey or honey product, a producer, handler, or 
importer shall participate in the voluntary program under this 
subsection. 
"(d) 
AUTHORITY OF THE SECRETARY.—Notwithstanding 
any 
other provision of this Act, the Secretary shall have the authority 
to approve or disapprove the establishment of minimum purity 
standards, the inspection and monitoring system under subsection 
(b), and the voluntary quality assurance program under subsection 
(c).". 
(h) COLLECTION OF ASSESSMENTS.— 
(1) NEW ASSESSMENT.—Section 9 of the Honey Research, 
Promotion, and Consumer Information Act (7 U.S.C. 4608) is 
amended— 
(A) by striking subsection (a) and inserting the follow-
ing: 
"(a) HANDLERS.—Except as otherwise provided in this section, 
a first handler of honey shall be responsible, at the time of first 
purchase— 
"(1) for the collection, and payment to the Honey Board, 
of the assessment payable by a producer under section 7(e)(2)(A) 
or, if approved in a referendum conducted under this Act, 
under section 7(e)(3)(A)(i); £ind 
"(2) if approved in a referendum conducted under this 
Act, for the payment to the Honey Board of an additional 
assessment payable by the handler under section 7(e)(3)(A)(ii)."; 
(B) by striking subsection (c) and inserting the follow-
ing: 
"(c) IMPORTERS.—Except as otherwise provided in this section, 
at the time of entry of honey and honey products into the United 
States, an importer shall remit to the Honey Board through the 
United States Customs Service— 
"(1) the assessment on the imported honey and honey prod-
ucts required under section 7(e)(2)(B); or 
"(2) if approved in a referendum conducted under this 
Act, the assessment on the imported honey and honey products 
required under section 7(e)(3)(B), of which the amount payable 
under section 7(e)(3)(A)(ii) represents the assessment due from 
the handler to be paid by the importer on behalf of the han-
dler."; and 
(C) by striking subsection (e) and inserting the follow-
ing: 
"(e) PRODUCER-PACKERS.—Except as otherwise provided in this 
section, a producer-packer shall be responsible for the collection, 
and pajmient to the Honey Board, o
f
— 
"(1) the assessment payable by the producer-packer under 
section 7(e)(2)(A) or, if approved in a referendum conducted 
under this Act, under section 7(e)(3XA)(i) on honey produced 
by the producer-packer; 
"(2) at the time of fixst purchase, the assessment payable 
by a producer under section 7(e)(2)(A) or, if approved in a 
referendum conducted under this Act, under section 7(e)(3)(A)(i) 
on honey purchased by the producer-packer as a first handler; 
and 
112 STAT. 598 
PUBLIC LAW 105-185—JUNE 23, 1998 
"(3) if approved in a referendum conducted under this 
Act, an additional assessment payable by the producer-packer 
under section 7(e)(3)(A)(ii).". 
(2) INSPECTION; BOOKS AND RECORDS.—Section 9 of 
the 
Honey Research, Promotion, and Consumer Information Act 
(7 U.S.C. 4608) is amended by striking subsection (f) and insert-
ing the following: 
"(f) INSPECTION; BOOKS AND RECORDS.— 
"(1) IN GENERAL.—^To make available to the Secretary and 
the Honey Board such information and data as are necessary 
to carry out tiiis Act (including an order or regulation issued 
imder this Act), a handler, importer, producer, or producer-
packer responsible for payment of an assessment tmder this 
Act, and a person receiving an exemption from an assessment 
under section 7(e)(4), shall— 
"(A) maintain and meike available for inspection by 
the Secretary and the Honey Board such books and records 
as are required by the order and regulations issued imder 
this Act; and 
Reports. 
"(B) file reports at the times, in the manner, and 
having the content prescribed by the order and regulations, 
which reports shall include the total number of bee colonies 
maintained, the quantity of honey produced, and the qusui-
tity of honey and honey products handled or imported. 
"(2) EMPLOYEE OR AGENT.—^To conduct an inspection or 
review a report of a handler, importer, producer, or producer-
packer under paragraph (1), an individusd shall be an employee 
or agent of the Department or the Honey Board, and shall 
not be a member or alternate member of the Honey Board. 
"(3) CONFIDENTIALITY.—^An employee or agent described 
in paragraph (2) shall be subject to the confidentiality require-
ments of subsection (g).". 
(3) CONFIDENTIALITY OF INFORMATION; DISCLOSURE.—Sec-
tion 9 of the Honey Research, Promotion, and Consumer 
Information Act (7 U.S.C. 4608) is amended by striking sub-
section (g) and inserting the following: 
"(g) CONFIDENTIALITY OF INFORMATION; DISCLOSURE.— 
"(1) IN GENERAL.—^All information obtained under sub-
section (f) shall be kept confidential by all officers, employees, 
and agents of the Department or of the Honey Board. 
"(2) DISCLOSURE.—^Information subject to paragraph (1) 
may be disclosed— 
"(A) only in a suit or administrative hearing brought 
at the request of the Secretary, or to which the Secretary 
or any officer of the United States is a party, that involves 
the order with respect to which the information was fiir-
nished or acquired; and 
"(B) only if the Secretary determines that the informa-
tion is relevant to the suit or administrative hearing. 
"(3) EXCEPTIONS.—Nothing in this subsection prohibits— 
"(A) the issuance of general statements based on the 
reports of a number of handlers subject to an order, if 
the statements do not identify the information furnished 
by any person; or 
"(B) the publication, by direction of the Secretary, of 
the name of any person that violates any order issued 
PUBLIC LAW 105-185-JUNE 23, 1998 
112 STAT. 599 
under this Act, together with a statement of the particular 
provisions of the order violated by the person. 
"(4) VIOLATION.—^Any person that knowingly violates this 
subsection, on conviction— 
"(A) shall be fined not more thein $1,000, imprisoned 
not more than 1 year, or both; and 
"(B) if the person is an officer or employee of the 
Honey Board or the Department, shall be removed from 
office.". 
(4) REFUNDS.—Section 9 of the Honey Research, Promotion, 
and Consumer Information Act (7 U.S.C. 4608) is amended 
by striking subsection (h). 
(5) ADMINISTRATION AND REMITTANCE.—Section 9 of the 
Honey Research, Promotion, and Consumer Information Act 
(7 U.S.C. 4608) (as amended by paragraph (4)) is amended 
by inserting after subsection (g) the following: 
"(h) ADMINISTRATION AND REMITTANCE.—Administration and 
remittance of the assessments under this Act shall be conducted— 
"(1) in the manner prescribed in the order and regulations 
issued under this Act; and 
"(2) if approved in a referendum conducted under this 
Act, in a manner that ensures that all honey and honey prod-
ucts are assessed a total of, but not more than, $0,015 per 
pound, including any producer or importer assessment.". 
(6) LIABILITY FOR ASSESSMENTS.—Section 9(i) of the Honey 
Research, Promotion, and Consumer Information Act (7 U.S.C. 
4608(i)) is amended— 
(A) by striking "(i) If and inserting the following: 
"(i) LIABILITY FOR ASSESSMENTS.— 
"(1) PRODUCERS.—If; and 
(B) by adding at the end the following: 
"(2) IMPORTERS.—If the United States Customs Service fails 
to collect an assessment from an importer or an importer fails 
to pay an assessment at the time of entry of honey and honey 
products into the United States under this section, the importer 
shall be responsible for the remission of the assessment to 
the Honey Board.". 
(i) PETITION AITO REVIEW.—Section 10 of the Honey Research, 
Promotion, and Consumer Information Act (7 U.S.C. 4609) is 
amended by striking subsection (a) and inserting the following: 
"(a) FILING OF PETITION; HEARING.— 
"(1) IN GENERAL.—Subject to paragraph (4), a person sub-
ject to an order may file a written petition with the Secretary— 
"(A) that states that the order, any provision of the 
order, or any obligation imposed in connection with the 
order is not in accordance with law; and 
"(B) that requests— 
"(i) a modification of the order, provision, or obliga-
tion; or 
"(ii) to be exempted from the order, provision, or 
obligation. 
"(2) HEARING.—In accordance with regulations issued by Regulations, 
the Secretary, the petitioner shall be given an opportimity 
for a hearing on the petition. 
"(3) RULING.—^After the hearing, the Secretary shall make 
a ruling on the petition that shEtQ be final, if in accordance 
with law. 
112 STAT. 600 
PUBLIC LAW 105-185^JUNE 23, 1998 
"(4) STATUTE OF LIMITATIONS.—A petition filed under this 
subsection that challenges an order, any provision of the order, 
or any obligation imposed in connection with the order, shall 
be filed not later than 2 years after the later of— 
"(A) the effective date of the order, provision, or obliga-
tion challenged in the petition; or 
"(B) the date on which the petitioner became subject 
to the order, provision, or obligation challenged in the 
petition.". 
(j) ENFORCEMENT.—Subsections (a) and (b) of section 11 of 
the Honey Research, Promotion, and Consumer Information Act 
(7 U.S.C. 4610) are amended by striking "plan" each place it appears 
and inserting "order". 
(k) REQUIREMENTS OF REFERENDUM.—Section 12 of the Honey 
Research, Promotion, and Consumer Information Act (7 U.S.C. 
4611) is amended to read as follows: 
"SEC. 12. REQUIREMENTS OF REFERENDUM. 
"(a) IN GENERAL.—For the purpose of ascertaining whether 
issuance of an order is approved by producers, importers, and 
in the case of an order assessing handlers, handlers, the Secretary 
shall conduct a referendum among producers, importers, and, in 
the case of an order assessing handlers, handlers, not exempt 
under section 7(e)(4), that, during a representative period deter-
mined by the Secretary, have been engaged in the production, 
importation, or handling of honey or honey products. 
"(b) EFFECTIVENESS OF ORDER.— 
"(1) IN GENERAL.—No order issued under this Act shall 
be effective unless the Secretary determines that— 
"(A) the order is approved by a majority of the produc-
ers, importers, and if covered by the order, handlers, voting 
in the referendum; and 
"(B) the producers, importers, and handlers comprising 
the majority produced, imported, and handled not less than 
50 percent of the quantity of the honey and honey products 
produced, imported, and handled during the representative 
period by the persons voting in the referendum. 
"(2) AMENDMENTS TO ORDERS.—The Secretary may amend 
an order in accordance with the administrative procedures 
specified in sections 5 and 6, except that the Secretary may 
not amend a provision of an order that implements a provision 
of this Act that specifically provides for approval in a referen-
dum without the approval provided for in this section. 
"(c) PRODUCER-PACKERS AND IMPORTERS.— 
"(1) IN GENERAL.—Each producer-packer and each importer 
shall have 1 vote as a handler as well as 1 vote as a producer 
or importer (unless exempt under section 7(e)(4)) in all 
referenda concerning orders assessing handlers to the extent 
that the individual producer-packer or importer owes assess-
ments as a handler. 
"(2) ATTRIBUTION OF QUANTITY OF HONEY.—For the purpose 
of subsection (b)(1)(B)— 
"(A) the quantity of honey or honey products on which 
the qualifying producer-packer or importer owes assess-
ments as a handler shall be attributed to the person's 
vote as a handler under paragraph (1); and 
PUBLIC LAW 105-185—JUNE 23, 1998 
112 STAT. 601 
"(B) the quantity of honey or honey products on which 
the producer-packer or importer owes an assessment as 
a producer or importer shall be attributed to the person's 
vote as a producer or importer. 
"(d) CONFIDENTIALITY.—The ballots and other information or 
reports that reveal, or tend to reveal, the identity or vote of any 
producer) importer, or handler of honey or honey products shall 
be held strictly confidential and shall not be disclosed.". 
(1) TERMINATION OR SUSPENSION.—Section 13 of the Honey 
Research, Promotion, and Consumer Information Act (7 U.S.C. 
4612) is amended to read as follows: 
•^EC. 13. TERMINATION OR SUSPENSION. 
"(a) DEFINITION OF PERSON.—In this section, the term 'person' 
means a producer, importer, or handler. 
"(b) AUTHORITY OF SECRETARY.—If the Secretary finds that 
an order issued under this Act, or any provision of the order, 
obstructs or does not tend to effectuate the purposes of this Act, 
the Secretary shall terminate or suspend the operation of the order 
or provision. 
"(c) PERIODIC REFERENDA.—Except as provided in subsection 
(dX3) and section 14(g), on the date that is 5 years after the 
date on which the Secretary issues an order authorizing the collec-
tion of assessments on honey or honey products under this Act, 
and every 5 years thereafter, the Secretary shall conduct a referen-
dum to determine if the persons subject to assessment imder the 
order approve continuation of the order in accordance with section 
12. 
"(d) REFERENDA ON REQUEST.— 
"(1) IN GENERAL.—On the request of the Honey Board 
or the petition of at least 10 percent of the total nimiber 
of persons subject to assessment imder the order, the Secretary 
shall conduct a referendum to determine if the persons subject 
to assessment under the order approve continuation of the 
order in accordance with section 12. 
"(2) LIMITATION.—Referenda conducted under paragraph 
(1) may not be held more than once every 2 years. 
"(3) EFFECT ON PERIODIC REFERENDA.—If a referendum is 
conducted imder this subsection and the Secretary determines 
that continuation of the order is approved imder section 12, 
any referendum otherwise required to be conducted under sub-
section (c) shall not be held before the date that is 5 years 
after the date of the referendum conducted under this sub-
section. 
"(e) TIMING AND REQUIREMENTS FOR TERMINATION OR SUSPEN-
SION.— 
"(1) IN GENERAL.—^The Secretary shall terminate or sus-
pend an order at the end of the marketing year during which 
a referendum is conducted under subsection (c) or (d) if the 
Secretary determines that continuation of an order is not 
approved under section 12. 
" 
"(2) SUBSEQUENT REFERENDUM.—If the Secretary termi- Deadline, 
nates or suspends an order that assesses the handling of honey 
and honey products imder paragraph (1), the Secretary shall, 
not later than 90 days after submission of a proposed order 
by an interested party— 
112 STAT. 602 
PUBLIC LAW 105-185-^UNE 23, 1998 
Applicability. 
7 use 4613. 
Deadline. 
Publication. 
Notice. 
Deadline. 
"(A) propose another order to establish^^a-research, 
promotion, and consumer information program; and 
"(B) conduct a referendum on the order among persons 
that would be subject to assessment under the order. 
"(3) EFFECTIVENESS OF ORDER.—Section 12 shall apply in 
determining the effectiveness of the subsequent amended order 
under paragraph (2).". 
(m) IMPLEMENTATION OF AMENDMENTS.—The Honey Research, 
Promotion, and Consumer Information Act is amended by inserting 
after section 13 (7 U.S.C. 4612) the following: 
"SEC. 14. IMPLEMENTATION OF AMENDMENTS MADE BY AGRICUL-
TURAL RESEARCH, EXTENSION, AND EDUCATION REFORM 
ACT OF 1998. 
"(a) ISSUANCE OF AMENDED ORDER.—To implement the amend-
ments made to this Act by section 605 of the Agricultural Research, 
Extension, and Education Reform Act of 1998 (other than subsection 
(m) of that section), the Secretary shall issue an amended order 
under section 4 that reflects those amendments. 
"(b) PROPOSAL OF AMENDED ORDER.—Not later than 90 days 
after the date of enactment of this section, the Secretary shall 
publish a proposed order imder section 4 that reflects the amend-
ments made by section 605 of the Agricultural Research, Extension, 
and Education Reform Act of 1998. The Secretary shall provide 
notice and an opportunity for public comment on the proposed 
order in accordance with section 5. 
"(c) ISSUANCE OF AMENDED ORDER.—Not later than 240 days 
after publication of the proposed order, the Secretary shall issue 
an order under section 6, taking into consideration the comments 
received and including in the order such provisions as are necessary 
to ensure that the order conforms with the amendments made 
by section 605 of the Agricultural Research, Extension, and Edu-
cation Reform Act of 1998. 
"(d) REFERENDUM ON AMENDED ORDER.— 
"(1) REQUIREMENT.— 
"(A) IN GENERAL.—On issuance of an order under sec-
tion 6 reflecting the amendments made by section 605 
of the Agricultural Research, Extension, and Education 
Reform Act of 1998, the Secretary shall conduct a referen-
dum under this section for the sole purpose of determining 
whether the order as amended shall become effective. 
"(B) INDIVIDUAL PROVISIONS.—No individual provision 
of the amended order shall be subject to a separate vote 
under the referendum. 
"(2) ELIGIBLE VOTERS.—^The Secretary shall conduct the 
referendum among persons subject to assessment under the 
order that have been producers, producer-packers, importers, 
or handlers during the 2-calendar-year period that precedes 
the referendum, which period shall be considered to be the 
representative period. 
"(3) DETERMINATION OF QUANTITY.— 
"(A) IN GENERAL.—Producer-packers, importers, and 
handlers shall be allowed to vote as if— 
"(i) the amended order had been in place during 
the representative period described in paragraph (2); 
and 
PUBLIC LAW 105-185^JUNE 23, 1998 
112 STAT. 603 
"(ii) they had owed the increased assessments pro-
vided by the amended order. 
"(B) VOTES AND ATTRIBUTED QUANTITY FOR PRODUCER-
PACKERS A>n) IMPORTERS.—The votes and the quantity of 
honey and honey products attributed to the votes of pro-
ducer-packers and importers shall be determined in accord-
ance with section 12. 
"(C) ATTRIBUTED QUANTITY FOR HANDLERS.—The quan-
tity of honey and honey products attributed to the vote 
of a handler shall be the qusintity handled in the represent-
ative period described in paragraph (2) for which the han-
dler would have owed assessments had the amended order 
been in effect. 
"(4) EFFECTIVENESS OF ORDER.—^The amended order shall 
become effective only if the Secretary determines that the 
amended order is effective in accordance with section 12. 
"(e) 
CONTINUATION OF EXISTING ORDER IF AMENDED ORDER 
Is REJECTED.—If adoption of the amended order is not approved— 
"(1) the order issued under section 4 that is in effect on 
the date of enactment of this section shall continue in full 
force and effect; and 
"(2) the Secretary may amend the order to ensure the 
conformity of the order with this Act (as in effect on the 
day before the date of enactment of this section). 
"(f) EFFECT OF REJECTION ON SUBSEQUENT ORDERS.— 
"(1) IN GENERAL.—Subject to paragraph (2), if adoption 
of the amended order is not approved in the referendum 
required under subsection (d), the Secretary may issue £in 
amended order that implements some or all of the amendments 
made to this Act by section 605 of the Agricultural Research, 
Extension, and Education Reform Act of 1998, or makes other 
changes to an existing order, in accordance with the administra-
tive procedures specified in sections 5 and 6. 
"(2) APPROVAL.—^An amendment to an order that imple-
ments a provision that is subject to a referendum shall be 
approved in accordance with section 12 before becoming effec-
tive. 
"(g) EFFECT ON PERIODIC REFERENDA.—If the amended order 
becomes effective, any referendum otherwise required to be con-
ducted under section 13(c) shall not be held before the date that 
is 5 years after the date of the referendum conducted under this 
section.". 
SEC. 606. TECHNICAL CORRECTIONS. 
(a) SUPPLEMENTAL AND ALTERNATIVE CROPS RESEARCH.—Effec- 
Effective date, 
tive as of April 6, 1996, section 819(b)(5) of the Federal Agriculture 
7 USC 33l9d. 
Improvement and Reform Act of 1996 (PubHc Law 104-127; 110 
Stat. 1167) is amended by striking "paragraph (3)" and inserting 
"subsection (c)(3)". 
(b) JOINT COUNCIL ON FOOD AND AGRICULTURAL SCIENCES.— 
Section 1413(b) of the Nationsd Agricultural Research, Extension, 
and Teaching PoUcy Act of 1977 (7 U.S.C. 3128(b)) is amended 
by striking "Joint Council, the Advisory Board," and inserting 
"Advisory Board". 
(c) ADVISORY BOARD.— 
112 STAT. 604 
PUBLIC LAW 105-185—JUNE 23, 1998 
(1) SUPPORT FOR ADVISORY BOARD.—Section 1412 of the 
National Agricultural Research, Extension, eind Teaching Policy 
Act of 1977 (7 U.S.C. 3127) is amended— 
(A) in subsections (a) and (b), by striking "their duties" 
each place it appears and inserting "its duties"; and 
(B) in subsection (c), by striking "their recommenda-
tions" £ind inserting "its recommendations". 
(2) GENERAL PROVISIONS.—Section 1413(a) of the National 
Agricultural Research, Extension, and Teaching Policy Act of 
1977 (7 U.S.C. 3128(a)) is amended by striking "their powers" 
and inserting "its duties". 
(d) ANIMAL HEALTH AND DISEASE RESEARCH.—The National 
Agricultural Research, Extension, and Teaching Policy Act of 1977 
is amended— 
(1) in section 1430 (7 U.S.C. 3192)— 
(A) in paragraph (3), by adding "and" at the end; 
(B) by striking paragraph (4); and 
(C) by redesignating paragraph (5) as paragraph (4); 
(2) in section 1433(b)(3) (7 U.S.C. 3195(b)(3)), by striking 
"with the advice, when available, of the Board"; 
(3) m section 1434(c) (7 U.S.C. 3196(c))— 
(A) in the second sentence, by striking "and the Boeird"; 
and 
(B) in the fourth sentence, by striking ", the Advisory 
Board, and the Board" and inserting "and the Advisory 
Board"; and 
(4) in the first sentence of section 1437 (7 U.S.C. 3199), 
by striking "with the advice, when available, of the Board". 
(e) RANGELAND RESEARCH.—The second sentence of section 
1483(b) of the National Agricultural Research, Extension, and 
Teaching Policy Act of 1977 (7 U.S.C. 3336(b)) is amended by 
striking the last sentence. 
(f) PLANT AND ANIMAL PEST AND DISEASE CONTROL PROGRAM.— 
Section 1629(g) of the Food, Agriculture, Conservation, and Trade 
Act of 1990 (7 U.S.C. 5832(g)) is amended by striking "section 
1650,". 
Effective date. 
(g) GRANTS TO UPGRADE 1890 INSTITUTIONS EXTENSION FACILI-
TIES.—Effective as of April 6, 1996, section 873 of the Federal 
Agriculture Improvement and Reform Act of 1996 (Public Law 
7 use 3224. 
104-127; 110 Stat. 1175) is amended by striking "1981" and insert-
ing "1985". 
(h) COMPETITIVE AND SPECIAL GRANTS.—The Competitive, Spe-
cial, and Facilities Research Grant Act (7 U.S.C. 450i) is amended— 
(1) in subsection (b)(1), by striking "Joint Council on Food 
and Agricultural Sciences and the National Agricultural 
Research and Extension Users Advisory Board" and inserting 
"National Agricultural Research, Extension, Education, and 
Economics Advisory Board (as established under section 1408 
of the National Agricultural Research, Extension, and Teaching 
Policy Act of 1977 (7 U.S.C. 3123))"; and 
(2) by striking subsection (1). 
PUBLIC LAW 105-185-JUNE 23, 1998 
112 STAT. 605 
Subtitle B—^New Authorities 
SEC. 611. NUTRIENT COMPOSITION DATA. 
7USC7651. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—^The Secretary of A^culture shall update, 
on a periodic basis, nutrient composition data. 
(b) REPORT.—^Not later than 180 days after the date of enact- Deadline, 
ment of this Act, the Secretary shall submit to the Committee 
on Agriculture of the House of Representatives and the Committee 
on /^riculture. Nutrition, and Forestry of the Senate a report 
that describes— 
(1) the method the Secretary will use to update nutrient 
composition data, including the quality assurance criteria that 
will be used and the method for generating the data; and 
(2) the timing for updating the data. 
SEC. 612. NATIONAL SWINE RESEARCH CENTER. 
Subject to the availability of appropriations to carry out this 
section, or through a reprogramming of funds provided for swine 
research to carry out this section pursusint to established proce-
dures, during the period beginning on the date of enactment of 
this Act and ending December 31, 1998, the Secretary of Agri-
culture, acting through the Agricultural Research Service, may 
accept as a gift, and administer, the National Swine Research 
Center located in Ames, Iowa. 
SEC. 613. ROLE OF SECRETARY REGARDING FOOD AND AGRICUL- 
7 USC 7652. 
TURAL SCIENCES RESEARCH AND EXTENSION. 
The Secretary of Agriculture shall be the principal official in 
the executive branch responsible for coordinating all Federal 
research and extension activities related to food and agricultural 
sciences. 
SEC. 614. OFFICE OF PEST MANAGEMENT POLICY. 
7 USC 7653. 
(a) PURPOSE.—The purpose of this section is to establish an 
Office of Pest Management Policy to provide for the effective 
coordination of agricultural policies and activities within the Depart-
ment of Agriculture 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 agencies. 
(b) ESTABLISHMENT OF OFFICE; PRINCIPAL RESPONSIBILITIES.— 
The Secretary of Agriculture shall establish in the Department 
an Office of Pest Management Policy, which shall be responsible 
for— 
(1) the development and coordination of Department policy 
on pest management and pesticides; 
(2) the coordination of activities and services of the Depart-
ment, including research, extension, and education activities, 
regarding the development, availability, and use of economically 
and environmentally sound pest management tools and prac-
tices; 
(3) assisting other agencies of the Department in fulfilling 
their responsibilities related to pest management or pesticides 
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 Cosmetic Act (21 U.S.C. 301 et seq.), and other 
applicable laws; smd 
112 STAT. 606 
PUBLIC LAW 105-185^JUNE 23, 1998 
(4) performing such other functions as may be required 
by law or prescribed by the Secretary, 
(c) INTERAGENCY COORDINATION.—In support of its responsibil-
ities under subsection (b), the Office of Pest Management Policy 
shall provide leadership to ensure coordination of interagency activi-
ties with the Environmental Protection Agency, the Food and Drug 
Administration, and other Federal and State agencies. 
(d) OUTREACH.—The Office of Pest Management PoKcy shall 
consult with agricultural producers that may be affected by pest 
management or pesticide-related activities or actions of the Depart-
ment or other agencies as necessary in canying out the Office's 
responsibilities under this section. 
(e) DIRECTOR.—The Office of Pest Management Policy shall 
be xmder 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 are necessary to carry out this 
section for each of fiscal years 1999 through 2002. 
7 USE 7654. 
SEC. 615. FOOD 
SAFETY RESEARCH INFORMATION OFFICE 
AND' 
NATIONAL CONFERENCE. 
(a) FOOD SAFETY RESEARCH INFORMATION OFFICE.— 
(1) ESTABLISHMENT.—The Secretary of Agriculture shall 
establish a Food Safety Research Information Office at the 
National Agricultural Library. 
(2) PURPOSE.—^The Office shall provide to the research 
community and the general public information on publicly 
funded, and to the maximum extent practicable, privately 
fiinded food safety research initiatives for the purpose of— 
(A) preventing unintended dupUcation of food safety 
research; and 
(B) assisting the executive and legislative branches 
of the Federal Government and private research entities 
to assess food safety research needs and priorities. 
(3) COOPERATION.—The Office shall carry out this sub-
section in cooperation with the National Institutes of Health, 
the Food and Drug Administration, the Centers for Disease 
Control and Prevention, public institutions, and, on a volimtary 
basis, private research entities. 
Deadline. 
(b) NATIONAL CONFERENCE; ANNUAL WORKSHOPS.—Not later 
than 120 days after the date of enactment of this Act, the Secretary 
shall sponsor a conference to be known as the "National Conference 
on Food Safety Research", for the purpose of beginning the task 
of prioritization of food safety research. The Secretary shall sponsor 
Euinual workshops in each of the subsequent 4 years after the 
conference 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 recommendations to ensure that the food safety 
inspection system, within the resources traditionally available to 
existing food safety agencies, protects the public health. 
7 use 7655. 
SEC. 616. SAFE FOOD HANDLING EDUCATION. 
The Secretary of Agriculture shall continue to develop a 
national program of safe food handling education for adults and 
PUBLIC LAW 105-185^JUNE 23, 1998 
112 STAT. 607 
young people to reduce the risk of foodrbome illness. The national 
program shsdl be suitable for adoption and implementation through 
State cooperative extension services and school-based education 
programs. 
SEC. 617. REBIBURSEMENT 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 Associa-
tion for expenses incurred by the American Sheep Industry Associa-
tion 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. 618. DESIGNATION OF CRISIS MANAGEMENT TEAM WITHIN 7USC7656. 
DEPARTMENT. 
(a) DESIGNATION OF CRISIS MANAGEMENT TEAM.—The Secretary 
of Agriculture shall designate a Crisis Management Team within 
the Department of Agriculture, which shall be— 
(1) composed of senior departmental personnel with strong 
subject matter expertise selected from each relevant agency 
of tne Department; and 
(2) headed by a team leader with management and commu-
nications skills. 
(b) DUTIES OF CRISIS MANAGEMENT TEAM.—The Crisis Manage-
ment Team shall be responsible for the following: 
(1) Developing a Department-wide crisis management plan, 
taking into account similar plans developed by other govern-
ment agencies and other large organizations, and developing 
written procedures for the implementation of the crisis manage-
ment plan. 
(2) Conducting periodic reviews and revisions of the crisis 
management plan and procediires developed under paragraph 
(1). 
(3) Ensuring compUance with crisis management proce-
dures by personnel of the Department and ensuring that appro-
priate Department personnel are familiar with the crisis 
management plan and procedures and are encouraged to bring 
information regarding crises or potential crises to the attention 
of members of the Crisis Management Team. 
(4) Coordinating the Department's information gathering 
and dissemination activities concerning issues managed by the 
Crisis Management Team. 
(5) Ensuring that Department spokespersons convey 
accurate, timely, Euid scientifically so\md information regarding 
crises or potential crises that can be easily understood by 
the general public. 
(6) Cooperating with, and coordinating among, other Fed-
eral agencies. States, local governments, industry, and public 
interest groups. Department activities regarding a crisis. 
(c) ROLE IN PRIORITIZING CERTAIN RESEARCH.—The Crisis 
Management Team shall cooperate with the Advisory Board in 
the prioritization of agricultural research conducted or funded by 
the Department regarding sinimal health, natural disasters, food 
safety, and other agricultursd issues. 
(d) COOPERATIVE AGREEMENTS.—The Secretary shall seek to 
enter into cooperative agreements with other Federal departments 
112 STAT. 608 
PUBLIC LAW 1 0 5 - 1 8 5 - ^ U N E 23, 1998 
and agencies that have related programs or activities to help ensure 
consistent, accurate, and coordinated dissemination of information 
throughout the executive branch in the event of a crisis, such 
as, in the case of a threat to human health from food-borne patho-
gens, developing a rapid and coordinated response among the 
Department, the Centers for Disease Control, and the Food and 
Drug Administration. 
SEC. 619. DESIGNATION OF KIKA DE LA GARZA SUBTROPICAL AGRI-
CULTURAL RESEARCH CENTER, 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 "Subtropical Agricultural Research Cen-
ter", shall be known and designated as the "Kika de la Garza 
Subtropical Agricultural Research Center". 
(b) REFERENCES.—^Any reference in a law, map, regulation, 
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". 
Subtitle C—Studies 
7 use 7671. 
SEC. 631. EVALUATION 
AND 
ASSESSMENT 
OF 
AGRICULTURAL 
RESEARCH, EXTENSION, AND EDUCATION PROGRAMS. 
(a) EVALUATION.—The Secretary of Agriculture shall conduct 
a performance evaluation to determine whether federally funded 
agricultural research, extension, and education programs result 
in public goods that have national or multistate significance. 
(b) CONTRACT.—The Secretary shall enter into a contract with 
1 or more entities with expertise in research assessment and 
performance evaluation to provide input and recommendations to 
the Secretary with respect to federally funded agricultural research, 
extension, and education programs. 
(c) GUIDELINES FOR PERFORMANCE MEASUREMENT.—The con-
tractor selected under subsection (b) shall develop and propose 
to the Secretary practical guidelines for measuring performance 
of federally funded agricultural research, extension, and education 
programs. The guidelines shall be consistent with the Government 
Performance and Results Act of 1993 (PubHc Law 103-62) and 
amendments made by that Act. 
7 use 7672. 
SEC. 632. STUDY OF FEDERALLY FUNDED AGRICULTURAL RESEARCH, 
EXTENSION, AND EDUCATION. 
Deadline. 
(a) STUDY.—^Not later than January 1, 1999, the Secretary 
of Agriculture shall request the National Academy of Sciences to 
conduct a study of the role and mission of federally funded agricul-
tural research, extension, and education. 
<-.-»;* '•!t*-l3^ 
'S-.J^N ' 
••*>-<t-M.'> 
PUBLIC LAW 105-185-JUNE 23, 1998 
112 STAT. 609 
(b) REQUIREMENTS.—The study shall—-
(1) evaluate the strength of science conducted by the Agri-
cultural Research Service and the relevance of the science 
to national priorities; 
(2) examine how the work of the Agricultural Research 
Service relates to the capacity of the agricultural research, 
extension, and education system of the United States; 
(3) examine the appropriateness of the formulas for the 
allocation of funds under the Smith-Lever Act (7 U.S.C. 341 
et seq.) and the Hatch Act of 1887 (7 U.S.C. 361a et seq.) 
with respect to current conditions of the agricultural economy 
and other factors of the various regions and States of the 
United States and develop recommendations to revise the for-
mulas to more accurately reflect the current conditions; and 
(4) examine the system of competitive grants for agricul-
tural research, extension, and education. 
(c) REPORTS.—The Secretary shall prepare and submit to the Deadlines. 
Committee on Agriculture of the House of Representatives and 
the Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry of the Sen-
ate— 
(1) not later than 18 months after the commencement 
of the study, a report that describes the results of the study 
as it relates to paragraphs (1) and (2) of subsection (b), includ-
ing any appropriate recommendations; and 
(2) not later than 3 years after the commencement of 
the study, a report that describes the results of the study 
as it relates to paragraphs (3) and (4) of subsection (b), includ-
ing the recommendations developed under paragraph (3) of 
subsection (b) and other appropriate recommendations. 
Subtitle D—Senses of Congress 
SEC. 641. SENSE 
OF 
CONGRESS 
REGARDING 
AGRICULTURAL 
RESEARCH SERVICE EMPHASIS ON FIELD RESEARCH 
REGARDING METHYL BROMIDE 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 bro-
mide, the Secretary of Agriculture should use a substantial portion 
of the funds for research to be conducted in real field conditions, 
especially pre-planting and post-harvest conditions, so as to expedite 
the development and commercial use of methyl bromide alter-
natives. 
112 STAT. 610 
PUBLIC LAW 105-185-^JUNE 23, 1998 
SEC. 642. SENSE 
OF 
CONGRESS 
REGARDING 
IMPORTANCE 
OF 
SCHOOL-BASED AGRICULTURAL EDUCATION. 
It is the sense of Congress that the Secretary of Agriculture 
and the Secretary of Education should collaborate and cooperate 
in providing both instructional £ind technical support for school-
based agricultural education. 
Approved June 23, 1998. 
LEGISLATIVE HISTORY—S. 1150 (H.R. 2534): 
HOUSE REPORTS: Nos. 105-376 accompanying H.R. 2534 (Comm. on Agriculture) 
and 105-492 (Comm. of Conference). 
SENATE REPORTS: No. 105-73 (Comm. on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry). 
CONGRESSIONAL RECORD: 
Vol. 143 (1997): Oct. 29, considered and passed Senate. 
Vol. 144 (1998): Feb. 24, considered and passed House, amended, pursuant to -
H. Res. 365. 
May 12, Senate agreed to conference report. 
June 4, House agreed to conference report. 
WEEKLY COMPILATION OF PRESIDENTIAL DOCUMENTS, Vol. 34 (1998): 
June 23, Presidential remarks and statement.