HR 3161
See H.R.
2764, Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2008
Calendar No. 331
110th CONGRESS
1st Session
H. R. 3161
IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES
August 3, 2007
Received; read twice and placed on the calendar
AN ACT
Making appropriations for Agriculture, Rural Development, Food
and Drug Administration, and Related Agencies programs for the fiscal year
ending September 30, 2008, and for other purposes.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United
States of America in Congress assembled,
That the following sums are appropriated, out of any money in the Treasury
not otherwise appropriated, for Agriculture, Rural Development, Food and
Drug Administration, and Related Agencies programs for the fiscal year ending
September 30, 2008, and for other purposes, namely:
TITLE I
AGRICULTURAL PROGRAMS
Production, Processing and Marketing
Office of the Secretary
For necessary expenses of the Office of the Secretary of Agriculture, $5,505,000
(reduced by $100,100): Provided, That not to exceed $11,000 of
this amount shall be available for official reception and representation
expenses, not otherwise provided for, as determined by the Secretary.
Executive Operations
CHIEF ECONOMIST
For necessary expenses of the Chief Economist, including economic analysis,
risk assessment, cost-benefit analysis, energy and new uses, and the functions
of the World Agricultural Outlook Board, as authorized by the Agricultural
Marketing Act of 1946 (7 U.S.C. 1622g), $10,847,000.
NATIONAL APPEALS DIVISION
For necessary expenses of the National Appeals Division, $15,056,000.
OFFICE OF BUDGET AND PROGRAM ANALYSIS
For necessary expenses of the Office of Budget and Program Analysis, $8,622,000.
HOMELAND SECURITY STAFF
For necessary expenses of the Homeland Security Staff, $2,252,000.
Office of the Chief Information Officer
For necessary expenses of the Office of the Chief Information Officer, $16,723,000.
Office of the Chief Financial Officer
For necessary expenses of the Office of the Chief Financial Officer, $6,076,000:
Provided, That no funds made available by this appropriation may
be obligated for FAIR Act or Circular A-76 activities until the Secretary
has submitted to the Committees on Appropriations of both Houses of Congress
and the Committee on Oversight and Government Reform of the House of Representatives
a report on the Department's contracting out policies, including agency
budgets for contracting out.
Office of the Assistant Secretary for Civil Rights
For necessary salaries and expenses of the Office of the Assistant Secretary
for Civil Rights, $897,000.
Office of Civil Rights
For necessary expenses of the Office of Civil Rights, $23,147,000.
Office of the Assistant Secretary for Administration
For necessary salaries and expenses of the Office of the Assistant Secretary
for Administration, $709,000.
Agriculture Buildings and Facilities and Rental Payments
(INCLUDING TRANSFERS OF FUNDS)
For payment of space rental and related costs pursuant to Public Law 92-313,
including authorities pursuant to the 1984 delegation of authority from
the Administrator of General Services to the Department of Agriculture under
40 U.S.C. 486, for programs and activities of the Department which are included
in this Act, and for alterations and other actions needed for the Department
and its agencies to consolidate unneeded space into configurations suitable
for release to the Administrator of General Services, and for the operation,
maintenance, improvement, and repair of Agriculture buildings and facilities,
and for related costs, $196,616,000, to remain available until expended,
of which $156,590,000 shall be for payments to the General Services Administration
for rent and the Department of Homeland Security for building security:
Provided, That amounts which are made available for space rental
and related costs for the Department of Agriculture in this Act may be transferred
between such appropriations to cover the costs of additional, new, or replacement
space 15 days after notice thereof is transmitted to the Appropriations
Committees of both Houses of Congress.
Hazardous Materials Management
(INCLUDING TRANSFERS OF FUNDS)
For necessary expenses of the Department of Agriculture, to comply with
the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act
(42 U.S.C. 9601 et seq.) and the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act
(42 U.S.C. 6901 et seq.), $12,200,000, to remain available until expended:
Provided, That appropriations and funds available herein to the
Department for Hazardous Materials Management may be transferred to any
agency of the Department for its use in meeting all requirements pursuant
to the above Acts on Federal and non-Federal lands.
Departmental Administration
(INCLUDING TRANSFERS OF FUNDS)
For Departmental Administration, $23,913,000, to provide for necessary expenses
for management support services to offices of the Department and for general
administration, security, repairs and alterations, and other miscellaneous
supplies and expenses not otherwise provided for and necessary for the practical
and efficient work of the Department: Provided, That this appropriation
shall be reimbursed from applicable appropriations in this Act for travel
expenses incident to the holding of hearings as required by 5 U.S.C. 551-558.
Office of the Assistant Secretary for Congressional Relations
(INCLUDING TRANSFERS OF FUNDS)
For necessary salaries and expenses of the Office of the Assistant Secretary
for Congressional Relations to carry out the programs funded by this Act,
including programs involving intergovernmental affairs and liaison within
the executive branch, $3,936,000: Provided, That these funds may
be transferred to agencies of the Department of Agriculture funded by this
Act to maintain personnel at the agency level: Provided further,
That no funds made available by this appropriation may be obligated after
30 days from the date of enactment of this Act, unless the Secretary has
notified the Committees on Appropriations of both Houses of Congress on
the allocation of these funds by USDA agency: Provided further,
That no other funds appropriated to the Department by this Act shall be
available to the Department for support of activities of congressional relations.
Office of Communications
For necessary expenses to carry out services relating to the coordination
of programs involving public affairs, for the dissemination of agricultural
information, and the coordination of information, work, and programs authorized
by Congress in the Department, $9,720,000.
Office of Inspector General
For necessary expenses of the Office of the Inspector General, including
employment pursuant to the Inspector General Act of 1978, $85,998,000, including
such sums as may be necessary for contracting and other arrangements with
public agencies and private persons pursuant to section 6(a)(9) of the Inspector
General Act of 1978, and including not to exceed $125,000 for certain confidential
operational expenses, including the payment of informants, to be expended
under the direction of the Inspector General pursuant to Public Law 95-452
and section 1337 of Public Law 97-98.
Office of the General Counsel
For necessary expenses of the Office of the General Counsel, $40,964,000.
Office of the Under Secretary for Research, Education and Economics
For necessary salaries and expenses of the Office of the Under Secretary
for Research, Education and Economics to administer the laws enacted by
the Congress for the Economic Research Service, the National Agricultural
Statistics Service, the Agricultural Research Service, and the Cooperative
State Research, Education, and Extension Service, $626,000.
Economic Research Service
For necessary expenses of the Economic Research Service in conducting economic
research and analysis, $79,282,000.
National Agricultural Statistics Service
For necessary expenses of the National Agricultural Statistics Service in
conducting statistical reporting and service work, $166,099,000, of which
up to $52,725,000 shall be available until expended for the Census of Agriculture.
Agricultural Research Service
SALARIES AND EXPENSES
For necessary expenses to enable the Agricultural Research Service to perform
agricultural research and demonstration relating to production, utilization,
marketing, and distribution (not otherwise provided for); home economics
or nutrition and consumer use including the acquisition, preservation, and
dissemination of agricultural information; and for acquisition of lands
by donation, exchange, or purchase at a nominal cost not to exceed $100,
and for land exchanges where the lands exchanged shall be of equal value
or shall be equalized by a payment of money to the grantor which shall not
exceed 25 percent of the total value of the land or interests transferred
out of Federal ownership, $1,076,340,000: Provided, That appropriations
hereunder shall be available for the operation and maintenance of aircraft
and the purchase of not to exceed one for replacement only: Provided
further, That appropriations hereunder shall be available pursuant
to 7 U.S.C. 2250 for the construction, alteration, and repair of buildings
and improvements, but unless otherwise provided, the cost of constructing
any one building shall not exceed $375,000, except for headhouses or greenhouses
which shall each be limited to $1,200,000, and except for 10 buildings to
be constructed or improved at a cost not to exceed $750,000 each, and the
cost of altering any one building during the fiscal year shall not exceed
10 percent of the current replacement value of the building or $375,000,
whichever is greater: Provided further, That the limitations on
alterations contained in this Act shall not apply to modernization or replacement
of existing facilities at Beltsville, Maryland: Provided further,
That appropriations hereunder shall be available for granting easements
at the Beltsville Agricultural Research Center: Provided further,
That the foregoing limitations shall not apply to replacement of buildings
needed to carry out the Act of April 24, 1948 (21 U.S.C. 113a): Provided
further, That funds may be received from any State, other political
subdivision, organization, or individual for the purpose of establishing
or operating any research facility or research project of the Agricultural
Research Service, as authorized by law: Provided further, That
none of the funds appropriated under this heading shall be available to
carry out research related to the production, processing, or marketing of
tobacco or tobacco products.
BUILDINGS AND FACILITIES
For acquisition of land, construction, repair, improvement, extension, alteration,
and purchase of fixed equipment or facilities as necessary to carry out
the agricultural research programs of the Department of Agriculture, where
not otherwise provided, $64,000,000, to remain available until expended.
Cooperative State Research, Education, and Extension Service
RESEARCH AND EDUCATION ACTIVITIES
For payments to agricultural experiment stations, for cooperative forestry
and other research, for facilities, and for other expenses, $671,419,000,
as follows: to carry out the provisions of the Hatch Act of 1887 (7 U.S.C.
361a-i), $195,817,000; for grants for cooperative forestry research (16
U.S.C. 582a through a-7), $23,318,000; for payments to eligible institutions
(7 U.S.C. 3222), $42,000,000, of which $944,737 shall be made available
only for the purpose of ensuring that each institution shall receive no
less than $1,000,000; for special grants for agricultural research (7 U.S.C.
450i(c)), $94,242,000; for competitive grants for agricultural research
on improved pest control (7 U.S.C. 450i(c)), $15,973,000; for competitive
research grants (7 U.S.C. 450i(b)), $190,229,000; for the support of animal
health and disease programs (7 U.S.C. 3195), $5,006,000; for the 1994 research
grants program for 1994 institutions pursuant to section 536 of Public Law
103-382 (7 U.S.C. 301 note), $1,544,000, to remain available until expended;
for higher education graduate fellowship grants (7 U.S.C. 3152(b)(6)), $3,701,000,
to remain available until expended (7 U.S.C. 2209b); for a veterinary medicine
loan repayment program pursuant to section 1415A of the National Agricultural
Research, Extension, and Teaching Policy Act of 1977 (7 U.S.C. 3101 et seq.),
$1,000,000; for higher education challenge grants (7 U.S.C. 3152(b)(1)),
$5,423,000; for a higher education multicultural scholars program (7 U.S.C.
3152(b)(5)), $988,000, to remain available until expended (7 U.S.C. 2209b);
for an education grants program for Hispanic-serving Institutions (7 U.S.C.
3241), $6,237,000; for competitive grants for the purpose of carrying out
all provisions of 7 U.S.C. 3242 (section 759 of Public Law 106-78) to individual
eligible institutions or consortia of eligible institutions in Alaska and
in Hawaii, with funds awarded equally to each of the States of Alaska and
Hawaii, $3,218,000; for a secondary agriculture education program and 2-year
post-secondary education (7 U.S.C. 3152(j)), $990,000; for aquaculture grants
(7 U.S.C. 3322), $3,956,000; for sustainable agriculture research and education
(7 U.S.C. 5811), $14,000,000; for a program of capacity building grants
(7 U.S.C. 3152(b)(4)) to institutions eligible to receive funds under 7
U.S.C. 3221 and 3222, $15,000,000, to remain available until expended (7
U.S.C. 2209b); for payments to the 1994 Institutions pursuant to section
534(a)(1) of Public Law 103-382, $3,342,000; for resident instruction grants
for insular areas under section 1491 of the National Agricultural Research,
Extension, and Teaching Policy Act of 1977 (7 U.S.C. 3363), $1,000,000;
and for necessary expenses of Research and Education Activities, $44,435,000,
of which $2,723,000 for the Research, Education, and Economics Information
System and $2,151,000 for the Electronic Grants Information System, are
to remain available until expended: Provided, That none of the
funds appropriated under this heading shall be available to carry out research
related to the production, processing, or marketing of tobacco or tobacco
products: Provided further, That this paragraph shall not apply
to research on the medical, biotechnological, food, and industrial uses
of tobacco.
NATIVE AMERICAN INSTITUTIONS ENDOWMENT FUND
For the Native American Institutions Endowment Fund authorized by Public
Law 103-382 (7 U.S.C. 301 note), $11,880,000, to remain available until
expended.
EXTENSION ACTIVITIES
For payments to States, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, Guam, the
Virgin Islands, Micronesia, Northern Marianas, and American Samoa, $463,886,000,
as follows: payments for cooperative extension work under the Smith-Lever
Act, to be distributed under sections 3(b) and 3(c) of said Act, and under
section 208(c) of Public Law 93-471, for retirement and employees' compensation
costs for extension agents, $281,429,000; payments for extension work at
the 1994 Institutions under the Smith-Lever Act (7 U.S.C. 343(b)(3)), $3,321,000;
payments for the nutrition and family education program for low-income areas
under section 3(d) of the Act, $68,500,000; payments for the pest management
program under section 3(d) of the Act, $9,860,000; payments for the farm
safety program under section 3(d) of the Act, $5,000,000; payments for New
Technologies for Ag Extension under Section 3(d) of the Act, $1,485,000;
payments to upgrade research, extension, and teaching facilities at institutions
eligible to receive funds under 7 U.S.C. 3221 and 3222, $18,000,000, to
remain available until expended; payments for youth-at-risk programs under
section 3(d) of the Smith-Lever Act, $8,396,000; for youth farm safety education
and certification extension grants, to be awarded competitively under section
3(d) of the Act, $494,000; payments for carrying out the provisions of the
Renewable Resources Extension Act of 1978 (16 U.S.C. 1671 et seq.), $4,052,000;
payments for the federally-recognized Tribes Extension Program under section
3(d) of the Smith-Lever Act, $3,000,000; payments for sustainable agriculture
programs under section 3(d) of the Act, $4,200,000; payments for cooperative
extension work by eligible institutions (7 U.S.C. 3221), $37,000,000, of
which $1,113,333 shall be made available only for the purpose of ensuring
that each institution shall receive no less than $1,000,000; for grants
to youth organizations pursuant to section 7630 of title 7, United States
Code, $1,980,000; and for necessary expenses of Extension Activities, $17,169,000.
INTEGRATED ACTIVITIES
For the integrated research, education, and extension grants programs, including
necessary administrative expenses, $57,244,000, as follows: for competitive
grants programs authorized under section 406 of the Agricultural Research,
Extension, and Education Reform Act of 1998 (7 U.S.C. 7626), $42,286,000,
including $12,738,000 for the water quality program, $14,699,000 for the
food safety program, $4,125,000 for the regional pest management centers
program, $4,419,000 for the Food Quality Protection Act risk mitigation
program for major food crop systems, $1,375,000 for the crops affected by
Food Quality Protection Act implementation, $3,075,000 for the methyl bromide
transition program, and $1,855,000 for the organic transition program; for
a competitive international science and education grants program authorized
under section 1459A of the National Agricultural Research, Extension, and
Teaching Policy Act of 1977 (7 U.S.C. 3292b), to remain available until
expended, $3,000,000; for grants programs authorized under section 2(c)(1)(B)
of Public Law 89-106, as amended, $737,000, to remain available until September
30, 2009, for the critical issues program; $1,321,000 for the regional rural
development centers program; and $9,900,000 for the Food and Agriculture
Defense Initiative authorized under section 1484 of the National Agricultural
Research, Extension, and Teaching Act of 1977, to remain available until
September 30, 2009.
OUTREACH FOR SOCIALLY DISADVANTAGED FARMERS
For grants and contracts pursuant to section 2501 of the Food, Agriculture,
Conservation, and Trade Act of 1990 (7 U.S.C. 2279), $6,930,000, to remain
available until expended.
Office of the Under Secretary for Marketing and Regulatory Programs
For necessary salaries and expenses of the Office of the Under Secretary
for Marketing and Regulatory Programs to administer programs under the laws
enacted by the Congress for the Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service;
the Agricultural Marketing Service; and the Grain Inspection, Packers and
Stockyards Administration; $759,000.
Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service
SALARIES AND EXPENSES
(INCLUDING TRANSFERS OF FUNDS)
For expenses, not otherwise provided for, necessary to prevent, control,
and eradicate pests and plant and animal diseases; to carry out inspection,
quarantine, and regulatory activities; and to protect the environment, as
authorized by law, $874,643,000, of which $4,113,000 shall be available
for the control of outbreaks of insects, plant diseases, animal diseases
and for control of pest animals and birds to the extent necessary to meet
emergency conditions; of which $36,269,000 shall be used for the cotton
pests program for cost share purposes or for debt retirement for active
eradication zones; of which $57,044,000 shall be used to conduct a surveillance
and preparedness program for highly pathogenic avian influenza: Provided,
That no funds shall be used to formulate or administer a brucellosis eradication
program for the current fiscal year that does not require minimum matching
by the States of at least 40 percent: Provided further, That this
appropriation shall be available for the operation and maintenance of aircraft
and the purchase of not to exceed four, of which two shall be for replacement
only: Provided further, That, in addition, in emergencies which
threaten any segment of the agricultural production industry of this country,
the Secretary may transfer from other appropriations or funds available
to the agencies or corporations of the Department such sums as may be deemed
necessary, to be available only in such emergencies for the arrest and eradication
of contagious or infectious disease or pests of animals, poultry, or plants,
and for expenses in accordance with sections 10411 and 10417 of the Animal
Health Protection Act (7 U.S.C. 8310 and 8316) and sections 431 and 442
of the Plant Protection Act (7 U.S.C. 7751 and 7772), and any unexpended
balances of funds transferred for such emergency purposes in the preceding
fiscal year shall be merged with such transferred amounts: Provided
further, That appropriations hereunder shall be available pursuant
to law (7 U.S.C. 2250) for the repair and alteration of leased buildings
and improvements, but unless otherwise provided the cost of altering any
one building during the fiscal year shall not exceed 10 percent of the current
replacement value of the building.
In fiscal year 2008, the agency is authorized to collect fees to cover the
total costs of providing technical assistance, goods, or services requested
by States, other political subdivisions, domestic and international organizations,
foreign governments, or individuals, provided that such fees are structured
such that any entity's liability for such fees is reasonably based on the
technical assistance, goods, or services provided to the entity by the agency,
and such fees shall be credited to this account, to remain available until
expended, without further appropriation, for providing such assistance,
goods, or services.
BUILDINGS AND FACILITIES
For plans, construction, repair, preventive maintenance, environmental support,
improvement, extension, alteration, and purchase of fixed equipment or facilities,
as authorized by 7 U.S.C. 2250, and acquisition of land as authorized by
7 U.S.C. 428a, $4,946,000, to remain available until expended.
Agricultural Marketing Service
MARKETING SERVICES
For necessary expenses to carry out services related to consumer protection,
agricultural marketing and distribution, transportation, and regulatory
programs, as authorized by law, and for administration and coordination
of payments to States, $79,945,000, including funds for the wholesale market
development program for the design and development of wholesale and farmer
market facilities for the major metropolitan areas of the country: Provided,
That this appropriation shall be available pursuant to law (7 U.S.C. 2250)
for the alteration and repair of buildings and improvements, but the cost
of altering any one building during the fiscal year shall not exceed 10
percent of the current replacement value of the building.
Fees may be collected for the cost of standardization activities, as established
by regulation pursuant to law (31 U.S.C. 9701).
LIMITATION ON ADMINISTRATIVE EXPENSES
Not to exceed $61,233,000 (from fees collected) shall be obligated during
the current fiscal year for administrative expenses: Provided,
That if crop size is understated and/or other uncontrollable events occur,
the agency may exceed this limitation by up to 10 percent with notification
to the Committees on Appropriations of both Houses of Congress.
FUNDS FOR STRENGTHENING MARKETS, INCOME, AND SUPPLY (SECTION 32)
(INCLUDING TRANSFERS OF FUNDS)
Funds available under section 32 of the Act of August 24, 1935 (7 U.S.C.
612c), shall be used only for commodity program expenses as authorized therein,
and other related operating expenses, including not less than $20,000,000
for replacement of a system to support commodity purchases, except for:
(1) transfers to the Department of Commerce as authorized by the Fish and
Wildlife Act of August 8, 1956; (2) transfers otherwise provided in this
Act; and (3) not more than $16,798,000 for formulation and administration
of marketing agreements and orders pursuant to the Agricultural Marketing
Agreement Act of 1937 and the Agricultural Act of 1961.
PAYMENTS TO STATES AND POSSESSIONS
For payments to departments of agriculture, bureaus and departments of markets,
and similar agencies for marketing activities under section 204(b) of the
Agricultural Marketing Act of 1946 (7 U.S.C. 1623(b)), $1,334,000.
Grain Inspection, Packers and Stockyards Administration
SALARIES AND EXPENSES
For necessary expenses to carry out the provisions of the United States
Grain Standards Act, for the administration of the Packers and Stockyards
Act, for certifying procedures used to protect purchasers of farm products,
and the standardization activities related to grain under the Agricultural
Marketing Act of 1946, $41,115,000: Provided, That this appropriation
shall be available pursuant to law (7 U.S.C. 2250) for the alteration and
repair of buildings and improvements, but the cost of altering any one building
during the fiscal year shall not exceed 10 percent of the current replacement
value of the building.
LIMITATION ON INSPECTION AND WEIGHING SERVICES EXPENSES
Not to exceed $42,463,000 (from fees collected) shall be obligated during
the current fiscal year for inspection and weighing services: Provided,
That if grain export activities require additional supervision and oversight,
or other uncontrollable factors occur, this limitation may be exceeded by
up to 10 percent with notification to the Committees on Appropriations of
both Houses of Congress.
Office of the Under Secretary for Food Safety
For necessary salaries and expenses of the Office of the Under Secretary
for Food Safety to administer the laws enacted by the Congress for the Food
Safety and Inspection Service, $632,000.
Food Safety and Inspection Service
For necessary expenses to carry out services authorized by the Federal Meat
Inspection Act, the Poultry Products Inspection Act, and the Egg Products
Inspection Act, including not to exceed $50,000 for representation allowances
and for expenses pursuant to section 8 of the Act approved August 3, 1956
(7 U.S.C. 1766), $930,120,000, of which no less than $830,057,000 shall
be available for Federal food safety inspection; and in addition, $1,000,000
may be credited to this account from fees collected for the cost of laboratory
accreditation as authorized by section 1327 of the Food, Agriculture, Conservation
and Trade Act of 1990 (7 U.S.C. 138f): Provided, That of the total
amount made available under this heading, no less than $20,653,000 shall
be obligated for regulatory and scientific training: Provided further,
That this appropriation shall be available pursuant to law (7 U.S.C. 2250)
for the alteration and repair of buildings and improvements, but the cost
of altering any one building during the fiscal year shall not exceed 10
percent of the current replacement value of the building.
Farm Assistance Programs
Office of the Under Secretary for Farm and Foreign Agricultural Services
For necessary salaries and expenses of the Office of the Under Secretary
for Farm and Foreign Agricultural Services to administer the laws enacted
by Congress for the Farm Service Agency, the Foreign Agricultural Service,
the Risk Management Agency, and the Commodity Credit Corporation, $666,000.
Farm Service Agency
SALARIES AND EXPENSES
(INCLUDING TRANSFERS OF FUNDS)
For necessary expenses for carrying out the administration and implementation
of programs administered by the Farm Service Agency, $1,127,409,000: Provided,
That the Secretary is authorized to use the services, facilities, and authorities
(but not the funds) of the Commodity Credit Corporation to make program
payments for all programs administered by the Agency: Provided further,
That other funds made available to the Agency for authorized activities
may be advanced to and merged with this account: Provided further, That
none of the funds made available by this Act may be used to pay the salary
or expenses of any officer or employee of the Department of Agriculture
to close or relocate any county or field office of the Farm Service Agency
(other than a county or field office that had zero employees as of February
7, 2007), or to develop, submit, consider, or approve any plan for any such
closure or relocation before the expiration of the six month period following
the date of the enactment of an omnibus authorization law to provide for
the continuation of agricultural programs for fiscal years after 2007: Provided
further, That after the expiration of the six month period following
the date of the enactment of an omnibus authorization law to provide for
the continuation of agricultural programs for fiscal years after 2007 none
of the funds made available by this Act may be used to pay the salaries
or expenses of any officer or employee of the Department of Agriculture
to close any local or county office of the Farm Service Agency unless the
Secretary of Agriculture, not later than 30 days after the date on which
the Secretary proposed the closure, holds a public meeting about the proposed
closure in the county in which the local or county office is located, and,
after the public meeting but not later than 120 days before the date on
which the Secretary approves the closure, notifies the Committee on Agriculture
and the Committee on Appropriations of the House of Representatives and
the Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry and the Committee
on Appropriations of the Senate, and the members of Congress from the State
in which the local or county office is located of the proposed closure.
STATE MEDIATION GRANTS
For grants pursuant to section 502(b) of the Agricultural Credit Act of
1987, as amended (7 U.S.C. 5101-5106), $4,000,000.
GRASSROOTS SOURCE WATER PROTECTION PROGRAM
For necessary expenses to carry out wellhead or groundwater protection activities
under section 1240O of the Food Security Act of 1985 (16 U.S.C. 3839bb-2),
$3,713,000, to remain available until expended.
DAIRY INDEMNITY PROGRAM
(INCLUDING TRANSFER OF FUNDS)
For necessary expenses involved in making indemnity payments to dairy farmers
and manufacturers of dairy products under a dairy indemnity program, $100,000,
to remain available until expended: Provided, That such program
is carried out by the Secretary in the same manner as the dairy indemnity
program described in the Agriculture, Rural Development, Food and Drug Administration,
and Related Agencies Appropriations Act, 2001 (Public Law 106-387, 114 Stat.
1549A-12).
AGRICULTURAL CREDIT INSURANCE FUND PROGRAM ACCOUNT
(INCLUDING TRANSFERS OF FUNDS)
For gross obligations for the principal amount of direct and guaranteed
farm ownership (7 U.S.C. 1922 et seq.) and operating (7 U.S.C. 1941 et seq.)
loans, Indian tribe land acquisition loans (25 U.S.C. 488), and boll weevil
loans (7 U.S.C. 1989), to be available from funds in the Agricultural Credit
Insurance Fund, as follows: farm ownership loans, $1,423,857,000, of which
$1,200,000,000 shall be for unsubsidized guaranteed loans and $223,857,000
shall be for direct loans; operating loans, $1,879,595,000, of which $1,000,000,000
shall be for unsubsidized guaranteed loans, $250,000,000 shall be for subsidized
guaranteed loans and $629,595,000 shall be for direct loans; Indian tribe
land acquisition loans, $3,960,000; and for boll weevil eradication program
loans, $100,000,000: Provided, That the Secretary shall deem the
pink bollworm to be a boll weevil for the purpose of boll weevil eradication
program loans.
For the cost of direct and guaranteed loans, including the cost of modifying
loans as defined in section 502 of the Congressional Budget Act of 1974,
as follows: farm ownership loans, $14,762,000, of which $4,800,000 shall
be for unsubsidized guaranteed loans, and $9,962,000 shall be for direct
loans; operating loans, $137,446,000, of which $24,200,000 shall be for
unsubsidized guaranteed loans, $33,350,000 shall be for subsidized guaranteed
loans, and $79,896,000 shall be for direct loans; and Indian tribe land
acquisition loans, $125,000.
In addition, for administrative expenses necessary to carry out the direct
and guaranteed loan programs, $318,150,000, of which $310,230,000 shall
be transferred to and merged with the appropriation for `Farm Service Agency,
Salaries and Expenses'.
Funds appropriated by this Act to the Agricultural Credit Insurance Program
Account for farm ownership and operating direct loans and guaranteed loans
may be transferred among these programs: Provided, That the Committees
on Appropriations of both Houses of Congress are notified at least 15 days
in advance of any transfer.
Risk Management Agency
For administrative and operating expenses, as authorized by section 226A
of the Department of Agriculture Reorganization Act of 1994 (7 U.S.C. 6933),
$78,833,000: Provided, That not to exceed $1,000 shall be available
for official reception and representation expenses, as authorized by 7 U.S.C.
1506(i).
CORPORATIONS
The following corporations and agencies are hereby authorized to make expenditures,
within the limits of funds and borrowing authority available to each such
corporation or agency and in accord with law, and to make contracts and
commitments without regard to fiscal year limitations as provided by section
104 of the Government Corporation Control Act as may be necessary in carrying
out the programs set forth in the budget for the current fiscal year for
such corporation or agency, except as hereinafter provided.
Federal Crop Insurance Corporation Fund
For payments as authorized by section 516 of the Federal Crop Insurance
Act (7 U.S.C. 1516), such sums as may be necessary, to remain available
until expended.
Commodity Credit Corporation Fund
REIMBURSEMENT FOR NET REALIZED LOSSES
For the current fiscal year, such sums as may be necessary to reimburse
the Commodity Credit Corporation for net realized losses sustained, but
not previously reimbursed, pursuant to section 2 of the Act of August 17,
1961 (15 U.S.C. 713a-11): Provided, That of the funds available
to the Commodity Credit Corporation under section 11 of the Commodity Credit
Corporation Charter Act (15 U.S.C. 714i) for the conduct of its business
with the Foreign Agricultural Service, up to $5,000,000 may be transferred
to and used by the Foreign Agricultural Service for information resource
management activities of the Foreign Agricultural Service that are not related
to Commodity Credit Corporation business.
HAZARDOUS WASTE MANAGEMENT
(LIMITATION ON EXPENSES)
For the current fiscal year, the Commodity Credit Corporation shall not
expend more than $5,000,000 for site investigation and cleanup expenses,
and operations and maintenance expenses to comply with the requirement of
section 107(g) of the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation,
and Liability Act (42 U.S.C. 9607(g)), and section 6001 of the Resource
Conservation and Recovery Act (42 U.S.C. 6961).
TITLE II
CONSERVATION PROGRAMS
Office of the Under Secretary for Natural Resources and Environment
For necessary salaries and expenses of the Office of the Under Secretary
for Natural Resources and Environment to administer the laws enacted by
the Congress for the Forest Service and the Natural Resources Conservation
Service, $781,000.
Natural Resources Conservation Service
CONSERVATION OPERATIONS
For necessary expenses for carrying out the provisions of the Act of April
27, 1935 (16 U.S.C. 590a-f), including preparation of conservation plans
and establishment of measures to conserve soil and water (including farm
irrigation and land drainage and such special measures for soil and water
management as may be necessary to prevent floods and the siltation of reservoirs
and to control agricultural related pollutants); operation of conservation
plant materials centers; classification and mapping of soil; dissemination
of information; acquisition of lands, water, and interests therein for use
in the plant materials program by donation, exchange, or purchase at a nominal
cost not to exceed $100 pursuant to the Act of August 3, 1956 (7 U.S.C.
428a); purchase and erection or alteration or improvement of permanent and
temporary buildings; and operation and maintenance of aircraft, $851,910,000,
to remain available until June 30, 2009, of which not less than $10,840,000
is for snow survey and water forecasting, and not less than $10,779,000
is for operation and establishment of the plant materials centers, and of
which not less than $27,225,000 shall be for the grazing lands conservation
initiative: Provided, That appropriations hereunder shall be available
pursuant to 7 U.S.C. 2250 for construction and improvement of buildings
and public improvements at plant materials centers, except that the cost
of alterations and improvements to other buildings and other public improvements
shall not exceed $250,000: Provided further, That when buildings
or other structures are erected on non-Federal land, that the right to use
such land is obtained as provided in 7 U.S.C. 2250a: Provided further,
That this appropriation shall be available for technical assistance and
related expenses to carry out programs authorized by section 202(c) of title
II of the Colorado River Basin Salinity Control Act of 1974 (43 U.S.C. 1592(c)):
Provided further, That qualified local engineers may be temporarily
employed at per diem rates to perform the technical planning work of the
Service.
WATERSHED SURVEYS AND PLANNING
For necessary expenses to conduct research, investigation, and surveys of
watersheds of rivers and other waterways, and for small watershed investigations
and planning, in accordance with the Watershed Protection and Flood Prevention
Act (16 U.S.C. 1001-1009), $6,556,000.
WATERSHED AND FLOOD PREVENTION OPERATIONS
For necessary expenses to carry out preventive measures, including but not
limited to research, engineering operations, methods of cultivation, the
growing of vegetation, rehabilitation of existing works and changes in use
of land, in accordance with the Watershed Protection and Flood Prevention
Act (16 U.S.C. 1001-1005 and 1007-1009), the provisions of the Act of April
27, 1935 (16 U.S.C. 590a-f), and in accordance with the provisions of laws
relating to the activities of the Department, $37,000,000, to remain available
until expended; of which up to $10,000,000 may be available for the watersheds
authorized under the Flood Control Act (33 U.S.C. 701 and 16 U.S.C. 1006a):
Provided, That not to exceed $18,500,000 of this appropriation
shall be available for technical assistance.
WATERSHED REHABILITATION PROGRAM
For necessary expenses to carry out rehabilitation of structural measures,
in accordance with section 14 of the Watershed Protection and Flood Prevention
Act (16 U.S.C. 1012), and in accordance with the provisions of laws relating
to the activities of the Department, $31,586,000, to remain available until
expended.
RESOURCE CONSERVATION AND DEVELOPMENT
For necessary expenses in planning and carrying out projects for resource
conservation and development and for sound land use pursuant to the provisions
of sections 31 and 32 of the Bankhead-Jones Farm Tenant Act (7 U.S.C. 1010-1011;
76 Stat. 607); the Act of April 27, 1935 (16 U.S.C. 590a-f); and subtitle
H of title XV of the Agriculture and Food Act of 1981 (16 U.S.C. 3451-3461),
$52,370,000, to remain available until expended: Provided, That not to exceed
$3,073,000 shall be available for national headquarters activities.
TITLE III
RURAL DEVELOPMENT PROGRAMS
Office of the Under Secretary for Rural Development
For necessary salaries and expenses of the Office of the Under Secretary
for Rural Development to administer programs under the laws enacted by the
Congress for the Rural Housing Service, the Rural Business-Cooperative Service,
and the Rural Utilities Service, $666,000.
RURAL COMMUNITY ADVANCEMENT PROGRAM
(INCLUDING TRANSFERS OF FUNDS)
For the cost of direct loans, loan guarantees, and grants, as authorized
by 7 U.S.C. 1926, 1926a, 1926c, 1926d, and 1932, except for sections 381E-H
and 381N of the Consolidated Farm and Rural Development Act, $728,807,000,
to remain available until expended, of which $55,742,000 shall be for rural
community programs described in section 381E(d)(1) of such Act; of which
$573,065,000 shall be for the rural utilities programs described in sections
381E(d)(2), 306C(a)(2), and 306D of such Act, of which not to exceed $500,000
shall be available for the rural utilities program described in section
306(a)(2)(B) of such Act, and of which not to exceed $1,000,000 shall be
available for the rural utilities program described in section 306E of such
Act; and of which $100,000,000 shall be for the rural business and cooperative
development programs described in sections 381E(d)(3) and 310B(f) of such
Act: Provided, That of the total amount appropriated in this account,
$24,000,000 shall be for loans and grants to benefit Federally Recognized
Native American Tribes, including grants for drinking water and waste disposal
systems pursuant to section 306C of such Act, of which $4,000,000 shall
be available for community facilities grants to tribal colleges, as authorized
by section 306(a)(19) of the Consolidated Farm and Rural Development Act,
and of which $250,000 shall be available for a grant to a qualified national
organization to provide technical assistance for rural transportation in
order to promote economic development: Provided further, That of
the amount appropriated for the rural business and cooperative development
programs, not to exceed $500,000 shall be made available for a grant to
a qualified national organization to provide technical assistance for rural
transportation in order to promote economic development; $3,000,000 shall
be for grants to the Delta Regional Authority (7 U.S.C. 1921 et seq.) for
any purpose under this heading: Provided further, That of the amount
appropriated for rural utilities programs, not to exceed $25,000,000 shall
be for water and waste disposal systems to benefit the Colonias along the
United States/Mexico border, including grants pursuant to section 306C of
such Act; $18,250,000 shall be for technical assistance grants for rural
water and waste systems pursuant to section 306(a)(14) of such Act, of which
$5,600,000 shall be for Rural Community Assistance Programs; and not to
exceed $14,000,000 shall be for contracting with qualified national organizations
for a circuit rider program to provide technical assistance for rural water
systems: Provided further, That of the total amount appropriated,
not to exceed $22,800,000 shall be available through June 30, 2008, for
authorized empowerment zones and enterprise communities and communities
designated by the Secretary of Agriculture as Rural Economic Area Partnership
Zones; of which $1,100,000 shall be for the rural community programs described
in section 381E(d)(1) of such Act, of which $13,400,000 shall be for the
rural utilities programs described in section 381E(d)(2) of such Act, and
of which $8,300,000 shall be for the rural business and cooperative development
programs described in section 381E(d)(3) of such Act: Provided further,
That any prior year balances for high cost energy grants authorized by section
19 of the Rural Electrification Act of 1936 (7 U.S.C. 901(19)) shall be
transferred to and merged with the `Rural Utilities Service, High Energy
Costs Grants Account'.
Rural Development Salaries and Expenses
(INCLUDING TRANSFERS OF FUNDS)
For necessary expenses for carrying out the administration and implementation
of programs in the Rural Development mission area, including activities
with institutions concerning the development and operation of agricultural
cooperatives; and for cooperative agreements; $175,382,000: Provided,
That notwithstanding any other provision of law, funds appropriated under
this section may be used for advertising and promotional activities that
support the Rural Development mission area: Provided further, That
not more than $10,000 may be expended to provide modest nonmonetary awards
to non-USDA employees: Provided further, That any balances available
from prior years for the Rural Utilities Service, Rural Housing Service,
and the Rural Business-Cooperative Service salaries and expenses accounts
shall be transferred to and merged with this appropriation.
Rural Housing Service
RURAL HOUSING INSURANCE FUND PROGRAM ACCOUNT
(INCLUDING TRANSFERS OF FUNDS)
For gross obligations for the principal amount of direct and guaranteed
loans as authorized by title V of the Housing Act of 1949, to be available
from funds in the rural housing insurance fund, as follows: $4,845,816,000
for loans to section 502 borrowers, as determined by the Secretary, of which
$1,129,391,000 shall be for direct loans, and of which $3,716,425,000 shall
be for unsubsidized guaranteed loans; $34,652,000 for section 504 housing
repair loans; $99,000,000 for section 515 rental housing; $99,000,000 for
section 538 guaranteed multi-family housing loans; $5,046,000 for section
524 site loans; $11,486,000 for credit sales of acquired property, of which
up to $1,486,000 may be for multi-family credit sales; and $5,000,000 for
section 523 self-help housing land development loans.
For the cost of direct and guaranteed loans, including the cost of modifying
loans, as defined in section 502 of the Congressional Budget Act of 1974,
as follows: section 502 loans, $150,183,000, of which $105,824,000 shall
be for direct loans, and of which $44,359,000, to remain available until
expended, shall be for unsubsidized guaranteed loans; section 504 housing
repair loans, $9,796,000; repair, rehabilitation, and new construction of
section 515 rental housing, $42,184,000; section 538 multi-family housing
guaranteed loans, $9,306,000; credit sales of acquired property, $552,000;
and section 523 self-help housing and development loans, $142,000: Provided,
That of the total amount appropriated in this paragraph, $2,500,000 shall
be available through June 30, 2008, for authorized empowerment zones and
enterprise communities and communities designated by the Secretary of Agriculture
as Rural Economic Area Partnership Zones: Provided further, That
any balances for a demonstration program for the preservation and revitalization
of the section 515 multi-family rental housing properties as authorized
in Public Law 109-97 shall be transferred to and merged with the `Rural
Housing Service, Multifamily Housing Revitalization Program Account'.
In addition, for administrative expenses necessary to carry out the direct
and guaranteed loan programs, $462,521,000, which shall be transferred to
and merged with the appropriation for `Rural Development, Salaries and Expenses'.
RENTAL ASSISTANCE PROGRAM
For rental assistance agreements entered into or renewed pursuant to the
authority under section 521(a)(2) or agreements entered into in lieu of
debt forgiveness or payments for eligible households as authorized by section
502(c)(5)(D) of the Housing Act of 1949, $533,020,000, to remain available
through September 30, 2009; and, in addition, such sums as may be necessary,
as authorized by section 521(c) of the Act, to liquidate debt incurred prior
to fiscal year 1992 to carry out the rental assistance program under section
521(a)(2) of the Act: Provided, That of this amount, up to $7,920,000
shall be available for debt forgiveness or payments for eligible households
as authorized by section 502(c)(5)(D) of the Act, and not to exceed $50,000
per project for advances to nonprofit organizations or public agencies to
cover direct costs (other than purchase price) incurred in purchasing projects
pursuant to section 502(c)(5)(C) of the Act: Provided further,
That agreements entered into or renewed during the current fiscal year shall
be funded for a one-year period: Provided further, That any unexpended
balances remaining at the end of such one-year agreements may be transferred
and used for the purposes of any debt reduction; maintenance, repair, or
rehabilitation of any existing projects; preservation; and rental assistance
activities authorized under title V of the Act: Provided further,
That rental assistance that is recovered from projects that are subject
to prepayment shall be deobligated and reallocated for vouchers and debt
forgiveness or payments consistent with the requirements of this Act for
purposes authorized under section 542 and section 502(c)(5)(D) of the Housing
Act of 1949, as amended: Provided further, That rental assistance
provided under agreements entered into prior to fiscal year 2008 for a section
514/516 project may not be recaptured for use in another project until such
assistance has remained unused for a period of 12 consecutive months, if
such project has a waiting list of tenants seeking such assistance or the
project has rental assistance eligible tenants who are not receiving such
assistance: Provided further, That such recaptured rental assistance
shall, to the extent practicable, be applied to another section 514/516
project.
MULTIFAMILY HOUSING REVITALIZATION PROGRAM ACCOUNT
For the rural housing voucher program as authorized under section 542 of
the Housing Act of 1949 (without regard to section 542(b)), for the cost
to conduct a housing demonstration program to provide revolving loans for
the preservation of low-income multi-family housing projects, and for additional
costs to conduct a demonstration program for the preservation and revitalization
of the section 515 multi-family rental housing properties, $27,800,000,
to remain available until expended: Provided, That of the funds
made available under this heading, $10,000,000 shall be available for rural
housing vouchers to any low-income household (including those not receiving
rental assistance) residing in a property financed with a section 515 loan
which has been prepaid after September 30, 2005: Provided further, That
the amount of such voucher shall be the difference between comparable market
rent for the section 515 unit and the tenant paid rent for such unit: Provided
further, That funds made available for such vouchers, shall be subject
to the availability of annual appropriations: Provided further, That
the Secretary shall, to the maximum extent practicable, administer such
vouchers with current regulations and administrative guidance applicable
for section 8 housing vouchers administered by the Secretary of the Department
of Housing and Urban Development (including the ability to pay administrative
costs related to delivery of the voucher funds): Provided further, That
if the Secretary determines that the amount made available for vouchers
in this or any other Act is not needed for vouchers, the Secretary may use
such funds for the demonstration programs for the preservation and revitalization
of the section 515 multi-family rental housing properties described in this
paragraph: Provided further, That of the funds made available under
this heading, $3,000,000 shall be available for loans to private non-profit
organizations, or such non-profit organizations' affiliate loan funds and
State and local housing finance agencies, to carry out a housing demonstration
program to provide revolving loans for the preservation of low-income multi-family
housing projects: Provided further, That loans under such demonstration
program shall have an interest rate of not more than 1 percent direct loan
to the recipient: Provided further, That the Secretary may defer
the interest and principal payment to the Rural Housing Service for up to
3 years and the term of such loans shall not exceed 30 years: Provided
further, That of the funds made available under this heading, $14,800,000
shall be available for a demonstration program for the preservation and
revitalization of the section 515 multi-family rental housing properties
to restructure existing section 515 loans, as the Secretary deems appropriate,
expressly for the purposes of ensuring the project has sufficient resources
to preserve the project for the purpose of providing safe and affordable
housing for low-income residents including reducing or eliminating interest;
deferring loan payments, subordinating, reducing or reamortizing loan debt;
and other financial assistance including advances and incentives required
by the Secretary: Provided further, That if the Secretary determines
that additional funds for vouchers described in this paragraph are needed,
funds for the preservation and revitalization demonstration program may
be used for such vouchers: Provided further, That if Congress enacts
legislation to permanently authorize a section 515 multi-family rental housing
loan restructuring program similar to the demonstration program described
herein, the Secretary may use funds made available for the demonstration
program under this heading to carry out such legislation with the prior
approval of the Committees on Appropriations of both Houses of Congress.
MUTUAL AND SELF-HELP HOUSING GRANTS
For grants and contracts pursuant to section 523(b)(1)(A) of the Housing
Act of 1949 (42 U.S.C. 1490c), $40,000,000, to remain available until expended:
Provided, That of the total amount appropriated, $1,000,000 shall
be available through June 30, 2008, for authorized empowerment zones and
enterprise communities and communities designated by the Secretary of Agriculture
as Rural Economic Area Partnership Zones.
RURAL HOUSING ASSISTANCE GRANTS
(INCLUDING TRANSFER OF FUNDS)
For grants and contracts for very low-income housing repair, supervisory
and technical assistance, compensation for construction defects, and rural
housing preservation made by the Rural Housing Service, as authorized by
42 U.S.C. 1474, 1479(c), 1490e, and 1490m, $39,000,000, to remain available
until expended: Provided, That of the total amount appropriated,
$1,200,000 shall be available through June 30, 2008, for authorized empowerment
zones and enterprise communities and communities designated by the Secretary
of Agriculture as Rural Economic Area Partnership Zones: Provided further,
That any balances to carry out a housing demonstration program to provide
revolving loans for the preservation of low-income multi-family housing
projects authorized in Public Law 108-447 and Public Law 109-97 shall be
transferred to and merged with `Rural Housing Service, Multifamily Housing
Revitalization Program Account'.
FARM LABOR PROGRAM ACCOUNT
For the cost of direct loans, grants, and contracts, as authorized by 42
U.S.C. 1484 and 1486, $46,630,000, to remain available until expended, for
direct farm labor housing loans and domestic farm labor housing grants and
contracts.
Rural Business--Cooperative Service
RURAL DEVELOPMENT LOAN FUND PROGRAM ACCOUNT
(INCLUDING TRANSFER OF FUNDS)
For the principal amount of direct loans, as authorized by the Rural Development
Loan Fund (42 U.S.C. 9812(a)), $33,772,000.
For the cost of direct loans, $14,485,000, as authorized by the Rural Development
Loan Fund (42 U.S.C. 9812(a)), of which $1,724,000 shall be available through
June 30, 2008, for Federally Recognized Native American Tribes and of which
$3,449,000 shall be available through June 30, 2008, for Mississippi Delta
Region counties (as determined in accordance with Public Law 100-460): Provided,
That such costs, including the cost of modifying such loans, shall be as
defined in section 502 of the Congressional Budget Act of 1974: Provided
further, That of the total amount appropriated, $880,000 shall be available
through June 30, 2008, for the cost of direct loans for authorized empowerment
zones and enterprise communities and communities designated by the Secretary
of Agriculture as Rural Economic Area Partnership Zones.
In addition, for administrative expenses to carry out the direct loan programs,
$4,861,000 shall be transferred to and merged with the appropriation for
`Rural Development, Salaries and Expenses'.
RURAL COOPERATIVE DEVELOPMENT GRANTS
For rural cooperative development grants authorized under section 310B(e)
of the Consolidated Farm and Rural Development Act (7 U.S.C. 1932), $29,193,000,
of which $495,000 shall be for a cooperative research agreement with a qualified
academic institution to conduct research on the national economic impact
of all types of cooperatives; and of which $2,475,000 shall be for cooperative
agreements for the appropriate technology transfer for rural areas program:
Provided, That not to exceed $1,473,000 shall be for cooperatives
or associations of cooperatives whose primary focus is to provide assistance
to small, minority producers and whose governing board and/or membership
is comprised of at least 75 percent minority; and of which $20,295,000,
to remain available until expended, shall be for value-added agricultural
product market development grants, as authorized by section 6401 of the
Farm Security and Rural Investment Act of 2002 (7 U.S.C. 1621 note).
RURAL EMPOWERMENT ZONES AND ENTERPRISE COMMUNITIES GRANTS
For grants in connection with second and third rounds of empowerment zones
and enterprise communities, $11,088,000, to remain available until expended,
for designated rural empowerment zones and rural enterprise communities,
as authorized by the Taxpayer Relief Act of 1997 and the Omnibus Consolidated
and Emergency Supplemental Appropriations Act, 1999 (Public Law 105-277).
RENEWABLE ENERGY PROGRAM
For the cost of a program of direct loans, loan guarantees, and grants,
under the same terms and conditions as authorized by section 9006 of the
Farm Security and Rural Investment Act of 2002 (7 U.S.C. 8106), $46,000,000
for direct and guaranteed renewable energy loans and grants: Provided,
That the cost of direct loans and loan guarantees, including the cost of
modifying such loans, shall be as defined in section 502 of the Congressional
Budget Act of 1974.
Rural Utilities Service
RURAL ELECTRIFICATION AND TELECOMMUNICATIONS LOANS PROGRAM ACCOUNT
(INCLUDING TRANSFER OF FUNDS)
Insured loans pursuant to the authority of section 305 of the Rural Electrification
Act of 1936 (7 U.S.C. 935) shall be made as follows: 5 percent rural electrification
loans, $100,000,000; loans made pursuant to section 306 of that Act, rural
electric, $4,500,000,000; 5 percent rural telecommunications loans, $145,000,000;
cost of money rural telecommunications loans, $250,000,000; and for loans
made pursuant to section 306 of that Act, rural telecommunications loans,
$295,000,000.
For the cost, as defined in section 502 of the Congressional Budget Act
of 1974, including the cost of modifying loans, of direct and guaranteed
loans authorized by sections 305 and 306 of the Rural Electrification Act
of 1936 (7 U.S.C. 935 and 936), as follows: cost of rural electric loans,
$120,000, and the cost of telecommunications loans, $3,620,000: Provided,
That notwithstanding section 305(d)(2) of the Rural Electrification Act
of 1936, borrower interest rates may exceed 7 percent per year.
In addition, for administrative expenses necessary to carry out the direct
and guaranteed loan programs, $39,405,000 which shall be transferred to
and merged with the appropriation for `Rural Development, Salaries and Expenses'.
DISTANCE LEARNING, TELEMEDICINE, AND BROADBAND PROGRAM
For the principal amount of broadband telecommunication loans, $300,000,000.
For grants for telemedicine and distance learning services in rural areas,
as authorized by 7 U.S.C. 950aaa et seq., $35,000,000, to remain available
until expended.
For the cost of broadband loans, as authorized by 7 U.S.C. 901 et seq.,
$6,450,000, to remain available until September 30, 2009: Provided,
That the interest rate for such loans shall be the cost of borrowing to
the Department of the Treasury for obligations of comparable maturity: Provided
further, That the cost of direct loans shall be as defined in section
502 of the Congressional Budget Act of 1974.
In addition, $17,820,000, to remain available until expended, for a grant
program to finance broadband transmission in rural areas eligible for Distance
Learning and Telemedicine Program benefits authorized by 7 U.S.C. 950aaa.
TITLE IV
DOMESTIC FOOD PROGRAMS
Office of the Under Secretary for Food, Nutrition and Consumer Services
For necessary salaries and expenses of the Office of the Under Secretary
for Food, Nutrition and Consumer Services to administer the laws enacted
by the Congress for the Food and Nutrition Service, $628,000.
Food and Nutrition Service
CHILD NUTRITION PROGRAMS
(INCLUDING TRANSFERS OF FUNDS)
For necessary expenses to carry out the National School Lunch Act (42 U.S.C.
1751 et seq.), except section 21, and the Child Nutrition Act of 1966 (42
U.S.C. 1771 et seq.), except sections 17 and 21; $13,903,213,000, to remain
available through September 30, 2009, of which $7,668,156,000 is hereby
appropriated and $6,235,057,000 shall be derived by transfer from funds
available under section 32 of the Act of August 24, 1935 (7 U.S.C. 612c):
Provided, That up to $5,505,000 shall be available for independent
verification of school food service claims.
SPECIAL SUPPLEMENTAL NUTRITION PROGRAM FOR WOMEN, INFANTS, AND CHILDREN
(WIC)
For necessary expenses to carry out the special supplemental nutrition program
as authorized by section 17 of the Child Nutrition Act of 1966 (42 U.S.C.
1786), $5,620,000,000, to remain available through September 30, 2009, of
which such sums as are necessary to restore the contingency reserve to $125,000,000
shall be placed in reserve, to remain available until expended, to be allocated
as the Secretary deems necessary, notwithstanding section 17(i) of such
Act, to support participation should cost or participation exceed budget
estimates: Provided, That of the total amount available, the Secretary
shall obligate not less than $15,000,000 for a breastfeeding support initiative
in addition to the activities specified in section 17(h)(3)(A): Provided
further, That only the provisions of section 17(h)(10)(B)(i) and section
17(h)(10)(B)(ii) shall be effective in 2008; including $14,000,000 for the
purposes specified in section 17(h)(10)(B)(i) and $30,000,000 for the purposes
specified in section 17(h)(10)(B)(ii): Provided further, That funds
made available for the purposes specified in section 17(h)(10)(B)(ii) shall
only be made available upon a determination by the Secretary that funds
are available to meet caseload requirements without the use of the contingency
reserve funds: Provided further, That none of the funds in this
Act shall be available to pay administrative expenses of WIC clinics except
those that have an announced policy of prohibiting smoking within the space
used to carry out the program: Provided further, That none of the
funds provided in this account shall be available for the purchase of infant
formula except in accordance with the cost containment and competitive bidding
requirements specified in section 17 of such Act: Provided further,
That none of the funds provided shall be available for activities that are
not fully reimbursed by other Federal Government departments or agencies
unless authorized by section 17 of such Act.
FOOD STAMP PROGRAM
For necessary expenses to carry out the Food Stamp Act (7 U.S.C. 2011 et
seq.), $39,816,223,000, of which $3,000,000,000 to remain available through
September 30, 2009, shall be placed in reserve for use only in such amounts
and at such times as may become necessary to carry out program operations:
Provided, That funds provided herein shall be expended in accordance
with section 16 of the Food Stamp Act: Provided further, That this
appropriation shall be subject to any work registration or workfare requirements
as may be required by law: Provided further, That funds made available
for Employment and Training under this heading shall remain available until
expended, as authorized by section 16(h)(1) of the Food Stamp Act: Provided
further, That notwithstanding section 5(d) of the Food Stamp Act of
1977, any additional payment received under chapter 5 of title 37, United
States Code, by a member of the United States Armed Forces deployed to a
designated combat zone shall be excluded from household income for the duration
of the member's deployment if the additional pay is the result of deployment
to or while serving in a combat zone, and it was not received immediately
prior to serving in the combat zone.
COMMODITY ASSISTANCE PROGRAM
For necessary expenses to carry out disaster assistance and the commodity
supplemental food program as authorized by section 4(a) of the Agriculture
and Consumer Protection Act of 1973 (7 U.S.C. 612c note); the Emergency
Food Assistance Act of 1983; special assistance for the nuclear affected
islands, as authorized by section 103(f)(2) of the Compact of Free Association
Amendments Act of 2003 (Public Law 108-188); and the Farmers' Market Nutrition
Program, as authorized by section 17(m) of the Child Nutrition Act of 1966,
$221,070,000, to remain available through September 30, 2009: Provided,
That none of these funds shall be available to reimburse the Commodity Credit
Corporation for commodities donated to the program: Provided further,
That notwithstanding any other provision of law, effective with funds made
available in fiscal year 2008 to support the Seniors Farmers' Market Nutrition
Program (SFMNP), such funds shall remain available through September 30,
2009: Provided further, That of the funds made available under
section 27(a) of the Food Stamp Act of 1977 (7 U.S.C. 2011 et seq.), the
Secretary may use up to $10,000,000 for costs associated with the distribution
of commodities.
NUTRITION PROGRAMS ADMINISTRATION
For necessary administrative expenses of the domestic nutrition assistance
programs funded under this Act, $146,926,000.
TITLE V
FOREIGN ASSISTANCE AND RELATED PROGRAMS
Foreign Agricultural Service
SALARIES AND EXPENSES
(INCLUDING TRANSFERS OF FUNDS)
For necessary expenses of the Foreign Agricultural Service, including carrying
out title VI of the Agricultural Act of 1954 (7 U.S.C. 1761-1768), market
development activities abroad, and for enabling the Secretary to coordinate
and integrate activities of the Department in connection with foreign agricultural
work, including not to exceed $158,000 for representation allowances and
for expenses pursuant to section 8 of the Act approved August 3, 1956 (7
U.S.C. 1766), $159,136,000: Provided, That the Service may utilize
advances of funds, or reimburse this appropriation for expenditures made
on behalf of Federal agencies, public and private organizations and institutions
under agreements executed pursuant to the agricultural food production assistance
programs (7 U.S.C. 1737) and the foreign assistance programs of the United
States Agency for International Development.
PUBLIC LAW 480 TITLE I DIRECT CREDIT AND FOOD FOR PROGRESS PROGRAM ACCOUNT
(INCLUDING TRANSFERS OF FUNDS)
For administrative expenses to carry out the credit program of title I,
Public Law 83-480, and the Food for Progress Act of 1985, $2,749,000, to
be transferred to and merged with the appropriation for `Farm Service Agency,
Salaries and Expenses'.
In addition, the funds made available for the cost of agreements under title
I of the Agricultural Trade Development and Assistance Act of 1954 and for
title I ocean freight differential may be used interchangeably between the
two accounts with prior notice to the Committees on Appropriations of both
Houses of Congress.
PUBLIC LAW 480 TITLE II GRANTS
For expenses during the current fiscal year, not otherwise recoverable,
and unrecovered prior years' costs, including interest thereon, under the
Agricultural Trade Development and Assistance Act of 1954, for commodities
supplied in connection with dispositions abroad under title II of said Act,
$1,219,400,000, to remain available until expended.
COMMODITY CREDIT CORPORATION EXPORT LOANS PROGRAM ACCOUNT
(INCLUDING TRANSFERS OF FUNDS)
For administrative expenses to carry out the Commodity Credit Corporation's
export guarantee program, GSM 102 and GSM 103, $5,338,000; to cover common
overhead expenses as permitted by section 11 of the Commodity Credit Corporation
Charter Act and in conformity with the Federal Credit Reform Act of 1990,
of which $4,985,000 may be transferred to and merged with the appropriation
for `Foreign Agricultural Service, Salaries and Expenses', and of which
$353,000 may be transferred to and merged with the appropriation for `Farm
Service Agency, Salaries and Expenses'.
MCGOVERN-DOLE INTERNATIONAL FOOD FOR EDUCATION AND CHILD NUTRITION PROGRAM
GRANTS
For necessary expenses to carry out the provisions of section 3107 of the
Farm Security and Rural Investment Act of 2002 (7 U.S.C. 1736o-1), $100,000,000,
to remain available until expended: Provided, That the Commodity
Credit Corporation is authorized to provide the services, facilities, and
authorities for the purpose of implementing such section, subject to reimbursement
from amounts provided herein.
TITLE VI
RELATED AGENCIES AND FOOD AND DRUG ADMINISTRATION
DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES
Food and Drug Administration
SALARIES AND EXPENSES
For necessary expenses of the Food and Drug Administration, including hire
and purchase of passenger motor vehicles; for payment of space rental and
related costs pursuant to Public Law 92-313 for programs and activities
of the Food and Drug Administration which are included in this Act; for
rental of special purpose space in the District of Columbia or elsewhere;
for miscellaneous and emergency expenses of enforcement activities, authorized
and approved by the Secretary and to be accounted for solely on the Secretary's
certificate, not to exceed $25,000; and notwithstanding section 521 of Public
Law 107-188; $1,683,405,000: Provided, That of the amount provided
under this heading, $13,696,000 shall be derived from animal drug user fees
authorized by 21 U.S.C. 379j, and shall be credited to this account and
remain available until expended: Provided further, That fees derived
from animal drug assessments received during fiscal year 2008, including
any such fees assessed prior to the current fiscal year but credited during
the current year, shall be subject to the fiscal year 2008 limitation: Provided
further, That none of these funds shall be used to develop, establish,
or operate any program of user fees authorized by 31 U.S.C. 9701: Provided
further, That of the total amount appropriated: (1) $475,726,000 shall
be for the Center for Food Safety and Applied Nutrition and related field
activities in the Office of Regulatory Affairs; (2) $348,438,000 shall be
for the Center for Drug Evaluation and Research and related field activities
in the Office of Regulatory Affairs; (3) $155,073,000 shall be for the Center
for Biologics Evaluation and Research and for related field activities in
the Office of Regulatory Affairs; (4) $94,809,000 shall be for the Center
for Veterinary Medicine and for related field activities in the Office of
Regulatory Affairs; (5) $240,122,000 shall be for the Center for Devices
and Radiological Health and for related field activities in the Office of
Regulatory Affairs; (6) $36,455,000 shall be for the National Center for
Toxicological Research; (7) $97,976,000 shall be for Rent and Related activities,
of which $38,808,000 is for White Oak Consolidation, other than the amounts
paid to the General Services Administration for rent; (8) $131,533,000 shall
be for payments to the General Services Administration for rent; and (9)
$89,577,000 shall be for other activities, including the Office of the Commissioner;
the Office of Management; the Office of External Relations; the Office of
Policy and Planning; and central services for these offices: Provided
further, That funds may be transferred from one specified activity
to another with the prior approval of the Committees on Appropriations of
both Houses of Congress.
In addition, mammography user fees authorized by 42 U.S.C. 263b may be credited
to this account, to remain available until expended.
In addition, export certification user fees authorized by 21 U.S.C. 381
may be credited to this account, to remain available until expended.
In addition, $28,000,000 shall be for the Center for Food Safety and Applied
Nutrition, to remain available from July 1, 2008, through September 30,
2009.
BUILDINGS AND FACILITIES
For plans, construction, repair, improvement, extension, alteration, and
purchase of fixed equipment or facilities of or used by the Food and Drug
Administration, where not otherwise provided, $4,950,000, to remain available
until expended.
INDEPENDENT AGENCIES
Commodity Futures Trading Commission
For necessary expenses to carry out the provisions of the Commodity Exchange
Act (7 U.S.C. 1 et seq.), including the purchase and hire of passenger motor
vehicles, and the rental of space (to include multiple year leases) in the
District of Columbia and elsewhere, $102,550,000, including not to exceed
$3,000 for official reception and representation expenses.
Farm Credit Administration
LIMITATION ON ADMINISTRATIVE EXPENSES
Not to exceed $46,000,000 (from assessments collected from farm credit institutions
and from the Federal Agricultural Mortgage Corporation) shall be obligated
during the current fiscal year for administrative expenses as authorized
under 12 U.S.C. 2249: Provided, That this limitation shall not
apply to expenses associated with receiverships.
TITLE VII
GENERAL PROVISIONS
(INCLUDING RESCISSIONS AND TRANSFERS OF FUNDS)
SEC. 701. Within the unit limit of cost fixed by law, appropriations and
authorizations made for the Department of Agriculture for the current fiscal
year under this Act shall be available for the purchase, in addition to
those specifically provided for, of not to exceed 182 passenger motor vehicles,
of which 142 shall be for replacement only, and for the hire of such vehicles.
SEC. 702. New obligational authority provided for the following appropriation
items in this Act shall remain available until expended: Animal and Plant
Health Inspection Service, the contingency fund to meet emergency conditions,
information technology infrastructure, fruit fly program, emerging plant
pests, cotton pests program, avian influenza programs, up to $4,505,000
in the pest and disease management program to control grasshoppers and Mormon
cricket, up to $1,500,000 in the scrapie program for indemnities, up to
$3,000,000 in the emergency management systems program for the vaccine bank,
up to $1,000,000 for wildlife services methods development, up to $1,000,000
of the wildlife services operations program for aviation safety, and up
to 25 percent of the screwworm program; Food Safety and Inspection Service,
Public Health Data Communication Infrastructure System; Cooperative State
Research, Education, and Extension Service, funds for competitive research
grants (7 U.S.C. 450i(b)), funds for the Research, Education, and Economics
Information System, and funds for the Native American Institutions Endowment
Fund; Farm Service Agency, salaries and expenses funds made available to
county committees; Foreign Agricultural Service, middle-income country training
program, and up to $2,000,000 of the Foreign Agricultural Service appropriation
solely for the purpose of offsetting fluctuations in international currency
exchange rates, subject to documentation by the Foreign Agricultural Service.
SEC. 703. The Secretary of Agriculture may transfer unobligated balances
of discretionary funds appropriated by this Act or other available unobligated
discretionary balances of the Department of Agriculture to the Working Capital
Fund for the acquisition of plant and capital equipment necessary for the
delivery of financial, financial management modernization initiative, administrative,
and information technology services of primary benefit to the agencies of
the Department of Agriculture: Provided, That none of the funds
made available by this Act or any other Act shall be transferred to the
Working Capital Fund without the prior approval of the agency administrator:
Provided further, That none of the funds transferred to the Working
Capital Fund pursuant to this section shall be available for obligation
without the prior approval of the Committees on Appropriations of both Houses
of Congress.
SEC. 704. No part of any appropriation contained in this Act shall remain
available for obligation beyond the current fiscal year unless expressly
so provided herein.
SEC. 705. No funds appropriated by this Act may be used to pay negotiated
indirect cost rates on cooperative agreements or similar arrangements between
the United States Department of Agriculture and nonprofit institutions in
excess of 10 percent of the total direct cost of the agreement when the
purpose of such cooperative arrangements is to carry out programs of mutual
interest between the two parties. This does not preclude appropriate payment
of indirect costs on grants and contracts with such institutions when such
indirect costs are computed on a similar basis for all agencies for which
appropriations are provided in this Act.
SEC. 706. None of the funds in this Act shall be available to pay indirect
costs charged against competitive agricultural research, education, or extension
grant awards issued by the Cooperative State Research, Education, and Extension
Service that exceed 20 percent of total Federal funds provided under each
award: Provided, That notwithstanding section 1462 of the National
Agricultural Research, Extension, and Teaching Policy Act of 1977 (7 U.S.C.
3310), funds provided by this Act for grants awarded competitively by the
Cooperative State Research, Education, and Extension Service shall be available
to pay full allowable indirect costs for each grant awarded under section
9 of the Small Business Act (15 U.S.C. 638).
SEC. 707. Appropriations to the Department of Agriculture for the cost of
direct and guaranteed loans made available in the current fiscal year shall
remain available until expended to cover obligations made in the current
fiscal year for the following accounts: the Rural Development Loan Fund
program account, the Rural Electrification and Telecommunication Loans program
account, and the Rural Housing Insurance Fund program account.
SEC. 708. Of the funds made available by this Act, not more than $1,800,000
shall be used to cover necessary expenses of activities related to all advisory
committees, panels, commissions, and task forces of the Department of Agriculture,
except for panels used to comply with negotiated rule makings and panels
used to evaluate competitively awarded grants.
SEC. 709. None of the funds appropriated by this Act may be used to carry
out section 410 of the Federal Meat Inspection Act (21 U.S.C. 679a) or section
30 of the Poultry Products Inspection Act (21 U.S.C. 471).
SEC. 710. No employee of the Department of Agriculture may be detailed or
assigned from an agency or office funded by this Act to any other agency
or office of the Department for more than 30 days unless the individual's
employing agency or office is fully reimbursed by the receiving agency or
office for the salary and expenses of the employee for the period of assignment.
SEC. 711. None of the funds appropriated or otherwise made available to
the Department of Agriculture or the Food and Drug Administration shall
be used to transmit or otherwise make available to any non-Department of
Agriculture or non-Department of Health and Human Services employee questions
or responses to questions that are a result of information requested for
the appropriations hearing process.
SEC. 712. None of the funds made available to the Department of Agriculture
by this Act may be used to acquire new information technology systems or
significant upgrades, as determined by the Office of the Chief Information
Officer, without the approval of the Chief Information Officer and the concurrence
of the Executive Information Technology Investment Review Board: Provided,
That notwithstanding any other provision of law, none of the funds appropriated
or otherwise made available by this Act may be transferred to the Office
of the Chief Information Officer without the prior approval of the Committees
on Appropriations of both Houses of Congress: Provided further,
That none of the funds available to the Department of Agriculture for information
technology shall be obligated for projects over $25,000 prior to receipt
of written approval by the Chief Information Officer.
SEC. 713. (a) None of the funds provided by this Act, or provided by previous
Appropriations Acts to the agencies funded by this Act that remain available
for obligation or expenditure in the current fiscal year, or provided from
any accounts in the Treasury of the United States derived by the collection
of fees available to the agencies funded by this Act, shall be available
for obligation or expenditure through a reprogramming of funds which--
(1) creates new programs;
(2) eliminates a program, project, or activity;
(3) increases funds or personnel by any means for any project or activity
for which funds have been denied or restricted;
(4) relocates an office or employees;
(5) reorganizes offices, programs, or activities; or
(6) contracts out or privatizes any functions or activities presently
performed by Federal employees; unless the Committees on Appropriations
of both Houses of Congress are notified 15 days in advance of such reprogramming
of funds.
(b) None of the funds provided by this Act, or provided by previous Appropriations
Acts to the agencies funded by this Act that remain available for obligation
or expenditure in the current fiscal year, or provided from any accounts
in the Treasury of the United States derived by the collection of fees available
to the agencies funded by this Act, shall be available for obligation or
expenditure for activities, programs, or projects through a reprogramming
of funds in excess of $500,000 or 10 percent, which-ever is less, that:
(1) augments existing programs, projects, or activities; (2) reduces by
10 percent funding for any existing program, project, or activity, or numbers
of personnel by 10 percent as approved by Congress; or (3) results from
any general savings from a reduction in personnel which would result in
a change in existing programs, activities, or projects as approved by Congress;
unless the Committees on Appropriations of both Houses of Congress are notified
15 days in advance of such reprogramming of funds.
(c) The Secretary of Agriculture, the Secretary of Health and Human Services,
or the Chairman of the Commodity Futures Trading Commission shall notify
the Committees on Appropriations of both Houses of Congress before implementing
a program or activity not carried out during the previous fiscal year unless
the program or activity is funded by this Act or specifically funded by
any other Act.
SEC. 714. None of the funds appropriated by this or any other Act shall
be used to pay the salaries and expenses of personnel who prepare or submit
appropriations language as part of the President's Budget submission to
the Congress of the United States for programs under the jurisdiction of
the Appropriations Subcommittees on Agriculture, Rural Development, Food
and Drug Administration, and Related Agencies that assumes revenues or reflects
a reduction from the previous year due to user fees proposals that have
not been enacted into law prior to the submission of the Budget unless such
Budget submission identifies which additional spending reductions should
occur in the event the user fees proposals are not enacted prior to the
date of the convening of a committee of conference for the fiscal year 2009
appropriations Act.
SEC. 715. None of the funds made available by this or any other Act may
be used to close or relocate a Rural Development office unless or until
the Secretary of Agriculture determines the cost effectiveness and enhancement
of program delivery: Provided, That not later than 120 days before
the date of the proposed closure or relocation, the Secretary notifies the
Committees on Appropriation of the House and Senate, and the members of
Congress from the State in which the office is located of the proposed closure
or relocation and provides a report that describes in detail the justifications
for such closures and relocations.
SEC. 716. Notwithstanding any other provision of law, of the funds made
available in this Act for competitive research grants (7 U.S.C. 450i(b)),
the Secretary may use up to 22 percent of the amount provided to carry out
a competitive grants program under the same terms and conditions as those
provided in section 401 of the Agricultural Research, Extension, and Education
Reform Act of 1998 (7 U.S.C. 7621).
SEC. 717. None of the funds appropriated or otherwise made available by
this or any other Act shall be used to pay the salaries and expenses of
personnel who carry out an environmental quality incentives program authorized
by chapter 4 of subtitle D of title XII of the Food Security Act of 1985
(16 U.S.C. 3839aa et seq.) in excess of $1,017,000,000.
SEC. 718. None of the funds made available in fiscal year 2008 or preceding
fiscal years for programs authorized under the Agricultural Trade Development
and Assistance Act of 1954 (7 U.S.C. 1691 et seq.) in excess of $20,000,000
shall be used to reimburse the Commodity Credit Corporation for the release
of eligible commodities under section 302(f)(2)(A) of the Bill Emerson Humanitarian
Trust Act (7 U.S.C. 1736f-1): Provided, That any such funds made
available to reimburse the Commodity Credit Corporation shall only be used
pursuant to section 302(b)(2)(B)(i) of the Bill Emerson Humanitarian Trust
Act.
SEC. 719. No funds shall be used to pay salaries and expenses of the Department
of Agriculture to carry out or administer the program authorized by section
14(h)(1) of the Watershed Protection and Flood Prevention Act (16 U.S.C.
1012(h)(1)).
SEC. 720. Of the funds derived from interest on the cushion of credit payments,
as authorized by section 313 of the Rural Electrification Act of 1936, $34,000,000
shall not be obligated and $34,000,000 are rescinded.
SEC. 721. None of the funds made available by this Act may be used to issue
a final rule in furtherance of, or otherwise implement, the proposed rule
on cost-sharing for animal and plant health emergency programs of the Animal
and Plant Health Inspection Service published on July 8, 2003 (Docket No.
02-062-1; 68 Fed. Reg. 40541).
SEC. 722. Funds made available under section 1240I and section 1241(a) of
the Food Security Act of 1985 in the current fiscal year shall remain available
until expended to disburse obligations made in the current fiscal year,
and are not available for new obligations. Funds made available under section
524(b) of the Federal Crop Insurance Act, 7 U.S.C. 1524(b), in fiscal years
2004, 2005, 2006, 2007, and 2008 shall remain available until expended to
disburse obligations made in fiscal years 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007, and 2008
respectively, and except for fiscal year 2008 funds, are not available for
new obligations.
SEC. 723. None of the funds provided in this Act may be used for salaries
and expenses to draft or implement any regulation or rule insofar as it
would require recertification of rural status for each electric and telecommunications
borrower for the Rural Electrification and Telecommunication Loans program.
SEC. 724. Unless otherwise authorized by existing law, none of the funds
provided in this Act, may be used by an executive branch agency to produce
any prepackaged news story intended for broadcast or distribution in the
United States unless the story includes a clear notification within the
text or audio of the prepackaged news story that the prepackaged news story
was prepared or funded by that executive branch agency.
SEC. 725. In addition to other amounts appropriated or otherwise made available
by this Act, there is hereby appropriated to the Secretary of Agriculture
$10,000,000, of which not to exceed 5 percent may be available for administrative
expenses, to remain available until expended, to make specialty crop block
grants under section 101 of the Specialty Crops Competitiveness Act of 2004
(Public Law 108-465; 7 U.S.C. 1621 note).
SEC. 726. None of the funds appropriated or otherwise made available by
this Act for the Food and Drug Administration may be used under section
801 of the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act to prevent an individual
not in the business of importing a prescription drug within the meaning
of section 801(g) of such Act, wholesalers, or pharmacists from importing
a prescription drug (as defined in section 804(a)(3) of such Act) which
complies with sections 501, 502, and 505 of such Act.
SEC. 727. None of the funds made available in this Act may be used to study,
complete a study of, or enter into a contract with a private party to carry
out, without specific authorization in a subsequent Act of Congress, a competitive
sourcing activity of the Secretary of Agriculture, including support personnel
of the Department of Agriculture, relating to rural development or farm
loan programs.
SEC. 728. Of the amount available for Estimated Future Needs under section
32 of the Act of August 24, 1935, $63,361,000 are hereby rescinded: Provided,
That in addition, of the unobligated balances under section 32 of the Act
of August 24, 1935, $147,000,000 are hereby rescinded.
SEC. 729. None of the funds made available in this Act may be used to--
(1) grant a waiver of a financial conflict of interest requirement pursuant
to section 505(n)(4) of the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act (21 U.S.C.
355(n)(4)) for any voting member of an advisory committee or panel of
the Food and Drug Administration; or
(2) make a certification under section 208(b)(3) of title 18, United States
Code, for any such voting member.
SEC. 730. Of the appropriations available for payments for the nutrition
and family education program for low-income areas under section 3(d) of
the Smith-Lever Act (7 U.S.C. 343(d)), if the payment allocation pursuant
to section 1425(c) of the National Agricultural Research, Extension, and
Teaching Policy Act of 1977 (7 U.S.C. 3175(c)) would be less than $100,000
for any institution eligible under section 3(d)(2) of the Smith-Lever Act,
the Secretary shall adjust payment allocations under section 1425(c) of
the National Agricultural Research, Extension, and Teaching Policy Act of
1977 to ensure that each institution receives a payment of not less than
$100,000.
SEC. 731. None of the funds made available in this Act may be used to establish
or implement a rule allowing poultry products to be imported into the United
States from the People's Republic of China.
SEC. 732. Of the unobligated balances available in the High Energy Cost
Grants account, $25,740,000 is hereby rescinded.
SEC. 733. None of the funds made available to the Department of Agriculture
in this Act may be used to implement the risk-based inspection program in
the 30 prototype locations announced on February 22, 2007, by the Under
Secretary for Food Safety, or at any other locations, until the USDA Office
of Inspector General has provided its findings to the Food Safety and Inspection
Service and the Committees on Appropriations of the House of Representatives
and the Senate on the data used in support of the development and design
of the risk-based inspection program and FSIS has addressed and resolved
issues identified by OIG.
SEC. 734. Not more than $11,166,000 of the funds made available under section
522(e) of the Federal Crop Insurance Act (7 U.S.C. 1522(e)) may be used
for program compliance and integrity purposes, including the data mining
project, and for the Common Information Management System.
SEC. 735. The Secretary of Agriculture shall continue the Water and Waste
Systems Direct Loan Program under the authority and conditions (including
the fees, borrower interest rate, and the President's economic assumptions
for the 2008 Fiscal Year, as of June 1, 2007) provided by the `Continuing
Appropriations Resolution, 2007'.
SEC. 736. (a) Section 13(b) of the Richard B. Russell National School Lunch
Act (42 U.S.C. 1761(b)) is amended--
(A) by striking subparagraph (A);
(B) by redesignating subparagraphs (B) through (D) as subparagraphs
(A) through (C), respectively;
(C) in subparagraph (A) (as redesignated by subparagraph (B)), striking
`(B)' and all that follows through `shall not exceed' and inserting
the following:
`(A) IN GENERAL- Subject to subparagraph (B) and in addition to amounts
made available under paragraph (3), payments to service institutions
shall be';
(D) in subparagraph (B) (as redesignated by subparagraph (B)), by striking
`subparagraph (B)' and inserting `subparagraph (A)'; and
(E) in subparagraph (C) (as redesignated by subparagraph (B)), by striking
`(A), (B), and (C)' and inserting `(A) and (B)'; and
(2) in the second sentence of paragraph (3), by striking `full amount
of State approved' and all that follows through `maximum allowable'.
(b) CONFORMING AMENDMENT- Section 18 of the Richard B. Russell National
School Lunch Act (42 U.S.C. 1769) is amended--
(1) by striking subsection (f); and
(2) by redesignating subsection (g) through (k) as subsections (f) through
(j), respectively.
(c) EFFECTIVE DATE- The amendments made by this section take effect on January
1 of the first full calendar year following the date of enactment of this
Act.
SEC. 737. There is hereby appropriated $21,000,000, to remain available
until September 30, 2009, of which not to exceed 5 percent may be available
for Federal and/or State administrative expenses, as determined by the Secretary
of Agriculture, to carry out a program similar to section 18(g) of the Richard
B. Russell National School Lunch Act (42 U.S.C. 1769(g)) in each State not
currently served by the authorized program.
SEC. 738. None of the funds made available in this Act may be used to pay
the salaries or expenses of personnel to--
(1) inspect horses under section 3 of the Federal Meat Inspection Act
(21 U.S.C. 603);
(2) inspect horses under section 903 of the Federal Agriculture Improvement
and Reform Act of 1996 (7 U.S.C. 1901 note; Public Law 104-127); or
(3) implement or enforce section 352.19 of title 9, Code of Federal Regulations.
SEC. 739. Of the unobligated balances available in the Special Supplemental
Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children reserve account, $16,069,000
is hereby rescinded.
SEC. 740. In addition to amounts otherwise appropriated or made available
by this Act, $2,475,000 is appropriated for the purpose of providing Bill
Emerson and Mickey Leland Hunger Fellowships, through the Congressional
Hunger Center.
SEC. 741. From the unobligated balances of funds transferred to the Department
of Homeland Security when the Department was established pursuant to the
Homeland Security Act of 2002 (Public Law 107-296), excluding mandatory
appropriations, $8,000,000 is rescinded.
SEC. 742. Effective as of May 25, 2007, section 9012 of Public Law 110-28
(121 Stat. 218) is repealed.
SEC. 743. Section 17(r)(5) of the Richard B. Russell National School Lunch
Act (42 U.S.C. 1766(r)(5)) is amended--
(1) by striking `seven' and inserting `eight';
(2) by striking `five' and inserting `six'; and
(3) by inserting `West Virginia,' after the first instance of `States
shall be'.
SEC. 744. Hereafter, notwithstanding any other provision of law, of the
funds made available for the Commodity Assistance Program under division
B of Public Law 109-148, Emergency Supplemental Appropriations to Address
Hurricanes in the Gulf of Mexico and Pandemic Influenza, 2006, all unexpended
funds shall be made available to support normal program operations of the
Commodity Supplemental Food Program under the Agriculture and Consumer Protection
Act of 1973 and of the Emergency Food Assistance Program under the Emergency
Food Assistance Act of 1983: Provided, That any commodities purchased
with funds made available under Public Law 109-148 and remaining undistributed
shall be used to support normal program operations under the authorities
cited in this section.
SEC. 745. Notwithstanding any other provision of law, and until receipt
of the decennial Census in the year 2010, the Secretary of Agriculture shall
consider--
(1) the City of Alamo, Texas; the City of Mercedes, Texas; the City of
Weslaco, Texas; the City of Donna, Texas; and the City of La Feria, Texas,
(including individuals and entities with projects within the cities) eligible
for loans and grants funded through the rural business and cooperative
development programs in the Rural Community Advancement Program account;
(2) the City of Bainbridge Island, Washington; and the City of Havelock,
North Carolina, (including individuals and entities with projects within
the cities) eligible for loans and grants funded through the rural community
programs in the Rural Community Advancement Program account;
(3) the City of Freeport, Illinois; Kitsap County (except the City of
Bremerton), Washington; the City of Atascadero, California; and the City
of Paso Robles, California, (including individuals and entities with projects
within the cities) eligible for loans and grants funded through the Rural
Housing Insurance Fund Program account and the Rural Housing Assistance
Grants account; and
(4) the City of Canton, Mississippi, (including individuals and entities
with projects within the cities) eligible for loans and grants funded
through the rural utilities programs in the Rural Community Advancement
Program account.
SEC. 746. No funds in this Act for the Food and Drug Administration may
be used to authorize qualified health claims for conventional foods.
SEC. 747. None of the funds made available in this Act may be used to enter
into a contract with an entity that does not participate in the basic pilot
program described in section 403(a) of the Illegal Immigration Reform and
Immigrant Responsibility Act of 1996 (8 U.S.C. 1324a note).
SEC. 748. None of the funds in this Act shall be available for the Canaan
Valley Institute (CVI) in Thomas, West Virginia.
SEC. 749. None of the funds made available in this Act may be used--
(1) to terminate any of the 13 field laboratories that are operated by
the Food and Drug Administration as of January 1, 2007, or 20 District
Offices, or any of the inspection or compliance functions of any of the
20 District Offices, of the Food and Drug Administration functioning as
of January 1, 2007; or
(2) to consolidate any such laboratory with any other laboratory, or any
such District Office, or any of the inspection or compliance functions
of any District Office, with any other District Office.
SEC. 750. None of the funds made available in this Act may be used to purchase
light bulbs unless the light bulbs have the `ENERGY STAR' or `Federal Energy
Management Program' designation.
This Act may be cited as the `Agriculture, Rural Development, Food and Drug
Administration, and Related Agencies Appropriations Act, 2008'.
Passed the House of Representatives August 2, 2007.
Attest:
LORRAINE C. MILLER,
Clerk.
By Deborah M. Spriggs,
Deputy Clerk.
Calendar No. 331
110th CONGRESS
1st Session
H. R. 3161
AN ACT