Congress: 105 · Status: passed · Israel/Palestine classification: neutral
Data (JSON) — machine-readable record of this bill (identifiers, sponsor, classification, actions, and the member-by-member vote breakdown).
Sponsor: Sen. Lugar, Richard G. [R-IN] (R-IN)
TABLE OF CONTENTS: Title I: Priorities, Scope, and Review of Agricultural Research, Extension, and Education Title II: Other Reforms of Agricultural Research, Extension, and Education Subtitle A: Amendments to National Agricultural Research, Extension, and Teaching Policy Act of 1977 Subtitle B: Amendments to Food, Agriculture, Conservation, and Trade Act of 1990 Subtitle C: Amendments to Other Laws Subtitle D: New Programs Subtitle E: Studies and Miscellaneous Title III: Initiative for Future Agriculture and Food Systems Title IV: Extension or Repeal of Certain Authorities; Technical Amendments Title V: Agricultural Program Savings Agricultural Research, Extension, and Education Reform Act of 1997 - Title I: Priorities, Scope, and Review of Agricultural Research, Extension, and Education - Directs the Secretary of Agriculture (Secretary) to: (1) ensure that agricultural research, education, or extension activities of the Agricultural Research Service (ARS) and the Cooperative State Research, Education, and Extension Service (CSREES) are priority concerns with a national or multistate significance; and (2) establish such priorities. (Sec. 103) Directs the Secretary to provide for: (1) scientific peer review of research grants and merit review of extension and education grants by CSREES; and (2) scientific peer review of ARS research. Requires pre-funding merit review of land grant college and university research and extension activities. Makes related amendments to the Smith-Lever Act and the Hatch Act of 1887. (Sec. 104) Amends such Acts to set forth multistate project requirements for research and extension funding. (Sec. 106) Amends the Research Facilities Act and the Competitive, Special, and Facilities Research Grant Act to provide for multistate or national activities. Title II: Other Reforms of Agricultural Research, Extension, and Teaching Policy Act of 1997 - Subtitle A: Amendments to National Agricultural Research, Extension, and Teaching Policy Act of 1977 - Amends the National Agricultural Research, Extension, and Teaching Policy Act of 1977 to authorize the Secretary to maintain a national food and agricultural education information system. (Sec. 204) Includes teaching within the activities of international research and extension. Authorizes grants for collaborative projects among Federal scientists, university faculty, and scientists from international agricultural institutions, including centers of the Consultative Group on International Agriculture Research. (Sec. 206) Makes all colleges and universities eligible for agricultural research, extension, and education cost-reimbursable agreements. Subtitle B: Amendments to Food, Agriculture, Conservation, and Trade Act of 1990 - Amends the Food, Agriculture, Conservation, and Trade Act of 1990 to revise National Agricultural Weather Information System provisions to: (1) make the System's establishment discretionary; (2) revise its components, authority, and fund use requirements; and (3) authorize appropriations through FY 2002. (Sec. 212) Establishes a National Food Genome Strategy, which shall include among its purposes and components Plant and Animal Genome Initiatives. States that the lead Federal agency shall be the Department of Agriculture, or if substantially funded from another agency, as determined by the President. (Sec. 213) Amends the Food, Agriculture, Conservation, and Trade Act of 1990 to: (1) authorize the Secretary to establish a National Advisory and Implementation Board on Imported Fire Ant Control, Management, and Eradication; (2) authorize fire ant research and control grants; and (3) authorizes appropriations through FY 2002. (Sec. 214) Authorizes the Secretary to award a grant to A*DEC (distance education consortium) to administer the agricultural telecommunications program. (Sec. 215) Authorizes appropriations through FY 2002 for the assertive technology program for farmers with disabilities. Obligates a specified percent of such funds for national grants. Subtitle C: Amendments to Other Laws - Amends the Equity in Education Land-Grant Status Act of 1994 to include the Little Priest Tribal College within the group of 1994 institutions. (Sec. 223) Amends the Smith-Lever Act to expand college and university extension funding eligibility. (Sec. 224) Amends the Hatch Act of 1887 to require increased use of land grant institution funds for integrated research and extension activities. (Sec. 225) Amends the Cooperative, Special, and Facilities Research Grant Act to revise special grant authority provisions. (Sec. 226) Amends the Federal Agriculture Improvement and Reform Act of 1996 to extend funding authority through October 1, 2001, for the Fund for Rural America. (Sec. 227) Amends the Honey Research, Promotion, and Consumer Information Act to obligate specified funds for research projects to advance efficiency, pest and disease control, and other management aspects of beekeeping and honey production. (Sec. 228) Amends the Department of Agriculture Reorganization Act of 1994 to establish in the Office of the Secretary an Office of Energy Policy and New Uses. (Sec. 229) Amends the National Kiwifruit Research, Promotion, and Consumer Information Act to: (1) state that a marketing order amendment shall not require a referendum to become effective; and (2) provide for National Kiwifruit Board membership adjustment based upon domestic production and import levels. (Sec. 230) Amends the National Aquaculture Act of 1980 to: (1) redefine "aquaculture"; (2) define "private aquaculture"; (3) direct the Secretary to implement a national policy for private aquaculture and a Department of Agriculture Aquaculture Plan, treat private aquaculture as a form of agriculture, and coordinate related Department policy; (3) authorize (currently, requires) the Secretary to establish within the Department a National Aquaculture Information Center; and (4) authorize appropriations through FY 2002. Subtitle D: New Programs - Provides for research, cooperative agreements, and an ARS pilot program with respect to biobased products (produced from renewable agricultural or forestry products). Authorizes appropriations. (Sec. 232) Authorizes the Secretary to make grants for precision agriculture (integrated information-and production-based farming system) activities, including multistate and national partnerships, and relevancy to small and medium size farms. Authorizes appropriations through FY 2002, with set-asides for specified activities. (Sec. 233) Authorizes a Formosan termite research and eradication program. Authorizes appropriations through FY 2002. (Sec. 234) Directs the Secretary to periodically update nutrient composition data. (Sec. 235) Authorizes the Secretary to enter into contracts for the construction of a consolidated administrative and laboratory facility of the Animal and Plant Inspection Service to be located in or near Ames, Iowa. Authorizes appropriations through FY 2002. (Sec. 236) Authorizes the Secretary, acting through ARS, to accept as a gift and administer the National Swine Research Center in Ames, Iowa. (Sec. 237) Authorizes the Secretary to carry out a research, extension, and education program to improve the viability of small and medium size dairy and livestock operations. (Sec. 238) Authorizes the Secretary to make a grant to a consortium of land-grant colleges and universities for a multi-State wheat scab research project. Authorizes FY 1998 through 2002 appropriations. (Sec. 239) Directs the Secretary to continue operation of the Food Animal Residue Avoidance Database. Authorizes appropriations. (Sec. 240) Authorizes the Secretary to provide financial assistance to a nationally recognized organization to promote educational opportunities in poor rural areas, including the Lower Mississippi River Delta. Authorizes specified appropriations. Subtitle E: Studies and Miscellaneous - Directs the Secretary to: (1) evaluate whether federally funded agricultural research, education, and extension programs have national or multistate significance; and (2) request a National Academy of Sciences study of such programs' mission. (Sec. 243) Expresses the sense of the Congress that States should provide matching funds for 1890 Institutions. Title III: Initiative for Future Agriculture and Food Systems - Establishes in the Treasury the Initiative for Future Agriculture and Food Systems (Account) for: (1) research, extension, and education grants related to food production, environmental protection, and farm income; and (2) activities under the Alternative Agricultural Research and Commercialization Act of 1990. Makes grants available for Federal or private research entities, national laboratories, and colleges or universities (including smaller universities). Title IV: Extension or Repeal of Certain Authorities; Technical Amendments - Amends the National Agricultural Research, Extension, and Teaching Policy Act of 1977 to extend program authority or authorization of appropriations through FY 2002 for: (1) grants and fellowships for food and agricultural sciences education; (2) grants for research on the production and marketing of alcohols and industrial hydrocarbons from agricultural commodities and forest products; (3) policy research centers; (4) human nutrition intervention and health promotion research program; (5) nutrition education program; (6) continuing animal health and disease research programs; (7) research on national and regional animal health or disease problems; (8) grants to upgrade agricultural and food sciences facilities at 1890 land-grant colleges, including Tuskegee University; (9) national research and training centennial centers; (10) education grants for Hispanic-serving institutions; (11) general agricultural research; (12) agricultural research at state agricultural experiment stations; (13) extension education; (14) research for supplemental and alternative crops; (15) building acquisition or construction; and (16) aquaculture. Amends the Food, Agriculture, Conservation, and Trade Act of 1990 to extend the authorization of appropriations for the: (1) National Genetics Resources Program; (2) agricultural telecommunications program; and (3) global climate change program. Amends the Critical Agricultural Materials Act to extend the authorization of appropriations for critical agricultural materials. Amends the Research Facilities Act to extend the authorization of appropriations for agricultural research facilities. Amends the National Agricultural Research, Extension, and Teaching Policy Act Amendments of 1985 to extend the authorization of appropriations for Federal agricultural research facilities. Amends the Competitive, Special, and Facilities Research Grant Act to extend the authorization of appropriations for competitive, special, and facilities research grants. Amends the National Agricultural Research, Extension, and Teaching Policy Amendments of 1981 to extend the authorization of appropriations for agricultural research at 1890 land grant colleges, including Tuskegee University. Amends the Equity in Educational Land-Grant Status Act of 1994 to extend the authorization of appropriations for 1994 Institutions, including institutional capacity building grants. Amends the Renewable Resources Extension Act of 1978 to extend the authorization of appropriations for forest and rangeland renewable resources activities. Amends the National Aquaculture Act of 1980 to extend the authorization of appropriations for aquaculture activities of the Departments of Agriculture, Commerce, and the Interior. (Sec. 402) Amends the National Agricultural Research, Extension, and Teaching Policy Act to repeal authority for: (1) the pilot program to combine medical and agricultural research; and (2) the research program for intensive water recirculating aquaculture systems. Amends the Food, Agriculture, Conservation, and Trade Act of 1990 to repeal authority for the: (1) water quality research, education, and coordination program; (2) livestock product safety and inspection program; (3) national centers for agricultural product quality research; and (4) red meat safety research center. Amends the Federal Agriculture Improvement and Reform Act of 1996 to repeal authority for agricultural research, education, and extension activities. (Sec. 403) Amends specified Acts to make their common names (Smith-Lever Act and the Hatch Act of 1887) their official titles. Title V: Agricultural Program Savings - Amends the Food Stamp Act of 1977 to limit amounts the Secretary may pay States for administering the food stamp program based upon State reimbursement for common eligibility determination reimbursements under the food stamp program, Medicaid, and AFDC. Amends the Child Nutrition Act of 1966 to direct the Secretary to establish a Low-Income Area Grant Program to assist schools and service institutions expand programs under the school breakfast and summer food service programs. Amends the National School Lunch Act to: (1) increase the number of covered meals and supplements under the child care and summer food service programs; and (2) authorize appropriations through FY 2002 for the Information Clearinghouse. (Sec. 502) Amends the Commodity Credit Corporation Charter Act to reduce information technology funding limits.