Order Code RL34352
Agricultural Research, Extension, and Education:
Farm Bill Issues
Updated June 12, 2008
Jean M. Rawson
Specialist in Agriculture and Food Policy
Resources, Science, and Industry Division

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Agricultural Research, Extension, and Education:
Farm Bill Issues
Summary
The 110th Congress has passed an omnibus farm bill (P.L. 110-234) that will
authorize and direct the implementation of the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s
(USDA’s) major programs across the spectrum of its mission areas through FY2012.
The enacted bill reorganizes the Department’s research, extension, and economics
mission area, which currently comprises four agencies that separately administer
intramural and extramural programs supporting agricultural research and
development (R&D).
The research title of P.L. 110-234 (Title VII) classifies all current research,
extension, and education programs into two groups — capacity programs and
competitive programs — based upon the way in which their funding is distributed to
recipients. Title VII creates an umbrella coordinating entity known as the Research,
Extension, and Education Office (REEO) in Office of the Under Secretary for
Research, Education, and Economics, and designates the Under Secretary as the
Chief Scientist of USDA. The REEO will coordinate and plan both capacity and
competitive programs, as well as USDA-administered intramural (Agricultural
Research Service (ARS)) and extramural programs. Extramural programs (both
capacity and competitive), currently administered by the Cooperative State Research,
Education, and Extension Service (CSREES)), will be transferred to a new National
Institute for Food and Agriculture (NIFA), and CSREES will cease to exist on
October 1, 2009.
Within the new NIFA, the existing National Research Initiative Competitive
Grants Program (NRI) will be expanded into an Agriculture and Food Research
Initiative (AFRI). It will incorporate the purposes of the former Initiative for Future
Agriculture and Food Systems (IFAFS), whose authority the new farm bill repeals.
The House and Senate versions of the farm bill would have provided $865
million and $160 million, respectively, in mandatory funding for certain research
programs over the five-year life of the bill. The enacted bill provides a total of $333
million in mandatory funds for (1) a new specialty crop research initiative ($230
million); (2) research on fresh produce food safety ($25 million); and (3) organic
agriculture research ($78 million).
The enacted farm bill research title includes major initiatives to provide
capacity-building support to Hispanic-serving agricultural colleges and to make them
eligible to receive funding through a wider range of grant programs.
This report will be updated as necessary.

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Contents
Background . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1
Key Issues . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1
Proposals for Change . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2
Administration’s Proposal . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2
2002 Farm Bill Task Force Proposal . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2
Land Grant Organization Proposal . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3
Farm Bill Action . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3
House-Passed bill . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3
Senate-Passed bill . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4
Appendix A. Comparison of the Research Titles of the House- and
Senate-Passed Farm Bills and the Enacted Bill (P.L. 110-234) . . . . . . . . . . . 6
Title VII: Agricultural Research . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6
Structure and Funding of Research, Education, and Extension . . . . . . . 6
Provisions Affecting Certain Research Institutions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9
Organic Agricultural Research . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12
Specialty Crops Research . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13
Bioenergy Research . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14
Other Research Provisions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 15
Extended Program Authorizations . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 20
Repeal of Program Authorizations . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 22

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Agricultural Research, Extension,
and Education: Farm Bill Issues
Background
The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) is responsible for conducting
agricultural research at the federal level, and for providing partial support for
cooperative research, extension, and post-secondary agricultural education programs
in the states. This mission area of USDA is called Research, Extension, and
Economics (REE). In addition to research in the biological sciences, the mission also
includes substantial economic data collection and analysis.1
The state partners are the colleges of agriculture at land grant universities in 50
states and eight U.S. territories, with their affiliated state agricultural experiment
stations, schools of forestry and veterinary medicine, and cooperative extension.
There also are 18 historically black land grant colleges of agriculture (the 1890
institutions) and more than 30 Native American colleges that gained land grant status
in 1994 (referred to as the tribal colleges). Small grant programs have supported
agricultural education at Hispanic-serving institutions, and at Alaskan and Hawaiian
native-serving institutions. The omnibus farm bill enacted May 22, 2008, also
extends eligibility for certain research, education, and extension programs to non-
land grant institutions that offer degree programs in agriculture.
Key Issues. USDA differs from other federal research agencies in allocating
the majority of its annual research appropriation directly to in-house research (ARS,
ERS, and NASS). Most federal science agencies primarily fund extramural research
through a competitive, peer-reviewed grant process. The National Academy of
Sciences (NAS) has recommended for more than a decade that at least 35% of total
USDA research money be distributed competitively. When the Academy first made
its recommendation in 1989, it determined that less than 6% of USDA’s research
funding was competitively awarded. In FY2006 it was approximately 14%, according
to CRS calculations.
The primary and longest-standing mechanisms for distributing annual federal
appropriations to the colleges of agriculture at the state land grant universities are
1 Under the REE mission, the USDA is responsible for conducting agricultural research at
the federal level, and for providing partial support for cooperative research, extension, and
post-secondary agricultural education programs in the states. The USDA’s intramural
activities are carried out by the Agricultural Research Service (ARS), Economic Research
Service (ERS), and National Agricultural Statistics Service (NASS). The federally funded
extramural activities are managed by the Cooperative State Research, Education, and
Extension Service (CSREES). For additional background information on the REE mission
area, see CRS Report RL33327, Agricultural Research, Education, and Extension: Issues
and Background.

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CRS-2
contained in the Hatch Act of 1887 (for cooperative research) and Smith-Lever Act
of 1914 (for extension activities). Formulas set forth in each of these acts determine
how annual federal appropriations are divided among states. The majority of funding
for state-level programs, however, comes from state appropriations, competitive
grants from USDA and other federal agencies, and private industry. States are
required to match Hatch and Smith-Lever formula funds; most states appropriate
three to four times the federal allotment. Nonetheless, despite the fact that federal
formula funds represent only a small percentage of total funding at the state level,
they traditionally have been viewed by state research and extension directors as a
very reliable source of support for their core programs.
Congress has set the policies and authorized the funding for USDA’s research,
education, and extension programs as part of omnibus farm bills since 1977.
Permanent authority for most of the programs resides in older laws, but the farm bill
renews the authorization for appropriations.
To address the challenges posed by the perceived need to increase competitive
grants in agriculture, several major proposals released in advance of congressional
debate on the research title recommended significant changes in how ARS and
CSREES are structured and administered.
Proposals for Change
Administration’s Proposal. In the comprehensive farm bill proposal that
USDA released in February 2007, the Administration proposed to rename the
Research, Education, and Extension mission area the Office of Science, and to merge
ARS and CSREES into a single agency conducting both intramural and extramural
programs under the leadership of a Chief Scientist. The proposal called for the
current formula-funded authorities to be retained. ERS and NASS would be the other
two agencies also under the Office of Science. The Administration maintained that
an integration of budgets and programs would provide more efficient and effective
program implementation and resource allocation. In its call for a unified budget and
a single scientific agency, this proposal mirrored some of the key aspects of the land
grant system’s CREATE-21 proposal (see below).2
2002 Farm Bill Task Force Proposal. In Section 7404 of the 2002 farm
bill (P.L. 107-171), Congress commissioned a task force “to conduct a review and
evaluation of the merits of establishing one or more National Institutes focused on
disciplines important to the progress of food and agricultural sciences,” among other
things. The task force recommendations, released in July 2004, called for the
formation of a National Institute for Food and Agriculture (NIFA) within USDA “to
supplement and enhance, not replace, the existing research programs.” The task
force conceived of the NIFA as a separate entity solely for awarding competitive
peer-reviewed grants, and called for an annual budget for the institute to build to $1
2 The full Administration proposal is available online at [http://www.usda.gov/documents/
07finalfbp.pdf].

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billion over a five-year period.3 The task force proposal was reflected in companion
House and Senate bills prior to congressional activity on drafting a farm bill (H.R.
2118 (C. Peterson)/S. 971 (Bond)). The bills would have provided mandatory funds
for the NIFA starting at $245 million in FY2008 and increasing to $966 million by
FY2012.
Land Grant Organization Proposal. The National Association of State
Universities and Land Grant Colleges (NASULGC) put forth a comprehensive
recommendation for reorganizing the REE system after a nationwide deliberative
process within the land grant system. These proposals were reflected in H.R. 2398
(Barrow)/S. 1094 (Stabenow). The key provisions included (1) putting all of
USDA’s intramural and extramural research, education, and extension agencies
(including the research arm of the Forest Service) under one administrative body,
working with a unified budget; (2) providing $200 million annually in mandatory
funds and substantial annual increases in appropriated funds (to 171.5% of the
current level of $2.67 billion) in FY2012; and (3) providing opportunities for
minority and smaller schools, both land grant and non-land grant, to expand their
capacity for agricultural research, education, and extension. The NASULGC
proposal, called CREATE-21, was widely but not unanimously endorsed by the
colleges of agriculture at the land grant universities.4
Farm Bill Action
On July 27, 2007, the House passed H.R. 2419, the Farm, Nutrition, and
Bioenergy Act of 2007, which included Title VII, the research title. The Senate
Amendment to H.R. 2419, which passed on December 14, 2007, also included
research as Title VII. Both the House and Senate bills drew heavily on the
recommendations of USDA and NASULGC.5
House-Passed bill. The House version called for creating, within the Office
of the Under Secretary for Research, Education, and Economics, an overall
coordinating organization known as the National Agricultural Research Program
Office (NARPO) with six specialized directors.6 NARPO’s six subject-area directors
would work with the existing National Agricultural Research, Extension, Education,
3 National Institute for Food and Agriculture: A Proposal, report of the Research,
Education, and Economics Task Force of USDA, July 2004. The report is available online
at [http://www.ars.usda.gov/Research/Research.htm].
4 Both the NASULGC document and the legislative proposals are under the title “Creating
Research, Extension, and Teaching Excellence for the 21st Century” or “CREATE-21”; see
[http://www.create-21.org/].
5 CRS Report RL34228, Comparison of the House and Senate 2007 Farm Bills, coordinated
by Renee Johnson, presents a side-by-side tabular comparison of current law and the House
and Senate bills, including the research titles.
6 NARPO would be composed of individual institutes for (1) renewable energy, natural
resources, and environment; (2) food safety, nutrition, and health; (3) plant health and
production; (4) animal health and production and animal products; (5) agriculture systems
and technology; and (6) agriculture economics and rural communities.

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CRS-4
and Economics Advisory Board to coordinate and plan both the capacity and
competitive programs of the REE agencies. The directors of NARPO would become
the primary program leaders, incorporating the duties of the currently separate ARS
and CSREES national program staffs.
Additionally, the House bill called for establishing a National Institute of Food
and Agriculture (NIFA) within CSREES that would oversee extramural competitive
research grants only. NIFA would merge USDA’s two major competitive grant
programs — the National Research Initiative (NRI) and the Initiative for Future
Agriculture and Food Systems (IFAFS).7 The NRI portion of the combined program
would focus on fundamental, basic research, and receive 60% of the available
funding. The IFAFS portion would focus on applied, integrated research, education,
and extension projects, and receive 40% of the available funding. The title would
reauthorize appropriations for the NRI at $500 million annually through FY2012, and
provide for the transfer of IFAFS’s mandatory funding.8
The House bill, in support of a more centralized administration of the agencies,
called for the President to submit a unified annual budget reflecting the total amount
requested for each of two categories of mission area programs. The first category,
called capacity-building programs, would include all of the formula-funded
programs, support for research at the tribal colleges, the 1890 colleges, the Hispanic-
serving institutions, and other selected programs. The second budget category, called
competitive programs (administered by the new NIFA), would reflect the total
amount requested for all programs that distribute funds through peer-reviewed,
competitive processes.
The House bill provided a substantial amount of mandatory research funding,
totaling $865 million over the five-year life of the farm bill. The existing Organic
Research and Extension Initiative would receive $25 million in total mandatory funds
for FY2008-FY2012 and $25 million in annual appropriations authority for FY2009-
FY2012. A new Specialty Crop Research Initiative would receive a total of $215
million in mandatory funds in addition to annual appropriations authority of $100
million for FY2008-FY2012. The effort to improve the safety of fresh cut produce
would be provided an additional total of $25 million in mandatory funds to
supplement the annual appropriation. Also, the House bill preserved mandatory
funding of $200 million for IFAFS for FY2010-FY2012. Discretionary programs
were maintained largely as in the previous farm bill and most were authorized to
receive appropriations of such sums as necessary.
Senate-Passed bill. The Senate-passed amendment called for terminating
CSREES and recasting the agency as the National Institute of Food and Agriculture.
The institute would plan, coordinate, and manage all existing extramural USDA
research, education, and extension funds (competitive grants, capacity-building
7 IFAFS was authorized in a free-standing agricultural research law in 1998 (P.L. 105-185).
8 The Deficit Reduction Act of 2007 (P.L. 109-171) cancelled the currently authorized
annual $200 million in mandatory funds for IFAFS in FY2007 through FY2009. Funding
for the program would resume in FY2010 at $200 million annually unless Congress changes
it in the 2007 farm bill.

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CRS-5
grants, and formula funds). The NIFA director would report directly to the Secretary
of Agriculture (not through the Under Secretary). The bill explicitly directed the
Under Secretary to coordinate research between ARS and NIFA, and to recommend
funding for all the programs within USDA’s research mission area.
The Senate bill provided $160 million in mandatory research funding over the
five-year life of the farm bill. This bill would reauthorize the Organic Research and
Extension Initiative with $16 million in annual mandatory funds for FY2008-
FY2012. A new Specialty Crop Research Initiative would receive $16 million in
annual mandatory funds for FY2008-FY2012. Mandatory funds for the Initiative for
Future Agricultural and Food Systems (IFAFS, which would be a program within
NIFA) would be eliminated and replaced with annual appropriations of such sums
as necessary. As with the House bill, discretionary programs were maintained largely
as in the previous farm bill and most were authorized to receive appropriations of
such sums as necessary.
Other new provisions in the both the House and Senate bills included (1) a grant
program to help non-land grant public colleges and universities improve their
capacity for agricultural research, education, and outreach; (2) establishment of an
endowment fund, similar to that established for the tribal colleges, to provide a
continuing base of support for Hispanic-serving agricultural colleges; (3)
establishment of institutional capacity-building and competitive grant programs for
the Hispanic-serving colleges; and (4) a larger commitment to bioenergy and
biobased products.
Appendix A, below, contains a comparison of the agricultural research,
extension, and education policies set in the 2002 farm bill (P.L. 107-171) with the
provisions in the House- and Senate-passed versions of H.R. 2419, and the enacted
Food, Conservation, and Energy Act of 2008 (P.L. 110-234).

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CRS-6
Appendix A. Comparison of the Research Titles of the
House- and Senate-Passed Farm Bills and the Enacted Bill (P.L. 110-234)
SENATE-PASSED SUBSTITUTE
FOOD, CONSERVATION, AND ENERGY
PRIOR LAW/POLICY
HOUSE-PASSED BILL (H.R. 2419)
AMENDMENT (H.R. 2419)
ACT OF 2008 (P.L. 110-234)
TITLE VII: AGRICULTURAL RESEARCH
Structure and Funding of Research, Education, and Extension
Existing policy functionally
Formally categorizes each existing
Formally categorizes each existing
Defines the terms capacity,
categorized Cooperative State
CSREES program as a “capacity
CSREES program as an “infrastructure
infrastructure, and competitive
Research, Education, and Extension
program” or “competitive program,”
program” (i.e., capacity program) or
programs [Sec. 7511]; critical base
Service (CSREES) programs for state-
and designates the current level of
“competitive program,” as in the
funding; Hispanic-serving institutions;
level research, education, or extension
funding for each category as “critical
House provision. [Sec. 7401]
non-land grant colleges of agriculture
activities as “formula funded” or
base funding.” [Sec. 7101]
[Sec. 7101]; and 1862, 1890, and 1994
“competitive.”
institutions for the purposes of
restructuring the Research, Extension,
and Economics mission area as
outlined in this act. [Sec. 7501]
The 1994 USDA reorganization act
Establishes a National Agricultural
Directs the Undersecretary to
Reflects the House provision but
merged the Extension Service with the
Research Program Office (NARPO)
coordinate the programs under the
changes the name to the Research,
Cooperative State Research Service to
under the Under Secretary, with six
authority of the ARS and CSREES
Extension, and Education Office
establish CSREES. The Agricultural
sub-offices organized by research
national program leaders, as well as the
(REEO). Establishes a National
Research Service (ARS) was
focus. The provision integrates the
Director of the National Institute of
Institute of Food and Agriculture as of
established in its current form in 1953.
administrative functions of ARS’s and
Food and Agriculture. [Sec. 7402]
October 1, 2009. The new Institute
Both agencies are under the
CSREES’s respective National
comprises all the programs of the
jurisdiction of the Undersecretary for
Program Leaders, but retains the
former CSREES. [Sec. 7511]
Research, Extension, and Economics.
separate agencies. [Sec. 7104]
[7 U.S.C. 6971]
The National Research Initiative (NRI)
Merges the existing NRI and IFAFS
CSREES is terminated as an agency;
Amends the statute authorizing the
grant program is an expansion of a
grant programs and groups them with
all of its competitive and infrastructure
NRI to create a new Agriculture and
1990 farm bill program initially
all other competitive grant programs
programs are to be administered under
Food Research Initiative to make
authorized in 1965, funded by annual
currently administered by CSREES to
the National Institute of Food and
competitive grants for fundamental and
appropriations 7 U.S.C. 450i). The
become the National Institute of Food
Agriculture. [Sec. 7401]
applied research, and for purchasing
Initiative for Future Agriculture and
and Agriculture (NIFA). [Sec. 7105]
research equipment. Repeals 7 U.S.C.
Food Systems (IFAFS) is a mandatory-
7621 (IFAFS) Authorizes $700
funded grant program, which was first
million annually from FY2008 through
authorized in the Agricultural
FY2012. [Sec. 7406]
Research, Extension, and Education
Reform Act of 1998 (AREERA, P.L.

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SENATE-PASSED SUBSTITUTE
FOOD, CONSERVATION, AND ENERGY
PRIOR LAW/POLICY
HOUSE-PASSED BILL (H.R. 2419)
AMENDMENT (H.R. 2419)
ACT OF 2008 (P.L. 110-234)
105-185), reauthorized in the 2002
farm bill. [7 U.S.C. 7621]
Matching funds are not required for
Creates two categories of research
No comparable provision.
Requires 50% matching funds for
NRI and IFAFS grants; they may be
grants; fundamental research (to be
equipment grants and 100% matching
required for certain applied research
called NRI grants); and applied
funds for applied research grants on
grants. [IFAFS 7 U.S.C. 7621; NRI 7
research (to be called IFAFS grants).
topics that are commodity-specific and
U.S.C. 450(b)]
Matching funds are required for IFAFS
not of national scope. [Sec. 7406]
grants, not for NRI grants. Authorizes
$500 million in annual appropriations,
and transfers mandatory IFAFS funds
to support the merged NRI/IFAFS
program. [Sec. 7106]
Most research and extension programs
Requires the President to submit an
Directs the Under Secretary for
Requires the President to submit an
appear as individual line items in the
annual budget making a single line
Research, Education, and Economics
annual budget making a single line
President’s annual budget request.
item request for capacity programs and
to submit a “roadmap” that, among
item request for all programs under the
a single line item request for
other things, describes recommended
Research, Extension, and Economics
competitive programs. [Sec. 7102]
funding for competitive programs and
mission area. Retains Senate language
infrastructure programs as unified
regarding a “roadmap.” Recommends
categories, with some flexibility in
that budget emphasis within the request
implementation. [Sec. 7402]
for capacity/infrastructure base funding
be on certain institutions, and within
competitive base funding, on emerging
problems. [Sec. 7504 and 7506]
Sec. 1403 of the National Agricultural
Adds integrating and organizing all
No comparable provision.
Deletes House provision.
Research, Extension, and Teaching
USDA research, extension, and
Policy Act of 1977 (NARETPA, Title
education programs; minimizing
XIV of P.L. 97-98) sets out the
duplication; and maximizing
purposes of agricultural research and
cooperation to the purposes of the
extension.
Department’s research mission.
[7 U.S.C. 3101]
[Sec. 7103]
Prior law limited eligibility for formula
Expands eligibility for these programs
Requires the “roadmap” to include
Adopts Senate provision. [Sec. 7504]
funded and other non-competitive
to public non-land grant institutions
consideration of the needs of ASCARR
research, extension, and education
offering 4-year degrees in agriculture
institutions in addition to those of the
programs to 1862 and 1890
(American Association of State
1862, 1890, 1994, and Hispanic-
institutions, 1994 institutions (tribally
Colleges of Agriculture and Renewable
serving institutions. [Sec. 7402]
controlled colleges), and Hispanic-
Resources, or ASCARR institutions).
serving institutions. [7 U.S.C. 361a,
[Sec. 7102]

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SENATE-PASSED SUBSTITUTE
FOOD, CONSERVATION, AND ENERGY
PRIOR LAW/POLICY
HOUSE-PASSED BILL (H.R. 2419)
AMENDMENT (H.R. 2419)
ACT OF 2008 (P.L. 110-234)
343 ]
Prior law authorized capacity-building
Authorizes the appropriation of such
No comparable provision.
Authorizes capacity-building grants to
grant programs for 1890 and 1994
sums as necessary for a new capacity-
ASCARR institutions [Sec. 7138]; and
institutions, and Hispanic-serving
building grant program for ASCARR
changes the term from ASCARR
institutions. [7 U.S.C. 3152]
institutions. [Sec. 7107]
institutions to non-land grant college of
agriculture (NLGCA) institutions.
[Sec. 7101]
Sec. 1417 of NARETPA makes land
Expands eligibility for
Similar to the House bill. [Sec. 7007]
Adopts House provision. [Sec. 7109]
grant and non-land grant, high
grants/fellowships for food and
minority enrollment, and secondary
agricultural sciences education to
and post-secondary institutions eligible
include Agriculture in the K-12
for higher education grants. [7 U.S.C.
Classroom programs, nonprofit
3152]
organizations, and other institutions of
higher education. [Sec. 7206]
The Hatch Act and Smith-Lever Acts
Sets 25% as the minimum amount of
No comparable provision.
Deletes House provision.
set the minimum amount of federal
federal formula funds that must be
formula funds spent on multi-state
expended on multistate research and
research and extension projects at
extension projects. [Sec. 7603]
either 25% or twice the percentage of
state matching funds, whichever is less.
[7 U.S.C. 361a, 343 ]
Annual work plans are required from
Requires USDA to prepare a report for
Similar to the House bill. [Sec. 7503]
Requires a review of annual plans of
states to receive federal funds under
Congress on how to streamline the
work, but does not require a report on
NARETPA, the Hatch Act of 1887 (for
submission, reporting requirements,
how to streamline the plan-of-work
research), and the Smith-Lever Act (for
and implementation of plan-of-work
process. [Sec. 7505]
extension). [7 U.S.C. 3101, 361a, 343
requirements. [Sec. 7602]
]
The 1998 reseach act (AREERA)
Provides for the continuation, under
No comparable provision.
Deletes House provision.
requires CSREES to conduct merit
NIFA, of the mandatory merit and peer
reviews of non-competitive research
review processes for non-competitive
and extension grants, and peer reviews
and competitive grants. [Sec. 7601]
of grants. [7 U.S.C. 7613]
Sec. 1462(a) of NARETPA limits the
Amends Sec. 1462(a) to apply the 19%
Raises the limitation on reimbursement
Raises the limitation on reimbursement
amount of indirect costs that USDA
limitation on indirect cost
of indirect costs from 19% to 30% for
of indirect costs from 19% to 22%.
reimburses to institutions that are
reimbursement to any grant the
competitively awarded research,
[Sec. 7132]

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SENATE-PASSED SUBSTITUTE
FOOD, CONSERVATION, AND ENERGY
PRIOR LAW/POLICY
HOUSE-PASSED BILL (H.R. 2419)
AMENDMENT (H.R. 2419)
ACT OF 2008 (P.L. 110-234)
awarded research, extension, and
institution receives, not just
extension, and teaching grants.
teaching grants to 19%. [7 U.S.C.
competitively awarded grants.
[Sec. 7027]
3310]
[Sec. 7225]
Sec. 1408(g)(1) of NARETPA
Increases authorized appropriations for
Similar to the House bill. [Sec. 7002]
Increases the maximum annual
authorizes the National Agricultural
the Advisory Board from $350,000 to
appropriations for the Advisory Board
Research, Extension, Education, and
$500,000 annually. [Sec. 7201]
to $500,000. Reduces the number of
Economics Advisory Board. [7 U.S.C.
Board members from 31 to 24. Adds
3123]
represen-tation from crop, livestock,
aquaculture producer organizations.
[Sec. 7102]
Subtitle K of NARETPA authorizes
No comparable provision.
Authorizes $19 million annually
Adopts Senate provision. [Sec 7529]
miscellaneous programs. [7 U.S.C.
through FY2012 for grants to the
3311]
Consortium for Agricultural and Rural
Transportation Research and
Education. [Sec. 7051]
Sec. 103(a) of AREERA authorizes
No provision.
No provision.
Amends AREERA to prohibit
peer and merit review of research and
consideration of the availability of
extension grant applications. [7
matching funds in reviewing grant
U.S.C.7613(a)]
proposals. [Sec. 7301]
Provisions Affecting Certain Research Institutions
Sec. 1417 of NARETPA authorizes
Specifies that the University of the
Similar to the House bill. [Sec. 7004]
Makes UDC eligible to compete for
grants/fellowships to land grant
District of Columbia (UDC) be eligible
food and agricultural sciences
colleges and universities for food and
to receive education grants and
education grants. [Sec. 7106]
agricultural sciences education. [7
fellowships. [Sec. 7204]
U.S.C. 3152]
Sec. 1447 of NARETPA authorizes
Extends eligibility to UDC for grants
Similar to the House bill. [Sec. 7020]
Authorizes $750,000 in annual
grants to upgrade agriculture and food
to upgrade facilities, and authorizes
appropriations to upgrade agriculture
science facilities at the 1890
appropriations of $750,000 annually
and food science facilities at UDC.
institutions.
through FY2012. [Sec. 7212]
[Sec. 7124]
[7 U.S.C. 3222b]
The District of Columbia Public Post-
Makes UDC eligible to receive funds
Similar to the House bill. [Sec. 7313]
Makes UDC eligible for EFNEP
secondary Education Reorganization
for the Expanded Food and Nutrition
grants. [Sec. 7417]
Act (P.L. 93-471) designates UDC as a
Education Program (EFNEP). [Sec.
land grant institution, with certain
7512]

---

CRS-10
SENATE-PASSED SUBSTITUTE
FOOD, CONSERVATION, AND ENERGY
PRIOR LAW/POLICY
HOUSE-PASSED BILL (H.R. 2419)
AMENDMENT (H.R. 2419)
ACT OF 2008 (P.L. 110-234)
exceptions.
[88 Stat. 1423]
The Hatch Act of 1887 authorizes
Exempts UDC from the matching
Requires 50% matching funds from the
Adopts Senate provision. [Sec. 7404]
federal funding for agricultural
funds requirement for Hatch Act funds.
District of Columbia in order for UDC
research in the states/U.S. territories. [7
to be eligible for Hatch Act funds.
U.S.C. 361a]
[Sec. 7513]
[Sec. 7304]
The 2002 farm bill amended
Increases the level of required federal
Identical to the House bill.
Adopts House and Senate provision.
NARETPA Sec. 1444(a)(2) to require
support for (1) extension at the 1890
[Sec. 7017-7018]
[Sec. 7121-7122]
that (1) federal support for extension at
institutions to 20% of the amount
the 1890 institutions be at least 15% of
appropriated for 1862 extension
the amount appropriated for extension
programs [Sec. 7215], and (2) research
at 1862 universities [7 U.S.C. 3221],
at the 1890 schools to 30% of the
and (2) federal support for research at
amount appropriated for research at the
the 1890 institutions be at least 25% of
1862 schools [Sec. 7216]
the amount appropriated for research at
the 1862 universities. [7 U.S.C. 3222]
Sec. 1434(b) of NARETPA defines
No comparable provision.
Specifies that 1890 institutions are
Adopts Senate provision. [Sec. 7120]
which institutions are eligible for
eligible to receive funding for animal
animal health/disease funding. [7
health and disease research. [Sec.
U.S.C. 3196]
7016]
The 2002 farm bill amended
Makes permanent the requirement that
Similar to the House bill. [Sec. 7022]
Extends 100% matching funds require-
NARETPA Sec. 1449 to phase in
states provide a 100% match to federal
ment for research and extension at the
increasing state matching funds for
funds for research and extension at the
1890 colleges through FY2012 and
federal formula funds for research and
1890 colleges. [Sec. 7220]
amends NARETPA to update
extension at the 1890 institutions,
permanent law and clarify current
reaching the 100% matching level in
requirement of providing equal
FY2007. [7 U.S.C. 3222d]
matching funds from non-federal
sources. [Sec. 7127]
Sec. 3 of the Smith-Lever Act
No comparable provision.
Makes 1890 institutions eligible for the
Adopts Senate provision. Also
(extension) authorizes federal funds for
Children, Youth, and Families
stipulates that funds for Smith-Lever
cooperative state extension programs.
Education and Research Network
3(d) programs (of which CYFERNet is
[7 U.S.C. 343]
funds (CYFERNet). [Sec. 7303]
one) are competitively awarded. [Sec.
7403]
The McIntire-Stennis Cooperative
No comparable provision.
Makes the 1890 institutions eligible for
Adopts Senate provision. [Sec. 7412]
Forestry Act (P.L. 87-788) authorizes
McIntire-Stennis forestry research

---

CRS-11
SENATE-PASSED SUBSTITUTE
FOOD, CONSERVATION, AND ENERGY
PRIOR LAW/POLICY
HOUSE-PASSED BILL (H.R. 2419)
AMENDMENT (H.R. 2419)
ACT OF 2008 (P.L. 110-234)
certain forestry research programs. [16
funds. [Sec. 7310]
U.S.C. 582]
Sec. 1447 of NARETPA authorizes
Authorizes $8 million annually for
No comparable provision.
Amends NARETPA to authorize
grants to upgrade facilities at 1890
grants to land grant institutions in
assistance to insular area land grant
institutions. [7 U.S.C. 3222]
insular areas to upgrade agriculture and
institutions, and authorizes $8 million
food science facilities. [Sec. 7237]
in annual appropriations through
FY2012. [Sec. 7125]
Funding for tropical and subtropical
No comparable provision.
Within miscellaneous programs, adds
Adds Tropical and Subtropical
research is provided under the Special
authority for a Tropical and
Agricultural Research to the list of
Research grant program to the land
Subtropical Agricultural Research
high-priority research and extension
grant institutions in U.S. insular areas.
competitive grant program limited to
initiatives under Sec. 1672 of the 1990
[7 U.S.C. 450i]
the insular area land grant institutions
farm bill. Extends authorization of
and divided equally between the
Sec. 1672 through FY2012. [Sec.
Caribbean and Pacific basins.
7204]
Authorizes appropriations of such
sums as necessary. [Sec. 7038]
Subtitle K of NARETPA authorizes
No comparable provision
Establishes a grant program for
Adds Agricultural Development in the
miscellaneous programs. [7 U.S.C.
research, extension, and education
American-Pacific Region to the list of
3311]
programs at land grant institutions in
high-priority research and extension
the American Pacific region (AK, HI).
initiatives. [Sec. 7204]
[Sec. 7041]
Sec. 1425(c)(2)(B) of NARETPA sets
Authorizes annual appropriations of
Establishes UDC’s eligibility to receive
UDC is eligible to receive EFNEP
a minimum distribution level and a
$90 million; sets a minimum $100,000
EFNEP funds. [Sec. 7313] The bill
funds [Sec. 7417]. Amends
formula for distribution of any annual
annual distribution in EFNEP funds to
does not contain other comparable
NARETPA to increase the
appropriation for the Expanded Food
each land grant institution; sets
provisions in the House bill.
authorization of appropriations to $90
and Nutrition Education Program
minimum funding percentages for the
million annually. Authorizes each
(EFNEP) in excess of the previous
1890 institutions through FY2013;
institution to receive $100,000as a base
year’s level. [7 U.S.C. 3175]
establishes a formula to distribute
amount. [Sec. 7116]
funds to states after FY2013; and
establishes UDC’s eligibility to receive
EFNEP funds. [Sec. 7604]
Sec. 1417(b)(4) of NARETPA
Adds extension capacity-building as
Similar to the House bill. [Sec. 7005]
Adopts House provision. [Sec. 7107]
authorizes capacity-building grants for
one of the purposes for which grants
research and teaching at high minority-
and fellowships may be made to high
enrollment institutions. [7 U.S.C.
minority-enrollment institutions. [Sec.
3152]
7605]

---

CRS-12
SENATE-PASSED SUBSTITUTE
FOOD, CONSERVATION, AND ENERGY
PRIOR LAW/POLICY
HOUSE-PASSED BILL (H.R. 2419)
AMENDMENT (H.R. 2419)
ACT OF 2008 (P.L. 110-234)
Sec. 1455 of NARETPA authorizes
Authorizes the grant program through
Amends NARETPA to require that
Adopts Senate provision. [Sec. 7128]
grants to Hispanic-serving institutions
FY2012 at $20 million annually. [Sec.
Hispanic-serving institutions compete
to strengthen educational capacity, and
7221]
for strengthening grants; and increases
authorized $20 million annually in
the authority for appropriations to $40
appropriations through FY2007.
million annually through FY2012.
[7 U.S.C. 3241]
[Sec. 7023]
No comparable provision.
Establishes an endowment fund for
Similar to the House bill. [Sec. 7024]
Amends NARETPA to establish an
Hispanic-serving institutions for basic
endowment fund, institutional
institutional support. Authorizes
capacity-building program, and a
appropriations through FY2012 for
competitive grant program to benefit
grant programs and for collaborative
Hispanic-serving agricultural colleges
extension projects at 1862 institutions.
and universities; authorizes necessary
[Sec. 7222]
funds to be appropriated through
FY2012.
[Sec. 7129]
The definition of “Hispanic-serving
Changes the definition of a Hispanic-
Similar to the House bill. [Sec. 7001]
Adopts House and Senate provision.
institution” in NARETPA is based on a
serving institution in NARETPA from
[Sec. 7101]
formula found in Sec. 316(b)(1) of the
one based on a formula to one based on
Higher Education Act of 1965. [20
the total enrollment of students being
U.S.C. 1059]
at least 25% Hispanic, as it is in the
Higher Education Act of 1965. [Sec.
7234]
Sec. 1458 of NARETPA authorizes
Extends eligibility for participation in
Similar to the House bill. [Sec. 7025]
Adopts House and Senate provision
USDA agencies and land grant
international research, extension, and
and adds anti-hunger, nutrition, and
institutions to participate in
teaching programs to Hispanic-serving
food availability to the purposes of
international research, extension, and
institutions. Gives priority to
international programs. [Sec. 7130]
teaching programs. [7 U.S.C. 3291]
institutions with existing cooperative
agreements with federal or state
agencies. [Sec. 7223]
Organic Agricultural Research
Sec. 1672B of the 1990 farm act, as
Adds emphasis on the environmental
Provides $16 million annually in
Reflects the House bill language
amended, provides $3 million annually
impact of organic farming and on new
mandatory funds through FY2012 to
concerning new areas of program
in mandatory funds to support an
plant varieties suited to organic
support the organic research and
emphasis. Provides a total of $78
organic agriculture research and
farming. Authorizes annual
extension initiative. [Sec. 7104]
million in mandatory funds in Fiscal
extension initiative. [7 U.S.C. 5925]
appropriations through FY2012 of $25
Years 2009-2012. [Sec. 7206]

---

CRS-13
SENATE-PASSED SUBSTITUTE
FOOD, CONSERVATION, AND ENERGY
PRIOR LAW/POLICY
HOUSE-PASSED BILL (H.R. 2419)
AMENDMENT (H.R. 2419)
ACT OF 2008 (P.L. 110-234)
million; and provides $25 million
annually in mandatory funds through
FY2012. [Sec. 7310]
No comparable provision.
Sense of Congress that in -house
Similar to the House bill. [Sec. 7505]
Deletes House and Senate provisions.
funding for ARS research on organic
agriculture be at least commensurate
with its share of the U.S. food market.
[Sec. 7608]
Sec. 7405 of the 2002 farm bill
No comparable provision.
Authorizes annual appropriations of
Provides $18 million in mandatory
established the Beginning Farmer and
$30 million through FY2012; permits
funds for the program in FY2009, and
Rancher Development program.
grants for farmers/ranchers who
$19 million in mandatory funds in
[7 U.S.C. 3319f]
convert to certified organic production.
FY2010-2012. Authorizes $30 million
[Sec. 7309]
in annual appropriations (FY2008-12).
[Sec. 7410]
Specialty Crops Research
The Specialty Crop Competitiveness
Expand information that the specialty
No comparable provision.
Adopts House provision. [Sec. 7103]
Act of 2004 (P.L. 108-465) established
crop committee provides the Advisory
a specialty crop committee to inform
Board to include a comprehensive
the Advisory Board on research needs.
analysis of the specialty crop sector.
[Sec. 7204]
[7 U.S.C. 3123a(c)]
Sec. 1672 of the 1990 farm act
Adds new specialty crop research
Similar to the House bill, but
Provides $230 million in mandatory
authorizes research and extension
initiative to the 1998 research act
authorizes $16 million annually in
funds over a five-year period for a
grants on specialty crops as a high-
(AREERA). Authorizes annual
mandatory funds through FY2012.
specialty crop research initiative;
priority research area. [7 U.S.C. 5925]
appropriations of $100 million through
[Sec. 7211]
provides $25 million in mandatory
FY2012; provides $215 million
funds for specialty crop food safety
annually in mandatory funds. [Sec.
research grants. [Sec. 7311]
7411]
Food safety research is part of USDA’s
Authorizes USDA to make competitive
No comparable provision.
Includes a food safety research
research, extension, and education
grants to universities/others to design
emphasis in Sec. 7311, above.
mission area, and is included in both
and implement programs to improve
intra- and extramural programs.
the safety of fresh-cut produce;
authorizes appropriation as necessary,
with $25 million annually in
mandatory funds through FY2012.

---

CRS-14
SENATE-PASSED SUBSTITUTE
FOOD, CONSERVATION, AND ENERGY
PRIOR LAW/POLICY
HOUSE-PASSED BILL (H.R. 2419)
AMENDMENT (H.R. 2419)
ACT OF 2008 (P.L. 110-234)
[Sec. 7511]
Section 1419A of NARETPA
Requires the Food and Agricultural
Amends NARETPA to specify four
Adopts Senate provision. [Sec. 7111]
authorizes the Secretary to enter into a
Policy Research Institute (a university-
university-based policy research
wide variety of grants and other
based economic research institute, in
centers as eligible to receive grants
collaborative agreements with private
part supported by federal funds) to
under existing authority. Adds
and public educational institutions,
establish a corollary institute
specialty crops policy issues as a
corporations, and individuals to
specializing in specialty crop policy
priority focus for these centers’
conduct independent research and
research (drawing on university
activities. [Sec. 7009]
public policy analysis on food and
expertise in states with specialty crop
agriculture. [7 U.S.C. 3155]
production). [Sec. 7235]
Bioenergy Research
No comparable provision.
Establishes a renewable energy
No comparable provision.
Amends NARETPA to authorize the
committee to report to the Advisory
establishment of a permanent
Board concerning research needs and
renewable energy subcommittee to the
budget recommendations. [Sec. 7203]
Advisory Board. [Sec. 7104]
Sec. 404 of the 1998 research act
Extends this authority through 2012.
Contains an identical provision. [Sec.
Adopts House and Senate provision.
(AREERA) authorizes public-private
[Sec. 7403]
7204]
[Sec. 7304
cooperative agreements to conduct
pilot projects to develop biobased
products with commercial potential,
and authorizes the appropriation of
such sums as necessary. [7 U.S.C.
7624]
Section 1419 of NARETPA authorizes
Establishes a bioenergy and biobased
No comparable provision.
Repeals the authority under NARETPA
grants for research on production and
products research initiative,
[Sec. 7110] and amends the 1998
marketing of alcohols and industrial
coordinated by the National
research act (AREERA) to authorize a
hydrocarbons from agricultural
Agricultural Research Program Office,
bioenergy and biobased products
commodities and forest products. [7
focused on the conversion of biomass
research initiative as in the House
U.S.C. 3154]
to renewable fuels. Authorizes $50
provision. Incorporates several
million annually in appropriations
additional provisions from House bill
through FY2012. [Sec. 7410]
and Senate amendment energy titles
authorizing research on: 1) on-farm
renewable energy [H. Sec. 9010 and S.
Sec. 9011]; 2) using sweet sorghum
and switchgrass to supplement corn as
an ethanol feedstock [H. Sec. 9020]; 3)

---

CRS-15
SENATE-PASSED SUBSTITUTE
FOOD, CONSERVATION, AND ENERGY
PRIOR LAW/POLICY
HOUSE-PASSED BILL (H.R. 2419)
AMENDMENT (H.R. 2419)
ACT OF 2008 (P.L. 110-234)
regional biomass crop experiments [S.
Sec. 9010]; 4) renewable energy at a
laboratory in Colorado [S. Sec. 9022];
and 5) farm energy demonstration
projects [S. Sec. 9025]. [Sec. 7207]
No comparable provision.
Establishes a New Era Rural
Similar to the House bill. [Sec. 7043]
Adopts House provision. [Sec. 7137]
Technology Program that makes grants
available to rural community colleges
and technical centers to support
training a workforce in bioenergy,
renewable energy, and pulp and paper
manufacturing; authorizes
appropriation as necessary. [Sec. 7312]
Other Research Provisions
No comparable provision.
Authorizes USDA to establish animal
Requires USDA to issue a permit to the
Adopts Senate provision, but replaces
disease laboratories, conduct research
Department of Homeland Security
the tern National Bio- and Agro-
on diseases that constitute a threat to
(DHS) for work on live Foot and
defense Lab with more general
the livestock industry, and gives
Mouth Disease virus at the National
language. [Sec. 7524]
USDA discretion over the importation
Bio- and Agro-defense Lab; clarifies
and movement of live viruses. [Sec.
only the Secretary of Agriculture has
7108]
the authority to grant and revoke such
permits. [Sec. 11016]
Sec. 1433(a) of NARETPA authorizes
Requires the Secretary to encourage
No comparable provision.
Adopts House provision. [Sec. 7118]
animal health and disease research. [7
cooperation among institutions eligible
U.S.C. 3195(a)]
to receive these funds. [Sec. 7213]
The ARS National Animal Disease
No comparable provision.
Authorizes $16 million annually
Deletes Senate provision.
Center in Ames, Iowa, is currently the
through FY2012 to construct a higher-
highest bio-security lab for animal
level bio-secure ARS animal health
disease research.
and disease facility in Bozeman, MT.
[Sec. 7508]
Sec. 1415A of NARETPA authorizes a
No comparable provision.
Amends program to require USDA to
Adopts Senate provision and clarifies
program to defray the school loans of
favor large and mixed animal
that large and mixed animal
veterinary medical school graduates
practitioner shortages in rural areas in
practitioner shortages have priority.
who agree to serve for limited time
initial phases of program
Requires USDA to return to the Food
periods in under-served areas. [7
implementation. [Sec. 7003]
Safety and Inspection Service fund that

---

CRS-16
SENATE-PASSED SUBSTITUTE
FOOD, CONSERVATION, AND ENERGY
PRIOR LAW/POLICY
HOUSE-PASSED BILL (H.R. 2419)
AMENDMENT (H.R. 2419)
ACT OF 2008 (P.L. 110-234)
U.S.C. 3151]
had been transferred to CSREES. [Sec.
7105]
Sec. 1672(e) of the 1990 farm bill, as
Adds nine new subjects to the list of
Adds 14 subjects to the list of high
Adopts House and Senate lists of
amended, authorizes USDA to make
high priority research and extension
priority research and extension areas.
priority areas to add 23 subjects.
grants for research and extension
areas.
[Sec. 7102]
Eliminates certain specified areas from
projects in a variety of high priority
[Sec. 7305]
the list enacted in the 1990 farm bill;
topic areas. [7 U.S.C. 5925]
includes some of these in the larger
priority area categories in the new law.
[Sec. 7204]
Sec. 410 of the 1998 research act
Amends the 1998 act to encourage
Reauthorizes appropriations through
Adopts House provision. [Sec. 7309]
(AREERA) provides a one-time
flexibility in making grants to youth
FY2012. [Sec. 7209]
transfer of $8 million in mandatory
organizations; allows the organizations
funds to make grants to four national
to redistribute grant funds among
youth groups to support pilot projects
themselves; authorizes the
in rural areas; also provides authority
appropriation of such sums as
for appropriations through FY2007. [7
necessary through FY2012. [Sec.
U.S.C. 7630]
7408]
A number of international agricultural
Authorizes appropriations to establish
Similar to the House bill. [Sec. 7042]
Adopts Senate provision, which
research exchange opportunities
a Borlaug International Agricultural
amends NARETPA to authorize the
currently are available under several
Science and Technology Fellowship
program and annual appropriations.
different statutes.
Program to promote collaboration
[Sec. 7139]
between U.S. and foreign agricultural
professionals and international research
systems. [Sec. 7606]
The Act of March 4, 1927, authorizes
Authorizes the construction of a
Also authorizes construction of a
Adopts House provision. [Sec. 7415]
the establishment of the National
Chinese garden at the National
Chinese garden at the arboretum, but
Arboretum. [20 U.S.C. 191]
Arboretum, using federal
forbids use of appropriated funds. [Sec.
appropriations. [Sec. 7509]
7312]
Subtitle K of NARETPA authorizes
No comparable provision.
Authorizes appropriations for grants to
Adopts Senate provision. [Sec. 7523]
miscellaneous programs. [7 U.S.C.
nonprofits to distribute donated
3311]
vegetable seeds to community food
projects in low-income areas. [Sec.
7046]

No comparable provision.
Authorizes appropriations for grants to
Included in Sec. 7204 (high priority
support farm safety
research and extension areas).

---

CRS-17
SENATE-PASSED SUBSTITUTE
FOOD, CONSERVATION, AND ENERGY
PRIOR LAW/POLICY
HOUSE-PASSED BILL (H.R. 2419)
AMENDMENT (H.R. 2419)
ACT OF 2008 (P.L. 110-234)
education/outreach. [Sec. 7047]
No comparable provision.
Authorizes appropriations for grants to
Included in Sec. 7204 (high priority
increase participation of women/under-
research and extension areas).
represented minorities from rural areas
in science, technology, engineering,
and math education/careers. [Sec.
7408]
No comparable provision.
Establishes a National Farm
Authorizes competitive research and
Management Center to create a public
extension grants to improve farm
benchmarking database and to improve
management skills and create a
farm financial management training.
financial management database. [Sec.
[Sec. 7037]
7208]
No comparable provision.
Authorizes appropriations for a
Adopts Senate provision. [Sec. 7525]
research program to develop
pharmaceuticals and agrichemicals
from plant, marine, and microbial
sources. [Sec. 7049]
No comparable provision.
Authorizes a $1 million annual
Adds the purposes of the Senate
appropriation to support nonprofit
provision to the authorization for
research on international anti-hunger
international agricultural research,
and nutrition activities. [Sec. 7050]
extension, and education. [Sec. 7130]
No comparable provision.
Authorizes appropriations for
Adds food systems veterinary medicine
competitive grants to establish regional
to the list of high priority research and
centers of excellence in food systems
extension areas. [Sec. 7204]
veterinary medicine. [Sec. 7052]
No comparable provision.
Authorizes appropriations for land
Adds regional centers of excellence to
grant institutions to establish regional
the list of high priority research and
centers of excellence for agricultural
extension areas. [Sec. 7204]
commo-dities (incl. poultry
sustainability); requires matching
funds. [Sec. 7039]
No comparable provision.
Establishes a farm and ranch stress
Adopts Senate provision. [Sec. 7522]
assistance network to provide
behavioral programs to U.S. producers.

---

CRS-18
SENATE-PASSED SUBSTITUTE
FOOD, CONSERVATION, AND ENERGY
PRIOR LAW/POLICY
HOUSE-PASSED BILL (H.R. 2419)
AMENDMENT (H.R. 2419)
ACT OF 2008 (P.L. 110-234)
[Sec. 7044]
No provision..
No provision.
Establishes six regional centers to
administer a Sun Grant program
making competitive grants for rural
biobased energy development and
diversification. [Sec. 7526]
No comparable provision.
Establishes a grant program focusing
Adopts Senate provision with
on critical rural and agricultural
additional language to give priority to
transportation and logistics issues
collaborative efforts. [Sec. 7529]
facing producers and rural businesses.
[Sec. 7051]
No comparable provision.
Prohibits USDA from disposing of
No comparable provision.
Adopts House provisions. [Sec. 7502
land or facilities at the Grazinglands
and 7503]
Research Laboratory in El Reno, OK.
[Sec. 7109] Authorizes USDA to lease
land at the El Reno facility to the
University of Oklahoma. [Sec. 7111]
No comparable provision.
Requires scientists conducting research
No comparable provision
Deletes provision.
on biotech crops to receive training in
USDA’s biotech regulatory regime.
Authorizes the certification of third-
party providers of such training. [Sec.
7110]
No comparable provision.
Authorizes appropriations for a grant
No comparable provision.
Deletes provision.
to update USDA’s Nutrient
Composition Handbook for Beef. [Sec.
7112]
No comparable provision.
Sense of Congress that there should be
No comparable provision.
Deletes provision.
greater support for USDA human
nutrition research. [Sec. 7113]
Sec. 1433 of NARETPA authorizes
Encourages setting priorities for animal
No comparable provision.Contains the
animal health and disease research.
health/disease research through regular
House provision. [Sec. 7119]
[7 U.S.C. 3195]
regional/national meetings. [Sec.
7213]

---

CRS-19
SENATE-PASSED SUBSTITUTE
FOOD, CONSERVATION, AND ENERGY
PRIOR LAW/POLICY
HOUSE-PASSED BILL (H.R. 2419)
AMENDMENT (H.R. 2419)
ACT OF 2008 (P.L. 110-234)
Sec. 1424(b) of NARETPA authorizes
Adds as a focus of human nutrition
No comparable provision.
Adopts House provision. [Sec. 7113]
a human nutrition research initiative.
research examination of the efficacy of
[7 U.S.C. 3174]
current agriculture policies in
promoting the health and welfare of
economically disadvantaged
populations. [Sec. 7236]
Sec. 1672(d) of the 1990 farm bill, as
Requires USDA to give funding
No comparable provision.
Adopts House provision. [Sec. 7203]
amended, encourages USDA to give
priority to collaborative research
funding priority to high-priority
grants. [Sec. 7303]
collaborative research proposals. [7
U.S.C. 5925]
The 1990 farm bill authorizes research
Changes the focus of aflatoxin research
No comparable provision.
Adds the House bill language to the
and extension on aflatoxin.
and extension from controlling
authority for high priority research and
[7 U.S.C. 5925]
aflatoxin to improving and
extension projects on aflatoxin. [Sec.
commercializing control technologies.
7204]
[Sec. 7304]
The 1990 farm bill, as amended,
Adds dairy cattle waste and regional
No comparable provision.
Adds House bill language to section
authorizes a nutrient management
concerns to the purposes of the nutrient
reauthorizing the nutrient management
research and extension initiative. [7
management research and extension
research and extension initiative.
U.S.C. 5925]
initiative. [Sec. 7307]
[Sec. 7205]
Sec. 1417(i) of NARETPA authorizes
No comparable provision.
Adds extension and research to the
Adopts Senate provision. [Sec. 7108]
a National Food and Agricultural
award program and requires at least
Sciences Teaching Awards. [7 U.S.C.
one cash award be made per year.
3152]
[Sec. 7006]
Sec. 604 of AREERA, the 1998
No comparable provision.
Authorizes annual appropriations of
Adopts Senate provision. [Sec. 7312]
research act, authorizes the Food
$2.5 million through FY2012. [Sec.
Animal Residue Avoidance Databank.
7213]
[7 U.S.C. 7642]
USDA’s FY2000 appropriations act
No comparable provision.
Permits the Alaskan consortia of
Adds Senate bill language to reauthori-
(P.L. 106-7) authorizes grants for
institutions to designate fiscal agents
zation of the education grants program
education at Alaska Native- and Native
for each member institution, and to
at Alaska Native- and Native
Hawaiian-serving institutions. [7
allocate funds among members. [Sec.
Hawaiian-serving institutions. [Sec.
U.S.C. 3242]
7308]
7112]
In 1994, the Federal Crop Insurance
No comparable provision.
Gives USDA authority to exchange,
Adopts Senate provision. [Sec. 7408]

---

CRS-20
SENATE-PASSED SUBSTITUTE
FOOD, CONSERVATION, AND ENERGY
PRIOR LAW/POLICY
HOUSE-PASSED BILL (H.R. 2419)
AMENDMENT (H.R. 2419)
ACT OF 2008 (P.L. 110-234)
Reform and Department of Agriculture
sell, or otherwise dispose of ARS’
Reauthorization Act (P.L. 103-354)
animals, animal products, plants, and
reorganized USDA, including the
plant products (except for seeds,
merger and realignment of certain
germplasm). [Sec. 7314] Authorizes a
research agencies. [7 U.S.C. 6971]
pilot program to allow property at the
ARS research center and the National
Agricultural Library to be leased out.
[Sec.7316]
Research on antibiotic-resistant
No comparable provision.
Authorizes a competitive grant
Adopts Senate provision. [Sec. 7521]
bacteria in livestock is authorized
program for targeted research on
under general statutory authority for
antibiotic-resistant bacteria in
federal and state agricultural research.
livestock. [Sec. 7317]
No comparable provision.
No comparable provision.
Directs USDA to prepare a report, in
Adopts Senate provision. [Sec. 7527]
coordination with other federal
agencies, on the prevalence of areas in
the U.S. with limited access to
affordable and nutritious food, and to
make recommendations. [Sec. 7504]
No comparable provision.
No comparable provision.
Requires USDA to prepare a report on:
Deletes provision.
(1) domestic and international markets
for products from cloned animals; and
(2) the safety of foods from cloned
animals (particularly milk). [Sec. 7507]
No comparable provision.
No comparable provision.
Provision concerning the recruitment
Adopts Senate provision. [Sec. 7528]
and hiring processes for ARS and the
Forest Service, but does not directly
affect research policy. [Sec. 7502]
No comparable provision.
No comparable provision.
Provision concerning the National
No comparable provision.
Finance Center and National
Information Technology Center, but
not related to USDA’s research
mission.[Sec. 7502]
Extended Program Authorizations
Program under prior law.
Comparable provision in some cases.
Comparable provision in some cases.
—
Human nutrition intervention and

---

CRS-21
SENATE-PASSED SUBSTITUTE
FOOD, CONSERVATION, AND ENERGY
PRIOR LAW/POLICY
HOUSE-PASSED BILL (H.R. 2419)
AMENDMENT (H.R. 2419)
ACT OF 2008 (P.L. 110-234)
health promotion research
program [Sec. 7114]
—
Pilot research program to
combine medical/agricultural
research [Sec. 7115]
— Continuing animal health and
disease research [Sec.7117]
—
Grants to upgrade agricultural
and food sciences facilities at
1890 land grant colleges, incl.
Tuskegee University [Sec. 7123]
—
National research and training
virtual centers [Sec. 7126]
—
Competitive grants for
international agricultural science
and education [Sec. 7131]
— Equipment grants [Sec. 7133]
—
University research [Sec. 7134]
—
Extension Service [Sec. 7135]
—
Supplemental and alternative
crops [Sec. 7136]
—
Aquaculture assistance programs
[Sec. 7140]
— Rangeland grants [Sec. 7141]
—
Authorization for biosecurity
planning/response [Sec. 7142]
—
Resident instruction & distance
education grants program for
insular area institutions of higher
education [Sec. 7143]
—
National genetic resources
program [Sec. 7201]
—
National Agricultural Weather
Information System [Sec. 7202]
—
Assistive technology program for
farmers with disabilities [Sec.
7210]
—
National Rural Information
Center Clearinghouse [Sec.
7212]

---

CRS-22
SENATE-PASSED SUBSTITUTE
FOOD, CONSERVATION, AND ENERGY
PRIOR LAW/POLICY
HOUSE-PASSED BILL (H.R. 2419)
AMENDMENT (H.R. 2419)
ACT OF 2008 (P.L. 110-234)
—
Integrated research, education,
and extension competitive grants
program [Sec. 7306]
— Fusarium graminearum grants
[Sec. 7307]
— Bovine Johne’s disease control
program [Sec. 7308]
—
Agricultural biotechnology
research and development for
developing countries [Sec. 7310]
— Office of pest management
policy [Sec. 7313]
—
Critical Agricultural Materials
Act [Sec. 7401]
—
Equity in Educational Land-
Grant Status Act of 1994 [Sec.
7402]
—
Agricultural Experiment Station
Research Facilities Act [Sec.
7405]
—
Agricultural Risk Protection Act
of 2000 [Sec. 7407]
—
National Aquaculture Act of
1980 [Sec. 7414]
—
National Agricultural Research,
Extension, and Teaching Policy
Act Amendments of 1985 [Sec.
7416]
Repeal of Program Authorizations
Program under prior law.
Comparable provision in some cases.
Comparable provision in some cases.
—
Agricultural telecommuni-
cations program [Sec. 7209]
—
Research on honey bee diseases
[Sec. 7211]
— Partnerships for high value
agricultural product quality
research [Sec. 7302]
—
Precision agriculture [Sec. 7303]
—
Biobased products [Sec. 7304]

---

CRS-23
SENATE-PASSED SUBSTITUTE
FOOD, CONSERVATION, AND ENERGY
PRIOR LAW/POLICY
HOUSE-PASSED BILL (H.R. 2419)
AMENDMENT (H.R. 2419)
ACT OF 2008 (P.L. 110-234)
—
Public education regarding the
use of biotechnology in
producing food for human
consumption [Sec. 7411]

---