[Congressional Bills 119th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 4121 Reported in House (RH)]
<DOC>
Union Calendar No. 138
119th CONGRESS
1st Session
H. R. 4121
[Report No. 119-172]
Making appropriations for Agriculture, Rural Development, Food and Drug
Administration, and Related Agencies programs for the fiscal year
ending September 30, 2026, and for other purposes.
_______________________________________________________________________
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
June 25, 2025
Mr. Harris of Maryland, from the Committee on Appropriations, reported
the following bill; which was committed to the Committee of the Whole
House on the State of the Union and ordered to be printed
_______________________________________________________________________
A BILL
Making appropriations for Agriculture, Rural Development, Food and Drug
Administration, and Related Agencies programs for the fiscal year
ending September 30, 2026, 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 fiscal year ending
September 30, 2026, and for other purposes, namely:
TITLE I
AGRICULTURAL PROGRAMS
Processing, Research, and Marketing
Office of the Secretary
(including transfers of funds)
For necessary expenses of the Office of the Secretary, $43,856,000
of which not to exceed $5,551,000 shall be available for the immediate
Office of the Secretary; not to exceed $1,700,000 shall be available
for the Office of Homeland Security; not to exceed $5,190,000 shall be
available for the Office of Tribal Relations; not to exceed $5,000,000
shall be available for the Office of Partnerships and Public
Engagement; not to exceed $17,915,000 shall be available for the Office
of the Assistant Secretary for Administration, of which $17,015,000
shall be available for Departmental Administration 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 funds made available by this
Act to an agency in the Administration mission area for salaries and
expenses are available to fund up to one administrative support staff
for the Office; not to exceed $3,500,000 shall be available for the
Office of Assistant Secretary for Congressional Relations and
Intergovernmental Affairs to carry out the programs funded by this Act,
including programs involving intergovernmental affairs and liaison
within the executive branch; and not to exceed $5,000,000 shall be
available for the Office of Communications: Provided further, That the
Secretary of Agriculture is authorized to transfer funds appropriated
for any office of the Office of the Secretary to any other office of
the Office of the Secretary: Provided further, That no appropriation
for any office shall be increased or decreased by more than 5 percent:
Provided further, That not to exceed $22,000 of the amount made
available under this paragraph for the immediate Office of the
Secretary shall be available for official reception and representation
expenses, not otherwise provided for, as determined by the Secretary:
Provided further, That the amount made available under this heading for
Departmental Administration 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: Provided further, That
funds made available under this heading for the Office of the Assistant
Secretary for Congressional Relations and Intergovernmental Affairs
shall 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 under this heading for the Office
of Assistant Secretary for Congressional Relations 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 during any 30 day notification period referenced in
section 716 of this Act, the Secretary of Agriculture shall take no
action to begin implementation of the action that is subject to section
716 of this Act or make any public announcement of such action in any
form.
Executive Operations
office of the chief economist
For necessary expenses of the Office of the Chief Economist,
$28,000,000, of which $11,225,000 shall be for grants or cooperative
agreements for policy research under 7 U.S.C. 3155: Provided, That of
the amounts made available under this heading, $500,000 shall be
available to carry out section 224 of subtitle A of the Department of
Agriculture Reorganization Act of 1994 (7 U.S.C. 6924), as amended by
section 12504 of Public Law 115-334.
office of hearings and appeals
For necessary expenses of the Office of Hearings and Appeals,
$12,703,000.
office of budget and program analysis
For necessary expenses of the Office of Budget and Program
Analysis, $14,967,000.
Office of the Chief Information Officer
For necessary expenses of the Office of the Chief Information
Officer, $85,000,000, of which not less than $60,032,000 is for
cybersecurity requirements of the department.
Office of the Chief Financial Officer
For necessary expenses of the Office of the Chief Financial
Officer, $5,867,000.
Office of the Assistant Secretary for Civil Rights
For necessary expenses of the Office of the Assistant Secretary for
Civil Rights, $900,000: Provided, That funds made available by this
Act to an agency in the Civil Rights mission area for salaries and
expenses are available to fund up to one administrative support staff
for the Office.
Office of Civil Rights
For necessary expenses of the Office of Civil Rights, $24,500,000.
Agriculture Buildings and Facilities
(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. 121, 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, $10,603,000, to remain available until expended.
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 Solid Waste Disposal Act
(42 U.S.C. 6901 et seq.), $1,000,000, 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.
Office of Safety, Security, and Protection
For necessary expenses of the Office of Safety, Security, and
Protection, $18,300,000.
Office of Inspector General
For necessary expenses of the Office of Inspector General,
including employment pursuant to the Inspector General Act of 1978
(Public Law 95-452; 5 U.S.C. App.), $94,561,000, 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 (Public Law 95-452; 5 U.S.C. App.), 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 the Inspector General
Act of 1978 (Public Law 95-452; 5 U.S.C. App.) and section 1337 of the
Agriculture and Food Act of 1981 (Public Law 97-98).
Office of the General Counsel
For necessary expenses of the Office of the General Counsel,
$55,537,000.
Office of Ethics
For necessary expenses of the Office of Ethics, $4,136,000.
Office of the Under Secretary for Research, Education, and Economics
For necessary expenses of the Office of the Under Secretary for
Research, Education, and Economics, $2,384,000: Provided, That funds
made available by this Act to an agency in the Research, Education, and
Economics mission area for salaries and expenses are available to fund
up to one administrative support staff for the Office: Provided
further, That of the amounts made available under this heading,
$1,000,000 shall be made available for the Office of the Chief
Scientist.
Economic Research Service
For necessary expenses of the Economic Research Service,
$85,612,000.
National Agricultural Statistics Service
For necessary expenses of the National Agricultural Statistics
Service, $180,000,000, of which up to $46,000,000 shall be available
until expended for the Census of Agriculture: Provided, That amounts
made available for the Census of Agriculture may be used to conduct
Current Industrial Report surveys subject to 7 U.S.C. 2204g(d) and (f):
Provided further, That the Secretary shall notify the Committees on
Appropriations of the House and Senate in writing 30 days prior to
discontinuing data collection programs and reports.
Agricultural Research Service
salaries and expenses
For necessary expenses of the Agricultural Research Service and for
acquisition of lands by donation, exchange, or purchase at a nominal
cost not to exceed $100,000 and with prior notification and approval of
the Committees on Appropriations of both Houses of Congress, 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, $1,790,550,000, which shall be
for the purposes, and in the amounts, specified in the table titled
``Agricultural Research Service Salaries and Expenses'' in the report
accompanying this Act: 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 $500,000, except for headhouses or
greenhouses which shall each be limited to $1,800,000, except for 10
buildings to be constructed or improved at a cost not to exceed
$1,100,000 each, and except for four buildings to be constructed at a
cost not to exceed $5,000,000 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 $500,000, whichever is
greater: Provided further, That appropriations hereunder shall be
available for entering into lease agreements at any Agricultural
Research Service location for the construction of a research facility
by a non-Federal entity for use by the Agricultural Research Service
and a condition of the lease shall be that any facility shall be owned,
operated, and maintained by the non-Federal entity and shall be removed
upon the expiration or termination of the lease agreement: 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
appropriations hereunder shall be available for granting easements at
any Agricultural Research Service location for the construction of a
research facility by a non-Federal entity for use by, and acceptable
to, the Agricultural Research Service and a condition of the easements
shall be that upon completion the facility shall be accepted by the
Secretary, subject to the availability of funds herein, if the
Secretary finds that acceptance of the facility is in the interest of
the United States: 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.
buildings and facilities
For the 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, $21,000,000,
to remain available until expended, for the purposes, and in the
amounts, specified for this account in the table titled ``Community
Project Funding'' in the report accompanying this Act.
National Institute of Food and Agriculture
research and education activities
For payments to agricultural experiment stations, for cooperative
forestry and other research, for facilities, and for other expenses,
$1,058,000,000, which shall be for the purposes, and in the amounts,
specified in the table titled ``National Institute of Food and
Agriculture, Research and Education Activities'' in the report
accompanying this Act: Provided, That funds for research grants for
1994 institutions, education grants for 1890 institutions, Hispanic
serving institutions education grants, capacity building for non-land-
grant colleges of agriculture, the agriculture and food research
initiative, veterinary medicine loan repayment, multicultural scholars,
graduate fellowship and institution challenge grants, grants management
systems, tribal colleges education equity grants, and scholarships at
1890 institutions shall remain available until expended: Provided
further, That each institution eligible to receive funds under the
Evans-Allen program receives no less than $1,000,000: Provided
further, That funds for education grants for Alaska Native and Native
Hawaiian-serving institutions be made available to individual eligible
institutions or consortia of eligible institutions with funds awarded
equally to each of the States of Alaska and Hawaii: Provided further,
That funds for providing grants for food and agricultural sciences for
Alaska Native and Native Hawaiian-Serving institutions and for Insular
Areas shall remain available until September 30, 2027: Provided
further, That funds for education grants for 1890 institutions shall be
made available to institutions eligible to receive funds under 7 U.S.C.
3221 and 3222: Provided further, That not more than 5 percent of the
amounts made available by this or any other Act to carry out the
Agriculture and Food Research Initiative under 7 U.S.C. 3157 may be
retained by the Secretary of Agriculture to pay administrative costs
incurred by the Secretary in carrying out that authority.
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, the Northern Marianas, and
American Samoa, $556,000,000, which shall be for the purposes, and in
the amounts, specified in the table titled ``National Institute of Food
and Agriculture, Extension Activities'' in the report accompanying this
Act: Provided, That funds for extension services at 1994 institutions
and for facility improvements at 1890 institutions shall remain
available until expended: Provided further, That institutions eligible
to receive funds under 7 U.S.C. 3221 for cooperative extension receive
no less than $1,000,000: Provided further, That funds for cooperative
extension under sections 3(b) and (c) of the Smith-Lever Act (7 U.S.C.
343(b) and (c)) and section 208(c) of Public Law 93-471 shall be
available for retirement and employees' compensation costs for
extension agents.
integrated activities
For the integrated research, education, and extension grants
programs, including necessary administrative expenses, $40,100,000,
which shall be for the purposes, and in the amounts, specified in the
table titled ``National Institute of Food and Agriculture, Integrated
Activities'' in the report accompanying this Act: Provided, That funds
for the Food and Agriculture Defense Initiative shall remain available
until September 30, 2027: Provided further, That notwithstanding any
other provision of law, indirect costs shall not be charged against any
Extension Implementation Program Area grant awarded under the Crop
Protection/Pest Management Program (7 U.S.C. 7626).
Office of the Under Secretary for Marketing and Regulatory Programs
For necessary expenses of the Office of the Under Secretary for
Marketing and Regulatory Programs, $1,617,000: Provided, That funds
made available by this Act to an agency in the Marketing and Regulatory
Programs mission area for salaries and expenses are available to fund
up to one administrative support staff for the Office.
Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service
salaries and expenses
(including transfers of funds)
For necessary expenses of the Animal and Plant Health Inspection
Service, including up to $30,000 for representation allowances and for
expenses pursuant to the Foreign Service Act of 1980 (22 U.S.C. 4085),
$1,146,000,000, which shall be for the purposes, and in the amounts,
specified in the table titled ``Animal and Plant Health Inspection
Service, Salaries and Expenses'' in the report accompanying this Act;
of which $250,000, to remain available until expended, shall be
available for the control of outbreaks of insects, plant diseases,
animal diseases and for control of pest animals and birds
(``contingency fund'') to the extent necessary to meet emergency
conditions; of which $15,500,000, to remain available until expended,
shall be used for the cotton pests program, including for cost share
purposes or for debt retirement for active eradication zones; of which
$42,000,000, to remain available until expended, shall be for Animal
Health Technical Services; of which $35,500,000, to remain available
until expended, shall be for agricultural quarantine and inspection
services; of which $65,000,000, to remain available until expended,
shall be used to support avian health; of which $3,000,000, to remain
available until expended, shall be for information technology
infrastructure; of which $216,250,000, to remain available until
expended, shall be for specialty crop pests, of which $8,500,000, to
remain available until September 30, 2027, shall be for one-time
control and management and associated activities directly related to
the multiple-agency response to citrus greening; of which $11,000,000,
to remain available until expended, shall be for field crop and
rangeland ecosystem pests; of which $21,000,000, to remain available
until expended, shall be for zoonotic disease management; of which
$44,500,000, to remain available until expended, shall be for emergency
preparedness and response; of which $59,000,000, to remain available
until expended, shall be for tree and wood pests; of which $6,500,000,
to remain available until expended, shall be for the National
Veterinary Stockpile; of which up to $1,500,000, to remain available
until expended, shall be for the scrapie program for indemnities; of
which $2,500,000, to remain available until expended, shall be for the
wildlife damage management program for aviation safety: Provided, That
of amounts available under this heading for wildlife services methods
development, $1,000,000 shall remain available until expended:
Provided further, That of amounts available under this heading for the
screwworm program, $10,000,000 shall remain available until expended;
of which $24,527,000, to remain available until expended, shall be used
to carry out the science program and transition activities for the
National Bio and Agro-defense Facility located in Manhattan, Kansas:
Provided further, 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 purchase, replacement, operation, and maintenance of
aircraft: Provided further, That in addition, in emergencies which
threaten any segment of the agricultural production industry of the
United States, 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 2026, 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 reimbursed 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. 2268a, $1,000,000, to
remain available until expended.
Agricultural Marketing Service
marketing services
For necessary expenses of the Agricultural Marketing Service,
$190,250,000, of which $5,000,000 shall be available for the purposes
of section 12306 of Public Law 113-79, and of which $1,000,000 shall be
available for the purposes of section 779 of division A of Public Law
117-103: Provided, That of the amounts made available under this
heading, $10,000,000, to remain available until expended, shall be to
carry out section 12513 of Public Law 115-334, and the Secretary shall
take measures to ensure an equal distribution of funds between the four
regional innovation initiatives: 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.
Fees may be collected for the cost of standardization activities,
as established by regulation pursuant to law (31 U.S.C. 9701), except
for the cost of activities relating to the development or maintenance
of grain standards under the United States Grain Standards Act, 7
U.S.C. 71 et seq.
limitation on administrative expenses
Not to exceed $62,596,000 (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, except for:
(1) transfers to the Department of Commerce as authorized by the Fish
and Wildlife Act of 1956 (16 U.S.C. 742a et seq.); (2) transfers
otherwise provided in this Act; and (3) not more than $23,880,000 for
formulation and administration of marketing agreements and orders
pursuant to the Agricultural Marketing Agreement Act of 1937 and the
Agricultural Act of 1961 (Public Law 87-128).
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)),
$1,000,000.
limitation on inspection and weighing services expenses
Not to exceed $55,000,000 (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 expenses of the Office of the Under Secretary for
Food Safety, $1,117,000: Provided, That funds made available by this
Act to an agency in the Food Safety mission area for salaries and
expenses are available to fund up to one administrative support staff
for the Office.
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 $10,000 for
representation allowances and for expenses pursuant to section 8 of the
Act approved August 3, 1956 (7 U.S.C. 1766), $1,216,009,000; 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 funds provided for the Public
Health Data Communication Infrastructure system shall remain available
until expended: Provided further, That no fewer than 148 full-time
equivalent positions shall be employed during fiscal year 2026 for
purposes dedicated solely to inspections and enforcement related to the
Humane Methods of Slaughter Act (7 U.S.C. 1901 et seq.): 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.
TITLE II
FARM PRODUCTION AND CONSERVATION PROGRAMS
Office of the Under Secretary for Farm Production and Conservation
For necessary expenses of the Office of the Under Secretary for
Farm Production and Conservation, $1,527,000: Provided, That funds
made available by this Act to an agency in the Farm Production and
Conservation mission area for salaries and expenses are available to
fund up to one administrative support staff for the Office.
Farm Production and Conservation Business Center
salaries and expenses
(including transfers of funds)
For necessary expenses of the Farm Production and Conservation
Business Center, $210,000,000, of which $1,000,000 shall be for the
implementation of section 773 of Public Law 117-328: Provided, That
$70,740,000 of amounts appropriated for the current fiscal year
pursuant to section 1241(a) of the Farm Security and Rural Investment
Act of 1985 (16 U.S.C. 3841(a)) shall be transferred to and merged with
this account.
Farm Service Agency
salaries and expenses
(including transfers of funds)
For necessary expenses of the Farm Service Agency, $1,100,000,000,
of which not less than $15,000,000 shall be for the hiring of new
employees to fill vacancies and anticipated vacancies at Farm Service
Agency county offices and farm loan officers and shall be available
until September 30, 2027: Provided, That the agency shall submit a
report by the end of the fourth quarter of fiscal year 2026 to the
Committees on Appropriations of both Houses of Congress that identifies
for each project/investment that is operational (a) current performance
against key indicators of customer satisfaction, (b) current
performance of service level agreements or other technical metrics, (c)
current performance against a pre-established cost baseline, (d) a
detailed breakdown of current and planned spending on operational
enhancements or upgrades, and (e) an assessment of whether the
investment continues to meet business needs as intended as well as
alternatives to the investment: Provided further, 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 of
the amount appropriated under this heading, $696,594,000 shall be made
available to county offices, to remain available until expended:
Provided further, That, notwithstanding the preceding proviso, any
funds made available to county offices in the current fiscal year that
the Administrator of the Farm Service Agency deems to exceed or not
meet the amount needed for the county offices may be transferred to or
from the Farm Service Agency for necessary expenses: Provided further,
That none of the funds available in this or any other Act shall be used
to close Farm Service Agency county offices: Provided further, That
none of the funds available in this or any other Act shall be used to
permanently relocate county based employees that would result in an
office with two or fewer employees without prior notification and
approval of the Committees on Appropriations of both Houses of
Congress.
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), $6,500,000: Provided,
That the Secretary of Agriculture may determine that United States
territories and Federally recognized Indian tribes are ``States'' for
the purposes of Subtitle A of such Act.
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), $8,000,000, 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, such sums as may be necessary, 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, emergency loans (7 U.S.C. 1961 et seq.),
Indian tribe land acquisition loans (25 U.S.C. 5136), boll weevil loans
(7 U.S.C. 1989), direct conservation loans (7 U.S.C. 1924 et seq.), and
relending program (7 U.S.C. 1936c) to be available from funds in the
Agricultural Credit Insurance Fund, as follows: $3,500,000,000 for
guaranteed farm ownership loans and $1,966,970,000 for farm ownership
direct loans; $2,118,491,000 for unsubsidized guaranteed operating
loans and $1,100,000,000 for direct operating loans; emergency loans,
$37,000,000; Indian tribe land acquisition loans, $20,000,000; direct
conservation loans, $300,000,000; relending program, $7,705,000; and
for boll weevil eradication program loans, $5,000,000: 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 and grants, including
the cost of modifying loans as defined in section 502 of the
Congressional Budget Act of 1974, as follows: $2,572,000 for emergency
loans, to remain available until expended; and $24,981,000 for direct
farm ownership loans, $2,661,000 for the relending program, and $18,000
for boll weevil eradication program loans.
In addition, for administrative expenses necessary to carry out the
direct and guaranteed loan programs, $326,053,000: Provided, That of
this amount, $305,803,000 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, operating, conservation, and
emergency direct loans and loan guarantees 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
salaries and expenses
For necessary expenses of the Risk Management Agency, $60,000,000:
Provided, That $1,000,000 of the amount appropriated under this heading
in this Act shall be available for compliance and integrity activities
required under section 516(b)(2)(C) of the Federal Crop Insurance Act
of 1938 (7 U.S.C. 1516(b)(2)(C)), and shall be in addition to amounts
otherwise provided for such purpose: Provided further, That not to
exceed $1,000 shall be available for official reception and
representation expenses, as authorized by 7 U.S.C. 1506(i).
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.
2268a); purchase and erection or alteration or improvement of permanent
and temporary buildings; and operation and maintenance of aircraft,
$850,000,000, to remain available until September 30, 2027, of which
$34,625,000 shall be for the purposes, and in the amounts, specified
for this account in the table titled ``Community Project Funding'' in
the report accompanying this Act: 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 of the total amount
available under this heading, $4,000,000 shall be for necessary
expenses to carry out the Urban Agriculture and Innovative Production
Program under section 222 of subtitle A of title II of the Department
of Agriculture Reorganization Act of 1994 (7 U.S.C. 6923), as amended
by section 12302 of Public Law 115-334: Provided further, That for
grants provided through the Urban Agriculture and Innovative Production
Program, grant recipients shall be subject to a fifty percent cost-
share requirement.
watershed and flood prevention operations
For necessary expenses to carry out preventive measures, including
but not limited to surveys and investigations, engineering operations,
works of improvement, 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) and in accordance with the provisions of laws relating
to the activities of the Department, $35,000,000, to remain available
until expended: Provided, That for funds provided by this Act or any
other prior Act, the limitation regarding the size of the watershed or
subwatershed exceeding two hundred and fifty thousand acres in which
such activities can be undertaken shall only apply for activities
undertaken for the primary purpose of flood prevention (including
structural and land treatment measures).
watershed rehabilitation program
Under the authorities of section 14 of the Watershed Protection and
Flood Prevention Act, $7,000,000 is provided.
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
(including transfers of funds)
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: Provided further, That the Secretary shall
notify the Committees on Appropriations of the House and Senate in
writing 15 days prior to the obligation, commitment, transfer, or
cancelation of any emergency funds from the Commodity Credit
Corporation: Provided further, That such written notification shall
include a detailed spend plan for the anticipated uses of such funds
and an expected timeline for program execution if such obligation,
commitment, transfer, or cancelation exceeds $100,000,000.
hazardous waste management
(limitation on expenses)
For the current fiscal year, the Commodity Credit Corporation shall
not expend more than $15,000,000 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 Solid Waste Disposal Act (42 U.S.C. 6961).
TITLE III
RURAL DEVELOPMENT PROGRAMS
Office of the Under Secretary for Rural Development
For necessary expenses of the Office of the Under Secretary for
Rural Development, $1,620,000: Provided, That funds made available by
this Act to an agency in the Rural Development mission area for
salaries and expenses are available to fund up to one administrative
support staff for the Office.
Rural Development
salaries and expenses
(including transfers of funds)
For necessary expenses for carrying out the administration and
implementation of Rural Development programs, including activities with
institutions concerning the development and operation of agricultural
cooperatives; and for cooperative agreements; $305,000,000: Provided,
That of the amount made available under this heading, no less than
$50,000,000, to remain available until expended, shall be used for
information technology expenses: Provided further, That
notwithstanding any other provision of law, funds appropriated under
this heading may be used for advertising and promotional activities
that support Rural Development programs: Provided further, That in
addition to any other funds appropriated for purposes authorized by
section 502(i) of the Housing Act of 1949 (42 U.S.C. 1472(i)), any
amounts collected under such section, as amended by this Act, will
immediately be credited to this account and will remain available until
expended for such purposes: Provided further, That of the amount made
available under this heading, $2,000,000, to remain available until
expended, shall be for the Secretary of Agriculture to carry out a
pilot program that assists rural hospitals to improve longterm
operations and financial health, including strategies to expand and
sustain access to maternal health care services, by providing technical
assistance through analysis of current hospital management practices.
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: $880,000,000 shall be for section 502 direct loans; $6,000,000
shall be for a Single Family Housing Relending demonstration program
for Native American Tribes; and $25,000,000,000, which shall remain
available until September 30, 2027, shall be for section 502
unsubsidized guaranteed loans; $25,000,000 for section 504 housing
repair loans; $60,000,000 for section 515 rental housing; $400,000,000
for section 538 guaranteed multi-family housing loans; $10,000,000 for
credit sales of single family housing acquired property; $5,000,000 for
section 523 self-help housing land development loans; and $5,000,000
for section 524 site 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, $84,480,000 shall be for
direct loans; Single Family Housing Relending demonstration program for
Native American Tribes, $2,963,000; section 504 housing repair loans,
$4,333,000; section 523 self-help housing land development loans,
$862,000; section 524 site development loans, $491,000; and repair,
rehabilitation, and new construction of section 515 rental housing,
$18,156,000, to remain available until expended: Provided, That to
support the loan program level for section 538 guaranteed loans made
available under this heading the Secretary may charge or adjust any
fees to cover the projected cost of such loan guarantees pursuant to
the provisions of the Credit Reform Act of 1990 (2 U.S.C. 661 et seq.),
and the interest on such loans may not be subsidized: Provided
further, That applicants in communities that have a current rural area
waiver under section 541 of the Housing Act of 1949 (42 U.S.C. 1490q)
shall be treated as living in a rural area for purposes of section 502
guaranteed loans provided under this heading: Provided further, That
of the amounts available under this paragraph for section 502 direct
loans, no less than $5,000,000 shall be available for direct loans for
individuals whose homes will be built pursuant to a program funded with
a mutual and self-help housing grant authorized by section 523 of the
Housing Act of 1949 until June 1, 2026: Provided further, That the
Secretary shall implement provisions to provide incentives to nonprofit
organizations and public housing authorities to facilitate the
acquisition of Rural Housing Service (RHS) multifamily housing
properties by such nonprofit organizations and public housing
authorities that commit to keep such properties in the RHS multifamily
housing program for a period of time as determined by the Secretary,
with such incentives to include, but not be limited to, the following:
allow such nonprofit entities and public housing authorities to earn a
Return on Investment on their own resources to include proceeds from
low income housing tax credit syndication, own contributions, grants,
and developer loans at favorable rates and terms, invested in a deal;
and allow reimbursement of organizational costs associated with owner's
oversight of asset referred to as ``Asset Management Fee'' of up to
$7,500 per property.
In addition, for the cost of direct loans and grants, including the
cost of modifying loans, as defined in section 502 of the Congressional
Budget Act of 1974, $30,000,000, to remain available until expended,
for a demonstration program for the preservation and revitalization of
the sections 514, 515, and 516 multi-family rental housing properties
to restructure existing USDA multi-family housing 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 and farm laborers including reducing or eliminating interest;
deferring loan payments, subordinating, reducing or re-amortizing loan
debt; and other financial assistance including advances, payments and
incentives (including the ability of owners to obtain reasonable
returns on investment) required by the Secretary: Provided, That the
Secretary shall, as part of the preservation and revitalization
agreement, obtain a restrictive use agreement consistent with the terms
of the restructuring.
In addition, for the cost of direct loans, grants, and contracts,
as authorized by sections 514 and 516 of the Housing Act of 1949 (42
U.S.C. 1484, 1486), $12,261,000, to remain available until expended for
direct farm labor housing loans and domestic farm labor housing grants
and contracts.
In addition, for administrative expenses necessary to carry out the
direct and guaranteed loan programs, $412,254,000 shall be paid to 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) of the Housing Act of 1949 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, $1,715,000,000, 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
amounts made available under this heading shall be available for
renewal of rental assistance agreements for a maximum of 1,000 units
where the Secretary determines that a maturing loan for a project
cannot reasonably be restructured with another USDA loan or
modification and the project was operating with rental assistance under
section 521 of the Housing Act of 1949: Provided further, That the
Secretary may enter into rental assistance contracts in maturing
properties with existing rental assistance agreements notwithstanding
any provision of section 521 of the Housing Act of 1949, for a term of
at least 10 years but not more than 20 years: Provided further, That
any agreement to enter into a rental assistance contract under section
521 of the Housing Act of 1949 for a maturing property shall obligate
the owner to continue to maintain the project as decent, safe, and
sanitary housing and to operate the development in accordance with the
Housing Act of 1949, except that rents shall be based on current Fair
Market Rents as established by the Department of Housing and Urban
Development pursuant to 24 CFR 888 Subpart A, 42 U.S.C. 1437f and
3535d, to determine the maximum initial rent and adjusted annually by
the Operating Cost Adjustment Factor pursuant to 24 CFR 888 Subpart B,
unless the Agency determines that the project's budget-based needs
require a higher rent, in which case the Agency may approve a budget-
based rent level: Provided further, That rental assistance agreements
entered into or renewed during the current fiscal year shall be funded
for a one year period: Provided further, That upon request by an owner
under section 514 or 515 of the Act, the Secretary may renew the rental
assistance agreement for a period of 20 years or until the term of such
loan has expired, subject to annual appropriations: Provided further,
That any unexpended balances remaining at the end of such one-year
agreements may be transferred and used for 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
provided under agreements entered into prior to fiscal year 2026 for a
farm labor multi-family housing project financed under section 514 or
516 of the Act may not be recaptured for use in another project until
such assistance has remained unused for a period of twelve 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 farm labor multi-family housing project financed
under section 514 or 516 of the Act: Provided further, That except as
provided in the eighth proviso under this heading and notwithstanding
any other provision of the Act, the Secretary may recapture rental
assistance provided under agreements entered into prior to fiscal year
2026 for a project that the Secretary determines no longer needs rental
assistance and use such recaptured funds for current needs.
rural housing voucher account
For the rural housing voucher program as authorized under section
542 of the Housing Act of 1949, but notwithstanding subsection (b) of
such section, $48,000,000, to remain available until expended:
Provided, That the funds made available under this heading 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 or
otherwise paid off after September 30, 2005 and is not receiving stand-
alone section 521 rental assistance: 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 to section 8 housing vouchers administered by the
Secretary of the Department of Housing and Urban Development: Provided
further, That in addition to any other available funds, the Secretary
may expend not more than $1,000,000 total, from the program funds made
available under this heading, for administrative expenses for
activities funded under this heading.
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), $20,000,000, to remain available
until expended.
rural housing assistance grants
For grants for very low-income housing repair and rural housing
preservation made by the Rural Housing Service, as authorized by 42
U.S.C. 1474, and 1490m, $20,000,000, to remain available until
expended.
rural community facilities program account
(including transfers of funds)
For gross obligations for the principal amount of direct and
guaranteed loans as authorized by section 306 and described in section
381E(d)(1) of the Consolidated Farm and Rural Development Act,
$1,000,000,000 for direct loans and $650,000,000 for guaranteed loans.
For the cost of direct loans, loan guarantees and grants, including
the cost of modifying loans, as defined in section 502 of the
Congressional Budget Act of 1974, for rural community facilities
programs as authorized by section 306 and described in section
381E(d)(1) of the Consolidated Farm and Rural Development Act,
$481,323,000, to remain available until expended, of which up to
$467,323,407 shall be for the purposes, and in the amounts, specified
for this account in the table titled ``Community Project Funding'' in
the report accompanying this Act: Provided, That $6,000,000 of the
amount appropriated under this heading shall be available for a Rural
Community Development Initiative: Provided further, That such funds
shall be used solely to develop the capacity and ability of private,
nonprofit community-based housing and community development
organizations, low-income rural communities, and Federally Recognized
Native American Tribes to undertake projects to improve housing,
community facilities, community and economic development projects in
rural areas: Provided further, That such funds shall be made available
to qualified private, nonprofit and public intermediary organizations
proposing to carry out a program of financial and technical assistance:
Provided further, That such intermediary organizations shall provide
matching funds from other sources, including Federal funds for related
activities, in an amount not less than funds provided: Provided
further, That any unobligated balances from prior year appropriations
under this heading for the cost of direct loans, loan guarantees and
grants, including amounts deobligated or cancelled, may be made
available to cover the subsidy costs for direct loans and or loan
guarantees under this heading in this fiscal year: Provided further,
That no amounts may be made available pursuant to the preceding proviso
from amounts that were designated by the Congress as an emergency
requirement pursuant to a concurrent resolution on the budget or the
Balanced Budget and Emergency Deficit Control Act of 1985, or that were
specified in the tables titled ``Community Project Funding/
Congressionally Directed Spending'' in the explanatory statements for
division A of Public Law 117-103, division A of Public Law 117-328, and
division B of Public Law 118-42, as described in section 4 in the
matter preceding each such division: Provided further, That $8,000,000
of the amount appropriated under this heading shall be available for
community facilities grants to tribal colleges, as authorized by
section 306(a)(19) of such Act: Provided further, That sections 381E-H
and 381N of the Consolidated Farm and Rural Development Act are not
applicable to the funds made available under this heading: Provided
further, That in addition to any other available funds, the Secretary
may expend not more than $1,000,000 total, from the program funds made
available under this heading, for administrative expenses for
activities funded under this heading.
Rural Business--Cooperative Service
rural business program account
For gross obligations for the principal amount of guaranteed loans
as authorized by section 310B of the Consolidated Farm and Rural
Development Act (7 U.S.C. 1932(g)), $2,000,000,000.
For the cost of loan guarantees and grants, for the rural business
development programs authorized by section 310B and described in
subsections (a), (c), (f) and (g) of section 310B of the Consolidated
Farm and Rural Development Act, $57,200,000, to remain available until
expended: Provided, That of the amount appropriated under this
heading, $4,000,000 shall be for grants to the Delta Regional Authority
(7 U.S.C. 2009aa et seq.), the Northern Border Regional Commission (40
U.S.C. 15101 et seq.), the Southwest Border Regional Commission (40
U.S.C. 15301 et seq.), and the Appalachian Regional Commission (40
U.S.C. 14101 et seq.) for any Rural Community Advancement Program
purpose as described in section 381E(d) of the Consolidated Farm and
Rural Development Act: Provided further, That of the amount
appropriated under this heading, no less than $100,000 shall be made
available for one or more qualified state technology council to promote
private-sector economic development in the bio-sciences: Provided
further, That $4,000,000 of the amount appropriated under this heading
shall be for business grants to benefit Federally Recognized Native
American Tribes, including $250,000 for a grant to a qualified national
organization to provide technical assistance for rural transportation
in order to promote economic development: Provided further, That
sections 381E-H and 381N of the Consolidated Farm and Rural Development
Act are not applicable to funds made available under this heading.
intermediary relending program fund account
(including transfer of funds)
For the principal amount of direct loans, as authorized by the
Intermediary Relending Program Fund Account (7 U.S.C. 1936b),
$9,000,000.
For the cost of direct loans, $3,065,000, as authorized by the
Intermediary Relending Program Fund Account (7 U.S.C. 1936b), of which
$573,000 shall be available through June 30, 2026, for Federally
Recognized Native American Tribes; and of which $1,147,000 shall be
available through June 30, 2026, 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.
In addition, for administrative expenses to carry out the direct
loan programs, $4,468,000 shall be paid to the appropriation for
``Rural Development, Salaries and Expenses''.
rural economic development loans program account
For the principal amount of direct loans, as authorized under
section 313B(a) of the Rural Electrification Act, for the purpose of
promoting rural economic development and job creation projects,
$50,000,000.
The cost of grants authorized under section 313B(a) of the Rural
Electrification Act, for the purpose of promoting rural economic
development and job creation projects shall not exceed $10,000,000.
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), $16,600,000, of which $2,800,000 shall be for cooperative
agreements for the appropriate technology transfer for rural areas
program: Provided, That not to exceed $3,000,000 shall be for grants
for cooperative development centers, individual cooperatives, or groups
of cooperatives that serve socially disadvantaged groups and a majority
of the boards of directors or governing boards of which are comprised
of individuals who are members of socially disadvantaged groups; and of
which $5,000,000, to remain available until expended, shall be for
value-added agricultural product market development grants, as
authorized by section 210A of the Agricultural Marketing Act of 1946,
of which $1,500,000, to remain available until expended, shall be for
Agriculture Innovation Centers authorized pursuant to section 6402 of
Public Law 107-171.
rural microentrepreneur assistance program
For the principal amount of direct loans as authorized by section
379E of the Consolidated Farm and Rural Development Act (7 U.S.C.
2008s), $15,000,000.
For the cost of loans and grants, $3,269,000 under the same terms
and conditions as authorized by section 379E of the Consolidated Farm
and Rural Development Act (7 U.S.C. 2008s).
rural energy for america program
For the principal amount of loan guarantees, under the same terms
and conditions as authorized by section 9007 of the Farm Security and
Rural Investment Act of 2002 (7 U.S.C. 8107), $50,000,000.
Rural Utilities Service
rural water and waste disposal program account
(including transfers of funds)
For gross obligations for the principal amount of direct and
guaranteed loans as authorized by section 306 and described in section
381E(d)(2) of the Consolidated Farm and Rural Development Act, as
follows: $860,000,000 for direct loans; and $50,000,000 for guaranteed
loans.
For the direct cost of direct loans, loan guarantees and grants,
including the cost of modifying loans, as defined in section 502 of the
Congressional Budget Act of 1974, for rural water, waste water, waste
disposal, and solid waste management programs authorized by sections
306, 306A, 306C, 306D, 306E, and 310B and described in sections
306C(a)(2), 306D, 306E, and 381E(d)(2) of the Consolidated Farm and
Rural Development Act, $346,040,000, to remain available until
expended, of which up to $109,103,564 shall be for the purposes, and in
the amounts, specified for this account in the table titled ``Community
Project Funding'' in the report accompanying this Act, of which not to
exceed $1,000,000 shall be available for the rural utilities program
described in section 306(a)(2)(B) of such Act: Provided, That not to
exceed $4,000,000 of the amount appropriated under this heading shall
be available for the rural utilities program described in section 306E
of such Act: Provided further, That not to exceed $9,000,000 of the
amount appropriated under this heading shall be for grants authorized
by section 306A(i)(2) of the Consolidated Farm and Rural Development
Act in addition to funding authorized by section 306A(i)(1) of such
Act: Provided further, That $20,000,000 of the amount appropriated
under this heading shall be for loans and grants including water and
waste disposal systems grants authorized by section 306C(a)(2)(B) and
section 306D of the Consolidated Farm and Rural Development Act, and
Federally Recognized Native American Tribes authorized by 306C(a)(1) of
such Act, and the Department of Hawaiian Home Lands (of the State of
Hawaii): Provided further, That funding provided for section 306D of
the Consolidated Farm and Rural Development Act may be provided to a
consortium formed pursuant to section 325 of Public Law 105-83:
Provided further, That not more than 2 percent of the funding provided
for section 306D of the Consolidated Farm and Rural Development Act may
be used by the State of Alaska for training and technical assistance
programs and not more than 2 percent of the funding provided for
section 306D of the Consolidated Farm and Rural Development Act may be
used by a consortium formed pursuant to section 325 of Public Law 105-
83 for training and technical assistance programs: Provided further,
That $35,000,000 of the amount appropriated under this heading shall be
for technical assistance grants for rural water and waste systems
pursuant to section 306(a)(14) of such Act, unless the Secretary makes
a determination of extreme need, of which $10,000,000 shall be made
available for a grant to a qualified nonprofit multi-State regional
technical assistance organization, with experience in working with
small communities on water and waste water problems, the principal
purpose of such grant shall be to assist rural communities with
populations of 3,300 or less, in improving the planning, financing,
development, operation, and management of water and waste water
systems, and of which not less than $800,000 shall be for a qualified
national Native American organization to provide technical assistance
for rural water systems for tribal communities: Provided further, That
not to exceed $23,000,000 of the amount appropriated under this heading
shall be for contracting with qualified national organizations for a
circuit rider program to provide technical assistance for rural water
systems: Provided further, That not to exceed $4,000,000 of the
amounts made available under this heading shall be for solid waste
management grants: Provided further, That not to exceed $3,130,000 of
the amounts appropriated under this heading shall be available as the
Secretary deems appropriate for water and waste direct one percent
loans for distressed communities: Provided further, That if the
Secretary determines that any portion of the amount made available for
one percent loans is not needed for such loans, the Secretary may use
such amounts for grants authorized by section 306(a)(2) of the
Consolidated Farm and Rural Development Act: Provided further, That if
any funds made available for the direct loan subsidy costs remain
unobligated after July 31, 2026, such unobligated balances may be used
for grant programs funded under this heading.
rural electrification and telecommunications loans program account
(including transfer of funds)
The principal amount of loans and loan guarantees as authorized by
sections 4, 305, 306, 313A, and 317 of the Rural Electrification Act of
1936 (7 U.S.C. 904, 935, 936, 940c-1, and 940g) shall be made as
follows: guaranteed rural electric loans made pursuant to section 306
of that Act, $2,167,000,000; cost of money direct loans made pursuant
to sections 4, notwithstanding the one-eighth of one percent in
4(c)(2), and 317, notwithstanding 317(c), of that Act, $4,333,000,000;
guaranteed underwriting loans pursuant to section 313A of that Act,
$910,000,000; and for cost-of-money rural telecommunications loans made
pursuant to section 305(d)(2) of that Act, and for loans made pursuant
to Section 306 of that Act, $550,000,000.
For the cost of direct loans as authorized by section 305(d)(2) of
the Rural Electrification Act of 1936 (7 U.S.C. 935(d)(2)), including
the cost of modifying loans, as defined in section 502 of the
Congressional Budget Act of 1974, cost of money rural
telecommunications loans, $5,720,000.
In addition, $5,040,000, to remain available until expended, to
carry out section 6407 of the Farm Security and Rural Investment Act of
2002 (7 U.S.C. 8107a): Provided, That the energy efficiency measures
supported by the funding in this paragraph shall contribute in a
demonstrable way to the reduction of greenhouse gases.
In addition, for administrative expenses necessary to carry out the
direct and guaranteed loan programs, $33,270,000, which shall be paid
to the appropriation for ``Rural Development, Salaries and Expenses''.
distance learning, telemedicine, and broadband program
For grants for telemedicine and distance learning services in rural
areas, as authorized by 7 U.S.C. 950aaa et seq., $30,157,000, to remain
available until expended, of which up to $10,157,029 shall be for the
purposes, and in the amounts, specified for this account in the table
titled ``Community Project Funding'' in the report accompanying this
Act: Provided, That $3,000,000 shall be made available for grants
authorized by section 379G of the Consolidated Farm and Rural
Development Act: Provided further, That funding provided under this
heading for grants under section 379G of the Consolidated Farm and
Rural Development Act may only be provided to entities that meet all of
the eligibility criteria for a consortium as established by this
section.
For the cost to continue a broadband loan and grant pilot program
established by section 779 of division A of the Consolidated
Appropriations Act, 2018 (Public Law 115-141) under the Rural
Electrification Act of 1936, as amended (7 U.S.C. 901 et seq.),
$90,750,000, to remain available until expended, of which up to
$750,000 shall be for the purposes, and in the amounts, specified for
this account in the table titled ``Community Project Funding'' in the
report accompanying this Act: Provided, That the Secretary may award
grants described in section 601(a) of the Rural Electrification Act of
1936, as amended (7 U.S.C. 950bb(a)) for the purposes of carrying out
such pilot program: Provided further, That the cost of direct loans
shall be defined in section 502 of the Congressional Budget Act of
1974: Provided further, That at least 90 percent of the households to
be served by a project receiving a loan or grant under the pilot
program shall be in a rural area without sufficient access to
broadband: Provided further, That for purposes of such pilot program,
a rural area without sufficient access to broadband shall be defined as
twenty-five megabits per second downstream and three megabits per
second upstream: Provided further, That to the extent possible,
projects receiving funds provided under the pilot program must build
out service to at least one hundred megabits per second downstream, and
twenty megabits per second upstream: Provided further, That an entity
to which a loan or grant is made under the pilot program shall not use
the loan or grant to overbuild or duplicate broadband service in a
service area by any entity that has received a broadband loan from the
Rural Utilities Service unless such service is not provided sufficient
access to broadband at the minimum service threshold: Provided
further, That not more than four percent of the funds made available in
this paragraph can be used for administrative costs to carry out the
pilot program and up to three percent of funds made available in this
paragraph may be available for technical assistance and pre-development
planning activities to support the most rural communities: Provided
further, That the Rural Utilities Service is directed to expedite
program delivery methods that would implement this paragraph: Provided
further, That for purposes of this paragraph, the Secretary shall
adhere to the notice, reporting and service area assessment
requirements set forth in section 701 of the Rural Electrification Act
(7 U.S.C. 950cc).
In addition, $15,000,000, to remain available until expended, for
the Community Connect Grant Program authorized by 7 U.S.C. 950bb-3.
TITLE IV
DOMESTIC FOOD PROGRAMS
Office of the Under Secretary for Food, Nutrition, and Consumer
Services
For necessary expenses of the Office of the Under Secretary for
Food, Nutrition, and Consumer Services, $1,127,000: Provided, That
funds made available by this Act to an agency in the Food, Nutrition
and Consumer Services mission area for salaries and expenses are
available to fund up to one administrative support staff for the
Office.
Food and Nutrition Service
child nutrition programs
(including transfers of funds)
For necessary expenses to carry out the Richard B. Russell 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; $35,784,402,000, to remain available through September 30,
2027, of which such sums as are made available under section
14222(b)(1) of the Food, Conservation, and Energy Act of 2008 (Public
Law 110-246), as amended by this Act, shall be merged with and
available for the same time period and purposes as provided herein:
Provided, That of the total amount available, $18,004,000 shall be
available to carry out section 19 of the Child Nutrition Act of 1966
(42 U.S.C. 1771 et seq.): Provided further, That of the total amount
available, $21,005,000 shall be available to carry out studies and
evaluations and shall remain available until expended: Provided
further, That of the total amount available, $5,000,000 shall remain
available until expended to carry out section 18(g) of the Richard B.
Russell National School Lunch Act (42 U.S.C. 1769(g)): Provided
further, That notwithstanding section 18(g)(3)(C) of the Richard B.
Russell National School Lunch Act (42 U.S.C. 1769(g)(3)(c)), the total
grant amount provided to a farm to school grant recipient in fiscal
year 2026 shall not exceed $500,000: Provided further, That of the
total amount available, $10,000,000 shall be available to provide
competitive grants to State agencies for subgrants to local educational
agencies and schools to purchase the equipment, with a value of greater
than $1,000, needed to serve healthier meals, improve food safety, and
to help support the establishment, maintenance, or expansion of the
school breakfast program: Provided further, That of the total amount
available, $4,196,000 shall be available for food safety education
including activities that support sections 17 and 21 of the Child
Nutrition Act of 1966 (42 U.S.C. 1786, 1790) and to support the safe
distribution of USDA Foods, as defined in 7 CFR 250.2: Provided
further, That section 26(d) of the Richard B. Russell National School
Lunch Act (42 U.S.C. 1769g(d)) is amended in the first sentence by
striking ``2010 through 2025'' and inserting ``2010 through 2026'':
Provided further, That section 9(h)(3) of the Richard B. Russell
National School Lunch Act (42 U.S.C. 1758(h)(3)) is amended in the
first sentence by striking ``For fiscal year 2024'' and inserting ``For
fiscal year 2026'': Provided further, That section 9(h)(4) of the
Richard B. Russell National School Lunch Act (42 U.S.C. 1758(h)(4)) is
amended in the first sentence by striking ``For fiscal year 2024'' and
inserting ``For fiscal year 2026''.
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), $7,697,000,000, to remain available
through September 30, 2027: Provided, That notwithstanding section
17(h)(10) of the Child Nutrition Act of 1966 (42 U.S.C. 1786(h)(10)),
not less than $90,000,000 shall be used for breastfeeding peer
counselors and other related activities: Provided further, That the
Secretary shall use funds made available under this heading to provide
a cash-value voucher for women and children participants that is set at
an amount equal to 267 percent of the amount provided for such voucher
in fiscal year 2020 for children participants, and 428 percent of the
amount provided for such voucher in such fiscal year for women
participants: 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 the Secretary shall require State agencies to authorize fresh,
frozen, canned, and dried fruit and vegetables for Food Packages III,
IV, V, VI, VII, and VIII under the special supplemental nutrition
program for women, infants, and children established under section 17
of the Child Nutrition Act of 1966 (42 U.S.C. 1786): 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: Provided
further, That upon termination of a federally mandated vendor
moratorium and subject to terms and conditions established by the
Secretary, the Secretary may waive the requirement at 7 CFR
246.12(g)(6) at the request of a State agency.
supplemental nutrition assistance program
For necessary expenses to carry out the Food and Nutrition Act of
2008 (7 U.S.C. 2011 et seq.), $118,141,341,000, of which
$3,000,000,000, to remain available through September 30, 2028, 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 and Nutrition Act of 2008: Provided further, That of the
funds made available under this heading, $998,000 may be used to
provide nutrition education services to State agencies and Federally
Recognized Tribes participating in the Food Distribution Program on
Indian Reservations: Provided further, That of the funds made
available under this heading, $4,000,000, to remain available until
September 30, 2027, shall be used to carry out section 4003(b) of
Public Law 115-334 relating to demonstration projects for tribal
organizations: Provided further, That of the funds made available
under this heading, $4,000,000 shall be used to carry out section 4208
of Public Law 115-334: 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
through September 30, 2027: Provided further, That funds made
available under this heading for section 28(d)(1), section 4(b), and
section 27(a) of the Food and Nutrition Act of 2008 shall remain
available through September 30, 2027: Provided further, That none of
the funds made available under this heading may be obligated or
expended in contravention of section 213A of the Immigration and
Nationality Act (8 U.S.C. 1183A): Provided further, That funds made
available under this heading may be used to enter into contracts and
employ staff to conduct studies, evaluations, or to conduct activities
related to program integrity provided that such activities are
authorized by the Food and Nutrition Act of 2008.
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, $516,070,000, to
remain available through September 30, 2027: 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 2026 to support the Seniors Farmers'
Market Nutrition Program, as authorized by section 4402 of the Farm
Security and Rural Investment Act of 2002, such funds shall remain
available through September 30, 2027: Provided further, That of the
funds made available under section 27(a) of the Food and Nutrition Act
of 2008 (7 U.S.C. 2036(a)), the Secretary may use up to 20 percent for
costs associated with the distribution of commodities.
nutrition programs administration
For necessary administrative expenses of the Food and Nutrition
Service for carrying out any domestic nutrition assistance program,
$135,348,000: Provided, That of the funds provided herein, $2,000,000
shall be used for the purposes of section 4404 of Public Law 107-171,
as amended by section 4401 of Public Law 110-246.
TITLE V
FOREIGN ASSISTANCE AND RELATED PROGRAMS
Office of the Under Secretary for Trade and Foreign Agricultural
Affairs
For necessary expenses of the Office of the Under Secretary for
Trade and Foreign Agricultural Affairs, $932,000: Provided, That funds
made available by this Act to any agency in the Trade and Foreign
Agricultural Affairs mission area for salaries and expenses are
available to fund up to one administrative support staff for the
Office.
office of codex alimentarius
For necessary expenses of the Office of Codex Alimentarius,
$4,922,000, including not to exceed $40,000 for official reception and
representation expenses.
Foreign Agricultural Service
salaries and expenses
(including transfers of funds)
For necessary expenses of the Foreign Agricultural Service,
including not to exceed $250,000 for representation allowances and for
expenses pursuant to section 8 of the Act approved August 3, 1956 (7
U.S.C. 1766), $227,330,000, of which no more than 6 percent shall
remain available until September 30, 2027, for overseas operations to
include the payment of locally employed staff: 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: Provided further, That funds made available
for middle-income country training programs, funds made available for
the Borlaug International Agricultural Science and Technology
Fellowship 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, shall remain available until
expended.
food for peace title ii grants
For expenses during the current fiscal year, not otherwise
recoverable, and unrecovered prior years' costs, including interest
thereon, under the Food for Peace Act (Public Law 83-480), for
necessary expenses and commodities supplied in connection with
dispositions abroad under title II of said Act, $900,000,000, to remain
available until expended.
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), $220,306,000, 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:
Provided further, That of the amount made available under this heading,
not more than 10 percent, but not less than $22,000,000, shall remain
available until expended to purchase agricultural commodities as
described in subsection 3107(a)(2) of the Farm Security and Rural
Investment Act of 2002 (7 U.S.C. 1736o-1(a)(2)).
commodity credit corporation export (loans) credit guarantee 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,
$6,063,000, 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, which shall be paid to the
appropriation for ``Foreign Agricultural Service, Salaries and
Expenses''.
TITLE VI
RELATED AGENCIES AND FOOD AND DRUG ADMINISTRATION
Department of Health and Human Services
food and drug administration
salaries and expenses
(including transfers of funds)
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; $6,682,889,000: Provided, That of the amount
provided under this heading, $1,543,267,000 shall be derived from
prescription drug user fees authorized by 21 U.S.C. 379h, and shall be
credited to this account and remain available until expended;
$445,807,000 shall be derived from medical device user fees authorized
by 21 U.S.C. 379j, and shall be credited to this account and remain
available until expended; $665,439,000 shall be derived from human
generic drug user fees authorized by 21 U.S.C. 379j-42, and shall be
credited to this account and remain available until expended;
$55,731,000 shall be derived from biosimilar biological product user
fees authorized by 21 U.S.C. 379j-52, and shall be credited to this
account and remain available until expended; $34,143,000 shall be
derived from animal drug user fees authorized by 21 U.S.C. 379j-12, and
shall be credited to this account and remain available until expended;
$26,502,000 shall be derived from generic new animal drug user fees
authorized by 21 U.S.C. 379j-21, and shall be credited to this account
and remain available until expended; $712,000,000 shall be derived from
tobacco product user fees authorized by 21 U.S.C. 387s, and shall be
credited to this account and remain available until expended: Provided
further, That in addition to and notwithstanding any other provision
under this heading, amounts collected for prescription drug user fees,
medical device user fees, human generic drug user fees, biosimilar
biological product user fees, animal drug user fees, and generic new
animal drug user fees that exceed the respective fiscal year 2026
limitations are appropriated and shall be credited to this account and
remain available until expended: Provided further, That fees derived
from prescription drug, medical device, human generic drug, biosimilar
biological product, animal drug, and generic new animal drug
assessments for fiscal year 2026, including any such fees collected
prior to fiscal year 2026 but credited for fiscal year 2026, shall be
subject to the fiscal year 2026 limitations: Provided further, That
the Secretary may accept payment during fiscal year 2026 of user fees
specified under this heading and authorized for fiscal year 2027, prior
to the due date for such fees, and that amounts of such fees assessed
for fiscal year 2027 for which the Secretary accepts payment in fiscal
year 2026 shall not be included in amounts under this heading:
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)
$1,232,115,000 shall be for the Human Foods Program and related field
activities in the Office of Inspections and Investigations, of which no
less than $15,000,000 shall be used for inspections of foreign seafood
manufacturers and field examinations of imported seafood; (2)
$2,359,451,000 shall be for the Center for Drug Evaluation and Research
and related field activities in the Office Inspection and
Investigations, of which no less than $10,000,000 shall be for pilots
to increase unannounced foreign inspections and shall remain available
until expended; (3) $549,858,000 shall be for the Center for Biologics
Evaluation and Research and for related field activities in the Office
of Inspection and Investigations; (4) $244,692,000 shall be for the
Center for Veterinary Medicine and for related field activities in the
Office of Inspection and Investigations; (5) $859,992,000 shall be for
the Center for Devices and Radiological Health and for related field
activities in the Office of Inspection and Investigations; (6)
$67,453,000 shall be for the National Center for Toxicological
Research; (7) $684,324,000 shall be for the Center for Tobacco Products
and for related field activities in the Office of Inspection and
Investigations; (8) $164,737,000 shall be for Rent and Related
activities, of which $48,061,000 is for White Oak Consolidation, other
than the amounts paid to the General Services Administration for rent;
(9) $199,000,000 shall be for payments to the General Services
Administration for rent; and (10) $321,267,000 shall be for other
activities, including the Office of the Commissioner of Food and Drugs,
the Office of Food Policy and Response, the Office of Operations, the
Office of the Chief Scientist, and central services for these offices:
Provided further, That not to exceed $25,000 of this amount shall be
for official reception and representation expenses, not otherwise
provided for, as determined by the Commissioner: Provided further,
That any transfer of funds pursuant to, and for the administration of,
section 770(n) of the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act (21 U.S.C.
379dd(n)) shall only be from amounts made available under this heading
for other activities and shall not exceed $2,000,000: Provided
further, That of the amounts that are made available under this heading
for ``other activities'', and that are not derived from user fees,
$1,500,000 shall be transferred to and merged with the appropriation
for ``Department of Health and Human Services--Office of Inspector
General'' for oversight of the programs and operations of the Food and
Drug Administration and shall be in addition to funds otherwise made
available for oversight of the Food and Drug Administration: 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,
export certification user fees authorized by 21 U.S.C. 381, priority
review user fees authorized by 21 U.S.C. 360n and 360ff, food and feed
recall fees, food reinspection fees, and voluntary qualified importer
program fees authorized by 21 U.S.C. 379j-31, outsourcing facility fees
authorized by 21 U.S.C. 379j-62, prescription drug wholesale
distributor licensing and inspection fees authorized by 21 U.S.C.
353(e)(3), third-party logistics provider licensing and inspection fees
authorized by 21 U.S.C. 360eee-3(c)(1), third-party auditor fees
authorized by 21 U.S.C. 384d(c)(8), medical countermeasure priority
review voucher user fees authorized by 21 U.S.C. 360bbb-4a, and fees
relating to over-the-counter monograph drugs authorized by 21 U.S.C.
379j-72 shall be credited to this account, to remain available until
expended.
buildings and facilities
For plans, construction, repair, improvement, extension,
alteration, demolition, and purchase of fixed equipment or facilities
of or used by the Food and Drug Administration, where not otherwise
provided, $1,000,000 to remain available until expended.
INDEPENDENT AGENCIES
Commodity Futures Trading Commission
(including transfer of funds)
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, $335,000,000,
including not to exceed $3,000 for official reception and
representation expenses, and not to exceed $25,000 for the expenses for
consultations and meetings hosted by the Commission with foreign
governmental and other regulatory officials, of which not less than
$80,000,000 shall remain available until September 30, 2028, and of
which not less than $4,218,000 shall be for expenses of the Office of
the Inspector General: Provided, That notwithstanding the limitations
in 31 U.S.C. 1553, amounts provided under this heading are available
for the liquidation of obligations equal to current year payments on
leases entered into prior to the date of enactment of this Act:
Provided further, That for the purpose of recording and liquidating any
lease obligations that should have been recorded and liquidated against
accounts closed pursuant to 31 U.S.C. 1552, and consistent with the
preceding proviso, such amounts shall be transferred to and recorded in
a no-year account in the Treasury, which has been established for the
sole purpose of recording adjustments for and liquidating such unpaid
obligations.
Farm Credit Administration
limitation on administrative expenses
Not to exceed $106,500,000 (from assessments collected from farm
credit institutions, including 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: Provided further, That the agency may exceed this
limitation by up to 10 percent with notification to the Committees on
Appropriations of both Houses of Congress: Provided further, That the
purposes of section 3.7(b)(2)(A)(i) of the Farm Credit Act of 1971 (12
U.S.C. 2128(b)(2)(A)(i)), the Farm Credit Administration may exempt, an
amount in its sole discretion, from the application of the limitation
provided in that clause of export loans described in the clause
guaranteed or insured in a manner other than described in subclause
(II) of the clause.
TITLE VII
GENERAL PROVISIONS
(including rescissions and transfers of funds)
Sec. 701. The Secretary may use any appropriations made available
to the Department of Agriculture in this Act to purchase new passenger
motor vehicles, in addition to specific appropriations for this
purpose, so long as the total number of U.S. based vehicles purchased
in fiscal year 2026 does not exceed the number of U.S. based vehicles
owned or leased in fiscal year 2018: Provided, That, prior to
purchasing additional U.S. based motor vehicles, the Secretary must
determine that such vehicles are necessary for transportation safety,
to reduce operational costs, and for the protection of life, property,
and public safety: Provided further, That the Secretary may not
increase the Department of Agriculture's U.S. based vehicle fleet above
the 2018 level unless the Secretary notifies in writing, and receives
approval from, the Committees on Appropriations of both Houses of
Congress within 30 days of the notification.
Sec. 702. Notwithstanding any other provision of this Act, the
Secretary of Agriculture may transfer unobligated balances of
discretionary funds appropriated by this Act or any other available
unobligated discretionary balances that are remaining available of the
Department of Agriculture to the Working Capital Fund for the
acquisition of property, plant and equipment and for the improvement,
delivery, and implementation of Department financial, and
administrative information technology services, and other support
systems necessary for the delivery of financial, administrative, and
information technology services, including cloud adoption and
migration, of primary benefit to the agencies of the Department of
Agriculture, such transferred funds to remain available until expended:
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 written
notification to and the prior approval of the Committees on
Appropriations of both Houses of Congress: Provided further, That none
of the funds appropriated by this Act or made available to the
Department's Working Capital Fund shall be available for obligation or
expenditure to make any changes to the Department's National Finance
Center without written notification to and prior approval of the
Committees on Appropriations of both Houses of Congress as required by
section 716 of this Act: Provided further, That none of the funds
appropriated by this Act or made available to the Department's Working
Capital Fund shall be available for obligation or expenditure to
initiate, plan, develop, implement, or make any changes to remove or
relocate any systems, missions, personnel, or functions of the offices
of the Chief Financial Officer and the Chief Information Officer, co-
located with or from the National Finance Center prior to written
notification to and prior approval of the Committee on Appropriations
of both Houses of Congress and in accordance with the requirements of
section 716 of this Act: Provided further, That the National Finance
Center Information Technology Services Division personnel and data
center management responsibilities, and control of any functions,
missions, and systems for current and future human resources management
and integrated personnel and payroll systems (PPS) and functions
provided by the Chief Financial Officer and the Chief Information
Officer shall remain in the National Finance Center and under the
management responsibility and administrative control of the National
Finance Center: Provided further, That the Secretary of Agriculture
and the offices of the Chief Financial Officer shall actively market to
existing and new Departments and other government agencies National
Finance Center shared services including, but not limited to, payroll,
financial management, and human capital shared services and allow the
National Finance Center to perform technology upgrades: Provided
further, That of annual income amounts in the Working Capital Fund of
the Department of Agriculture allocated for the National Finance
Center, the Secretary shall reserve not more than 4 percent for the
replacement or acquisition of capital equipment, including equipment
for the improvement, delivery, and implementation of financial,
administrative, and information technology services, and other systems
of the National Finance Center or to pay any unforeseen, extraordinary
cost of the National Finance Center: Provided further, That none of
the amounts reserved shall be available for obligation unless the
Secretary submits written notification of the obligation to the
Committees on Appropriations of both Houses of Congress: Provided
further, That the limitations on the obligation of funds pending
notification to Congressional Committees shall not apply to any
obligation that, as determined by the Secretary, is necessary to
respond to a declared state of emergency that significantly impacts the
operations of the National Finance Center; or to evacuate employees of
the National Finance Center to a safe haven to continue operations of
the National Finance Center.
Sec. 703. 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. 704. 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. 705. 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 disburse
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. 706. 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 written notification to and the prior
approval of the Committees on Appropriations of both Houses of
Congress: Provided further, That notwithstanding section 11319 of
title 40, United States Code, none of the funds available to the
Department of Agriculture for information technology shall be obligated
for projects, contracts, or other agreements over $25,000 prior to
receipt of written approval by the Chief Information Officer: Provided
further, That the Chief Information Officer may authorize an agency to
obligate funds without written approval from the Chief Information
Officer for projects, contracts, or other agreements up to $250,000
based upon the performance of an agency measured against the
performance plan requirements described in the explanatory statement
accompanying Public Law 113-235.
Sec. 707. Funds made available under section 524(b) of the Federal
Crop Insurance Act (7 U.S.C. 1524(b)) in the current fiscal year shall
remain available until expended to disburse obligations made in the
current fiscal year.
Sec. 708. Notwithstanding any other provision of law, any former
Rural Utilities Service borrower that has repaid or prepaid an insured,
direct or guaranteed loan under the Rural Electrification Act of 1936,
or any not-for-profit utility that is eligible to receive an insured or
direct loan under such Act, shall be eligible for assistance under
section 313B(a) of such Act in the same manner as a borrower under such
Act.
Sec. 709. Except as otherwise specifically provided by law, not
more than $20,000,000 in unobligated balances from appropriations made
available for salaries and expenses in this Act for the Farm Service
Agency shall remain available through September 30, 2027, for
information technology expenses.
Sec. 710. None of the funds appropriated or otherwise made
available by this Act may be used for first-class travel by the
employees of agencies funded by this Act in contravention of sections
301-10.122 through 301-10.124 of title 41, Code of Federal Regulations.
Sec. 711. In the case of each program established or amended by
the Agricultural Act of 2014 (Public Law 113-79) or by a successor to
that Act, other than by title I of such Act, or programs for which
indefinite amounts were provided in that Act, that is authorized or
required to be carried out using funds of the Commodity Credit
Corporation--
(1) such funds shall be available for salaries and related
administrative expenses, including technical assistance,
associated with the implementation of the program, without
regard to the limitation on the total amount of allotments and
fund transfers contained in section 11 of the Commodity Credit
Corporation Charter Act (15 U.S.C. 714i); and
(2) the use of such funds for such purpose shall not be
considered to be a fund transfer or allotment for purposes of
applying the limitation on the total amount of allotments and
fund transfers contained in such section.
Sec. 712. Of the funds made available by this Act, not more than
$2,900,000 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. 713. (a) None of the funds made available in this Act may be
used to maintain or establish a computer network unless such network
blocks the viewing, downloading, and exchanging of pornography.
(b) Nothing in subsection (a) shall limit the use of funds
necessary for any Federal, State, tribal, or local law enforcement
agency or any other entity carrying out criminal investigations,
prosecution, or adjudication activities.
Sec. 714. Notwithstanding subsection (b) of section 14222 of
Public Law 110-246 (7 U.S.C. 612c-6; in this section referred to as
``section 14222''), 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 to carry out a program under section 32 of
the Act of August 24, 1935 (7 U.S.C. 612c; in this section referred to
as ``section 32'') in excess of $1,667,049,000 (exclusive of carryover
appropriations from prior fiscal years), as follows: Child Nutrition
Programs Entitlement Commodities--$485,000,000; State Option
Contracts--$5,000,000; Removal of Defective Commodities--$2,500,000;
Administration of section 32 Commodity Purchases--$40,971,000:
Provided, That of the total funds made available in the matter
preceding this proviso that remain unobligated on October 1, 2026, such
unobligated balances shall carryover into fiscal year 2027 and shall
remain available until expended for any of the purposes of section 32,
except that any such carryover funds used in accordance with clause (3)
of section 32 may not exceed $350,000,000 and may not be obligated
until the Secretary of Agriculture provides written notification of the
expenditures to the Committees on Appropriations of both Houses of
Congress at least two weeks in advance: Provided further, That, with
the exception of any available carryover funds authorized in any prior
appropriations Act to be used for the purposes of clause (3) of section
32, none of the funds appropriated or otherwise made available by this
or any other Act shall be used to pay the salaries or expenses of any
employee of the Department of Agriculture to carry out clause (3) of
section 32.
Sec. 715. 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 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 2026 appropriations Act.
Sec. 716. (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 derived by the
collection of fees available to the agencies funded by this Act, shall
be available for obligation or expenditure through a reprogramming,
transfer of funds, or reimbursements as authorized by the Economy Act,
or in the case of the Department of Agriculture, through use of the
authority provided by section 702(b) of the Department of Agriculture
Organic Act of 1944 (7 U.S.C. 2257) or section 8 of Public Law 89-106
(7 U.S.C. 2263), that--
(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 Secretary of Agriculture, the Secretary of Health and Human
Services, or the Chairman of the Commodity Futures Trading Commission
(as the case may be) notifies in writing and receives approval from the
Committees on Appropriations of both Houses of Congress at least 30
days in advance of the reprogramming of such funds or the use of such
authority.
(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 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 or use of the authorities referred to in
subsection (a) involving funds in excess of $500,000 or 10 percent,
whichever 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 Secretary of Agriculture, the Secretary of Health and Human
Services, or the Chairman of the Commodity Futures Trading Commission
(as the case may be) notifies in writing and receives approval from the
Committees on Appropriations of both Houses of Congress at least 30
days in advance of the reprogramming or transfer of such funds or the
use of such authority.
(c) The Secretary of Agriculture, the Secretary of Health and Human
Services, or the Chairman of the Commodity Futures Trading Commission
shall notify in writing and receive approval from the Committees on
Appropriations of both Houses of Congress before implementing any
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.
(d) 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 derived by the collection of
fees available to the agencies funded by this Act, shall be available
for--
(1) modifying major capital investments funding levels,
including information technology systems, that involves
increasing or decreasing funds in the current fiscal year for
the individual investment in excess of $500,000 or 10 percent
of the total cost, whichever is less;
(2) realigning or reorganizing new, current, or vacant
positions or agency activities or functions to establish a
center, office, branch, or similar entity with five or more
personnel; or
(3) carrying out activities or functions that were not
described in the budget request;
unless the agencies funded by this Act notify, in writing, the
Committees on Appropriations of both Houses of Congress at least 30
days in advance of using the funds for these purposes.
(e) As described in this section, no funds may be used for any
activities unless the Secretary of Agriculture, the Secretary of Health
and Human Services, or the Chairman of the Commodity Futures Trading
Commission receives from the Committee on Appropriations of both Houses
of Congress written or electronic mail confirmation of receipt of the
notification as required in this section.
Sec. 717. Notwithstanding section 310B(g)(5) of the Consolidated
Farm and Rural Development Act (7 U.S.C. 1932(g)(5)), the Secretary may
assess a one-time fee for any guaranteed business and industry loan in
an amount that does not exceed 3 percent of the guaranteed principal
portion of the loan.
Sec. 718. None of the funds appropriated or otherwise made
available to the Department of Agriculture, the Food and Drug
Administration, the Commodity Futures Trading Commission, or the Farm
Credit Administration shall be used to transmit or otherwise make
available reports, questions, or responses to questions that are a
result of information requested for the appropriations hearing process
to any non-Department of Agriculture, non-Department of Health and
Human Services, non-Commodity Futures Trading Commission, or non-Farm
Credit Administration employee.
Sec. 719. 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. 720. No employee of the Department of Agriculture may be
detailed or assigned from an agency or office funded by this Act or any
other Act to any other agency or office of the Department for more than
60 days in a fiscal year 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. 721. (a) Not later than 30 days after the date of enactment of
this Act, the Secretary of Agriculture, the Commissioner of the Food
and Drug Administration, the Chairman of the Commodity Futures Trading
Commission, and the Chairman of the Farm Credit Administration shall
submit to the Committees on Appropriations of the House of
Representatives and the Senate a detailed obligation plan delineated by
program, project, and activity, as defined in the report accompanying
this Act, for all amounts made available by this Act and prior
appropriations Acts that remain available for obligation, including
appropriated user fees and loan authorizations.
(b) Such obligation plan shall serve as the baseline for
reprogramming notifications for the purposes of section 716 of this
Act.
(c) Such plan shall include breakdowns of estimated obligations for
each such program, project, or activity by--
(1) fiscal quarter;
(2) source appropriation; and
(3) the number of full-time equivalent positions supported.
(d) Notwithstanding any other provision of law, none of the funds
made available by this Act or previous appropriations Acts to the
agencies funded in this Act that remain available for obligation or
expenditure shall be available for transfer or reprogramming except
pursuant to section 716 of this Act.
(rescission of funds)
Sec. 722. Of the unobligated balances from amounts made available
for the supplemental nutrition program as authorized by section 17 of
the Child Nutrition Act of 1966 (42 U.S.C. 1786), $100,000,000 are
hereby rescinded: Provided, That no amounts may be rescinded from
amounts that were designated by the Congress as an emergency
requirement pursuant to a Concurrent Resolution on the Budget or the
Balanced Budget and Emergency Deficit Control Act of 1985.
Sec. 723. For the purposes of determining eligibility or level of
program assistance for Rural Housing Service programs the Secretary
shall not include incarcerated prison populations.
Sec. 724. For loans and loan guarantees that do not require budget
authority and the program level has been established in this Act, the
Secretary of Agriculture may increase the program level for such loans
and loan guarantees by not more than 25 percent: Provided, That prior
to the Secretary implementing such an increase, the Secretary notifies,
in writing, the Committees on Appropriations of both Houses of Congress
at least 15 days in advance.
Sec. 725. None of the credit card refunds or rebates transferred
to the Working Capital Fund pursuant to section 729 of the Agriculture,
Rural Development, Food and Drug Administration, and Related Agencies
Appropriations Act, 2002 (7 U.S.C. 2235a; Public Law 107-76) shall be
available for obligation without written notification to, and the prior
approval of, the Committees on Appropriations of both Houses of
Congress: Provided, That the refunds or rebates so transferred shall
be available for obligation only for the acquisition of property, plant
and equipment, including equipment for the improvement, delivery, and
implementation of Departmental financial management, information
technology, and other support systems necessary for the delivery of
financial, administrative, and information technology services,
including cloud adoption and migration, of primary benefit to the
agencies of the Department of Agriculture.
Sec. 726. None of the funds made available by this Act may be used
to implement, administer, or enforce the ``variety'' requirements of
the final rule entitled ``Enhancing Retailer Standards in the
Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP)'' published by the
Department of Agriculture in the Federal Register on December 15, 2016
(81 Fed. Reg. 90675) until the Secretary of Agriculture amends the
definition of the term ``variety'' as defined in section
278.1(b)(1)(ii)(C) of title 7, Code of Federal Regulations, and
``variety'' as applied in the definition of the term ``staple food'' as
defined in section 271.2 of title 7, Code of Federal Regulations, to
increase the number of items that qualify as acceptable varieties in
each staple food category so that the total number of such items in
each staple food category exceeds the number of such items in each
staple food category included in the final rule as published on
December 15, 2016: Provided, That until the Secretary promulgates such
regulatory amendments, the Secretary shall apply the requirements
regarding acceptable varieties and breadth of stock to Supplemental
Nutrition Assistance Program retailers that were in effect on the day
before the date of the enactment of the Agricultural Act of 2014
(Public Law 113-79).
Sec. 727. In carrying out subsection (h) of section 502 of the
Housing Act of 1949 (42 U.S.C. 1472), the Secretary of Agriculture
shall have the same authority with respect to loans guaranteed under
such section and eligible lenders for such loans as the Secretary has
under subsections (h) and (j) of section 538 of such Act (42 U.S.C.
1490p-2) with respect to loans guaranteed under such section 538 and
eligible lenders for such loans.
Sec. 728. None of the funds appropriated or otherwise made
available by this Act shall be available for the United States
Department of Agriculture to propose, finalize or implement any
regulation that would promulgate new user fees pursuant to 31 U.S.C.
9701 after the date of the enactment of this Act.
Sec. 729. None of the funds made available by this or any other
Act thereafter may be used to write, prepare, or publish a proposed
rule, final rule, or an interim final rule in furtherance of, or
otherwise to implement or enforce the final rule entitled
``Transparency in Poultry Grower Contracting and Tournaments,''
published by the Department of Agriculture in the Federal Register on
November 28, 2023 (88 Fed. Reg. 83210 et seq.), the final rule entitled
``Inclusive Competition and Market Integrity Under the Packers and
Stockyards Act,'' published by the Department of Agriculture in the
Federal Register on March 6, 2024 (89 Fed. Reg. 16092 et seq.), the
final rule entitled ``Poultry Grower Payment Systems and Capital
Improvement Systems,'' published by the Department of Agriculture in
the Federal Register on January 16, 2025 (90 Fed. Reg. 5146 et seq.),
the proposed rule entitled ``Fair and Competitive Livestock and Poultry
Markets,'' published by the Department of Agriculture in the Federal
Register on June 28, 2024 (89 Fed. Reg. 53886 et seq.), or any
subsequent substantially similar rulemaking effort, except that funds
may be used to, and the Secretary of Agriculture shall, withdraw or
rescind any such proposed rules, advanced notices of proposed
rulemaking, and any such rules that may have been finalized, and
discontinue and provide notice of closure to affected parties of any
investigations or enforcement activities pending under said rules.
Sec. 730. Notwithstanding any provision of law that regulates the
calculation and payment of overtime and holiday pay for FSIS
inspectors, the Secretary may charge establishments subject to the
inspection requirements of the Poultry Products Inspection Act, 21
U.S.C. 451 et seq., the Federal Meat Inspection Act, 21 U.S.C. 601 et
seq, and the Egg Products Inspection Act, 21 U.S.C. 1031 et seq., for
the cost of inspection services provided outside of an establishment's
approved inspection shifts, and for inspection services provided on
Federal holidays: Provided, That any sums charged pursuant to this
paragraph shall be deemed as overtime pay or holiday pay under section
1001(d) of the American Rescue Plan Act of 2021 (Public Law 117-2, 135
Stat. 242): Provided further, That sums received by the Secretary
under this paragraph shall, in addition to other available funds,
remain available until expended to the Secretary without further
appropriation for the purpose of funding all costs associated with FSIS
inspections.
Sec. 731. (a) The Secretary of Agriculture shall--
(1) conduct audits in a manner that evaluates the following
factors in the country or region being audited, as applicable--
(A) veterinary control and oversight;
(B) disease history and vaccination practices;
(C) livestock demographics and traceability;
(D) epidemiological separation from potential
sources of infection;
(E) surveillance practices;
(F) diagnostic laboratory capabilities; and
(G) emergency preparedness and response; and
(2) promptly make publicly available the final reports of
any audits or reviews conducted pursuant to paragraph (1).
(b) This section shall be applied in a manner consistent with
United States obligations under its international trade agreements.
Sec. 732. A bank referenced in 12 U.S.C. 2128 may make and
participate in loans and commitments and provide technical and other
financial assistance to cooperatives and any other public or private
entity (except for the federal government) for the purpose of
installing, maintaining, expanding, improving, or operating facilities
in a rural area as defined in 12 U.S.C. 2128(f) for the processing or
disposal of waste from any source, provision of telecommunication
services, and producing electricity from any source for use or sale by
the borrower.
Sec. 733. Out of the funds provided by this Act to the Food and
Drug Administration (in this section referred to as the ``FDA''), or
provided from any accounts in the Treasury derived by the collection of
fees available to the agencies funded by this Act, not less than
$200,000,000 shall be used by the Commissioner of Food and Drugs for
enforcement activities related to e-cigarettes, vapes, and other
electronic nicotine delivery systems (in this section referred to as
``ENDS''), including--
(1) updating the FDA document titled ``Enforcement
Priorities for Electronic Nicotine Delivery System (ENDS) and
Other Deemed Products on the Market Without Premarket
Authorization'', published in January 2020 and updated on April
13, 2020--
(A) to expand FDA's prioritized enforcement to
flavored disposable ENDS products in addition to
cartridge-based products; and
(B) to define the term ``disposable ENDS product'';
(2) preparing and making publicly available on the FDA
website a list of products, to be updated monthly, that have--
(A) received marketing granted orders pursuant to
section 910(c)(1)(A)(i) of the Federal Food, Drug, and
Cosmetic Act (21 U.S.C. 4 387j(c)(1)(A)(i));
(B) received marketing denial orders pursuant to
section 910(c) of such Act (21 U.S.C. 7 387j(c)) that
have been and remain stayed by the Secretary or through
court order, rescinded by the Secretary, or vacated by
a court; or
(C) submitted a premarket tobacco product
application pursuant to section 910(b) of such Act (21
U.S.C. 387j(b)), which remains pending review since on
or before September 9, 2020;
(3) continuing the activities of the Federal multi-agency
task force led by the Department of Justice and the FDA to
further work to bring all available criminal and civil tools to
bear against the illegal manufacture, importation,
distribution, and sale of e-cigarettes, vapes, and other ENDS
products from the Republic of China and other foreign
countries; and
(4) submitting a semi-annual written report to the
Committees on Appropriations of both Houses of Congress on the
progress that the Center for Tobacco Products is making in
removing all illegal ENDS products from the market.
Sec. 734. (a)(1) No Federal funds made available for this fiscal
year for the rural water, waste water, waste disposal, and solid waste
management programs authorized by sections 306, 306A, 306C, 306D, 306E,
and 310B of the Consolidated Farm and Rural Development Act (7 U.S.C.
1926 et seq.) shall be used for a project for the construction,
alteration, maintenance, or repair of a public water or wastewater
system unless all of the iron and steel products used in the project
are produced in the United States.
(2) In this section, the term ``iron and steel products'' means the
following products made primarily of iron or steel: lined or unlined
pipes and fittings, manhole covers and other municipal castings,
hydrants, tanks, flanges, pipe clamps and restraints, valves,
structural steel, reinforced precast concrete, and construction
materials.
(b) Subsection (a) shall not apply in any case or category of cases
in which the Secretary of Agriculture (in this section referred to as
the ``Secretary'') or the designee of the Secretary finds that--
(1) applying subsection (a) would be inconsistent with the
public interest;
(2) iron and steel products are not produced in the United
States in sufficient and reasonably available quantities or of
a satisfactory quality; or
(3) inclusion of iron and steel products produced in the
United States will increase the cost of the overall project by
more than 25 percent.
(c) If the Secretary or the designee receives a request for a
waiver under this section, the Secretary or the designee shall make
available to the public on an informal basis a copy of the request and
information available to the Secretary or the designee concerning the
request, and shall allow for informal public input on the request for
at least 15 days prior to making a finding based on the request. The
Secretary or the designee shall make the request and accompanying
information available by electronic means, including on the official
public Internet Web site of the Department.
(d) This section shall be applied in a manner consistent with
United States obligations under international agreements.
(e) The Secretary may retain up to 0.25 percent of the funds
appropriated in this Act for ``Rural Utilities Service--Rural Water and
Waste Disposal Program Account'' for carrying out the provisions
described in subsection (a)(1) for management and oversight of the
requirements of this section.
(f) Subsection (a) shall not apply with respect to a project for
which the engineering plans and specifications include use of iron and
steel products otherwise prohibited by such subsection if the plans and
specifications have received required approvals from State agencies
prior to the date of enactment of this Act.
(g) For purposes of this section, the terms ``United States'' and
``State'' shall include each of the several States, the District of
Columbia, and each Federally recognized Indian Tribe.
Sec. 735. None of the funds appropriated by this Act may be used
in any way, directly or indirectly, to influence congressional action
on any legislation or appropriation matters pending before Congress,
other than to communicate to Members of Congress as described in 18
U.S.C. 1913.
Sec. 736. Of the total amounts made available by this Act for
direct loans and grants under the following headings: ``Rural Housing
Service--Rural Housing Insurance Fund Program Account''; ``Rural
Housing Service--Mutual and Self-Help Housing Grants''; ``Rural Housing
Service--Rural Housing Assistance Grants''; ``Rural Housing Service--
Rural Community Facilities Program Account''; ``Rural Business-
Cooperative Service--Rural Business Program Account''; ``Rural
Business-Cooperative Service--Rural Economic Development Loans Program
Account''; ``Rural Business-Cooperative Service--Rural Cooperative
Development Grants''; ``Rural Business-Cooperative Service--Rural
Microentrepreneur Assistance Program''; ``Rural Utilities Service--
Rural Water and Waste Disposal Program Account''; ``Rural Utilities
Service--Rural Electrification and Telecommunications Loans Program
Account''; and ``Rural Utilities Service--Distance Learning,
Telemedicine, and Broadband Program'', to the maximum extent feasible,
at least 10 percent of the funds shall be allocated for assistance in
persistent poverty counties under this section, including,
notwithstanding any other provision regarding population limits, any
county seat of such a persistent poverty county that has a population
that does not exceed the authorized population limit by more than 10
percent: Provided, That for purposes of this section, the term
``persistent poverty counties'' means any county that has had 20
percent or more of its population living in poverty over the past 30
years, as measured by the 1990 and 2000 decennial censuses, and 2007-
2011 American Community Survey 5-year average, or any territory or
possession of the United States: Provided further, That with respect
to specific activities for which program levels have been made
available by this Act that are not supported by budget authority, the
requirements of this section shall be applied to such program level.
Sec. 737. None of the funds made available by this Act may be used
to notify a sponsor or otherwise acknowledge receipt of a submission
for an exemption for investigational use of a drug or biological
product under section 505(i) of the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic
Act (21 U.S.C. 355(i)) or section 351(a)(3) of the Public Health
Service Act (42 U.S.C. 262(a)(3)) in research in which a human embryo
is intentionally created or modified to include a heritable genetic
modification. Any such submission shall be deemed to have not been
received by the Secretary, and the exemption may not go into effect.
Sec. 738. None of the funds made available by this or any other
Act may be used to enforce the final rule promulgated by the Food and
Drug Administration entitled ``Standards for the Growing, Harvesting,
Packing, and Holding of Produce for Human Consumption'', and published
on November 27, 2015, and the proposed rule issued by the Food and Drug
Administration pending at the Office of Management and Budget entitled
``Standards for the Growing, Harvesting, Packing, and Holding Produce
for Human Consumption Related to Agricultural Water'' (86 Fed. Reg.
69120 and 87 Fed. Reg. 42973), with respect to the regulation of
entities that grow, harvest, pack, or hold wine grapes, hops, pulse
crops, or almonds.
Sec. 739. For school years 2025-2026 and 2026-2027, none of the
funds made available by this Act may be used to restrict or limit the
substitution of any vegetable subgroup for fruits under the school
breakfast program established under section 4 of the Child Nutrition
Act of 1966 (42 U.S.C. 1773).
Sec. 740. None of the funds made available by this Act or any
other Act may be used--
(1) in contravention of section 7606 of the Agricultural
Act of 2014 (7 U.S.C. 5940), subtitle G of the Agricultural
Marketing Act of 1946, or section 10114 of the Agriculture
Improvement Act of 2018; or
(2) to prohibit the transportation, processing, sale, or
use of hemp, or seeds of such plant, that is grown or
cultivated in accordance with section 7606 of the Agricultural
Act of 2014 or subtitle G of the Agricultural Marketing Act of
1946, within or outside the State in which the hemp is grown or
cultivated.
Sec. 741. The Secretary of Agriculture may waive the matching
funds requirement under section 412(g) of the Agricultural Research,
Extension, and Education Reform Act of 1998 (7 U.S.C. 7632(g)).
Sec. 742. None of the funds made available by this Act may be used
to implement, administer, or enforce any rule that would reduce the
maximum monthly allowance with respect to milk under section 246.10 of
title 7, Code of Federal Regulations (as in effect on April 1, 2023),
including the rule entitled ``Special Supplemental Nutrition Program
for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC): Revisions to the WIC Food
Packages'' published by the Department of Agriculture in the Federal
Register on April 18, 2024 (89 Fed. Reg. 28488).
Sec. 743. None of the funds made available by this Act may be used
to impose updated minimum efficiency standards for new housing financed
by the Department of Agriculture as part of carrying out the notice
entitled ``Final Determination: Energy Efficiency Standards for New
Construction of HUD and USDA Financed Housing'' (89 Fed. Reg. 33112).
(rescission of funds)
Sec. 744. Of the unobligated balances from prior year
appropriations made available in the ``Working Capital Fund,''
$78,000,000 are here by permanently cancelled: Provided, That no
amounts shall be cancelled from amounts that were designated by the
Congress as an emergency or disaster relief requirement pursuant to a
concurrent resolution or the budget of the Balanced Budget and
Emergency Deficit Control Act of 1985.
Sec. 745. (a) After the effective date of any final rule the Food
and Drug Administration (FDA) publishes in connection with its proposed
rule to update these requirements (87 Federal Register 59168, issued on
September 29, 2022), manufacturers may also continue to comply with the
previous requirements promulgated by the FDA for the implied nutrient
content claim ``healthy'' through the ``compliance date'' FDA provides
in the final rule.
(b) Any food product manufactured and labeled as ``healthy'' during
the compliance period FDA provides in that final rule shall not be
directly or indirectly subject to any state-law requirements that are
not identical to either (i) the Federal requirements for the implied
nutrition content claim ``healthy'' that were in effect as of the date
FDA issues the final rule, or (ii) the updated Federal requirements
that FDA promulgates in the final rule, assuming the updated
requirements go into effect during the regulatory compliance period.
Sec. 746. Funds made available under title II of the Food for
Peace Act (7 U.S.C. 1721 et seq.) may only be used to provide
assistance to recipient nations if adequate monitoring and controls, as
determined by the Administrator, are in place to ensure that emergency
food aid is received by the intended beneficiaries in areas affected by
food shortages and not diverted for unauthorized or inappropriate
purposes.
Sec. 747. None of the funds made available by this Act may be used
to procure raw or processed poultry products or seafood imported into
the United States from the People's Republic of China for use in the
school lunch program under the Richard B. Russell National School Lunch
Act (42 U.S.C. 1751 et seq.), the Child and Adult Care Food Program
under section 17 of such Act (42 U.S.C. 1766), the Summer Food Service
Program for Children under section 13 of such Act (42 U.S.C. 1761), or
the school breakfast program under the Child Nutrition Act of 1966 (42
U.S.C. 1771 et seq.).
Sec. 748. For school year 2026-2027, only a school food authority
that had a negative balance in the nonprofit school food service
account as of June 30, 2025, shall be required to establish a price for
paid lunches in accordance with section 12(p) of the Richard B. Russell
National School Lunch Act (42 U.S.C. 1760(p)).
Sec. 749. Any funds made available by this or any other Act that
the Secretary withholds pursuant to section 1668(g)(2) of the Food,
Agriculture, Conservation, and Trade Act of 1990 (7 U.S.C. 5921(g)(2)),
as amended, shall be available for grants for biotechnology risk
assessment research: Provided, That the Secretary may transfer such
funds among appropriations of the Department of Agriculture for
purposes of making such grants.
Sec. 750. Notwithstanding any other provision of law, no funds
available to the Department of Agriculture may be used to move any
staff office or any agency from the mission area in which it was
located on August 1, 2018, to any other mission area or office within
the Department in the absence of the enactment of specific legislation
affirming such move.
Sec. 751. The Secretary, acting through the Chief of the Natural
Resources Conservation Service, may use funds appropriated under this
Act or any other Act for the Watershed and Flood Prevention Operations
Program and the Watershed Rehabilitation Program carried out pursuant
to the Watershed Protection and Flood Prevention Act (16 U.S.C. 1001 et
seq.), and for the Emergency Watershed Protection Program carried out
pursuant to section 403 of the Agricultural Credit Act of 1978 (16
U.S.C. 2203) to provide technical services for such programs pursuant
to section 1252(a)(1) of the Food Security Act of 1985 (16 U.S.C.
3851(a)(1)), notwithstanding subsection (c) of such section.
Sec. 752. In administering the pilot program established by
section 779 of division A of the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2018
(Public Law 115-141), the Secretary of Agriculture may, for purposes of
determining entities eligible to receive assistance, consider those
communities which are ``Areas Rural in Character'': Provided, That not
more than 10 percent of the funds made available under the heading
``Distance Learning, Telemedicine, and Broadband Program'' for the
purposes of the pilot program established by section 779 of Public Law
115-141 may be used for this purpose.
Sec. 753. In addition to amounts otherwise made available, there
is hereby appropriated $2,000,000, to remain available until expended,
for the Meat and Poultry Processing Expansion Program established
pursuant to section 1001(b)(4) of the American Rescue Plan Act of 2021
(Public Law 117-2) to award grants to processors of invasive, wild-
caught catfish.
Sec. 754. There is hereby appropriated $2,000,000, to remain
available until expended, to carry out Section 758 of division B of
P.L. 118-42, in addition to amounts otherwise available for such
purpose.
Sec. 755. None of the funds appropriated or otherwise made
available by this Act may be used for diversity, equity and inclusion
initiatives, trainings, programs, offices, officers, policies, or any
program, project, or activity that promotes or advances Critical Race
Theory or any concept associated with Critical Race Theory.
Sec. 756. None of the funds appropriated or otherwise made
available by this Act may be used by the Food and Drug Administration
(FDA) to issue or promote any new guidelines or regulations applicable
to food manufacturers for Listeria monocytogenes (Lm) until the FDA
considers the available new science in developing the Compliance Policy
Guide (CPG), Guidance for FDA Staff, Sec. 555.320 Listeria
monocytogenes--regarding Lm in low-risk foods, meaning foods that do
not support the growth of Lm.
Sec. 757. None of the funds appropriated or otherwise made
available by this Act may be used by the Food and Drug Administration
to develop, issue, promote or advance any final guidelines or new
regulations applicable to food manufacturers for long-term population-
wide sodium reduction actions until an assessment is completed on the
impact of the short-term sodium reduction targets.
Sec. 758. For necessary expenses associated with cotton classing
activities pursuant to 7 U.S.C. 55, to include equipment and facility
upgrades, and in addition to any other funds made available for this
purpose, there is appropriated $4,000,000, to remain available until
September 30, 2027: Provided, That amounts made available in this
section shall be treated as funds collected by fees authorized under
Mar. 4, 1923, ch. 288, Sec. 5, 42 Stat. 1518, as amended (7 U.S.C. 55).
Sec. 759. Section 297A of the Agricultural Marketing Act of 1946
(7 U.S.C. 1639o) is amended--
(1) by redesignating paragraphs (2) through (6) as
paragraphs (4) through (8), respectively; and
(2) by striking paragraph (1) and inserting the following:
``(1) Hemp.--
``(A) In general.--The term `hemp' means the plant
Cannabis sativa L. and any part of that plant,
including the seeds thereof and all derivatives,
extracts, cannabinoids, isomers, acids, salts, and
salts of isomers, whether growing or not, with a total
tetrahydrocannabinol concentration (including
tetrahydrocannabinolic acid) of not more than 0.3
percent in the plant on a dry weight basis.
``(B) Inclusion.--Such term includes industrial
hemp.
``(C) Exclusions.--Such term does not include--
``(i) any viable seeds from a Cannabis
sativa L. plant that exceeds a total
tetrahydrocannabinol concentration (including
tetrahydrocannabinolic acid) of 0.3 percent in
the plant on a dry weight basis; or
``(ii) any hemp-derived cannabinoid
products containing--
``(I) cannabinoids that are not
capable of being naturally produced by
a Cannabis sativa L. plant;
``(II) cannabinoids that--
``(aa) are capable of being
naturally produced by a
Cannabis sativa L. plant; and
``(bb) were synthesized or
manufactured outside the plant;
or
``(III) quantifiable amounts based
on substance, form, manufacture, or
article (as determined by the Secretary
of Health and Human Services in
consultation with the Secretary of
Agriculture) of--
``(aa) tetrahydrocannabinol
(including
tetrahydrocannabinolic acid);
or
``(bb) any other
cannabinoids that have similar
effects (or are marketed to
have similar effects) on humans
or animals as
tetrahydrocannabinol (as
determined by the Secretary of
Health and Human Services in
consultation with the Secretary
Agriculture).
``(2) Industrial hemp.--The term `industrial hemp' means
hemp--
``(A) grown for the use of the stalk of the plant,
fiber produced from such a stalk, or any other non-
cannabinoid derivative, mixture, prep-aration, or
manufacture of such a stalk;
``(B) grown for the use of the whole grain, oil,
cake, nut, hull, or any other non-cannabinoid compound,
derivative, mixture, preparation, or manufacture of the
seeds of such plant;
``(C) grown for purposes of producing microgreens
or other edible hemp leaf products intended for human
consumption that are derived from an immature hemp
plant that is grown from seeds that do not exceed the
threshold for total tetrahydrocannabinol con-centration
specified in paragraph (1)(C)(i);
``(D) that is a plant that does not enter the
stream of commerce and is intended to support hemp
research at an institution of higher education (as
defined in section 101 of the Higher Education Act of
1965 (20 U.S.C. 1001)) or an independent research
institute; or
``(E) grown for the use of a viable seed of the
plant produced solely for the production or manufacture
of any material described in subparagraphs (A) through
(D).
``(3) Hemp-derived cannabinoid product.--
``(A) In general.--The term `hemp-derived
cannabinoid product' means any intermediate or final
product derived from hemp (other than industrial hemp),
that--
``(i) contains cannabinoids in any form;
and
``(ii) is intended for human or animal use
through any means of application or
administration, such as inhalation, ingestion,
or topical application.
``(B) Exclusion.--Such term does not include a drug
that is the subject of an application approved under
subsection (c) or (j) of section 505 of the Federal
Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act (21 U.S.C. 355).''.
Sec. 760. If services performed by APHIS employees are determined
by the Administrator of the Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service
to be in response to an animal disease outbreak, any premium pay that
is funded, either directly or through reimbursement, shall be exempted
from the aggregate of basic pay and premium pay calculated under
section 5547 of title 5, United States Code, and any other provision of
law limiting the aggregate amount of premium pay payable on a biweekly
or calendar year basis: Provided, That this section shall take effect
as if enacted on January 1, 2023.
Sec. 761. None of the funds made available by this Act may be used
to pay the salaries or expenses of personnel--
(1) to inspect horses under section 3 of the Federal Meat
Inspection Act (21 U.S.C. 603);
(2) to 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) to implement or enforce section 352.19 of title 9, Code
of Federal Regulations (or a successor regulation).
Sec. 762. The National Academies of Sciences, Engineering and
Medicine (NASEM) were tasked with providing findings and
recommendations on alcohol consumption for the purposes of inclusion in
the 2025 Dietary Guidelines for Americans as required by Section 772 of
Division A of the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2023 (Public Law
117-328): Provided, That the Secretary of Health and Human Services
and the Secretary of Agriculture shall only consider the findings and
recommendations of the NASEM report in the development of the 2025
Dietary Guidelines for Americans and further, both Secretaries shall
ensure that the alcohol consumption recommendations in the 2025 Dietary
Guidelines for Americans shall be based on the preponderance of
scientific and medical knowledge consistent with section 5341 of title
7 of United States Code.
Sec. 763. Notwithstanding any other provision of law, the
acceptable market name of any engineered animal approved prior to the
effective date of the National Bioengineered Food Disclosure Standard
(February 19, 2019) shall include the words ``genetically engineered''
prior to the existing acceptable market name.
Sec. 764. The Secretary of Agriculture shall be included as a
member of the Committee on Foreign Investment in the United States
(CFIUS) on a case by case basis pursuant to the authorities in section
721(k)(2)(J) of the Defense Production Act of 1950 (50 U.S.C.
4565(k)(2)(J)) with respect to each covered transaction (as defined in
section 721(a)(4) of the Defense Production Act of 1950 (50 U.S.C.
4565(a)(4))) involving agricultural land, agriculture biotechnology, or
the agriculture industry (including agricultural transportation,
agricultural storage, and agricultural processing), as determined by
the CFIUS Chairperson in coordination with the Secretary of
Agriculture. The Secretary of Agriculture shall, to the maximum extent
practicable, notify the Committee on Foreign Investment in the United
States of any agricultural land transaction that the Secretary of
Agriculture has reason to believe, based on information from or in
cooperation with the Intelligence Community, is a covered transaction
(A) that may pose a risk to the national security of the United States,
with particular emphasis on covered transactions of an interest in
agricultural land by foreign governments or entities of concern, as
defined in 42 U.S.C. 19221(a), including the People's Republic of
China, the Democratic People's Republic of Korea, the Russian
Federation, and the Islamic Republic of Iran; and (B) with respect to
which a person is required to submit a report to the Secretary of
Agriculture under section 2(a) of the Agricultural Foreign Investment
Disclosure Act of 1978 (7 U.S.C. 3501(a)).
Sec. 765. The agencies and offices of the Department of
Agriculture may reimburse the Office of the General Counsel (OGC), out
of the funds provided in this Act, for costs incurred by OGC in
providing services to such agencies or offices under time-limited
agreements entered into with such agencies and offices: Provided, That
such transfer authority is in addition to any other transfer authority
provided by law.
Sec. 766. No funds appropriated by this Act may be used to
implement, administer, or enforce the "Requirements for Additional
Traceability Records for Certain Foods" published on November 21, 2022
(87 Fed. Reg. 70910), or any other rule promulgated in accordance with
section 204 of the FDA Food Safety Modernization Act (21 U.S.C. 2223),
prior to August 1, 2028, and until the U.S. Food and Drug
Administration:
(1) completes at least 4 evaluations or beta tests using
multiple products on the Food Traceability List, in
coordination with farms and with food industry members
operating restaurants, retail food establishments, FDA
registered food facilities, food packing facilities and
warehouses distributing to retail food establishments, and
restaurants, to--
(A) identify and test low-cost food traceability
technologies that track both the traceability lot code
and traceability lot code source throughout the global
supply chain and evaluate the effectiveness of these
technologies and their economic feasibility for various
sized operations throughout the supply chain; and
(B) facilitate interoperability by assessing
industry standards and establishing a model data format
along with reusable templates that allow diverse
systems to communicate, share, and use traceability
data effectively;
(2) establishes a panel of experts to assess the FDA's
foodborne illness traceback investigation process, for both
foreign and domestic food suppliers, and to provide feedback
for the evaluations or beta tests. This panel shall include
diverse stakeholders, such as retailers, distributors, growers,
state and local officials, and public health officials. The FDA
shall publish the panel outcomes and recommendations no later
than one year from the date of enactment of this Act.
Sec. 767. Within 120 days of enactment of this Act, the Secretary
of Health and Human Services, acting through the Commissioner of Food
and Drugs, shall develop a plan, in consultation with the Department of
State and the governments of Abraham Accords countries, to consider the
location, duties, and personnel necessary to carry out the functions of
an Abraham Accords Bureau within the Food and Drug Administration.
Sec. 768. (a) Section 260 of the Agricultural Marketing Act of 1946
(7 U.S.C. 1636i) is amended by striking ``2025'' and inserting
``2026''.
(b) Section 942 of the Livestock Mandatory Reporting Act of 1999 (7
U.S.C. 1635 note; Public Law 106-78) is amended by striking ``2025''
and inserting ``2026''.
Sec. 769. (a) Notwithstanding any other provision of law, not later
than 180 days after the date of the enactment of this Act, the
Secretary of Agriculture shall--
(1) amend the covered Food Packages to require the inclusion of
peanut-containing foods for the purposes of early introduction of
potentially allergenic foods; and
(2) ensure that all such peanut-containing foods eligible are safe
for consumption by infants.
(b) The Secretary of Agriculture shall carry out subsection (a) in
a manner consistent with the recommendations for early introduction of
peanut-containing foods included in the Dietary Guidelines for
Americans, 2020-2025, published under section 301 of the National
Nutrition Monitoring and Related Research Act of 1990 (7 U.S.C. 5341).
(c) In this section, the term ``covered Food Packages'' means Food
Packages I and II under section 246.10 of title 7, Code of Federal
Regulations, as amended by the rule entitled ``Special Supplemental
Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC): Revisions to
the WIC Food Packages'' published by the Department of Agriculture in
the Federal Register on April 18, 2024 (89 Fed. Reg. 28488).
Sec. 770. There is hereby appropriated $1,500,000, to remain
available until expended, for grants under section 12502 of Public Law
115-334.
Sec. 771. Section 7502 of the Food, Conservation, and Energy Act
of 2008 (Public Law 110-246; Stat. 2019; 132 Stat. 4817) is amended to
read as follows:
``SEC. 7502. GRAZINGLANDS RESEARCH LABORATORY.
``Except as otherwise specifically authorized by law and
notwithstanding any other provision of law, the Federal land and
facilities at El Reno, Oklahoma, administered by the Secretary (as of
the date of enactment of this Act) as the Grazinglands Research
Laboratory, shall not at any time, in whole or in part, be declared to
be excess of surplus Federal Property under Chapter 5 of subtitle I of
title 40, United States Code, or otherwise be conveyed or transferred
in whole or in part, for the period beginning on the date of the
enactment of this Act and ending on September 30, 2026.''
Sec. 772. (a) Animal Food Ingredients Deemed GRAS.--Ingredients
that are intended for use in animal food and are not specifically
authorized for such use by the Food and Drug Administration as a food
additive, a color additive, or otherwise as of the date of enactment of
this Act, are deemed to be generally recognized as safe under section
201(s) of the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act (21 U.S.C. 321(s))
(referred to in this section as ``GRAS'') for use in animal food for a
certain species if--
(1) such ingredients are included in the Official Common or
Usual Names and Definitions of Feed Ingredients section of
chapter 6 of the 2025 edition of the `AAFCO Official
Publication' (or any subsequent amendments thereto or editions
thereof) as accepted for use in such species, or where the
species is not identified or restricted; and
(2) there is no finding by the Food and Drug Administration
that such ingredients are not GRAS for use in animal food for
such species.
(b) Claims That Animal Food or Ingredient Is Natural.--
(1) In general.--Animal food whose label or labeling bears
a claim that the animal food (or an ingredient thereof) is
``natural'' or whose advertising makes such claim, shall not be
treated as mis- branded under section 403 of the Federal Food,
Drug, and Cosmetic Act (21 U.S.C. 343) if the labels and
labeling of such food and such advertising--
(A) are truthful, nonmisleading, and adequately
substantiated with scientifically validated protocols
endorsed by guidance issued by the Commissioner of Food
and Drugs, where available, and the food (or
ingredient) is derived solely from plant, animal, or
mined sources--
(i) that exist in an unprocessed state; or
(ii) notwithstanding having been subject to
physical processing, heat processing,
rendering, purification, extraction,
hydrolysis, enzymolysis, or fermentation--
(I) have not been produced by, or
subject to, a chemically synthetic
process; and
(II) do not contain any additive or
processing aid that is chemically
synthetic, except in amounts as might
occur unavoidably using good
manufacturing practices;
(B) use the term ``natural'' only to reference the
animal food as a whole when all of the ingredients and
components of ingredients meet the description in
subparagraph (A); and
(C) in the case of the label or labeling of an
animal food that contains chemically synthesized
vitamins, minerals, or other trace nutrients used as
ingredients in animal food and such claim is made with
respect to the animal food as a whole, such label or
labeling includes a disclaimer that--
(i) discloses the addition of such
vitamins, minerals, and other trace nutrients
by name or category;
(ii) is juxtaposed with the term
``natural''; and
(iii) appears with the largest or most
prominent use of the term ``natural'' on each
panel of the label on which the term appears,
in the same style and color print and at least
one-half the size of the term ``natural''.
(2) Preemption.--No State or a political subdivision of a
State may directly or indirectly establish, maintain,
implement, or enforce any authority or requirement relating to
the labels, labeling, or advertising of animal food that is
different from, or more stringent than paragraph (1).
(c) Rule of Construction.--Nothing in this section shall be
construed to restrict State post-market food safety oversight
activities, including any such activities relating to implementation of
the FDA Food Safety Modernization Act (Public Law 111-353), outbreak
investigations, surveillance sampling, or investigations of consumer
complaints.
(d) Guidance.--
(1) In general.--The Secretary of Health and Human
Services, acting through the Commissioner of Food and Drugs
(referred to in this subsection as the ``Secretary''), shall
issue guidance addressing each of the following topics:
(A) Methods for substantiating nutritional adequacy
of pet foods.
(B) Pet food metabolizable energy protocols.
(C) Affidavits for pet food testing protocol
completion.
(D) Data to support a calorie content claim for pet
foods.
(E) Analytical variations for animal food.
(F) Recommendations for use of menadione sodium
bisulfite complex in animal feed.
(2) Initial guidance.--
(A) Timing.--Not later than 18 months after the
date of enactment of this Act, the Secretary shall
issue initial guidance under this subsection.
(B) Basis.-- The initial guidance under
subparagraph (A) shall be based on the guidance
contained in the 2025 edition of the ``AAFCO Official
Publication''.
(e) Regulations.--
(1) In general.--The Secretary of Health and Human
Services, acting through the Commissioner of Food and Drugs,
shall--
(A) not later than one year after the date of
enactment of this Act, issue proposed regulations to
implement the amendments made by this section; and
(B) not later than two years after the date of
enactment of this Act, finalize such regulations.
(2) Contents.--The initial regulations promulgated to
implement the amendments made by this section shall include--
(A) for commercial feed, Regulation 1 through
Regulation 10 of the ``Model Regulations Under the
Model Bill'' in chapter 4 of the 2025 edition of the
``AAFCO Official Publication''; and
(B) for pet food and specialty pet food, PF 1
through PF 12 of the ``Model Regulations for Pet Food
and Specialty Pet Food Under the Model Bill'' in
chapter 4 of the 2025 edition of the ``AAFCO Official
Publication''.
(f) Applicability.--This section shall apply with respect to fiscal
year 2026 and each fiscal year thereafter.
Sec. 773. None of the funds made available by this Act or any
other Act may be used to finalize, implement, or enforce the proposed
rule titled ``Requirements for Tobacco Product Manufacturing
Practice'', published by the Food and Drug Administration in the
Federal Register on March 10, 2023 (88 Fed. Reg. 15174), or any
substantially similar rule.
Sec. 774. None of the funds appropriated or otherwise made
available in this Act may be used to--
(1) Classify or facilitate the classification of any
communications by a United States person as mis-, dis-, or mal-
information; or
(2) Partner with or fund nonprofit or other organizations
that in any way instruct, influence, direct, or recommend
private companies to censor, prohibit, or obstruct lawful and
constitutionally protected speech of United States persons,
including recommending the censoring or removal of content on
social media platforms.
Sec. 775. The Secretary of Agriculture shall--
(1) conduct a study to determine the feasibility of
applying the Buy American requirement (as described in section
201.21(d) of title 7 of the Code of Federal Regulations (2022))
to the supplemental nutrition assistance program under the Food
and Nutrition Act of 2008, and the special supplemental
nutrition program as authorized by section 17 of the Child
Nutrition Act of 1966 (42 U.S.C. 1786), including the impact
applying such requirement would have on the agricultural
economy of the United States; and
(2) not later than one year after the date of enactment of
this Act, the Secretary shall submit the results of such study
to the House and Senate Committees on Appropriations, the House
Agriculture Committee, and the Senate Agriculture, Nutrition,
and Forestry Committee.
Sec. 776. Section 17(b)(1)(A) of the Food and Nutrition Act of
2008 is amended by inserting ``or improve the health of members of
participating households by restricting their purchase of non-
nutritious food and beverage items, as determined by the Secretary''
after ``households''.
Sec. 777. None of the funds made available by this Act may be used
by the Secretary of Agriculture, the Commissioner of Food and Drugs,
the Chairman of the Commodity Futures Trading Commission, or the
Chairman of the Farm Credit Administration to fly or display a flag
over a facility of the Department of Agriculture, the Food and Drug
Administration, the Commodity Futures Trading Commission, or the Farm
Credit Administration other than the flag of the United States; the
flag of a State, territory, the District of Columbia; the flag of an
Indian Tribal Government; the official flag of a U.S. Department or
agency; or the Prisoners of War/Missing in Action flag.
(rescission of funds)
Sec. 778. Of the unobligated balances from prior year
appropriations made available for conservation activities under the
heading ``Natural Resources Conservation Service--Conservation
Operations'', $100,000,000 are hereby rescinded: Provided, That no
amounts may be rescinded from amounts that were designated by the
Congress as an emergency requirement pursuant to a concurrent
resolution on the budget or the Balanced Budget and Emergency Deficit
Control Act of 1985.
(rescission of funds)
Sec. 779. Of the unobligated balances of amounts appropriated or
otherwise made available by section 10301(1)(A)(ii) of Public Law 117-
169 (commonly referred to as the ``Inflation Reduction Act of 2022''),
$100,000,000 are hereby rescinded.
Sec. 780. (a) In general.--Notwithstanding section 7 of title 1,
United States Code, section 1738C of title 28, United States Code, or
any other provision of law, none of the funds provided by this Act, or
previous appropriations Acts, shall be used in whole or in part to take
any discriminatory action against a person, wholly or partially, on the
basis that such person speaks, or acts, in accordance with a sincerely
held religious belief, or moral conviction, that marriage is, or should
be recognized as, a union of one man and one woman.
(b) Discriminatory action defined.--As used in subsection (a), a
discriminatory action means any action taken by the Federal Government
to--
(1) alter in any way the Federal tax treatment of, or cause
any tax, penalty, or payment to be assessed against, or deny,
delay, or revoke an exemption from taxation under section
501(a) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 of, any person
referred to in subsection (a);
(2) disallow a deduction for Federal tax purposes of any
charitable contribution made to or by such person;
(3) withhold, reduce the amount or funding for, exclude,
terminate, or otherwise make unavailable or deny, any Federal
grant, contract, subcontract, cooperative agreement, guarantee,
loan, scholarship, license, certification, accreditation,
employment, or other similar position or status from or to such
person;
(4) withhold, reduce, exclude, terminate, or otherwise make
unavailable or deny, any entitlement or benefit under a Federal
benefit program, including admission to, equal treatment in, or
eligibility for a degree from an educational program, from or
to such person; or
(5) withhold, reduce, exclude, terminate, or otherwise make
unavailable or deny access or an entitlement to Federal
property, facilities, educational institutions, speech fora
(including traditional, limited, and nonpublic fora), or
charitable fundraising campaigns from or to such person.
(c) Accreditation; Licensure; Certification.--The Federal
Government shall consider accredited, licensed, or certified for
purposes of Federal law any person that would be accredited, licensed,
or certified, respectively, for such purposes but for a determination
against such person wholly or partially on the basis that the person
speaks, or acts, in accordance with a sincerely held religious belief
or moral conviction described in subsection (a).
spending reduction account
Sec. 781. $0.
This Act may be cited as the ``Agriculture, Rural Development, Food
and Drug Administration, and Related Agencies Appropriations Act,
2026''.
Union Calendar No. 138
119th CONGRESS
1st Session
H. R. 4121
[Report No. 119-172]
_______________________________________________________________________
A BILL
Making appropriations for Agriculture, Rural Development, Food and Drug
Administration, and Related Agencies programs for the fiscal year
ending September 30, 2026, and for other purposes.
_______________________________________________________________________
June 25, 2025
Committed to the Committee of the Whole House on the State of the Union
and ordered to be printed