Text: H.R.1600 — 110th Congress (2007-2008)All Information (Except Text)

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Introduced in House (03/20/2007)

 
[Congressional Bills 110th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Printing Office]
[H.R. 1600 Introduced in House (IH)]

110th CONGRESS
  1st Session
                                H. R. 1600

To continue and expand upon previous congressional efforts to ensure an 
 abundant and affordable supply of fruits, vegetables, tree nuts, and 
other specialty crops for American consumers and international markets, 
to enhance the competitiveness of United States-grown specialty crops, 
                        and for other purposes.


_______________________________________________________________________


                    IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

                             March 20, 2007

   Mr. Cardoza (for himself, Mr. Putnam, Mr. Salazar, Mr. Larsen of 
Washington, Mr. McCarthy of California, Mr. Kuhl of New York, Mr. Hall 
of New York, Mr. Walsh of New York, Mr. Higgins, Mr. Farr, Mr. Mahoney 
of Florida, Mr. Hoekstra, Mr. Allen, Ms. Kilpatrick, Ms. Slaughter, Mr. 
     Filner, Mr. Cummings, Mr. Welch of Vermont, Mr. Carnahan, Mr. 
 Blumenauer, Mr. McDermott, Mr. Hastings of Washington, Mr. McNerney, 
   Mr. Nunes, Mr. Rush, Mrs. Tauscher, Mr. Radanovich, Mrs. McMorris 
 Rodgers, Ms. Woolsey, Ms. Hooley, Mr. McHugh, Mr. Costa, Mr. Brown of 
 South Carolina, Mr. Daniel E. Lungren of California, Mr. Perlmutter, 
Mr. Shuler, Ms. Loretta Sanchez of California, Ms. Matsui, Mr. Cuellar, 
 Mrs. Capps, Ms. Kaptur, Mr. Wu, Mrs. Bono, Mr. McIntyre, Mr. Bartlett 
   of Maryland, Mr. Boyd of Florida, Mrs. Drake, Ms. Zoe Lofgren of 
 California, Mr. Issa, Mr. Mario Diaz-Balart of Florida, Mr. Walden of 
  Oregon, Mr. Gilchrest, Mr. Delahunt, Mr. Arcuri, Mr. Reynolds, Mr. 
  Thompson of California, Mr. Hinchey, Mr. Courtney, Mr. Simpson, Mr. 
 Platts, Ms. Ros-Lehtinen, Mr. Shays, Ms. Hirono, Mr. Barrow, and Mr. 
   Calvert) introduced the following bill; which was referred to the 
Committee on Agriculture, and in addition to the Committees on Ways and 
    Means, Education and Labor, Energy and Commerce, and Financial 
Services, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in 
   each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the 
                jurisdiction of the committee concerned

_______________________________________________________________________

                                 A BILL


 
To continue and expand upon previous congressional efforts to ensure an 
 abundant and affordable supply of fruits, vegetables, tree nuts, and 
other specialty crops for American consumers and international markets, 
to enhance the competitiveness of United States-grown specialty crops, 
                        and for other purposes.

    Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the 
United States of America in Congress assembled,

SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE AND TABLE OF CONTENTS.

    (a) Short Title.--This Act may be cited as the ``Equitable 
Agriculture Today for a Healthy America Act'' or the ``EAT Healthy 
America Act''.
    (b) Table of Contents.--The table of contents for this Act is as 
follows:

Sec. 1. Short title and table of contents.
Sec. 2. Findings and purposes.
Sec. 3. Definitions.
                 TITLE I--COMMODITY-RELATED PROVISIONS

Sec. 101. Flexible payment limitations for disaster payments to reflect 
                            variations in cost of production and crop 
                            value.
Sec. 102. Adjusted gross income limitations on receipt of disaster 
                            assistance by first handlers of specialty 
                            crops.
Sec. 103. Equitable treatment of specialty crop producers in 
                            distribution of disaster assistance.
Sec. 104. Tree assistance program.
                         TITLE II--CONSERVATION

Sec. 201. Findings regarding Conservation Security Program.
Sec. 202. Conservation reserve program.
Sec. 203. Wetlands reserve program.
Sec. 204. Funding for Farmland Protection Program.
Sec. 205. Grassland reserve program.
Sec. 206. Wildlife habitat incentive program.
Sec. 207. Environmental quality incentives program.
Sec. 208. Cooperative conservation partnership initiative.
Sec. 209. Regional equity in funding of certain Department of 
                            Agriculture conservation programs.
Sec. 210. Integrated pest management initiative.
Sec. 211. Technical assistance under Department of Agriculture 
                            conservation programs.
Sec. 212. Conservation loan guarantee program.
Sec. 213. Emergency Conservation Program.
Sec. 214. Exclusion of payments under Department of Agriculture 
                            conservation programs from adjusted gross 
                            income limitation.
Sec. 215. Encouragement of voluntary sustainability practices 
                            guidelines.
Sec. 216. Assistance to address long-term climate change.
                            TITLE III--TRADE

Sec. 301. Technical assistance for specialty crops.
Sec. 302. Coordination of trade objectives between key agencies.
Sec. 303. Market access program.
Sec. 304. Grant program for market analysis related to anti-dumping and 
                            countervailing duty cases involving 
                            specialty crops.
Sec. 305. Sense of Congress regarding certain antitrust laws applicable 
                            to agriculture.
                 TITLE IV--INVASIVE PESTS AND DISEASES

Sec. 401. Threat identification and mitigation program.
Sec. 402. Emergency control, prevention, and eradication programs.
Sec. 403. Agricultural quarantine inspection activities at ports of 
                            entry.
Sec. 404. Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service Export Division.
Sec. 405. Consultations on sanitary and phytosanitary restrictions for 
                            fruits and vegetables.
Sec. 406. Multi-species fruit fly research and sterile fly production.
Sec. 407. Audit-based approach to specialty crop phytosanitary 
                            regulation.
Sec. 408. Early pest detection and surveillance improvement program.
                           TITLE V--NUTRITION

Sec. 501. Findings.
Sec. 502. Expansion of Fresh Fruit and Vegetable Program.
Sec. 503. Fruit and vegetable nutrition promotion program.
Sec. 504. Use of ``Dietary Guidelines for Americans'' in special 
                            nutrition programs and school lunch 
                            programs.
Sec. 505. Section 32 specialty crop purchases.
Sec. 506. School preference study.
Sec. 507. Independent evaluation of Department of Agriculture commodity 
                            purchase process.
Sec. 508. Amendments to the Food Stamp Program.
Sec. 509. Sense of the Congress regarding nutritional supplements.
Sec. 510. Food stamp fruit and vegetable EBT pilot project.
Sec. 511. Decennial evaluations of WIC food packages.
Sec. 512. Extension of WIC farmers' market nutrition program.
Sec. 513. Senior farmers' market nutrition program.
                    TITLE VI--AGRICULTURAL RESEARCH

Sec. 601. Specialty Crops Economic and Policy Research Institute.
Sec. 602. Development of specialty crop priority for the National 
                            Research Initiative.
Sec. 603. Establishment of specialty crop research grants program for 
                            producers to improve efficiency and 
                            competitiveness.
Sec. 604. National Clean Plant Network.
Sec. 605. Prioritizing current Federal research activities for 
                            specialty crops.
                      TITLE VII--RENEWABLE ENERGY

Sec. 701. Inventory of specialty crop biomass waste as part of annual 
                            assessment of renewable energy resources.
Sec. 702. Department of Agriculture bioenergy program.
Sec. 703. Grants for development of specialty crop bioenergy projects.
                  TITLE VIII--MISCELLANEOUS PROVISIONS

Sec. 801. Specialty crop block grants.
Sec. 802. Federal Insecticide, Fungicide, and Rodenticide Act; requests 
                            by State agencies for exemptions.
Sec. 803. Protection of intellectual property rights in plants and 
                            plant-derived material.
Sec. 804. Grant program to improve transportation infrastructure to 
                            reduce cost of transportation of specialty 
                            crops.
Sec. 805. Additional funds for Agricultural Marketing Service specialty 
                            crop market news activities.
Sec. 806. Value-added grants to promote creation, expansion, or 
                            operation of value-added processing of 
                            specialty crops.
Sec. 807. Eligibility of laborers admitted for temporary residence for 
                            Rural Housing Service farm labor housing.
Sec. 808. Food safety initiatives.
Sec. 809. Implementation of food safety programs under marketing 
                            orders.
Sec. 810. Census of specialty crops; dissemination of information.
Sec. 811. Office of pesticide programs.

SEC. 2. FINDINGS AND PURPOSES.

    (a) Findings.--Congress finds the following:
            (1) Specialty crop production in the United States accounts 
        for $50.8 billion in farmgate value, and, according to the 
        Economic Research Service of the Department of Agriculture, 
        specialty crops account for more than 45 percent of the 
        farmgate value of all crops produced in the United States.
            (2) Specialty crop producers deserve a competitive and 
        sustainable environment for specialty crop production, and the 
        Specialty Crops Competitiveness Act of 2004 (Public Law 108-
        465; 7 U.S.C. 1621 note) represented an initial attempt to 
        ensure the long-term competitiveness and sustainability of 
        United States specialty crop production.
            (3) Additional Federal investment in the competitiveness 
        and sustainability of the United States specialty crop industry 
        will produce a strong return on investment for all of America, 
        not just producers.
            (4) By expanding the market for and availability of safe, 
        wholesome, healthy, and affordable fruits, vegetables, tree 
        nuts, and other specialty crops, Congress can assist Americans 
        in achieving the goal of doubling their fruit and vegetable 
        consumption, as called for in the Department of Agriculture and 
        Department of Health and Human Services 2005 Dietary 
        Guidelines.
            (5) Federal investment in the United States specialty crop 
        industry is required to create a fair and level playing field 
        with international competitors that do not have to comply with 
        the regulatory requirements imposed on United States producers 
        in the areas of environmental regulation, labor, food safety, 
        and other area.
            (6) Without appropriate and adequate assistance United 
        States specialty crop production may relocate to less 
        restrictive foreign growing areas.
            (7) Consumers in United States export markets are 
        increasingly demanding high-value specialty food products as 
        their disposable income rises, and a thriving and competitive 
        United States specialty crop industry will support strong 
        growth in export markets and improve the United States balance 
        of trade.
            (8) In order to realize the goal of increasing agricultural 
        exports, it is critical that Federal policy and resources 
        support efforts to remove the many existing international trade 
        barriers that continue to hamper United States specialty crop 
        exports.
            (9) The competitiveness of United States specialty crop 
        producers also depends on maintaining the current restrictions 
        in section 1106 of the Farm Security and Rural Investment Act 
        of 2002 (7 U.S.C. 7916) that prohibits the planting of fruits 
        and vegetables and other specialty crops on acres for which a 
        producer receives direct payments or counter-cyclical payments, 
        including not allowing any temporary loss in program benefits 
        as a remedy for one year or other short-term shifts to 
        specialty crops.
    (b) Purposes.--It is the purpose of this Act to build upon the 
success of the Specialty Crops Competitiveness Act of 2004 (Public Law 
108-465; 7 U.S.C. 1621 note) by making additional changes in Federal 
agriculture policy to accomplish the goals of increasing fruit, 
vegetable, and tree nut consumption and improving the competitiveness 
of United States specialty crop producers.

SEC. 3. DEFINITIONS.

    In this Act:
            (1) The term ``Secretary'' means the Secretary of 
        Agriculture.
            (2) The term ``specialty crop'' means fruits and 
        vegetables, tree nuts, dried fruits, nursery crops, 
        floriculture, and horticulture.
            (3) The term ``State'' means the several States, the 
        District of Columbia, and the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico.

                 TITLE I--COMMODITY-RELATED PROVISIONS

SEC. 101. FLEXIBLE PAYMENT LIMITATIONS FOR DISASTER PAYMENTS TO REFLECT 
              VARIATIONS IN COST OF PRODUCTION AND CROP VALUE.

    (a) Flexible Payment Limitations.--In lieu of using a single, 
specific dollar amount limitation on the total amount of disaster 
assistance that a producer of specialty crops may receive under any 
provision of law, the Secretary of Agriculture shall develop and use a 
series of payment limitations that reflect cost-of-production and crop 
value variations.
    (b) Use of Farm Service Agency Data.--To develop the payment 
variations range required by subsection (a), the Secretary of 
Agriculture may use the most relevant data maintained by the Department 
of Agriculture and federally funded institutions, such as land grant 
colleges and universities, in the State or region where the disaster 
occurred regarding cost of production and crop value for various 
agricultural enterprises.
    (c) Applicability.--The flexible payment limitations required by 
subsection (a) shall apply on a permanent basis with respect to any 
natural disaster occurring after the date of the enactment of this Act 
for which disaster assistance is provided by the Secretary of 
Agriculture under any provision of law to producers of specialty crops.

SEC. 102. ADJUSTED GROSS INCOME LIMITATIONS ON RECEIPT OF DISASTER 
              ASSISTANCE BY FIRST HANDLERS OF SPECIALTY CROPS.

    (a) Change to Application of Limitations.--For purposes of applying 
the adjusted gross income limitations on the receipt of disaster 
assistance to a first handler of specialty crops, the Secretary of 
Agriculture shall treat income derived by the first handler from the 
initial preparation of the specialty crops for marketing and the 
marketing of the specialty crops as income derived from a farming 
operation.
    (b) First Handler Defined.--In this section, the term ``first 
handler'' means a person who--
            (1) receives or otherwise acquires specialty crops from a 
        producer and prepares for marketing or markets the specialty 
        crops; or
            (2) prepares for marketing and markets specialty crops 
        produced by the person.

SEC. 103. EQUITABLE TREATMENT OF SPECIALTY CROP PRODUCERS IN 
              DISTRIBUTION OF DISASTER ASSISTANCE.

    In providing disaster assistance to producers suffering losses due 
to natural disasters, the Secretary of Agriculture shall seek to ensure 
that--
            (1) producers of specialty crops receive assistance through 
        programs that are designed to meet the specific needs of such 
        producers and reflect the production practices of such 
        producers; and
            (2) eligibility for assistance and the provision of 
        assistance is not be tied to traditional programs of the 
        Department of Agriculture, such as direct payments under 
        section 1103 or 1303 of the Farm Security and Rural Investment 
        Act of 2002 (7 U.S.C. 7913, 7953) or crop insurance.

SEC. 104. TREE ASSISTANCE PROGRAM.

    (a) Inclusion of Nursery Tree Growers.--
            (1) Eligibility.--Section 10201 of the Farm Security and 
        Rural Investment Act of 2003 (7 U.S.C. 8201) is amended--
                    (A) by redesignating paragraphs (3) and (4) as 
                paragraphs (4) and (5), respectively; and
                    (B) by inserting after paragraph (2) the following 
                new paragraph:
            ``(3) Nursery tree grower.--The term `nursery tree grower' 
        means a person who produces nursery, ornamental, fruit, nut, or 
        Christmas trees for commercial sale.''.
            (2) Conforming amendments.--Subtitle C of title X of such 
        Act is amended--
                    (A) in section 10202 (7 U.S.C. 8202)--
                            (i) in subsection (a), by inserting ``and 
                        nursery tree growers'' after ``eligible 
                        orchardists''; and
                            (ii) in subsection (b), by inserting ``or 
                        nursery tree grower'' after ``eligible 
                        orchardist''; and
                    (B) in section 10203 (7 U.S.C. 8203), by inserting 
                ``and nursery tree growers'' after ``eligible 
                orchardists''.
    (b) Increase in Authorized Amount of Assistance.--Section 10204(a) 
of such Act is amended by striking ``$75,000'' and inserting ``$150,000 
per year''.
    (c) Funding.--Section 10205 of such Act is amended by adding at the 
end the following new sentence: ``In addition to amounts appropriated 
to carry out this section, the Secretary shall use $75,000,000 of funds 
of the Commodity Credit Corporation to carry out this subtitle during 
fiscal years 2008 through 2012.''.
    (d) Applicability.--The amendments made by this section shall apply 
with respect to any natural disaster occurring after the date of the 
enactment of this Act for which assistance is provided by the Secretary 
of Agriculture under the tree assistance program.

                         TITLE II--CONSERVATION

SEC. 201. FINDINGS REGARDING CONSERVATION SECURITY PROGRAM.

    Congress makes the following findings:
            (1) Specialty crop producers and other agricultural 
        producers in the United States require a significant new 
        investment in voluntary conservation incentives programs in 
        order to ensure that producers are rewarded when they take 
        steps to produce cleaner air, cleaner water, important wildlife 
        habitat, and other environmental benefits for the public.
            (2) The expansion and improvement of the conservation 
        programs authorized and amended by title II of the Farm 
        Security and Rural Investment Act of 2002 (Public Law 107-171) 
        should include the expansion of the Conservation Security 
        Program under subchapter A of chapter 2 of subtitle D of title 
        XII of the Food Security Act of 1985 (16 U.S.C. 3838 et seq.) 
        so that producers have an opportunity to enroll in a program 
        that is more equitable and predictable than the current system, 
        under which only a few watersheds are eligible each fiscal 
        year.
            (3) The Conservation Security Program holds tremendous 
        promise as a program that can help producers effectively 
        address priority resources of concern, but the program must be 
        improved and better implemented in order to fulfill that 
        promise.
            (4) States must have the authority, with appropriate 
        national guidance, to select priority ``resources of concern,'' 
        as currently defined by the Natural Resources Conservation 
        Service, for specific areas within the State, and program 
        payments should focus more on rewarding management intensity 
        and the degree to which a producer addresses resources of 
        concern.
            (5) In order to ensure that the Conservation Security 
        Program is an effective tool in helping producers improve 
        environmental quality, there must be a better balance between 
        rewarding a producer's existing level of resource stewardship 
        and creating strong incentives for producers to implement 
        additional practices and measures to improve environmental 
        performance.
            (6) In general, the Conservation Security Program should do 
        a better job of helping producers enhance habitat for wildlife, 
        particularly rare, threatened, endangered and candidate 
        species.
            (7) When the Conservation Security Program is used to 
        address wildlife, it should be implemented to further the goals 
        and objectives of the State comprehensive wildlife strategy.
            (8) It is critical that the Conservation Security Program 
        provide adequate technical assistance to producers who need 
        help applying to the program and implementing their contracts.

SEC. 202. CONSERVATION RESERVE PROGRAM.

    (a) Extension of Program.--Section 1231 of the Food Security Act of 
1985 (16 U.S.C. 3831) is amended--
            (1) in subsection (a), by striking ``2007'' and inserting 
        ``2012'';
            (2) in subsection (d)(1), by striking ``2007'' and 
        inserting ``2012'';
            (3) in subsection (e)(3), by striking ``2002'' and 
        inserting ``2008''; and
            (4) in subsection (h)(1), by striking ``2007'' and 
        inserting ``2012''.
    (b) Eligible Land.--Section 1231(b) of such Act (16 U.S.C. 3831(b)) 
is amended--
            (1) by striking the period at the end of paragraph (1) and 
        inserting a semicolon;
            (2) in paragraph (4), by striking ``or'' at the end of 
        subparagraph (C);
            (3) by striking the period at the end of paragraph (5) and 
        inserting ``; or''; and
            (4) by adding at the end the following new paragraph:
            ``(6) marginal pasture land or hay land that is otherwise 
        ineligible, if the land is to be devoted to native vegetation 
        appropriate to the locale and--
                    ``(A) will provide suitable habitat for State or 
                federally listed threatened or endangered species or 
                species determined by the Secretary of the Interior to 
                be species of concern; or
                    ``(B) will contribute to the restoration of a 
                critically endangered ecosystem or endangered 
                ecosystem, as defined by the Secretary.''.
    (c) Use of General Signup Process.--Section 1231(d) of such Act (16 
U.S.C. 3831(d)) is amended by adding at the end the following new 
sentence: ``To the maximum extent practicable, the Secretary shall 
ensure that not more than 85 percent of the acres maintained in the 
conservation reserve at any 1 time during the 2008 through 2012 
calendar years are acres that were enrolled through general signup 
under section 1234(c)(2)(A).''.
    (d) Duties of Participants.--Section 1232(a) of such Act (16 U.S.C. 
3832(a)) is amended--
            (1) in paragraph (4)--
                    (A) by redesignating subparagraphs (A) and (B) as 
                subparagraphs (B) and (C), respectively; and
                    (B) by inserting before subparagraph (B), as so 
                redesignated, the following new subparagraph:
                    ``(A) approved vegetative cover shall not include 
                vegetative cover inappropriate to the locale;'';
            (2) by redesignating paragraphs (5) through (10) as 
        paragraphs (6) through (11); respectively;
            (3) by inserting after paragraph (4) the following new 
        paragraph:
            ``(5) to undertake appropriate management activities on the 
        land, including any necessary haying and grazing activities, as 
        needed throughout the term of the contract to achieve the 
        purposes of the conservation reserve program;''; and
            (4) in subparagraph (A)(i)(II) of paragraph (8), as 
        redesignated by paragraph (2), by inserting after ``may be 
        conducted'' the following: ``, taking into account grassland 
        types and species, location, weather conditions, threats posed 
        by invasive species in the locale, and other factors that 
        determine to what extent harvesting and grazing activities will 
        advance the conservation purposes of the program''.
    (e) Conservation Plan.--Section 1232(b)(1)(A) of such Act (16 
U.S.C. 3832(b)(1)(A)) is amended by inserting before the semicolon at 
the end the following: ``, including appropriate management activities 
required by subsection (a)(5)''.
    (f) Cost-Share and Management Assistance.--Section 1234(b) of such 
Act (16 U.S.C. 3834(b)) is amended--
            (1) in paragraph (1), by inserting before the period at the 
        end the following: ``, except that the Secretary shall pay 75 
        percent of the cost of establishing measures and practices that 
        will benefit a federally or State listed threatened or 
        endangered species required under a contract entered into under 
        this subchapter''; and
            (2) by adding at the end the following new paragraph:
            ``(6) Management costs.--The Secretary shall pay 75 percent 
        of the cost of management activities, including control of 
        invasive species, required under a contract entered into under 
        this subchapter.''.
    (g) Wildlife Criteria.--Section 1234(c)(3)(B) of such Act (16 
U.S.C. 3834(c)(3)(B)) is amended by inserting before the period the 
following: ``, taking into consideration the recommendations of States 
concerning species or ecosystems that are State priorities for recovery 
or restoration''.
    (h) Rare and Declining Habitat.--Section 1234(c) of such Act (16 
U.S.C. 3834(c)) is amended by adding at the end the following new 
paragraph:
            ``(5) Rare and declining habitat.--The Secretary may 
        approve a request by a State to establish continuous enrollment 
        categories for rare and declining habitat in specific areas of 
        the State to benefit specific State or federally listed 
        threatened or endangered species.''.
    (i) Rental Payment Limitations.--Section 1234(f) of such Act (16 
U.S.C. 3834(f)) is amended--
            (1) in paragraph (1), by inserting before the period at the 
        end the following: ``, except that the Secretary may waive this 
        payment limitation for persons participating in a conservation 
        reserve enhancement program or cooperative conservation project 
        if the Secretary determines such a waiver is necessary to 
        achieve the objectives of the conservation reserve enhancement 
        program or project''; and
            (2) in paragraph (4), by adding at the end the following 
        new subparagraph:
                    ``(C) Irrigated land.--In determining the amount of 
                annual rental payments for owners and operators seeking 
                to enroll irrigated land in a conservation reserve 
                enhancement program, the Secretary shall consider the 
                average rental rate for irrigated land in the area.''.

SEC. 203. WETLANDS RESERVE PROGRAM.

    (a) Maximum Enrollment.--Section 1237(b)(1) of the Food Security 
Act of 1985 (16 U.S.C. 3837(b)(1)) is amended--
            (1) by striking ``2,275,000 acres'' and inserting 
        ``5,000,000 acres''; and
            (2) by striking ``250,000 acres'' and inserting ``320,000 
        acres''.
    (b) Riparian Areas.--Section 1237(d) of such Act (16 U.S.C. 
3837(d)) is amended by striking paragraph (3) and inserting the 
following new paragraph:
            ``(3) riparian areas.''.
    (c) Wetland Easement Conservation Plan.--Section 1237A(b)(3) of 
such Act (16 U.S.C. 3837a(b)(3)) is amended by inserting before the 
semicolon at the end the following: ``, including activities necessary 
to maintain hydrologic, habitat, and other functional values''.
    (d) Cost-Share and Management Assistance.--Section 1237C of such 
Act (16 U.S.C. 3837c) is amended--
            (1) in subsection (a)(1), by inserting ``including 
        necessary hydrologic and habitat maintenance activities,'' 
        after ``values,''; and
            (2) in subsection (b), by adding at the end the following 
        new paragraph:
            ``(4) Management costs.--The Secretary may make payments to 
        owners to cover up to the full actual cost of undertaking any 
        ongoing or periodic management activities necessary to maintain 
        the hydrologic, habitat, and other functional values of wetland 
        enrolled in the wetlands reserve program.''.
    (e) Easement Priority and State Allocation.--Section 1237C of such 
Act (16 U.S.C. 3837c) is amended--
            (1) in subsection (d), by striking ``wildlife.'' and 
        inserting ``wildlife, particularly rare, threatened, 
        endangered, or candidate species for furthering the goals and 
        objectives of the State comprehensive wildlife conservation 
        strategy, or improving water quality.''; and
            (2) by adding at the end the following new subsection:
    ``(e) Allocation to States.--In making allocations to States to 
carry out this subchapter, the Secretary shall consider to what degree 
each State gives priority--
            ``(1) to protecting and restoring habitat for migratory 
        birds and other wildlife, particularly rare species, including 
        threatened, endangered, and candidate species;
            ``(2) to furthering the goals and objectives of the State 
        comprehensive wildlife conservation strategy; and
            ``(3) to improving water quality.''.
    (f) Conforming Amendment.--Section 1237(c) of such Act (16 U.S.C. 
3837(c)) is amended by striking ``2007'' and inserting ``2012''.

SEC. 204. FUNDING FOR FARMLAND PROTECTION PROGRAM.

    Paragraph (4) of subsection (a) of section 1241 of the Food 
Security Act of 1985 (16 U.S.C. 3841) is amended to read as follows:
            ``(4) The farmland protection program under subchapter B of 
        chapter 2, using $300,000,000 in each of fiscal years 2008 
        through 2012.''.

SEC. 205. GRASSLAND RESERVE PROGRAM.

    (a) Extension and Funding.--Paragraph (5) of section 1241(a) of the 
Food Security Act of 1985 (16 U.S.C. 3841(a)) is amended to read as 
follows:
            ``(5) The grassland reserve program under subchapter C of 
        chapter 2.''.
    (b) Annual Enrollment Levels and Priority for Long-Term 
Contracts.--Subsection (b) of section 1238N of such Act (16 U.S.C. 
3838n) is amended--
            (1) by striking paragraph (1) and inserting the following 
        new paragraph:
            ``(1) Annual enrollment levels.--To the maximum extent 
        practicable, the Secretary shall enroll in the grassland 
        reserve program--
                    ``(A) 1,000,000 acres in calendar year 2008;
                    ``(B) 1,500,000 acres in calendar year 2009;
                    ``(C) 2,000,000 acres in calendar year 2010;
                    ``(D) 2,500,000 acres in calendar year 2011; and
                    ``(E) 3,000,000 acres in calendar year 2012 and 
                each calendar year thereafter.''; and
            (2) by striking paragraph (3) and inserting the following 
        new paragraph:
            ``(3) Priority for long-term agreements and easements.--Of 
        the total number of acres enrolled in the program at any one 
        time through the methods described in paragraph (2)(A), the 
        Secretary shall ensure that at least 60 percent of the acres 
        were enrolled through the use of 30-year rental agreements and 
        permanent and long-term easements described in clause (ii) of 
        such paragraph.''.
    (c) Enrollment of Conservation Reserve Program Land.--Section 1238N 
of such Act (16 U.S.C. 3838n) is amended by adding at the end the 
following new subsection:
    ``(d) Enrollment of Conservation Reserve Program Land.--
            ``(1) Enrollment authorized.--Subject to the eligibility 
        requirements of subsection (c) and all other requirements of 
        this subchapter, land enrolled in the conservation reserve 
        program may be enrolled in the grassland reserve program if the 
        Secretary determines that the land is of high ecological value 
        and under significant threat of conversion to other uses.
            ``(2) Maximum enrollment.--The number of acres of 
        conservation reserve program land enrolled under this 
        subsection in a calendar year shall not exceed 10 percent of 
        the total number of acres enrolled in the grassland reserve 
        program in that calendar year.
            ``(3) Prohibition on duplication of payments.--Land 
        enrolled in the program under this subsection shall no longer 
        be eligible for payments under the conservation reserve 
        program.''.
    (d) Biodiversity and Allocations.--Section 1238O of such Act (16 
U.S.C. 3838o) is amended--
            (1) redesignating subsection (d) as subsection (f); and
            (2) by inserting after subsection (c) the following new 
        subsections:
    ``(d) Biodiversity.--In emphasizing support for biodiversity 
consistent with the requirements of subsection (c), the Secretary shall 
give priority to agreements and easements that protect and restore 
habitat for rare, threatened, endangered, and candidate species.
    ``(e) Allocations.--In making allocations to States to carry out 
this subchapter, the Secretary shall consider--
            ``(1) to what extent the State evaluates and ranks 
        applications for easements and agreements consistent with the 
        requirements of subsection (c);
            ``(2) the total number of acres of grassland in the State 
        that are under threat of conversion to other uses, including 
        conversion to more intensive agricultural use as well as 
        conversion to nonagricultural use;
            ``(3) the total number of acres of grassland in the State 
        that provide important habitat for federally listed threatened 
        or endangered species and other wildlife species of concern;
            ``(4) to what extent the State implements the program to 
        ensure that, to the maximum extent practicable, the program 
        results in the conservation of large tracts of contiguous 
        grasslands; and
            ``(5) to what extent the State prioritizes enrollment of 
        grasslands that are adjacent to other land under permanent 
        protection, such as State or Federal land or land covered by a 
        conservation easement.''.
    (e) Use of Private Organizations or State Agencies.--Section 1238Q 
of such Act (16 U.S.C. 3838q) is amended--
            (1) by striking subsection (a) and inserting the following 
        new subsection:
    ``(a) Authority To Use Private Organizations or States.--The 
Secretary may permit a private conservation or land trust organization 
(referred to in this section as a `private organization') or a State 
agency to own, write, and enforce an easement under this subchapter, in 
lieu of the Secretary, subject to the right of the Secretary to conduct 
periodic inspections and enforce the easement, if--
            ``(1) the Secretary determines that granting the permission 
        will promote protection of grassland, land that contains forbs, 
        and shrubland;
            ``(2) the owner authorizes the private organization or 
        State agency to hold and enforce the easement; and
            ``(3) the private organization or State agency agrees to 
        assume the costs incurred in administering and enforcing the 
        easement, including the costs of restoration or rehabilitation 
        of the land as specified by the owner and the private 
        organization or State agency.'';
            (2) in subsection (b), by striking ``hold'' and inserting 
        ``own, write,'';
            (3) in subsection (c), by striking ``hold'' and inserting 
        ``own, write,''; and
            (4) by striking subsection (d) and inserting the following 
        new subsections:
    ``(d) Prohibitions on Limitations.--Notwithstanding any provision 
of State law to the contrary, a conservation easement held by the 
United States, held by a private organization under this section, or 
held by its successors or assigns under this section shall not be 
limited in duration or scope or be defeasible by--
            ``(1) the conservation easement being in gross or 
        appurtenant;
            ``(2) the management of the conservation easement having 
        been delegated or assigned to a non-Federal entity; or
            ``(3) any requirement under State law for re-recordation or 
        renewal of the easement.
    ``(e) Rule of Construction.--Notwithstanding any provision of State 
law to the contrary, a conservation easement shall be construed to 
effectuate the Federal purposes for which the conservation easement was 
acquired and, in interpreting the terms of the conservation easement, 
there shall be no presumption favoring the conservation easement holder 
or fee owner.
    ``(f) Reassignment.--
            ``(1) Reassignment required.--If a private organization 
        holding an easement on land under this subchapter terminates, 
        the owner of the land subject to the easement shall reassign, 
        not later than 30 days after termination of the private 
        organization, the easement--
                    ``(A) to another private organization approved by 
                the Secretary; or
                    ``(B) to the Secretary.
            ``(2) Notification of secretary.--If an easement is 
        reassigned to another private organization under paragraph (1), 
        the owner and the new organization shall notify the Secretary 
        in writing, not later than 60 days after the date of 
        reassignment, that the reassignment has been made. If the 
        notification is not provided, the easement shall revert to the 
        control of the Secretary.''.
    (f) Special Grasslands Reserve Enhancement Program.--Subchapter C 
of chapter 2 of subtitle D of title XII of the Food Security Act of 
1985 is amended by inserting after section 1238Q (16 U.S.C. 3838q) the 
following new section:

``SEC. 1238R. GRASSLANDS RESERVE ENHANCEMENT PROGRAM.

    ``The Secretary may enter into such agreements for payments to 
States, including political subdivisions and agencies of States, that 
the Secretary determines will advance the purposes of the grassland 
reserve program. Section 1305(d) of the Agricultural Reconciliation Act 
of 1987 (Public Law 100-203; 7 U.S.C. 1308 note) does not apply to 
payments received by a State or political subdivision or agency thereof 
in connection with such an agreement.''.

SEC. 206. WILDLIFE HABITAT INCENTIVE PROGRAM.

    (a) Extension and Funding.--Section 1241(a)(7) of the Food Security 
Act of 1985 (16 U.S.C. 3841(a)(7)) is amended by striking subparagraphs 
(A) through (D) and inserting the following new subparagraphs:
                    ``(A) $100,000,000 in fiscal year 2008;
                    ``(B) $140,000,000 in fiscal year 2009;
                    ``(C) $200,000,000 in each of fiscal years 2010 and 
                2011; and
                    ``(D) $300,000,000 in fiscal year 2012.''.
    (b) Long-Term Agreements and Contracts.--Subsection (b)(2) of 
section 1240N of such Act (16 U.S.C. 3839bb-1) is amended--
            (1) in subparagraph (A), by striking ``in addition to 
        amounts provided under paragraph (1)'' and inserting ``in an 
        amount up to 100 percent of the actual cost of any practice 
        required by the agreement or contract''; and
            (2) in subparagraph (B), by striking ``not more than 15 
        percent'' and inserting ``25 percent''.
    (c) Incentive Payments and Program Priorities.--Section 1240N of 
such Act (16 U.S.C. 3839bb-1) is amended by adding at the end the 
following new subsections:
    ``(d) Incentive Payments for Agreements Benefitting Listed 
Species.--In a case in which the Secretary enters into an agreement or 
contract to protect and restore habitat for a federally or State-listed 
endangered, threatened, or candidate species, the Secretary may provide 
incentive payments to landowners to protect and restore the habitat, 
including the cost of management activities needed during the term of 
the agreement or contract.
    ``(e) Priorities.--In carrying out this section, the Secretary 
shall give priority to agreements and contracts that--
            ``(1) protect and restore habitat for rare, threatened, 
        endangered, and candidate species; or
            ``(2) further the goals and objectives of the State 
        comprehensive wildlife conservation strategy.
    ``(f) Allocations.--In making allocations to States to carry out 
this chapter, the Secretary shall consider to what degree each State--
            ``(1) gives priority to the protection and restoration of 
        habitat for rare, threatened, endangered, and candidate species 
        and for furtherance of the State comprehensive wildlife 
        conservation strategy under subsection (e); and
            ``(2) complies with the wildlife action plan for the State 
        under subsection (f).
    ``(g) Cooperative Agreements.--To the maximum extent practicable, 
the Secretary shall enter into cooperative agreements with State 
wildlife and natural resources agencies to implement this section, 
including delivery of technical assistance.''.

SEC. 207. ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY INCENTIVES PROGRAM.

    (a) Extension.--
            (1) Funding extension and increase.--Section 1241(a) of the 
        Food Security Act of 1985 (16 U.S.C. 3841(a)) is amended by 
        striking paragraph (6) and inserting the following new 
        paragraph:
            ``(6) The environmental quality incentives program under 
        chapter 4, using, to the maximum extent practicable--
                    ``(A) $1,400,000,000 in fiscal year 2008;
                    ``(B) $1,600,000,000 in fiscal year 2009;
                    ``(C) $1,800,000,000 in each of fiscal years 2010 
                and 2011; and
                    ``(D) $2,000,000,000 in fiscal year 2012.''.
            (2) Conforming amendments.--Chapter 4 of subtitle D of 
        title XII of such Act is amended--
                    (A) in section 1240B(a)(1) (16 U.S.C. 3839aa-
                2(a)(1)), by striking ``2007'' and inserting ``2012''; 
                and
                    (B) in subsection 1240G (16 U.S.C. 3839aa-7), by 
                striking ``2007'' and inserting ``2012''.
    (b) Demonstration of Structural and Land Management Practices.--
            (1) Eligibility.--Section 1240B(a)(2) of the Food Security 
        Act of 1985 (16 U.S.C. 3839aa-(a)(2)) is amended--
                    (A) by striking ``and'' at the end of subparagraph 
                (A);
                    (B) by striking the period at the end of 
                subparagraph (B) and inserting ``; and''; and
                    (C) by adding at the end the following new 
                subparagraph:
                    ``(C) a producer that demonstrates a structural or 
                land management practice, including project monitoring, 
                measurement, outreach, or education shall be eligible 
                to receive cost-share or incentive payments.''.
            (2) Conforming amendments.--(A) Section 1240(3) of such Act 
        (16 U.S.C. 3839aa(3)) is amended by striking ``and maintain'' 
        and inserting ``, maintain, and demonstrate''.
            (B) Section 1240F(1) of such Act (16 U.S.C. 3839aa-6(1)) is 
        amended by striking ``and implementing'' and inserting ``, 
        implementing, or demonstrating''.
    (c) Predator Deterrence.--Section 1240B(a) of the Food Security Act 
of 1985 (16 U.S.C. 3839aa-(a)) is amended by adding at the end the 
following paragraph:
            ``(3) Predator deterrence.--A producer that implements 
        practices or other measures as part of a system of proactive 
        predator deterrence for large carnivores, including the use of 
        range riders, removal of carcasses, and installation of 
        electric fencing around calving areas, shall be eligible to 
        receive cost-share or incentive payments under this chapter.''.
    (d) Bidding Down.--Section 1240B(c) of the Food Security Act of 
1985 (16 U.S.C. 3839aa-2(c)) is amended by inserting before the period 
at the end the following: ``, except that this prohibition does not 
relieve the Secretary of the obligation to ensure that cost-
effectiveness is prioritized in the evaluation of offers and payments, 
as provided by section 1240C(1)''.
    (e) Incentive Payment Rates.--Section 1240B(e) of the Food Security 
Act of 1985 (16 U.S.C. 3839aa-2(e)(2)) is amended--
            (1) in paragraph (1), by adding at the end the following 
        new sentence: ``The Secretary shall establish different rates 
        to accommodate variation in the cost of practices and product 
        value.''; and
            (2) by adding at the end the following new paragraph:
            ``(3) Rates for component practices.--The Secretary shall 
        develop additional incentive payment rates for components of a 
        practice that promotes residue, nutrient, pest, invasive 
        species, or air quality management. The amount and rate of 
        incentive payments for a component practice shall be scaled 
        according to the anticipated level of impact of that practice 
        on the priority resource concerns, such that more advanced 
        management practices that yield greater environmental benefit 
        will receive higher payments.''.
    (f) Allocation of Funding.--Section 1240B(g) of the Food Security 
Act of 1985 (16 U.S.C. 3839aa-2(g)) is amended by adding at the end the 
following new sentence: ``When making initial allocations of funds to 
States to make cost-share and incentive payments under this chapter, 
the Secretary shall consider to what degree producers in each State are 
under pressure to comply with existing local, State, or Federal 
environmental regulations, or may have to comply with such regulations 
in the future.''.
    (g) Evaluation of Applications for Cost-Share Payments and 
Incentive Payments.--Section 1240C of the Food Security Act of 1985 (16 
U.S.C. 3839aa-3) is amended to read as follows:

``SEC. 1240C. EVALUATION OF APPLICATIONS FOR COST-SHARE PAYMENTS AND 
              INCENTIVE PAYMENTS.

    ``(a) Priorities and Criteria.--In evaluating applications for 
cost-share payments and incentive payments, the Secretary shall--
            ``(1) prioritize applications based on how effectively and 
        comprehensively designated resource concerns are addressed;
            ``(2) prioritize applications based on their overall level 
        of cost-effectiveness to ensure that the conservation 
        practices, systems, and approaches proposed are the most 
        efficient means of producing the proposed project's anticipated 
        environmental benefits;
            ``(3) reward higher levels of environmental performance, 
        such as advanced levels of management within management 
        practices; and
            ``(4) develop criteria for evaluating applications that 
        will ensure that national, State, and local conservation 
        priorities are effectively addressed.
    ``(b) Wildlife.--In evaluating applications for cost-share payments 
and incentive payments related to projects intended primarily to 
improve wildlife habitat, the Secretary, in addition to meeting the 
requirements of subsection (a), shall give priority to applications 
that protect and restore habitat for rare, threatened, endangered, and 
candidate species or further the goals and objectives of the State 
comprehensive wildlife conservation strategy.''.
    (h) Support for Program Plans.--Section 1240F of the Food Security 
Act of 1985 (16 U.S.C. 3839aa-6) is amended--
            (1) by striking ``and'' at the end of paragraph (1);
            (2) by striking the period at the end of paragraph (2) and 
        inserting ``; and''; and
            (3) by adding at the end the following new paragraph:
            ``(3) developing partnerships with other agencies and 
        contracting with technical assistance providers to supplement 
        Department expertise and staffing capacity as necessary.''.
    (i) Conservation Innovation Grants.--Section 1240H of the Food 
Security Act of 1985 (16 U.S.C. 3839aa-8) is amended--
            (1) in subsection (a), by striking ``may'' and inserting 
        ``shall'';
            (2) in subsection (b)--
                    (A) by striking ``may'' and inserting ``shall'';
                    (B) in paragraph (2)--
                            (i) by striking ``and'' at the end of 
                        subparagraph (A); and
                            (ii) by adding at the end the following new 
                        subparagraph:
                    ``(C) alternative energy projects, such as solar 
                and wind power energy systems and conversion of 
                equipment to run on bio-fuels, to reduce greenhouse gas 
                emissions and reliance on fossil fuels in farm 
                operations;''.
                    (C) by striking the period at the end of paragraph 
                (3) and inserting ``; and''; and
                    (D) by adding at the end the following new 
                paragraph:
            ``(4) include a plan for technology transfer.'';
            (3) by adding at the end the following new subsections:
    ``(d) Technology Transfer.--To the maximum extent practicable, the 
Secretary shall ensure efficient, effective transfer of innovative 
technologies and approaches demonstrated through projects that receive 
funding under this section.
    ``(e) Funding.--Of the amounts made available under section 
1241(a)(6) to carry out this chapter, the Secretary shall use to carry 
out this section--
            ``(1) $40,000,000 for fiscal year 2008;
            ``(2) $50,000,000 for fiscal year 2009;
            ``(3) $60,000,000 for fiscal year 2010; and
            ``(4) $75,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2011 and 
        2012.''.
    (j) Funding Under Ground and Surface Water Conservation Program.--
Section 1240I of the Food Security Act of 1985 (16 U.S.C. 3839aa-9) is 
amended by striking subsection (c) and inserting the following new 
subsection:
    ``(b) Funding.--The Secretary shall use $100,000,000 of the funds 
of the Commodity Credit Corporation to carry out this section for each 
of fiscal years 2008 through 2012. These funds are in addition to 
amounts made available under section 1241(a)(6) to carry out this 
chapter.''.
    (k) Air Quality Improvement and Performance Incentives for 
States.--Chapter 4 of subtitle D of title XII of such Act is amended by 
adding at the end the following new sections:

``SEC. 1240J. AIR QUALITY IMPROVEMENT.

    ``(a) Availability of Cost-Share Payments and Incentive Payments.--
In carrying out this chapter, the Secretary shall promote air quality 
by providing cost-share payments and incentive payments to individual 
producers to address air quality concerns associated with agriculture.
    ``(b) Eligible Practices, Cost-Share.--
            ``(1) Reduction of emissions of criteria pollutants and 
        airborne toxins.--In addition to practices eligible for cost-
        share payments under this chapter, the Secretary shall provide 
        cost-share payments to producers under this section for mobile 
        or stationary equipment, including engines, used in an 
        agricultural operation that will reduce emissions of criteria 
        pollutants and airborne toxins.
            ``(2) Considerations.--In evaluating applications for cost-
        share assistance for equipment described in paragraph (1), the 
        Secretary shall prioritize assistance for equipment that--
                    ``(A) is the most cost-effective in addressing air 
                quality concerns; and
                    ``(B) will assist producers in meeting State or 
                local regulatory requirements related to air quality.
    ``(c) Locations.--In order for producers to receive payments under 
this section, a project must be located in a county--
            ``(1) that is in non-attainment for ambient air quality 
        standards for ozone, particulate matter, or both;
            ``(2) in which there is air quality degradation, recognized 
        by a State or local regulating agency, to which agricultural 
        emissions significantly contribute; or
            ``(3) in which the Secretary determines that pesticide 
        drift is a priority concern.
    ``(d) Priority.--The Secretary shall give priority to projects 
that--
            ``(1) involve multiple producers implementing eligible 
        conservation activities in a coordinated way to promote air 
        quality; or
            ``(2) are designed to encourage broad adoption of 
        innovative approaches, including approaches involving the use 
        of innovative technologies and integrated pest management, so 
        long as the technologies do not have the unintended consequence 
        of compromising other environmental goals.
    ``(e) Funding.--
            ``(1) Amounts.--The Secretary shall use funds of the 
        Commodity Credit Corporation to carry out this section in the 
        following amounts:
                    ``(A) $25,000,000 for fiscal year 2008;
                    ``(B) $45,000,000 for fiscal year 2009;
                    ``(C) $60,000,000 for fiscal year 2010;
                    ``(D) $75,000,000 for fiscal year 2011; and
                    ``(E) $100,000,000 for fiscal year 2012.
            ``(2) Relation to other funds.--The funds made available 
        under paragraph (1) are in addition to amounts made available 
        under section 1241(a)(6) to carry out this chapter.

``SEC. 1240K. PERFORMANCE INCENTIVES FOR STATES.

    ``(a) High Level of Performance Bonus.--For each of fiscal years 
2008 through 2012, 20 percent of the funds made available under this 
chapter shall be reserved by the Secretary for bonus allocations to 
States that demonstrate a high level of performance in implementing the 
environmental quality incentives program.
    ``(b) Special Considerations.--In evaluating State performance 
under subsection (a), the Secretary shall reward States that--
            ``(1) consistently meet the requirements of section 1240C 
        in evaluating offers and payments;
            ``(2) dedicate a portion of their annual environmental 
        quality incentives program allocation to multi-producer 
        cooperative efforts to address specific resource concerns;
            ``(3) demonstrate effective and efficient program delivery, 
        including the provision of adequate technical assistance to all 
        program participants through appropriate staffing and through 
        cooperation with other Federal, State, Tribal, and local 
        agencies, for-profit and nonprofit organizations, and 
        individuals with demonstrated expertise in the planning and 
        implementation of conservation practices, systems, and 
        approaches;
            ``(4) collaborate with other Federal and State agencies, 
        local governments, educational institutions, and for-profit and 
        nonprofit organizations to evaluate the environmental outcomes 
        associated with implementation of the environmental quality 
        incentives program;
            ``(5) ensure broad participation in State Technical 
        Committees; and
            ``(6) ensure that priorities established at the State level 
        are effectively addressed by local work groups.''.

SEC. 208. COOPERATIVE CONSERVATION PARTNERSHIP INITIATIVE.

    (a) Establishment of Grant Program.--Subtitle D of title XII of the 
Food Security Act of 1985 is amended by adding at the end the following 
new chapter:

      ``CHAPTER 6--COOPERATIVE CONSERVATION PARTNERSHIP INITIATIVE

``SEC. 1240W. COOPERATIVE CONSERVATION PARTNERSHIP INITIATIVE.

    ``(a) Grants and Agreements.--The Secretary shall make grants and 
enter into agreements for not shorter than two-year or longer than 
five-year terms with eligible entities specified in subsection (c) to 
preferentially enroll producers in one or more of the programs 
specified in subsection (b) to carry out special projects and 
initiatives through which multiple producers and other interested 
persons cooperate to address specific resources of concern related to 
agricultural production on a local, State, or regional scale.
    ``(b) Covered Programs.--The conservation programs referred to in 
subsection (a) are the following:
            ``(1) Conservation reserve program, but only the continuous 
        signup portion of the program.
            ``(2) Conservation reserve enhancement program.
            ``(3) Environmental quality incentives program.
            ``(4) Farmland protection program.
            ``(5) Grassland reserve program.
            ``(6) Ground and surface water conservation program.
            ``(7) Wetland reserve program.
            ``(8) Wildlife habitat incentive program.
    ``(c) Eligible Partners.--Agreements may be entered into under this 
section with any of the following (or a combination thereof):
            ``(1) States and agencies of States.
            ``(2) Political subdivisions of States, including State-
        sponsored conservation districts.
            ``(3) Indian tribes.
            ``(4) Nongovernmental organizations and associations, 
        including producer associations, farmer cooperatives, extension 
        associations, and conservation organizations with a history of 
        working cooperatively with producers to effectively address 
        resource concerns related to agricultural production, as 
        determined by the Secretary.
    ``(d) Applications.--
            ``(1) Competitive process.--The Secretary shall establish a 
        competitive process for considering applications for agreements 
        under this section consistent with the evaluation criteria 
        listed in subsection (e).
            ``(2) Program allocation.--Applications shall include--
                    ``(A) specification of the amount of funding or 
                acres, or both, of one or more covered programs 
                specified in subsection (b) proposed to be allocated to 
                carry out the special project or initiative; and
                    ``(B) a schedule for utilization of funding or 
                acres over the life of the proposed project or 
                initiative.
    ``(e) Evaluation Criteria.--In evaluating applications for 
agreements under this section the Secretary shall consider the extent 
to which--
            ``(1) preferential enrollment in the covered programs 
        specified in the application will effectively address the 
        environmental objectives established for the special project or 
        initiative; and
            ``(2) the special project or initiative covered by the 
        application--
                    ``(A) enjoys broad local and regional support from 
                producers and other interested persons, including 
                governmental and nongovernmental organizations with 
                appropriate expertise on the issues the project or 
                initiative seeks to address;
                    ``(B) includes clear environmental objectives and a 
                high likelihood of success;
                    ``(C) includes a well defined project or initiative 
                plan that identifies sensitive areas requiring 
                treatment and prioritizes conservation systems, 
                practices, and activities needed to achieve 
                environmental objectives;
                    ``(D) promises adequate and coordinated 
                participation to achieve the objectives of the project 
                or initiative;
                    ``(E) coordinates integration of local, State, and 
                Federal efforts to make the best use of available 
                resources and maximize cost-effective investments;
                    ``(F) leverages financial and technical resources 
                from sources other than the programs authorized by this 
                subtitle, including financial and technical resources 
                provided by Federal and State agencies, local 
                governments, nongovernmental organizations and 
                associations, and other private sector entities;
                    ``(G) describes how all necessary technical 
                assistance will be provided to each producer 
                participating in the project or initiative, including 
                cost estimates for technical assistance and whether 
                such assistance will be provided by technical service 
                providers;
                    ``(H) describes how the administrative costs of the 
                project or initiative will be minimized;
                    ``(I) addresses a local, State, regional, or 
                national environmental priority or priorities, with 
                particular emphasis on any priority for which there is 
                an existing State or federally approved plan in place 
                for addressing that priority;
                    ``(J) includes a plan to evaluate progress and 
                measure results; and
                    ``(K) clearly demonstrates that enrollment of 
                producers in covered programs will be consistent with 
                the purposes and policies of each individual program, 
                as established in statute, rules and regulations, and 
                program guidance promulgated by implementing agencies.
    ``(f) Priorities.--To the maximum extent practicable, consistent 
with the requirements of subsection (d), the Secretary shall ensure 
that, each fiscal year, grants are awarded and agreements are entered 
into under this section to support projects and initiatives that 
collectively address the full range of resource concerns facing 
producers, ranchers, and small private forest landowners, including 
specifically projects and initiatives that are designed--
            ``(1) to achieve improvements in water quality in 
        watersheds impacted by agriculture, particularly by increasing 
        the participation of producers in implementing best management 
        practices in a watershed or developing environmentally and 
        economically viable alternative uses for manure and litter;
            ``(2) to achieve improvements in air quality in a 
        geographical area where agricultural operations impact air 
        quality, especially an area that, as determined by the 
        Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency, is a 
        nonattainment area with respect to any of the national ambient 
        air quality standards promulgated by the Administrator under 
        section 109 of the Clean Air Act (42 U.S.C. 7409);
            ``(3) to conserve water for environmental purposes, such as 
        enhanced in stream flows or aquifer recharge in regions, 
        States, or local areas where water quantity is a concern;
            ``(4) to assist in the recovery of Federal or State-listed 
        endangered species or species of special concern or to further 
        the goals and objectives of a State's comprehensive wildlife 
        conservation plan through the cooperative efforts of multiple 
        producers;
            ``(5) to control invasive species on rangeland or other 
        agricultural land through the cooperative efforts of multiple 
        producers in a geographical area;
            ``(6) to address a specific resource of concern or set of 
        concerns on private, non-industrial forest land;
            ``(7) to reduce losses of pesticides to the environment by 
        engaging multiple producers in a geographic area in adoption of 
        integrated pest management practices and approaches; and
            ``(8) to keep working farms and ranches facing development 
        pressures in agricultural use.
    ``(g) Cost Share.--
            ``(1) Maximum; exceptions.--The Secretary shall not require 
        more than 25 percent of the cost of a project or initiative 
        supported under an agreement entered into under this section to 
        come from non-Federal sources. However, the Secretary may award 
        more points to projects or initiatives offering to cover a 
        higher percentage of the cost of the project or initiative from 
        non-Federal sources.
            ``(2) In-kind contributions.--If the Secretary establishes 
        a cost-share requirement for a project or initiative, the 
        Secretary shall allow the use of in-kind contributions to meet 
        that requirement.
    ``(h) Funding.--
            ``(1) Set-aside.--Of the funds provided each fiscal year to 
        implement the programs specified in subsection (b), the 
        Secretary shall reserve the following percentages to ensure an 
        adequate source of funds for agreements entered into under this 
        section:
                    ``(A) 5 percent for fiscal year 2008;
                    ``(B) 10 percent for each of fiscal years 2009 and 
                2010; and
                    ``(C) 15 percent for fiscal years 2011 and 2012.
            ``(2) Allocation to states.--The Secretary shall allocate 
        to States 60 percent of the funds reserved under paragraph (1) 
        for a fiscal year to allow State Conservationists, with the 
        advice of State technical committees, to select projects and 
        initiatives for funding under this section at the State level. 
        The allocation shall be made on a similar basis as what would 
        have been the case under the covered programs identified in 
        subsection (b).''.
    (b) Conforming Repeal.--Section 1243 of the Food Security Act of 
1985 (16 U.S.C. 3843) is amended by striking subsection (f).

SEC. 209. REGIONAL EQUITY IN FUNDING OF CERTAIN DEPARTMENT OF 
              AGRICULTURE CONSERVATION PROGRAMS.

    Subsection (d) of section 1241 of the Food Security Act of 1985 (16 
U.S.C. 3841) is amended to read as follows:
    ``(d) Minimum Base Allocation to States for Certain Conservation 
Programs.--
            ``(1) Minimum allocation.--Before April 1 of each fiscal 
        year, the Secretary shall give priority for funding under the 
        conservation programs under this subtitle, other than the 
        programs excluded by paragraph (2), to approved applications in 
        any State that has not received, for that fiscal year, an 
        aggregate amount of at least $12,000,000 for those conservation 
        programs.
            ``(2) Certain programs excluded.--Paragraph (1) does not 
        apply to the following programs:
                    ``(A) The conservation reserve program under 
                subchapter B of chapter 1.
                    ``(B) The wetlands reserve program under subchapter 
                C of chapter 1.
                    ``(C) The conservation security program under 
                subchapter A of chapter 2.
                    ``(D) The grassland reserve program under 
                subchapter C of chapter 2.''.

SEC. 210. INTEGRATED PEST MANAGEMENT INITIATIVE.

    Subtitle F of title XII of the Food Security Act of 1985 (16 U.S.C. 
3830 et seq.) is amended by adding at the end the following new 
section:

``SEC. 1257. INTEGRATED PEST MANAGEMENT INITIATIVE.

    ``(a) Initiative Required.--The Secretary shall implement an 
integrated pest management initiative in priority regions identified by 
the Secretary under subsection (b) for the purpose of assisting 
agricultural producers operating in such regions to comply with pest 
management regulations and alleviate the need for additional 
regulations regarding pest management activities.
    ``(b) Identification of Priority Regions.--
            ``(1) Identification.--The Secretary of Agriculture shall 
        identify priority regions where the adoption by agricultural 
        producers of integrated pest management practices and 
        approaches offers the greatest potential benefit to producers 
        seeking to comply with environmental regulations and alleviate 
        the need for additional regulations resulting from pest 
        management activities. Priority regions shall include 
        agricultural lands dominated by the production of specialty 
        crops and agricultural lands where agricultural pest management 
        activities are regulated for the purpose of mitigating specific 
        impacts to human health or the environment, such as an area in 
        which pollutants exceed authorized total maximum daily load or 
        an air quality non-attainment area.
            ``(2) Consultation.--The Secretary shall identify priority 
        regions in consultation with the Environmental Protection 
        Agency, the United States Geological Service, the United States 
        Fish and Wildlife Service, agricultural producers, appropriated 
        State agencies, and other interested persons.
    ``(c) Activities in Priority Regions.--
            ``(1) Expedited approval of management practices.--The 
        Secretary of Agriculture shall develop the best-available 
        integrated pest management practices for the primary 
        agricultural commodities and significant pests in each priority 
        region identified under subsection (b) and expedite approval of 
        these practices for implementation by agricultural producers.
            ``(2) Improved evaluation of management plans.--The 
        Secretary shall develop and make available criteria to enable 
        staff of the Natural Resources Conservation Service and 
        agricultural producers operating in priority regions identified 
        under subsection (b) to effectively compare pest management 
        plans, considering relative risks and potential benefits to 
        multiple resources of concern, including air, surface water, 
        ground water, bees and other pollinators, wildlife, and worker 
        safety.
            ``(3) Technical assistance.--The Secretary shall enter in 
        cooperative agreements, memorandums of understanding, and 
        contracts for services with other agencies and non-Federal 
        organizations, as necessary, to assist in providing technical 
        assistance regarding integrated pest management planning and 
        implementation to producers operating in priority regions 
        identified under subsection (b).
            ``(4) Marketing.--The Secretary shall market the 
        availability of integrated pest management tools and training 
        to agricultural producers in the priority regions identified 
        under subsection (b).
            ``(5) Program integration.--The Secretary shall set goals 
        for integrating the integrated pest management initiative with 
        the environmental quality incentives program established under 
        chapter 4 of subtitle D of title XII of the Food Security Act 
        of 1985 (16 U.S.C. 3839aa et seq.) and other conservation 
        programs in each priority region identified under subsection 
        (b), including indicators of the extent to which these programs 
        fund integrated pest management practices and the extent to 
        which supported integrated pest management practices reduce 
        pesticide use and risk.
    ``(d) Funding.--The Secretary of Agriculture may use resources 
provided for programs under this title to implement the integrated pest 
management initiative.''.

SEC. 211. TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE UNDER DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE 
              CONSERVATION PROGRAMS.

    (a) Use of Third-Party Providers.--Section 1242 of the Food 
Security Act of 1985 (16 U.S.C. 3842) is amended--
            (1) in subsection (a), by striking paragraph (2) and 
        inserting the following new paragraph:
            ``(2) at the option of the producer, through an approved 
        third party, if available.''; and
            (2) in subsection (b)--
                    (A) by striking paragraph (1) and inserting the 
                following new paragraph:
            ``(1) System for evaluation of providers.--The Secretary 
        shall establish, by regulation, a system for approving 
        individuals and entities to provide technical assistance to 
        carry out programs under this chapter, including criteria for 
        the evaluation of providers or potential providers of technical 
        assistance. The system shall require, as part of the approval 
        process, consultation with county committees established under 
        section 8(b) of the Soil Conservation and Domestic Allotment 
        Act (16 U.S.C. 590h(b)).'';
                    (B) by striking paragraph (3) and inserting the 
                following new paragraph:
            ``(3) Competitive bidding.--The Secretary may accept bids 
        from approved third parties to provide technical assistance to 
        producers eligible for that assistance.''; and
                    (C) in paragraph (4), by striking ``may request'' 
                and inserting ``shall request, to the maximum extent 
                practicable,''.
    (b) Cooperative Conservation Educational Assistance Program; 
Technical Assistance.--Such section is further amended by adding at the 
end the following new subsections:
    ``(c) Cooperative Conservation Educational Assistance Program.--The 
Secretary shall establish a cooperative conservation educational 
assistance program through which a student at an institution of higher 
education, in a field of study such as agronomy, conservation biology, 
engineering, and other subject relevant to the provision of technical 
assistance under this section, may receive educational assistance in 
exchange for a commitment of service to the Natural Resources 
Conservation Service or other agency within the Department of 
Agriculture involved in providing such assistance. Establishment of the 
program shall be carried out by rulemaking, and the final rule shall be 
issued not later than 180 days after the date of the enactment of this 
subsection.
    ``(d) Review and Expedited Approval of Technical Assistance 
Specifications.--
            ``(1) As a condition on participating in programs under 
        this subtitle, a State shall assess the completeness and 
        relevance of existing technical assistance specifications to 
        ensure that the specifications fully incorporate and provide 
        for the appropriate range of conservation practices and 
        resource mitigation measures available to specialty crop 
        producers. In conducting the assessment, the State shall 
        consult with producers, crop consultants, the cooperative 
        extension system, and land-grant colleges and universities, 
        nongovernmental organizations, and other qualified entities. If 
        revisions to technical specifications are determined to be 
        necessary, the state shall establish an administrative process 
        for expediting the incorporation of those revisions.
            ``(2) Technical assistance.--The Secretary shall ensure 
        that adequate technical assistance is available for the 
        implementation of practices by specialty crop producers through 
        Federal conservation programs. To comply with this paragraph, 
        the Secretary shall develop--
                    ``(A) programs that meet specific needs of 
                specialty crop producers through cooperative agreements 
                with other agencies and nongovernmental organizations; 
                and
                    ``(B) program specifications that allow for 
                innovative approaches that engage local resources in 
                providing technical assistance for planning and 
                implementation of practices.''.

SEC. 212. CONSERVATION LOAN GUARANTEE PROGRAM.

    Section 304 of the Consolidated Farm and Rural Development Act (7 
U.S.C. 1924) is amended to read as follows:

``SEC. 304. CONSERVATION LOAN GUARANTEE PROGRAM.

    ``(a) In General.--The Secretary may provide a loan guarantee, an 
interest subsidy, or both, to enable an eligible borrower to obtain a 
qualified conservation loan.
    ``(b) Definitions.--In this section:
            ``(1) Eligible borrower.--The term `eligible borrower' 
        means a farmer, rancher, farm cooperative, private domestic 
        corporation, partnership, joint operation, trust, or limited 
        liability company, that is engaged primarily and directly in 
        agricultural production in the United States.
            ``(2) Qualified conservation loan.--The term `qualified 
        conservation loan' means a loan that meets the following 
        requirements:
                    ``(A) Purpose.--The loan proceeds are required to 
                be used to cover the costs to the borrower of carrying 
                out a qualified conservation project.
                    ``(B) Principal amount.--The principal amount of 
                the loan is not more than $1,000,000.
                    ``(C) Repayment period.--The loan repayment period 
                shall not exceed 10 years.
                    ``(D) No repayment required in first year.--The 
                lender is prohibited from requiring any part of the 
                loan to be repaid in the 1-year period that begins with 
                the date of the closing of the loan.
                    ``(E) No loan forgiveness.--The lender is 
                prohibited from forgiving any part of the loan.
                    ``(F) Limited processing fee.--The total of all 
                processing fees charged with respect to the loan does 
                not exceed such amount as shall be prescribed by the 
                Secretary.
            ``(3) Qualified conservation project.--The term `qualified 
        conservation project' means, with respect to an eligible 
        borrower, conservation measures included in a conservation 
        plan, approved by the Secretary under other authority, for a 
        farming or ranching operation of the borrower, including but 
        not limited to--
                    ``(A) the installation of conservation structures, 
                including terraces, sod waterways, permanently 
                vegetated stream borders and filter strips, windbreaks 
                (tree or grass), shelter belts, and living snow fences, 
                if all plantings consist of vegetation appropriate to 
                the locale;
                    ``(B) the installation of water conservation 
                measures;
                    ``(C) the installation of waste management systems;
                    ``(D) the establishment or improvement of permanent 
                pasture;
                    ``(E) the payment of costs of complying with 
                section 1212 of the Food Security Act of 1985;
                    ``(F) other purposes consistent with the 
                conservation plan;
                    ``(G) any conservation project or practice, as 
                described by technical guides and handbooks issues by 
                the Natural Resources Conservation Service; or
                    ``(H) emerging conservation practices, techniques, 
                or technologies, as approved by the Secretary.
    ``(c) Limitations Applicable to Loan Guarantees.--
            ``(1) Limitation on amount of guarantee.--The portion of a 
        loan that the Secretary may guarantee under this section shall 
        be not less than 80 percent and not more than 90 percent of the 
        principal amount of the loan.
            ``(2) Limitation on total amount outstanding.--The 
        aggregate principal amount of outstanding loans guaranteed by 
        the Secretary under this section shall not exceed 
        $1,000,000,000.
    ``(d) Limitation on Amount of Interest Subsidy.--The interest 
subsidy which the Secretary may provide under this section with respect 
to a loan shall result in a reduction of the interest rate agreed upon 
by the borrower and the lender (but to not less than zero) by--
            ``(1) 500 basis points, if the principal amount of the loan 
        is less than $100,000;
            ``(2) 400 basis points, if the principal amount of the loan 
        is not less than $100,000 and is less than $500,000; and
            ``(3) 300 basis points, in any other case.
    ``(e) Administrative Provisions.--
            ``(1) Authority to collect processing fee.--The Secretary 
        may assess a fee to cover the cost of processing an application 
        under this section equal to not more than 1 percent of the 
        principal amount of the loan sought by the applicant, as 
        described in the application.
            ``(2) Provision of financial information.--An applicant for 
        a loan guarantee or interest subsidy under this section shall 
        provide the Secretary with such financial information as may be 
        required by the Secretary, in the manner generally required by 
        commercial agricultural lenders in the geographical area where 
        the farming or ranching operation of the applicant is located.
            ``(3) Appraisal.--The Secretary may require that an 
        appraisal made in connection with an application for a loan 
        guarantee or interest subsidy under this section be conducted 
        by a specialized appraiser that uses standards similar to the 
        standards used for similar purposes in the private sector, as 
        determined by the Secretary.
            ``(4) Approval of application.--The Secretary shall not 
        approve an application submitted pursuant to this section, 
        unless the Secretary has determined that the project for which 
        the loan is sought is likely to result in a net benefit to the 
        environment.
            ``(5) Deadline for decision on application.--To the maximum 
        extent practicable, within 60 business days after the receipt 
        of an application for assistance under this section, the 
        Secretary shall transmit to the applicant the decision of the 
        Secretary to approve or disapprove the application.
            ``(6) Equitable distribution of loan guarantees and 
        interest subsidies.--The Secretary shall ensure, to the maximum 
        extent practicable, that loan guarantees and interest subsidies 
        under this section are equitably distributed among agricultural 
        producers according to the size of their farming operations, as 
        determined on the basis of the value of the crops produced by 
        the operations.
    ``(f) Relationship With Other Conservation Programs.--Neither the 
application for, nor the receipt of, a loan guarantee or an interest 
subsidy under this section shall affect the eligibility of the 
recipient for assistance under title XII of the Food Security Act of 
1985 or the Watershed Protection and Flood Prevention Act.
    ``(g) Appropriations.--For each of fiscal years 2008 through 2013, 
the Secretary shall use such funds of the Commodity Credit Corporation 
as are necessary to carry out this section.''.

SEC. 213. EMERGENCY CONSERVATION PROGRAM.

    Section 401 of the Agricultural Credit Act of 1978 (16 U.S.C. 2201) 
is amended by adding at the end the following new sentence: 
``Assistance provided under this title may include reimbursement for 
emergency measures undertaken to clean-up nursery debris resulting from 
wind erosion, floods, hurricanes, or other natural disasters.''.

SEC. 214. EXCLUSION OF PAYMENTS UNDER DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE 
              CONSERVATION PROGRAMS FROM ADJUSTED GROSS INCOME 
              LIMITATION.

    Section 1001D(b)(2) of the Food Security Act of 1985 (7 U.S.C. 
1308-3a) is amended by striking subparagraph (C).

SEC. 215. ENCOURAGEMENT OF VOLUNTARY SUSTAINABILITY PRACTICES 
              GUIDELINES.

    In administering this title and the amendments made by this title, 
the Secretary of Agriculture may encourage the development of voluntary 
sustainable practices guidelines for producers and processors of 
specialty crops.

SEC. 216. ASSISTANCE TO ADDRESS LONG-TERM CLIMATE CHANGE.

    Whenever practicable, the Secretary of Agriculture shall utilize 
programs of the Department of Agriculture to provide technical or 
financial assistance to producers and processors of specialty crops to 
address the adverse impacts of long-term climate change, including the 
compliance of producers and processors with governmental regulations 
related to long-term climate change.

                            TITLE III--TRADE

SEC. 301. TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE FOR SPECIALTY CROPS.

    (a) Funding and Carryover of Funding.--Subsection (d) of section 
3205 of the Farm Security and Rural Investment Act of 2002 (7 U.S.C. 
5680) is amended to read as follows:
    ``(d) Funding and Carryover of Funding.--
            ``(1) Funding.--To carry out the program, the Secretary 
        shall make available funds of the Commodity Credit Corporation, 
        or an equal value of commodities owned by the Commodity Credit 
        Corporation, in the amount of--
                    ``(A) $4,000,000 for fiscal year 2008;
                    ``(B) $6,000,000 for fiscal year 2009;
                    ``(C) $8,000,000 for fiscal year 2010;
                    ``(D) $10,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2011 and 
                2012.
            ``(2) Carryover of funding.--Funds made available for the 
        program under paragraph (1) or under section 201 of the 
        Specialty Crops Competitiveness Act of 2004 (Public Law 108-
        465; 118 Stat. 3884) shall remain available until expended.''.
    (b) Flexibility.--Such section is further amended by adding at the 
end the following new subsection:
    ``(e) Flexibility.--In providing technical assistance under the 
program, the Secretary should provide for case-by-case extensions, upon 
the approval of the Administrator of the Foreign Agricultural Service, 
of time frames provided by regulations in connection with that 
assistance.''.

SEC. 302. COORDINATION OF TRADE OBJECTIVES BETWEEN KEY AGENCIES.

    The President shall take steps to ensure increased coordination 
among relevant agencies within the Department of Agriculture and other 
agencies within the Executive branch of export and import trade 
objectives and greater transparency on work related to sanitary and 
phytosanitary trade issues.

SEC. 303. MARKET ACCESS PROGRAM.

    Section 211(c)(1)(A) of the Agricultural Trade Act of 1978 (7 
U.S.C. 5641(c)(1)(A)) is amended--
            (1) by striking ``and'' before ``$200,000,000''; and
            (2) by inserting ``and $350,000,000 for each of fiscal 
        years 2008 through 2012,'' after ``2007,''.

SEC. 304. GRANT PROGRAM FOR MARKET ANALYSIS RELATED TO ANTI-DUMPING AND 
              COUNTERVAILING DUTY CASES INVOLVING SPECIALTY CROPS.

    (a) Grants Authorized.--The Secretary of Agriculture may make 
grants under this section to a State agency or an association of 
specialty crop producers (in this section referred to as an ``eligible 
entity'') to conduct or procure market analysis in connection with 
anti-dumping and countervailing duty cases involving a specialty crop 
under consideration by the United States International Trade Commission 
or the Department of Commerce.
    (b) Grant Criteria.--To be eligible for a grant under this section, 
an eligible entity must establish to the satisfaction of the Secretary 
that--
            (1) there has been significant price underselling of the 
        imported specialty crop, as compared with the previous three-
        year average price of the domestic specialty crop; and
            (2) there is a significant increase of the volume or market 
        penetration of the imported specialty crop over the previous 
        three years.
    (c) Matching Funds.--An eligible entity receiving a grant under 
this section shall contribute non-Federal funds toward the market 
analysis project for which the grant is provided in an amount at least 
equal to the amount of the grant.
    (d) Funding.--The Secretary of Agriculture shall use $10,000,000 of 
funds of the Commodity Credit Corporation for each of the fiscal years 
2008 through 2012 to make grants under this section.

SEC. 305. SENSE OF CONGRESS REGARDING CERTAIN ANTITRUST LAWS APPLICABLE 
              TO AGRICULTURE.

    It is the sense of Congress that the Export Trading Company Act 
(ETC), the Webb-Pomerene Export Act, and the Capper-Volstead Act should 
be strongly supported because these antitrust laws promote United 
States agricultural exports and allow specialty crop producers key 
protections.

                 TITLE IV--INVASIVE PESTS AND DISEASES

SEC. 401. THREAT IDENTIFICATION AND MITIGATION PROGRAM.

    (a) Establishment.--The Administrator of the Animal and Plant 
Health Inspection Service shall establish and administer a program to 
determine and prioritize foreign threats to domestic production of 
specialty crops, including threats of bioterrorism.
    (b) Program.--In conducting the program established under 
subsection (a), the Administrator of the Animal and Plant Health 
Inspection Service shall--
            (1) consult with the Director of the Center for Plant 
        Health Science and Technology;
            (2) develop risk assessments of the potential threat to the 
        specialty crop industry in the United States from foreign 
        threats;
            (3) collaborate with the National Plant Board to--
                    (A) prioritize foreign threats to the specialty 
                crop industry; and
                    (B) in consultation with State departments of 
                agriculture and other State or regional resource 
                partnerships, develop action plans that effectively 
                address such foreign threats, including pathway 
                analysis, offshore mitigation measures, and 
                comprehensive exclusion measures at ports of entry and 
                other key distribution centers in addition to 
                strategies to employ if the foreign pest or disease is 
                introduced;
            (4) implement such action plans as soon as they are 
        developed to test the effectiveness of such action plans and 
        help prevent new foreign and domestic pest and disease threats 
        from being introduced or widely disseminated in the United 
        States;
            (5) consult with the Administrator of the Agricultural 
        Research Service, where appropriate, and utilize the expertise 
        of the Agricultural Research Service in the development of pest 
        and disease detection and control or eradication strategies;
            (6) consult with the United States Trade Representative on 
        both the priority list and action plans after such are 
        developed to ensure future trade agreements include measures to 
        mitigate these threats; and
            (7) not use funds available pursuant to subsection (d) for 
        eradication efforts that enhance import opportunities into the 
        United States.
    (c) Reports.--Not later than one year after the date of the 
enactment of this Act, and annually thereafter, the Administrator of 
the Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service shall update and submit 
to Congress the priority list and action plans described in subsection 
(b), including an accounting of funds expended on such action plans.
    (d) Funding.--The Administrator of the Animal and Plant Health 
Inspection Service shall use $40,000,000 of the funds of the Commodity 
Credit Corporation for each of fiscal years 2008 through 2012 to carry 
out this section.

SEC. 402. EMERGENCY CONTROL, PREVENTION, AND ERADICATION PROGRAMS.

    (a) Extraordinary Emergency.--Section 415 of the Plant Protection 
Act (7 U.S.C. 7715) is amended by adding at the end the following new 
subsection:
    ``(f) Secretarial Discretion.--The decision to declare an 
extraordinary emergency under subsection (a) shall be solely the 
decision of the Secretary and shall remain in effect until the 
Secretary determines that the threat posed by the plant pest or noxious 
weed has abated.''.
    (b) Plant Pest Emergency Authority.--Section 442 of the Plant 
Protection Act (7 U.S.C. 7772) is amended--
            (1) in the heading, by striking ``transfer'' and inserting 
        ``plant pest emergency''; and
            (2) by striking subsection (c) and inserting the following:
    ``(c) Secretarial Discretion.--
            ``(1) Declaration of emergency.--The decision to declare an 
        emergency in connection with a plant pest or noxious weed that 
        threatens any part of the agricultural production of the United 
        States shall be solely the decision of the Secretary and shall 
        remain in effect until the Secretary determines that the threat 
        posed by the plant pest or noxious weed has abated.
            ``(2) Funds.--The decision of the Secretary to transfer 
        funds pursuant to this section shall be based solely on the 
        threat to agricultural production within the United States. 
        Notwithstanding any other provision of law, the decision of the 
        Secretary shall be final and it shall be unlawful for any 
        officer or employee of the Federal Government other than the 
        Secretary or the designee of the Secretary to contradict, 
        impede, or reverse the transfer of funds the Secretary 
        considers necessary for the arrest, control, eradication, and 
        prevention of the spread of a plant pest or noxious weed and 
        for related expenses.
    ``(d) Applied Research.--The Secretary shall use the funds of the 
Commodity Credit Corporation to fund, as necessary, applied research to 
resolve issues that may arise during a plant pest emergency. Such 
research may include the development of new or improved diagnostic 
methods, biocontrol tools, eradication or control tools, or such other 
matters as the Secretary determines advance the effort to arrest, 
control, eradicate, and prevent the spread of a plant pest or noxious 
weed.
    ``(e) Use of Cooperative Agreements.--
            ``(1) In general.--The Secretary shall, to the greatest 
        extent practicable, enter into a cooperative agreement pursuant 
        to section 432 with a State to assist in the arrest, control, 
        eradication, or prevention of a plant pest or noxious weed 
        connected with an emergency under this section or applied 
        research conducted pursuant to subsection (d).
            ``(2) No cost sharing required.--The Secretary shall not 
        require a State entering into a cooperative agreement with the 
        Secretary under paragraph (1) to provide a share of the costs 
        necessary for the arrest, control, eradication, or prevention 
        of the spread of a plant pest or noxious weed connected with an 
        emergency under this section or for applied research conducted 
        pursuant to subsection (d).''.
    (c) Compensation.--
            (1) In general.--Section 416 of such Act (7 U.S.C. 7716) is 
        amended to read as follows:

``SEC. 416. COMPENSATION.

    ``(a) In General.--Except as provided in subsection (c), the 
Secretary shall compensate the owner of any plant, plant product, 
article, or means of conveyance--
            ``(1) destroyed or otherwise disposed of by the Secretary 
        under section 414 or 415; or
            ``(2) for any loss in market value of any plant, plant 
        product, article or means of conveyance restricted by the 
        Secretary from being moved or distributed outside of a 
        quarantine area if the Secretary determines that such plant, 
        plant product, article, or means of conveyance is not infested 
        with or capable of transmitting a disease or plant pest.
    ``(b) Amount.--
            ``(1) In general.--Subject to paragraphs (2) and (3), the 
        compensation--
                    ``(A) under subsection (a)(1) shall be based on the 
                fair market value, as determined by the Secretary, of 
                the destroyed plant, plant product, article, or means 
                of conveyance; and
                    ``(B) under subsection (a)(2) shall be based on the 
                loss in fair market value of the plant, plant product, 
                article, or means of conveyance.
            ``(2) Limitation.--Compensation paid any owner under this 
        section shall not exceed the difference between--
                    ``(A) the fair market value of the destroyed plant, 
                plant product, article, or means of conveyance; and
                    ``(B) any compensation received by the owner from a 
                State or other source for the destroyed plant, plant 
                product, article, or means of conveyance.
            ``(3) Reviewability.--The determination by the Secretary of 
        the amount to be paid under this section shall be final and not 
        subject to judicial review or review of longer than 60 days by 
        any officer or employee of the Federal Government other than 
        the Secretary or the designee of the Secretary.
    ``(c) Exceptions.--No payment shall be made by the Secretary under 
this section for--
            ``(1) any plant, plant product, article, or means of 
        conveyance that has been moved or handled by the owner in 
        violation of an agreement for the control and eradication of 
        diseases or pests or in violation of this title;
            ``(2) any plant, plant product, article, or means of 
        conveyance that is refused entry under this title; or
            ``(3) any plant, plant product, article, or means of 
        conveyance that becomes or has become affected with or exposed 
        to any pest or disease because of a violation of an agreement 
        for the control and eradication of diseases or pests or a 
        violation of this title by the owner.''.
            (2) Conforming amendment.--Section 415 of such Act (7 
        U.S.C. 7715) is amended by striking subsection (e).

SEC. 403. AGRICULTURAL QUARANTINE INSPECTION ACTIVITIES AT PORTS OF 
              ENTRY.

    (a) Transfer of Certain Agricultural Import and Entry Functions 
Back to USDA.--
            (1) In general.--There shall be transferred to the 
        Secretary of Agriculture the functions of the Secretary of 
        Homeland Security relating to agricultural import and entry 
        inspection activities under the Plant Protection Act (7 U.S.C. 
        7701 et seq.).
            (2) Transfer agreement.--Before the end of the transition 
        period, the Secretary of Agriculture and the Secretary shall 
        enter into an agreement to effectuate the transfer of functions 
        required by paragraph (1). The Secretary of Agriculture and the 
        Secretary may jointly revise the agreement as necessary 
        thereafter.
            (3) Transfer of dhs employees.--Not later than the end of 
        the transition period, the Secretary of Homeland Security shall 
        transfer to the Secretary of Agriculture not less than 2,600 
        full-time equivalent positions of the Department of Homeland 
        Security.
            (4) Conforming amendment.--Section 421(b) of the Homeland 
        Security Act of 2002 (6 U.S.C. 231(b)) is amended by--
                    (A) striking paragraph (4); and
                    (B) redesignating paragraphs (5), (6), and (7) as 
                paragraphs (4), (5), and (6), respectively.
            (5) Transition period defined.--In this subsection, the 
        term ``transition period'' means the period ending on the date 
        that is one year after the date of the enactment of this Act.
    (b) Risk Mitigation Review Committees.--The Secretary of 
Agriculture shall establish State and regional risk mitigation review 
committees to assist the Secretary in assessing disease and pest 
threats, trends, and conditions. Such committees shall include staff of 
State departments of agriculture and other appropriate persons.

SEC. 404. ANIMAL AND PLANT HEALTH INSPECTION SERVICE EXPORT DIVISION.

    (a) Establishment.--The Administrator of the Animal and Plant 
Health Inspection Service shall establish a sanitary and phytosanitary 
export petitions division within the Animal and Plant Health Inspection 
Service.
    (b) Duties.--The division established under subsection (a) shall--
            (1) process sanitary and phytosanitary export petitions;
            (2) establish a public docket for sanitary and 
        phytosanitary export petitions; and
            (3) complete review of sanitary and phytosanitary export 
        petitions filed on or before the date of the enactment of this 
        Act not later than five years after such date.

SEC. 405. CONSULTATIONS ON SANITARY AND PHYTOSANITARY RESTRICTIONS FOR 
              FRUITS AND VEGETABLES.

    (a) Consultations on Sanitary and Phytosanitary Restrictions for 
Fruits and Vegetables.--The Secretary of Agriculture shall, to the 
greatest practicable extent, consult with interested persons on 
sanitary and phytosanitary trade issues. The consultation shall 
include--
            (1) annual briefings to interested persons, including 
        Congress;
            (2) the development of a strategic risk management 
        framework; and
            (3) where appropriate, implementation of peer review for 
        risk analysis.
    (b) Amendments.--Section 2104(b)(2)(A)(ii)(II) of the Bipartisan 
Trade Promotion Authority Act of 2002 (19 U.S.C. 3804(b)(2)(A)(ii)(II)) 
is amended--
            (1) by striking ``whether the products so identified'' and 
        inserting ``whether--
                                    ``(aa) the products so 
                                identified''; and
            (2) by adding at the end the following:
                                    ``(bb) any fruits or vegetables so 
                                identified are subject to or likely to 
                                be subject to unjustified sanitary or 
                                phytosanitary restrictions, including 
                                those not based on scientific 
                                principles in contravention of the 
                                Uruguay Round Agreements, as determined 
                                by the United States Trade 
                                Representative in consultation with the 
                                Agricultural Technical Advisory 
                                Committee for Trade in Fruits and 
                                Vegetables of the Department of 
                                Agriculture; and''.
    (c) Effective Date.--The amendments made by subsection (a) apply 
with respect to the initiation of negotiations to enter into any trade 
agreement that is subject to the provisions of section 2103(b) of the 
Bipartisan Trade Promotion Authority Act of 2002 (19 U.S.C. 3804(b)) on 
or after the date of the enactment of this Act.

SEC. 406. MULTI-SPECIES FRUIT FLY RESEARCH AND STERILE FLY PRODUCTION.

    (a) Construction.--The Secretary of Agriculture shall construct a 
warehouse and irradiation containment facility in Waimanalo, Hawaii, to 
support fruit fly rearing activities and to house an irradiation to 
sterilize fruit flies.
    (b) Authorization of Appropriations.--There are authorized to be 
appropriated--
            (1) $15,000,000 for the construction of a warehouse and 
        irradiation containment facility pursuant to subsection (a); 
        and
            (2) $1,000,000 for fiscal year 2008 and each subsequent 
        fiscal year for maintenance to the facilities constructed 
        pursuant to this section.

SEC. 407. AUDIT-BASED APPROACH TO SPECIALTY CROP PHYTOSANITARY 
              REGULATION.

    (a) Establishment.--The Secretary of Agriculture shall establish a 
grant program to develop an audit-based inspection program to protect 
against the spread of plant pests and to facilitate the interstate 
movement of plants and plant products.
    (b) Program.--The program established under subsection (a) shall 
provide grants and other assistance to specialty crop growers or 
organizations representing such growers or to State and local agencies 
working with growers and organizations representing such growers for 
development and implementation of inspection systems based on audit-
based systems such as best management practices to address plant pest 
and to mitigate the risk of plant pests in the movement of plants and 
plant products.
    (c) Funding.--The Secretary shall use $5,000,000 of the funds of 
the Commodity Credit Corporation for each of fiscal years 2008 through 
2012 to carry out this section.

SEC. 408. EARLY PEST DETECTION AND SURVEILLANCE IMPROVEMENT PROGRAM.

    (a) Cooperative Agreements Authorized.--The Secretary of 
Agriculture shall enter into a cooperative agreement with each State 
department of agriculture that agrees to conduct early pest detection 
surveillance activities in accordance with guidelines established under 
the Cooperative Agricultural Pest Survey program of the Department of 
Agriculture.
    (b) Consultation.--The Secretary shall consult with the National 
Plant Board and the National Association of State Departments of 
Agriculture in carrying out this section.
    (c) Base Funds Under Agreements.--The Secretary shall provide each 
State department of agriculture with which the Secretary enters into a 
cooperative agreement under this section not less than $250,000 for 
each of fiscal years 2008 through 2012.
    (d) Additional Funds; Special Considerations.--In addition to funds 
provided under subsection (c), the Secretary shall provide funds to a 
State department of agriculture that the Secretary determines is in a 
State that has a high risk of being affected by one or more pest, based 
on the following factors:
            (1) The number of international airports and maritime 
        facilities in that State.
            (2) The volume of international passenger and cargo entry 
        into that State.
            (3) The geographic location of that State and if such 
        location is conducive to agricultural pest and disease 
        establishment due to the climate or crop diversity of that 
        State.
            (4) Whether the Secretary has declared an emergency in that 
        State pursuant to section 442 of the Plant Protection Act (7 
        U.S.C. 7772) due to an agricultural pest or disease of Federal 
        concern.
            (5) Such other factors as the Secretary considers 
        appropriate.
    (e) Use of Funds.--
            (1) Pest detection and surveillance activities.--A State 
        department of agriculture that receives funds under this 
        section shall use the funds to carry out early pest detection 
        and surveillance activities to prevent the introduction of a 
        pest or facilitate the eradication of a pest.
            (2) Subagreements.--Notwithstanding this section, a State 
        department of agriculture may use funds received under 
        subsection (c) or (d) to enter into subagreements with 
        political subdivisions in such State that have legal 
        responsibilities relating to agricultural pest and disease 
        surveillance.
            (3) Treatment of funds.--Not more than 5 percent of the 
        funds provided under subsection (c) or (d) may be used for 
        administrative costs to carry out a cooperative agreement under 
        this section.
    (f) No Effect on PILT Payments.--The receipt of funds by the 
department of agriculture under this section shall have no effect on 
the amount of any payment received by the State of such State 
department of agriculture under chapter 69 of title 31, United States 
Code.
    (g) Funding.--The Secretary shall use $50,000,000 of the funds of 
the Commodity Credit Corporation for each of fiscal years 2008 through 
2012 to carry out this section.
    (h) Definitions.--In this section:
            (1) State department of agriculture.--The term ``State 
        department of agriculture'' means an agency of a State that has 
        a legal responsibility to perform early pest detection and 
        surveillance activities.
            (2) Early pest detection and surveillance.--The term 
        ``early pest detection and surveillance'' means the full range 
        of activities undertaken to find newly introduced pests, 
        whether new to the United States or new to certain areas of the 
        United States, before the pests become established, or before 
        pest infestations become too large and costly to eradicate or 
        control.
            (3) Pest.--The term ``pest'' has the meaning given the term 
        ``plant pest'' in section 403(14) of the Plant Protection Act 
        (7 U.S.C. 7702(14)).

                           TITLE V--NUTRITION

SEC. 501. FINDINGS.

    Congress finds the following:
            (1) Fruits and vegetables offer consumers a healthy and 
        nutritious product that is recognized as critical to the 
        prevention of heart disease, stroke, and some cancers and other 
        chronic diseases, the reduction of obesity and diabetes, and 
        the maintenance of overall good health.
            (2) Proper nutrition is critical in promoting good health, 
        preventing disease, and improving quality of life.
            (3) Agriculture policies and related domestic and 
        international nutrition assistance programs should support 
        incentives and key strategies that help Americans reach 
        national health goals and ultimately reduce health care costs.

SEC. 502. EXPANSION OF FRESH FRUIT AND VEGETABLE PROGRAM.

    Section 18 of the Richard B. Russell National School Lunch Act (42 
U.S.C. 1769) is amended in subsection (g)--
            (1) in paragraph (1)--
                    (A) in the matter preceding subparagraph (A), by 
                striking ``July 2004'' and inserting ``July 2007''; and
                    (B) by amending subparagraphs (A) and (B) to read 
                as follows:
                    ``(A) 100 elementary or secondary schools in each 
                State;
                    ``(B) additional elementary or secondary schools in 
                each State in proportion to the student population of 
                the State; and'';
            (2) in paragraph (3)(A), by striking ``paragraph (1)(B)'' 
        and inserting ``paragraph (1)'';
            (3) in paragraph (5), in each of subparagraphs (A) and (B), 
        by striking ``2008'' and inserting ``2011''; and
            (4) in paragraph (6)(B)--
                    (A) in clause (i)--
                            (i) by striking ``October 1, 2004, and on 
                        each October 1 thereafter,'' and inserting 
                        ``October 1, 2007, and on each October 1 
                        thereafter,''; and
                            (ii) by striking ``$9,000,000'' and 
                        inserting ``$300,000,000''; and
                    (B) by adding at the end the following:
                            ``(iii) Administrative expenses.--For 
                        fiscal year 2008 and each succeeding fiscal 
                        year, of the amount available to carry out this 
                        subsection, the Secretary may reserve not more 
                        than 1 percent of that amount for 
                        administrative expenses in carrying out this 
                        subsection.
                            ``(iv) State administrative costs.--For 
                        fiscal year 2008 and each succeeding fiscal 
                        year, of the amount received by a State to 
                        carry out this subsection, the State may use 
                        not more than 5 percent of that amount for 
                        administrative expenses in carrying out this 
                        subsection. To be eligible to use such funds 
                        for such expenses, the State must submit to the 
                        Secretary a plan indicating how the State 
                        intends to use such funds.
                            ``(v) Federal requirements.--The Secretary 
                        shall establish requirements to be followed by 
                        States in administering this subsection. The 
                        initial set of requirements shall be 
                        established not later than 1 year after the 
                        date of the enactment of this clause.''.

SEC. 503. FRUIT AND VEGETABLE NUTRITION PROMOTION PROGRAM.

    (a) In General.--The Secretary of Agriculture, acting through the 
Administrator of the Agricultural Marketing Service, shall establish 
and carry out a program to provide assistance to eligible trade 
organizations described in subsection (c) in support of efforts to 
increase the consumption of fruits and vegetables in the United States 
to meet Federal health guidelines.
    (b) Requirements for Participation.--To be eligible for assistance 
under this section, an eligible trade organization shall--
            (1) submit to the Administrator of the Agricultural 
        Marketing Service a plan, meeting such guidelines as the 
        Administrator may establish, to increase the consumption of 
        fruits and vegetables in the United States; and
            (2) meet any other requirements established by the 
        Administrator.
    (c) Eligible Trade Organizations.--An eligible trade organization 
referred to in subsection (a) means any of the following:
            (1) A nonprofit fruit and vegetable trade organization in 
        the United States;
            (2) A nonprofit State or regional fruit and vegetable 
        organization.
            (3) A fruit and vegetable agricultural cooperative in the 
        United States.
            (4) A commodity board or commission in the United States.
            (5) A business engaged in the fruit and vegetable industry 
        in the United States.
    (d) Matching Funds.--Assistance provided under this section shall 
not exceed--
            (1) in the case of an entity referred to in paragraphs (1) 
        through (4) of subsection (c), 50 percent of the cost of the 
        plan submitted by the entity under subsection (b) and approved 
        by the Administrator of the Agricultural Marketing Service; and
            (2) in the case of a business referred to in paragraph (5) 
        of such subsection, 50 percent of the cost of the plan 
        submitted by the business under subsection (b) and approved by 
        the Administrator.
    (e) Funding.--The Administrator of the Agricultural Marketing 
Service shall use the funds of the Commodity Credit Corporation to 
carry out this section in the following amounts:
            (1) $25,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2008 and 2009.
            (2) $50,000,000 for fiscal year 2010.
            (3) $75,000,000 for fiscal year 2011.
            (4) $100,000,000 for fiscal year 2012.

SEC. 504. USE OF ``DIETARY GUIDELINES FOR AMERICANS'' IN SPECIAL 
              NUTRITION PROGRAMS AND SCHOOL LUNCH PROGRAMS.

    Section 9(a) of the Richard B. Russell National School Lunch Act 
(42 U.S.C. 1758(a)) is amended by adding at the end the following:
            ``(5) Allocations to be based on dietary guidelines.--For 
        school year 2007 and each school year thereafter, the Secretary 
        shall ensure that allocations of food and food ingredients 
        offered in school nutrition programs under this Act and the 
        Child Nutrition Act of 1966 (42 U.S.C. 1771 et seq.) are based 
        on the most recent Dietary Guidelines for Americans.''.

SEC. 505. SECTION 32 SPECIALTY CROP PURCHASES.

    (a) Minimum Level of Purchases.--Section 32 of the Act of August 
24, 1935 (7 U.S.C. 612c) is amended in the sixth sentence by inserting 
after ``and their products'' the following: ``, and, for each of fiscal 
years 2008 through 2012, the Secretary of Agriculture shall devote not 
less than $400,000,000 of sums appropriated under this section to 
purchases of non-basic agricultural commodities, such as fruits, 
vegetables, and other specialty food crops''.
    (b) Expansion of DOD Fresh Program.--Such section is further 
amended by inserting after the sixth sentence, as amended by subsection 
(a), the following new sentence: ``Of the funds specified in the 
preceding sentence, the Secretary of Agriculture shall expend not less 
than $50,000,000 for fiscal year 2008, $75,000,000 for both fiscal 
years 2009 and 2010, $100,000,000 for fiscal year 2011, and 
$125,000,000 for fiscal year 2012 for the purchase of fresh fruits and 
vegetables for distribution to schools and service institutions in 
accordance with section 6(a) of the Richard B. Russell National School 
Lunch Act (42 U.S.C. 1755(a)).''.

SEC. 506. SCHOOL PREFERENCE STUDY.

    The Secretary of Agriculture shall carry out a study on the 
preferences of elementary and secondary schools for commodity 
distribution, including the extent to which such schools prefer 
commodity distribution to include fruits and vegetables, and submit to 
Congress a report on the results of the study. The report shall include 
an analysis of the logistical issues that would impede efforts to 
increase the extent to which commodity distribution to schools includes 
fruits and vegetables, and shall include recommendations for improving 
the availability of fruits and vegetables to schools.

SEC. 507. INDEPENDENT EVALUATION OF DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE COMMODITY 
              PURCHASE PROCESS.

    (a) Evaluation Required.--The Secretary of Agriculture shall 
arrange to have performed an independent evaluation of the commodity 
purchasing processes (and the statutory and regulatory authority 
underlying such processes) used by the Department of Agriculture to 
remove surplus commodities from the market and support commodity prices 
and producer incomes, especially with regard to activities under 
section 32 of the Act of August 24, 1935 (7 U.S.C. 612c) and the 
importance of increasing purchases of perishable specialty crops.
    (b) Submission of Results.--Not later than one year after the date 
of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Agriculture shall submit 
to Congress a report on the results of the evaluation.

SEC. 508. AMENDMENTS TO THE FOOD STAMP PROGRAM.

    (a) Definition.--Section 3 of the Food Stamp Act of 1977 (7 U.S.C. 
2012) is amended by adding at the end the following:
    ``(v) `food stamp nutrition education' means direct education, 
group activities, community health promotion, and comprehensive public 
health approaches (including but not limited to, social marketing, mass 
media, public-private partnerships, policy, systems and environmental 
changes, and evaluation) that promote healthy eating and make healthy 
food and physical activity choices more desired, affordable, and 
accessible. To serve all those potentially eligible for food stamps, 
nutrition education programs should be designed to reach large numbers 
of low-income individuals. Programs shall support behavior change 
consistent with the 2005 Dietary Guidelines for Americans, including a 
diet rich in fruits and vegetables, whole grains, and low-fat milk 
products.''.
    (b) Administration.--Section 11(e)(1)(A) of the Food Stamp Act of 
1977 (7 U.S.C. 2020(e)(1)(A) is amended by inserting ``, and provide 
food stamp nutrition education'' after ``program'' .

SEC. 509. SENSE OF THE CONGRESS REGARDING NUTRITIONAL SUPPLEMENTS.

    It is the sense of the Congress that benefits provided under the 
Food Stamp Act of 1977 should not be available to purchase nutrition 
supplements or anything other than food.

SEC. 510. FOOD STAMP FRUIT AND VEGETABLE EBT PILOT PROJECT.

    (a) Finding.--The Congress finds that increased consumption of 
fruits and vegetables by participants in the food stamp program will 
significantly improve the overall dietary habits of such participants.
    (b) Pilot Project.--The Secretary of Agriculture shall establish 
and carry out a pilot project that will provide to each participant in 
the food stamp program who receives benefits in the form of an 
electronic benefit transfer, financial incentives for each dollar of 
such benefits expended by such recipient to facilitate the purchase of 
fresh fruits and vegetables.
    (c) Authorization of Appropriations.--There is authorized to be 
appropriated $10,000,000 for each of 5 fiscal years to carry out this 
section.

SEC. 511. DECENNIAL EVALUATIONS OF WIC FOOD PACKAGES.

    Section 17(e) of the Child Nutrition Act of 1966 (42 U.S.C. 
1786(e)) is amended by adding at the end the following:
            ``(6) Decennial evaluation.--In 2015, and every 10 years 
        thereafter, the Secretary shall arrange for the National 
        Academy of Sciences, Institute of Medicine, to evaluate, in 
        light of the most recent Dietary Guidelines for Americans, the 
        food packages used in carrying out this section and to 
        recommend changes to those packages to reflect current public 
        health concerns, nutrition science, and the diverse cultures 
        the program serves.''.

SEC. 512. EXTENSION OF WIC FARMERS' MARKET NUTRITION PROGRAM.

    Section 17(m)(9)(A) of the Child Nutrition Act of 1966 (42 U.S.C. 
1786(m)(9)(A)) is amended--
            (1) in clause (i), by striking ``2009'' and inserting 
        ``2013''; and
            (2) by striking clause (ii) and inserting the following:
                            ``(ii) Mandatory funding.--Of the funds of 
                        the Commodity Credit Corporation, the Secretary 
                        shall make available to carry out this 
                        subsection $20,000,000 for fiscal year 2008, 
                        $30,000,000 for fiscal year 2009, $45,000,000 
                        for fiscal year 2010, $60,000,000 for fiscal 
                        year 2011, and not less than $75,000,000 for 
                        fiscal year 2012 and each fiscal year  
                        thereafter. Such funds shall remain available 
                        until expended.''.

SEC. 513. SENIOR FARMERS' MARKET NUTRITION PROGRAM.

    Section 4402 of the Farm Security and Rural Investment Act of 2002 
(7 U.S.C. 3007) is amended--
            (1) in subsection (a) by striking ``$5,000,000'' and all 
        that follows through ``2007'', and inserting ``$20,000,000 for 
        fiscal year 2008, $30,000,000 for fiscal year 2009, $45,000,000 
        for fiscal year 2010, $60,000,000 for fiscal year 2011, and not 
        less than $75,000,000 for fiscal year 2012 and each fiscal year 
        thereafter'';
            (2) in subsection (b)--
                    (A) in paragraph (2) by striking ``and'' at the 
                end,
                    (B) in paragraph (3) by striking the period at the 
                end and inserting ``; and'', and
                    (C) by adding at the end the following:
            ``(4) to promote the transition to organic and other 
        environmentally beneficial food production systems.''; and
            (3) by adding at the end the following new subsection:
    ``(d) Eligible Participants; Benefit Levels.--The regulations 
required by subsection (c)--
            ``(1) shall allow for participation by farmers' markets, 
        and roadside stands, community supported agriculture programs; 
        and
            ``(2) shall not limit the ability of State or regional 
        programs to set benefit levels per individual senior.''.

                    TITLE VI--AGRICULTURAL RESEARCH

SEC. 601. SPECIALTY CROPS ECONOMIC AND POLICY RESEARCH INSTITUTE.

    (a) Establishment.--A Specialty Crop Economic and Policy Research 
Institute is established to study economic and public policy issues 
that affect the competitiveness of United States specialty crops from a 
regional and national perspective.
    (b) Member Institutions.--The Specialty Crop Economic and Policy 
Research Institute shall operate as a collaborative among the following 
academic institutions:
            (1) Arizona State University: Morrison School of Management 
        and Agribusiness.
            (2) California Polytechnic State University, San Luis 
        Obispo: California Institute for the Study of Specialty Crops.
            (3) California State University, Fresno: Center for 
        Agricultural Business.
            (4) Cornell University: Department of Applied Economics and 
        Management.
            (5) Michigan State University: Department of Agricultural 
        Economics.
            (6) University of California: Agricultural Issues Center.
            (7) University of Florida: International Agricultural Trade 
        and Policy Center.
            (8) Washington State University: IMPACT Center.
    (c) Management.--The Specialty Crop Economic and Policy Research 
Institute shall be coordinated and managed by the California 
Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo. The California 
Polytechnic State University shall direct funding to, and coordinate 
and facilitate the economic and policy research activities of, the 
members institutions.
    (d) Other Participation.--The members of the Specialty Crop 
Economic and Policy Research Institute are encouraged to collaborate 
with other universities, academic bodies, and researchers with regional 
and national expertise.
    (e) Advisory Boards.--
            (1) National advisory board.--
                            (A) Establishment.--The Specialty Crop 
                        Economic and Policy Research Institute shall 
                        establish a national advisory board.
                            (B) Membership.--The national advisory 
                        board shall be comprised of the following:
                                    (i) A representative of the 
                                regional advisory boards.
                                    (ii) A representative of each of 
                                the members of the Specialty Crop 
                                Economic and Policy Research Institute.
                                    (iii) A representative from the 
                                Office of Chief Economist or Economic 
                                Research Service of the Department of 
                                Agriculture.
                                    (iv) A representative from the 
                                Committee on Agriculture of the House 
                                of Representatives.
                                    (v) A representative from the 
                                Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, 
                                and Forestry of the Senate.
                            (C) Chairperson.--A chairperson for the 
                        national advisory board shall be chosen by 
                        consensus of the members of the board.
                    (2) Regional advisory board.--
                            (A) Establishment.--Each member of the 
                        Specialty Crop Economic and Policy Research 
                        Institute representing a region of the United 
                        States, including Great Lakes States, Mountain 
                        States, Northeast States; Northwest States, 
                        Southern States, and Western States shall 
                        establish a regional advisory board and appoint 
                        the members of that advisory board.
                            (B) Membership.--The regional advisory 
                        boards shall be comprised of specialty crop 
                        producers from the region's States. The 
                        Secretary, Commissioner, or Director of the 
                        region's State agriculture departments shall be 
                        invited to participate in the regional advisory 
                        board as ex officio members.
                            (C) Chairperson.--A chairperson of each 
                        regional advisory board shall be chosen by 
                        consensus of the members of that board.
                    (3) Role.--The role of the advisory boards shall be 
                to--
                            (A) provide information and prioritize 
                        economic and public policy issues from a 
                        regional and national perspective; and
                            (B) review and comment in regards to the 
                        research projects funded by the Specialty Crop 
                        Economic and Policy Research Institute.
                    (4) Annual meeting.--The advisory boards shall each 
                meet, at minimum, annually.
    (f) Institute Objectives.--The objectives of the Specialty Crop 
Economic and Policy Research Institute shall be as follows:
            (1) To provide Congress with a resource for analysis of the 
        specialty crop sector, including the impact of changes in 
        domestic and international markets, production and new product 
        technologies, alternative policies and macroeconomic conditions 
        on specialty crop production, use, farm and retail prices, and 
        farm income and financial stability from a national, regional, 
        and farm-level perspective.
            (2) To provide annual review of the economic state of the 
        specialty crop industry from a regional perspective.
            (3) To provide specialty crop producers with World Wide 
        Web-based risk management tools that can be used to assess the 
        impact of policy, market, and technological change on their 
        production operations.
            (4) To develop an information series that provides applied 
        information useful to specialty crop growers, their 
        associations, and other interested stakeholders in evaluating 
        that industry from a regional and national perspective.
            (5) To disseminate the results of research through printed 
        reports, workshops, specialty crop grower association meetings, 
        and on the World Wide Web.
            (6) To provide research and policy internship opportunities 
        for undergraduate and graduate students.
    (g) Funding.--
            (1) In general.--Of the funds of the Commodity Credit 
        Corporation, the Secretary shall make available to carry out 
        this section the following:
                    (A) For fiscal year 2008, $3,800,000.
                    (B) For fiscal year 2009, $4,000,000.
                    (C) For fiscal year 2010, $4,000,000.
                    (D) For fiscal year 2011, $4,000,000.
            (2) Indirect and direct.--The Secretary may use funds made 
        available under this subsection for direct and indirect costs 
        of carrying out this section. Indirect costs shall not to 
        exceed 12.5 percent of the total costs.

SEC. 602. DEVELOPMENT OF SPECIALTY CROP PRIORITY FOR THE NATIONAL 
              RESEARCH INITIATIVE.

    The Secretary of Agriculture shall develop a specialty crop 
priority area within the overall areas of emphasis of the National 
Research Initiative. Funds available to the Secretary for the specialty 
crop priority area shall be expended on the applied research and 
extension programs that increase the quality of specialty crop 
research. The National Research Initiative peer review process shall 
include representation from the specialty crop sector.

SEC. 603. ESTABLISHMENT OF SPECIALTY CROP RESEARCH GRANTS PROGRAM FOR 
              PRODUCERS TO IMPROVE EFFICIENCY AND COMPETITIVENESS.

    (a) Establishment.--The Secretary of Agriculture shall establish a 
program to award grants to eligible entities to improve the efficiency 
and competitiveness of United States specialty crop producers.
    (b) Eligible Entities.--The Secretary shall determine eligible 
entities for grants under this section. Such entities shall include 
Federal agencies, nonprofit United States specialty crop trade 
organizations and foundations, nonprofit State and regional specialty 
crop organizations, United States specialty crop agricultural 
cooperatives, commodity boards and commissions, university research and 
extension programs, and businesses in the specialty crop industry.
    (c) Use of Funds.--Funds from grants under this program shall be 
used for one or more of the following:
            (1) Research that addresses the short-term, intermediate, 
        and long term needs of the United States specialty crop 
        industry in production technology (such as plant breeding, pest 
        management, production, physiology, food science, and 
        nutrition).
            (2) Mechanization, marketing, product development, food 
        security, and food safety to improve the competitiveness of the 
        United States specialty crop industry.
            (3) Development and implementation of industry-specific 
        strategic plans to prioritize research and develop United 
        States specialty crop industry and research collaboration.
    (d) Funding.--
            (1) In general.--Of the funds of the Commodity Credit 
        Corporation, the Secretary shall make available $200,000,000 
        for each of fiscal years 2008 through 2012 to carry out this 
        section.
            (2) Federal costs.--Federal costs shall not exceed 50 
        percent of the total cost of a research project funded under 
        this section.

SEC. 604. NATIONAL CLEAN PLANT NETWORK.

    (a) Establishment.--There is established in the Department of 
Agriculture, as part of the Cooperative State Research, Education, and 
Extension Service, a program to be known as the ``National Clean Plant 
Network''. The Secretary of Agriculture shall use the network to 
develop a sustainable national funding source for clean planting stock 
programs for horticultural crops determined by the Secretary to be of 
priority for the United States. Such funding shall be used to award 
grants to entities that have the expertise, facilities, and climate 
necessary to efficiently produce, maintain, and distribute healthy 
planting stock for specialty crops.
    (b) Priorities.--Section 1408A(c) of the Specialty Crops 
Competitiveness Act of 2004 (7 U.S.C. 3123a(c)) is amended by adding at 
the end the following:
            ``(4) Priorities for Federal research activities related to 
        United States specialty crops.''.
    (c) Funding.--Of the funds of the Commodity Credit Corporation, the 
Secretary of Agriculture shall make available $5,000,000 for each of 
fiscal years 2008 through 2012 to carry out this section.

SEC. 605. PRIORITIZING CURRENT FEDERAL RESEARCH ACTIVITIES FOR 
              SPECIALTY CROPS.

    The Secretary of Agriculture shall--
            (1) coordinate with and assist producers and organizations 
        comprised of key stakeholders working together to develop and 
        implement applied research and extension related to the United 
        States specialty crop industry;
            (2) facilitate in the delivery of information to key 
        stakeholders in a user-friendly form, in addition to a standard 
        research publication, and reward providers for their abilities 
        to deliver information to both the scientific community and the 
        end-user;
            (3) ensure that research and extension activities conducted 
        by Federal agencies be required to have industry-appointed 
        panels involved in the prioritization, administration, and 
        oversight of use of Federal available to develop and implement 
        applied research and extension related to the United States 
        specialty crop industry; and
            (4) ensure coordination among research initiatives funded 
        and sponsored by the Department of Agriculture.

                      TITLE VII--RENEWABLE ENERGY

SEC. 701. INVENTORY OF SPECIALTY CROP BIOMASS WASTE AS PART OF ANNUAL 
              ASSESSMENT OF RENEWABLE ENERGY RESOURCES.

    Section 201 of the Energy Policy Act of 2005 (Public Law 109-58; 42 
U.S.C. 15851) is amended--
            (1) by redesignating subsection (c) as subsection (d); and
            (2) by inserting after subsection (b) the following new 
        subsection:
    ``(c) Inventory of Specialty Crop Biomass.--
            ``(1) Inventory.--As part of each assessment of biomass 
        renewable energy resources under subsection (a), the Secretary 
        shall develop an inventory, on a State and county basis, of 
        specialty crop biomass that could be potentially utilized in 
        the production of electric energy, useful heat, transportation 
        fuels, petroleum-based product substitutes, and other value-
        added products.
            ``(2) Cooperation and funding.--The Secretary shall prepare 
        the inventory in cooperation with the Secretary of Agriculture, 
        and the Secretary of Agriculture may contribute up to 
        $25,000,000 of funds of the Commodity Credit Corporation each 
        fiscal year to assist in the development of the inventory. 
        Amounts contributed under this paragraph are in addition to 
        amounts appropriated pursuant to the authorization of 
        appropriations in subsection (d).
            ``(3) Definitions.--In this subsection:
                    ``(A) Specialty crop.--The term `specialty crop' 
                has the meaning given that term in section 3(1) of the 
                Equitable Agriculture Today for a Healthy America Act.
                    ``(B) Specialty crop biomass.--The term `specialty 
                crop biomass' means agricultural waste from specialty 
                crop production, including waste derived from orchard 
                tree crops, vineyard crops, and nut crops, and other 
                fruit and vegetable byproducts or residues.''.

SEC. 702. DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE BIOENERGY PROGRAM.

    (a) Definition of Eligible Commodities Under Program.--Subsection 
(a)(3) of section 9010 of the Farm Security and Rural Investment Act of 
2002 (7 U.S.C. 8108) is amended--
            (1) by redesignating subparagraphs (B), (C), and (D) as 
        subparagraphs (C), (D), and (E), respectively; and
            (2) by inserting after subparagraph (A) the following new 
        subparagraph:
                    ``(B) specialty crop agricultural waste, including 
                waste derived from orchard tree crops, vineyard crops, 
                and nut crops, and other fruit and vegetable byproducts 
                or residues.''.
    (b) Reauthorization.--Subsection (c) of such section is amended by 
striking paragraph (2) and inserting the following new paragraph:
            ``(2) $50,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2008 through 
        2012.''.

SEC. 703. GRANTS FOR DEVELOPMENT OF SPECIALTY CROP BIOENERGY PROJECTS.

    (a) Biomass Commercial Use Grant Program.--The Secretary of 
Agriculture may make a grant to an eligible entity for the purpose of 
assisting the person to develop a business plan to use specialty crop 
waste and residues as a raw material to produce electric energy, 
sensible heat, transportation fuels, substitutes for petroleum-based 
products, or other value-added products.
    (b) Grant Share.--A grant under this section may not cover more 
than 50 percent of the cost to develop the business plan for which the 
grant is made.
    (c) Selection.--The Secretary shall select grant recipients under 
this section after giving consideration to the anticipated public 
benefits of the project, including the quantity of specialty crop waste 
and residues to be used by the resulting facility, opportunities for 
the creation or expansion of specialty crop bioenergy industries, and 
the potential for new job creation.
    (d) Monitoring of Grant Recipient Activities.--As a condition of a 
grant under this section, the grant recipient shall keep such records 
as the Secretary may require to fully and accurately disclose the use 
of the grant funds.
    (e) Report.--Not later than October 1, 2010, the Secretary of 
Agriculture shall submit to Congress a report describing the results of 
the grant program authorized by this section.
    (f) Funding.--Of the funds of the Commodity Credit Corporation, the 
Secretary of Agriculture shall make available--
            (1) $25,000,000 for fiscal years 2008 and 2009,
            (2) $50,000,000 for fiscal year 2010, and
            (3) $75,000,000 for fiscal years 2011 and 2012,
to carry out this section.
    (g) Definition.--In this section, the term ``eligible entity'' 
means a college, university, Indian tribe, State department of 
agriculture or energy, or research center conducting scientific 
research on ethanol production from specialty crops.

                  TITLE VIII--MISCELLANEOUS PROVISIONS

SEC. 801. SPECIALTY CROP BLOCK GRANTS.

    (a) Extension of Program.--Subsection (a) of section 101 of the 
Specialty Crops Competitiveness Act of 2004 (Public Law 108-465; 7 
U.S.C. 1621 note) is amended by striking ``2009'' and inserting 
``2012''.
    (b) Funding Source and Increase in Annual Funding.--Subsection (i) 
of such section is amended to read as follows:
    ``(i) Funding.--The Secretary of Agriculture shall use $500,000,000 
of funds of the Commodity Credit Corporation for each of the fiscal 
years 2008 through 2012 to make grants under this section.''.
    (c) Conforming Amendments.--Such section is further amended--
            (1) in subsection (a), by striking ``Subject to the 
        appropriation of funds to carry out this section'' and 
        inserting ``Using the funds made available under subsection 
        (i)'';
            (2) in subsection (b), by striking ``appropriated pursuant 
        to the authorization of appropriations in'' and inserting 
        ``made available under''; and
            (3) in subsection (c), by striking ``Subject to the 
        appropriation of sufficient funds to carry out this subsection, 
        each'' and inserting ``Each''.

SEC. 802. FEDERAL INSECTICIDE, FUNGICIDE, AND RODENTICIDE ACT; REQUESTS 
              BY STATE AGENCIES FOR EXEMPTIONS.

    Section 18 of the Federal Insecticide, Fungicide, and Rodenticide 
Act (7 U.S.C. 136p) is amended--
            (1) by striking ``The Administrator may,'' and inserting 
        the following:
    ``(a) In General.--The Administrator may,''; and
            (2) by adding at the end the following:
    ``(b)  Request for Exemption; Report to Congress in Case of 
Delay.--If a State agency requests an exemption under subsection (a) 
and the Administrator does not approve or deny the request within the 
50-day period beginning on the date on which the request was submitted 
to the Administrator, the Administrator shall submit to the Committee 
on Agriculture in the House of Representatives, and the Committee on 
Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry in the Senate, a report that 
provides notice of such fact and an explanation of the reasons 
underlying the failure of the Administrator to approve or deny the 
request within such period.''.

SEC. 803. PROTECTION OF INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY RIGHTS IN PLANTS AND 
              PLANT-DERIVED MATERIAL.

    (a) Establishment.--The Secretary of Agriculture shall expand the 
Office of Technology Transfer of the Department of Agriculture for the 
purpose of encouraging the development and protection of intellectual 
property rights in plants and material derived from plants.
    (b) Duties.--The office shall be an advocate for the interests of 
United States producers of specialty crops--
            (1) before the Office of Patents, Trademarks, and 
        Copyrights of the United States Department of Commerce and 
        other Federal agencies; and
            (2) in international governmental and nongovernmental 
        organizations dealing with intellectual property rights.
    (c) Authorization of Appropriations.--There is authorized to be 
appropriated to the Secretary of Agriculture $10,000,000 for each of 
fiscal years 2008 through 2012 to carry out this section.

SEC. 804. GRANT PROGRAM TO IMPROVE TRANSPORTATION INFRASTRUCTURE TO 
              REDUCE COST OF TRANSPORTATION OF SPECIALTY CROPS.

    (a) Grants Authorized.--The Secretary of Agriculture, acting 
through the Transportation Services Branch of the Department of 
Agriculture, may make grants under this section to an eligible entity 
described in subsection (b)--
            (1) to expand and improve transportation infrastructure to 
        improve the cost-effective movement of specialty crops to 
        local, regional, national, and international markets; and
            (2) to address regional intermodal transportation 
        deficiencies that adversely affect the movement of specialty 
        crops to markets inside or outside the United States.
    (b) Eligible Grant Recipients.--Grants may be made under this 
section to any of the following (or a combination thereof):
            (1) State and local governments.
            (2) Grower cooperatives.
            (3) Individual specialty crop producers or groups of 
        producers.
            (4) Individual shippers or State or regional producer and 
        shipper organizations.
            (5) Nonprofit organizations involved in the trucking trade 
        and research related to the trucking trade.
    (c) Matching Funds.--The recipient of a grant under this section 
shall contribute an amount of non-Federal funds toward the project for 
which the grant is provided that is at least equal to the amount of 
grant funds received by the recipient under this section.
    (d) Funding.--The Secretary of Agriculture shall use $75,000,000 of 
funds of the Commodity Credit Corporation for each of the fiscal years 
2008 through 2012 to make grants under this section.

SEC. 805. ADDITIONAL FUNDS FOR AGRICULTURAL MARKETING SERVICE SPECIALTY 
              CROP MARKET NEWS ACTIVITIES.

    From funds of the Commodity Credit Corporation, the Secretary of 
Agriculture shall transfer $9,000,000 for each of the fiscal years 2008 
through 2012 to the Agricultural Marketing Service to support the 
market news activities of the Agricultural Marketing Service regarding 
specialty crops.

SEC. 806. VALUE-ADDED GRANTS TO PROMOTE CREATION, EXPANSION, OR 
              OPERATION OF VALUE-ADDED PROCESSING OF SPECIALTY CROPS.

    The Secretary of Agriculture shall use $60,000,000 of funds of the 
Commodity Credit Corporation for each of the fiscal years 2008 through 
2012 to make grants to promote the creation, expansion, or operation of 
value-added processing in connection with the production of a specialty 
crop.

SEC. 807. ELIGIBILITY OF LABORERS ADMITTED FOR TEMPORARY RESIDENCE FOR 
              RURAL HOUSING SERVICE FARM LABOR HOUSING.

    (a) In General.--Subparagraph (A) of section 514(f)(3) of the 
Housing Act of 1949 (42 U.S.C. 1484(f)(3)(A)) is amended--
            (1) by striking ``or'' and inserting a comma; and
            (2) by inserting before the semicolon the following: ``, or 
        a nonimmigrant described in section 101(a)(15)(H)(ii)(a) of the 
        Immigration and Nationality Act (8 U.S.C. 
        1101(a)(15)(H)(ii)(a))''.
    (b) Applicability.--The amendment made by subsection (a) shall 
apply with respect to loans and grants made on, before, or after the 
date of the enactment of this Act.

SEC. 808. FOOD SAFETY INITIATIVES.

    (a) Initiative Authorized.--The Secretary may carry out a food 
safety education program to educate the persons involved in the fresh 
produce industry and the public about--
            (1) scientifically proven practices for reducing 
        microbiological pathogens on fresh produce; and
            (2) methods of reducing the threat of cross-contamination 
        of fresh produce through unsanitary handling practices.
    (b) Cooperation.--The Secretary may carry out the program described 
in subsection (a) in cooperation with public or private partners.
    (c) Funding.--The Secretary shall use $5,000,000 of the funds of 
the Commodity Credit Corporation for fiscal years 2008 through 2012 to 
carry out this section.

SEC. 809. IMPLEMENTATION OF FOOD SAFETY PROGRAMS UNDER MARKETING 
              ORDERS.

    Section 8c(7) of the Agricultural Adjustment Act (7 U.S.C. 
608c(7)), reenacted with amendments by the Agricultural Marketing 
Agreement Act of 1937, is amended by adding at the end the following:
                    ``(E) In the case of an order related to a 
                specialty crop (as such term is defined in section 3(1) 
                of the Specialty Crops Competitiveness Act of 2004 
                (Public Law 108-465; 118 Stat. 3883)), authorizing the 
                implementation of food safety programs, such as the 
                implementation of International Organization for 
                Standardization 9000 standards and Hazard Analysis 
                Critical Control Points programs, designed to enhance 
                the safety of the specialty crop and products derived 
                from specialty crops.''.

SEC. 810. CENSUS OF SPECIALTY CROPS; DISSEMINATION OF INFORMATION.

    (a) Census.--
            (1) In general.--In 2008, and every five years thereafter, 
        the Secretary of Agriculture shall conduct a census of 
        specialty crops.
            (2) Inclusion in census on agriculture.--The Secretary may 
        include the census conducted under paragraph (1) in the census 
        on agriculture.
    (b) Dissemination of Information.--The Secretary shall regularly 
develop and disseminate information to the public relating to specialty 
crops.

SEC. 811. OFFICE OF PESTICIDE PROGRAMS.

    (a) Establishment.--
            (1) In general.--The Secretary of Agriculture shall 
        establish an Office of Pesticide Programs (in this section 
        referred to as the ``Office'').
            (2) Director.--The head of the Office shall be a director 
        (referred to in this Section as the ``Director'') who shall--
                    (A) be appointed by the Secretary; and
                    (B) report directly to the Secretary or a designee 
                of the Secretary.
    (b) Duties.--The Director shall--
            (1) develop and coordinate the policy of the Department of 
        Agriculture on pest management and pesticides;
            (2) coordinate activities and services of the Department 
        (including research, extension, and education activities) 
        regarding the development, availability, and use of 
        economically and environmentally sound pest management tools 
        and practices;
            (3) assist other agencies of the Department in fulfilling 
        the responsibilities of those agencies related to pest 
        management or pesticides under--
                    (A) the Food Quality Protection Act of 1996 (7 
                U.S.C. 136 note; Public Law 104-170);
                    (B) the Federal Insecticide, Fungicide, and 
                Rodenticide Act (7 U.S.C. 136 et seq.);
                    (C) the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act (21 
                U.S.C. 301 et seq.); and
                    (D) other applicable laws, as determined by the 
                Secretary; and
            (4) carry out such other functions as may be prescribed by 
        the Secretary.
    (c) Interagency Coordination.--The Director shall, to the maximum 
extent practicable, ensure coordination of interagency activities 
with--
            (1) the Environmental Protection Agency;
            (2) the Food and Drug Administration; and
            (3) other applicable Federal and State agencies, as 
        determined by the President.
    (d) Outreach.--The Director shall consult with agricultural 
producers, as appropriate, that may be affected by pest management or 
pesticide related activities or actions of the Department or other 
agencies.
    (e) Funding.--The Secretary shall use $5,000,000 of the funds of 
the Commodity Credit Corporation for each of fiscal years 2008 through 
2012 to carry out this section.
                                 <all>

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