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109th Congress Report
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
2d Session 109-463
======================================================================
AGRICULTURE, RURAL DEVELOPMENT, FOOD AND DRUG ADMINISTRATION, AND
RELATED AGENCIES APPROPRIATIONS BILL, 2007
_______
May 12, 2006.--Committed to the Committee of the Whole House on the
State of the Union and ordered to be printed
_______
Mr. Bonilla, from the Committee on Appropriations, submitted the
following
R E P O R T
together with
ADDITIONAL VIEWS
[To accompany H.R. 5384]
The Committee on Appropriations submits the following
report in explanation of the accompanying bill making
appropriations for Agriculture, Rural Development, Food and
Drug Administration, and Related Agencies for fiscal year 2007.
TITLE I--AGRICULTURAL PROGRAMS
Production, Processing, and Marketing
Office of the Secretary
2006 appropriation.................................... $5,076,000
2007 budget estimate.................................. 11,540,000
Provided in the bill.................................. 5,499,000
Comparison:
2006 appropriation................................ +423,000
2007 budget estimate.............................. -6,041,000
COMMITTEE PROVISIONS
For the Office of the Secretary, the Committee provides an
appropriation of $5,499,000, an increase of $423,000 above the
amount available for fiscal year 2006 and a decrease of
$6,041,000 below the budget request.
The Committee provides $1,977,000 for cross-cutting trade
negotiations and biotechnology resources, of which $350,000
shall be for the purpose of trade capacity building for the
specific purpose of providing technical assistance on trade
related activities to low income emerging market countries.
The Committee does not include funding for provisional
reconstruction team as requested.
The Committee does not include funding for foreign service
performance pay as requested.
Explanatory Notes.--The Committee appreciates receiving the
detailed information provided in the Explanatory Notes prepared
by the Department and relies heavily on this information when
considering budget proposals. These materials have
traditionally been prepared for the sole use of the
Appropriations Committee in a format consistent with the
organization and operation of the programs and the structure of
the Appropriations Act. At the direction of the Office of
Management and Budget, the Department has changed the format
and content of these materials to focus on broader goals and
objectives rather than the major program structure followed in
the Act and in the actual conduct of the programs. For fiscal
year 2008 and future years, the Department is directed to
present Explanatory Notes in a format consistent with the
presentation used for the fiscal year 2003 Budget. Any
deviations from that format are to be approved in advance by
the Committee.
State Office Collocation.--The Committee continues to
direct that any reallocation of resources related to the
collocation of state offices scheduled for 2007 and subsequent
years is subject to the Committee's reprogramming procedures.
The Committee notes that no such reprogramming requests have
been received to date.
Ralstonia.--The Committee notes that the Secretary of
Agriculture initiated emergency actions during FY 2005 to
ensure the eradication of the disease Ralstonia solanacearum,
Race 3, Biovar 2, which is of great concern to U.S.
agriculture, including ornamentals growers, the potato
industry, and others. The Committee strongly urges the
Secretary of Agriculture to continue to use existing authority
including that provided under CCC, to fund this initiative, and
to establish a compensation program for persons suffering from
losses as a result of the eradication and control efforts
related to this disease. The Secretary shall submit to the
Committee on Appropriations a report regarding the feasibility
of establishing additional research and forward control
programs in countries and/or regions that had been the point of
origin for infected product.
Administrative Provision.--The Committee directs the
Secretary to advise the Committees on Appropriations in writing
of the status of all reports requested of the Department in
this bill, at the time of submission of the FY 2008 budget and
quarterly thereafter.
The Committee is concerned with reports that the 2006 north
American cranberry crop, projected at nearly 7.5 million
barrels, is expected to be significantly higher than 2005 and
that this could result in a significant reduction in prices
paid to producers. The Committee is also aware that USDA has
used its purchasing authorities in past years to help maintain
prices to cranberry producers. As such, the Committee urges
USDA to ensure that federal cranberry purchases in FY07 remain
at least at current levels.
The Committee is concerned with reports that USDA's
management of its inventory of surplus nonfat dry milk (NFDM)
is threatening the development of the fledgling casein/milk
protein concentrate manufacturing industry and may be causing
additional and unnecessary costs to taxpayers. This industry
depends upon the availability of federal stocks of NFDM but
USDA appears to be throwing obstacles in the way of development
of the industry by denying manufacturers the opportunity to bid
on surplus stocks and in some cases rejecting bids even when
there is only one bidder, all the while continuing to make
surplus NFDM available to the Department of Defense and
charitable institutions. While there are no doubt good
justifications for these programs, the Committee believes that
it is also vitally important that the U.S. develops a domestic
casein/MPC manufacturing industry to compete effectively with
imported products. As such, the Committee expects USDA to make
greater efforts to meet the demands of the fledgling casein/MPC
industry including fully utilizing new stocks of surplus
product for this purpose as well as any existing stocks that
may be available.
The Committee encourages USDA to establish a U.S.
viticulture international market development program that
includes a student exchange and internship program involving
the Virginia and California wine industries with the goal of
improving U.S. wine production and promoting the exportation of
U.S. wines.
Executive Operations
CHIEF ECONOMIST
2006 appropriation.................................... $10,434,000
2007 budget estimate.................................. 11,226,000
Provided in the bill.................................. 11,226,000
Comparison:
2006 appropriation................................ +792,000
2007 budget estimate.............................. - - -
COMMITTEE PROVISIONS
For the Chief Economist, the Committee provides an
appropriation of $11,226,000, an increase of $792,000 above the
amount available for fiscal year 2006 and the same amount as
the budget request.
NATIONAL APPEALS DIVISION
2006 appropriation.................................... $14,379,000
2007 budget estimate.................................. 14,795,000
Provided in the bill.................................. 14,795,000
Comparison:
2006 appropriation................................ +416,000
2007 budget estimate.............................. - - -
COMMITTEE PROVISIONS
For the National Appeals Division, the Committee provides
an appropriation of $14,795,000, an increase of $416,000 above
the amount available for fiscal year 2006 and the same amount
as the budget request.
OFFICE OF BUDGET AND PROGRAM ANALYSIS
2006 appropriation.................................... $8,216,000
2007 budget estimate.................................. 8,479,000
Provided in the bill.................................. 8,479,000
Comparison:
2006 appropriation................................ +264,000
2007 budget estimate.............................. - - -
COMMITTEE PROVISIONS
For the Office of Budget and Program Analysis, the
Committee provides an appropriation of $8,479,000, an increase
of $264,000 above the amount available for fiscal year 2006 and
the same as the budget request.
HOMELAND SECURITY STAFF
2006 appropriation.................................... $925,000
2007 budget estimate.................................. 1,114,000
Provided in the bill.................................. 954,000
Comparison:
2006 appropriation................................ +29,000
2007 budget estimate.............................. -160,000
COMMITTEE PROVISIONS
For the Homeland Security Staff, the Committee provides an
appropriation of $954,000, an increase of $29,000 above the
amount available for fiscal year 2006 and a decrease of
$160,000 below the budget request.
Office of the Chief Information Officer
2006 appropriation.................................... $16,297,000
2007 budget estimate.................................. 16,936,000
Provided in the bill.................................. 16,936,000
Comparison:
2006 appropriation................................ +639,000
2007 budget estimate.............................. - - -
COMMITTEE PROVISIONS
For the Office of the Chief Information Officer, the
Committee provides an appropriation of $16,936,000, an increase
of $639,000 above the amount available for fiscal year 2006 and
the same amount as the budget request.
Common Computing Environment
2006 appropriation.................................... $108,971,000
2007 budget estimate.................................. 108,900,000
Provided in the bill.................................. 68,971,000
Comparison:
2006 appropriation................................ -40,000,000
2007 budget estimate.............................. -39,929,000
COMMITTEE PROVISIONS
For the Common Computing Environment, the Committee
provides an appropriation of $68,971,000, a decrease of
$40,000,000 below the amount available in fiscal year 2006 and
a decrease of $39,929,000 below the budget request.
Since fiscal year 2001, Congress has appropriated over
$600,000,000 for the modernization and integration of
information systems in USDA's county field offices. The
Committee has fully supported this effort, but will expect to
see reduced or level funding levels for this account in future
budget submissions as a result of anticipated efficiencies and
economies of scale.
The following table reflects the Committee's
recommendation:
CCE base infrastructure ....................................$15,885,000
FSA specific..................................................43,336,000
NRCS specific................................................. 8,121,000
RD specific................................................... 1,090,000
Interagency e-Gov............................................. 539,000
--------------------------------------------------------------
____________________________________________________
$68,971,000
The Committee directs the Department to continue reporting
to the Committee on Appropriations on a quarterly basis on the
implementation of the Common Computing Environment.
The Committee is aware that the acquisition of geospatial
data and Geographic Information System technologies is critical
to the Department of Agriculture's plans to modernize its
County Service Centers and install a common computing
environment that optimizes information sharing, customer
service, and staff efficiencies, and improves the Department's
ability to track and react to natural and/or man-made
disasters. Within the funds provided in this Act, the Committee
encourages the Department to provide the appropriate level of
support for the acquisition of geospatial data and Geographic
Information System technologies.
Office of the Chief Financial Officer
2006 appropriation.................................... $5,815,000
2007 budget estimate.................................. 19,931,000
Provided in the bill.................................. 5,991,000
Comparison:
2006 appropriation................................ +176,000
2007 budget estimate.............................. -13,940,000
COMMITTEE PROVISIONS
For the Office of the Chief Financial Officer, the
Committee provides an appropriation of $5,991,000, an increase
of $176,000 above the amount available for fiscal year 2006 and
a decrease of $13,940,000 below the budget request.
The Committee, in fiscal year 2006, made permanent bill
language that directs the Chief Financial Officer to actively
market and expand the cross-servicing activities of the
National Finance Center.
The Committee includes authority in section 703 of the
general provisions that allows for unobligated discretionary
balances transferred to the Working Capital Fund to be used for
the acquisition of plant and capital equipment for the delivery
of the Financial Management Modernization Initiative.
The Committee is aware that the National Finance Center's
(NFC) proposal for e-payroll consolidation was rated the
highest in the competition held by the Office of Management and
Budget and the Office of Personnel Management. The Committee
believes that the NFC's demonstrated ability to provide a high
level of service while operating on a fee-for-service basis
provides a significant opportunity to utilize a public/private
partnership to provide private investment and share risk in the
modernization of systems and infrastructure creation for e-
payroll. The Committee encourages the USDA to utilize the NFC
to create a public/private partnership, such as the one that
the State of Louisiana, private industry, and a consortium of
academic institutions has developed, to help leverage scarce
Federal resources to continue the modernization and development
of Federal government wide e-payroll functions.
The Committee directs the Department to submit a report
concurrent with the Department's annual budget submission for
the following fiscal year, updating the Committee on its
contracting out policies, including agency budgets for
contracting out, for fiscal year 2006. The Committee is
continuing bill language requiring the submission of the report
on contracting out policies and agency budgets, prior to use of
any funds appropriated to the Office of the Chief Financial
Officer for FAIR Act or Circular A-76 activities.
The Committee directs the Secretary to provide quarterly
reports, beginning July 31, 2006, on the status of continuity
of operations of the NFC, remote mirror imaging, the
reestablishment of payroll and cross-servicing operations and
function in New Orleans, selection for a new alternate
worksite, and plans for the new primary computing facility.
Office of the Assistant Secretary for Civil Rights
2006 appropriation.................................... $813,000
2007 budget estimate.................................. 836,000
Provided in the bill.................................. 836,000
Comparison:
2006 appropriation................................ +23,000
2007 budget estimate.............................. - - -
COMMITTEE PROVISIONS
For the Office of the Assistant Secretary for Civil Rights,
the Committee provides an appropriation of $836,000, an
increase of $23,000 above the amount available for fiscal year
2006 and the same amount as the budget request.
Office of Civil Rights
2006 appropriation.................................... $19,908,000
2007 budget estimate.................................. 22,650,000
Provided in the bill.................................. 22,650,000
Comparison:
2006 appropriation................................ +2,742,000
2007 budget estimate.............................. - - -
COMMITTEE PROVISIONS
For the Office of Civil Rights, the Committee recommends an
appropriation of $22,650,000, an increase of $2,742,000 above
the amount available for fiscal year 2006 and the same amount
as the budget request.
The Committee recommendation includes $2,341,000, as
requested, for the Civil Rights Enterprise System and
compliance monitoring activities.
Office of the Assistant Secretary for Administration
2006 appropriation.................................... $669,000
2007 budget estimate.................................. 773,000
Provided in the bill.................................. 736,000
Comparison:
2006 appropriation................................ +67,000
2007 budget estimate.............................. -37,000
COMMITTEE PROVISIONS
For the Office of the Assistant Secretary for
Administration, the Committee provides an appropriation of
$736,000, an increase of $67,000 above the amount available for
fiscal year 2006 and a decrease of $37,000 below the budget
request.
Agriculture Buildings and Facilities and Rental Payments
2006 appropriation.................................... $185,857,000
2007 budget estimate.................................. 209,814,000
Provided in the bill.................................. 209,814,000
Comparison:
2006 appropriation................................ +23,957,000
2007 budget estimate.............................. - - -
COMMITTEE PROVISIONS
For Agriculture Buildings and Facilities and Rental
Payments, the Committee provides an appropriation of
$209,814,000, an increase of $23,957,000 above the amount
available for fiscal year 2006 and the same as the budget
request.
Included in this amount is $155,851,000 for payments to GSA
for rent and the Department of Homeland Security for building
security.
The Committee recommendation includes an increase of
$14,148,000 for building operations and maintenance for the
South Building.
The following table represents the Committee's specific
recommendations for this account:
Agriculture Buildings and Facilities and Rental Payments
[In thousands of dollars]
2006 2007 budget Committee
estimate request recommendation
Rental Payments............... $146,257 $155,851 $155,851
Building Operations........... 39,600 53,963 53,963
-----------------------------------------
Total................... 185,857 209,814 209,814
Hazardous Materials Management
2006 appropriation.................................... $11,880,000
2007 budget estimate.................................. 12,020,000
Provided in the bill.................................. 12,020,000
Comparison:
2006 appropriation................................ +140,000
2007 budget estimate.............................. - - -
COMMITTEE PROVISIONS
For Hazardous Materials Management, the Committee provides
an appropriation of $12,020,000, an increase of $140,000 above
the amount available for fiscal year 2006 and the same amount
as the budget request.
Departmental Administration
2006 appropriation.................................... $22,872,000
2007 budget estimate.................................. 28,302,000
Provided in the bill.................................. 24,114,000
Comparison:
2006 appropriation................................ +1,242,000
2007 budget estimate.............................. -4,188,000
COMMITTEE PROVISIONS
For Departmental Administration, the Committee provides an
appropriation of $24,114,000, an increase of $1,242,000 above
the amount available for fiscal year 2006 and a decrease of
$4,188,000 below the budget request.
The Committee recommendation includes an increase of
$760,000, as requested, for providing support to policies,
technical guidance, and operating environment of USDA's
Continuity of Operations, Personnel and Document Security, and
Physical Security Programs.
Office of the Assistant Secretary for Congressional Relations
2006 appropriation.................................... $3,783,000
2007 budget estimate.................................. 3,940,000
Provided in the bill.................................. 3,940,000
Comparison:
2006 appropriation................................ +157,000
2007 budget estimate.............................. - - -
COMMITTEE PROVISIONS
For the Office of the Assistant Secretary for Congressional
Relations, the Committee provides an appropriation of
$3,940,000, an increase of $157,000 above the amount available
for fiscal year 2006 and the same amount as the budget request.
Within 30 days from the enactment of this Act, the
Secretary shall notify the House and Senate Committees on
Appropriations on the allocation of these funds by USDA agency,
along with an explanation for the agency-by-agency distribution
of the funds.
Office of Communications
2006 appropriation.................................... $9,414,000
2007 budget estimate.................................. 9,695,000
Provided in the bill.................................. 9,695,000
Comparison:
2006 appropriation................................ +281,000
2007 budget estimate.............................. - - -
COMMITTEE PROVISIONS
For the Office of Communications, the Committee provides an
appropriation of $9,695,000, an increase of $281,000 above the
amount available for fiscal year 2006 and the same amount as
the budget request.
The Committee directs the Office of Communications to
continue to provide them with copies of open source news
material made available to USDA officials through the use of
appropriated funds.
Office of Inspector General
2006 appropriation.................................... $79,533,000
2007 budget estimate.................................. 82,493,000
Provided in the bill.................................. 82,493,000
Comparison:
2006 appropriation................................ +2,960,000
2007 budget estimate.............................. - - -
COMMITTEE PROVISIONS
For the Office of Inspector General, the Committee provides
an appropriation of $82,493,000, an increase of $2,960,000
above the amount available for fiscal year 2006, and the same
amount as the budget request.
Office of the General Counsel
2006 appropriation.................................... $38,957,000
2007 budget estimate.................................. 40,647,000
Provided in the bill.................................. 40,455,000
Comparison:
2006 appropriation................................ +1,498,000
2007 budget estimate.............................. -192,000
COMMITTEE PROVISIONS
For the Office of the General Counsel, the Committee
provides an appropriation of $40,455,000, an increase of
$1,498,000 above the amount available for fiscal year 2006 and
a decrease of $192,000 below the budget request.
The Committee recommendation includes an increase of
$707,000 of the amount requested, of which: $515,000 is for
maintaining and supporting staff and $192,000 is for additional
staff years for legal services.
Office of the Under Secretary for Research, Education and Economics
2006 appropriation.................................... $592,000
2007 budget estimate.................................. 694,000
Provided in the bill.................................. 651,000
Comparison:
2006 appropriation................................ +59,000
2007 budget estimate.............................. -43,000
COMMITTEE PROVISIONS
For the Office of the Under Secretary for Research,
Education, and Economics, the Committee provides an
appropriation of $651,000, an increase of $59,000 above the
amount available for fiscal year 2006 and a decrease of $43,000
below the budget request.
Economic Research Service
2006 appropriation.................................... $75,172,000
2007 budget estimate.................................. 82,544,000
Provided in the bill.................................. 80,963,000
Comparison:
2006 appropriation................................ +5,791,000
2007 budget estimate.............................. -1,581,000
COMMITTEE PROVISIONS
For the Economic Research Service, the Committee provides
an appropriation of $80,963,000, an increase of $5,791,000
above the amount available for fiscal year 2006 and a decrease
of $1,581,000 below the budget request.
The Committee recommendation includes an increase of
$5,000,000, as requested, to develop an Agricultural and Rural
Development Information System, a comprehensive data collection
and research program to monitor the changing economic health
and well-being of farm and non-farm households in rural areas.
The Committee provides $500,000, the same as the fiscal
year 2006 level, for the continuation of the organic data
surveys, the compilation of non-survey data on organic
production and marketing, the merger and reconciliation with
any new survey information, analysis that reveals patterns,
similarities and differences from comparisons among organic,
other differentiated markets, and bulk or homogeneous product
markets, and the development of policy-relevant findings from a
full portfolio of data and information.
National Agricultural Statistics Service
2006 appropriation.................................... $139,293,000
2007 budget estimate.................................. 152,584,000
Provided in the bill.................................. 148,719,000
Comparison:
2006 appropriation................................ +9,426,000
2007 budget estimate.............................. -3,865,000
COMMITTEE PROVISIONS
For the National Agricultural Statistics Service, the
Committee provides an appropriation of $148,719,000, an
increase of $9,426,000 above the amount available for fiscal
year 2006 and a decrease of $3,865,000 below the budget
request.
Included in this amount is $36,582,000 for the Census of
Agriculture, an increase of $7,758,000 above the amount
available for fiscal year 2006 and the same amount as the
budget request. The Census of Agriculture collects and provides
comprehensive data on all aspects of the agricultural economy.
Also, included in this amount is $112,137,000 for the
Agricultural Estimates, an increase of $1,668,000 above the
amount available for fiscal year 2006 and a decrease of
$3,865,000 below the budget request.
The Committee notes the National Agricultural Statistics
Service (NASS) has developed additional organic data surveys
based on the 2002 Census of Agriculture and is expanding
organic data collection in the 2007 Census of Agriculture. The
Committee encourages the NASS to develop additional organic
data surveys and to conduct a follow-up survey to the 2007
Census of Agriculture in order to collect more in-depth
information on acreage, yield/production, inventory, production
practices, sales and expenses, marketing channels and
demographics.
The Committee provides $8,000,000, the same as the fiscal
year 2006 level, for the continuation of pesticide usage
studies. These studies collect data from farmers pertaining to
pesticides used, percent of crop covered, application rates and
total amount of active ingredient applied.
The Committee encourages the NASS to collect organic prices
in the Prices Received data series.
Agricultural Research Service
2006 appropriation.................................... $1,123,654,000
2007 budget estimate.................................. 1,001,385,000
Provided in the bill.................................. 1,057,603,000
Comparison:
2006 appropriation................................ -66,051,000
2007 budget estimate.............................. +56,218,000
COMMITTEE PROVISIONS
Salaries and expenses.--For salaries and expenses of the
Agricultural Research Service, the Committee provides an
appropriation of $1,057,603,000, a decrease of $66,051,000
below the amount available for fiscal year 2006 and an increase
of $56,218,000 above the budget request.
Acoustic and seismic technology.--New acoustic and seismic
technologies open the path for improved and more efficient crop
production practices. Use of these new technologies to
characterize soils, detect hard pan levels, assess water
content and other applications must be accelerated to reduce
crop production costs and conserve energy, water, and soil. The
Committee provides an increase of $100,000 in fiscal year 2007
to the ARS National Sedimentation Laboratory at Oxford,
Mississippi to accelerate research in this area.
Animal vaccines.--There is a critical need to develop new
technologies to mitigate the adverse impacts of diseases on
cattle, poultry, and swine. The annual monetary loss resulting
from diarrheal diseases in cattle and swine is estimated at
$500,000,000 in the United States alone. Foodborne pathogens
cause between 6.5 million and 33 million cases of human
diseases and 9,000 deaths annually. The Committee provides an
increase of $100,000 above the fiscal year 2006 funding level
for expanded research on advanced animal vaccines and
diagnostic applications currently carried out jointly by ARS,
the University of Connecticut, and the University of Missouri.
Appalachian horticulture research.--The Committee is aware
that ornamental horticulture, floriculture and nursery crops,
collectively constitute the third most important crop in the
United States, surpassed only by corn and soybeans, with an
average estimated value of more than $11,000,000,000 a year.
Tennessee has a vibrant nursery industry and a growing
floriculture industry. The Committee provides an increase of
$100,000 above the fiscal year 2006 funding level for
collaborative research with the University of Tennessee and
Tennessee State University, including efforts to develop
resistant genes in dogwoods and other woody ornamentals, new
tissue culture techniques, and techniques to enable rapid
deployment of new cultivars for the marketplace. This program
is managed through the ARS Poplarville, Mississippi research
station.
Avian influenza and foot and mouth disease.--The Committee
recognizes the ongoing efforts of ARS in developing diagnostic
detection cababilities for Foot-and-Mouth Disease and Avian
Influenza. The Committee provides an increase of $4,000,000 for
expanded research in providing diagnostic detection tools,
increasing its understanding of disease epidemiology and
providing effective countermeasures for these exotic animal
diseases.
Biotechnology Research and Development Corporation
(BRDC).--BRDC is a uniquely successful public/private
partnership dedicated to promoting technology development and
commercialization of agricultural technology. The Committee
provides an increase of $100,000 in fiscal year 2007 for the
BRDC.
Chronic diseases of children.--The Committee has provided
an additional $162,000 for the Children's Nutrition Research
Center at Houston, TX for ongoing research with Baylor
University on chronic diseases and the growing problem of
overweight children.
Coatings for microbial protection of food.--The Committee
recognizes the importance of research and new technology
developments to identify, control, and eliminate Listeria
monocytogenes, E. Coli O157:H7, and Salmonella pathogens
contamination in foods. The Committee provides an increase of
$50,000 for expanded research on the development of
capabilities for products for coating a wide variety of
substrates.
Coffee and cocoa research.--World supply of coffee and
cocoa continues to be threatened by severe crop diseases.
Disease resistance and alternative research program for coffee
and cocoa has important economic benefits and implications for
U.S. foreign policy in the coffee and cocoa producing nations
of South Central America and West Africa. The Committee
provides an increase of $150,000 over fiscal year 2006 for
expanded research on disease resistance and alternative crop
research development for coffee and cocoa.
Corn germplasm.--Corn is a key resource in this country and
throughout the world, providing food, industrial uses,
livestock feed, and export. The Committee understands the
importance of the germplasm base of corn hybrids grown by
American farmers to promote genetic diversity and stability in
corn production. The Committee provides an increase of $100,000
in fiscal year 2007 to the ARS research laboratory at Ames, IA.
Corn rootworm.--This pest continues to create economic and
environmental problems in the Corn Belt region of the U.S. The
Committee provides an increase of $100,000 at Ames, Iowa to
fund priority research into the biology of controlling the corn
rootworm which poses a significant economic threat to the corn
industry.
Cotton research.--The Committee understands that Fusarium
oxysporum f. sp. vasinfectum (FOV) is a particularly virulent
plant pathogen that attacks cotton. In fact, it is so virulent
that the industry refers to it as the cotton AIDS virus. FOV is
becoming a bigger threat to California cotton, particularly
since recent reports have shown the presence of FOV infected
Pima plants in the absence of nematodes; a development that
raises concerns because it raises questions about the
effectiveness of crop rotation as a means to prevent infection.
The Committee provides an increase of $80,000 in fiscal year
2007 to the ARS research laboratory in Shafter, CA.
Cropping systems research.--The Committee recognizes the
need for regional research in the Mississippi River watershed
to develop new varieties of soybean and cropping systems that
will improve disease resistance, enhance value of the crop, and
protect the region's natural resources. Crop management
practices to limit erosion on the highly erodible soils of
Tennessee and other southern states impact soybean diseases,
both favorably and adversely. Research is needed to optimize
disease control while maintaining these best crop management
practices to protect soil and water quality. Molecular genetics
technologies will be used to develop better soybeans and site-
specific systems will be developed for improving cropping
systems in the region. The Committee provides an increase of
$50,000 for an ARS cooperative research program with the
University of Tennessee. The research will be conducted at the
West Tennessee Agricultural Experiment Station.
Drought mitigation.--The Committee recognizes the need for
a comprehensive water management strategy to respond to drought
and other emerging climate extremes. An increase of $1,000,000
is provided in fiscal year 2007 to develop technology and
management systems to reduce the vulnerability of drought to
agriculture.
Emerging diseases.--The Committee provides an increase of
$500,000 of which $200,000 shall be for Athens (GA), in fiscal
year 2007 for the advancement of intervention strategies for
emerging diseases of livestock and poultry.
Food safety research.--The Committee provides an increase
of $800,000 in fiscal year 2007 to develop food animal
surveillance and epidemiology programs to assure early
detection of epizootic pathogens and antibiotic resistance.
Food safety and E. coli.--The Committee provides an
increase of $100,000 in fiscal year 2007 for research on the
control and E.coli O157:H7 in raw beef products; and other
agents of importance that contaminate the U.S. food supply.
Formosan subterranean termite.--The exotic Formosan
Subterranean termite costs the U.S. one billion dollars each
year. It is particularly damaging in the greater New Orleans
area, along the Gulf Coast, and Hawaii. The Committee provides
an increase of $100,000 in fiscal year 2007 for expanded
research on Formosan termites.
Greenhouse lettuce germplasm.--The Committee provides an
increase of $75,000 in fiscal year 2007 for additional costs
associated with the preservation, maintenance, and evaluation
of greenhouse lettuce germplasm.
Invasive aquatic weeds.--Recent introductions of exotic
weeds including Eurasian, variable Milfoil, and Cabomba
seriously threaten the health of Connecticut lakes. Traditional
control methods focusing on whole lake treatments are
prohibitively expensive. More effective and economical weed
control methods focusing on localized spot treatments of weed
beds in large bodies of water are needed. The Committee
provides an increase of $100,000 in fiscal year 2007 for
expanded research on invasive aquatic weeds carried out at Ft.
Lauderdale, Florida.
Mid-west/mid-south irrigation.--While irrigation is
normally associated with the arid, western part of the U.S.,
the fastest growing irrigation states are found in the Mid-West
and the Mid-South. The need for irrigation in these areas is
critical in reducing production risks, increasing producer
yields, promoting good land management practices, and reducing
input costs. The Committee provides an increase of $100,000 in
fiscal year 2007 to support cooperative research into
irrigation methods and technologies with the Delta Center,
University of Missouri at Portageville, Missouri.
National grape and wine initiative.--The Committee
understands the importance of the American grape and grape
products industry to the U.S. economy. To successfully compete
with a strong international competition, the industry must lead
in the production of wine, juice, table grapes, and raisins
that are of superior quality and value. The Committee is aware
of the need to support the enhancement of public health through
improved understanding of the nutritional benefits to be
derived from grapes and grape products and provides an increase
of $250,000 in fiscal year 2007 for this research to be carried
out at the ARS Western Human Nutrition Research Center in
Davis, California.
Northern Appalachian Experimental Watershed, Coshocton,
OH.--The mission of the North Appalachian Experimental
Watershed (NAEW) is to conduct research on hydrology, surface
runoff, groundwater quality, and erosion for agricultural and
other purposes. Conservation tillage, filter strips, crop
rotations, manure management, input of high runoff generating
areas, reduced input management practices, and pasture
management systems are evaluated using watersheds and monolith
lysimeters. Quantification of runoff and water quality risks
through analysis of data and precipitation and weather
investigations are also a component of the research. A 67-year
data base of measurements from rain gauges, watershed flumes
and weirs, and automated data collecting lysimeters along with
soil and climatology data provide a long-term frame of
reference which is essential in the evaluation of current
experimental data. Research is designed to develop knowledge of
basic water sediment and chemical movement and to develop
practical procedures and verify models describing their
transport. Practical results of the research are to develop
safe pesticide and nutrient management strategies while
maintaining high agricultural productivity levels, and to
develop practical management tools. The Committee provides an
additional $100,000 above the fiscal year 2006 level for this
research.
Ogallala aquifer.--Surface water in the Central High Plains
region of the U.S. is severely limited. The Ogallala Aquifer,
which is a finite resource, has provided water resources in the
development of a highly significant agricultural economy in
this region. The Committee provides an increase of $400,000 in
fiscal year 2007 for research into the complex nature of water
availability, potential uses, and costs to determine future
water policy in this region, which includes Texas, Kansas, and
adjoining states.
Organic minor crop research.--The Committee is aware of the
Sustainable and Organic Agriculture Research (SOAR) program of
the California Polytechnic State University whose mission is to
advance sustainable food and agricultural systems and promote
California's leadership in environmentally responsive
agriculture. The Committee provides an increase of $200,000 in
fiscal year 2007 to the ARS research station in Salinas,
California for collaborative research on organic farming with
California Polytechnic State University.
Quantify basin water budget components in the southwest.--
The Committee acknowledges the need to expand efforts to
accurately quantify components of a basin's water budget to
support local and community based watershed management. The
Committee provides an increase of $100,000 above the fiscal
year 2006 level for additional research at the Southwest
Watershed Research Center at Tucson, Arizona and at the
University of Arizona.
Research in support of APHIS.--The Committee provides an
increase of $2,000,000 in fiscal year 2007 for ARS to conduct
research in support of APHIS under the Food and Agriculture
Defense Initiative.
Soybean and wheat stem rust.--The committee recognizes the
importance of developing integrated disease management
strategies for soybeans and grains. The Committee provides an
increase of $2,000,000 in fiscal year 2007 for the development
of resistant germplasm and more sustainable, environmentally
friendly control strategies to provide practical solutions for
U.S. producers.
Vegetable and forage research.--The Committee recognizes
the important research program carried out at Prosser,
Washington Agriculture Research Station for vegetable and
forage research. The Committee provides an increase of $320,000
in fiscal year 2007 to enhance this important agriculture
research program.
Water use reduction.--Available water supplies are being
stretched by rapidly growing demands for water by urban
populations, irrigated agriculture, industry/energy sectors,
and instream flow requirements. The dilemma for producers and
local economies is finding solutions to reduce irrigation and
natural resource consumption while at the same time maintaining
and/or enhancing producer net returns. The Committee provides
an increase of $25,000 in fiscal year 2007 to ARS for research
to enhance, in a sustainable manner, irrigated agriculture and
associated rural economies in Southwest Georgia.
West Nile Virus.--The Committee recognizes the continuing
threat of mosquito-borne West Nile Virus to humans and domestic
animals in northern New England and other parts of the United
States. The Committee provides an increase of $162,000 in
fiscal year 2007 for expanded cooperative research with the
Connecticut State Agricultural Experiment Station to develop
methods of efficiently controlling mosquitoes, to evaluate
available anti-viral drugs to cure infected humans and to
determine if the virus is mutating to more virulent forms.
Bioenergy research.--Soaring energy prices, instability of
petroleum exporting countries and environmental concerns
highlight the need to develop alternative domestic sources of
energy from industrial feedstocks. A significant, sustained,
and coordinated research and development effort is needed to
produce and enhance feedstocks, improve processes for
converting them into fuels and co-products, and reduce
production costs in order to penetrate markets that are
currently petroleum-based. The Committee provides an increase
of $1,500,000 over fiscal year 2006 for expanded research to
improve the quality and quantity of agricultural biomass
feedstocks and develop technologies to produce biofuels and
coproducts from agricultural commodities at the following
locations: Peoria, Illinois, $500,000; Beltsville, Maryland,
$300,000; and Wyndmoor, Pennsylvania, $300,000.
Bovine spongiform encephalopathy (BSE) research.--The
Committee considers research on BSE as essential if regulatory
agencies are to develop policies and control programs based on
the best available science. ARS is directed to implement an
integrated BSE program in pathogenesis, diagnostics, and
intervention. The Committee provides an increase of $4,500,000
for this research.
Broomweed biological controls.--The Committee recognizes
that increased infestations of exotic brooms and gorse weeds
are causing serious economic and environmental losses to
agriculture and rangelands in the Western United States. The
Committee directs that this research be continued at the fiscal
year 2006 funding level.
Cereal crops research.--The Committee recognizes the
research accomplishments of the Cereal Crops Research
Laboratory in Madison, Wisconsin on the quality and improved
production and marketing practices for small grains,
particularly barley and oats.
Conservation tillage.--Better management and conservation
of natural resources is essential for sustainable crop
production in the Columbia River Plateau and regional areas.
The ARS Soil Conservation Laboratory at Pendleton, Oregon
conducts non-irrigated dryland research important to this
region. The Committee maintains the fiscal year 2006 funding
level for this necessary research.
Continuing programs.--The Committee recognizes the
importance of ongoing research projects in addressing problems
faced by the Nation's food and fiber producers. In this regard,
the Committee directs the Agricultural Research Service to
continue to fund the following areas of research at the fiscal
year 2006 funding levels: Aerial Application Research, College
Station, TX, $584,089; Animal Health Consortium, $879,430;
Animal Vaccines, Greenport, NY, $1,627,698; Appalachian
Horticulture Research (U of TN/TN State), Poplarville, MS,
$784,244; Aquaculture Fisheries Center, Pine Bluff, AR,
$72,552; Aquaculture Initiative, Harbor Branch Oceanographic
Inst., Stuttgart, AR, $1,713,477; Aquaculture Research,
Aberdeen, ID, $628,843; Barley Food Health Benefits,
Beltsville, MD, $477,009; Bee Research, Weslaco, TX, $244,077;
Biological Controls and Agriculture Research, Gainesville, FL,
$533,396; Biomineral Soil Amendments for Control of Nematodes,
Beltsville, MD, $390,101; Biotechnology Research and
Development Corporation, $2,684,737; Bovine Genetics,
Beltsville, MD (U of CT/U of IL), $1,913,866; Central Great
Plains Research Station, Akron, CO, $534,073; Cereal Crops,
Fargo, ND, $1,725,189; Cereal Crops Research, Madison, WI,
$902,338; Cereal Disease, St. Paul, MN, $310,971; Chronic
Diseases of Children, Houston, TX, $496,677; Citrus Waste
Utilization, Winter Haven, FL, $392,832; Coffee and Cocoa,
Beltsville, MD, $790,744; Coffee and Cocoa, Miami, FL,
$902,289; Coffee and Cocoa (Control of Perennial and Annual
Weeds), $957,849; Conservation Research/Tillage, Pendleton, OR,
$413,265; Corn Germplasm, Ames, IA, $851,946; Corn Rootworm,
Ames, IA, $490,354; Cotton Genetics Research, Florence, SC,
$242,486; Cotton Ginning Research, Las Cruces, NM, $956,565;
Cotton Pathology, Shafter, CA, $361,805; Cropping Systems
Research, Stoneville, MS (U TN/W TN Ag Expt. Sta.), $848,761;
Diet and Immune Function (ACNC), $234,910; Diet Nutrition and
Obesity Research (Pennington) New Orleans, LA, $668,570;
Floriculture and Nursery Crops, HQ, $2,476,226; Food
Fermentation Research, Raleigh, NC, $361,805; Food Safety for
Listeria and E.coli, $96,994; Formosan Termite, New Orleans,
LA, $3,743,014; Foundry Sand By-Products Utilization,
Beltsville, MD, $685,412; Golden Nematode, Ithaca, NY,
$425,783; Grape Genetics, Geneva, NY, $628,843; Grape
Rootstock, Geneva, NY, $573,689; Grapefruit Juice/Drug
Interaction, Winterhaven, FL, $373,824; Grassland Soil and
Water Research, Temple, TX, $219,665; Great Basins Rangeland,
Burns, OR, $193,989; Greenhouse and Hydroponics Research,
Wooster, OH, $1,547,135; Greenhouse Lettuce Germplasm, Salinas,
CA, $259,849; Harry Dupree National Aquaculture Research
Center, Stuttgart, AR, $438,598; Honey Bee Research (Varroa
Mites), Baton Rouge, LA, $390,101; Hops Research, Corvallis,
OR, $464,258; Invasive Aphid Research, Stillwater, OK,
$219,665; Jornada Experimental Range Research Station, Las
Cruces, NM, $387,976; Lyme Disease 4 Poster Project, HQ,
$751,205; Manure Management Research (National Swine Research
Center), Ames, IA, $387,976; Medicinal and Bioactive Crops
(Stephen F. Austin Univ./Univ. of MD), Beltsville, MD,
$118,800; Mid-West/Mid-South Irrigation, Columbia, MO (Delta
Center, U of MO), $692,377; Minor Use Pesticide (IR-4),
$797,021; Mosquito Trapping Research/West Nile Virus,
Gainesville, FL, $1,238,482; National Center for Agricultural
Law, $701,034; National Germplasm Resources Program,
$3,165,059; National Soil Dynamics Lab (Improved Crop
Production), Auburn, AL, $2,497,932; Wheat and Barley Scab
Initiative, Fargo, ND, $96,994; Nematology Research, Tifton,
GA, $248,376; Northern Great Plains Research Laboratory,
Mandan, ND, $62,076; NW Small Fruits Research (Eastern Filbert
Blight), Corvallis, OR, $645,962; NW Small Fruits Research
(Small Fruits and Nursery Crops), HQ, $881,869; Nutrition
Interventions, HQ, $49,104; Nutritional Requirements, Houston,
TX, $1,263,776; Ogallala Aquifer, Bushland, TX (Texas A&M,
Texas Tech, & KSU), $3,758,197; Olive Fruit Fly, Parlier, CA,
$213,386; Organic Minor Crop Research, Salinas, CA, $159,036;
Peanut Production, Dawson, GA, $74,250; Peanut Research,
Dawson, GA, $131,799; Peanut Variety, Stillwater, OK, $178,200;
Pecan Scab Research, Byron, GA, $603,409; Pierce's Disease/
Glassy-winged Sharpshooter, Davis, CA, $146,061; Plant Stress &
Water Conservation Lab, Lubbock, TX, $1,560,554; Post-harvest
and Controlled Atmosphere Chamber (Lettuce) Salinas, CA,
$36,276; Potato Breeding, Aberdeen, ID, $365,156; Potato
Research Enhancement, Prosser, WA, $288,057; Potato Research,
HQ, $1,476,098; Quantify Basin Water Budget Components in the
Southwest, Tucson, AZ, $633,265; Rainbow Trout, Aberdeen, ID,
$1,093,728; Rangeland Resources Research, Las Cruces, NM,
$1,767,516; Residue Management in Sugarcane (Sugarcane
Research), Houma, LA, $1,193,413; Rice Research, Stuttgart, AR,
$270,790; Seasonal Grazing, Coshocton, OH, $99,000;
Sedimentation Issues in Flood Control Dam Rehabilitations,
Oxford, MS, $460,722; Seismic and Acoustic Technologies in
Soils Sed. Lab, Oxford, MS, $355,546; Shellfish Genetics,
Newport, OR, $770,120; Small Farms, Booneville, AR, $1,935,612;
Soil Tilth Research, Ames, IA, $725,903; Sorghum Cold
Tolerance, Lubbock, TX, $263,597; Sorghum Research, Little
Rock, AR, $145,491; Sorghum Research, Stillwater, OK, $293,107;
Sorghum Research, Manhattan, KS, $739,441; Sorghum Research,
Bushland, TX, $483,576; Sorghum Research, Lubbock, TX,
$974,190; Source Water Protection Initiatives, Columbus, OH,
$750,121; Southwest Pecan Research, College Station, TX,
$232,786; Soybean and Nitrogen Fixation, Raleigh, NC, $408,589;
Sugarbeet Research, Kimberly, ID, $702,592; Sugarcane Variety
Research, Canal Point, FL, $1,404,773; Sustainable Aquaculture
Feeds, Aberdeen, ID, $99,000; Sustainable Olive Production,
Weslaco, TX, $389,689; Sustainable Vineyards/Viticulture
Practices, Davis, CA, $824,249; Temperate Fruit Flies, Wapato,
WA, $36,276; Tree Fruit Quality Research, Wenatchee, WA,
$435,461; Turfgrass Research, U.S. National Arboretum,
$476,911; U.S. National Arboretum (Germplasm/Ornamental
Horticulture), $1,655,722; Virus Free Fruit Tree Cultivars,
Wapato, WA, $242,486; Viticulture, HQ, $349,179; Viticulture,
Corvallis, OR, $852,861; Water Management Research Laboratory,
Brawley, CA, $334,514; Water Resources Management, Tifton, GA,
$586,215; Water Use Management Technology, Tifton, GA,
$340,828; Water Use Reduction, Dawson, GA, $704,635; Weed
Management Research, Beltsville, MD, $263,597; Western
Grazinglands, Burns, OR, $1,103,377; Wheat Quality Research,
Wooster, OH, $413,654; Wild Rice, St. Paul, MN, $324,740;
Cotton Ginning Research Unit, Las Cruces, NM, $1,070,332; Crop
Production and Processing, Lubbock, TX, $1,309,706; Dale
Bumpers Small Farms Research Center, Booneville, AR,
$1,905,638; Fruit Laboratory, Beltsville, MD, $3,117,741;
Market Quality and Handling Unit, Raleigh, NC, $1,202,921;
North Appalachian Experimental Watershed Unit, Coshocton, OH,
$1,350,313; Phytonutrients Laboratory, Beltsville, MD,
$2,648,253; Plant Science Unit, Raleigh, NC, $1,495,157;
Poultry Production and Products Safety, Fayetteville, AR,
$1,754,598; and Rice Research Unit, Beaumont, TX, $1,554,839.
Program redirections.--The Committee supports the
redirection of the following ongoing research programs to
enhance national initiatives for high priority research needs
in emerging diseases of livestock and crops; food safety;
bovine spongiform encephalopathy (BSE); obesity/nutrition;
invasive species; air and water quality; biobased products/
bioenergy; genomics; and genetic resources: Aflatoxin in
Cotton, Phoenix, AZ, $631,215; Animal Waste Treatment,
Florence, SC, $312,701; Arkansas Children's Nutrition Center,
$584,911; Asian Bird Influenza, Athens, GA, $45,676; Avian
Pneumovirus, Athens, GA, $246,250; Biomass Crop Production,
Brookings, SD, $1,213,174; Broomweed Biological Controls,
Albany, CA, $444,820; Catfish Genome, Auburn, AL, $878,046;
Citrus & Horticulture Research, Ft. Pierce, FL, $378,258; Corn
Resistant to Aflatoxin, Mississippi State, MS, $486,029; Crop
Production and Food Processing, Peoria, IL, $843,393; Dairy
Genetics, Beltsville, MD, $929,945; Delta Nutrition
Intervention Initiative, $4,216,358; Emissions from Livestock
Wastewater, Florence, SC, $87,865; Food Safety for Listeria and
E.coli, Beltsville, MD, $134,339; Food Safety for Listeria and
E.coli, Clay Center, NE, $108,476; Food Safety for Listeria and
E.coli, College Station, TX, $81,356; Food Safety for Listeria
and E.coli, Wyndmoor, PA, $1,702,403; Food Safety for Listeria
and E.coli, HQ, $1,047,504; Ft. Pierce Horticultural Research
Laboratory, $1,662,233; Great Lakes Aquaculture Research,
Madison, WI, $533,503; Grain Legume Plant Pathologist Position,
Pullman, WA, $244,125; Grand Forks Human Nutrition Laboratory,
$579,739; Improved Animal Waste Management, Florence, SC,
$469,822; Invasive Aquatic Weeds, Ft. Lauderdale, FL, $527,745;
Johne's Disease, Beltsville, MD, $323,313; Late Blight Fungus,
Orono, ME, $311,986; Livestock Genome Mapping, Clay Center, NE,
$708,056; National Germplasm Resources Program, Beltsville, MD,
$145,491; National Germplasm Resources Program, Ft. Collins,
CO, $584,089; National Wheat and Barley Scab Initiative,
Raleigh, NC, $96,994; National Wheat and Barley Scab
Initiative, Manhattan, KS, $96,994; Obesity Research, Houston,
TX, $171,864; Olive Fruit Fly, Montpellier, FR, $347,452;
Phytoestrogen, New Orleans, LA, $1,529,821; Pierce's Disease/
Glassy-winged Sharpshooter, Parlier, CA, $3,208,802; Pierce's
Disease/Glassy-winged Sharpshooter, Ft. Pierce, FL, $429,778;
Potato Disease, Beltsville, MD, $65,490; Poultry Disease,
Athens, GA, $892,344; Poultry Diseases (Coccidiosis),
Beltsville, MD, $438,066; Poult Enterititis-Mortality Syndrome
(PEMS), Athens, GA, $145,903; Pre-Harvest Control of Aflatoxin,
HQ, $838,237; Rainbow Trout, Leetown, WV, $677,359; Regional
Grains Genotyping Research, Raleigh, NC, $692,645; Regional
Molecular Genotyping, Manhattan, KS; Fargo, ND, $351,462;
Regional Molecular Genotyping, Pullman, WA, $251,020;
Salmonella, Listeria, E.coli, and Other Food Pathogens,
Wyndmoor, PA, $295,349; Sorghum Ergot, College Station, TX,
$71,500; Sudden Oak Disease, Davis, CA, $317,872; Sudden Oak
Disease, Frederick, MD, $901,962; Swine Lagoon Alternatives
Research, Florence, SC, $583,969; Vaccines and Microbe Control
for Fish Health/Fish Diseases, Auburn, AL, $1,061,777; Vector-
borne Diseases, Gainesville, FL, $219,665; and Verticillium
Wilt, Salinas, CA, $474,223.
The Committee does not concur with the proposed redirection
and directs ARS to terminate the following ongoing research
programs: Bioinformatics Institute for Model Plant Species,
Ames, IA, $1,815,887; Catfish Health, Stoneville, MS,
$2,041,125; Center for Food Safety and Post-Harvest Technology,
HQ, $1,038,924; Cotton Genomics, Breeding & Variety
Development, Stoneville, MS, $1,454,910; Feed Efficiency in
Cattle, Clay Center, NE, $219,665; Food Safety and Engineering,
Wyndmoor, PA, $572,835; Geisinger Rural Aging Study, Boston,
MA, $190,630; Hides and Leather Research, Wyndmoor, PA,
$170,650; Human Nutrition Center on Aging (Equipment), $98,208;
Human Nutrition Center on Aging (Obesity), $730,401; Johne's
Disease, Ames, IA, $646,626; National Corn to Ethanol Research
Pilot Plant, HQ, $385,522; National Warmwater Aquaculture
Center, Stoneville, MS, $821,046; Poisonous Plant Research
Laboratory (Locoweed), Logan, UT, $1,400,757; Poultry Disease,
East Lansing, MI, $241,951; Red Imported Fire Ants, Stoneville,
MS, $1,941,983; Root Diseases in Wheat and Barley, Pullman, WA,
$72,552; Transmissible Spongiform Encephalopathies, Ames, IA,
$220,968; and Wheat Quality Research, Manhattan, KS, $420,028.
Cotton quality.--Since 1997, the U.S. textile industry has
been in record decline, with over 196,000 jobs lost because of
illegal transshipments of textile products into the U.S. With
the growth of free trade and preferential trade agreements, the
Bureau of Customs and Border Protection requires a quick and
effective method of determining whether textile and apparel
products entering the U.S. meet the eligibility criteria. An
effective, economical system to track U.S. yarn from the mill
to the finished product has been a goal of the U.S. textile
industry for years to restore profitability to the failing
industry. The Committee maintains the fiscal year 2006 funding
level to the ARS Cotton Quality Research Laboratory at Clemson,
SC for research and development of a tagging and identification
system for the cotton textile industry.
Genetic resources.--The Committee recognizes the importance
of acquisition, maintenance, characterization and enhancement
of genetic resources as carried out by ARS. The Committee
provides an increase of $650,000 over fiscal year 2006 for this
program.
Library and information services.--The Committee provides
the National Agricultural Library an increase of $3,500,000
over fiscal year 2006 to support agricultural information and
delivery services.
Livestock genomics.--Characterizing animal genes for traits
of economic importance is essential to U.S. agriculture
productivity. The Committee recommends an increase of
$1,300,000 for genomic research in fiscal year 2007.
Obesity/nutrition research.--The Committee continues to
support the nutrition research carried out at the Department's
nutrition research centers. The Committee provides an increase
of $350,000 to assess the outcomes of healthy eating and
physical activity patterns in preventing obesity.
Olive fruitfly research.--The olive fruitfly is the world's
number one pest of olives, causing devastating effects on the
olive industry in California. The Committee maintains the
fiscal year 2006 funding level for continued integrated pest
management research program to control the olive fruitfly at
ARS' European Biological Control Laboratory at Montpellier,
France, and Parlier, CA.
Pay act costs.--The Committee provides funding for
increased costs associated with Federal employee's salaries and
benefits.
Plum Island Animal Disease Center.--The Committee directs
that none of the funds appropriated to the Agricultural
Research Service for the Advanced Animal Vaccine Project at the
Plum Island Animal Disease Center may be directed for any other
use by the Department of Homeland Security.
Emerald ash borer.--The Committee recognizes the importance
of the research carried out by ARS on the emerald ash borer
(EAB) and continues funding of $404,700 for this work. The EAB
is an invasive species from Asia, first detected in the U.S. in
2002. To date the EAB has killed or damaged millions of ash
trees in the Great Lakes Region with the potential of
destroying 700 million ash trees with a value between $20 and
$60 million.
Human nutrition.--The Committee recognizes the importance
of plant genetic and nutrition research as it relates to
finding solutions for America's obesity concerns. The North
Carolina Research Campus in Kannapolis, North Carolina, will
co-locate two importnat groups of scientists from the UNC
School Systems that would combine expertise in agricultural
genetics and production with nutrition scientists. The
Committee encourages the USDA/ARS to work with the UNC system
to establish a public/private partnership at the Kannapolis
research campus and to look for new ways to address current and
future health concerns.
BUILDINGS AND FACILITIES
2006 appropriation.................................... $129,883,000
2007 budget estimate.................................. 8,415,000
Provided in the bill.................................. 140,000,000
Comparison:
2006 appropriation................................ +10,117,000
2007 budget estimate.............................. +131,585,000
COMMITTEE PROVISIONS
For Agricultural Research Service, Buildings and
Facilities, the Committee provides an appropriation of
$140,000,000, an increase of $10,117,000, above the amount
available in fiscal year 2006, and an increase of $131,585,000
above the budget request.
The Committee has provided engineering, design, and some
portion of construction funds for Federal research facilities
that are necessary to keep American agriculture competitive.
The Committee is making every attempt to preserve these
taxpayer investments. In fiscal year 2006, the Congress
completed funding for the National Animal Disease Center in
Ames, Iowa, at a total cost of about $462,000,000. There are
several other high priority construction projects that have
already been planned and designed and are waiting for
construction funds. The Committee recommends funding for the
completion of the following facilities: U.S. Agricultural
Research Center (Salinas, CA) $6,000,000; U.S. Agricultural
Research Service Sugarcane Research Laboratory (Houma, LA)
$16,893,000; U.S. Center for Grape Genetics (Geneva, NY)
$7,290,000; and, U.S. Agricultural Research Service Laboratory
(Pullman, WA) $35,698,000. In addition, the Committee provides
$1,500,000 for construction of the Arboretum entrance on
Bladensburg Road in Washington, DC.
The Committee directs the Department to provide a report by
September 1, 2006 on the remaining construction priorities for
the funds provided in this account.
The Committee provides $2,700,000, $2,400,000, and
$2,200,000, respectively for engineering and design costs at
ARS facilities in Storrs, CT; Kerrville, TX; and Canal Point,
FL.
The Committee directs and approves the reprogramming of
available construction funds from the Center for Advanced
Viticulture and Tree Crop Research and from the Center for
Health-Based Crop Genomics. This reprogramming will be used to
offset construction costs for other Federal facilities in those
states.
The Committee directs the ARS to update the feasibility
study that was conducted on the Athens, GA poultry research
facility. The updated study shall include a phased construction
plan with phases that would be complete and usable.
Cooperative State Research, Education, and Extension Service
RESEARCH AND EDUCATION ACTIVITIES
2006 appropriation \1\................................ $670,081,000
2007 budget estimate.................................. 566,300,000
Provided in the bill.................................. 651,606,000
Comparison:
2006 appropriation................................ -18,475,000
2007 budget estimate.............................. +85,306,000
\1\ Does not include $594,000 in grants that were funded as general
provisions in FY2006.
COMMITTEE PROVISIONS
For Research and Education Activities, the Committee
provides an appropriation of $651,606,000, a decrease of
$18,475,000 below the amount available for fiscal year 2006 and
an increase of $85,306,000 above the budget request.
For payments under the Hatch Act, the Committee provides an
appropriation of $183,275,000, an increase of $6,306,000 above
the amount available for fiscal year 2006 and an increase of
$6,355,000 above the budget request. This funding level
represents a 3 percent increase above the fiscal year 2006
funding level. The recommended funding level for this program
is the first time this program has increased since fiscal year
1999.
For cooperative forestry research, the Committee provides
an appropriation of $22,668,000, an increase of $660,000 above
the amount available for fiscal year 2006 and an increase of
$685,000 above the budget request. This funding level
represents a 3 percent increase above the fiscal year 2006
funding level. The recommended funding level for this program
is the first time this program has increased since 1999.
For the Evans-Allen Program (payments to the 1890 land-
grant colleges, Tuskegee University, and West Virginia State
University), the Committee provides an appropriation of
$38,331,000, an increase of $1,116,000 above the amount
available for fiscal year 2006 and an increase of $463,000
above the budget request. This funding level represents a 3
percent increase above the fiscal year 2006 funding level.
For the National Research Initiative, the Committee
provides an appropriation of $190,000,000, an increase of
$8,830,000 above the amount available for fiscal year 2006 and
a decrease of $57,500,000 below the budget request. This
funding level represents a 5 percent increase above the fiscal
year 2006 funding level.
Applied Agricultural and Environmental Research.--The
Committee provides $1,250,000, of which $150,000 is for Cal-
Poly-San Luis Obispo, for Applied Agricultural and
Environmental Research. This research will provide for
technology transfer and information dissemination directly to
producers, processors, and consumers. These funds shall be
equally divided between California State-Fresno, California
State-San Luis Obispo, California State-Pomona, and California
State-Chico.
Agriculture water policy.--The Committee provides $882,000
for agriculture water quality in Georgia. The goal of this
project is to establish a virtual center for water policy
research in Georgia. This center will not involve construction
of new buildings but rather brings together key research and
outreach activities on water policy in Georgia and across the
Southeast. A distance learning program has been established and
continues to be refined; Global Information Systems and Global
Positioning Systems for mapping current and projected water use
from wells, water permits and population growth is under way;
and systems dynamics models will be used to create scenarios
for water use. Accomplishments related to the current project
include 90 percent completion of a report summarizing analyses
of benefits and costs of a state wetlands policy and a
recommended policy for Georgia; a white paper on community
pricing structure changes is in review; design of an Aquifer
Storage and Recovery Facility for the Flint River Basin is
underway; a report on stakeholder consensus for research
priorities in water management decision making along with a
review of water management institutions in selected states is
near completion; and design of a Farmer Portal is complete for
a Data Management Database to make metering data useful to
farmers for land and water resource decision making at the farm
scale is complete, along with 60 percent of the data
collection. In fiscal year 2001, $250,000 was provided in non-
federal matching funds from state sources. In fiscal year 2002,
approximately $1,200,000 was provided from state sources in
non-federal matching funds, and a similar amount was provided
in fiscal years 2003, 2004, and 2005. Fiscal year 2006 funds
are expected to be slightly higher. These funds include state
innovations grants and collaborations with the Georgia Soil and
Water Conservation Commission.
Animal Waste Management.--The Committee provides $396,000
for animal waste management in Oklahoma. The goal of this
research is to develop best management practices for the
expanded animal industry that will protect ground water
supplies from pollution of nutrients, salts, and pathogens;
maintain air quality; and minimize odors derived from the
entire swine-house, lagoon, land-application, soil-cropping,
and/or rangeland production system, thus maintaining the
quality of life in the rural sector. Sub-surface drip
irrigation in the Panhandle region has shown significant water
conservation over standard irrigation practices. An economic
model was developed to maximize daily profits for the producer
by choosing optimal feed ingredients. Non-federal support for
this project for 2003 was in the form of state funding of
$4,177,000 and industry funding of $24,500 for a total of
$4,201,500. State funding includes research, salaries and
construction of a $4,000,000 swine research and teaching
facility to be completed in 2004. In 2004 state funds of
$177,000 and industry funds of $60,500 were provided for the
project.
Aquaculture.--The Committee provides $900,000 for
aquaculture in Ohio. The Committee has previously directed that
funds for this project be used in northwest and central lake
counties, where aquifer levels are the highest in the state.
There is concern that this directive has not been achieved. The
Committee directs that a report be provided with respect to
what steps are and will be taken to meet this directive. The
goal of the program is to establish a program in Ohio to foster
the development of a state-wide aquaculture industry. Research
conducted under this program has provided science-based
information on optimal fertilization regimens for yellow perch,
tested size-grading strategies that may improve production
efficiency, and results of sensory comparisons of farm-raised
to wild-caught yellow perch concluded that farm-raised yellow
perch compares favorably to wild-caught perch. Research using
methods developed in the beef industry were used to determine
if there are unique protein expression patterns that are
correlated with specific traits that can be used to examine
muscle in fish. In studies on yellow perch muscle proteins,
five muscle proteins associated with body weight and nine
muscle proteins associated with body length were identified.
These proteins are currently undergoing primary sequence
analysis for protein characterization. This information will be
useful in identifying gene products unique to enhanced muscle
growth and development and will allow for producers to develop
useful breeding strategies for the production of yellow perch.
The latest accomplishments report included information on the
genetic trials on yellow perch. Preliminary data from studies
looking at 36 strains of yellow perch for a selective breeding
program, seem to show that a strain of yellow perch from North
Carolina may perform better than others in aquaculture
situations. In conjunction with collaborators at Washington
State University, muscle satellite cells from yellow perch have
been isolated and preserved. This is the first report of the
establishment of isolated muscle satellite cells from yellow
perch. Non-federal funding in support of the fiscal year 2003
initiative was $47,970, and $117,800 was made available in
support of the fiscal year 2004 project. Non-federal funding
used in support of this project in fiscal year 2005 was
$130,442. Non-federal funding in support of this project comes
primarily from state sources.
Center for Food Industry Excellence.--The Committee
provides $1,567,000 for the Center for Food Industry Excellence
in Texas. The goal of this project is to provide food safety
research and educational support to food production and
processing companies. The investigators have completed the
objectives for 2004 fiscal year funding. They have developed a
direct-fed microbial that reduces E. coli O157 in beef cattle.
They optimized concentrations of organic acids and acidified
sodium chlorite in treating beef carcasses to ensure the
quality and safety of the final product. In outreach area,
Texas Tech University developed a website for processors and
consumers and started a new outreach publication,
``TECHniques'' for consumers and processors. They have
developed 15 outreach bulletins and started a newsletter for
the food industry. Objectives for fiscal year 2005 funding are
in progress and will be completed in June 2007. According to
the principal investigator, the non-federal sources and funds
provided for this project for fiscal year 2003 include $667,627
from Commodity; $1,542,476 from Industry; and $257,800 from
State and University; and for fiscal year 2004, $93,000 from
Brashears-Nutrition Physiology Corporation; $138,258 from
Brashears-National Cattleman's Beef Association; $6,000 from
Supachill Technologies; $279,940 from National Cattlemen's Beef
Association; $32,750 from National Pork Board; $64,923 from
Texas Hair Sheep Association; $5,400 from Nebraska Beef of
Omaha; $30,621 from Nutrition Physiology Corporation; $8,000
from Marks and Spencer of London; $50,000 from Endowment for
Endowed Chair in Animal and Food Sciences; $36,150 from Tyson
Fresh Meats; $85,000 from National Cattlemen's Beef
Association, National Pork Board, Cryovac, Inc; $80,285 from
National Cattlemen's Beef Association; $34,100 from Wirebelt;
and, $25,000 from Texas Tech University.
Climate Forecasting.--The Committee provides $3,602,000 for
climate forecasting in Florida. The goal of this research is to
improve climate forecasting and crop models to reduce risk for
agricultural producers and the crop insurance industry. This is
being accomplished by designing and developing a climate
forecast information component, a state and region-wide
agricultural outlook component, and a commodity-based
component; and produce an Agriculture Climate Information and
Decision Support system. Additional research at the Southeast
Climate Consortium includes the integration of weather
generators with climate models; the assessment of agricultural
impact through the analysis of historical crop yields and
simulated yield potentials; understanding forestry risk and its
minimization; water quality assessment and policy analysis; and
the development of crop management optimization toolkits and
programs to explore optimal management options under different
ENSO conditions and optimization criteria. The project
accomplishments to date include: annual regional freeze
forecasts; ENSO phase assessment; historic weather data by
county; weather generator; coupled climate-ocean-land surface-
crop modeling; bimonthly wildfire and forest risk forecasts;
crop simulation model; historic yield data by county;
assessments of yield response to climate; county level climate-
crop yield forecasts; and cattle heat stress forecast. The
program has greatly improved its prototype crop yield risk tool
which helps analyze yield potential based on climate forecast
and planting dates. The web based system is a Climate-Related
Tool for Agriculture and Natural Resources Management and
referred to as AgClimate Tools. The Climate Forecast Tool
provides county level monthly climate forecasts of average
precipitation and min/max temperatures; probabilities for these
variables to help you analyze risk and observed values for the
past five years. The crop yield risk tool helps analyze yield
potential based on climate forecast and planting dates. The
results are based on crop model simulations and are only
available for a limited number of counties, depending on the
crop selected. Crops under implementation are: peanuts for
selected counties in Alabama, Georgia, and Florida; potato for
Suwannee County, Florida; and Fresh Tomato for South Florida.
In-kind support such as facilities, equipment, and
administrative support are provided by each institution.
Cotton research.--The Committee provides $2,500,000 for
cotton research in Texas. The goal of this project is to
provide comprehensive multi-disciplinary research to improve
cotton production in West Texas and expand the demand for
cotton grown in the area. The research has made improvements in
cotton varieties through traditional genetics and genetic
engineering aimed at improving seedling establishment,
increasing photosynthetic efficiency and yields, and developing
resistance to pest and diseases. Cotton Economic and Marketing
research projects have provided an analysis of feasibility and
market impact of new technologies, improvement of pricing and
market reporting, understanding market behavior, and factors
related to international competitiveness. The estimate for non-
federal funds supporting the project were: 2003, $1,225,000;
2004, $1,350,000; and 2005, $1,400,000.
Data information system--REEIS.--The Committee provides
$2,723,000 for the data information system. The original and
ultimate objective of the system is to enable users to measure
the impact and effectiveness of research, extension, and
education programs. REEIS is meeting this goal by incrementally
incorporating data from more and more programs, and continually
expanding the data available for currently incorporated
programs. In January 2003, the first fully operational release
of REEIS was made available on the Internet. In 2004 and 2005,
REEIS continued to operate and provide data from the following
agencies: CSREES, Forest Service, National Agricultural
Statistics Service, National Science Foundation, Patent and
Trademark Office, and U.S. Census Bureau. Information is
provided for the following topics: agricultural research
efforts, forestry research efforts, statistics about students,
institutions, faculty, and degrees related to agriculture,
partner institution snapshots, food and nutrition efforts, 4-H
programs, impact reports, agricultural snapshots of each state
and outlying areas, agriculture related patents and citations,
and Internet links to related agencies, institutions, and data
bases. Data is routinely refreshed and made easier to retrieve
by the addition or expansion of data storage capabilities. Also
in 2005, the web user interface was redesigned and is now in
compliance with USDA guidelines. Non-federal funding does not
apply at this time. However, non-federal entities are making
significant in-kind contributions as partners to the
development of REEIS.
Dietary intervention.--Within funds provided for dietary
intervention research, $800,000 is provided for Ohio State
University, and $500,000 is provided for the University of
Toledo. The goal of the research at Ohio State University
project is to conduct a Phase I clinical trial to evaluate the
toxicity and pharmacokinetics of uptake of black raspberries
and their components in humans. This trial was initiated in
June, 2003 and completed in November, 2004. A Phase Ib clinical
trial to evaluate the ability of freeze-dried black raspberries
to influence the progression of Barrett's esophagus in patients
with gastroesophageal reflux disease, GERDl, was initiated in
November, 2003 and is expected to be completed in June, 2006.
Chemical analysis and studies of the component anthocyanins in
freeze-dried black raspberries and in other berry types and
their uptake into cultured cells were initiated in November,
2003. Some of these have been completed, and the ongoing
studies are expected to be completed in June, 2006. In 2005,
the University of Toledo began its research with the original
goal to identify the specific dietary fat components in the
western diet that reduce liver CEACAM1 levels and cause obesity
and its progression to diabetes. This goal has three specific
aims: to investigate whether macrophages are involved in high
fat diet-induced insulin resistance; to investigate whether
supplementing high fat with high sugar exacerbates the
metabolic abnormality and leads to a more rapid onset of
diabetes: and to apply genomics-based analysis to identify
other proteins that may contribute to diet-induced insulin
resistance. Most work will be completed on specific aim 1 this
year with aim 2 and aim 3 in progress. It is not anticipated
that work on all three aims will be completed within the 2005-
2006 time frame. The Ohio State University received $25,000
from the California Strawberry Association, $52,000 from the
James Cancer Hospital Development Fund, and $216,000 from the
Ohio Department of Agriculture for berry research in 2003. In
2004 and 2005, The Ohio State University received approximately
$30,000 each year from the James Cancer Hospital Development
Fund and $216,000 per year from the Ohio Department of
Agriculture for berry research. The University of Toledo
received no non-federal funds.
High value horticultural crops.--The Committee provides
$775,000 for high value horticultural crops in Virginia. The
goal of this grant is to build capacity in the area of renewal
and sustainable resources at the Institute for Advance Learning
and Research; this effort was conducted in close collaboration
with the Departments of Forest and Horticulture and Virginia
Polytechnic Institute and State University. Short term
objectives of this undertaking are: (1) Organize and equip the
plant tissue culture/agricultural biotechnology laboratory. (2)
Solicit sub-licenses for the production of polyploid orchids,
for the production of landscape ornamentals and other unique,
high value horticultural crops. Initiate research on the novel
varieties of ornamentals and new hybrid vegetable crops. In
fiscal year 2003, the plant tissue culture/agricultural
biotechnology laboratory was designed and equipped. Fast
growing clones of loblolly pines that are to be used in
Institute research were planted at the Reynolds Homestead. In
fiscal year 2004, technicians were hired and participated in
in-depth training at VPI&SU--Horticulture--, Georgia Institute
of Technology--Biology--, and North Carolina State University--
Plant Pathology. A horticulture graduate student was employed
to teach and document protocols for orchid propagation. Three
Danville-based faculty positions were filled in 2005: two
molecular breeding faculty positions and a Virginia Plant
Introduction Program Coordinator. Limited greenhouse space--
under renovation--will be available for plant establishment at
the Reynolds Homestead facility in Critz, Virginia--associated
with VPI&SU Department of Forestry. As they become available,
new ornamentals and trees developed through the program will be
field tested in collaboration with the Virginia Nursery and
Landscape Association. The VPI&SU Department of Horticulture
and the IALR was awarded a grant from the Virginia Tobacco
Indemnification and Community Revitalization Commission to
establish test sites for plant introductions. The VPI&SU
Department of Forestry has hired a new faculty member with
expertise in forest tree genetics and functional genomics, to
collaborate with researchers at the Institute. Collaborative
meetings have been held with several potential partners, both
educational and commercial, including North Carolina State
University, CellFor, and HZPC. In fiscal year 2003, the source
and amount of non-federal funds were: $15 million from
Pittsylvania County and the city of Danville, Virginia; $2
million from a national tobacco settlement fund managed by the
Virginia Tobacco Commission; and a small amount from other
partners. In fiscal year 2004, non-federal funds included:
Commonwealth of Virginia State Appropriation, $87,000; State
Council of Higher Education for Virginia, Equipment Trust Fund,
$134,000; U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development
grant; VPI&SU provided funding for the principal investigators
for time committed to executing this project; the IALR assumed
utility payments for the lab involved in this project.
NE Center for Invasive Plants.--The Committee provides
$425,000 for the NE Center for Invasive Plants in Connecticut,
Vermont, and Maine. This is a new award in fiscal year 2006.
The goal is to develop a multi-state, interdisciplinary
research program to address the problems caused by invasive
species that are important to New England and the nation. There
are five main goals: (A) development of non-invasive, sterile
landscape plants; (B) assessment of the ecological impact of
invasive plants and ecological evaluation of new ``super-
sterile'' cultivars; (C) assessment of the economic impact of
invasive species in New England; (D) development of alternative
native crops; and (E) public education and outreach efforts to
limit and control invasive species. More than 12 faculty
members at the University of Connecticut, University of
Vermont, and University of Maine will be involved in this
project. The total estimated amount contributed by the three
universities in the form of faculty salary and associated
fringe benefits based on the faculty time commitment to this
project is $40,000 per year. In addition, no indirect costs
will be charged to the project. The indirect cost of this
project is about $66,300. Thus, the total amount contributed to
this project from non-federal sources is more than $100,000.
PM-10 Study.--The Committee provides $387,000 for the PM-10
study in Washington. The goals of this research are to measure
the PM-10 emission rates from significant crop and tillage
practices, to determine the source of PM-10 emissions on soils
in agricultural regions of the Columbia River Basin in the
Pacific Northwest, and to explore cost-effective alternative
agricultural practices to control these emissions. More
recently, studies of finer PM-2.5 particulates have been
included because of their recognized potential health risks.
Studies in the Columbia River Basin are being conducted in
Washington on a number of agricultural practices in the rain-
fed and dryland croplands. Susceptible climatic and soil
conditions and tillage and cropping practices have been
identified and are being used to develop prediction tools to
assist growers to adopt alternative practices to reduce
potential air pollution by PM-10 and PM-2.5 particulate
emissions. Direct seeding practices are also being tested for
their efficacy in reducing dust emissions from wind erosion.
Sixteen subprojects are currently funded by this project and a
few of their accomplishments follow. PM-10 emission predictive
maps based on soils databases and measured erodibility indices
have been produced and used to modify USDA Conservation Reserve
program eligibility. These data are also very useful for
determining relative emissions for regional modeling work.
Identification has been made of the mechanism by which Columbia
Plateau soils erode during high wind events. Research has shown
that direct suspension rather than saltation-induced sand
blasting--common to many soils--was responsible for emission of
PM-10-sized particles for significant parts of the Columbia
Plateau region. Events of elevated PM-10 caused by wind erosion
of the Columbia Plateau were not associated with increased
mortality in Spokane. Post-harvest weed ecology approaches and
how to manage them to conserve soil water and control wind
erosion have been developed. Estimates have been made of
anthropogenic rates in comparison to non-anthropogenic rates of
wind erosion that demonstrate the potential impact farming
practices can have on dust deposition. Economics of various
cropping systems at the producer level have been fairly well
documented from the longer-term projects such that producers
can make informed decisions pertaining to the adoption of
alternative farming practices. The Northwest Columbia Plateau
PM-10 Project Annual Conference has been held annually since
the beginning of the project as a means of communication
between researchers, extension educators, and stakeholders. The
conference provides an opportunity to report on research
results and also receive feedback from other scientists and
stakeholders. This two-way communication is extremely valuable
to both parties as a means to help understand research and also
design future research. In California, the program was matched
by State funds in the form of salaries, benefits, and operating
costs. In Washington, there were no state or non-Federal funds
in support of the PM-10 project in 1994 and 1995. In 1996,
state support was $22,566, and in 1997, state support was
$102,364. Similar funding was continued in 1998 through 2005.
Precision Agriculture/Tennessee Valley Research Center.--
The Committee provides $599,000 for precision agriculture. The
goal of this research is to evaluate precision technologies at
the Tennessee Valley Research and Extension Center for
application to site-specific farming and to timber harvesting,
and support training in the use of those technologies. Recent
work has examined the interaction of soil nutrients and soil
physical properties on cotton yield. Cotton yield has also been
examined in response to conservation tillage, variable rate
nitrogen application, and irrigation. The use of thermal
infrared remote sensing to detect crop stress has also been
investigated. Multi-year studies that examine variable-rate
nitrogen application for corn and wheat are continuing. A 2003
survey of 77 farmers and 34 agribusinesses regarding precision
agriculture provided several measures of potential technology
adoption and indicated high current interest by producers. Two
Field Crop Days on precision farming attracted 200 growers in
2004, and were replicated in 2005. A herbicide applicator
backpack with a Global Positioning System has been developed
and fully tested to minimize herbicide use and improve
efficiency. The estimate for non-federal funds, from state
sources, providing support for this grant were estimated at
$97,000 for fiscal year 2000; $157,000 for fiscal year 2001;
$385,000 for fiscal year 2002; $225,000 for fiscal year 2003;
$94,000 from industry for fiscal year 2004; and $740,000 for
fiscal year 2005.
Shrimp aquaculture.--The Committee provides $4,200,000 for
shrimp aquaculture in Arizona, Hawii, Mississippi,
Massachusetts, South Carolina, Louisiana, and Texas. The goal
of this program is to increase domestic production of marine
shrimp through aquaculture. Key accomplishments under this
program include: development of breeding programs for select
lines of disease-resistant shrimp; identification of shrimp
diseases that have affected world shrimp production; diagnostic
tools for the detection of shrimp diseases; development of
land-based shrimp culture systems; development of genetics-
based pedigree-tracking; development of biosecurity protocols
that are used world-wide for the prevention of the spread of
diseases in marine shrimp; and development of more-efficient
shrimp feeds. Recent accomplishments include: further
elucidation of molecular mechanisms of disease resistance;
monoclonal antibodies developed and licensed for rapid field
diagnosis of a common bacterial disease in shrimp; improved
shrimp culture systems that reduce effluents; and development
of new shrimp feeds that have lower inclusion rates of fish
meal and fish oil. The Program Administrator estimates that
approximately 50 percent of total funding for this research
comes from individual Consortium institutions and from states
where these institutions are located.
Water quality.--The Committee provides $500,000 for water
quality in North Dakota. The original goal of this project
included water management to control flooding in wet years and
water conservation in dry years. Sulfite emissions from sugar
beet refinery wastewater were successfully reduced and water
audits at a corn processing facility reduced water use. Non-
federal funds included: in fiscal year 2002, $60,000 in fees
and $5,859 of non-federal funds were collected; in fiscal year
2003, $65,000 in fees and $21,370 in spin-off projects were
obtained; in fiscal year 2004, $65,000 in fees and $108,066 in
spin-off projects; and in fiscal year 2005, $55,000 in fees and
$12,000 in spin-off projects were obtained.
Center for Innovative Food Technology.--The Committee
provides $1,145,000 for the Center for Innovative Food
Technology in Ohio. Building on the successful Great Lakes
Signature Beef product CIFT shall make efforts to expand meat
processing capabilities in northwest Ohio, identify other local
food niche specialties from coastal Ohio and develop ways to
bring them to broader regional and national markets.
Greenhouse Nurseries.--The Committee provides $726,000 for
greenhouse nurseries in Ohio. This project is intended to
develop marketing plans to showcase this industry that has
branded itself as ``Maumee Valley Growers'', to help build a
community identity as a floriculture center and expand value-
added opportunities through ecotourism.
The following table reflects the amount provided by the
Committee:
Agroecology.--The Committee provices $406,000 for
agroecology in Maryland. The goal of this project is to
preserve farm and forest land in the Chesapeake Bay to prevent
conversion to housing. Recent accomplishments include valuing
ecosystem services from forest land such as carbon
sequestration, wildlife habitat, and water filtration to
prevent conversion to urban use. Cover cropping practices on
cropland to reduce nitrates to the Bay are also being modeled
to estimate improvements from increased cover crops. For fiscal
years 2001-2005, the total State-appropriated non-federal funds
are $271,000 per year.
Air quality.--The Committee provides $1,574,000 for air
quality in Texas and Kansas. This research and technology-
transfer initiative was created to form a Federal/state
partnership that is: (1) characterizing odor, odorous gases,
particulate matter, and green house gases from open-lot CAFO's;
(2) developing and evaluating cost-effective abatement
measures; (3) providing a sound, scientific basis for specific
air pollution regulations, including appropriate emission
factors for particulates, odor, and odorous gases for the
Southern Great Plains; (4) determining the potential impact of
these air contaminants on animal health and productivity with
inferences related to human health concerns; and (5) providing
technology transfer to the public and agricultural producers.
The following are accomplishments to date by objective.
Objective 1. Emissions Characterizations. Multi-agency
field sampling was conducted at a 50,000 head cattle feedlot in
spring and summer 2004 and 2005. Hydrogen sulfide--
H2S--concentrations were 3 orders of magnitude lower
than ammonia--NH3-concentrations. Diurnal patterns
were observed for both H2S and NH3
emissions, which varied with temperature. Both flux gradient/
micromet and surface isolation flux chamber approaches were
used with acceptable agreement. Simulated runoff holding pond
surfaces produced low ammonia emissions. NH3
emissions observed with flux chambers were much higher within
24 hours after urine deposition, as compared to a relatively
dry feedlot surface.
Objective 2. Abatement Measures. Weight-drop test
chambers--WDTC--produced regression relationships between
vertical energy imparted on simulated dry feedlot surfaces and
PM-10 emissions in relation to manure depth and moisture
content, with 2,, depth and 20 percent surface moisture
appearing to be potential threshold areas for PM-10 reduction.
Horizontal mode of hoof activity will be simulated in future
WDTC experiments. Record 12-month rainfall totals reduced field
work on water curtain experiments. A surface applied urease
inhibitor did not produce a significant reduction in NH3
emissions in a field scale experiment. Evaporation rate from a
feedlot surface was 30-70 percent or less of overall grass-
reference Evapotranspiration (ET), depending on temperature and
other climatic variables, and hygroscopic absorption at night.
Objective 3. Scientific Basis of Emission Factors.
Protocols were improved for particulate matter (PM)
measurement, using co-located PM-10 and total suspended
particles (TSP) samplers along with particle size distribution.
A Gaussian (ISCST3) model provided accurate results for
predicting PM-10 emissions from downwind concentrations, but a
BLS model predicted 10-fold higher emissions when used
conjunctively with the ISCST3 model. Peak PM-10 and TSP
concentrations in summer evenings were 10-20 times daytime
concentrations, being accentuated by low-level inversions along
with diurnal peaks of aggressive cattle activity. Development
of refined emission factors for cattle feedyards and dairies is
progressing, including a road dust component.
Objective 4. Animal Health. Ventilated calf exposure
chambers to produce controlled concentrations of feedyard dust
are nearly complete for a graduate student research project.
Particle agglomeration in lung fluids is being examined as a
potential mitigation factor in cattle exposure to feedlot PM.
Objective 5. Technology Transfer. A research peer review
with industry participation was conducted with positive,
constructive feedback for project focus. Coinvestigators
produced 50 manuscripts, and made 38 scientific presentations.
Non-federal matching funds for this proposal were estimated
at $817,000 for fiscal year 2002; $435,000 identified in 2003,
$514,483 reported in 2004, $807,000 in 2005.
Animal disease.--The Committee provides $350,000 for animal
disease research in Wyoming. The goal of this program when
initiated in 2003 was to better understand the epidemiology and
transmission of chronic wasting disease in free-ranging deer.
Since initiated in 2003, the researchers have successfully
identified chronic wasting disease-positive free-ranging deer
in southeastern Wyoming. Data from these positive deer are
still being analyzed for dispersal rates, migration patterns,
survival rates, home range size, habitat use, daily activity
patterns, and interaction of deer with cattle. Studies have
also been expanded to characterize the impact of West Nile
virus on greater sage-grouse in Wyoming. Data from this study
confirms that West Nile virus may cause localized population
declines or possibly localized extinctions in greater sage-
grouse, and it was determined that the range-wide implications
of West Nile virus in sage-grouse require more intensive and
longer-term study. In fiscal year 2003, a total of $580,000 was
contributed by the University of Wyoming, Wyoming Game and Fish
Department, and other state appropriations. In fiscal year
2004, a total of $256,149 was contributed by other universities
and miscellaneous sources. In fiscal year 2005, state
contributions totaled $256,282, which included the University
of Wyoming, Colorado Division of Wildlife, Wyoming Game and
Fish Department, Wyoming Department of Health, and the Wyoming
Livestock Board. Miscellaneous contributions for fiscal year
2005 totaled $64,852.
Animal Science Food Safety Consortium.--The Committee
provides $1,432,000 for the Animal Science Food Safety
Consortium in Arkansas, Kansas, and Iowa. The goals were to
bring together several universities to provide research that is
relevant to food safety. The Consortium focus continues to be
methods of development for the isolation, detection, and
quantification of microbial and chemical hazards and the
elimination of those hazards. This research has also resulted
in the expansion of research into risk assessment, economics,
policy, and trade. The food safety work has enabled the
consortium to address food security that may be a result of
bioterrorism and/or natural disasters. Iowa State University is
also supporting in the coming year an integrated risk and cost-
based analysis of salmonella in the pork production chain. This
project will suggest the segments of the pork production,
processing, and delivery process where salmonella may be
controlled most effectively, and the points at which control is
cost-effective. The non-federal funds and sources provided for
this project are as follows: fiscal year 2002, $2,520,750;
fiscal year 2003, $1,361,562; fiscal year 2004, $2,097,086; and
fiscal year 2005, $4,898,000.
Aquaculture (LA).--The Committee provides $429,000 for
aquaculture in Louisiana. The goal of the research was to
provide science-based information that specifically addressed
the needs of the aquaculture industry in Louisiana and the
Southern region. Over the years, the Aquaculture, Louisiana,
program has led to advances in new stocking, culture, and
harvest techniques for commercial crawfish production. New
processing technologies for crawfish, catfish, and other
aquaculture products have also been developed improving food
quality and safety. Genetics research has led to the
development of gene maps for commercial strains of channel
catfish and has improved cryopreservation techniques for
genetic banking of commercially-important aquaculture species.
New, least-cost feed formulations that meet the nutritional
needs of aquaculture species has led to reductions in feed
costs. Recent accomplishments under this program have improved
crawfish harvest efficiency through the use of improved winter
baits, the use of square-mesh traps during harvest, and through
the use of non-traditional pond-draining schedules.
Additionally, there have been improvements made in disease
control by the development of new vaccines for channel catfish.
The university estimates that non-federal funding for this
program is as follows: $603,489 in fiscal year 2002; $336,383
in fiscal year 2003; and approximately $310,955 in nonfederal
support was made available in support of this project in fiscal
year 2004. The university estimates that $501,148 in non-
federal support was made available for projects outlined in the
FY 2005 submission coming primarily from state funds.
Biomass-based energy research.--The Committee provides
$1,200,000 for biomass-based energy research in Oklahoma and
Mississippi. The primary goal is to develop a cost-effective
biomass conversion-to-ethanol production system utilizing a
unique gasification-fermentation process. Breeding efforts for
bermudagrass and switchgrass as energy crops have resulted in
genetic improvement and new cultivar development. Additional
biomass feedstocks such as cotton gin waste and sawdust have
been processed to evaluate handling and storage, material
composition, and synthesis gas yield and quality. Two
gasifiers, a fluidized-bed reactor and a downdraft unit, have
been optimized using switchgrass, bermudagrass, and corn
fermentation waste as inputs. The bioreactor is ready to scale
up to 100 liters, and an optimal growth medium for the
biocatalyst has been formulated for cell growth. Optimization
of trace metals for a second biocatalyst to be evaluated
resulted in an increase of over 200 percent in ethanol
production in routine culture. An economic analysis to
determine the potential economies of scale from a coordinated
biorefinery operation focused on harvesting and handling.
Combined, the Oklahoma and Mississippi Agricultural Experiment
Stations provide over $250,000 per year. Aventine Renewable
Energy, Incorporated, formerly Williams Bio-Energy, committed a
total of $200,000 through fiscal year 2005.
Efficient irrigation.--The Committee provides $1,675,000
for efficient irrigation in New Mexico and Texas. Research
areas addressed include irrigation district studies; an
irrigation technology center for education and training; legal
and institutional barriers to efficient water use; evaluation
of on-farm irrigation systems management; urban landscape and
in-home water conservation; environment, ecology, and water
quality protection; saline and waste water management and water
use; satellite imagery for basinwide hydrology studies,
salinity modeling, and technology; and project oversight,
communications, biometric support, and accountability for the
multi-components of this multi-state project. Accomplishments
in 2005 reported by the project include: (1) development and
organization of a project to conduct an extensive on-farm
research demonstration in which growers were actively involved
in the evaluation of limited irrigation programs; because the
demonstration included most of the irrigated farms in the Rio
Grande region, 311,000 to 413,000 acre-feet of water will be
saved each year; (2) deficit irrigation was used in a study
involving spinach production and resulted in a 23 percent water
savings, equivalent to 1,100 acre feet or 361 million gallons
of water per year; (3) researchers determined that by using
monthly water budgets based on landscape size, potential
evapotranspiration value, and landscape coefficient, homeowners
could reduce their annual landscape water usage by 48 percent
annually; and (4) utilizing seepage loss data, researchers
concluded that by lining over 10 miles of canal in the Upper
Rio Grande Valley, enough water could be salvaged to irrigate
1,000 acres of crops or provide water to 8,000 households;
researchers are helping irrigation districts target canals that
will result in the highest water conservation. In fiscal year
2004, the project received from state appropriated research and
general accounts funds to support scientists' salaries and
fringe benefits totaling $232,576; from Texas Higher Education
Coordinating Board, El Paso Water Utilities, San Antonio Water
System, and other state and municipal sources, $590,801; and
from industry associations, $216,477. In fiscal year 2005, the
project received from state appropriated research and general
accounts funds to support scientists' salaries and fringe
benefits totaling $239,554; from the American Water Works
Research Foundation and Metropolitan Water District of Southern
California, $246,697; from the International Boundary and Water
Commission, $136,000; from other state and municipal sources,
$703,413; and from industry associations, $31,000.
Environmental risk factors.--The Committee provides
$217,000 for environmental risks factors in New York. The goals
of this research are to evaluate the scientific information on
pesticides, other chemicals, and diet, and the relationships of
these factors to breast cancer risk. The following have been
accomplished: (1) Established an expansion of a database of
critical evaluations on current scientific evidence of
carcinogenicity for selected agricultural chemicals; (2)
Communicated obesity prevention and breast cancer risk
reduction information to the public, researchers, health
professionals, scientific community, agricultural community,
Federal agencies, and others in technical and non-technical
formats; (3) Increased communication in rural and suburban
areas in a variety of formats; and (4) A community needs
assessment for obesity prevention and breast cancer reduction
in rural areas. The non-federal funds and sources provided for
this grant were as follows: $150,000 state appropriations for
fiscal year 1996; $250,000 per year in state funds were
provided for fiscal years 1997 and 1998; $350,000 state funds
for 1999 and 2000; $250,000 state funds were received for
fiscal year 2001; $350,000 was received from New York State for
fiscal year 2002; $350,000 was received from New York State for
fiscal year 2003; $450,000 for fiscal year 2004; $450,000 for
fiscal year 2005; and $450,000 has been negotiated for fiscal
year 2006.
Exotic pest diseases.--The Committee provides $1,929,000
for exotic pest diseases in California. The goal of this
research is to improve the prevention and management of exotic
pests and diseases affecting California's agricultural, urban,
and natural systems. The long-term goal of the grants program
is to develop a systematic methodology for dealing with exotic
pests in risk assessment; early detection; and rapid
development of control or eradication measures leading to
improved Integrated Pest Management practices through
biological, microbial, genetic, and chemical practices. Because
a new exotic pest enters California every 60 days, the
challenge is to have current scientific information available
to prevent these introduced pests from becoming established.
The project aims to establish a strategic, collaborative
research approach to support urgently needed exclusion and
prevention programs for potential introductions and proven
management and eradication methods for established pests. To
date, 83 research projects are yielding scientific knowledge on
targeted pest species and to develop methods to control and
manage the pests that are already in California or those
species that pose a real threat to the State. In previous
years, California commodity boards funded approximately
$400,000 annually in research on invasive species; and the
State of California funded approximately $600,000 annually in
fruit fly research. Currently, California commodity boards are
funding approximately $800,000 on invasive species research and
$3 million for research on Pierce's Disease. The State of
California and the University of California are funding
approximately $230,000 in invasive species research.
Feedstock conversion.--The Committee provides $675,000 for
feedstock conversion in South Dakota. The goal of this research
was to develop the mission of the Sun Grant Initiative, to
identify five leading universities as regional centers, to plan
individual and collaborative activities at each center, and to
establish a working relationship between these universities and
Federal agencies. A nation-wide series of planning conferences
and stakeholder input sessions have been conducted by each of
five Centers. A report on these activities has been prepared,
illustrating the widespread support and commitment to the Sun
Grant Initiative, even from non-member institutions.
Development of regional academic programs involving multiple
institutions has been initiated, with curriculum planned on
bio-based products and bio-energy. Regional assessments of
available and current curriculum took place, as well as an
analysis and projection of past, present, and future fuel use.
The key project leaders actively involved in enhancing
networking within industries by helping to plan, and
participating in, several professional and trade organization
meetings. No non-federal funds have been identified for the
purposes of this special grant.
Food and Agriculture Policy Institute.--The Committee
provides $1,712,000 for the Food and Agriculture Policy
Institute in Iowa and Missouri. The goal was to develop the
analytical capability to assess and evaluate U.S. farm policies
on the U.S. agricultural sector and disseminate this
information to farmers, farm and other agricultural
organizations, and public policymakers. The mission has been
expanded to include assessment of trade and environmental
policy impacts and their interaction with the agricultural
sector at national, regional, and farm levels. The models in
place are also used to assess fiscal and monetary policy
implications and impacts of new technologies such as
biotechnological innovations on the agricultural sector. Both
institutions maintain large econometric models and datasets
which are regularly updated to analyze farm and trade policy
alternatives and the impacts of various programs on the several
sub sectors of the agricultural economy. During the past year,
the FAPRI prepared the final agricultural projections on world
agricultural production, consumption, and trade. Major drivers
of the 2005 baseline include continuing strong economic growth
world wide, recovery from past weather shocks in key producing
countries, recent SPS shocks, and the U.S. dollar's weakness in
industrialized countries and its strength in Latin America. An
outside review, re-evaluation of projections, and completion of
the final baseline is also prepared. These final projections
for domestic and world agricultural markets are found in the
FAPRI 2005 U.S. and World Agricultural Outlook. FAPRI
projections assume average weather patterns worldwide, existing
policy, and policy commitments under current trade agreements.
FAPRI projections do not include conjectures on potential
policy changes, such as those resulting from the likely
accession of China to the World Trade Organization. The FAPRI
staff has made numerous public appearances throughout the U.S.
to agricultural groups and Congressional committees and
Executive branch groups addressing policy issues. The non-
federal funds and sources provided for this grant are as
follows: $260,355 State appropriations, $113,565 industry, and
$37,913 miscellaneous for a total of $411,833 in 1991; $321,074
State appropriations, $51,500 industry, and $35,100
miscellaneous for a total of $407,674 in 1992; $234,796 State
appropriations and $70,378 industry for a total of $305,174 in
1993; $78,286 State appropriations, $43,925 industry, and
$29,750 miscellaneous in 1994 for a total of $151,961 in 1994;
$80,155 State appropriations, $37,128 industry, and $42,236
miscellaneous for a total of $159,519 for 1995; $124,123 in
State appropriations with no other funding for 1996; $79,000 in
State appropriations, $50,000 industry, and $25,000
miscellaneous for a total of $154,000 in 1997; and $88,800
State appropriations, $75,200 industry, and $34,687
miscellaneous for a total of $198,687 in 1998. Also, there were
$15,316 in private funds in 2003. No non-federal dollars 2005.
Global change/ultraviolet radiation.--The Committee
provides $2,425,000 for global change/ultraviolet radiation.
The USDA Global Change/Ultraviolet Monitoring and Research
Network was designed to provide accurate,
geographicallydispersed data on ultraviolet radiation reaching
the surface of the earth and to detect trends over time.
Instruments have been deployed and are currently in operation
at 33 monitoring sites across the United States and Canada,
including Hawaii and Alaska, and a site in New Zealand which is
located under the Antarctic ozone hole during part of the year.
Data from these sites are available within 24 hours of
collection via the Web. The United States Department of
Agriculture is also a participant in the development of a
central calibration facility at the Department of Commerce
facilities in Boulder, Colorado. The purpose of the central
calibration facility is to ensure uniform and acceptable
calibration and characterization of all instruments used in
interagency ultraviolet monitoring programs. Some project funds
are expended each year to partially support studies by
collaborators across the country to address plant, animal, and
ecological impacts from ultraviolet exposure. This, of course,
represents a small fraction of all the scientific studies being
conducted with these data by the broader scientific community.
No non-federal funds have been provided for this grant since
1995.
Human nutrition (IA).--The Committee provides $750,000 for
human nutrition in Iowa. Researchers have found that the
activity of soy sphingolipids in inhibiting cancer can be
modulated by genetics and processing techniques. The omega-3
fatty acid content of walleye fillets was increased by feeding
the fish non-marine lipids. PCBs were below detectable limits
in the walleye fillets. The fillets with enhanced
concentrations of omega-3 fatty acids do not have undesirable
sensory attributes and were not more rancid after more than six
months of freezer storage. Studies have demonstrated that
resveratrol aglycone in grapes is active in the cell cycle
arrest of colon cancer cells. Finally, investigators have
determined the accessibility of rural elderly to fresh fruits,
vegetables, high quality protein foods, and dietary
supplements, examining the social and economic barriers to
these important nutrients. They are formulating a public policy
framework and conducting analyses to be used to better
understand current food consumption patterns, their
relationship to performance and health, and the development and
evaluation of new policies and regulations which relate to
changes in new technologies for foods.The non-federal funds and
sources provided for this grant were as follows: $1,173,857
university and $2,087,789 private and state sources in 2002;
and $887,503 university and $1,081,313 private and state
sources in 2003; and $122,243 University and $1,949,366 private
and state sources in 2004.
Michigan Biotechnology Consortium.--The Committee provides
$555,000 for the Michigan Biotechnology Consortium. The goal of
this research was to select and develop market-viable
technologies for the production of industrial products from
agricultural raw materials. Accomplishments for 2005 include
improved extraction of protein from grains and switchgrass
using an aqueous ammonia process; preparation of cellulose
nanofibers from corn stover and characterization of them by
transmission electron microscopy; identification and cloning of
a gene encoding an enzyme that catalyzes conversion of
carboxylic acid groups to aldehydes; and identification and
cloning of two genes for enhancing succinic acid production
from glycerol containing waste streams. The source and amount
of non-federal funds are as follows: in fiscal year 2002,
$51,090 from industry and the State of Michigan; in fiscal year
2003, $100,000 from industry; and iIi fiscal year 2004,
$163,097 from industry. There were no direct nonfederal funds
in support of the project in fiscal year 2005.
Nevada arid rangelands initiative.--The Committee provides
$504,000 for the Nevada arid rangelands initiative. The goal of
this research was to develop research management and
educational programs to promote healthy productive and
sustainable use of Nevada rangeland. The project is based on
four program goals, which were identified in partnership with
rural communities and families and in consultation with other
agencies and organizations with range concerns. The goals are:
healthy rangeland for multiple uses; improved campus based
education; healthy ranch, community, and county; and public
land decision support models. A survey of pigmy rabbit
population showed that they are present in much of the
historical range, and an Endangered Species designation is not
needed. Considerable progress has been made in range weed
control, assessment of pinyon-juniper expansion and range
management/wildlife interaction. The estimate for non-federal
funds provided for this program from state funds by fiscal
years: 2000, $237,000; 2001, $241,000; 2002, $525,000; 2003,
$475,000; and 2004, $457,000. The non-federal support for this
project in 2005 has been estimated at $415,000. In addition, a
large number of state and Federal agencies and non-governmental
organizations are cooperating with this project. Their
contributions are not reflected in these estimates and are
accounted for in their own projects.
Oyster post-harvest treatment.--The Committee provides
$450,000 for oyster post-harvest treatment in Florida. The goal
of this research was to increase the options and capacity for
post-harvest treatments that can be used to reduce health risks
associated with the consumption of raw oysters commercially
processed in Florida. Recent program focus has been to develop
and advance commercial use, regulatory recognition, and buyer
confidence in freezing as an effective post-harvest process to
reduce and eliminate problematic bacteria in oysters destined
for raw consumption. A progress update for the approval of the
use of irradiation in seafood was obtained from the National
Fisheries Institute and the Federal Drug Administration's--
FDA--Office of Pre-market Approval. In addition, contact has
been established with SUREBEAM Corporation to obtain the cost
of treating the product or to install a new treatment facility.
Recently, technical trials are suggesting that irradiation
could reduce potential pathogens from raw shellfish, but there
are resulting concerns for subsequent product shelf-life,
operational costs, and regulatory approvals that could restrict
use of this technology. Specific accomplishments include: an
active steering committee with participation from industry,
government, and academia has been established; an industry
survey has been conducted that documents compliance with the
Federal mandates for program capacity goals; the steering
committee and industry have compiled and discussed the
different post-harvest technologies alternatives that are
available and concluded that freezing, whole and halfshell
oysters, was the best alternative for Florida. A new product
developed from this research includes FROSTED Oysters. Past
accomplishments have conducted surveys to document post-harvest
treatment capacity in the Florida oyster industry; a validation
protocol for the use of freezing as a post-harvest treatment
has been developed and sent to the FDA, the International
Shellfish Sanitation Commission, and the Florida Department of
Agriculture and Consumer Services' representatives for comment;
and commercially-frozen oysters were evaluated to determine
organoleptic characteristics. Non-federal funds used in support
of this program in fiscal year 2004 were $58,000 coming
primarily from state and industry sources. Non-federal funding
supporting this project has not been made available to the
agency.
Pierce's disease.--The Committee provides $2,211,000 for
Pierce's disease in CA. The initial goal of the research was to
control the spread of the glassy-winged sharpshooter in order
to slow the spread of the disease. However, controlling the
insect alone will not solve the problem in the long term. The
over-arching goal of the research is to learn how to control
the disease, preferably through the development of resistant
grape clones, supplemented with integrated management methods.
The total non-federal contribution to this project for fiscal
year 2000 through 2006 is approximately $15 million. These
funds are coming from the State of California, the viticultural
industry in California, the Citrus Research Board and Almond
Board of California and Kern and Tulare Counties, with the
California Department of Food and Agriculture have all
contributed funds.
Regional barley gene mapping project.--The Committee
provides $682,000 for the regional barley gene mapping project
in Oregon. The goal of this project has been to increase the
profitability and sustainability of barley production. Specific
goals are to develop a molecular map for important barley
traits and provide molecular markers for barley breeders. The
major accomplishment of this project in 2005 was the result of
the fundamental tools and resources for barley genetics it has
developed. These resources, the cumulative product of
collaborative research in this project, were essential for
securing one of only two highly competitive and prestigious
USDA/CSREES Coordinated Agricultural Project awards, also known
as a ``CAP'' award, in 2005. As indicated by the title of the
successful project, ``Leveraging genomics, genetics, and
breeding for gene discovery and barley improvement'', the award
has leveraged every component of this project--from providing
the seed money for development of the Barley Gene Chip to
pioneering genetic mapping and dissection of quantitative
traits. Over the next five years, the Barley CAP award will
fund a national, coordinated effort to apply the latest genetic
technologies, developed by this project, to barley variety
development. The present project will continue to support
complementary development of the tools and knowledge necessary
for the next generation of progress.The non-federal funds and
sources provided for this grant were as follows: $203,760 from
industry in 1991; $212,750 from industry in 1992; $115,000 from
industry in 1993; $89,000 from industry in 1994; and $35,000
from the State of Washington and $108,000 in other non-federal
funding, for a total of $143,000 in 1995; $163,000 for 1996;
$178,240 for 1997; for 1998, $147,000; for 1999, $156,000; for
2000, $154,000; for 2001, $70,000; for 2002, $60,000 from
industry; and for 2003, $62,000 from industry, specifically
from Anheuser-Busch, Inc. In addition, each researcher on the
project contributes from 5 to 20 percent of their salary. In
state funds--that is, excluding researchers from the USDA
Agricultural Research Service that are associated with the
project--this has been approximately $400,000 in 2002, $412,000
in 2003, and $424,000 in 2004.
Rural Policies Institute.--The Committee provides
$1,205,000 for the Rural Policies Institute in Nebraska, Iowa,
and Missouri. The goal of the Rural Policy Research Institute
was to create a new model for providing timely, unbiased
estimates of the impacts of policies and new policy initiatives
on rural people and places. That model was developed. Policy
analysis research and dissemination activities expanded in
response to current and emerging issues in rural America. RUPRI
facilitates panels of researchers who collaborate on topical
areas and form the fabric of its research capacity. Their
research is published and cited in academic journals, discussed
in the media, and used by policy decision makers at all levels
of government. In 2005 RUPRI hosted one international
conference and Fellows program and six national conferences;
participated in nine hearing or briefing testimonies at the
national, regional, or state level; and published over 40
policy studies, white papers and working papers. The
international conference was held in Abingdon, Virginia, and
built on three previous conferences to emphasize the sharing of
education, culture, and environment across nations with
attention to implications for rural policy and governance. Over
300 people from 46 countries participated. RUPRI Fellows
traveled to Brussels to study European Union policy in
agriculture and rural development. Nationally, RUPRI provided
organizational leadership for the National Rural Network, a
consortium of 50 national organizations, institutions, and non-
governmental entities working to create a framework for
national rural policy. It also hosted a Rural Regional
Innovation Policy Dialogue to build a common platform for rural
development initiatives. Regionally, RUPRI began a Community
Clustering Initiative, with funding from the Northwest Area
Foundation, to strengthen governance in multi-community regions
of the northwest. State level activities included a meeting of
State Rural Policy Centers to study on-going initiatives, co-
hosting the second annual Rural Policy Academy for state
legislators, and collaboration on a Missouri Rural
Entrepreneurship Initiative. It continued working in the areas
of entrepreneurship, health policy, telecommunications, and
poverty amelioration. It conducted six Home town
Competitiveness Academies and eight Energizing Entrepreneurship
Workshops. In 2005, RUPRI reconfigured its work in poverty and
rural health to establish its Rural Human Services and Poverty
Policy Center and formed a Rural Human Services National
Advisory Committee.Aggregated non-federal funds to support
RUPRI across the three involved universities include indirect
costs, salary support from university and other non-federal
sources, and various other grants, contracts, and reimbursable
agreements. They amounted to $548,005 for fiscal year 2003;
$629,299 for fiscal year 2004; and $1,681,287 for fiscal year
2005.
Small fruit research.--The Committee provides $443,000 for
small fruit research in Oregon, Washington, and Idaho. The goal
of this research was the genetic improvement of small fruit
cultivars to enhance quality, yield, and marketability. This
grant supports research using genetic material from national
germplasm collections and the discovery of new isolates, which
expand these genetic holdings. Studies supported by this
project use advanced selections in breeding programs and
approaches that utilize genetic engineering. Another industry
wide-goal of this program is to identify new potentially
harmful virus disorders in nursery stock and eliminate them
prior to introduction into small fruit production systems. The
selection and development of new small fruit varieties is
essential to maintaining the competitiveness of the United
States in the world market and in maintaining export advantages
required for our international balance of trade. The Federal
investment in this program leverages an additional 20 percent
of additional funding from research investments contributed by
the private sector. Annual combined contributions range from
$60,000 to $80,000. Following peer review and grant ranking
this project will fund the highest ranked proposals until the
program's grant dollars are exhausted. Commodity groups and
grower associations then review the remaining unfunded
proposals and use their non-Federal resources to fund
additional research based upon their commodities specific
research needs.
Sustainable beef supply.--The Committee provides $1,000,000
for sustainable beef supply in Montana. The Montana Beef
Network has three primary objectives: (1) develop and implement
certification programs for feeder calves that have met beef
quality assurance management protocols; (2) provide information
from the feedlot and packing plant to the cow-calf producer to
determine if feeder calves met industry requirements for
quality, consistency, and yield of red meat; and (3) provide
educational programs aimed at sharing results of research
projects and methods to meet beef quality assurance standards
with beef producers in Montana. To date, more than 1,200
producers are certified through the Beef Quality Assurance
Program; more than 51,000 calves were enrolled in 2005 for
source verification, age verification, and tracking carcass
data; educational programs and hands-on demonstrations of
animal identification were conducted throughout Montana; a
website was developed for sharing information; and a newsletter
was distributed in August through December of each year.
Approximately $120,000 per year for each of fiscal years 1999,
2000, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004, and 2005 were provided from state
appropriations. In fiscal year 2000, the Montana Department of
Agriculture contributed $15,000 and the Montana Stockgrowers
Association contributed $5,000. Montana beef producers
contributed $10,000 in fiscal years 2001, 2002, and 2003. In
fiscal year 2004, the National Cattlemen's Beef Association
contributed $100,000.
Tillage, silviculture, waste management.--The Committee
provides $500,000 for tillage, siviculture, and waste
management in Louisiana. The goal of this grant was to improve
conservation tillage systems for Louisiana crops and to address
manure issues from dairy and poultry operations. This project
has improved local methods of conservation tillage to control
erosion for cotton, corn, wheat, and rice, as well as managing
insect pests with the increased crop stubble under the warm,
humid local conditions. Pollution from poultry has been managed
by modifying the diet with phytase and virginiamycin to reduce
phosphorus outputs and identify alternative manure uses on
forage grasses and loblolly pine plantations. Dairy manure is
being managed with solids separation and aerobic digestion to
reduce E. coli pathogens and improve nutrient management.
Research projects were supported by non-federal funds in the
amount of $540,000.
Water use efficiency and water quality enhancements.--The
Committee provides $500,000 for water use efficiency and water
quality enhancements in Georgia. The goal of this research is
to develop and expedite the implementation of new technologies
to improve water use efficiency and water quality at both a
state and watershed scale. Detailed information on three
variable rate irrigation systems was collected on three Georgia
farms, and water quality data on several sites has been
collected with the goal of optimizing yield, water quality, and
field cropping patterns with a minimum of water use. The
project has developed and aided in the commercialization of a
first generation commercial variable rate center pivot system
and 25 of these have been installed with a 16 percent reduction
in water consumption and improved crop productivity. Design of
a next generation sensing system using wireless internet tools
and solar power is complete, and work on integrating the
sensors with the pivot controller is underway. Water quality
monitoring has been installed on several sites, and results of
a dissertation funded by this project have lead to
recommendations for riparian buffers as crucial landscape Best
Management Practices for reducing herbicide runoff from
agricultural production on Georgia's coastal plain. In fiscal
year 2002, approximately $337,000 was provided in non-federal
matching funds. These funds were contributed by state agencies
and non-profit organizations. Similar amount of matching funds
were provided for fiscal years 2003, 2004, and 2005. It is
anticipated that matching funds for 2006 will be similar.
Wood utilization.--The Committee provides $6,371,000 for
wood utilization in Oregon, Mississipi, North Carolina,
Minnesota, Maine, Michigan, Idaho, Tennessee, Alaska, and West
Virginia. There were two goals in the original grant: (1)
provide science that addresses the problems associated with
harvesting, transporting, manufacturing, and marketing
economical forest products in three regions, and (2) educate
graduate students to be knowledgeable in wood as a renewable
resource. The program has been expanded to include additional
university research locations. These have included new regions
of indigenous forests and specific manufacturing techniques.
The following are new accomplishments with their impacts:
University of Alaska
1. Issue. Restructuring of the forest products industry by
supporting efforts to develop new markets, processing
technology, and value added products in order to stimulate the
economy and create more jobs in rural Alaska.
2. Response: Sponsored a demonstration project on marketing
a high-value wood product, Umbrella Swift, a specialty item
used to detangle yarn. Marketing was done using tradeshows,
journal ads, and the World Wide Web.
3. Impact. Gross sales of the company increased by 225
percent over the course of the project and valuable information
was gained on what type of marketing worked and what did not.
University of Minnesota, Duluth
1. Issue. The United States forest products industry is
facing tremendous competitive pressures from global competition
and increased raw material costs.
2. Response: Lean manufacturing production simulations,
educational training and project facilitation programs have
been developed and implemented to promote global
competitiveness and sustainable growth for over 75 small and
medium wood products manufacturers in Minnesota and across the
Midwest United States.
3. Impact. Productivity improvements of 50-75 percent, cost
reductions of 25-50 percent, and lead time reductions of 50-90
percent, with a financial impact of over $750,000.
Mississippi State University
1. Issue. Need to create a new inventory of Mississippi
forests and quantify the economic impacts of the state's forest
products industry, and improved the performance of timber
harvesting firms and mills.
2. Response: The MSU Department of Forestry pursued
research to provide quantitative data.
3. Impact. Research yielded a map of the state's forests to
support a new inventory, improved the performance of timber
harvesting firms--actually preventing two from going out of
business for a loss of 42 jobs--, and reduced the need for
mills to build more wood storage facilities, with a total
economic impact of $7 million.
1. Issue. Enable furniture manufacturers to increase their
competitiveness through improving the rational design of
furniture frames and durable performance of their products.
2. Response: Evaluate and design computer based finite
element modeling techniques and provide details on performance
of structural components.
3. Impact. Implementation of this technology by a furniture
manufacturer would save upwards of $1 million annually.
North Carolina State University
1. Issue. Need to improve competitiveness of furniture
manufacturing.
2. Response: Developed and transferred technology for high
speed manufacturing to U.S. based upholstered furniture
manufacturers.
3. Impact. Several millions of dollars in increased revenue
for U.S. based furniture manufacturers that would have
otherwise been lost to overseas competition and enabled
upholstered furniture manufacturers to continue to employ
thousands of workers.
University of Idaho, University of Montana, Washington State University
1. Issue. Lignin is the second most abundant organic
compound on earth and is currently a highly underutilized
natural resource and industrial byproduct. Among the many
research steps taken toward new practical lignin applications
is one involving the chemical modification of lignin to form
processable thermoplastics. Such lignin-based materials could
potentially be used as a direct substitute for petroleum based
plastics.
2. Response: This preliminary research addressed the
esterification reactions of kraft and agricultural-hydrolysis
lignins, the byproducts of the kraft paper-making process and
of ethanol production, respectively. These lignins were reacted
with acetic, propanoic, butyric, and hexanoic acid anhydrides
to form their respective lignin esters. The chemical structures
of the resulting compounds were analyzed using proton nuclear
magnetic resonance spectroscopy--lH-NMR--, diffuse reflectance
Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy--DR-FTIR--, and
pyrolysis gas chromatography/mass spectrometry--GC-MS. Thermal
transitions were detected using differential scanning
calorimetry--DSC--and dynamic rheology.
3. Impact. The results showed that kraft lignin was easily
modified by esterification into thermally processable plastics.
However, successful modification of the agricultural lignins
has proven more difficult due to their highly condensed
structure. The effect of phenolation--to selectively
depolymerize lignin--prior to esterification of the lignins is
being examined as a possible solution to these difficulties.
Results also showed that the lignin ester thermal properties
can be controlled by simple changes in esterification reaction
parameters. Future work will look at the mechanical properties
of the materials using dynamic mechanical analysis--DMA.
1. Issue. According to forest inventory data, grand fir--
Abies grandis--is a predominant species in the forests of the
Inland Northwest region. Western Wood Products Association
statistics show that grand fir lumber represented approximately
35 percent--approximately one billion board feet--of all
softwood lumber produced in the region in 2003. At sawmills
within the region, grand fir lumber is considered one of the
most difficult species to dry. Drying times are often more than
60 hours, energy consumption is high, and variable moisture
content--pieces above the 19 percent MC grade specification--in
dried lumber is common.
2. Response: Eighteen-hundred grand fir--Abies grandis--
studs were kiln dried to determine effects of high-temperature
drying and restraint on drying time, energy consumption, warp--
bow, crook, and twist--, and moisture content variability. The
results showed that a high-temperature drying schedule--240
degrees F--consumed approximately one-half the energy of a
lower-temperature drying schedule typically used within the
region and that drying time was cut in half. In addition,
moisture variability and warp within high temperature dried
lumber were no worse than in lumber dried with the conventional
schedule. Results also showed that when restraint was added,
warp in lumber dried with the high-temperature schedule was
reduced in the top six courses of the stack.
Results of this research were presented at the Inland
Northwest Kiln Drying Workshop at the University of Idaho
during October 2005. Operators and supervisors of 22 dry-kilns
attended the workshops and represented large and small lumber
manufacturers in Idaho, Washington, and Montana.
3. Impact. This research has already benefited sawmills
within the Inland Northwest region. Two sawmills have adopted
this technology, and they have realized a 200 billion Btu
savings in natural gas and wood energy per year which
represents approximately 20 percent of all energy used at those
plants. This is enough energy to heat and cool approximately
2,000 homes in Minneapolis for one year. Additionally, the long
drying times for grand fir lumber at many of these mills create
a ``bottleneck'' at the dry kilns. Operations and production at
these sawmills could be improved with the use of high-
temperature drying of grand fir lumber.
As a result of the 2005 Inland Northwest Kiln Drying
Workshop, two large lumber manufacturers--Riley Creek Lumber
and Stimpson Lumber--plan to use hightemperature drying of
grand fir lumber. These companies manufacture a large
proportion of the lumber in North Idaho. Energy savings could
be increased by ten times the equivalent of 5.5 million cubic
meters mentioned above. This is enough energy to heat and cool
approximately 20,000 homes in Minneapolis for one year.
West Virginia University
1. Issue. The feasibility of stranding oak residues--slash
from logging--was studied to see if a strand could be produced
that would be acceptable for use in manufacturing oriented
strand board-OSB--and if a method could be created to
manufacture strands in commercial volumes.
2. Response: It was found that the stranding process needed
to be significantly modified to produce oak strands with
characteristics compatible with industry standards. Eventually,
West Virginia University produced a stranding configuration
that did create acceptable strands and are now working to
modify one existing strander at the Weyerhaeuser Flatwoods OSB
mill to this configuration for a full scale production test.
3. Impact. The dollar impact of this portion of research
could be significant if the full scale production effort proves
successful. Oak residues are widely available across the state
of West Virginia and have no current value as furnish for OSB
mill. The addition of oak residue as a raw material source for
OSB would increase the value of oak residue 100-fold to
landowners and loggers, while increasing the supply and
lowering the overall cost of raw material to the mills,
resulting in several million dollars in economic impact
annually in West Virginia. This technology is also exportable
to other parts of the Appalachian region and would have similar
impact in states with OSB mills.
University of Tennessee
1. Issue. New process monitoring technology is needed to
improve manufacturing efficiency of wood products, enhancing
the competitive position of the industry in the face of
globalization.
2. Response: A genetic algorithm/neural network--GANN--
system was developed to predict the physical properties of wood
composites. The GANN system was validated at one medium density
fiberboard--MDF--and one OSB plant.
3. Impact. Use of the GANN system at the MDF test site
resulted in a cost savings of $700,000 over a six-month period
in 2005 due to reduced resin consumption. Validation is ongoing
to assess impacts on further savings from reduced wood waste,
faster throughput, and lower energy use.
University of Maine
Research at the University of Maine supported by Wood
Utilization Research funding on optimizing oxygen
delignification for use with high lignin pulps has been
implemented commercially. A major paper company in Maine has
invested $600,000 in new equipment, based on the experimental
results, that significantly improved the bleaching process
leading to a 40 percent reduction in bleaching cost and a
reduction in chlorinated organics and chemical oxygen demand
(COD) going to the wastewater treatment plant.
The following are non-federal funds provided by states:
--Mississippi State University non-federal funds were:
State appropriations, $2,498,800; $2,178,725; $2,353,225;
$2,331,691; $2,650,230; $2,778,535; $2,582,617; $2,543,017;
$2,717,448; $2,993,888; and $3,217,908 for the years 1991-2001,
respectively. In addition, industrial funds averaged $9,588,871
for the 5 years from 1995-2000 in support of Mississippi's
research. For fiscal year 2002, state and industry
contributions amounted to $3,870,884; for 2003, the State
contributed $805,015; for 2004, State and industry contributed
$1.1 million; and in 2005, $845,000.
--Oregon State University state appropriations were:
$1,337,962; $1,394,304; $1,256,750; $1,252,750; $1,417,755;
$1,117,000; $1,100,000; $1,352,000; $1,337,000; $1,492,000; and
$976,000, for the years 1991-2001, respectively. Non-federal
support for 2002 was $1,200,000; for 2003, $2,386,000; and for
2004, $1,672,885.
--Michigan State University non-federal contributions were
$605,000; $590,000; $700,000; $600,000; $896,000; and $900,000
for the years 1997-2002, respectively. Non-federal funds for
fiscal year 2003 were $850,000 and $767,400 for 2004.
--University of Minnesota-Duluth non-federal match were
$590,000; $550,000; $560,000; $371,930; $307,532; $510,939;
$1,506,000; $2,126,000; and $2,100,000 for the years 1994-2002,
respectively. The non-federal match for fiscal year 2003 was
$2,598,000; $200,000 for 2004 and $300,000 for 2005.
--North Carolina State University non-federal contributions
were $60,000; $126,000; $165,000; $135,000; $163,216; $323,134;
$369,122; $432,118; $346,380; and $364,530, for the years 1994-
2003, respectively. Non-federal funds for fiscal year 2004 were
$203,980 and $628,682 for 2005.
--University of Maine non-federal contributions were
$6,000,000; $445,723; $459,100; $477,464; $526,210; $148,032;
$619,898; $557,842; and $547,577, for the years 1994-2002,
respectively. Non-federal funds for fiscal year 2003 were
$529,500 and $518,235 for 2004.
Two centers were added in 1999:
--The University of Tennessee non-federal funds for 1999-
2002 were $150,987; $241,696; $1,715,000; and $400,000,
respectively. For 2003, it was $279,300 and $385,000 for 2004.
--The consortium of the Universities of Idaho and Montana
and Washington State University non-federal funds for 1999-2001
were $305,000; $406,000; and $1,321,931, respectively. Non-
federal funds for fiscal year 2003 were $551,468. Non-federal
funds for fiscal year 2005 were $1,206,834.
--The University of Alaska, Wood Utilization Research
Center, was added in 2000. The University of Alaska non-federal
funds were $257,872; $5,800; and $75,000 for 2000, 2001, and
2002, respectively. For fiscal year 2003, it was $50,000.
--The latest addition--2004--is West Virginia University.
Non-federal support for 2004 was $100,000 and $138,000 for
2005.
--Total non-federal funds provided by states and industries
for fiscal year 2003 were $8,253,263.
Phytosensors for Crop Security and Precision Agriculture.--
The Committee encourages the Service to engage in and promote
activities to enhance, create, and combine technologies in
biotechnology and photonics that produce crop plants for use as
early-warning sentinels for the detection of plant diseases.
The Committee is concerned with the level of participation
by 1890 Universities in the Department's research activities,
particularly those administered by the Agricultural Research
Service (ARS) and the Cooperative State Research, Education and
Extension Service (CSREES). The Committee directs the Secretary
to develop a demonstration program which encourages and fosters
expanded cooperative, collaborative, and/or multi-state
research opportunities between 1890 institutions and larger
land grant institutions, and to report back to the Committee
with an action plan as well as potential strategies to expand
research collaborative opportunities for all 1890 Universities
program by March 15, 2007.
NATIVE AMERICAN INSTITUTIONS ENDOWMENT FUND
2006 appropriation.................................... $12,000,000
2007 budget estimate.................................. 11,880,000
Provided in the bill.................................. 11,880,000
Comparison:
2006 appropriation................................ -120,000
2007 budget estimate.............................. - - -
COMMITTEE PROVISIONS
For the Native American Institutions Endowment Fund, the
Committee provides $11,880,000, a decrease of $120,000 below
the amount available in fiscal year 2006 and the same as the
budget request.
EXTENSION ACTIVITIES
2006 appropriation.................................... $451,395,000
2007 budget estimate.................................. 430,727,000
Provided in the bill.................................. 457,042,000
Comparison:
2006 appropriation................................ +5,647,000
2007 budget estimate.............................. +26,315,000
COMMITTEE PROVISIONS
For Extension Activities, the Committee provides an
appropriation of $457,042,000, an increase of $5,647,000 over
the amount available for fiscal year 2006 and an increase of
$26,315,000 above the budget request.
The following table reflects the amount provided by the
Committee:
Farm Safety: AgrAbility.--Within the funds provided for
Smith-Lever 3(d) for Farm Safety, the Committee recommends
$4,517,000 for the AgrAbility program, which helps people with
disabilities to be able to farm safely, efficiently, and
profitably through on-the-farm education and assistance.
Ag in the classroom.--The Committee provides $742,000 for
Ag in the classroom. In 1981, USDA initiated this program in
response to the declining numbers of persons engaged in
farming. USDA urged governors to convene small groups of state
leaders knowledgeable about education and agriculture to
develop recommendations and committees that would address
methods for helping educate the public about agriculture. Over
the years, Agriculture in the Classroom program activities have
become focused on incorporating agriculture into core classroom
curricula and educating teachers about the effectiveness of
agriculture's use as a teaching tool. Since the target audience
is persons with little knowledge about agriculture, Agriculture
in the Classroom staff stress the usefulness of the activities
to teach core curricula. Over the years, program staff have
received numerous comments from workshop participants and
teachers stating that they view agriculture differently, and
always more positively, since becoming involved with
Agriculture in the Classroom. State Agriculture in the
Classroom program raise their own funds for individual program
operation. These funds are from a number of sources. Some
programs are state or university funded, others operate through
farming organizations, and some are independently funded.
Additionally, many state programs seek grants for additional
program areas or raise their own funds through fund raising
activities.
Alabama Beef Connection.--The Committee provides $850,000
for the Alabama Beef Connection. This program was originally
designed to create a cattle marketing and communications
framework for Alabama beef cattle producers. The number of beef
cattle tracked through the Alabama Beef Connection has steadily
increased since the project was initiated in fiscal year 2003.
More than 17,500 calves have been enrolled in the program and
are currently in feedlots. Thus far, carcass data have been
obtained from about 40 percent of the cattle enrolled in the
program. The carcass data from fiscal years 2003 and 2004
indicated that the average USDA yield and quality grade of
carcasses from Alabama calves is not different than the current
average of the beef industry in the United States. In addition,
more than 20 county/regional producer meetings, 6 state
meetings, and 2 national meetings were conducted to share
information with beef producers regarding premises
identification and individual identification of beef cattle. In
fiscal years 2003 and 2004, approximately $30,000 per year from
state funding and $20,000 per year from Alabama beef producers
were provided for this project. In fiscal year 2005,
approximately $101,500 was provided by state funding and the
Alabama beef producers for this program.
Dairy education.--The Committee provides $229,000 for dairy
education in Iowa. The original goals of this program were to
retain and grow the business of existing dairy farm families,
foster the development of new--beginning--family dairy
operations, recruit dairy families from other regions to
Northeast Iowa, improve the image of the dairy industry, and
support specialized dairy production and processing. These
goals were to be realized by providing educational
opportunities for current and future dairy industry
participants; conducting applied research and demonstration
that impacts the regional dairy industry; add value to milk and
dairy products; be an advocate for the dairy farm family;
provide training in production systems that provide
environmental protection and enhancement; provide assistance
for intergenerational transfers; provide educational
opportunities for youth; and finally, be a community resource
for economic development. Several demonstrations and research
trials of practical importance to the dairy industry have been
conducted or are in progress at the Center. Topics include
Johne's disease, calfhood vaccinations, calf starter and
accelerated calf growth, multiple milkings in early lactation,
zero dry day periods, mastitis in purchased cows, barrier teat
dips, and tails vs. docked tails in lactating cows. The Center
collaborates with Iowa State University, the National Animal
Disease Center, and private industry in these efforts.
A second dairy herd has been added at facilities adjacent
to the Dairy Center. The new herd is rotationally grazed in
warm months and housed in a composting bedded pack building in
the winter months. Facilities are designed to demonstrate a low
capital investment in milking and housing, a model for new
dairy producers, and existing producers wanting to transition
their operations. This grazing center complements the existing
dairy production facility, providing the capacity to educate
and demonstrate both styles of milk production and herd
management. Overall student enrollment in the two year program
has increased from 15 students to 90 students, and 112 degrees
have been awarded in Dairy Technology, Dairy Science
Technology, and Dairy Herd Management since the Dairy Center
was created. Of the 2005 dairy science sophomore class, 40
percent are returning to their family farms, 26 percent will be
herd managers or work in the industry, and 34 percent are
continuing their education. Iowa's Dairy Story will surpass
5,000 reached this Spring, with 3rd, 4th, and 5th grade
students from 18 different districts enrolled. Upgraded and
expanded display areas were added in 2005. The curriculum
connects students to the industry with lessons in history,
science, human nutrition and health, and animal care.
The total amount of non-federal funds provided for this
project for the fiscal year beginning July 1, 1999, was
$4,898,796; for fiscal year 2000 the amount was $1,947,721; for
fiscal year 2001, $1,487,190; for fiscal year 2002, $146,084;
and for fiscal year 2003, $140,174. In fiscal year 2004,
$313,000 was provided, including $293,000 from Northeast Iowa
Community College, mostly for personnel dedicated to the Dairy
Center, and $20,000 from memberships.
Diabetes detection and prevention.--The Committee provides
$1,093,000 for diabetes detection and prevention in
Pennsylvania and Washington. The original goal of this
integrated extension outreach project was to develop and test a
model to provide diabetes screening, prevention education, and
case management services for selected rural and urban patient
populations in Washington and Hawaii. This goal has been
expanded over the course of the grant to provide:
--screening for diabetes among selected rural and urban
minority populations in Washington, Hawaii, New Mexico, West
Virginia and Pennsylvania, using an innovative, non-invasive
ocular fluorescence detection technology developed by
scientists at The Joslin Diabetes Center, and blood glucose
measures;
--culturally-sensitive and science-based diabetes education
prevention and care materials to the targeted audience; and
--case management support and follow-up services for
patient referrals.
In brief, the project has attempted to develop a diabetes
program that can be delivered to under-served audiences who are
outside the standard medical care system and by health
professionals and educators without a medical diabetes
background.
Since it began, the project has had many accomplishments.
Following are several:
A. TRAINING, PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT
Developed and presented a pre-conference workshop at the
Society for Nutrition Education Conference in Salt Lake City,
Utah on July 16, 2004. This ``Diabetes Toolbox'' session was
aimed at CSREES personnel and partners from those states that
do not receive direct funding from the current grant.
Approximately 40 Extension health professionals attended the
three-hour session. In addition to the ``On the Road Program'',
the toolbox included the exercise video, diabetes-extension
website access, a program from New Mexico called ``Kitchen
Creations'', from Washington, ``Living Well with Diabetes'',
and West Virginia's ``Dining With Diabetes''.
Developed and presented a one to two hour update and
awareness for participants at the 2003 Priester National Health
Conference, held April 2003 in Phoenix, Arizona, and attended
by 35 extension health professionals.
Participants were introduced to the strategies being used
by the partnering extension programs to deliver diabetes
education, to recent scientific information about pre-diabetes
and to Small Steps. ``Big Rewards'', the new education campaign
launched by the Centers for Disease Control and the National
Institutes of Health. Extension faculty from each of the 15
states represented at the session indicated an interest in
participating in the project.
Developed and presented a one-day seven-hour pre-conference
workshop for Extension health personnel, at the 2002 Priester
National Health Conference, ``Health Across the Life Span'',
held May 7-10 in Orlando, Florida. Fifty-six extension faculty
and community health professionals participated in the
conference. The focus of the workshop was innovations in
educational strategies for involving Cooperative Extension in
diabetes control and prevention activities; the workshop also
provided updates on scientific advances in diabetes detection
and treatment. The presenters were the project directors for
the four partnering institutions. Extension faculty from 20
states indicated an interest in participating in the project.
Presented the project at the 2003, 2002, and 2001 National
Diabetes Translation Conference sponsored by the Centers for
Disease Control and Prevention held in Boston, Massachusetts,
St. Louis, Missouri, and Seattle, Washington, respectively.
These presentations helped introduce the programs and networks
of the Extension System to those of State Diabetes Control
Programs and other non-traditional extension partners.
Benchmarked involvement of state extension faculty in
diabetes education and prevention activities, and the nature of
those activities, thereby establishing a basis for a shared
vision about Extension's role in eliminating racial and ethnic
health disparities.
Presented the Joslin/Extension partnering model to
participants at Bridging the Gap, a national diabetes education
conference sponsored by the West Virginia Extension Service, in
Charleston, West Virginia.
Armed teaching and extension professionals in the human
sciences land-grant and family and consumer sciences
communities with the latest research-based information on
diabetes, including information on prevention strategies,
interrelationships among diabetes, diet and nutrition, physical
activity, and obesity.
B. REACHING UNDER SERVED AND UN-REACHED AUDIENCES
Developed, field-tested, and published a culturally-
sensitive and science-based instructional client handbook for
use with the targeted audiences. More than 15,000 copies of
``On the Road to Living Well with Diabetes'', an 18-page, low
literacy, easy-to-use guide for diabetes care, was disseminated
through the project to partners, state diabetes control staff,
and attendees at national conferences.
Developed and field-tested an enrollment questionnaire for
initial screening of project participants and assessment of
referral needs.
Developed, field-tested, and published an instructional
chart as a companion to the client handbook, for use by
Extension faculty with the targeted audience.
Held cooking demonstrations that can help educate
individuals with diabetes to manage diabetes through diet.
Increased the Project's outreach to Native American Tribal
Groups and Hispanic Americans. Two states--Hawaii and
Washington--were included in the original earmark. The third
state, New Mexico, was included in fiscal year 2002; West
Virginia has been added during fiscal year 2003; Pennsylvania
was added during fiscal year 2004.
C. COLLABORATION
Established new partnerships with more than 25 community-
based agencies/institutions in the five participating states,
which have led to enhanced opportunities to reduce diabetes.
Established a memorandum of understanding between the
CSREES and the Joslin Diabetes Center. This document identifies
the parties to be involved, the purpose and potential outcomes
of the partnership, the background of the parties and their
authority, the roles and responsibilities of the parties, and
the duration of the partnership.
Established partnerships with the National Diabetes
Education Program sponsored by the Centers for Disease Control
and Prevention, the National Institute for Diabetes & Digestive
& Kidney Diseases, and the Office of Minority Health of the
Department of Health and Human Resources.
Established partnerships between the Diabetes Control
Program state offices and the Cooperative Extension programs in
Washington, Hawaii, New Mexico, West Virginia, and
Pennsylvania.
D. SCIENTIFIC ADVANCEMENT AND INFORMATION DISSEMINATION
Developed, tested, and validated the ocular fluorescence
detection instrument.
Disseminated information on and promoted the educational
campaigns of the National Diabetes Education Program, ``Control
Your Diabetes for Life'', and ``Small Steps, Big Rewards''.
Access to these resources--provided by the Centers for Disease
Control and the National Institute for Diabetes, Digestive and
Kidney Diseases--is facilitated by the Project.
Disseminated information on ``Take a Loved One to the
Doctor Day'', part of the Department of Health and Human
Service's Campaign, ``Closing the Gap'' to help close the
health gap for racial and ethnic minorities.
Created a project website, to facilitate increased access
to project information and partners. The website, based at The
Joslin Diabetes Center, will be linked to the website at CSREES
and websites at the participating institutions.
E. PROJECT OVERSIGHT
Conducted site visits to Hawaii, Washington, and New Mexico
programs. These site visits to Hawaii, Washington, and New
Mexico were conducted by staff from The Joslin Diabetes Center;
the site visit to the Hawaii program was conducted by USDA
staff.
Held four face-to-face planning meetings of the partnering
institutions in Seattle, Washington; Orlando, Florida; Phoenix,
Arizona; and Baltimore, Maryland, at which the partners
achieved consensus on program priorities, future directions,
and priority audiences across the three-state region.
Regular teleconference calls are held to review and examine
progress toward goals and objectives.
In summary, the Project has been a catalyst in facilitating
a broader understanding of diabetes, its consequences for
individuals and families, and how it can be prevented and
maintained. County Extension faculty increasingly participate
in a variety of diabetes education training programs offered at
local and state levels to enhance their knowledge of diabetes
and new scientific information resulting from clinical trials
and basic research.
Each of the partners, the Joslin Diabetes Center and the
State Cooperative Extension programs in Hawaii, Washington, New
Mexico, and West Virginia, provides financial support and in-
kind services for the implementation of this project.
Additional in-kind support, primarily in the form of diabetes
awareness, education, and self-management materials, is
provided by the National Institute for Diabetes and Digestive
and Kidney Diseases of the National Institutes of Health and
the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The Diabetes
Control Offices in each of the participating states also
provides support, largely via materials and technical
expertise. Local community partners also provide assistance,
for example by offering equipment and space in facilities free
of charge, or sharing professional expertise such as nurses and
certified diabetes educators.
We estimate the following non-Federal support for the
project: Fiscal Year 2002--$175,000; Fiscal Year 2003--
$200,000; Fiscal Year 2004--$200,000
Efficient irrigation.--The Committee provides $2,825,000
for efficient irrigation in New Mexico and Texas. Subject areas
addressed include irrigation district studies; irrigation
education and training; institutional incentives for efficient
water use; on-farm irrigation system management; urban
landscape and in-home water conservation; environment, ecology,
and water quality protection; saline and waste water management
and water use; basin-wide hydrology studies, salinity modeling,
and technology; and project oversight, communications,
biometric support, and accountability for the multi-components
of this multi-state project.
The project's 2005 accomplishments include: pipeline
replacements saving a total of 939 acre-feet per year, which
equals approximately 303 million gallons of water saved. A
project aimed at increasing the use of drip irrigation and
mulch systems for urban specialty crops has helped cooperators
reduce water application by 29.3 percent. A team of engineers
with Texas Cooperative Extension assisted the city of
Brownsville with justification of an on-farm water metering
program that results in an estimated water savings of 1,100
acre-feet or approximately 360 million gallons per year.
Technical assistance such as this has saved districts $1.8
million in the cost of hiring consultants. New Mexico
Cooperative Extension produced a series of crop commodity fact
sheets on New Mexico agriculture detailing water management and
efficient resource usage.
In 2003, the project received from state appropriated
university accounts funds to support outreach personnel
salaries and fringe benefits totaling $257,300; from the New
Mexico Legislative Salt Cedar Control Funding, $5,000,000; from
the Elephant Butte Irrigation District, $4,500,000; from other
state and municipal sources, $260,550; and from industry
associations and others, $60,355. In 2004, the project received
from state appropriated university accounts funds to support
outreach personnel salaries and fringe benefits totaling
$265,020; from the New Mexico Legislative Salt Cedar Control
Funding, $5,000,000; from the Elephant Butte Irrigation
District, $4,500,000; from Cotton, Incorporated, $20,000; from
other state and municipal sources, $86,600; and from industry
associations and others, $8,000. In 2005, the project received
from state appropriated university accounts funds to support
outreach personnel salaries and fringe benefits totaling
$272,971; from the Texas State Soil and Water Conservation
board, $92,222; from the New Mexico Governor's Water Innovation
Fund, $235,217; from other state and municipal sources,
$528,522; and from industry associations and others, $55,000.
Food animal residue avoidance database.--The Committee
provides $806,000 for food animal residue avoidance database.
The original goal of this program was to ensure the production
of safe foods of animal origin through the prevention and
mitigation of violative chemical residues in food animal
products. This has been accomplished, and continues to be
accomplished through the establishment of a toll-free telephone
hotline and website which provides residue avoidance advice and
information. In addition, FARARD is unique in that it provides
guidance through use of its databank by trained personnel to
provide information on prevention and mitigation of violative
chemical residues and supply recommended withdrawal intervals
to allow safe extralabel use of drugs in food animals based on
sound principles of residue avoidance. From fiscal years 2001
through 2004, state contributions from the participating land
grant universities were estimated at $147,820 per year, and
miscellaneous contributions at $2,500 per year. In fiscal year
2005, state contributions from the participating land grant
universities were estimated at $133,173, and contributions from
industry were $3,500.
Income enhancement demonstration.--The Committee provides
$1,247,000 for income enhancement demonstration in Ohio. The
original goal of this project was to develop new agricultural
businesses and restructure and expand existing businesses in
response to domestic and international challenges. However, in
2005 the Project was moved from the Ohio State University to
the Edison Industrial Systems Center, and more specifically to
a non-profit subsidiary of that company, the Innovative Food
Technology Center. The proposal listed several target
activities all of which are underway. Accomplishments in each
area are as follows: Greenhouse/Nursery Project: thus far,
studies on energy consumption and usage have been completed at
seven greenhouse operations; Analyses have focused on boiler
efficiencies, infiltration losses, design parameters, and the
incorporation of new technologies, particularly those that use
renewable fuels; the final results will be published in a
summary report; and, interim reports are being published in
several greenhouse newsletters. Direct Marketing Research:
research on methods and requirements for growing and preparing
items for sale to local institutions, including schools,
universities, social programs, and restaurants; interim results
are being published and circulated locally; and a final report
will be prepared upon completion. Grape/Wine Industry
Enhancement: Research was completed, and sensory evaluations
completed, on minimally, non-thermally processed grape juices;
marketing research is being conducted to determine the
potential viability of such products; and a feasibility study
has been completed to determine the economic scale necessary
for economic viability of a grape seed extract cooperative
venture. Waste-to-Energy Project: Matching funds in the amount
of $50,000 were acquired for this project from the State of
Ohio; a pilot anaerobic digester was designed and constructed
in cooperation with the Agricultural Research and Development
Center of the Ohio State University; this unit is being used to
assess the viability of waste streams from food processing
establishments, livestock operations, dairy operations, either
alone or in combination; and, the date generated by this
project will be used to evaluate the economic justification of
anaerobic digestion for specific applications. The non-federal
funds and sources provided to this project are as follows: The
State of Ohio has appropriated the following funds: $65,000
from State appropriations and $39,000 from private sources for
a total of $104,000 in 2002; for 2003, a total of $244,125 were
from non-federal sources; for fiscal years 2004, non-federal
sources were not provided. In 2005, $50,000 was provided; and
for 2006, non-federal funds in the amount of $100,000 will be
contributed by the State of Ohio.
Nursery production.--The Committee provides $295,000 for
nursery production in Rhode Island. The original goal of this
project was to provide enhanced services and outreach
programming to growers. Technical and extension support
personnel were hired to increase outreach activities and
diagnostic services to the Rhode Island green industry. An
increased number of onsite problem solving visits were made to
nurseries, greenhouses, and landscapers. Signage and an
interpretive brochure were developed to enhance the educational
value of the University of Rhode Island's plant demonstration
garden. Information is now readily available to growers on the
university's websites. Demonstrations of new technology are
conducted. More than 100 accessioned trees and shrubs were
planted, their performance is being assessed, and propagules
are available to cooperating nurseries and arboreta. A new tree
and shrub breeding program was initiated in 2005 to create
improved, sustainable landscape plants. Application of research
on reducing deer damage should have an immediate impact by
reducing costs associated with damage by five to ten percent.
The results of research on irrigation practices and modified
container media requirements will increase production potential
and reduce production costs by 10-30 percent. Our research on
plant growth and marketing will boost industry sales and
increase production potential by identifying plants that will
stimulate consumer interest and increase purchasing. At the
same time, information and practices for optimizing production
potential of new crops will be generated for growers. It is
estimated that new crops information and production standards
will increase industry sales by 5-10 percent. Research on
reducing damage by deer in nurseries and landscapes should have
an immediate impact of $3,000 to $15,000 per nursery, and an
overall impact in nurseries and homeowner landscapes through
reduced costs associated with lost plants and reduced
production of 5-10 percent. Research on sustainable roadside
planters will have an impact on public enjoyment of scenic
bikeways and associate thoroughfares. Farm safety programming
was expanded to emphasize Lyme disease prevention, recognition,
and treatment. Programs were conducted to promote crop
insurance participation. Technology upgrades to Demonstration
Greenhouse System, Media Analysis facility, and demonstration
micro-irrigation system and continuously implemented.
Continuous implementation of signage, landscape alterations,
lighting and irrigation to increase value of Learning Landscape
to the industry occurs. All diagnostic activities--turf, ticks,
plant clinic, turf clinic, etc. have been consolidated. The
source and amount of non-federal funds are as follows: in
fiscal year 2003, the Nursery Industry contributed an estimated
$200,000 in improvements installed in the Learning Landscape, a
four-acre plant demonstration garden, $20,000 as an endowment,
and $50,000 as start-up funds for a new position. In fiscal
year 2004, the Rhode Island Nursery and Landscape Association
contributed $55,000 to fund the development of the plant
breeding program and to get research underway at the University
of Rhode Island evaluating the impact of invasive species
regulations on the nursery industry in Rhode Island.
Pilot technology transfer projects.--The Committee provides
$300,000 for pilot technology transfer projects in Oklahoma and
Mississippi. The primary goal of these programs is to
contribute to an increase in business productivity, employment
opportunities, and per capita income by increasing information
technology capital, locally and throughout the states, and
applying information from Federal laboratories, Cooperative
Extension, and other university departments and non-campus
agencies. Specific program objectives are to enhance
profitability for existing enterprises; aid in the acquisition,
creation, or expansion of business and industry in the area;
establish an effective response process for technological and
industrial-related inquires; devise effective communication
procedures regarding the program for the relevant audiences;
and provide one-on-one and on-site engineering, technology, and
management assistance to small-scale rural manufacturers. The
Oklahoma Alliance for Manufacturing Excellence--Oklahoma's
Manufacturing Extension Partnership--has received national
acclaim for its noteworthy and effective partnership with the
land-grant university.
In 2005, the impact of the Integrated Technology Transfer
and Applications Engineering Programs resulted in the following
benefits: Sales increased $6,908,800; Sales retained that would
have otherwise been lost, $3,360,000; Cost savings, $2,322,443;
Costs avoided, $884,200; 35 new jobs created at $75,511 per job
equaling $2,642,885; 50 jobs retained at $75,511 per job
equaled $3,775,550; Investment in new plant facilities and
equipment, $2,559,200; Total benefits equaling $22,453,078.
Benefits resulting from the Mississippi project during 2005
include: Spanish language materials being made available via
the Internet; multi-media learning modules added to Internet;
digital image diagnosis of insect and plant disease; training
of small business owners to develop web-based business sites.
Numerous technologies, such as microcomputers, satellite
receiver systems, geographic information systems, remote
sensing technology, the Internet, computer networking, cellular
communications, precision farming, specialized software, etc.,
have been evaluated and integrated into new and existing
Cooperative Extension educational programs. All 82 county
offices have been linked into a wide-area network. Since
project inception, rural communities and governments have
received hundreds of educational workshops to teach clientele
how to best utilize these technologies.
For every Federal dollar invested in the Technology
Transfer Project, the Oklahoma program currently leverages more
than $6 in state support for engineering assistance to small
manufacturers. In addition, Oklahoma State University is
providing administrative support for the program through
faculty and staff salaries. Oklahoma State funding in 2005 was
$524,000. Mississippi State University has provided matching
funds at least equal to the amount of Federal funds in the past
ten years. For example, equipment expenditures for the
Cooperative Extension Service to support new and emerging
technology integration in the past two and a half years alone
have been approximately $1,500,000.
INTEGRATED ACTIVITIES
2006 appropriation.................................... $55,234,000
2007 budget estimates................................. 19,120,000
Provided in the bill.................................. 55,234,000
Comparison:
2006 appropriation................................ - - -
2007 budget estimate.............................. +36,114,000
COMMITTEE PROVISIONS
For Integrated Activities, the Committee provides an
appropriation of $55,234,000, the same as the amount available
for fiscal year 2006 and an increase of $36,114,000 above the
budget request.
The following table reflects the amount provided by the
Committee:
OUTREACH FOR SOCIALLY DISADVANTAGED FARMERS
2006 appropriation.................................... $5,940,000
2007 budget estimate.................................. 6,930,000
Provided in the bill.................................. 6,930,000
Comparison:
2006 appropriation................................ +990,000
2007 budget estimate.............................. - - -
COMMITTEE PROVISIONS
For the Outreach for Socially Disadvantaged Farmers and
Ranchers Program, the Committee provides an appropriation of
$6,930,000, an increase of $990,000 above the amount available
for fiscal year 2006 and the same amount as the budget request.
Office of the Under Secretary for Marketing and Regulatory Programs
2006 appropriation.................................... $717,000
2007 budget estimate.................................. 741,000
Provided in the bill.................................. 741,000
Comparison:
2006 appropriation................................ +24,000
2007 budget estimate.............................. - - -
COMMITTEE PROVISIONS
For the Office of the Under Secretary for Marketing and
Regulatory Programs, the Committee provides an appropriation of
$741,000, an increase of $24,000 above the amount available for
fiscal year 2006 and the same amount as the budget request.
Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service
SALARIES AND EXPENSES
2006 appropriation ................................... $807,306,000
2007 budget estimate \1\.............................. 945,153,000
Provided in the bill.................................. 898,116,000
Comparison:
2006 appropriation................................ +90,810,000
2007 budget estimate.............................. -47,037,000
\1\ The budget estimate does not include proposed user fees in the
amount of $8,221,000.
COMMITTEE PROVISIONS
For the Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service,
Salaries and Expenses, the Committee recommends an
appropriation of $898,116,000, an increase of $90,810,000 above
the amount appropriated in fiscal year 2006, and a decrease of
$47,037,000 below the budget request.
The recommendation does not include $8,221,000 in Animal
Welfare Act user fees, as proposed in the President's budget.
The Committee does not recommend establishing such fees in
annual appropriations acts, but will consider such fees should
they achieve authorization.
The following table reflects the amounts provided by the
Committee:
To maintain agency functions the Committee provides the
requested amount for cost of living requirements.
Funding for indemnities is provided for the brucellosis,
tuberculosis, chronic wasting disease, and scrapie programs.
The funding is made available until expended, so that unused
indemnity funds can be carried over to benefit the program.
High Pathogenic Avian Influenza (HPAI).--The Committee
recommendation includes $47,205,000 for the HPAI program. In
addition, the funding provided in the fiscal year 2006
supplemental funding for avian influenza, $80,280,000, is
available until September 30, 2007. Of the supplemental
funding, the agency is expected to carry over approximately
$14,000,000 into fiscal year 2007.
The Committee appreciates the agency's quick response in
designing and implementing an HPAI program to protect against
the H5N1 strain of the avian influenza virus internationally
and domestically. The recommended funding includes: $17,503,000
for domestic surveillance and diagnosis, including anti-
smuggling activities; $14,160,000 for wildlife surveillance;
$10,992,000 for preparedness and communication, which includes
funds for the veterinary vaccine stockpile; and $4,550,000 for
international capacity building, primarily for in-country
experts in those places most affected by the disease. APHIS is
collaborating with the Food and Agriculture Organization of the
United Nations to identify critical needs in other countries'
abilities to find HPAI and prevent its spread.
Agricultural Quarantine Inspection.--The Committee includes
an appropriation of $25,822,000 for this program, including
$2,512,000 for the National Germplasm and Biotechnology
Laboratory, as requested.
Fruit Fly Exclusion and Detection.--The Committee
recommendation includes an increase of $4,541,000 for fruit fly
exclusion and detection, within which is an increase of
$4,000,000 for Medfly. Within the total is $3,563,000 for
Mexican fruitfly control in Texas, as requested.
Import-Export.--The recommendation provides $12,149,000 for
the program, of which $1,000,000 is for continued funding to
enhance inspection and surveillance activities for products
entering California.
Animal health monitoring and surveillance.--The Committee
provides $147,418,000 for animal health monitoring and
surveillance, an increase of $1,443,000 over the fiscal year
2006 amount.
Bovine Spongiform Encephalopathy (BSE) surveillance.--The
Department has been conducting an enhanced BSE surveillance
program since fiscal year 2004. To fund the enhanced program, a
total of $143.9 million has been transferred from the Commodity
Credit Corporation (CCC): $80.4 million in fiscal year 2004,
$42.1 million in fiscal year 2005 and $21.4 million in fiscal
year 2006. In addition, appropriated funds over that time
period have totaled approximately $42 million. As of April 28,
2006, APHIS has completed 696,644 tests as part of the enhanced
program, and is still conducting about 7,000 per week. The
design for the regular or ``maintenance'' surveillance program
is not complete. The fiscal year 2007 budget request for APHIS
includes $17,243,000 for BSE surveillance, which supports
40,000 tests per year. The Committee recommendation includes
full funding of the request. However, the Committee continues
to closely monitor the adoption of the maintenance surveillance
program. The Secretary announced on April 26, 2006, the release
of the report ``Summary of Enhanced BSE Surveillance in the
United States,'' and stated that the report would be undergoing
peer review in May 2006. He further noted that the conclusions
of that peer review would help to determine the design of the
maintenance BSE surveillance, and that any surveillance plan
adopted would meet or exceed international standards. The
Committee requests a complete briefing on the final plan before
its adoption.
Swine surveillance.--The Committee is concerned about the
representation of the swine industry in APHIS' surveillance
plans. Last year, funding was provided for the National Animal
Health Monitoring System to conduct the fourth national swine
study. The Committee encourages APHIS to continue to include
swine in its surveillance plans, to expand current market swine
surveillance so that a sufficient percentage of market hogs are
included.
Animal Identification.--Through fiscal year 2006, a total
of $84,700,000 has been provided for a National Animal
Identification System. Of that amount, approximately
$27,000,000 has been used for cooperative agreements with
states and Tribes to assist in registration. The fiscal year
2007 request is for $33,107,000. Until August 2005, the
Department had stated that program data would be held
centrally; however, the Secretary announced in August that data
would be held by private entities that meet certain
requirements. In addition, the program is voluntary, but there
have been mixed signals about participation becoming mandatory
in the future. At least one state has made data collection
compulsory, and states have the discretion to charge fees for
registration. Given these management challenges, and the fact
that just 10 percent of the premises have been registered, the
Committee has concerns about the program. Premises
identification is a necessary building block, but in itself
does not offer any means of animal traceback. The Committee
feels that all interested parties would benefit from a
transparent process of decision making on the national plans
for animal identification and therefore requires that the
Secretary use an Advanced Notice of Proposed Rulemaking to
state the Administration's plans for animal identification, and
to solicit feedback from all interested parties.
The Committee directs that not less than $2,000,000 be
provided for a cooperative agreement with the Wisconsin
Livestock Identification Consortium. This project supports the
national plan to establish an animal and livestock 48-hour
traceback system.
The Committee provides not less than $600,000 for the Farm
Animal Identification and Records (FAIR) program. Both the
Wisconsin consortium and the FAIR project should also be
eligible to apply for cooperative agreement funding for animal
identification, which is funded within the NAIS total.
The Committee provides $300,000 to implement a database of
North Carolina's agriculture industry for rapid response
capabilities.
The Committee provides funding for the New Mexico Syndromic
Validation Program at $450,000 to support early detection of
pathogens in animals and prevent their spread.
The Committee provides $550,000 for Iowa State University's
work regarding risk assessments of genetically modified
agricultural products.
Emergency management systems.--The Committee provides
$4,359,000 for Field emergency coordinators and $4,900,000 for
the vaccine bank.
Pest detection.--The Committee provides an increase of
$7,186,000 for Pest Detection, including an increase of
$1,495,000 for surveys through the state-based Cooperative
Agricultural Pest Surveys system and an increase of $2,295,000
for surveillance.
The Committee provides $900,000 in funding to continue a
cooperative agreement with the California County Pest Detection
Augmentation Program.
Select Agents.--The total provided is an increase of
$1,839,000 over the fiscal year 2006 amount, as requested.
The Committee is concerned about the management issues
raised in audits conducted by the Office of the Inspector
General; in particular, about controls and security of select
agents. The Committee provides the full amount requested for
the Select Agents program, and experts resolution of all issues
raised by the OIG.
Biological Control.--The Committee recommendation includes
$9,683,000 for biological control, the same as the budget
request. Within that amount, funding is included to support the
Vine Mealy Bug control operations at no less than the current
level of $150,000.
Brucellosis.--The Committee continues to provide the fiscal
year 2006 funding level for the Greater Yellowstone Interagency
Brucellosis Committee to eliminate brucellosis from wildlife in
the Greater Yellowstone area.
Chronic wasting disease.--For chronic wasting disease, the
Committee provides $17,056,000. The Committee directs that of
this amount $1,750,000 shall go to the State of Wisconsin.
Cotton Pests.--The Committee recommendation includes the
consolidation of the Boll Weevil and Pink Bollworm line items
into a new Cotton Pests program, as requested. The total
provided is $40,269,000, to address boll weevil, pink bollworm,
and other cotton pests or diseases. This amount is $24,260,000
above the budget request.
Emerging plant pests.--The Committee expects the Secretary
of Agriculture to continue to use the authority provided in
this bill to transfer funds from the Commodity Credit
Corporation (CCC) for the arrest and eradication of animal and
plant pests and diseases that threaten American agriculture. By
providing funds in this account, the Committee is enhancing,
but not replacing, the use of CCC funding for emergency
outbreaks.
For emerging plant pests, the Committee includes
$114,793,000 an increase of $15,578,000 over the fiscal year
2006 level. The Committee provides the following amounts for
eradication and control activities: $38,623,000 for citrus
pests and diseases, $24,184,000 for Glassy-winged Sharpshooter/
Pierce's Disease, $20,000,000 for Emerald Ash Borer, $6,508,000
for Sudden Oak Death, $19,927,000 for Asian Long-horned Beetle,
and $2,751,000 for Karnal bunt.
The Committee provides $20,000,000 in this account for
control and eradication of the Emerald Ash Borer (EAB), which
is a $12,045,000 increase over the fiscal year 2006 level. In
addition, in April 2006, the Administration made $7,500,000
available from the Commodity Credit Corporation for the EAB
program. The Administration should continue the support of the
EAB program through appropriate and necessary use of the CCC.
The Committee expects the EAB program to focus on eradication
of outbreaks found in Ohio, Indiana, and the Upper Peninsula so
that EAB does not spread, and to take action to prevent any
means of spread.
For control of the Asian Long-horned Beetle (ALB), the
Committee provides an appropriation of $19,927,000, an increase
of $4,037,000 over last year's amount. ALB threatens all
hardwood trees, and is of great concern in the Northeast,
particularly in New York and New Jersey.
The Committee provides $38,623,000 to the Citrus Health
Response Program (CHRP) to address the immediate threat of
exotic citrus pests and diseases, perform regulatory oversight
of fruit certification for shipment both domestically and
internationally, protect the integrity of the citrus nursery
and budwood certification programs, and prevent the spread of
citrus pests and diseases.
The Committee encourages APHIS to monitor plan importations
for Sudden Oak Death (SOD), harmonize federal and state SOD
regulations, and to conduct outreach and education activities
with outdoor recreational users and commercial entities (such
as, construction companies) that could contribute to soil
movement as well as with affected SOD industries, including
nurseries.
The Committee provides $800,000 for hydrilla eradication
around Lake Gaston in Virginia and North Carolina, and expects
APHIS to monitor the effectiveness of hydrilla eradication
around Smith Mountain Lake in Virginia.
Imported fire ant.--The Committee provides $2,140,000 for
imported fire ant of which $45,000 is for New Mexico.
Johne's Disease.--The Committee provides $7,706,000 for
Johne's disease, which is $5,351,000 above the budget request.
Low Pathogenic Avian Influenza.--The Committee provides
$16,715,000, the same as the request, for activities relating
to the prevention, control, and eradication of Low Pathogenic
Avian Influenza (LPAI). Within the total amount, $2,823,000 is
to support surveillance through the National Poultry
Improvement Plan and $5,332,000 to support surveillance in live
bird markets. In addition, $12,000,000 for indemnities, which
was provided in fiscal year 2005, remains available to the
program.
The Committee notes for the third consecutive year that
APHIS has combated Low Pathogenic Avian Influenza through both
depopulation and vaccination, depending on individual
circumstances. An emergency vaccination protocol was agreed to
by APHIS and used most successfully after an outbreak on a farm
in Connecticut for which there has been no indemnification. The
Committee notes that the Secretary of Agriculture has the
authority to utilize funds of the Commodity Credit Corporation
or other authority to compensate producers for vaccination
costs and related flock losses previously incurred due to the
outbreak in Connecticut, and the resulting sequential
depopulation and restricted use of a USDA approved and
authorized avian influenza vaccine. The Committee expects APHIS
to act on its authority and utilize available funds, including
funds of the Commodity Credit Corporation, to indemnify
Connecticut producers this year who have previously filed a
claim for costs and losses related to this avian influenza
outbreak.
Wildlife services.--The Committee continues the fiscal year
2006 funding level for aviation safety and provides increases
for wildlife surveillance and wildlife services state
operations, as requested. The recommendation assumes the
continuation of current cost share levels for cooperators. The
Committee directs that, other than funding for the specific
items noted in this report, the funds provided in the Wildlife
Services line item are available for general operations needs.
The Committee continues to provide $1,240,000 for wolf
predation management, of which $1,065,000 is for Wisconsin,
Minnesota, and Michigan, and $175,000 is for New Mexico and
Arizona.
The Committee continues funding for the following projects:
$300,000 for Beaver management in North Carolina; $325,000 for
crop and aquaculture losses in southeast Missouri; $200,000 for
predation wildlife services in western and southside Virginia;
$150,000 for blackbird control in Louisiana; $1,324,000 for
predator control programs in Montana, Idaho, and Wyoming;
$1,000,000 for wildlife services in Texas; $300,000 for beaver
management and damage in Wisconsin; $940,000 for brown tree
snake management in Guam; $400,000 for Hawaii and Guam
operations; $1,000,000 for cormorant control in New York;
$300,000 for cormorant control in Michigan and Ohio; and
maintains the fiscal year 2006 funding level for surveillance
in North Dakota.
The Committee provides a $1,000,000 increase above the
fiscal year 2006 level for a cooperative rabies oral rabies
vaccination program, for a total of $24,344,000. The Committee
expects APHIS to use program funding to appropriately address
rabies in Broward County, Florida.
Within the Aviation Safety activities, the Committee
encourages APHIS to expand research work into what can be done
to deter birds from the increasing number of wind turbine
generators around the nation.
Veterinary Diagnostics.--Within the total provided for
Veterinary Diagnostics, the fiscal year 2006 amount is
continued for an Agricultural Biosecurity Center at Kansas
State University. The funding level supports not less than
$5,500,000 for the National Animal Health Laboratory Network.
Wildlife services methods development.--The Committee
recommendation includes $2,000,000 for the requested Avian
influenza initiative to study the virus in swine. The Committee
provides $650,000 in funding for the National Wildlife Research
Station in Kingsville, Texas, to address emerging infectious
disease issues associated with wildlife populations.
The Committee provides funding to continue the cooperative
agreement between the Hawaii Agricultural Research Center and
the National Wildlife Research Center in Hilo at the fiscal
year 2006 level.
Animal welfare.--The Committee recommendation includes an
increase of $1,839,000 to further improve Animal Welfare Act
enforcement, for a total of $19,142,000, as requested. This
responds to Animal Care's significantly increased workload as a
result of rapid growth in the number of new licensees and
registrants.
BUILDINGS AND FACILITIES
2006 appropriation.................................... $4,946,000
2007 budget estimate.................................. 6,431,000
Provided in the bill.................................. 5,946,000
Comparison:
2006 appropriation................................ +1,000,000
2007 budget estimate.............................. -485,000
COMMITTEE PROVISIONS
For Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service, Buildings
and Facilities, the Committee provides an appropriation of
$5,946,000, an increase of $1,000,000 above the amount
available for fiscal year 2006 and a decrease of $485,000 below
the budget request.
Agricultural Marketing Service
MARKETING SERVICES
2006 appropriation.................................... $74,622,000
2007 budget estimate \1\.............................. 81,498,000
Provided in the bill.................................. 77,269,000
Comparison:
2006 appropriation................................ +2,647,000
2007 budget estimate.............................. -4,229,000
\1\ The budget estimate does not include proposed user fees in the
amount of $2,212,000.
COMMITTEE PROVISIONS
For Marketing Services of the Agricultural Marketing
Service, the Committee provides an appropriation of
$77,269,000, an increase of $2,647,000 above the amount
available for fiscal year 2006 and a decrease of $4,229,000
below the budget request.
Included in the appropriated amount are the requested pay
cost increases and a program increase of $432,000 for the
Federal Seed Program. The Committee recommendation does not
include the proposed termination of the Microbiological Data
Program. It is continued at the fiscal year 2006 level.
The Committee does not provide the increase requested for a
new commodity purchasing computer system in this account. The
Committee addresses the issue under the Section 32 Account.
The Committee provides an increase of $1,137,000 for
activities relating to Organic Standards for a total of
$3,130,000.
The recommendation does not include $2,212,000 in
standardization user fees, as proposed in the President's
budget. The Committee does not recommend establishing such fees
in annual appropriations acts, but will consider such fees
should they achieve authorization.
The Committee continues to provide $1,000,000 in this
account for the Farmers' Market Promotion Program to make
grants to eligible entities for projects to establish, expand,
and promote farmers' markets. The Committee directs that no
entity should receive more than $75,000 in funding from the
program, and requests a report on the grants made, including
the entity, purpose, and location, and the administrative costs
of the program by March 31, 2007.
LIMITATION ON ADMINISTRATIVE EXPENSES
2006 limitation....................................... ($65,667,000)
2007 budget limitation................................ (62,211,000)
Provided in the bill.................................. (62,211,000)
Comparison:
2006 limitation................................... -3,456,000
2007 budget limitation............................ - - -
COMMITTEE PROVISIONS
For a Limitation on Administrative Expenses of the
Agricultural Marketing Service, the Committee provides
$62,211,000, a decrease of $3,456,000 below the amount
available for fiscal year 2006 and the same as the budget
request.
FUNDS FOR STRENGTHENING MARKETS, INCOME, AND SUPPLY
(SECTION 32)
MARKETING AGREEMENT AND ORDERS
2006 appropriation \1\................................ ($16,055,000)
2007 budget estimate \2\.............................. (4,106,000)
Provided in the bill \3\.............................. (16,425,000)
Comparison:
2006 appropriation................................ +370,000
2007 budget estimate.............................. +12,319,000
\1\ Does not include $20,000,000 in funding for commodity system
replacement.
\2\ The budget estimate does not include proposed user fees of
$12,000,000.
\3\ Does not include $9,900,000 in funding for commodity system
replacement.
The following table reflects the status of this fund for
fiscal years 2005 through 2007:
COMMITTEE PROVISIONS
For the Marketing Agreements and Orders Program, the
Committee provides a transfer from section 32 funds of
$16,425,000, an increase of $370,000 above the amount available
for fiscal year 2006 and an increase of $12,319,000 above the
budget request.
The Committee provides not less than $9,900,000 in funding
for the Web-based Supply Chain Management System (WBSCM) in
this account.
The Committee reiterates its position that administrative
expenses to support section 32 purposes are expressly allowed,
and that purchase and maintenance of a computer system
supporting commodity purchases is an authorized administrative
expense. Development and maintenance of all previous computer
systems to support commodity purchase, including the existing
Processed Commodity Inventory Management System (PCIMS), have
been funded through section 32.
PAYMENTS TO STATES AND POSSESSIONS
2006 appropriation.................................... $3,809,000
2007 budget estimate.................................. 1,334,000
Provided in the bill.................................. 1,334,000
Comparison:
2006 appropriation................................ -2,475,000
2007 budget estimate.............................. - - -
COMMITTEE PROVISIONS
For Payments to States and Possessions, the Committee
provides an appropriation of $1,334,000, a decrease of
$2,475,000 below the amount available for fiscal year 2006, and
the same as the budget request.
Grain Inspection, Packers and Stockyards Administration
SALARIES AND EXPENSES
2006 appropriation.................................... $38,059,000
2007 budget estimate \1\.............................. 21,844,000
Provided in the bill.................................. 39,737,000
Comparison:
2006 appropriation................................ +1,678,000
2007 budget estimate.............................. +17,893,000
\1\ The budget estimate does not include proposed user fees in the
amount of $19,663,000.
COMMITTEE PROVISIONS
For Grain Inspection, Packers and Stockyards
Administration, the Committee provides $39,737,000, an increase
of $1,678,000 above the amount available for fiscal year 2006,
and an increase of $17,893,000 above the budget request.
The recommendation does not include $19,663,000 in grain
standardization and Packers and Stockyards licensing fees, as
proposed in the President's budget. The Committee does not
recommend establishing such fees in annual appropriations acts,
but will consider such fees should they achieve authorization.
The Committee notes that the Office of Inspector General
completed an audit of the Packers and Stockyards Program
operations in December 2005. The findings included significant
concerns about program management. The Administrator of GIPSA
and the OIG reached management decision on all ten
recommendations. Corrective actions are complete on six of the
findings; actions on the remaining four are scheduled for
completion in June 2006 and September 2006. The Committee is
encouraged by this commitment and progress, and expects an
update upon completion of all recommendations.
The Committee continues its interest in the study on
marketing arrangements that GIPSA has undertaken with
$4,500,000 provided in fiscal year 2004 for that purpose. The
Committee has been notified that the draft final report is to
be completed in November 2006, and the report will be finalized
shortly after that. Until the study is finalized and a briefing
conducted for the Committee, the Committee directs GIPSA to
provide regular reports on its progress.
Product Verification Protocols Pilot.--Congress has funded
a product verification protocols pilot since fiscal year 2003.
This is the final year of the pilot to establish controls for
regulated seed varieties and to augment grain marketing. The
Committee provides $500,000 to complete the program with the
Missouri and Illinois Corn Growers Associations and requires a
final report on the performance of the pilot and its effect on
the industry.
LIMITATION ON INSPECTION AND WEIGHING SERVICES EXPENSES
2006 limitation....................................... ($42,463,000)
2007 budget limitation................................ (42,463,000)
Provided in the bill.................................. (42,463,000)
Comparison:
2006 limitation................................... - - -
2007 budget limitation............................ - - -
COMMITTEE PROVISIONS
The Committee includes a limitation on inspection and
weighing services expenses of $42,463,000, the same as the
amount available for fiscal year 2006 and the same as the
budget request. The bill includes authority to exceed by 10
percent the limitation on inspection and weighing services with
notification to the Committees on Appropriations. This allows
for flexibility if export activities require additional
supervision and oversight or other uncontrollable factors
occur.
Office of the Under Secretary for Food Safety
2006 appropriation.................................... $596,000
2007 budget estimate.................................. 696,000
Provided in the bill.................................. 656,000
Comparison:
2006 appropriation................................ +60,000
2007 budget estimate.............................. -40,000
COMMITTEE PROVISIONS
For the Office of the Under Secretary for Food Safety, the
Committee provides an appropriation of $656,000, an increase of
$60,000 above the amount provided for fiscal year 2006 and a
decrease of $40,000 below the budget request.
Food Safety and Inspection Service
2006 appropriation.................................... $829,378,000
2007 budget estimate \1\.............................. 757,470,000
Provided in the bill.................................. 853,249,000
Comparison:
2006 appropriation................................ +23,871,000
2007 budget estimate.............................. +95,779,000
\1\ The budget estimate does not include proposed user fees in the
amount 5,000,000.
COMMITTEE PROVISIONS
For the Food Safety and Inspection Service, the Committee
provides an appropriation of $853,249,000, an increase of
$23,871,000 above the amount available for fiscal year 2006 and
an increase of $95,779,000 above the budget request.
The recommendation does not include $105,000,000 in meat
inspection user fees, as proposed in the President's budget.
The Committee does not recommend establishing such fees in
annual appropriations acts, but will consider such fees should
they achieve authorization.
The Committee provides the full amount requested to cover
pay costs, an increase of $16,625,000, for risk-based
management and control of Salmonella, an increase of
$2,600,000, and information technology to support inspection,
an increase of $1,886,000. The Committee provides an increase
of $4,200,000 for food defense activities, including $1,000,000
for the Food Emergency Response Network (FERN) and $3,200,000
for laboratory capacity and equipment. Within the base
resources provided is $5,000,000 for enforcement of The Humane
Methods of Slaughter Act, as included in the request. The
Committee recommendation includes the proposed cut of
$4,000,000 in the information technology line item as requested
in the budget.
The Committee directs that within the amount provided for
food safety and counterterrorism activities, priority should be
given to maintaining existing personnel and operations that are
critical to ensuring the safety of domestic and imported food,
rather than funding new functions, grants, or agreements.
The Food Safety Institute of the Americas (FSIA) has been a
component of FSIS since October 2004. Although the FSIA mission
is complementary to that of FSIS, the Committee considers FSIA
to be more closely aligned with the mission of the Foreign
Agricultural Service. Therefore, the Committee directs that
FSIA be transferred to the Foreign Agricultural Service, and
$500,000 is cut from the FSIS Account and provided to the
Foreign Agricultural Service to support the FSIA.
The Committee provides $2,000,000, the same as fiscal year
2006, for outsourcing of microbiological testing, which
supports the goal of establishing a continuous baseline for
risk assessment. The Committee expects the Department to
outsource the testing to private American Association for
Laboratory Accreditation International Standards Organization-
approved laboratories. The Committee directs FSIS to report on
the status of this project within 60 days of enactment.
The Committee provides $3,029,000, as requested, for Codex
Alimentarius activities, which are critical for maintaining
food safety worldwide and facilitating international trade and
$600,000, as requested, for the International Trade Data
System.
FARM ASSISTANCE PROGRAMS
Office of the Under Secretary for Farm and Foreign Agricultural
Services
2006 appropriation.................................... $629,000
2007 budget estimate.................................. 737,000
Provided in the bill.................................. 691,000
Comparison:
2006 appropriation................................ +62,000
2007 budget estimate.............................. -46,000
COMMITTEE PROVISIONS
For the Office of the Under Secretary for Farm and Foreign
Agricultural Services, the Committee provides an appropriation
of $691,000, an increase of $62,000 above the amount available
for fiscal year 2006 and a decrease of $46,000 below the budget
request.
Farm Service Agency
SALARIES AND EXPENSES
Transfer from
Appropriation program accts. Total, FSA, S&E
2006 appropriation...................................... $1,019,700,000 ($306,551,000) ($1,326,251,000)
2007 budget estimate.................................... 1,091,359,000 (319,294,000) (1,410,653,000)
Provided in the bill.................................... 1,053,760,000 (310,335,000) (1,364,095,000)
Comparison:
2006 appropriation.................................. +34,060,000 (+3,784,000) (+37,844,000)
2007 budget estimate................................ -37,599,000 (-8,959,000) (-46,558,000)
COMMITTEE PROVISIONS
For Salaries and Expenses of the Farm Service Agency (FSA),
the Committee provides an appropriation of $1,053,760,000 and
transfers from other accounts of $310,335,000, for a total
program level of $1,364,095,000. This is an increase of
$37,844,000 above the amount available for fiscal year 2006 and
a decrease of $46,558,000 below the budget request.
The Committee recommendation includes an additional
$25,922,000 for pay cost and $14,000,000 to modernize FSA
business processes needs and associated system requirements.
The Committee provides to the Administrator of the Farm
Service Agency, $24,000,000, the same as the fiscal year 2006
level, for the National Agricultural Imagery Program (NAIP).
This amount is in addition to any provided by cooperating funds
from any other federal, state, or local government funding for
NAIP. Of this amount, $1,500,000 is for the storage, security,
and dissemination technologies for NAIP.
The Committee retains statutory language on closure of any
local or county office of the Farm Service Agency.
STATE MEDIATION GRANTS
2006 appropriation.................................... $4,208,000
2007 budget estimate.................................. 4,208,000
Provided in the bill.................................. 4,208,000
Comparison:
2006 appropriation................................ - - -
2007 budget estimate.............................. - - -
COMMITTEE PROVISIONS
For State Mediation Grants, the Committee provides an
appropriation of $4,208,000 the same as the amount available in
fiscal year 2006 and the same as the budget request.
GRASSROOTS SOURCE WATER PROTECTION PROGRAM
2006 appropriation.................................... $3,713,000
2007 budget estimate.................................. - - -
Provided in the bill.................................. 3,713,000
Comparison:
2006 appropriation................................ - - -
2007 budget estimate.............................. +3,713,000
COMMITTEE PROVISIONS
For the Grassroots Source Water Protection Program, the
Committee provides an appropriation of $3,713,000, the same as
the amount available in fiscal year 2006 and an increase of
$3,713,000 above the budget request.
DAIRY INDEMNITY PROGRAM
2006 appropriation.................................... $100,000
2007 budget estimate.................................. 100,000
Provided in the bill.................................. 100,000
Comparison:
2006 appropriation................................ - - -
2007 budget estimate.............................. - - -
COMMITTEE PROVISIONS
For the Dairy Indemnity Program, the Committee provides an
appropriation of $100,000, the same as the amount available for
fiscal year 2006 and the same as the budget request.
AGRICULTURAL CREDIT INSURANCE FUND PROGRAM ACCOUNT
ESTIMATED LOAN LEVELS
2006 loan level....................................... $3,747,804,000
2007 budget estimate.................................. 3,427,470,000
Provided in the bill.................................. 3,551,864,000
Comparison:
2006 loan level................................... -195,940,000
2007 budget estimate.............................. +124,394,000
COMMITTEE PROVISIONS
Approximate loan levels provided by the Committee for
fiscal year 2007 for the Agricultural Credit Insurance Fund
Programs are: $1,422,750,000 for farm ownership loans, of which
$222,750,000 is for direct loans and $1,200,000,000 is for
guaranteed loans; $2,065,754,000 for farm operating loans, of
which $643,500,000 is for direct loans, $272,254,000 is for
guaranteed subsidized loans, and $1,150,000,000 is for
guaranteed unsubsidized loans; $3,960,000 for Indian tribe land
acquisition loans; and $59,400,000 for boll weevil eradication
loans.
The Committee has included language in this account to
restrict the fees FSA can collect for the guaranteed ownership
and operating loan programs. An additional $35,394,000 has been
provided to support the recommended guaranteed ownership and
operating loan levels.
AGRICULTURE CREDIT PROGRAMS--LOAN LEVELS
[In thousands of dollars]
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
FY 2007 Committee
FY 2006 level estimate provisions
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Farm loan programs:
Farm ownership:
Direct...................................................... $205,918 $222,750 $222,750
Guaranteed.................................................. 1,386,000 1,200,000 1,200,000
Farm operating:
Direct...................................................... 643,500 643,500 643,500
Unsubsidized guaranteed..................................... 1,138,500 1,025,610 1,150,000
Subsidized guaranteed....................................... 271,886 272,250 272,254
Indian tribe land acquisition................................... 2,000 3,960 3,960
Boll Weevil Eradication......................................... 100,000 59,400 59,400
-----------------------------------------------
Total, farm loans......................................... $3,747,804 $3,427,470 $3,551,864
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
ESTIMATED LOAN SUBSIDY AND ADMINISTRATIVE EXPENSES LEVELS
[In thousands of dollars]
Direct loan Guaranteed loan Administrative
subsidy subsidy expenses
2006 appropriation........................................... $74,652 $75,136 $7,920
2007 budget estimate......................................... 86,525 27,387 7,920
Provided in the bill......................................... 86,525 62,781 7,920
Comparison:
2006 appropriation....................................... +11,873 -12,355 - - -
2007 budget estimate..................................... - - - +35,394 - - -
The following table reflects the costs of loan programs
under credit reform:
AGRICULTURE CREDIT PROGRAMS--Subsidies
[In thousands of dollars]
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
FY 2006 FY 2007 Committee
estimate estimate provisions
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Loan subsidies:
Farm ownership:
Direct................................................ $10,544 $9,333 $9,333
Guaranteed............................................ 6,653 - - - 6,960
-----------------------------------------------------
Subtotal............................................ 17,197 9,333 16,293
=====================================================
Farm operating:
Direct................................................ 64,028 75,225 75,225
Guaranteed unsubsidized............................... 34,497 2,667 28,405
Guaranteed subsidized................................. 33,986 24,720 27,416
-----------------------------------------------------
Subtotal............................................ 132,511 102,612 131,046
=====================================================
Indian tribe land acquisition............................. 80 838 838
Bollweevil eradication loans.............................. - - - 1,129 1,129
-----------------------------------------------------
Total, Loan subsidies................................. $149,788 $113,912 $149,306
=====================================================
ACIF expenses:
Salaries and expenses................................... 301,545 311,737 307,338
Administrative expenses................................. 7,920 7,920 7,920
-----------------------------------------------------
Total, ACIF expenses.................................. $309,465 $319,657 $315,258
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Risk Management Agency
2006 appropriation.................................... $76,278,000
2007 budget estimate.................................. 80,797,000
Provided in the bill.................................. 77,197,000
Comparison:
2006 appropriation................................ 919,000
2007 budget estimate.............................. -3,600,000
COMMITTEE PROVISIONS
For the Risk Management Agency, the Committee provides an
appropriation of $77,197,000, an increase of $919,000 above the
amount available for fiscal year 2006 and a decrease of
$3,600,000 below the budget request.
CORPORATIONS
Federal Crop Insurance Corporation Fund
2006 appropriation............................. 1 $3,159,379,000
2007 budget estimate........................... 1 4,131,035,000
Provided in the bill........................... 1 4,131,035,000
Comparison:
2006 appropriation......................... +971,656,000
2007 budget estimate....................... - - -
\1\ Current indefinite appropriation.
COMMITTEE PROVISIONS
For the Federal Crop Insurance Corporation Fund, the
Committee provides an appropriation of such sums as may be
necessary (estimated to be $4,131,035,000 in the President's
fiscal year 2007 Budget Request), an increase of $971,656,000
above the amount provided in fiscal year 2006 and the same as
the budget request.
Commodity Credit Corporation Fund
REIMBURSEMENT FOR NET REALIZED LOSSES
2006 appropriation............................. 1 $25,690,000,000
2007 budget estimate........................... 1 19,740,000,000
Provided in the bill........................... \1\ 19,740,000,000
Comparison:
2006 appropriation......................... -5,950,000,000
2007 budget estimate....................... - - -
1 Current indefinite appropriation.
COMMITTEE PROVISIONS
For Reimbursement for Net Realized Losses to the Commodity
Credit Corporation, the Committee provides such sums as may be
necessary to reimburse for net realized losses sustained, but
not previously reimbursed (estimated to be $19,470,000,000 in
the President's fiscal year 2007 Budget Request), a decrease of
$5,950,000,000 below the amount provided in fiscal year 2006
and the same as the budget request.
HAZARDOUS WASTE MANAGEMENT
2006 limitation................................ $5,000,000
2007 budget estimate........................... 5,000,000
Provided in the bill........................... 5,000,000
Comparison:
2006 limitation............................ - - -
2007 budget estimate....................... - - -
COMMITTEE PROVISIONS
For CCC Hazardous Waste Management, the Committee provides
a limitation of $5,000,000, the same as the amount available
for fiscal year 2006 and the same as the budget request.
FARM STORAGE FACILITY LOANS PROGRAM ACCOUNT
2006 appropriation............................. - - -
2007 budget estimate........................... 4,560,000
Provided in the bill........................... - - -
Comparison:
2006 appropriation......................... - - -
2007 budget estimate....................... -4,560,000
COMMITTEE PROVISIONS
The Committee recommendation does not include $4,560,000
for the Farm Storage Facility Loans program as proposed in the
President's budget. The Farm Storage Facility Loans program has
been authorized since fiscal year 2000. This is the first
budget request to include administrative expenses in this
account. The budget request did not provide adequate
justification for the inclusion of administrative expenses in
this account.
TITLE II--CONSERVATION PROGRAMS
Office of the Under Secretary for Natural Resources and Environment
2006 appropriation.................................... $737,000
2007 budget estimate.................................. 957,000
Provided in the bill.................................. 810,000
Comparison:
2006 appropriation................................ +73,000
2007 budget estimate.............................. -147,000
COMMITTEE PROVISIONS
For the Office of the Under Secretary for Natural Resources
and Environment, the Committee provides an appropriation of
$810,000, an increase of $73,000 above the amount available for
fiscal year 2006 and a decrease of $147,000 below the budget
request.
Natural Resources Conservation Service
CONSERVATION OPERATIONS
2006 appropriation.................................... $831,124,000
2007 budget estimate.................................. 744,877,000
Provided in the bill.................................. 791,498,000
Comparison:
2006 appropriation................................ -39,626,000
2007 budget estimate.............................. +46,621,000
COMMITTEE PROVISIONS
For Conservation Operations, the Committee provides an
appropriation of $791,498,000, a decrease of $39,626,000 below
the amount available for fiscal year 2006 and an increase of
$46,621,000 above the budget request. The Committee
recommendation includes not more than $94,170,800 for National
Headquarters salaries and expenses, as requested.
The Committee provides $27,225,000 for the Grazing Lands
Conservation Initiative, instead of no funding, as proposed in
the request. The Committee recommendation includes the
requested amounts, as follows: $10,588,000 for the Snow Survey
and Water Supply Forecasting program, $10,678,000 for Plant
Materials Centers, and $89,291,000 for the Soil Surveys
Program. For Conservation Technical Assistance, $653,716,000 is
provided. The recommendation for each program includes pay
costs, as requested. The Committee recommendation includes
funding for one American Heritage River navigator position on
the Hudson River.
State funding allocations.--The Committee is concerned that
funding allocations to the States are being reduced in
proportion to Congressional earmarks funded in the Conservation
Operations account. The Committee directs the Chief of the
NRCS, in making the fiscal year 2007 Conservation Operations
funding allocations to the States, to treat Congressional
earmarks as additions to the States' funding allocation. The
Committee directs the NRCS to provide a report to the Committee
on Appropriations, not later than 45 days after the enactment
of this Act, including the following: fiscal year 2006
Conservation Operations allocation by State, fiscal year 2007
Conservation Operations allocation by State, the fiscal year
2007 Congressional earmarks by State, and the total
conservation operations allocation by State. In addition, the
Chief of the NRCS is directed to inform the Committee
immediately about any changes to the formula or process by
which the base state allocations are made.
Conservation Technical Assistance Projects.--Funding for
fiscal year 2006 projects is not continued in fiscal year 2007
unless specifically mentioned in this report. The following
funds are directed to be used in cooperative agreements,
continued with the same cooperator entities as in the fiscal
year 2006 agreements, except as noted: National Water
Management Center (AR)--$2,750,000; Mojave Water Agency (CA)
non-native plant removal--$2,000,000; Monterey Bay Sanctuary--
$600,000; Municipal Water District of Orange County for
efficient irrigation (CA)--$200,000; Cooperative Agreement with
Tufts University to improve conservation practices (CT)--
$480,000; Georgia Soil and Water Conservation Commission
Cooperative Agreement--$3,600,000; Community Nutrient
Management Facilities (GA)--$350,000; Idaho One Plan--$200,000;
Trees Forever Program (IL)--$100,000; Illinois River Basin--
$600,000 through EQIP; Hungry Canyon/Loess Hills Erosion
Control/Western Iowa--$1,200,000; Trees Forever Program (IA)--
$100,000; CEMSA w/Iowa Soybean Association--$431,500; Technical
assistance to providing grants to Soil Conservation Districts
in Kentucky--$1,000,000; cooperative agreement with Louisiana
State University on effectiveness of agriculture and forestry
(LA)--$400,000; False River sedimentation/Bayou Sere (LA)--
$200,000; Chesapeake Bay activities--$6,000,000; Weed It Now-
Taconic Mountains (MA/NY/CT)--$200,000; cooperative agreement
with New York Nature Conservancy for the Adirondack Park
Invasive Plant Program (NY)--$100,000; Choctaw County (MS)
feasibility study for surface impoundment--$250,000; Upper
White River Water Quality Project Office in southern Missouri--
$455,073; State conservation cost share program (NJ)--
$1,000,000; Pastureland Management/Rotational Grazing (NY)--
$600,000; Best management practices/Skaneateles and Owasco
Watersheds (NY)--$325,000; Address non-point pollution in
Onondaga and Oneida Lake Watersheds (NY)--$500,000; Technical
assistance to livestock/poultry industry (NC)--$450,000; Maumee
Watershed Hydrological Study and Flood Mitigation Plan (OH)--
$1,000,000; Study to characterize land use change while
preserving natural resources in cooperation with Clemson
University (SC)--$900,000; Bexar, Medina, Uvalde Counties
irrigation in Edwards Aquifer (TX)--$500,000; Field office
telecommunications advanced pilot program (TX)--$2,400,000;
Range vegetation pilot project, Ft. Hood (TX)--$500,000; Texas
Water Resources Institute cooperative agreement for Tarrant
County--$500,000 and Hood County--$200,000 (TX); Design/
implement natural stream restoration initiatives (WV)--
$800,000; Soil survey geographic database in the Mid-Atlantic
Highlands (WV)--$200,000; Grazing Lands Initiative/Wisconsin
Department of Agriculture--$950,000; On-farm Management Systems
Evaluation Network--$250,000; Audubon at Home Pilot Program--
$500,000; Operation Oak Program to restore hardwoods--$400,000;
Suwannee, Dixie, and Lafayette Counties dairy and poultry waste
treatment (FL)--$1,000,000; Long Island Sound watershed
initiative (NY)--$200,000; Pace University Land Use Law center
(NY)--$200,000; Erosion Control and Stabilization for Hudson
River shoreline at Village of Tarrytown (NY)--$250,000;
cooperative agreement with the Green Institute (FL)--$400,000;
cooperative agreement with Sand County Foundation (WI)--
$900,000; Soil survey mapping project (WY)--$300,000; and
National Fish and Wildlife Foundation Partnerships--$3,000,000.
Animal Feeding Operations Pilot Projects.--The Committee
provides $6,000,000 for the management and implementation of
pilot projects for innovative technology systems resulting in a
75 percent reduction in nutrients of waste stream discharged by
animal feeding operations to be managed by Farm Pilot Project
Coordination, Inc.
The Committee continues funding of $2,400,000 for the West
Texas advanced field telecommunications pilot. This project has
been used to evaluate and test telecommunication solutions to
improve NRCS operations. The pilot has contributed to
development of an online Web Soil Survey and the ProTracts
system. According to NRCS estimates, the benefit of
implementation of these programs nationwide is $25 million per
year. Having a mobile capability for surveys was also helpful
to USDA after the hurricanes of 2005. The advanced phase of the
pilot is to support development of an NRCS ``virtual'' office,
with the capability of accessing all data needed from a mobile
unit, and writing contracts on-site. West Texas has been an
excellent location for development and testing, with
exceptional staff, and benefits accruing to the national
program at a 10:1 ratio. NRCS is encouraged to match the
funding provided for this project to address the Service's
national needs for efficient web-based customer support.
Plant Materials Centers.--The Committee recognizes the
valuable work of the Kika de la Garza Plant Materials Center
and commends the Department for its recognition of this
Center's contributions. The Committee directs the Department to
fund this Center at no less than the FY2006 level.
WATERSHED SURVEYS AND PLANNING
2006 appropriation.................................... $6,022,000
2007 budget estimate.................................. - - -
Provided in the bill.................................. 6,022,000
Comparison:
2006 appropriation................................ - - -
2007 budget estimate.............................. +6,022,000
COMMITTEE PROVISIONS
For Watershed Surveys and Planning, the Committee provides
an appropriation of $6,022,000, the same as the amount
available for fiscal year 2006 and an increase of $6,022,000
above the budget request.
WATERSHED AND FLOOD PREVENTION OPERATIONS
2006 appropriation.................................... $74,250,000
2007 budget estimate.................................. - - -
Provided in the bill.................................. 40,000,000
Comparison:
2006 appropriation................................ -34,250,000
2007 budget estimate.............................. +40,000,000
COMMITTEE PROVISIONS
For Watershed and Flood Prevention Operations, the
Committee provides an appropriation of $40,000,000, a decrease
of $34,250,000 below fiscal year 2006 and an increase of
$40,000,000 above the budget request. Language is included
which limits the amount spent on technical assistance to not
more than $20,000,000.
The Committee is aware of and expects progress to continue
and/or to provide financial/technical assistance for the next
phase for the following projects: Lake Okeechobee Watershed
Project (FL); Wailuka-Alenaio Watershed (HI); Upcountry Maui
Watershed (HI); Honey Creek (IN); Madison County Water Supply
Project Phase II (IA); Soap Creek (IA); Lyon's Creek Watershed
No. 41 (KS); Doyle Creek (KS); Lower Elk River and Upper Walnut
North Watersheds (KS); Pigeon Roost Creek project, Jackson
County (KY); Kagman Watershed, Commonwealth of the Northern
Marianas; Turkey Creek (OK); Repaupo Creek Project (NJ);
Callicoon Creek Watershed (NY); Esopus Creek (NY); Neshaminy
Creek Watershed Project, Bucks County (PA); Tuplehocken Creek
Watershed (PA); Lower Colorado River water conservation project
(TX); Four pilot projects in North Florida related to dairy and
poultry cleanup efforts (FL); Big Creek (Tri-County) Watershed
Project (TX); Big Cypress Reservation Water Conservation
project (FL) as part of Everglades restoration; and Buena Vista
Watershed (VA).
WATERSHED REHABILITATION PROGRAM
2006 appropriation.................................... $31,245,000
2007 budget estimate.................................. 15,300,000
Provided in the bill.................................. 31,245,000
Comparison:
2006 appropriation................................ - - -
2007 budget estimate.............................. +15,945,000
COMMITTEE PROVISIONS
For the Watershed Rehabilitation Program, the Committee
provides an appropriation of $31,245,000, the same as the
amount available for fiscal year 2006 and an increase of
$15,945,000 above the budget request.
RESOURCE CONSERVATION AND DEVELOPMENT
2006 appropriation.................................... $50,787,000
2007 budget estimate.................................. 25,933,000
Provided in the bill.................................. 50,787,000
Comparison:
2006 appropriation................................ - - -
2007 budget estimate.............................. +24,854,000
COMMITTEE PROVISIONS
For Resource Conservation and Development, the Committee
provides an appropriation of $50,787,000, the same as the
amount available for fiscal year 2006 and an increase of
$24,854,000 above the budget request.
The recommendation includes funding for each of the 375
Resource Conservation and Development (RC&D) Councils to have a
Federal coordinator. The budget request proposes cutting the
number of coordinators by half, and having coordinators serve
several councils. The Committee notes that no pilot test or
cost analysis was conducted to determine the feasibility of
such an action, or the potential effect on Council performance.
This is a concern, considering that the coordinator plays an
important role in leveraging Federal funding to meet local
needs. According to data provided by NRCS for the Record,
Federal funding to Councils is matched by non-Federal funding
at an eight-to-one ratio; in fiscal year 2005, Federal funding
to councils totaled $51,641,000; non-Federal assistance totaled
$416,027,000.
The Committee requests that NRCS continue to work with the
Councils to develop appropriate measures of effectiveness for
both conservation and economic development. Therefore future
budget proposals can be based on the effectiveness and
performance of the program.
The Committee expects the NRCS to promptly fill RC&D
coordinator vacancies, and to allocate funding equitably among
the existing councils.
The Committee has included bill language related to a
cooperative agreement with a national association.
The Committee has included bill language limiting the
amount that can be spent at national headquarters from this
account.
Healthy Forests Reserve program
2006 appropriation.................................... $2,475,000
2007 budget estimate.................................. 2,475,000
Provided in the bill.................................. - - -
Comparison:
2006 appropriation................................ -2,475,000
2007 budget estimate.............................. -2,475,000
COMMITTEE PROVISIONS
The Committee recommendation does not include $2,475,000
for the Healthy Forests Reserve Program as proposed in the
President's budget.
TITLE III--RURAL DEVELOPMENT PROGRAMS
Office of the Under Secretary for Rural Development
2006 appropriation.................................... $629,000
2007 budget estimate.................................. 823,000
Provided in the bill.................................. 692,000
Comparison:
2006 appropriation................................ +63,000
2007 budget estimate.............................. -131,000
COMMITTEE PROVISIONS
For the Office of the Under Secretary for Rural
Development, the Committee provides an appropriation of
$692,000, an increase of $63,000 above the amount available for
fiscal year 2006 and a decrease of $131,000 below the budget
request.
The Committee directs the Under Secretary to give
consideration to the following projects or organizations
requesting financial and/or technical assistance, and grants
and/or loans made available under the Rural Development mission
area: Water and wastewater treatment facility, Val Verde County
(TX); Water and wastewater infrastructure improvements,
Williamson and Bell Counties (TX); Union-Lincoln Regional Water
Supply Initiative (LA); Agricultural Center for West Ouachita
H.S. (LA); Demonstration of Stationary Fuel Cells using Ethanol
as a Fuel (CT); Greenwood Lake Water Treatment Facility (CA);
Chester Storm Drain Improvements (CA); Grizzly Flat Community
Center (CA); Loyalton Wastewater Treatment Plant (CA); Colfax
Wastewater Treatment Facility (CA); Sierra Lakes County
Wastewater Treatment Plant (CA); Grass Valley EMS Station
Remodel (CA); Cascade Shores Water Treatment Plant (CA);
Halifax Regional Health System (VA); Cumberland County
Courthouse Water Project (VA); Institute for Advanced Learning
and Research Bioenergy from Novel Crops Project (VA); Nichols
Park Beautification Project (NY); Vassar Brothers Medical
Information Technology (NY); TechniTrain program (NY); Peoria
County, sewer system improvements (IL); Midwest Emergency
Department Services (IL); Big Bear Lake Pipeline Replacement
for Fire Flow Protection (CA); Big Bear Lake, Lake Williams
Interconnection Pipeline (CA); City of Gadsden Animal Safety
Center (AL); Maine Public Broadcasting Network (ME); East Baton
Rouge Parish, City of Baker fire department (LA); East
Feliciana Parish Police Jury's Council on Aging Program (LA);
Livingston Parish, establishment of wetlands bank (LA);
Southern University, Center for Advanced Renewable Energy
Systems (LA); Southern University/eCenter for rural health
research and services (LA); Water system improvements for
Southern Anderson County (SC); Batesville Wastewater Treatment
Plant and Pumping Facility (AR); Small Farm Outreach Wetlands
Water Management and Training Facility (AR); Northeast Arkansas
Public Water Authority (AR); Ozark Mountain Regional Public
Water Authority (AR); Weber County, Rural EMS Enhancements
Project (UT); City of Ty Ty, back-up generator for water well
and waste water treatment facility (GA); City of Meigs, water
well upgrade and repair (GA); City of Vienna, municipal service
support (GA); Federation of Southern Cooperatives/Land
Assistance Fund, East Point (GA); SW Georgia high-speed
wireless internet assistance (GA); City of Atmore, Pine Barren
watershed extension (AL); Pea Ridge Water Association (AR);
Ozone Water Project, Johnson County (AR); Washington County
Rural Development Authority, SE Washington County water project
(AR); Highway 71 Water Users Association (AR); Awendaw Water
System (Phase III) Project (SC); the Seewee to Santee Community
wells project, Mount Pleasant Water Works (SC); Economic
Development through Citrus County Central Florida Community
College (FL); Telemedicine program, James Whitcomb Riley
Hospital for Children (IN); Construction of a new water tower,
Town of Windfall (IN); Paw Paw sanitary sewer system upgrade
(WV); Gene Salem Senior Citizens Center (WV); Rural-to-Urban
Tourism Links project (MO); Clark County Recreation Center
(KY); Hospice Care Plus Community Center (KY); Waste water
collection and treatment system infrastructure improvements,
U.S. Virgin Islands (VI); Repair and extend wastewater system,
Town of Hollywood (SC); Expand existing water lines, Town of
Elloree (SC); Voorhees College for the Rural and Small Town
Development Center (SC); Water improvements, Berkeley County
(SC); Kings County Senior Center Facility (CA); Expansion of
wastewater treatment plant, City of Mendota (CA); Shawnee
Health Services, Illinois Centre Dental Program (IL); Southern
Illinois Regional Social Services, Inc (IL); Southern Illinois
Healthcare Foundation telehealth program (IL); Rainsville
AgriCenter, City of Rainsville (AL); Laredo Agriculture
Community Pavilion (TX); Zapata County Agricultural Community
Pavilion (TX); Cotulla County Agricultural Community Pavilion
(TX); Comal Junior Livestock Show Association Events Center
(TX); La Presa water and sewer improvement (TX); Fleming
Country Health and Fitness Center (KY); Owenton River raw water
intake, Owen County (KY); Bracken County Regional Wastewater
Treatment (KY); Sadieville Sewer system improvements, Scott
County (KY); University of South Florida, Center for Technology
Transformation, Underserved Rural Health Care Initiative (FL);
City of Coburg Wastewater System (OR); Centro Tejano Community
Center, Alton (TX); 3 Rivers Wet Weather Demonstration Program
Project (PA); Imperial Valley Sugarcane Renewable Energy
Ethanol Project (CA); Design and construction of sanitary
system for Arturo LLuberas, Yauco (PR); Sanitary sewer system
for Ollas Hondas, Juana Diaz (PR); Ciales' Water Improvement
Project, construction of water treatment plant Las Delicias,
Ciales (PR); Lares' Water Improvement Project, construction of
water treatment plant Indiera Alta, Lares (PR); Villalba's
Water Improvement Project in Aceituna Community, Phase 2 (PR);
Chattooga County, water system expansion (GA); Virginia Tech
Innovation Communities for Rural Development Program (VA); De
Soto County fire station replacement (FL); I-376 High Tech
Development Initiative (PA); City of Warden, waste water system
(WA); The 21st Century Fredonia Vineyard Lab (NY); Rio Grande
Valley Sugar Growers, Boiler Expansion and Renewable Energy
Project (TX); City of Turner, reservoir project (OR); North
Santiam Canyon Economic Development Corporation, Opal Creek
Wilderness Area (OR); Southern University, Center for Food,
Nutrition, and Health Promotion, Preventative Nutrition and
Health Promotion Project (LA); Appalachian Quilt Trails Project
(TN); Northern Columbia County Community Cultural Center (PA);
Alleghany County Business Center (NY); City of Fairfax, water
and sewer system (OK); City of Perkins, waste water collection
and treatment system (OK); City of Perkins, water distribution
system (OK); Calaveras Healthy Impact Product Solutions (CA);
San Juan County Fire, EMS, and Rescue Building (UT); Solid
waste transfer station project, Transportation and Community
Development Committee (UT); Montezuma Creek Community Library
(UT); Cellulose/Biomass to Ethanol Pilot Project, Center for
Rural Life Stewardship (UT); Springhill, water system
improvement (LA); Claiborne Parish Fire House, Haynesville
(LA); International Paper Ticonderoga Mill Woody Biomass
Extraction Project (NY); University of North Carolina at
Pembroke's National Debris/Waste to Resource Center (NC);
Bladen County Agri-Industrial Expo Center (NC); North Carolina
State University Consortium for the Black Belt South (NC); Red
Hills Coop, Mobile Poultry Processing Unit (GA); Water/sewer
improvements, Village of Canajoharie (NY); Farmers market, City
of Gloversville (NY); Excelsior College for Rural College
Readiness distance learning program (NY); Sewer system
improvements, New Iberia (LA); Town of Golden Meadow pumping
station refurbishing (LA); Company Canal Pump Station Project
(LA); Industrial Park, St. Mary (LA); Crescent City Wastewater
Rehabilitation Project (FL); Florida Agricultural Museum
Construction Project in Flagler County (FL); Old Hastings Civic
Center Upgrade Project in the Town of Hastings (FL); Katahdin
Area Forest Product Cluster Enhancement in Millinocket (ME);
Aroostook County Empowerment Zone funding and expansion (ME);
Moore Township, Snover Wastewater System (MI); Emmett
Wastewater Treatment System (MI); Marymount Distance Learning
and mentoring program (VA); Western Kansas Veterans-Patriot
Center, WaKeeney (KS); Operational equipment for South Franklin
Township (PA); Springfield Public market, feasibility and
design (MA); Oglethorpe County Long Creek Watershed Project
(GA); Askov Wastewater Treatment Facility (MN); Vanlue Water
Project (OH); Mechanicsburg Waterline Repair (OH); Water and
wastewater improvements for the Village of Columbus (NM); Water
system upgrades for the Town of Tatum (NM); Sewer improvements
for the City of Hagerman (NM); Water supply system
improvements, Seminary (MS); Waste water system improvements,
Flora (MS); Fire Station/City Hall renovation, New Hebron (MS);
Rankin County Historical Museum (MS); San Joaquin County,
Agricultural Service Center (CA); Clark County School District
for Agricultural Science Education Program (NV); Connected
Technologies Corridors Program to assist with the delivery of
broadband services of rural communities (WV); Lake County
Mission Mountain Market, specialty food and value-added
agriculture businesses (MT); Community Development Financial
Institution Program (TX); Lukachukai Community Board of
Education (AZ); Ganado Chapter Municipal Water Project (AZ);
Klagetoh Landfill Clean Closure and Open Dump Cleanup (AZ);
Agriculture Innovation Center (MI); Upper Petit Jean Site 3,
South Logan/Scott County Water Project (AR); Mill Creek of
Arkansas (AR); San Luis Valley Sustainable Environmental and
Economic Development Park (CO); Vermont Food Venture Center for
a Light Processing Project (VT); Northeast Organic Farmers
Association of Vermont for a Farm-to-Schools Program (VT);
Wyoming County Emergency Management Center (PA); Expand
operations of the Pennsylvania Center for Dairy Excellence
(PA); Pennsylvania Rural Manufacturing Initiative (PA); Water
and wastewater infrastructure, High Springs (FL); Village of
Pomeroy wastewater collection system expansion, Meigs County
(OH); Phase IV waterline extensions, Washington County (OH);
Mt. Victory waterline extension, Belmont County (OH); Community
Access Network, Washington County (OH); Union/Rome, sewer
wastewater treatment plant project (OH); Build a healthcare
facility, Mackinac Straits Hospital (MI); Jail expansion,
Arenac County Sheriff Office (MI); Tuscarora Township
Wastewater System (MI); Construct a joint fire/police facility,
City of Munising (MI); Northern Lakes Economic Alliance to
establish a Rural Michigan Technology Center (MI); Agricultural
Land Conservation Assistance Program (NY); Lower Lake Historic
Museum Structural Retrofit (CA); construct a new fire station
in the Town of Clarksburg (CA); Water storage tank for Trinidad
(CA); Mendocino County Integrated Water Resource Planning (CA);
Laytonville wastewater treatment (CA); Greater Chimayo Mutual
Domestic Water Consumers Association Water System Project Phase
II (NM); Picuris Pueblo Environmental Education Facility (NM);
Southern Oregon University for the Klamath-Siskiyou Education
and Research Station (OR); Eastern Oregon University for the
Oregon Center for Rural Development and Policy Studies (OR);
City of Oak Ridge for The Highland View Project (TN);
Underserved Rural Health Care Initiative (FL); Phase II of
Alligator Rural Water and Sewer Company's Alligator Sewer
Project in Chesterfield County (SC); Wellcare Model Project in
Screven County (GA); Fairbanks North Star Borough Kitchen
Facility in Fairbanks (AK); City of Wrangell Boat Harbor Float
System (AK); and Mat-Su Agricultural Processing/Product
Development Center (AK).
The Committee expects the Under Secretary to approve these
projects only when such applications are judged to be
meritorious when subject to established review procedures.
RURAL COMMUNITY ADVANCEMENT PROGRAM
2006 appropriation.................................... $694,922,000
2007 budget estimate.................................. 600,762,000
Provided in the bill.................................. 699,893,000
Comparison:
2006 appropriation................................ +4,971,000
2007 budget estimate.............................. +99,131,000
COMMITTEE PROVISIONS
For the Rural Community Advancement Program, the Committee
provides an appropriation of $699,893,000, an increase of
$4,971,000 above the amount available for fiscal year 2006 and
an increase of $99,131,000 above the budget request.
The following table provides the Committee's
recommendations as compared to the budget request:
RURAL COMMUNITY ADVANCEMENT PROGRAM
[Budget authority in thousands of dollars]
------------------------------------------------------------------------
FY 2006 FY 2007 Committee
level estimated provisions
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Community facilities:
Community facility direct $9,950 $19,038 $19,038
loans.......................
Community facility guaranteed 748 7,609 7,609
loans.......................
Community facility grants.... 16,830 16,830 18,830
Rural community development 6,287 0 0
initiative..................
Other........................ 47,979 0 4,000
Rescission................... 827 0 0
--------------------------------------
Subtotal, Community 82,620 43,477 49,477
facilities............
======================================
Utilities:
Water and waste disposal
loans:
Direct................... 68,409 164,736 77,220
Water and waste disposal 437,748 345,920 479,067
grants......................
Solid waste management grants 3,465 3,465 3,465
Emergency community water 13,692 0 0
assistance grants...........
Other........................ 1,485 0 1,500
Rescission................... 5,301 0 0
--------------------------------------
Subtotal, utilities.... 530,100 514,121 561,252
Business:
Business and industry loans:
Guaranteed............... 43,779 43,164 43,164
Rural business enterprise 39,600 0 40,000
grants......................
Rural business opportunity 2,970 0 3,000
grants......................
Delta regional authority..... 1,980 0 3,000
Rescission................... 892 0 0
--------------------------------------
Subtotal, business..... 89,221 43,164 89,164
======================================
Rescission................... -7,020 0 0
======================================
Total, loans and grants $694,922 $600,762 $699,893
------------------------------------------------------------------------
The following earmarks are included in bill language for
the Rural Community Advancement Program: $500,000 is for
revolving funds for financing water and wastewater projects;
$1,000,000 is for grants to nonprofit organizations to finance
construction, refurbishing, and servicing of individually-owned
household water well systems in rural areas; $24,000,000 for
Federally Recognized Native American Tribes, of which
$4,000,000 is for community facilities grants to tribal
colleges, and of which $250,000 is for transportation technical
assistance; $500,000 is for rural transportation technical
assistance; $3,000,000 is for grants to the Delta Regional
Authority; $25,000,000 is for water and waste disposal systems
in the Colonias; $16,215,000 is for technical assistance for
rural water and waste systems, of which $5,600,000 is for a
rural community assistance program; $14,000,000 is for a
circuit rider program; and $22,800,000 is for empowerment zones
and enterprise communities (EZ/EC) and communities designated
as Rural Economic Area Partnership Zones, of which $1,100,000
is for rural community programs, of which $13,400,000 is for
rural utilities programs, and of which $8,300,000 is for the
rural business and cooperative development programs.
The Committee provides $561,252,000 for the Rural Utilities
Programs, of which $77,220,000 is for the water and waste
disposal loan program and $479,067,000 is for water and waste
disposal grants. The Committee expects this program to be
operated at a higher grant to loan ratio than was requested in
the President's budget.
The Committee expects the Department to coordinate with the
Foundation for Affordable Drinking Water to carry out the
provisions of section 7 U.S.C. 1926e of the Consolidated Farm
and Rural Development Act.
The Committee expects the Department to carry out the
provisions of 7 U.S.C. 1926(a)(2)(B) to coordinate with groups
who have expertise in operating revolving funds similar to that
authorized under 7 U.S.C. 1926(a)(2), including Rural Community
Assistance Programs.
The Committee encourages the Rural Utilities Service to
continue a partnership with the Kentucky PRIDE program in
providing technical expertise and program guidelines.
Rural Development Salaries and Expenses
[In thousands of dollars]
Committee
FY 2006 estimate FY 2007 estimate provisions
Appropriations............................................ $162,979 $170,741 $182,860
Transfer from:
Rural Housing Insurance Fund Program Account.......... 450,261 455,776 430,080
Multifamily Housing Revitalization Program Account.... - - - - - - 990
Rural Development Loan Fund Program Account........... 4,745 4,950 4,780
Rural Electrification and Telecommunications Loans 38,396 39,600 39,101
Program Account......................................
Rural Telephone Bank Program Account.................. 2,475 - - - - - -
-----------------------------------------------------
Total, RD Salaries and Expenses..................... $658,856 $671,067 $657,811
COMMITTEE PROVISIONS
For Salaries and Expenses of the Rural Development mission
areas, the Committee provides an appropriation of $182,860,000
and transfers from other accounts of $474,951,000, for a total
program level of $657,811,000. This is a decrease of $1,045,000
below the amount available for fiscal year 2006 and a decrease
of $13,256,000 below the budget request.
The Committee encourages the Department to provide
assistance made available under the rural enterprise zone
program of the Department of Agriculture for the project for
flood control, St. Johns Bayou and New Madrid Floodway,
Missouri, as authorized in section 331 of P.L. 104-313.
The Committee encourages the Department to provide
assistance to the Rural Development office in Illinois to
complete a statewide rural water map.
Rural Housing Service
RURAL HOUSING INSURANCE FUND PROGRAM ACCOUNT
ESTIMATED LOAN LEVELS
2006 loan level....................................... $5,027,750,000
2007 budget estimate.................................. 5,057,622,000
Provided in the bill.................................. 5,059,625,000
Comparison:
2006 loan level................................... +31,875,000
2007 budget estimate.............................. +2,003,000
COMMITTEE PROVISIONS
For the Rural Housing Insurance Fund program account, the
Committee provides a loan level of $5,059,625,000, an increase
of $31,875,000 above the amount available in fiscal year 2006
and an increase of $2,003,000 above the budget request.
The following table reflects the loan levels for the Rural
Housing Insurance Fund program account:
[In thousands of dollars]
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Committee
FY 2006 level FY 2007 estimate provisions
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Rural Housing Insurance Fund Loans and Grant:
Single family housing (sec. 502):
Direct......................................... $1,129,391 $1,237,498 $1,237,498
Unsubsidized guaranteed........................ 3,644,224 3,564,238 3,564,238
Housing repair (sec. 504).......................... 34,652 36,382 36,382
Rental housing (sec. 515).......................... 99,000 - - - 100,000
Multi-family guaranteed (sec. 538)................ 99,000 197,997 100,000
Housing site development (sec. 524)................ 5,000 5,045 5,045
Credit sales of acquired property.................. 11,485 11,482 11,482
Self-help housing land development fund............ 4,998 4,980 4,980
--------------------------------------------------------
Total, Loan authorization........................ $5,027,750 $5,057,622 $5,059,625
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
ESTIMATED LOAN SUBSIDY AND ADMINISTRATIVE EXPENSES LEVELS
[In thousands of dollars]
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Committee
FY 2006 level FY 2007 estimate provisions
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Rural Housing Insurance Fund Program Account (loan
subsidies):
Single family housing (sec. 502):
Direct......................................... $128,638 $124,121 $124,121
Unsubsidized guaranteed........................ 40,491 7,772 7,772
Housing repair (sec. 504).......................... 10,136 10,751 10,751
Rental housing (sec. 515).......................... 45,421 - - - 45,670
Multi-family guaranteed (sec. 538)................. 5,366 15,325 7,740
Credit sales of acquired property.................. 674 720 720
Multi-family housing preservation.................. 8,910 - - - - - -
Self-help housing land development fund............ 51 123 123
--------------------------------------------------------
Total, Loan subsidies............................ $239,687 $158,812 $196,897
========================================================
RHIF expenses:
Administrative expenses............................ $450,261 $455,776 $430,080
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
RENTAL ASSISTANCE PROGRAM
2006 appropriation.................................... $646,571,000
2007 budget estimate.................................. 486,320,000
Provided in the bill.................................. 335,400,000
Comparison:
2006 appropriation................................ -311,171,000
2007 budget estimate.............................. -150,920,000
COMMITTEE PROVISIONS
For the Rental Assistance Program, the Committee provides a
program level of $335,400,000, a decrease of $311,171,000 below
the amount available in fiscal year 2006 and a decrease of
$150,920,000 below the budget request.
These funds will be used for renewal of expiring rental
assistance contracts and new construction contracts for a one-
year term. In addition, this funding level provides a four
month funding reserve to cover any unforeseen disruptions for
renewing contracts. This one-year agreement term will minimize
the cost fluctuations in this account.
RURAL HOUSING VOUCHER PROGRAM
2006 appropriation.................................... $15,840,000
2007 budget estimate.................................. - - -
Provided in the bill.................................. - - -
Comparison:
2006 appropriation................................ -15,840,000
2007 budget estimate.............................. - - -
COMMITTEE PROVISIONS
For the Rural Housing Voucher Program, the Committee does
not propose funding as requested in the President's budget.
Funding for this program is provided in the Multifamily Housing
Revitalization Program Account.
MULTIFAMILY HOUSING REVITALIZATION PROGRAM ACCOUNT
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Administrative
Budget authority expenses
------------------------------------------------------------------------
2006 appropriation.................. - - - - - -
2007 budget estimate................ $74,250,000 - - -
Provided in the bill................ 28,000,000 $990,000
Comparison:
2006 appropriation.............. +28,000,000 +990,000
2007 budget estimate............ -46,250,000 +990,000
------------------------------------------------------------------------
For the Multifamily Housing Revitalization Program Account,
the Committee provides an appropriation of $28,990,000, an
increase of $28,990,000 above the amount available in fiscal
year 2006 and a decrease of $45,260,000 below the budget
request.
The Committee provides $16,000,000 for the rural housing
voucher program; $3,000,000 for the preservation of the section
515 multi-family housing portfolio; $9,000,000 to continue a
demonstration program for projects financed under the section
515 program; and $990,000 for the Secretary to acquire the
necessary automation and technical support needed to
restructure section 515 mortgages.
The Committee proposes to provide authority to the Rural
Housing Service to administer out of this account the rural
housing voucher program and the demonstration programs that
were funded in fiscal year 2006 in the Rural Housing Insurance
Fund and the Rural Housing Assistance Grant accounts. The
Committee also includes authority to allow the Secretary to use
funds made available for the demonstration program to carry out
a section 515 multi-family rental housing loan restructuring
program when it becomes authorized, with prior approval of the
Committee.
MUTUAL AND SELF-HELP HOUSING GRANTS
2006 appropriation.................................... $33,660,000
2007 budget estimate.................................. 37,620,000
Provided in the bill.................................. 37,620,000
Comparison:
2006 appropriation................................ +3,960,000
2007 budget estimate.............................. - - -
COMMITTEE PROVISIONS
For Mutual and Self-Help Housing Grants, the Committee
provides an appropriation of $37,620,000, an increase of
$3,960,000 above the amount available in fiscal year 2006 and
the same amount as the budget request.
RURAL HOUSING ASSISTANCE GRANTS
2006 appropriation.................................... $43,536,000
2007 budget estimate.................................. 40,590,000
Provided in the bill.................................. 40,590,000
Comparison:
2006 appropriation................................ -2,946,000
2007 budget estimate.............................. - - -
COMMITTEE PROVISIONS
For the Rural Housing Assistance Grants program, the
Committee provides an appropriation of $40,590,000, a decrease
of $2,946,000 below the amount provided in fiscal year 2006 and
the same amount as the budget request. The appropriated amount
includes $990,000 for supervisory and technical assistance.
FARM LABOR PROGRAM ACCOUNT
[In thousands of dollars]
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Loan level Subsidy level Grants
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
2006 appropriation........................................ $38,117 $16,996 $13,860
2007 budget estimate...................................... 41,580 19,938 13,860
Provided in the bill...................................... 50,000 23,975 23,550
Comparison:
2006 appropriation.................................... +11,883 +6,979 +9,690
2007 budget estimate.................................. +8,420 +4,037 +9,690
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
COMMITTEE PROVISIONS
For the Farm Labor program account, the Committee provides
a loan subsidy of $23,975,000, which supports a loan level of
$50,000,000, an increase of $6,979,000 in loan subsidy and an
increase of $11,883,000 in loan level above the amount
available in fiscal year 2006, and an increase of $4,037,000 in
loan subsidy and an increase of $8,420,000 in loan level above
the amount in the budget request.
The Committee also provides $23,550,000 in grants, an
increase of $9,690,000 above the amount available in fiscal
year 2006 and an increase of $9,690,000 above the budget
request.
Rural Business-Cooperative Service
RURAL DEVELOPMENT LOAN FUND PROGRAM ACCOUNT
ESTIMATED LOAN LEVEL
2006 loan level....................................... $33,870,000
2007 budget estimate.................................. 33,925,000
Provided in the bill.................................. 33,925,000
Comparison:
2006 loan level................................... +55,000
2007 budget estimate.............................. - - -
COMMITTEE PROVISIONS
For the Rural Development Loan Fund program account, the
Committee provides for a loan level of $33,925,000, an increase
of $55,000 above the amount provided for fiscal year 2006 and
the same as the budget request.
ESTIMATED LOAN SUBSIDY AND ADMINISTRATIVE EXPENSES LEVELS
Direct loan Administrative
subsidy expenses
2006 appropriation.................. $14,571,000 $4,745,000
2007 budget estimate................ 14,951,000 4,950,000
Provided in the bill................ 14,951,000 4,780,000
Comparison:
2006 appropriation.............. +380,000 +35,000
2007 budget estimates........... - - - -170,000
COMMITTEE PROVISIONS
For the estimated loan subsidy, the Committee provides an
appropriation of $14,951,000, an increase of $380,000 above the
amount available in fiscal year 2006 and the same as the budget
request.
The Committee also provides $4,780,000 in administrative
expenses, an increase of $35,000 above the amount available in
fiscal year 2006 and a decrease of $170,000 below the budget
request.
RURAL ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT LOANS PROGRAM ACCOUNT
ESTIMATED LOAN LEVEL
2006 loan level....................................... $24,752,000
2007 budget estimate.................................. 34,652,000
Provided in the bill.................................. 34,652,000
Comparison:
2006 loan level................................... +9,900,000
2007 budget estimate.............................. - - -
COMMITTEE PROVISIONS
For the Rural Economic Development Loans program account,
the Committee provides for a loan level of $34,652,000, an
increase of $9,900,000 above the amount available for fiscal
year 2006 and the same as the budget request.
ESTIMATED LOAN SUBSIDY
Direct loan subsidy
2006 appropriation............................. \1\ $4,943,000
2007 budget estimate........................... \1\ 7,568,000
Provided in the bill........................... \1\ 7,568,000
Comparison:
2006 appropriation......................... +2,625,000
2007 budget estimate....................... - - -
\1\ Offset by a rescission from interest on the cushion of credit
payments, as authorized by section 313 of the Rural Electrification
Act of 1936.
COMMITTEE PROVISIONS
For the estimated loan subsidy, the Committee provides an
appropriation of $7,568,000, an increase of $2,625,000 above
the amount available for fiscal year 2006 and the same as the
budget request.
RURAL COOPERATIVE DEVELOPMENT GRANTS
2006 appropriation.................................... $29,193,000
2007 budget estimate.................................. 27,225,000
Provided in the bill.................................. 9,913,000
Comparison:
2006 appropriation................................ -19,280,000
2007 budget estimate.............................. -17,312,000
COMMITTEE PROVISIONS
For Rural Cooperative Development Grants, the Committee
provides an appropriation of $9,913,000, a decrease of
$19,280,000 below the amount available for fiscal year 2006 and
a decrease of $17,312,000 below the budget request.
The Committee provides a total of $37,913,000 for the Rural
Cooperative Development Grant program, of which: $28,000,000 is
made available by section 6401 of Public Law 107-171 for the
value-added agricultural product market development grant
program; $3,000,000 is provided for a cooperative agreement for
the Appropriate Technology Transfer for Rural Areas (ATTRA)
program through a cooperative agreement with the National
Center for Appropriate Technology; $1,485,000 is for
cooperatives or associations of cooperatives whose primary
focus is to provide assistance to small, minority producers;
and $500,000 is for a cooperative research agreement with a
qualified academic institution.
The Committee encourages the Department to restart the
Agriculture Innovations Center Program in the Rural Business-
Cooperative Service. The program has, in past years, provided
assistance to farmers in value-added agriculture production and
marketing.
RURAL EMPOWERMENT ZONES AND ENTERPRISE COMMUNITIES GRANTS
2006 appropriation.................................... $11,088,000
2007 budget estimate.................................. 0
Provided in the bill.................................. 11,088,000
Comparison:
2006 appropriation................................ - - -
2007 budget estimate.............................. +11,088,000
COMMITTEE PROVISIONS
For Rural Empowerment Zones and Enterprise Communities
Grants, the Committee provides an appropriation of $11,088,000,
the same as the amount available in fiscal year 2006 and an
increase of $11,088,000 above the budget request.
RENEWABLE ENERGY PROGRAM
2006 appropriation.................................... $22,770,000
2007 budget estimate.................................. 10,163,000
Provided in the bill.................................. 20,000,000
Comparison:
2006 appropriation................................ -2,770,000
2007 budget estimate.............................. +9,837,000
COMMITTEE PROVISIONS
For the Renewable Energy Program, the Committee provides an
appropriation of $20,000,000, a decrease of $2,770,000 below
the amount available in fiscal year 2006 and an increase of
$9,837,000 above the budget request.
The Committee provides a total of $23,000,000 for the
Renewable Energy Program, of which $3,000,000 is made available
by section 9006(f) of the Farm Security and Rural Investment
Act of 2002.
Rural Utilities Service
RURAL ELECTRIFICATION AND TELECOMMUNICATIONS LOANS PROGRAM ACCOUNT
ESTIMATED LOAN LEVEL
2006 loan level....................................... $6,076,760,000
2007 budget estimate.................................. 4,527,799,000
Provided in the bill.................................. 5,377,197,000
Comparison:
2006 loan level................................... -699,563,000
2007 budget estimate.............................. +849,398,000
COMMITTEE PROVISIONS
The following table reflects the loan levels for the Rural
Electrification and Telecommunications Loans Program account:
[Dollars in thousands]
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Committee
FY 2006 enacted FY 2007 estimate provisions
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Loan authorizations:
Electric:
Direct, 5%........................................ $99,000 $99,018 $99,018
Direct, Municipal rate............................ 99,000 39,602 99,000
Direct, FFB....................................... 2,600,000 3,000,000 3,000,000
Direct, Treasury Rate............................. 990,000 700,000 990,000
Guaranteed electric............................... 99,000 - - - - - -
Guaranteed underwriting........................... 1,500,000 - - - 500,000
-----------------------------------------------------
Subtotal...................................... 5,387,000 3,838,620 4,688,018
=====================================================
Telecommunications:
Direct, 5%........................................ 145,000 143,513 143,513
Direct, Treasury rate............................. 419,760 246,666 246,666
Direct, FFB....................................... 125,000 299,000 299,000
-----------------------------------------------------
Subtotal...................................... 689,760 689,179 689,179
=====================================================
Total, Loan authorizations.................... $6,076,760 $4,527,799 $5,377,197
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
ESTIMATED LOAN SUBSIDY AND ADMINISTRATIVE EXPENSES LEVELS
[Dollars in thousands]
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Committee
FY 2006 enacted FY 2007 estimate provisions
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Loan subsidies:
Electric:
Direct, 5%........................................ $911 $2,119 $2,119
Direct, Municipal rate............................ 5,000 598 1,495
Direct, Treasury rate............................. 99 - - - - - -
Guaranteed Electric............................... 89 - - - - - -
-----------------------------------------------------
Subtotal...................................... 6,099 2,717 3,614
=====================================================
Telecommunications:
Direct, 5%........................................ - - - 531 531
Direct, Treasury rate............................. 210 74 74
-----------------------------------------------------
Subtotal...................................... 210 605 605
=====================================================
Total, Loan subsidies......................... $6,309 $3,322 $4,219
=====================================================
E & T expenses:
Administrative expenses........................... $38,396 $39,600 $39,101
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
The Committee recommendation includes a general provision
to limit RUS from drafting or implementing any regulation or
rule insofar as it would require recertification of rural
status for each electric and telecommunications borrower for
the Rural Electrification and Telecommunication Loans program.
The Committee is concerned by the Departments proposal to
change the long-standing practice of the ``Once Rural, Always
Rural'' principle.
RURAL TELEPHONE BANK PROGRAM ACCOUNT
ESTIMATED LOAN SUBSIDY AND ADMINISTRATIVE EXPENSES LEVELS
[Dollars in thousands]
Direct loan Administrative
subsidy expenses
2006 appropriation.................. - - - \1\ $2,475,000
2007 budget estimate................ - - - - - -
Provided in the bill................ - - - - - -
Comparison:
2006 appropriation.............. - - - -2,475,000
2007 budget estimate............ - - - - - -
\1\ Offset by a rescission of unobligated balances from the RTB
Liquidating account.
COMMITTEE PROVISIONS
For the Rural Telephone Bank Program, the Committee does
not propose funding as requested in the President's budget for
administrative expenses, a decrease of $2,475,000 below the
amount available in fiscal year 2006 and the same as the budget
request.
DISTANCE LEARNING, TELEMEDICINE AND BROADBAND PROGRAM
[Dollars in thousands]
Loan level Subsidy level Grants
2006 appropriation............................................ $519,750,000 $11,014,000 $38,610,000
2007 budget estimate.......................................... 356,419,000 10,826,000 24,750,000
Provided in the bill.......................................... 503,535,000 10,826,000 33,660,000
Comparison:
2006 appropriation........................................ -16,215,000 -188,000 -4,950,000
2007 budget estimates..................................... +147,116,000 - - - +8,910,000
COMMITTEE PROVISIONS
For the Distance Learning, Telemedicine, and Broadband
Program, the Committee provides an appropriation of
$44,486,000, a decrease of $5,138,000 below the amount
available for fiscal year 2006 and an increase of $8,910,000
above the budget request, including: $24,750,000 for Distance
Learning and Telemedicine Grants; $10,826,000 for Broadband
Telecommunications loan subsidy, which supports a loan level of
$503,535,000; and $8,910,000 for Broadband Grants.
The Committee did not provide an appropriation for the
Distance Learning and Telemedicine loan program. The Committee
notes there are unobligated balances expected to be available
in fiscal year 2007 to support this loan program.
TITLE IV--DOMESTIC FOOD PROGRAMS
Office of the Under Secretary for Food, Nutrition and Consumer Services
2006 appropriation.................................... $593,000
2007 budget estimate.................................. 732,000
Provided in the bill.................................. 652,000
Comparison:
2006 appropriation................................ +59,000
2007 budget estimate.............................. -80,000
COMMITTEE PROVISIONS
For the Office of the Under Secretary for Food, Nutrition
and Consumer Services, the Committee provides an appropriation
of $652,000, an increase of $59,000 above the amount provided
in fiscal year 2006 and a decrease of $80,000 below the budget
request.
The Committee is aware that the State of Texas has entered
into a contract to privatize certain operations of the Food
Stamp program. The Committee directs the Secretary to continue
to provide quarterly reports to the Committees on
Appropriations on the status of this contract, including the
effects it is having on program access, error rates, and
spending on administrative expenses.
Food and Nutrition Service
CHILD NUTRITION PROGRAMS
Direct Transfer from Total program
appropriation section 32 level
2006 appropriation..................................... $7,473,208,000 $5,187,621,000 $12,660,829,000
2007 budget estimate................................... 8,063,200,000 5,582,287,000 13,645,487,000
Provided in the bill................................... 7,610,897,000 5,734,590,000 13,345,487,000
Comparison:
2006 appropriation................................. +137,689,000 +546,969,000 +684,658,000
2007 budget estimate............................... -452,303,000 +152,303,000 -300,000,000
COMMITTEE PROVISIONS
For the Child Nutrition Programs, the Committee provides a
total of $13,345,487,000, an increase of $684,658,000 above the
amount available for fiscal year 2006 and a decrease of
$300,000,000 below the budget request. Of the total amount
provided, $7,610,897,000 is by direct appropriation and
$5,734,590,000 is by transfer from Section 32.
The Committee did not provide a contingency fund as
requested in the President's budget.
The Committee includes a general provision to expand the
Fresh Fruit and Vegetable Program to all States and on Indian
reservations. The Committee provides up to $500,000 for each
State to carry out a program to make free fresh fruits and
vegetables available to elementary or secondary schools to make
available to students throughout the school day.
The Committee notes the Child Nutrition and WIC
Reauthorization Act of 2004 authorized a pilot study on
eliminating the reduced price school meal program, subject to
the availability of funds. The Food and Nutrition Service
estimates that this pilot study, conducted Statewide in five
average size States, would cost $375,000,000 over five years.
Eliminating reduced price meals nationwide by increasing the
limit for free meals to 185 percent of poverty, would cost
$3,500,000,000 over five years.
[Dollars in thousands]
Child Nutrition Programs:
School lunch program.............................. $7,760,857
School breakfast program.......................... 2,251,275
Child and adult care food program................. 2,272,053
Summer food service program....................... 305,897
Special milk program.............................. 13,988
State administrative expenses..................... 165,481
Commodity procurement............................. 550,173
Team nutrition.................................... 10,027
Food safety education............................. 1,007
Coordinated review................................ 5,335
Computer support and processing................... 9,394
-----------------
Total......................................... $13,345,487
SPECIAL SUPPLEMENTAL NUTRITION PROGRAM FOR WOMEN, INFANTS, AND CHILDREN
(WIC)
2006 appropriation.................................... $5,204,430,000
2007 budget estimate.................................. 5,200,000,000
Provided in the bill.................................. 5,244,000,000
Comparison:
2006 appropriation................................ +39,570,000
2007 budget estimate.............................. +44,000,000
COMMITTEE PROVISIONS
For the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women,
Infants, and Children (WIC), the Committee provides an
appropriation of $5,244,000,000, an increase of $39,570,000
above the amount available for fiscal year 2006 and an increase
of $44,000,000 above the budget request.
The Committee recommendation for the Special Supplemental
Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) is
$5,244,000,000. The Committee notes that since the budget
request was submitted last February, several estimates provided
in the Presidents budget for the WIC program have changed. The
Committee also does not include several proposals requested in
the President's budget, changing the estimated program needs in
the WIC program. Estimates for participation and food costs
have declined for fiscal year 2006 and fiscal year 2007,
increasing the expected carry-over funds from fiscal year 2006
to 2007 and decreasing the estimate for program needs in fiscal
year 2007. Also, there is currently estimated the WIC program
will have an unobligated balance in the contingency reserve of
about $142,600,000, which is $17,600,000 above the original
appropriation of $125,000,000 provided for the reserve. The
Committee included a provision to allow the unobligated balance
over $125,000,000 to be used for program needs.
The Committee does not include the provision as requested
in the President's budget, that requires funding for nutrition
services and administration (NSA) grants to State be capped at
25 percent of the total amount provided, increasing the
estimate for NSA funding.
The Committee provided an appropriation for the Commodity
Supplemental Food Program (CSFP) in the Commodity Assistance
Program. The President's budget did not request funding for the
CSFP program and estimated a higher participation rate in the
WIC and FSP for the CSFP participants in fiscal year 2007.
Therefore, the recommended funding level, $44,000,000 above
the budget request, is currently estimated to be sufficient to
meet program needs. However, the Committee will continue to
monitor WIC food costs, participation, and carry-over funds,
and take additional action as necessary to ensure that funding
provided in fiscal year 2007 is sufficient to serve all
eligible applicants.
The recommended funding level includes $15,000,000 for
continuation of the breastfeeding peer counselor program.
The Committee provides $20,000,000 for investments in
management information systems, if the Secretary determines
that those funds are not needed to maintain caseload and will
not require use of the contingency fund.
The Committee does not include language requested by the
Administration, that provides guidance that funds under this
heading shall not be used for WIC benefits for individuals who
receive medical assistance or whose family member is a pregnant
woman or infant who receives assistance, unless their family
falls below 250 percent of the applicable poverty guidelines.
Electronic Benefit Transfer.--The Committee recommendation
includes language to allow funds to be used for WIC electronic
benefit transfer (EBT) systems and sets the authorized level of
infrastructure funding at $13,600,000, which includes funding
to develop EBT systems.
WIC Services and Referrals.--While the Committee supports
State and local agency efforts to utilize WIC as a means of
participation referral to other health care services, it also
recognizes the constraints that WIC programs experience as a
result of expanding health care priorities and continuing
demand for core WIC program activities. The Committee wishes to
clarify that while WIC plays an important role in screening and
referral to other health care services, it is not the
Committee's intention that WIC should perform aggressive
screening, referral and assessment functions in a manner that
supplants the responsibilities of other programs, nor should
WIC State and local agencies assume the burden of entering into
and negotiating appropriate cost sharing agreements. The
committee again includes language in the bill to preserve WIC
funding for WIC services authorized by law to ensure that WIC
funds are not used to pay the expenses or to coordinate
operations or activities other than those allowable pursuant to
section 17 of the Child Nutrition Act of 1966, unless fully
reimbursed by the appropriate Federal agency.
Food Prescription Package.--The Committee notes the Child
Nutrition and WIC Reauthorization Act of 2004 requires the
Department to issue a final rule, within 18 months of receiving
the Institute of Medicine's report, to modify the WIC food
packages. The Committee directs the Department to move
expeditiously in consultation with WIC agencies to develop for
public comment a food prescription rule responding to the needs
of the WIC population and to provide quarterly reports to the
Committee regarding the status and publication of a final rule
beginning July 1, 2006.
FOOD STAMP PROGRAM
2006 appropriation.................................... $40,711,365,000
2007 budget estimate.................................. 37,934,231,000
Provided in the bill.................................. 37,865,231,000
Comparison:
2006 appropriation................................ -2,846,134,000
2007 budget estimate.............................. -69,000,000
COMMITTEE PROVISIONS
For the Food Stamp Program, the Committee provides
$37,865,231,000, a decrease of $2,846,134,000 below the amount
available for fiscal year 2006 and a decrease of $69,000,000
below the budget request. The total amount includes
$3,000,000,000 for a contingency reserve in fiscal year 2007
and $140,000,000 for The Emergency Food Assistance Program
(TEFAP).
The Committee does not include the provision, requested in
the President's budget, which provides funding as a monthly
transitional benefit to Commodity Supplemental Food Program
(CSFP) participants. The committee provided an appropriation
for the CSFP in the Commodity Assistance Program.
The Committee includes statutory language to exclude
special pay for military personnel deployed to designated
combat areas when determining food stamp eligibility.
COMMODITY ASSISTANCE PROGRAM
2006 appropriation.................................... $177,572,000
2007 budget estimate.................................. 70,370,000
Provided in the bill.................................. 189,370,000
Comparison:
2006 appropriation................................ +11,798,000
2007 budget estimate.............................. +119,000,000
COMMITTEE PROVISIONS
The Committee provides an appropriation of $189,370,000 for
the Commodity Assistance Program, an increase of $11,798,000
above the amount available for fiscal year 2006 and an increase
of $119,000,000 above the budget request.
The recommended funding level for the Commodity
Supplemental Food Program (CSFP) is $118,289,000, an increase
of $11,087,000 above the amount available for fiscal year 2006
and an increase of $118,289,000 above the budget request. The
Committee strongly encourages USDA to make every effort to
maintain the fiscal year 2006 caseload by making full use of
CSFP inventory and carryover from preceding years, and to
access all available resources from bonus commodity holdings
and CCC stocks.
The Committee has included $50,000,000 for administration
of TEFAP, an increase of $500,000 above the amount available in
fiscal year 2006 and an increase of $500,000 above the budget
request. These funds may be used for administration purposes or
for food costs at the discretion of the States. In addition,
the Committee recommendation includes language that allows the
Secretary to transfer up to $10,000,000 of TEFAP commodity
funding to processing, storage, and distribution costs.
For the Food Donations Programs the Committee provides an
appropriation of $1,081,000 for Pacific Island Assistance, an
increase of $11,000 above the amount available for fiscal year
2006 and an increase of $11,000 above the budget request.
Farmers' Market Nutrition Program.--The Committee
recommendation includes $20,000,000 for the Farmers' Market
Nutrition Program, an increase of $200,000 above the amount
available for fiscal year 2006 and an increase of $200,000
above the budget request.
Seniors Farmers' Market Program.--Public Law 107-171,
Section 4402, directs mandatory funding for this program from
funds available to the Commodity Credit Corporation. The
funding level is $15,000,000 for fiscal year 2007.
nutrition programs administration
2006 appropriation.................................... $139,353,000
2007 budget estimate.................................. 160,429,000
Provided in the bill.................................. 142,314,000
Comparison:
2006 appropriation................................ +2,961,000
2007 budget estimate.............................. -18,115,000
COMMITTEE PROVISIONS
For Nutrition Programs Administration, the Committee has
provided $142,314,000, an increase of $2,961,000 above the
amount available for fiscal year 2006 and a decrease of
$18,115,000 below the budget request.
The Committee provides $200,000 for the Food and Nutrition
Service to continue a feasibility study, in consultation with
WIC State agencies, to explore a common cost effective strategy
to implement the cash value voucher for fruits and vegetables
that may be adopted in response to recommendations outlined in
the Institute of Medicine report on the food packages provided
by the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women,
Infants and Children (WIC).
TITLE V--FOREIGN ASSISTANCE AND RELATED PROGRAMS
Foreign Agricultural Service
[Dollars in thousands]
Transfer from
Appropriation loan accounts Total, FAS
2006 appropriation............................................ $146,422 ($3,572) ($149,994)
2007 budget estimate.......................................... 157,486 (4,985) (162,471)
Provided in the bill.......................................... 156,486 (4,985) (161,471)
Comparison:
2006 appropriation........................................ +10,064 (+1,413) (+11,477)
2007 budget estimate...................................... -1,000 - - - (-1,000)
COMMITTEE PROVISIONS
For the Foreign Agricultural Service, the Committee
provides an appropriation of $156,486,000 and transfers of
$4,985,000, for a total salaries and expenses level of
$161,471,000, an increase of $11,477,000 above the amount
available for fiscal year 2006 and a decrease of $1,000,000
below the budget request.
The Committee recommendation includes: $2,164,000 for pay
cost; $1,100,000 for ICASS; $3,400,000 to offset the increased
costs in overseas currency rates; the fiscal year 2006 funding
level for FAS to promote American agricultural products in
Baghdad; and, $2,900,000 for the capital surcharge being levied
on the Foreign Agricultural Service by the State Department.
The Committee recommendation includes the fiscal year 2006
funding level for technical assistance for the promotion of
specialty crop experts.
The Committee has included bill language that allows for
the use of not more than $5,000,000 of funds transferred to the
Foreign Agricultural Service from the Commodity Credit
Corporation for Information Resource Management requirements.
The Committee recommendation includes $500,000 for the Food
Safety Institute of the Americas in Miami. This activity was
previously funded under the Food Safety and Inspection Service.
The Committee believes that the Institute would better serve
the USDA in a trade-related role, and would bolster efforts
with international bodies such as the Inter-American Institute
for Cooperation in Agriculture.
The Committee recognizes the work of the Borlaug Fellows
program and encourages the Department to continue and expand
activities related to this program.
The Trade Assistance Act for Farmers requires that
technical assistance be provided to farmers negatively impacted
by imports. This technical assistance is an education program
that helps farmers develop marketing opportunities, increase
production efficiency and seek alternatives to offset losses
created by imports. The Committee directs that from the funds
made available by the Trade Adjustment Act that $3,000,000 be
available to the Digital Center for Risk Management Education
to coordinate an intensive technical assistance program for
farmers.
Public Law 480
PROGRAM AND GRANT ACCOUNTS
COMMITTEE PROVISIONS
The following table reflects the loan levels, subsidy
levels, and administrative costs for all Public Law 480
programs:
[Dollars in thousands]
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Committee
FY 2006 enacted FY 2007 estimate provisions
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Public Law 480 Program Account:
Title I--Credit sales:
Direct loans...................................... ($74,032) ($- - -) - - -
Loan subsidies.................................... 64,390 - - - - - -
Ocean freight differential........................ 11,821 - - - - - -
Title II--Commodities for disposition abroad:
Program level..................................... (1,138,500) (1,218,500) (1,218,500)
Appropriation..................................... 1,138,500 1,218,500 1,223,100
Salaries and expenses:
FAS............................................... 166 - - - - - -
FSA............................................... 3,185 2,651 2,651
-----------------------------------------------------
Total, P.L. 480-S&E............................. 3,351 2,651 2,651
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
CCC EXPORT LOANS PROGRAM ACCOUNT
ADMINISTRATIVE EXPENSES
2006 appropriation.................................... $5,227,000
2007 budget estimate.................................. 5,331,000
Provided in the bill.................................. 5,331,000
Comparison:
2006 appropriation................................ +104,000
2007 budget estimate.............................. - - -
COMMITTEE PROVISIONS
For administrative expenses of the Commodity Credit
Corporation Export Loans Program Account, the Committee
provides an appropriation of $5,331,000, an increase of
$104,000 above the amount available for fiscal year 2006 and
the same amount as the budget request.
MCGOVERN-DOLE INTERNATIONAL FOOD FOR EDUCATION AND CHILD NUTRITION
PROGRAM GRANTS
2006 appropriation.................................... $99,000,000
2007 budget estimate.................................. 99,000,000
Provided in the bill.................................. 100,000,000
Comparison:
2006 appropriation................................ +1,000,000
2007 budget estimate.............................. +1,000,000
COMMITTEE PROVISIONS
For McGovern-Dole Food for Education and Child Nutrition
Program Grants, as authorized by Section 3107 of P.L. 107-171
(7 U.S.C. 1736o-1), the Committee provides an appropriation of
$100,000,000, an increase of $1,000,000 above the amount
available for fiscal year 2006, and an increase of $1,000,000
above the budget request.
TITLE VI--RELATED AGENCIES AND FOOD AND DRUG ADMINISTRATION
DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES
Food and Drug Administration
SALARIES AND EXPENSES
Drug, device and
Appropriation animal drug user Total, FDA, S&E
fees
2006 appropriation...................................... $1,466,801,000 $356,950,000 $1,823,751,000
2007 budget estimate.................................... 1,540,399,000 375,930,000 1,916,329,000
Provided in the bill.................................... 1,538,452,000 375,930,000 1,914,382,000
Comparison:
2006 appropriation.................................. +71,651,000 +18,980,000 +90,631,000
2007 budget estimate................................ -1,947,000 - - - -1,947,000
COMMITTEE PROVISIONS
The Committee provides an appropriation of $1,538,452,000
in budget authority, an increase of $71,651,000 above the
amount available in fiscal year 2006, and a decrease of
$1,947,000 below the budget request. In addition, the Committee
makes available $320,600,000 in prescription drug user fees,
$43,726,000 in medical device user fees and $11,604,000 in
animal drug user fees for total Salaries and Expenses of
$1,914,382,000.
Included in the budget authority funding level are
increases of $28,100,000 for Pandemic Preparedness; $9,960,000
for Human Drugs; $4,940,000 for the critical path initiative;
$4,880,000 for food safety and counter-terrorism activities;
$8,197,000 to meet ADUFA and MDUFMA trigger needs; $14,265,000
for GSA rental payments and White Oak consolidation, $2,475,000
for human tissues safety, and $15,634,000 for cost of living
expenses.
The Committee directs that within the amount provided for
food safety and counterterrorism activities, priority should be
given to maintaining existing personnel and operations that are
critical to ensuring the safety of domestic and imported food,
rather than funding new functions, grants, or agreements.
Within the budget authority provided for Other Activities
in the Act, $29,965,000 is for the Office of the Commissioner;
$37,382,000 is for the Office of Management; $6,891,000 is for
the Office of External Relations; $5,397,000 is for the Office
of Policy and Planning; and $6,755,000 is for central services
for the Offices in this account. The Committee notes that funds
for these Offices, as well as for the other activities,
programs, or projects named in this Act, are subject to the
reprogramming requirements of this Act.
Center for Food Safety and Applied Nutrition (CFSAN).--The
Committee does not approve of the redirection of funds from
CSFAN. Funding for operations, including funding for facility
reinspection, food and animal export certificates, the food
contact notification program, participation in Codex
Alimentarius activities, timely consideration of food and color
additive petitions, monitoring for chemical contaminants, and
otherwise meeting the statutory duties of the Federal Food,
Drug and Cosmetic Act are continued.
Pandemic preparedness.--The Committee provides a fiscal
year 2007 funding level of $28,100,000 for pandemic
preparedness, of which $20,000,000 is for the annualization of
the vaccine-related funding that was included in the December
2005 supplemental. That supplemental provided $18,000,000 for
the Center for Biologics Evaluation and Research and $2,000,000
for Other Activities, and remains available until September 30,
2007. In addition, the Committee provides an increase of
$8,100,000 above the fiscal year 2006 funding level for other
requested activities.
Of the $8,100,000 increase, the Committee provides
$5,100,000 for CFSAN for research on and effects of pandemic
and avian influenza on foods, including surveillance and
testing of food products and examining the effects of influenza
treatments on foods for human consumption; and, $3,000,000 for
the CVM to develop analytical methods to detect antiviral drugs
in tissues, to detect illegal use of drugs and compounds, and
to identify counterfeit products.
Critical Path.--The Committee provides an increase of
$4,940,000 for the critical path to personalized medicine
initiative. The Committee notes that the cost of bringing a new
drug to market ranges from $2 to $2.5 billion, and up to 15
years to clear the FDA approval process. The Committee believes
that this funding will help FDA to assist industry in
modernizing medical product development. The Committee
continues the fiscal year 2006 funding level for the C-Path
Institute.
Drug Safety.--The Committee provides an increase of
$3,960,000 to modernize the Adverse Event Reporting System and
integrate with Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS)
to obtain access to drug safety information housed in the CMS
population-based database. In addition, the Committee provides
$1,000,000 for drug safety to allow the FDA to authenticate
drug products, and prevent counterfeiting through the use of
nanotechnology.
Generic Drugs.--Since fiscal year 2005, the Congress has
set a spending floor of $56,228,000 for the generic drug
program. The FDA spent $61,867,000 in fiscal year 2005, and the
FDA is planning to spend $62,884,000 in fiscal year 2006 and
$64,663,000 in fiscal year 2007. Funding for the Office of
Generic Drugs has increased from $26,924,000 in fiscal year
2005, to $28,347,000 in fiscal year 2006, and the fiscal year
2007 budget includes $29,079,000. The Committee recommendation
includes an increase of $5,000,000 above the budget request for
the Office of Generic Drugs. This is a vital program and the
Committee is concerned that its potential as part of the
solution to high quality and affordable health care is
realized.
Expedited filing.--The Committee directs the Commissioner
to expedite and support the filing, review, and final action on
any new drug application, or supplement to a new drug
application seeking approval or a reformulated and active
ingredient previously-approved as safe and effective, or of a
combination of active ingredients previously-approved as safe
and effective, that would replace or provide a therapeutic
alternative to a currently-marketed drug product that contains
an active ingredient that currently is the subject of diversion
and/or abuse outside regulated channels of commerce.
Bovine Spongiform Encephalopathy (BSE).--The Committee
provides $29,566,000 for BSE, as requested. This funding
supports yearly inspections of all renderers and feed mills
processing products containing prohibited materials, extending
BSE inspections into targeted segments subject to the BSE Feed
regulation, validating test methods for the detection of
bovine-derived proteins in animal feed, and continuing to
conduct research on transmissible spongiform encephalopathies
in FDA's product centers.
Orphan products.--The Committee directs that no less than
$14,696,000 be available for grants and contracts awarded under
section 5 of the Orphan Drug Act, an increase of $147,000 above
the amount available in fiscal year 2006.
Rent and related activities.--The Committee provides
$25,552,000 in budget authority, an increase of $3,797,000 for
relocation costs to the White Oak, Maryland, facility as
requested.
Financial management.--The Committee directs that no more
than $9,389,000, the same amount as fiscal year 2006, is
available for UFMS, and requires a quarterly report on the
expenditures. The Committee reiterates that any additional
costs for this purpose, either direct or by transfer, are
subject to approval by the Committee.
Human resources.--The Committee requests a report within 60
days of enactment regarding the DHHS human resource
consolidation including: total FDA obligations; an update on
the performance metrics specified in the service level
agreement between FDA and DHHS; a description of any cases in
which the performance measures were not met during fiscal year
2006, and the resolution of those cases; and a list of the DHHS
operating divisions that are participating in the
consolidation.
Food safety.--The Committee recognizes the contributions
which the National Center for Food Safety and Technology
(NCFST) is making toward ensuring the security of the nation's
food supply. The Committee directs that FDA provide the fiscal
year 2006 funding level to NCFST through the cooperative
agreement. This funding shall be exclusive of any additional
initiative funds that FDA may award to NCFST.
Test method evaluation.--The Committee directs that the
agency continue its contract to conduct method evaluation of
rapid test methods of fresh fruits and vegetables for
microbiological pathogens with New Mexico State University's
Physical Science Laboratory at the fiscal year 2006 level.
DNA UV Molecular Filters.--The Committee directs the FDA to
survey potential new methods of protection from UV induced DNA
damage and to provide a report to the Committee by July 1, 2007
that describes new technologies and potential ways for the FDA
to assist in bringing forth such additional methods of
preventing skin cancer.
Women's health.--The Committee recommendation includes not
less than $4,000,000 for the Office of Women's Health. The
Committee continues to be committed to this function, and in
particular activities related to cardiovascular disease in
women and the hormone therapy education program.
Consolidation.--The Committee directs DHHS to include all
future consolidations that impact FDA in the President's budget
request submitted to Congress.
Fees.--The Committee directs that none of the funds made
available to FDA in this bill be for any assessments, fees, or
charges by DHHS or any other Department or Office unless such
assessments, fees, or charges are identified in the FDA budget
justification and expressly provided by Congress, or approved
by Congress in the official reprogramming process as required
in the General Provisions of this bill.
Shellfish safety.--The Committee expects that FDA will
continue its work with the Interstate Shellfish Sanitation
Commission (ISSC) to promote educational and research
activities related to shellfish safety in general, and Vibrio
vulnificus in particular. The Committee directs the use of not
less than $250,000 for this effort. In addition, the Committee
expects that FDA will continue its work with ISSC through a
memorandum of understanding, and that FDA will devote not less
than $200,000 to that work. The Committee expects the FDA to
require all states to work cooperatively in conformity with the
National Shellfish Sanitation Program implemented by the ISSC.
WERC.--The Committee expects the FDA to continue its
support for the Waste Management Education and Research
Consortium (WERC) and its work in food safety technology
verification and education at the fiscal year 2006 level.
Redeployment.--The Committee is including the redeployment
requested by FDA for the Center for Biologics Evaluation and
Research, the National Center for Toxicological Research, and
for the Other Activities area on the understanding--and with
the direction--that these reductions will not adversely affect
public health or safety or the ability of the agency to ensure
the safety of the products regulated.
BUILDINGS AND FACILITIES
2006 appropriation.................................... $7,920,000
2007 budget estimate.................................. $4,950,000
Provided in the bill.................................. 4,950,000
Comparison:
2006 appropriation................................ -2,970,000
2007 budget estimate.............................. - - -
COMMITTEE PROVISIONS
For Buildings and Facilities of the Food and Drug
Administration, the Committee provides $4,950,000, a decrease
of $2,970,000 below the amount available in fiscal year 2006,
and the same amount as the budget request.
INDEPENDENT AGENCIES
Commodity Futures Trading Commission
2006 appropriation.................................... $97,402,000
2007 budget estimate \1\.............................. 127,000,000
Provided in the bill.................................. 109,402,000
Comparison:
2006 appropriation................................ +12,000,000
2007 budget estimate.............................. -17,598,000
\1\ Funded by a proposed fee on futures transactions.
COMMITTEE PROVISIONS
For the Commodity Futures Trading Commission, the Committee
provides an appropriation of $109,402,000, an increase of
$12,000,000 above the amount available for fiscal year 2006 and
a decrease of $17,598,000 below the budget request.
The Committee does not adopt the President's request to
impose fees on futures transactions, totaling $127,000,000.
The Committee recommendation includes the requested
increases for pay costs and benefits; for program funding for
enforcement, human resources and outreach activities; and for
completion of contract requirements, including rent. Funding is
not provided to increase pay parity to the level of other
financial agencies, or hire 37 additional staff.
Farm Credit Administration
LIMITATION ON ADMINISTRATIVE EXPENSES
2006 limitation....................................... ($44,250,000)
2007 budget estimate.................................. - - -
Provided in the bill.................................. (44,250,000)
Comparison:
2006 limitation................................... - - -
2007 budget estimate.............................. (+44,250,000)
COMMITTEE PROVISIONS
For a limitation on the expenses of the Farm Credit
Administration, the Committee provides $44,250,000, the same as
the amount available for fiscal year 2006 and an increase of
$44,250,000 above the budget request.
TITLE VII--GENERAL PROVISIONS
INCLUDING RESCISSIONS AND TRANSFERS OF FUNDS
The General Provisions contained in the accompanying bill
for fiscal year 2006 are fundamentally the same as those
included in last year's appropriations bill.
Section 716: Language is included that provides $2,500,000
for a hunger fellowship program.
Section 717: Language is included that provides $250,000
for the National Sheep Improvement Center.
Section 718: Language is included that allows funds to be
used to carry out a competitive grants program.
Section 719: Language is included that limits the dam
rehabilitation program.
Section 720: Language is included that limits the wetlands
reserve program.
Section 721: Language is included that limits the
environmental quality incentives program.
Section 722: Language is included that limits the broadband
program.
Section 723: Language is included that allows for
reimbursement of the Bill Emerson Humanitarian Trust.
Section 724: Language is included that limits the Value-
Added Market Development Grants Program.
Section 725: Language is included that ensures that
sufficient funds are available to pay the subsidy costs for
note guarantees for certain rural electric programs.
Section 726: Language is included that limits the
conservation security program.
Section 727: Language is included that limits the Wildlife
Habitat Incentive Program.
Section 728: Language is included that limits the Farm and
Ranch Lands Protection Program.
Section 729: Language is included that limits the Ground
and Surface Water Conservation Program.
Section 730: Language is included related to final
rulemaking on cost-sharing for APHIS animal and plant health
emergency programs.
Section 731: Language is included to allow the disbursement
of certain prior year obligations.
Section 732: Language is included related to certain
grants.
Section 733: Language is included that limits the
Agricultural Management Assistance Program.
Section 734: Language is included regarding the
recertification of rural status.
Section 735: Language is included that relates to
government sponsored news stories.
Section 736: The Committee includes $15,600,000 for a
specialty crops competitiveness program.
Section 737: Language is included that limits certain
mandatory funds.
Section 738: Language is included that provides funding for
a Fruit and Vegetable Pilot Program.
Section 739: Language is included related to competitive
sourcing related to rural development and farm loan programs.
Section 740: Language is included that rescinds certain
funds.
Section 741: Language is included related to the premium
discounting program authorized by Section 508(e)(3) of the
Federal Crop Insurance Act.
Section 742: Language is included regarding the prohibition
of funds for certain FDA activities.
Section 743: Language is included regarding certain fees.
Section 744: Language is included that rescinds certain
funds.
Section 745: The Committee includes language that provides
that certain locations shall be considered eligible for rural
housing loan and grant programs.
Section 746: Language is included regarding funding
allocations for the expanded food nutrition and education
program.
Section 747: Language is included that limits
implementation of a rule concerning countries eligible to
export poultry products to the United States.
Section 748: Language is included regarding equine health
certification forms.
Section 749: Language is included to extend the peanut
storage program.
Section 750: Language is included to prohibit the use of
Food and Drug Administration funds for activities related to
importation of drugs.
Section 751: Language is included regarding Food and Drug
Administration requirements for drug safety studies.
Section 752: Language is included to extend the milk price
support program until September 30, 2007.
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES REPORT REQUIREMENTS
The following items are included in accordance with various
requirements of the Rules of the House of Representatives.
CONSTITUTIONAL AUTHORITY
Clause 3(d)(1) of rule XIII of the Rules of the House of
Representatives states that:
Each report of a committee on a bill or joint
resolution of a public character, shall include a
statement citing the specific powers granted to the
Congress in the Constitution to enact the law proposed
by the bill or joint resolution.
The Committee on Appropriations bases its authority to
report this legislation from Clause 7 of Section 9 of Article I
of the Constitution of the United States of America which
states:
No money shall be drawn from the Treasury but in
consequence of Appropriations made by law * * *
Appropriations contained in this Act are made pursuant to
this specific power granted by the Constitution.
Transfer of Funds
Pursuant to clause 3(f)(2) of rule XIII of the Rules of the
House of Representatives, the following statement is submitted
describing the transfer of funds provided in the accompanying
bill.
1. Agriculture Buildings and Facilities and Rental
Payments.--The bill allows funds to be transferred to cover the
costs of new or replacement space.
2. Hazardous Materials Management.--The bill allows the
funds appropriated to the Department for hazardous materials
management to be transferred to agencies of the Department as
required.
3. Departmental Administration.--The bill requires
reimbursement for expenses related to certain hearings.
4. Office of the Assistant Secretary for Congressional
Relations.--The bill allows a portion of the funds appropriated
to the Office of the Assistant Secretary to be transferred to
agencies.
5. Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service.--Authority
is included to enable the Secretary of Agriculture to transfer
from other appropriations or funds of the Department such sums
as may be necessary to combat emergency outbreaks of certain
diseases of animals, plants, and poultry.
6. Agricultural Marketing Service.--The bill limits the
transfer of section 32 funds to purposes specified in the bill.
7. Farm Service Agency.--The bill provides that funds
provided to other accounts in the agency may be merged with the
salaries and expenses account of the Farm Service Agency.
8. Dairy Indemnity Program.--The bill authorizes the
transfer of funds to the Commodity Credit Corporation, by
reference.
9. Agricultural Credit Insurance Fund.--The bill provides
that funds from the account shall be transferred to the Farm
Service Agency salaries and expenses account, and that funds
may be transferred among lending programs.
10. Rural Community Advancement Program.--The bill provides
that prior year balances for high cost energy grants shall be
transferred to and merged with the High Energy Costs Grants
Account.
11. Rural Development Salaries and Expenses.--The bill
provides that prior year balances from certain accounts shall
be transferred to and merged with this account.
12. Rural Housing Insurance Fund program account; Rural
Development Loan Fund program account; Rural Electrification
and Telecommunications Loans program account; and Multifamily
Housing Revitalization program account.--The bill provides that
administrative funds shall be transferred to the Rural
Development Salaries and Expenses Account.
13. Rural Housing Insurance Fund program account and Rural
Housing Assistance Grants account.--The bill provides that
balances for demonstration programs shall be transferred to and
merged with the Rural Housing Service, Multifamily Housing
Revitalization Program Account.
14. Child Nutrition Programs.--The bill includes authority
to transfer section 32 funds to these programs.
15. Foreign Agricultural Service.--The bill allows for the
transfer of funds from the Commodity Credit Corporation Export
Loan Program Account and from the Public Law 480 Program
Account.
16. Public Law 480 Title I Program Account.--The bill
allows funds to be transferred to the Farm Service Agency,
Salaries and Expenses accounts.
17. Commodity Credit Corporation Export Loans Program.--The
bill provides for transfer of funds to the Foreign Agricultural
Service and to the Farm Service Agency for overhead expenses
associated with credit reform.
18. Food and Drug Administration, Salaries and Expenses.--
The bill allows funds to be transferred among activities.
Changes in the Application of Existing Law
Pursuant to clause 3(f)(1)(A) of rule XIII of the Rules of
the House of Representatives, the following statements are
submitted describing the effect of provisions in the
accompanying bill which directly or indirectly change the
application of existing law. In most instances, these
provisions have been included in prior appropriations bills,
often at the request of or with the knowledge and consent of
the responsible legislative committees.
Language is included in various parts of the bill to
continue ongoing activities of those Federal agencies which
require annual authorization or additional legislation which to
date has not been enacted.
Language is included in the bill in several accounts that
earmarks funds for empowerment zones and enterprise communities
as authorized by title XIII of the Omnibus Budget
Reconciliation Act of 1995.
The bill includes a number of provisions which place
limitations on the use of funds in the bill or change existing
limitations and which might, under some circumstances, be
construed as changing the application of existing law:
1. Office of the Secretary.--Language is included to limit
the amount of funds for official reception and representation
expenses, as determined by the Secretary.
2. Common Computing Environment.--Language is included to
provide that obligation of funds shall be consistent with the
Service Center Modernization Plan, and with the concurrence of
the Chief Information Officer.
3. Agriculture Buildings and Facilities and Rental
Payments.--Language is included that allows for the
reconfiguration and release of space back into the General
Services Administration inventory in order to reduce space
rental cost for space not needed for USDA programs.
4. Departmental Administration.--Language is included to
reimburse the agency for travel expenses incident to the
holding of hearings.
5. Agricultural Research Service.--Language is included
that allows the Agricultural Research Service to grant
easements at the Beltsville, MD agricultural research center.
6. Cooperative State Research, Education, and Extension
Service.--The bill includes language that prohibits funds from
being used to carry out research related to the production,
processing or marketing of tobacco or tobacco products.
7. Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service.--A provision
carried in the bill since fiscal year 1973 regarding state
matching funds has been continued to assure more effective
operation of the brucellosis control program through state cost
sharing, with resulting savings to the Federal budget.
Language is included to allow APHIS to recoup expenses
incurred from providing technical assistance goods, or services
to non-APHIS personnel, and to allow transfers of funds for
Agricultural emergencies.
Language is included to restrict obligation of funds for an
animal identification program.
8. Agricultural Marketing Service.--The bill includes
language that allows the Secretary to charge user fees for AMS
activity related to preparation of standards.
9. Agricultural Marketing Service, Limitation on
Administrative Expenses.--The bill includes language to allow
AMS to exceed the limitation on administrative expenses by 10
percent with notification to the Appropriations Committees.
This allows flexibility in case crop size is understated and/or
other uncontrollable events occur.
10. Grain Inspection, Packers and Stockyards
Administration, Inspection and Weighing Services.--The bill
includes authority to exceed the limitation on inspection and
weighing services by 10 percent with notification to the
Appropriations Committees. This allows for flexibility if
export activities require additional supervision and oversight,
or other uncontrollable factors occur.
11. Food Safety and Inspection Service.--Language is
included to allow construction of a laboratory facility.
12. Dairy Indemnity Program.--Language is included by
reference that allows the Secretary to utilize the services of
the Commodity Credit Corporation for the purpose of making
dairy indemnity payments.
13. Risk Management Agency.--Language is included to limit
the amount of funds for official reception and representation
expenses.
14. Commodity Credit Corporation Fund.--Language is
included to provide for the reimbursement appropriation.
Language is also included which limits the amount of funds that
can be spent on operation and maintenance costs of CCC
hazardous waste sites.
15. Natural Resources Conservation Service--Conservation
Operations.--Language which has been included in the bill since
1938 prohibits construction of buildings on land not owned by
the government, although construction on land owned by states
and counties is authorized by basic law.
16. Watershed and Flood Prevention Operations.--Language
which was included in the Emergency Jobs Bill of 1983 (P.L. 98-
8) and all bills since 1984 provides that funds may be used for
rehabilitation of existing works.
17. Rural Housing Service--Rental Assistance Program.--
Language is included which provides that agreements entered
into during the current fiscal year be funded for a one-year
period.
18. Rural Electrification and Telecommunications Loan
program account.--Language is included to allow borrowers'
interest rates for loans to exceed seven percent.
19. Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women,
Infants, and Children (WIC).--Language is included to: provide
funds for a breastfeeding support initiative; prohibit funds
from being used for studies and evaluations; pay administrative
expenses of clinics except those that have an announced policy
prohibiting smoking within the space used to carry out the
program; purchase infant formula except in accordance with law;
or pay for activities that are not fully reimbursed by other
departments or agencies unless authorized by law.
20. Food Stamp Program.--Language is included to exclude
special pay for military personnel deployed to designated
combat areas.
21. Foreign Agricultural Service.--Language carried since
1979 enables this agency to use funds received by an advance or
by reimbursement to carry out its activities involving
international development and technical cooperation. Language
is included to limit the amount of funds for official reception
and representation expenses. Language is included to allow
certain funds transferred from the Commodity Credit Corporation
to be used for information resource management.
22. Commodity Futures Trading Commission.--Language is
included to limit the amount of funds for official reception
and representation expenses.
23. General Provisions.--
Section 702: This provision, carried since 1976, is
again included which provides that certain
appropriations in this Act shall remain available until
expended where the programs or projects involved are
continuing in nature under the provisions of
authorizing legislation, but for which such legislation
may not specifically provide for extended availability.
This authority tends to result in savings by preventing
the wasteful practice often found in government of
rushing to commit funds at the end of the fiscal year
without due regard to the value of the purpose for
which the funds are used. Such extended availability is
also essential in view of the long lead time frequently
required to negotiate agreements or contracts which
normally extend over a period of more than one year.
Under these conditions such authority is commonly
provided in Appropriations Acts where omitted from
basic law. These provisions have been carried through
the years in this Act to facilitate efficient and
effective program execution and to assure maximum
savings. They involve the following items: Animal and
Plant Health Inspection Service, the contingency fund
to meet emergency conditions, information technology
infrastructure, the cotton pests program, low pathogen
avian influenza program, high pathogen avian influenza
program, up to 25 percent of the screwworm program, up
to $33,107,000 for an animal identification program, up
to $3,934,000 for scrapie-related indemnities, up to
$682,000 in the brucellosis program for indemnities, up
to $2,888,000 in the chronic wasting disease program
for indemnities, up to $2,387,000 in the tuberculosis
program for indemnities, up to $1,000,000 for wildlife
services methods development, fruit fly program,
emerging plant pests, up to $1,000,000 for Wildlife
Services aviation safety, and up to $4,900,000 for a
vaccine bank; Food Safety and Inspection Service, field
automation and information management project;
Cooperative State Research, Education, and Extension
Service, funds for competitive research grants; Farm
Service Agency, salaries and expenses to county
committees; Foreign Agricultural Service, middle-income
country training program and up to $2,000,000 for
foreign currency fluctuations.
Section 706: This provision provides that none of the
funds in this Act may be made available to pay indirect
costs charged against competitive agricultural
research, education, or extension grants awarded by the
Cooperative State Research, Education, and Extension
Service in excess of 22 percent of total direct costs,
except for grants available under the Small Business
Innovation and Development Act.
Section 707: This provision allows funds made
available in the current fiscal year for the Rural
Development Loan Fund program account; the Rural
Electrification and Telecommunications Loans program
account; and the Rural Housing Insurance Fund program
account to remain available until expended to disburse
obligations. The Credit Reform Act requires that the
lifetime costs of loans be appropriated. Current law
requires that funds unexpended after five years expire.
The life of some loans extends well beyond the five-
year period and this provision allows funds
appropriated to remain available until the loans are
closed out.
Section 708: Provides that of the funds made
available, not more than $1,800,000 shall be used to
cover expenses of activities related to all advisory
committees, panels, commissions, and task forces of the
Department of Agriculture except for panels used to
comply with negotiated rule makings and panels used to
evaluate competitively awarded grants.
Section 709: Provides that none of the funds may be
used to carry out certain provisions of meat and
poultry inspection acts.
Section 710: This provision prohibits any employee of
the Department of Agriculture from being detailed or
assigned to any other agency or office of the
Department for more than 30 days unless the
individual's employing agency or office is fully
reimbursed by the receiving agency or office for the
salary and expenses of the employee for the period of
assignment.
Section 711: This provision prohibits the Department
of Agriculture from transmitting or making available to
any non-Department of Agriculture or the Food and Drug
Administration employee questions or responses to
questions that are a result of information requested
for the appropriations hearing process.
Section 712: Language is included that requires
approval of the Chief Information Officer and the
concurrence of the Executive Information Technology
Investment Review Board for acquisition of new
information technology systems or significant upgrades,
and that prohibits the transfer of funds to the Office
of the Chief Information Officer without the
notification of the Committees on Appropriations of
both Houses of Congress.
Section 713: Language is included that requires
certain reprogramming procedures of funds provided in
Appropriations Acts.
Section 714: Language is included that prohibits
funds from being used to prepare a budget submission to
Congress that assumes reductions from the previous
year's budget due to user fee proposals unless the
submission also identifies spending reductions which
should occur if the user fees are not enacted.
Section 715: Language is included that provides that
no funds may be used to close or relocate a state Rural
Development office unless or until cost effectiveness
and enhancement of program delivery have been
determined.
Section 716: Language is included that provides
$2,500,000 for a hunger fellowship program.
Section 717: Language is included that provides funds
for the National Sheep Improvement Center used to carry
out a competitive grants program.
Section 723: Language is included that allows for
reimbursement of the Bill Emerson Humanitarian Trust.
Section 725: Language is included that ensures that
sufficient funds are available to pay the subsidy costs
for note guarantees for certain rural electric
programs.
Section 730: Language is included related to final
rulemaking on cost-sharing for APHIS animal and plant
health emergency programs.
Section 732: Language is included regarding grants.
Section 734: Language is included regarding the
recertification of rural status.
Section 735: Language is included that relates to
government sponsored news stories.
Section 736: The Committee includes funding for a
specialty crops competitiveness program.
Section 738: Language is included that provides
funding for a Fruit and Vegetable Pilot Program.
Section 739: Language is included related to
competitive sourcing related to rural development or
farm loan programs.
Section 740: Language is included that rescinds
certain funds.
Section 741: Language is included related to the
premium discounting program authorized by Section
508(e)(3) of the Federal Crop Insurance Act.
Section 742: Language is included regarding the
prohibition of funds for certain FDA activities.
Section 743: Language is included regarding certain
fees.
Section 744: Language is included that rescinds
certain funds.
Section 745: The Committee includes language that
provides that certain locations shall be considered
eligible for rural housing loan and grant programs.
Section 746: Language is included regarding funding
allocations for the expanded food nutrition and
education program.
Section 749: Language is included to extend the
peanut storage program.
Section 751: Language is included regarding Food and
Drug Administration authorities and requirements for
drug safety studies.
Section 752: Language is included to extend the milk
price support program.
Statement of General Performance Goals and Objectives
Pursuant to clause 3(c)(4) of rule XIII of the Rules of the
House of Representatives, the following is a statement of
general performance goals and objectives for which this measure
authorizes funding:
The Committee on Appropriations considers program
performance, including a program's success in developing and
attaining outcome-related goals and objectives, in developing
funding recommendations.
Compliance With Clause 3(e) of Rule XIII (Ramseyer Rule)
In compliance with clause 3(e) of rule XIII of the Rules of
the House of Representatives, changes in existing law made by
the bill, as reported, are shown as follows (existing law
proposed to be omitted is enclosed in black brackets, new
matter is printed in italic, existing law in which no change is
proposed is shown in roman):
* * * * * * *
SECTION 716 OF THE AGRICULTURE, RURAL, DEVELOPMENT, FOOD AND DRUG
ADMINISTRATION, AND RELATED AGENCIES APPROPRIATIONS ACT, 2007
(Division A of Public Law 108-7)
Sec. 721. In addition to amounts otherwise appropriated or
made available by this Act, $2,500,000 is appropriated for the
purpose of providing Bill Emerson and Mickey Leland Hunger
Fellowships[, as authorized by section 4404 of Public Law 107-
171 (2 U.S.C. 1161)] through the Congressional Hunger Center.
FARM SECURITY AND RURAL INVESTMENT ACT OF 2002
* * * * * * *
TITLE I--COMMODITY PROGRAMS
* * * * * * *
Subtitle C--Peanuts
* * * * * * *
SEC. 1307. MARKETING ASSISTANCE LOANS AND LOAN DEFICIENCY PAYMENTS FOR
PEANUTS.
(a) Nonrecourse Loans Available.--
(1) * * *
* * * * * * *
(6) Payment of peanut storage costs.--Effective for
the 2002 through [2006] 2007 crops of peanuts, to
ensure proper storage of peanuts for which a loan is
made under this section, the Secretary shall use the
funds of the Commodity Credit Corporation to pay
storage, handling, and other associated costs. This
authority terminates beginning with the [2007] 2008
crop of peanuts.
* * * * * * *
Subtitle E--Dairy
* * * * * * *
SEC. 1502. NATIONAL DAIRY MARKET LOSS PAYMENTS.
(a) * * *
* * * * * * *
(c) Amount.--Payments to a producer under this section shall
be calculated by multiplying (as determined by the Secretary)--
(1) * * *
* * * * * * *
(3)(A) during the period beginning on the first day
of the month the producers on a dairy farm enter into a
contract under this section and ending on September 30,
2005, 45 percent; and
(B) during the period beginning on October 1, 2005,
and ending on [August 31, 2007, 34 percent; and]
September 30, 2007, 34 percent.
[(C) during the period beginning on September 1,
2007, 0 percent.]
* * * * * * *
Appropriations Not Authorized by Law
Pursuant to clause 3(f)(1)(B) of rule XIII of the Rules of
the House of Representatives, the following table lists the
appropriations in the accompanying bill which are not
authorized by law:
[In thousands of dollars]
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Appropriations
Program and last year of authorization Authorization level in last year of Appropriations
authorization in this bill
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Richard B. Russell National School Lunch Act
(42 U.S.C. 1766(q)(3))
Food and Nutrition Service:
Child and Adult Care Food Program.... $1,000 $1,000 $1,000
Commodity Futures Trading Commission......... Indefinite $93,572 $109,402
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Rescissions
Pursuant to clause 3(f)(2) of rule XIII of the Rules of the
House of Representatives, the following information is
submitted describing the rescissions recommended in the
accompanying bill:
The bill proposes rescissions of $78,514,000 of funds
derived from interest on the cushion of credit payments in
fiscal year 2007 under the Rural Economic Development Loans
Program Account, which is an annual technical adjustment
contained in the budget estimates; $25,265,000 from the High
Energy Cost grants account; and $9,900,000 from unobligated
balances in Section 32.
Comparison With Budget Resolution
Clause 3(c)(2) of rule XIII of the Rules of the House of
Representatives requires an explanation of compliance with
section 308(a)(1)(A) of the Congressional Budget and
Impoundment Control Act of 1974 (Public Law 93-344), as
amended, which requires that the report accompanying a bill
providing new budget authority contain a statement detailing
how that authority compares with the reports submitted under
section 302 of the Act for the most recently agreed to
concurrent resolution on the budget for the fiscal year from
the Committee's section 302(a) allocation. This information
follows:
[In millions of dollars]
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
302(b) allocation This bill
---------------------------------------------------
Full committee data Budget Budget
authority Outlays authority Outlays
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Comparison with Budget Resolution:
Discretionary........................................... $17,812 $19,519 $17,812 \1\ $19,527
Mandatory............................................... 70,945 52,946 70,945 52,946
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
\1\ The bill is over the suballocation in discretionary outlays as the result of an amendment adopted during
Full Committee consideration. This overage will be eliminated at the next opportunity so that the outlays in
the bill will not exceed the suballocation.
Five-Year Outlay Projections
In compliance with section 308(a)(1)(B) of the
Congressional Budget and Impoundment Control Act of 1974
(Public Law 93-344), as amended, the following table contains
five-year projections associated with the budget authority
provided in the accompanying bill:
[Five year projections, in millions of dollars]
Outlays:
2007.............................................. 61,617
2008.............................................. 10,792
2009.............................................. 1,377
2010.............................................. 714
2011 and beyond................................... 2,676
Assistance to State and Local Governments
In accordance with section 308(a)(1)(C) of the
Congressional Budget and Impoundment Control Act of 1974
(Public Law 93-344), as amended, the financial assistance to
state and local governments is as follows:
[In millions of dollars]
New budget authority.................................. 24,991
Fiscal year 2007 outlays resulting therefrom.......... 22,917
Program, Project, and Activity
During fiscal year 2007 for purposes of the Balanced Budget
and Emergency Deficit Control Act of 1985 (Public Law 99-177),
the following information provides the definition of the term
``program, project, and activity'' for departments and agencies
under the jurisdiction of the Agriculture, Rural Development,
Food and Drug Administration, and Related Agencies
Subcommittee. The term ``program, project, and activity'' shall
include the most specific level of budget items identified in
the Agriculture, Rural Development, Food and Drug
Administration, and Related Agencies Appropriations Act of
2007, the House and Senate Committee reports, and the
conference report and accompanying joint explanatory statement
of the managers of the committee of conference.
If a Sequestration Order is necessary, in implementing the
required Presidential Order, departments and agencies shall
apply any percentage reduction for fiscal year 2007 pursuant to
the provisions of Public Law 99-177 to all items specified in
the explanatory notes submitted to the Committees on
Appropriations of the House and Senate in support of the fiscal
year 2007 budget estimates, as amended, for such departments
and agencies, as modified by congressional action, and in
addition:
For the Agricultural Research Service the definition shall
include specific research locations as identified in the
explanatory notes and lines of research specifically identified
in the reports of the House and Senate Appropriations
Committees.
For the Natural Resources Conservation Service the
definition shall include individual flood prevention projects
as identified in the explanatory notes and individual
operational watershed projects as summarized in the notes.
For the Farm Service Agency the definition shall include
individual state, district, and county offices.
ADDITIONAL VIEWS OF ROSA L. DeLAURO, MAURICE D. HINCHEY, SAM FARR,
ALLEN BOYD, MARCY KAPTUR, AND DAVID R. OBEY
The chairman's mark, as presented to the subcommittee, made
a number of improvements in the administration's budget
request. But the bill became significantly better because of
Democratic amendments in subcommittee and full committee:
Rep. DeLauro offered an amendment, passed at
subcommittee, to stop an ill-advised Bush
administration proposal to allow processed chicken from
China to enter the U.S., despite concerns about avian
influenza.
The manager's amendment adopted in full
committee included an additional increase of $4 million
for the Office of Generics Drugs, as requested by Rep.
DeLauro.
Rep. Obey offered an amendment, adopted in
full committee, to extend the MILC program through
September 30, 2007, instead of arbitrarily cutting it
off on August 31, 2007.
Rep. Hinchey offered an amendment, passed in
full committee, to strike weak language on conflicts of
interest by FDA advisory committee members, and replace
it with language passed by the full House last year
that would prohibit persons with such conflicts from
voting on these panels.
Rep. DeLauro's amendment to give FDA the
authority to order drugs from the market if
manufacturers refuse to conduct needed safety studies
was agreed to in full committee.
These amendments addressed key problems in FDA's
operations, provided fair treatment for America's dairy
farmers, and helped protect the public health.
But we would also like to make Members aware of our
disappointment with the Committee's failure to pass, by a
rollcall vote of 24-36, the amendment by Rep. DeLauro to help
secure our nation's energy supplies and strengthen our rural
communities. The DeLauro amendment was part of a fiscally
disciplined, balanced Democratic approach that would return
Congressional budgeting to the principle of ``paying-as-you-
go,'' providing additional funding for key domestic investments
and reducing the deficit by scaling back the supersized average
tax cut for those making more than $1 million a year.
The amendment proposed to invest $500 million in a number
of key USDA programs, in order to reenergize our farm economy
and communities and jumpstart our country's energy independence
efforts.
To promote American energy independence, the amendment:
provided funding for the first time ever for the Biorefinery
Development Grants program, at $50 million; restored $120
million to the Bioenergy Program; funded the Value-Added
Agricultural Product Market Development Grant program at its
authorized level of $40 million; provided the first funding for
the energy audit program to help farmers and ranchers assess
their options for energy conservation and renewable fuel usage;
doubled funding for the section 9006 renewable energy/energy
efficiency program and the section 9008 biomass R&D program;
set aside funds for loans to small businesses in rural areas
for improving access to renewable fuel filling stations in
rural areas; and provided an increase of $25 million for our
nation's agriculture schools for research on biofuels.
On the rural development side, the DeLauro amendment
increased funding for rural water and sewer grants by 44% over
the bill; doubled the 2006 level of funding for grants for
essential rural community facilities, such as libraries and
health clinics; provided a 40% increase in funding in the bill
for distance learning and telemedicine grants that help link
remote rural communities with remote education institutions and
medical experts; and provided a 75% increase in funding for
broadband grants to rural communities to give access to modern
high-speed telecommunications services. We know these funds
would be used immediately--USDA turned away many, many
qualified communities that applied for funding under these
programs last year because it ran out of money.
The amendment was fully paid for by asking those making
more than $1 million per year to forgo less than $1,400 of the
more than $114,000 they receive from the Republican tax cut
bills. American families are sacrificing enough--it is time
this Congress asked the most well-off to do their part meet
this challenge, as well. The failure of the Majority to adopt
this responsible, fiscally disciplined amendment is
particularly ironic given that the next day, the Majority
pushed a bill through the House that provides taxpayers with
incomes greater than $1 million per year tax cuts of $42,000,
while families with incomes of $50,000 a year would only get on
average a $46 tax cut.
Americans are ready to declare their energy independence.
And with this amendment, we could have made that possible by
tapping the promise our farms hold to reduce our dependence on
oil and providing a more secure economic future for our
farmers.
Because of the importance of these issues to our nation and
our rural communities, we plan to submit the amendment to the
Rules Committee and request that its consideration be made in
order when the bill comes before the House.
We look forward to that debate.
Dave Obey.
Maurice Hinchey.
Sam Farr.
Rosa L. DeLauro.
Marcy Kaptur.
F. Allen Boyd, Jr.
