[Senate Report 113-164]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
Calendar No. 390
113th Congress Report
SENATE
2d Session 113-164
======================================================================
AGRICULTURE, RURAL DEVELOPMENT, FOOD AND DRUG ADMINISTRATION, AND
RELATED AGENCIES APPROPRIATIONS BILL, 2015
_______
May 22, 2014.--Ordered to be printed
_______
Mr. Pryor, from the Committee on Appropriations,
submitted the following
REPORT
[To accompany S. 2389]
The Committee on Appropriations reports the bill (S. 2389)
making appropriations for Agriculture, Rural Development, Food
and Drug Administration, and Related Agencies programs for the
fiscal year ending September 30, 2015, and for other purposes,
reports favorably thereon and recommends that the bill do pass.
New obligational authority
Total of bill as reported to the Senate.................$142,654,142,000
Amount of 2014 appropriations........................... 145,437,976,000
Amount of 2015 budget estimate.......................... 165,182,539,000
Bill as recommended to Senate compared to--
2014 appropriations................................. -2,783,834,000
2015 budget estimate................................ -22,528,397,000
CONTENTS
----------
Page
Breakdown by Title............................................... 4
Overview and Summary of the Bill................................. 5
Reports to Congress.............................................. 6
Title I:
Agricultural Programs:
Production, Processing, and Marketing:
Office of the Secretary.............................. 7
Executive Operations................................. 9
Office of the Chief Information Officer.............. 10
Office of the Chief Financial Officer................ 11
Office of the Assistant Secretary for Civil Rights... 11
Office of Civil Rights............................... 12
Agriculture Buildings and Facilities................. 12
Hazardous Materials Management....................... 13
Office of Inspector General.......................... 13
Office of the General Counsel........................ 14
Office of Ethics..................................... 14
Office of the Under Secretary for Research,
Education, and Economics........................... 15
Economic Research Service............................ 15
National Agricultural Statistics Service............. 16
Agricultural Research Service........................ 17
National Institute of Food and Agriculture........... 20
Office of the Under Secretary for Marketing and
Regulatory Programs................................ 28
Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service........... 28
Agricultural Marketing Service....................... 34
Grain Inspection, Packers and Stockyards
Administration..................................... 37
Office of the Under Secretary for Food Safety........ 38
Food Safety and Inspection Service................... 38
Office of the Under Secretary for Farm and Foreign
Agricultural Services.............................. 39
Farm Service Agency.................................. 40
Risk Management Agency............................... 45
Corporations:
Federal Crop Insurance Corporation Fund.............. 45
Commodity Credit Corporation Fund.................... 46
Title II:
Conservation Programs:
Office of the Under Secretary for Natural Resources and
Environment............................................ 48
Natural Resources Conservation Service................... 48
Title III:
Rural Development Programs:
Office of the Under Secretary for Rural Development...... 51
Rural Housing Service.................................... 52
Rural Community Facilities Program Account............... 57
Rural Business--Cooperative Service...................... 58
Rural Utilities Service.................................. 62
Title IV:
Domestic Food Programs:
Office of the Under Secretary for Food, Nutrition, and
Consumer Services...................................... 66
Food and Nutrition Service............................... 66
Title V: Foreign Assistance and Related Programs: Foreign
Agricultural Service........................................... 74
Title VI:
Related Agency and Food and Drug Administration:
Department of Health and Human Services: Food and Drug
Administration......................................... 78
Independent Agency: Farm Credit Administration........... 87
Title VII: General Provisions.................................... 89
Program, Project, and Activity................................... 92
Compliance With Paragraph 7, Rule XVI of the Standing Rules of
the
Senate......................................................... 92
Compliance With Paragraph 7(c), Rule XXVI of the Standing Rules
of the Senate.................................................. 93
Compliance With Paragraph 12, Rule XXVI of the Standing Rules of
the
Senate......................................................... 93
Budgetary Impact of Bill......................................... 94
Comparative Statement of Budget Authority........................ 95
BREAKDOWN BY TITLE
The amounts of obligational authority for each of the seven
titles are shown in the following table. A detailed tabulation,
showing comparisons, appears at the end of this report.
Recommendations for individual appropriation items, projects
and activities are carried in this report under the appropriate
item headings.
[In thousands of dollars]
------------------------------------------------------------------------
2015 Committee
2014 recommendation
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Title I: Agricultural programs.... 29,938,096 25,627,270
Title II: Conservation programs... 825,832 850,193
Title III: Rural economic and 2,397,709 2,448,923
community development programs...
Title IV: Domestic food programs.. 108,585,603 109,802,904
Title V: Foreign assistance and 1,838,472 1,830,199
related programs.................
Title VI: Related agencies and 2,560,693 2,597,324
Food and Drug Administration.....
Title VII: General provisions..... -708,429 -502,671
-------------------------------------
Total, new budget 145,437,976 142,654,142
(obligational) authority...
------------------------------------------------------------------------
OVERVIEW AND SUMMARY OF THE BILL
The Agriculture, Rural Development, Food and Drug
Administration, and Related Agencies appropriations bill
provides funding for a wide array of Federal programs, mostly
in the U.S. Department of Agriculture [USDA]. These programs
include agricultural research, education, and extension
activities; natural resources conservation programs; farm
income and support programs; marketing and inspection
activities; domestic food assistance programs; rural housing,
economic and community development, and telecommunication and
electrification assistance; and various export and
international activities of the USDA.
The bill also provides funding for the Food and Drug
Administration [FDA] and allows the use of collected fees for
administrative expenses of the Farm Credit Administration
[FCA].
The discretionary programs and activities of USDA and FDA
that are supported by this bill include high priority
responsibilities entrusted to the Federal Government and its
partners to protect human health and safety, contribute to
economic recovery, and achieve policy objectives strongly
supported by the American people. The ability to provide for
these measures is made difficult by growing pressure on
available levels of discretionary spending as a consequence of
the overall public debate on Federal spending, revenues, and
size of the Federal debt.
Too often, the USDA programs funded by this bill are
confused with farm subsidies and other mandatory spending more
properly associated with multi-year farm bills. In contrast,
this bill provides annual funding for programs familiar to all
Americans such as protecting food safety through the Food
Safety and Inspection Service and the Food and Drug
Administration, which also plays a vital role in maintaining
the safety of the Nation's blood supply and availability of
safe and effective medical products and other components of our
health system. This bill also provides funding to fight against
the introduction and spread of noxious or infectious and often
invasive pests and disease that threaten our plant and animal
health environments, as well as funding for many other missions
of dire importance to the American people.
In the context of overall pressures on spending and the
competing priorities that the Committee faces, this bill as
reported provides the proper amount of emphasis on
agricultural, rural development, and other programs and
activities funded by the bill. It is consistent with the
subcommittee's allocation for fiscal year 2015.
All accounts in the bill have been closely examined to
ensure that an appropriate level of funding is provided to
carry out the programs of USDA, FDA, and FCA. Details on each
of the accounts, the funding level, and the Committee's
justifications for the funding levels are included in the
report.
REPORTS TO CONGRESS
The Committee has, throughout this report, requested
agencies to provide studies and reports on various issues. The
Committee utilizes these reports to evaluate program
performance and make decisions on future appropriations. The
Committee directs that all studies and reports be provided to
the Committee as electronic documents in an agreed upon format
within 120 days after the date of enactment, unless an
alternative submission schedule is specifically stated in the
report request.
TITLE I
AGRICULTURAL PROGRAMS
Production, Processing, and Marketing
Office of the Secretary
Appropriations, 2014.................................... $43,778,000
Budget estimate, 2015................................... 46,816,000
Committee recommendation................................ 46,466,000
The Secretary of Agriculture, assisted by the Deputy
Secretary, Under Secretaries and Assistant Secretaries, Chief
Information Officer, Chief Financial Officer, and members of
their immediate staffs, directs and coordinates the work of the
Department. This includes developing policy, maintaining
relationships with agricultural organizations and others in the
development of farm programs, and maintaining liaison with the
Executive Office of the President and Members of Congress on
all matters pertaining to agricultural policy.
The general authority of the Secretary to supervise and
control the work of the Department is contained in the Organic
Act (7 U.S.C. 2201-2202). The delegation of regulatory
functions to Department employees and authorization of
appropriations to carry out these functions is contained in 7
U.S.C. 450c-450g.
COMMITTEE RECOMMENDATIONS
The Committee recommends an appropriation of $46,466,000
for the Office of the Secretary. The Committee recommendation
includes the following accounts under the Office of the
Secretary: Office of the Secretary; Office of Tribal Relations;
Office of Homeland Security and Emergency Coordination; Office
of Advocacy and Outreach; Office of the Assistant Secretary for
Administration; Departmental Administration; Office of
Assistant Secretary for Congressional Relations; and Office of
Communications. The following table reflects the amount
provided by the Committee for each office and activity:
OFFICE OF THE SECRETARY
[In thousands of dollars]
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
2015 budget Committee
2014 enacted request recommendation
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Office of the Secretary...................................... 5,051 5,086 5,086
Office of Tribal Relations................................... 498 502 502
Office of Homeland Security and Emergency Coordination....... 1,496 1,507 1,507
Office of Advocacy and Outreach.............................. 1,209 1,217 1,217
Office of Assistance Secretary for Administration............ 804 809 809
Departmental Administration\1\............................... 22,786 25,661 25,311
Office of Assistant Secretary for Congressional Relations.... 3,869 3,897 3,897
Office of Communications..................................... 8,065 8,137 8,137
--------------------------------------------------
Total.................................................. 43,778 46,816 46,466
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
\1\Included in the amount for the fiscal year 2015 budget request and Committee recommendation is $2,877,000 for
payments to the General Services Administration for rent and for payments to the Department of Homeland
Security for building security activities, which was previously funded through the Agriculture Buildings and
Facilities and Rental Payments account.
Animal Fighting.--The Committee is very concerned about
reports of illegal animal fighting activities and directs the
Secretary to work with relevant agencies on the most effective
and proper means for investigating and enforcing laws and
regulations regarding these activities.
Forest Products.--The Committee supports the inclusion of
forest products in the Biobased Markets Program and encourages
the Department to expeditiously promulgate new regulations
pursuant to changes in the Agricultural Act of 2014.
Loan Servicing Center of Excellence.--In order to leverage
existing capacity and expertise within the Department, the
Secretary is directed to explore the creation of a Center of
Excellence for loan servicing support functions in order to
provide consolidated customer service, field office support,
and centralized loan services to USDA agencies and other
Federal agencies. The Secretary shall consult with employee
representatives and management in the Farm Service Agency Farm
Loan Information Technology, Accounting, and Finance Office
loan servicing support functions; the Rural Development Deputy
Chief Financial Officer and Deputy Chief Information Officer
functions; and the Rural Housing Centralized Servicing Center.
Military Veteran's Liaison.--The Agricultural Act of 2014
created a Military Veteran's Liaison to coordinate programs to
assist veterans entering into agricultural occupations. USDA is
encouraged to prioritize the creation of a full-time Military
Veteran's Liaison in the Department staffing plan.
Resource Conservation and Development Councils.--Since
1964, the Resource Conservation and Development [RC&D] Councils
have worked at the grassroots level with local leaders to plan,
develop, and carry out programs for land and water conservation
and management. The Committee encourages the Secretary to
consider the maximum practical use of RC&D Councils, where such
RC&D Councils meet agency performance requirements, in the
delivery of USDA programs and services.
Under Secretary of Agriculture for Trade and Foreign
Agricultural Affairs.--The Agricultural Act of 2014 requires
the Secretary of Agriculture to propose a reorganization of the
international trade functions at the Department of Agriculture,
including the establishment of an Under Secretary of
Agriculture for Trade and Foreign Agricultural Affairs, and
issue a report to Congress not later than 180 days after
enactment, or August 6, 2014. One year after the report is
submitted, or no later than August 6, 2015, the Secretary is
required to implement this reorganization. The Committee
affirms the importance of meeting the deadlines included in the
Agricultural Act of 2014.
Executive Operations
Executive operations were established as a result of the
reorganization of the Department to provide a support team for
USDA policy officials and selected department-wide services.
Activities under the executive operations include the Office of
the Chief Economist, the National Appeals Division, and the
Office of Budget and Program Analysis.
OFFICE OF THE CHIEF ECONOMIST
Appropriations, 2014.................................... $16,777,000
Budget estimate, 2015................................... 16,854,000
Committee recommendation................................ 16,854,000
The Office of the Chief Economist advises the Secretary of
Agriculture on the economic implications of Department policies
and programs. The Office serves as the single focal point for
the Nation's economic intelligence and analysis, risk
assessment, and cost-benefit analysis related to domestic and
international food and agriculture issues, provides policy
direction for renewable energy development, conducts analyses
of climate change impacts on agriculture and forestry, and is
responsible for coordination and review of all commodity and
aggregate agricultural and food-related data used to develop
outlook and situation material within the Department.
COMMITTEE RECOMMENDATIONS
The Committee recommends an appropriation of $16,854,000
for the Office of the Chief Economist.
Policy Research.--The Committee recommendation includes
$4,000,000 for policy research under 7 U.S.C. 3155 for entities
with existing institutional capacity to conduct complex
economic and policy analysis and a lengthy and well-documented
record of conducting policy analysis for the benefit of the
Department of Agriculture, the Congressional Budget Office, or
the Congress. To maximize resources, the Committee expects the
Department to focus efforts on entities that have developed
models, databases, and staff necessary to conduct in-depth
analysis of impacts of agriculture or rural development policy
proposals on rural communities, farmers, agribusiness,
taxpayers, and consumers.
NATIONAL APPEALS DIVISION
Appropriations, 2014.................................... $12,841,000
Budget estimate, 2015................................... 13,430,000
Committee recommendation................................ 13,430,000
The National Appeals Division conducts administrative
hearings and reviews of adverse program decisions made by the
Rural Development mission area, the Farm Service Agency, the
Risk Management Agency, and the Natural Resources Conservation
Service.
COMMITTEE RECOMMENDATIONS
The Committee recommends an appropriation of $13,430,000
for the National Appeals Division. Included in this amount is
$528,000 for payments to the General Services Administration
for rent and for payments to the Department of Homeland
Security for building security activities, which was previously
funded through the Agriculture Buildings and Facilities and
Rental Payments account.
OFFICE OF BUDGET AND PROGRAM ANALYSIS
Appropriations, 2014.................................... $9,064,000
Budget estimate, 2015................................... 10,292,000
Committee recommendation................................ 9,305,000
The Office of Budget and Program Analysis provides
direction and administration of the Department's budgetary
functions including development, presentation, and execution of
the budget; reviews program and legislative proposals for
program, budget, and related implications; analyzes program and
resource issues and alternatives, and prepares summaries of
pertinent data to aid the Secretary and departmental policy
officials and agency program managers in the decisionmaking
process; and provides departmentwide coordination for and
participation in the presentation of budget-related matters to
the committees of the Congress, the media, and interested
public. The Office also provides department-wide coordination
of the preparation and processing of regulations and
legislative programs and reports.
COMMITTEE RECOMMENDATIONS
The Committee recommends an appropriation of $9,305,000 for
the Office of Budget and Program Analysis. The Committee does
not recommend an appropriation to establish the position of
Chief Evaluation Officer.
Office of the Chief Information Officer
Appropriations, 2014.................................... $44,031,000
Budget estimate, 2015................................... 45,199,000
Committee recommendation................................ 45,199,000
The Office of the Chief Information Officer was established
in August 1996 (40 U.S.C. 1401 et seq.), pursuant to the
Clinger-Cohen Act of 1996, which required the establishment of
a Chief Information Officer for major Federal agencies. This
Office provides policy guidance, leadership, coordination, and
direction to the Department's information management and
information technology investment activities in support of USDA
program delivery, and is the lead office in USDA e-gov efforts.
The Office provides long-range planning guidance, implements
measures to ensure that technology investments are economical
and effective, coordinates interagency information resources
management projects, and implements standards to promote
information exchange and technical interoperability. In
addition, the Office of the Chief Information Officer is
responsible for certain activities financed under the
Department's Working Capital Fund (7 U.S.C. 2235). The Office
also provides telecommunication and automated data processing
[ADP] services to USDA agencies through the National
Information Technology Center with locations in Fort Collins,
Colorado, Kansas City, Missouri and Washington, DC. Direct ADP
operational services are also provided to the Office of the
Secretary, the Office of the General Counsel, the Office of
Communications, the Office of the Chief Financial Officer, and
Departmental Management.
On November 28, 2004, the information technology staffs of
the Service Center Agencies [SCA] were converged into one IT
organization within the office of the Chief Information
Officer; this converged organization is named Information
Technology Services and replaces a network of cross-agency
teams used to coordinate IT infrastructure investment within
the SCA and allows for unified management of the IT
infrastructure.
COMMITTEE RECOMMENDATIONS
The Committee recommends an appropriation of $45,199,000
for the Office of the Chief Information Officer. Included in
this amount is $993,000 for payments to the General Services
Administration for rent and for payments to the Department of
Homeland Security for building security activities, which was
previously funded through the Agriculture Buildings and
Facilities and Rental Payments account. This amount also
includes not less than $28,000,000 to support cybersecurity
requirements of the Department.
Office of the Chief Financial Officer
Appropriations, 2014.................................... $6,213,000
Budget estimate, 2015................................... 6,080,000
Committee recommendation................................ 6,080,000
The Office of the Chief Financial Officer is responsible
for the dual roles of Chief Financial Management Policy Officer
and Chief Financial Management Advisor to the Secretary and
mission area heads. The Office provides leadership for all
financial management, accounting, travel, Federal assistance,
and strategic planning performance measurement activities
within the Department. The Office is also responsible for the
management and operation of the National Finance Center and the
Departmental Working Capital Fund.
COMMITTEE RECOMMENDATIONS
The Committee recommends an appropriation of $6,080,000 for
the Office of the Chief Financial Officer.
Office of the Assistant Secretary for Civil Rights
Appropriations, 2014.................................... $893,000
Budget estimate, 2015................................... 898,000
Committee recommendation................................ 898,000
The Office of the Assistant Secretary for Civil Rights
provides oversight of civil rights and related functions. This
includes coordination of the administration of civil rights
laws and regulations for employees of the Department of
Agriculture and participants in programs of the Department, and
ensuring compliance with civil rights laws.
COMMITTEE RECOMMENDATIONS
The Committee recommends an appropriation of $898,000 for
the Office of the Assistant Secretary for Civil Rights.
Office of Civil Rights
Appropriations, 2014.................................... $21,400,000
Budget estimate, 2015................................... 24,236,000
Committee recommendation................................ 24,236,000
The Office of Civil Rights provides overall leadership
responsibility for all department-wide civil rights activities.
These activities include employment opportunity as well as
program nondiscrimination policy development, analysis,
coordination, and compliance. The Office is responsible for
providing leadership in facilitating the fair and equitable
treatment of USDA employees, and for monitoring program
activities to ensure that all USDA programs are delivered in a
nondiscriminatory manner. The Office's outreach functions
provide leadership, coordination, facilitation, and expertise
to internal and external partners to ensure equal and timely
access to USDA programs for all constituents, with emphasis on
the underserved, through information sharing, technical
assistance, and training.
COMMITTEE RECOMMENDATION
The Committee recommends an appropriation of $24,236,000
for the Office of Civil Rights. Included in this amount is
$2,471,000 for payments to the General Services Administration
for rent and for payments to the Department of Homeland
Security for building security activities, which was previously
funded through the Agriculture Buildings and Facilities and
Rental Payments account.
Agriculture Buildings and Facilities
Appropriations, 2014.................................... $233,000,000
Budget estimate, 2015................................... 64,825,000
Committee recommendation................................ 64,844,000
Department headquarters presently operates in a two-
building, Government-owned complex in downtown Washington, DC,
the George Washington Carver Center in Beltsville, Maryland,
and in leased buildings in the metropolitan Washington, DC,
area. Under an arrangement with the General Services
Administration, USDA operates, maintains, and repairs these
facilities, in lieu of rental payments. For the last several
years the Department has implemented a strategic space plan to
locate staff more efficiently, renovate its buildings, and
eliminate safety hazards, particularly in the Agriculture South
Building.
COMMITTEE RECOMMENDATIONS
The Committee recommends an appropriation of $64,844,000
for Agriculture Buildings and Facilities. The recommendation
includes General Services Administration rental payments and
Department of Homeland Security security payments within each
respective agency, per the budget request.
The following table reflects the Committee's specific
recommendations for this account as compared to the fiscal year
2014 and budget request levels:
[In thousands of dollars]
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
2015 budget Committee
2014 enacted request recommendation
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Rental Payments................................................. 164,470 .............. ..............
Building Operations............................................. 54,730 64,825 64,844
DHS Building Security........................................... 13,800 .............. ..............
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Hazardous Materials Management
Appropriations, 2014.................................... $3,592,000
Budget estimate, 2015................................... 3,600,000
Committee recommendation................................ 3,600,000
Under the Comprehensive Environmental Response,
Compensation, and Liability Act and the Resource Conservation
and Recovery Act, the Department has the responsibility to meet
the same standards regarding the storage and disposition of
hazardous materials as private businesses. The Department is
required to contain, cleanup, monitor, and inspect for
hazardous materials in areas under the Department's
jurisdiction.
COMMITTEE RECOMMENDATIONS
The Committee recommends an appropriation of $3,600,000 for
Hazardous Materials Management.
Office of Inspector General
Appropriations, 2014.................................... $89,902,000
Budget estimate, 2015................................... 97,240,000
Committee recommendation................................ 97,240,000
The Office of Inspector General [OIG] was established
October 12, 1978, by the Inspector General Act of 1978 (Public
Law 95-452). This act expanded and provided specific
authorities for the activities of OIG which had previously been
carried out under the general authorities of the Secretary of
Agriculture.
The Office is administered by an inspector general who
reports directly to the Secretary of Agriculture. Functions and
responsibilities of this Office include direction and control
of audit and investigative activities within the Department,
formulation of audit and investigative policies and procedures
regarding Department programs and operations, and analysis and
coordination of program-related audit and investigation
activities performed by other Department agencies.
The activities of this Office are designed to assure
compliance with existing laws, policies, regulations, and
programs of the Department's agencies, and to provide
appropriate officials with the means for prompt corrective
action where deviations have occurred. The scope of audit and
investigative activities is large and includes administrative,
program, and criminal matters. These activities are
coordinated, when appropriate, with various audit and
investigative agencies of the executive and legislative
branches of the Government.
COMMITTEE RECOMMENDATIONS
The Committee recommends an appropriation of $97,240,000
for the Office of Inspector General. Included in this amount is
$5,198,000 for payments to the General Services Administration
for rent and for payments to the Department of Homeland
Security for building security activities, which was previously
funded through the Agriculture Buildings and Facilities and
Rental Payments account. In addition, the recommendation
includes funding for OIG to address violations of section 26 of
the Animal Welfare Act (7 U.S.C. 2156) and to coordinate with
State and local law enforcement personnel in this effort.
MIDAS.--The Committee is concerned that, despite having
invested more funding than was originally envisioned for MIDAS,
the system is not meeting the original goals and objectives of
streamlining business processes and developing an effective
long-term information technology system capable of seamless
delivery of farm bill programs. Therefore, the Committee
directs OIG to review the management oversight of MIDAS,
including issues such as its current status, timeline, funding,
performance, and security. The Committee requests regular
updates on the status of this review.
Office of the General Counsel
Appropriations, 2014.................................... $41,202,000
Budget estimate, 2015................................... 47,567,000
Committee recommendation................................ 47,567,000
The Office of the General Counsel provides all legal
advice, counsel, and services to the Secretary and to all
agencies, offices, and corporations of the Department. The
Office represents the Department in administrative proceedings;
nonlitigation debt collection proceedings; State water rights
adjudications; proceedings before the Environmental Protection
Agency, Interstate Commerce Commission, Federal Maritime
Administration, and International Trade Commission; and, in
conjunction with the Department of Justice, in judicial
proceedings and litigation.
COMMITTEE RECOMMENDATIONS
The Committee recommends an appropriation of $47,567,000
for the Office of the General Counsel. Included in this amount
is $2,191,000 for payments to the General Services
Administration for rent and for payments to the Department of
Homeland Security for building security activities, which was
previously funded through the Agriculture Buildings and
Facilities and Rental Payments account.
Office of Ethics
Appropriations, 2014.................................... $3,440,000
Budget estimate, 2015................................... 3,867,000
Committee recommendation................................ 3,867,000
The Office of Ethics is the centralized and consolidated
office implementing USDA's ethics program throughout the
Department. The Office provides ethics services to all
employees at the Department concerning advice, training, and
guidance about compliance with conflict of interest and
impartiality rules. This includes complying with the
requirements of the Stop Trading on Congressional Knowledge
Act, Public Law 112-105 (the STOCK Act), and the Office of
Government Ethics regulatory requirements (5 CFR parts 2634
through 2641).
COMMITTEE RECOMMENDATIONS
The Committee recommends an appropriation of $3,867,000 for
the Office of Ethics.
Office of the Under Secretary for Research, Education, and Economics
Appropriations, 2014.................................... $893,000
Budget estimate, 2015................................... 898,000
Committee recommendation................................ 898,000
The Office of the Under Secretary for Research, Education,
and Economics provides direction and coordination in carrying
out the laws enacted by the Congress for food and agricultural
research, education, extension, and economic and statistical
information. The Office has oversight and management
responsibilities for the Agricultural Research Service;
National Institute of Food and Agriculture; Economic Research
Service; and National Agricultural Statistics Service.
COMMITTEE RECOMMENDATIONS
The Committee recommends an appropriation of $898,000 for
the Office of the Under Secretary for Research, Education, and
Economics.
Healthy Water Resources.--The Department is encouraged to
explore technology that meets the requirements of the National
Organic Program and that can control weeds and pests while
maintaining healthy water resources.
Economic Research Service
Appropriations, 2014.................................... $78,058,000
Budget estimate, 2015................................... 83,446,000
Committee recommendation................................ 85,373,000
The Economic Research Service [ERS] provides economic and
other social science research and analysis for public and
private decisions on agriculture, food, the environment, and
rural America. The information that ERS produces is for use by
the general public and to help the executive and legislative
branches develop, administer, and evaluate agricultural and
rural policies and programs.
COMMITTEE RECOMMENDATIONS
The Committee recommends an appropriation of $85,373,000
for the Economic Research Service. Included in this amount is
$7,727,000 for payments to the General Services Administration
for rent and for payments to the Department of Homeland
Security for building security activities, which was previously
funded through the Agriculture Buildings and Facilities and
Rental Payments account.
Organic Data Analysis.--The Committee encourages ERS to
continue all ongoing efforts relating to organic data analysis.
National Agricultural Statistics Service
Appropriations, 2014.................................... $161,206,000
Budget estimate, 2015................................... 178,999,000
Committee recommendation................................ 178,154,000
The National Agricultural Statistics Service [NASS]
administers the Department's program of collecting and
publishing current national, State, and county agricultural
statistics. These statistics provide accurate and timely
projections of current agricultural production and measures of
the economic and environmental welfare of the agricultural
sector which are essential for making effective policy,
production, and marketing decisions. NASS also furnishes
statistical services to other USDA and Federal agencies in
support of their missions, and provides consulting, technical
assistance, and training to developing countries.
NASS is also responsible for administration of the Census
of Agriculture, which is taken every 5 years and provides
comprehensive data on the agricultural economy including: data
on the number of farms, land use, production expenses, farm
product values, value of land and buildings, farm size and
characteristics of farm operators, market value of agricultural
production sold, acreage of major crops, inventory of livestock
and poultry, and farm irrigation practices.
COMMITTEE RECOMMENDATIONS
The Committee recommends an appropriation of $178,154,000
for the National Agricultural Statistics Service. Included in
this amount is $48,044,000 for the Census of Agriculture and
$9,202,000 for payments to the General Services Administration
for rent and for payments to the Department of Homeland
Security for building security activities, which was previously
funded through the Agriculture Buildings and Facilities and
Rental Payments account. The Committee recommendation includes
requested funding for the pollinator health initiative,
restoration of the fruit and vegetable in-season reports,
restoration of the chemical use survey, and does not include
the proposed suspension of reports proposed in the budget.
Chemical Use Data Series.--The Committee believes that the
Chemical Use Data Series provides timely, valuable information
on fertilizer and chemical use data and major field crops and
selected specialty crops. The Committee encourages the National
Agricultural Statistics Service to continue funding the
collection and analysis of chemical use data as well as
practices such as integrated pest management. The Committee
also provides funding, as requested in the budget, for National
Agricultural Statistics Service to resume collecting Fruit
Chemical Use data and Vegetable Chemical Use data in
alternating years.
Agricultural Research Service
SALARIES AND EXPENSES
Appropriations, 2014.................................... $1,122,482,000
Budget estimate, 2015................................... 1,104,403,000
Committee recommendation................................ 1,139,673,000
The Agricultural Research Service [ARS] is responsible for
conducting basic, applied, and developmental research through
its major program areas of New Products/Product Quality/Value
Added; Livestock/Crop Production; Food Safety; Livestock/Crop
Protection; Human Nutrition; and Environmental Stewardship. The
research applies to a wide range of goals; commodities; natural
resources; fields of science; and geographic, climatic, and
environmental conditions.
ARS is also responsible for the Abraham Lincoln National
Agricultural Library which provides agricultural information
and library services through traditional library functions and
modern electronic dissemination to agencies of the USDA, public
and private organizations, and individuals.
As the USDA's in-house agricultural research unit, ARS has
major responsibilities for conducting and leading the national
agricultural research effort. It provides initiative and
leadership in five areas: research on broad regional and
national problems, research to support Federal action and
regulatory agencies, expertise to meet national emergencies,
research support for international programs, and scientific
resources to the executive branch and Congress.
The mission of ARS research is to develop and transfer
solutions to agricultural problems of high national priority
and provide information access and dissemination to ensure
high-quality, safe food and other agricultural products; assess
the nutritional needs of Americans; sustain a competitive
agricultural economy; enhance the natural resource base and the
environment; and provide economic opportunities for rural
citizens, communities, and society as a whole.
COMMITTEE RECOMMENDATIONS
The Committee recommends an appropriation of $1,139,673,000
for salaries and expenses of the Agricultural Research Service.
Included in this amount is $4,671,000 for payments to the
General Services Administration for rent and for payments to
the Department of Homeland Security for building security
activities, which was previously funded through the Agriculture
Buildings and Facilities and Rental Payments account. The
Committee does not concur with the President's budget request
regarding the termination of research programs or closure of
six research locations. The Committee expects extramural
research to be funded at no less than the fiscal year 2014
levels.
Aerial Application Research.--The Committee recognizes the
importance of ARS Aerial Application Technology Program. The
program conducts innovative research making aerial applications
more efficient, effective and precise. Research for aerial
application serves the public good as a vital tool for the
future, as agriculture strives to meet the food, fiber, and
bio-energy demands of a growing population.
Agroforestry.--Agroforestry can provide on-farm financial
and environmental benefits while also addressing the regional
and national-scale issues of clean water, wildlife habitat, and
hypoxia. Agroforesters manage trees with crops, livestock, and
pasture to combine the best of both agriculture and forestry.
Recognizing the importance of agroforestry to farm practices
and the environment, the Committee recommendation includes no
less than the fiscal year 2014 level to develop integrated
strategies to manage multifunctional agricultural landscapes
that combine trees with agricultural and horticultural crops,
forages and grazing livestock for optimal economic,
environmental, and natural resources benefits.
Classical Plant Breeding.--The Committee is aware of the
need to enhance classical plant breeding, and encourages ARS to
invest in research to improve genetic resources and cultivars
for the benefit of U.S. producers, seed companies, processors
and consumers. This research should focus on breeding improved
germplasm and varieties with higher yields, improved disease
and pest resistance and resilience to weather extremes.
Additionally, methods and tools should be developed to enable
classical breeders to choose better breeding parents and speed
up variety development.
Coffee Berry Borer.--The Committee is aware of the threat
that the coffee berry borer poses to the existence of the
coffee industry, and believes that ARS should focus research
into methods to control and eradicate the pest.
Emerging Cereal Rust Diseases.--The Committee is aware that
emerging cereal rust diseases are a threat to domestic and
world food supplies. Therefore, the Department should continue
to dedicate funding to speed efforts to combat cereal rust
disease, including development of Ug99-resistant wheat
varieties.
Forage Production Systems.--The Committee recommendation
includes no less than the fiscal year 2014 level to develop
management practices that improve the production efficiency of
grazing operations in temperate pastures.
Forest Products.--The Committee recognizes the important
role of the forests products sector to the U.S. economy. The
need to create new and improved value-added products and
renewable energy from our Nation's wood supply is critical to
the sustainability of the national economy. The Committee
recommendation includes $3,050,000 to support research on wood
quality improvement and improvement in forest products
evaluation standards and valuation techniques. ARS shall
conduct this research in consultation with the Forest Products
Laboratory.
Human Nutrition Research.--The Committee remains concerned
about the high rates of obesity in this country, and believes
that research into human nutrition is important to help prevent
childhood obesity and the medical issues obesity brings. The
Committee recommendation includes no less than the fiscal year
2014 level to expand research regarding the growth, health
promotion, and disease prevention of the developing child.
Nutrition Research and Aging.--The Committee is aware that
research into nutrition can benefit aging Americans by keeping
them active longer, delaying or reducing the effects of chronic
illnesses and obesity, and reducing healthcare costs for such
diseases. The Committee supports the investment in human
nutrition research, especially as it affects the aging
population, and encourages ARS to continue support for
nutrition research and existing centers.
Organic Production Survey.--In 2008, NASS conducted the
first ever comprehensive Organic Production Survey as a follow-
on survey to the 2007 Census of Agriculture. Published in
February 2010, the survey has provided information vital to the
organic sector's growth. The Committee believes the Organic
Production Survey should be conducted on a regular basis to
properly assess the characteristics, trends, and changes in the
sector. The Committee provided $2,250,000 in fiscal year 2014
for this purpose and expects USDA to conduct the Organic
Production Survey as a comprehensive follow-on survey to the
2012 Census of Agriculture.
Plant Science.--The Committee supports infrastructure
investments in support of high priority research in plant
science, particularly programs that would develop small grain
varieties, such as wheat and barley, that have improved end use
quality, higher disease and insect resistance, and increased
abiotic stress tolerance.
Pollinator Research.--The Committee is aware that
pollinators are responsible for the production of one-third of
the Nation's food supply, but the number of managed honeybee
colonies in the United States has dropped in half since 1940.
Because of the importance of pollinators in the production of
the Nation's food supply and their impact on the stability of
our agricultural economy, the Committee recommendation includes
an increase of $4,000,000 for pollinator health, as requested
in the budget.
Pulse Health Initiative.--The Committee continues to
recognize the need to investigate the ability of pulse crops--
dry beans, dry peas, lentils, and chickpeas--to provide
solutions to critical health issues including but not limited
to obesity, diabetes, cardiovascular disease, and cancer; and
to increase the consumption of pulse crops by improving their
functionality in baked goods and end use as a food and food
ingredient through the study of milling, extrusion, extraction,
and cooking properties. The Committee also recognizes the
potential to improve the sustainability of agricultural
rotations and reduce green house gas emissions by improving the
nitrogen fixing abilities of pulse crops. The Committee
recommends ARS provide adequate funding to establish the Pulse
Health Initiative.
Research Facilities.--The Committee encourages ARS to work
cooperatively with universities to better utilize available
state-of-the-art laboratory space to effectively address
important agricultural research issues. The Committee directs
ARS to study ways in which the Federal labs could be better
utilized, in cooperation with universities, to explore new
scientific opportunities that benefit the Nation's food and
agriculture system, and to submit a report with recommendations
to the Committee by January 30, 2015. The report should include
information on the current utilization of ARS facilities by
universities and other cooperators, as well as the extent in
which ARS is housed in cooperator facilities.
Research Priorities and Objectives.--The Committee believes
that ARS university partners play a major role in achieving ARS
research priorities and objectives. The Committee further
believes that ARS must ensure limited research dollars are
maximized and administrative costs are reduced to the fullest
extent possible, and expects ARS to operate within historical
administrative cost parameters.
Sclerotinia.--The Committee is aware of the economic
importance of controlling sclerotinia, which affects
sunflowers, soybeans, canola, edible beans, peas, and lentils
and encourages ARS to continue both core research and
cooperative projects of the National Sclerotinia Initiative.
Shellfish Research.--The Committee directs the Agricultural
Research Service to continue to partner with research
institutions on research to improve shellfish survival and
growth rates and to classify and preserve natural genetic
variation.
Sustainable Water Use Research.--The Committee recognizes
the ongoing regional groundwater problems in the Lower
Mississippi River Basin. The Committee recommendation includes
no less than the fiscal year 2014 level for ARS to continue
research on conservation practices and the incorporation of
technology in farm management in order to quantify management
impacts on water quality and quantity.
Technology Transfer and Innovation.--The Committee
encourages the Agricultural Research Service to utilize
existing Agricultural Technology Innovation Partnerships to
establish a pilot program to provide regional collaborations,
technology transfer and commercialization, and innovative
venture development training.
National Institute of Food and Agriculture
Section 7511(f)(2) of the Food, Conservation, and Energy
Act of 2008 amends the Department of Agriculture Reorganization
Act of 1994 (7 U.S.C. 6971) by establishing an agency to be
known as the National Institute of Food and Agriculture [NIFA].
The Secretary transferred to the Director of NIFA, effective
October 1, 2009, all authorities administered by the
Administrator of the Cooperative State, Research, Education and
Extension Service. The mission is to work with university
partners and customers to advance research, extension, and
higher education in the food and agricultural sciences and
related environmental and human sciences to benefit people,
communities, and the Nation.
RESEARCH AND EDUCATION ACTIVITIES
Appropriations, 2014.................................... $772,559,000
Budget estimate, 2015................................... 837,747,000
Committee recommendation................................ 787,545,000
Research and Education programs administered by NIFA are
USDA's principal entree to the university system of the United
States for the purpose of conducting agricultural research and
education programs as authorized by the Hatch Act of 1887, as
amended (7 U.S.C. 361a-361i); the McIntire-Stennis Cooperative
Forestry Act of 1962, as amended (16 U.S.C. 582a et seq.); the
Competitive, Special, and Facilities Research Grant Act, as
amended (7 U.S.C. 450i); the National Agricultural, Research,
Extension, and Teaching Policy Act of 1977, as amended (7
U.S.C. 3101 et seq.); the Equity in Educational Land-Grant
Status Act of 1994 (7 U.S.C. 301 note); the Agricultural
Research, Extension and Education Reform Act of 1998 (Public
Law 105-185), as amended; the Food, Agriculture, Conservation
and Trade Act of 1990 (Public Law 101-624); the Farm Security
and Rural Investment Act of 2002 (Public Law 107-171); and the
Food, Conservation and Energy Act of 2008 (Public Law 110-246).
Through these authorities, USDA participates with State and
other cooperators to encourage and assist the State
institutions in the conduct of agricultural research and
education through the State Agricultural Experiment Stations of
the 50 States and the territories; by approved Schools of
Forestry; the 1890 Land-Grant Institutions and Tuskegee
University and West Virginia State University; 1994 Land-Grant
Institutions; by Colleges of Veterinary Medicine; and other
eligible institutions. The appropriated funds provide Federal
support for research and education programs at these
institutions.
The research and education programs participate in a
nationwide system of agricultural research program planning and
coordination among the State institutions, U.S. Department of
Agriculture, and the agricultural industry of America.
COMMITTEE RECOMMENDATIONS
The Committee recommends an appropriation of $787,545,000
for research and education activities of the National Institute
of Food and Agriculture. Included in this amount is $5,960,000
for payments to the General Services Administration for rent
and for payments to the Department of Homeland Security for
building security activities, which was previously funded
through the Agriculture Buildings and Facilities and Rental
Payments account.
The following table summarizes the Committee's
recommendations for research and education activities:
NATIONAL INSTITUTE OF FOOD AND AGRICULTURE--RESEARCH AND EDUCATION ACTIVITIES
[Dollars in thousands]
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Committee
Program/Activity Authorization recommendation
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Hatch Act..................................... 7 U.S.C. 361a-i................................ $243,701
McIntire-Stennis Cooperative Forestry Act..... 16 U.S.C. 582a through a-7..................... 33,961
Research at 1890 Institutions (Evans-Allen 7 U.S.C. 3222.................................. 52,485
Program).
Payments to the 1994 Institutions............. 534(a)(1) of Public Law 103-382................ 3,439
Education Grants for 1890 Institutions........ 7 U.S.C. 3152(b)............................... 19,336
Education Grants for Hispanic-Serving 7 U.S.C. 3241.................................. 9,219
Institutions.
Education Grants for Alaska Native and Native 7 U.S.C. 3156.................................. 3,194
Hawaiian-Serving Institutions.
Research Grants for 1994 Institutions......... 7 U.S.C. 301 note.............................. 1,801
Capacity Building for Non Land-Grant Colleges 7 U.S.C. 3319i................................. 4,500
of Agriculture.
Resident Instruction and Distance Education 7 U.S.C. 3222b-2, 3362, and 3363............... 1,800
Grants for Insular Areas.
Agriculture and Food Research Initiative...... 7 U.S.C. 450i(b)............................... 325,000
Veterinary Medicine Loan Repayment............ 7 U.S.C. 3151a................................. 4,790
Continuing Animal Health and Disease Research 7 U.S.C. 3195.................................. 4,000
Program.
Supplemental and Alternative Crops............ 7 U.S.C. 3319d................................. 825
Critical Agricultural Materials Act........... 7 U.S.C. 178 et seq............................ 1,081
Multicultural Scholars, Graduate Fellowship 7 U.S.C. 3152(b)............................... 9,000
and Institutions Challenge Grants.
Secondary and 2-year Post-Secondary Education. 7 U.S.C. 3152(j)............................... 900
Aquaculture Centers........................... 7 U.S.C. 3322.................................. 4,000
Sustainable Agriculture Research and Education 7 U.S.C. 5811, 5812, 5831, and 5832............ 22,667
Farm Business Management...................... 7 U.S.C. 5925f................................. 1,450
Sun Grant Program............................. 7 U.S.C. 8114.................................. 2,500
Improved Pest Control:
Minor Crop Pest Management (IR-4)......... 7 U.S.C. 450i(c)............................... 11,913
Alfalfa Forage and Research Program....... 7 U.S.C. 5925.................................. 1,350
Special Research Grants: 7 U.S.C. 450i(c)...............................
Global Change/UV Monitoring............... ............................................... 1,405
Potato Research........................... ............................................... 1,350
Aquaculture Research...................... ............................................... 1,350
----------------
Total, Special Research Grants........ ............................................... 4,105
================
Necessary Expenses of Research and Education
Activities:
Grants Management System.................. ............................................... 7,830
Federal Administration--Other Necessary ............................................... 12,698
Expenses for Research and Education
Activities.
----------------
Total, Necessary Expenses............. ............................................... 20,528
================
Total, Research and Education ............................................... 787,545
Activities.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Agriculture and Food Research Initiative.--The Committee
recommendation includes $325,000,000 for the Agriculture and
Food Research Initiative [AFRI].
Section 7406 of the Food, Conservation, and Energy Act of
2008 specifies priority areas within the Agriculture and Food
Research Initiative [AFRI], including an emphasis on
conventional (classical) plant and animal breeding. The
Committee strongly concurs with the intent of this section, and
requests a report from the agency as to its plans for
implementing this important conventional/classical plant and
animal breeding requirement. The Committee also encourages the
agency to specifically focus on the development of public
cultivars and breeds as part of the general classical breeding
research program.
Agricultural Research Enhancement Awards.--The Committee
remains determined to see that quality research and enhanced
human resources development in the agricultural and related
sciences be a nationwide commitment. Therefore, the Committee
directs that not less than 15 percent of the competitive
research grant funds be used for USDA's agricultural research
enhancement awards program, including USDA-EPSCoR. The
Committee recognizes that funding for EPSCoR has increased as a
result of the growth in AFRI funding over the past several
years.
Agricultural Research Priorities.--The Committee recognizes
that there are many research priorities that competitive
funding may be used to address, including addressing challenges
related to the commercialization of biological conversion of
biomass to fish and animal feed; improving the digestibility,
nutritional value, and efficiency of the use of corn, soybean
meal, cereal grains and grain byproducts for the poultry and
food animal production industries; addressing pollinator health
and colony collapse disorder research; and, controlling the
Macadamia Felted Coccid. The Committee encourages NIFA to
support research into these priorities.
Alfalfa and Forage Research.--The Committee notes that
research into alfalfa seed and alfalfa forage systems holds the
potential to increase yields, increase milk production, and
improve genetics. The Committee recommendation includes
$1,350,000 to support research into the improvement of yields,
water conservation, creation of new uses, and the development
of new storage and harvest systems.
Aquaculture Disease Research.--The Committee encourages
USDA to support aquaculture disease and vaccine research,
including research on coldwater aquaculture vaccines. There is
currently no national facility for pathogen testing. Research
into finfish vaccines and pathogens has the potential to
accelerate the growth of sustainable U.S. aquaculture, reduce
the trade deficit attributable to imported seafood, and reduce
the pressure on overfished species.
Aquaculture Research.--The Committee recognizes the
importance of the domestic aquaculture industry to the U.S.
economy. The Committee recommendation includes $1,350,000 for
aquaculture research to address issues related to genetics,
disease, systems, and economics.
Cereal Crop Research.--Research on cereal crops has
historically been conducted by USDA and public universities,
and the Committee recognizes the importance of continuing
investment in cereal crop research. The Committee strongly
encourages USDA to provide funding for cereal crop research in
the areas of genetic and genomic research, plant pest research,
and improved production systems.
Cranberry and Blueberry Research.--The Committee encourages
the NIFA to continue working with research institutions to
develop resilient cranberry and blueberry breeds and establish
effective and environmentally sound pest management
technologies.
Food and Agriculture Service Learning Program.--The
Committee recognizes the importance of programs that will teach
students about basic nutrition while providing them with a
variety of experiences and learning opportunities through
working in school gardens. The Committee encourages NIFA to
work with FNS and build on the efforts of the farm to school
programs and the Committee supports expanded national service
opportunities.
Herbicide Resistance.--Herbicide resistant weeds are a
major threat to food, feed, and fiber production in the United
States and the problem is expected to continue to increase in
size and scope. Current funding for research and extension is
woefully inadequate. The Committee is concerned that the lack
of research based information significantly delays developing
effective management strategies to address the herbicide
resistance problem. The Committee encourages NIFA, in
conjunction with ARS and land-grant institutions, to conduct
research that will more comprehensively address herbicide
resistance. Research may include: identification of herbicide
resistant weed populations or those most likely to develop
resistance, characterization of mechanisms of resistance, and
development of innovative weed management strategies to
overcome current resistance problems and delay or prevent
future ones. In addition, effective and widespread
dissemination of results to farmers, foresters, and rights of
way land managers through extension and outreach will be
critical to the success of this endeavor.
Lowbush Blueberries.--The Committee directs NIFA to work
with research institutions to develop and refine predictive
models and monitoring technologies for native and invasive
pests for incorporation into integrated pest management
programs for naturally seeded, native berry crops to increase
the margin of food safety and product quality.
Nanotechnology in Plants for Drought Resistance.--The
Committee believes that research in developing drought
resistance crops is an essential safeguard against wide-spread
droughts domestically and internationally. The Committee
encourages the Department to partner with organizations and
academic institutions, particularly using nanotechnology, to
develop research options and studies that will help foster
drought resistance discoveries.
Regional Research Priorities.--The Committee encourages
NIFA to consider providing funding within AFRI to assist with
State and regional research priorities, with USDA oversight and
review.
Seafood.--The Committee encourages USDA, in partnership
with universities with established domestic shrimp farming
programs, to support the development of a domestic industry
that will help ensure the safety and quality of the Nation's
seafood supply, promote environmentally sustainable
aquaculture, create new opportunities for U.S. agriculture, and
forge new markets for U.S. grain and oilseed products and
technology services.
Specialty Crop Research Initiative.--The Committee
emphasizes the important role of the Specialty Crop Research
Initiative in addressing the critical needs of the specialty
crop industry through research and extension activities, and
encourages NIFA to prioritize proposals for and enhance its
overall commitment to identifying and addressing threats to
pollinators from pests and diseases.
Sustainable Agriculture Research and Education.--As
proposed in the budget request, the Committee recommendation
includes the consolidation of research, education and extension
activities in the Sustainable Agriculture Research and
Education [SARE] program. All three activities authorized in
Subtitle B of the Food, Agriculture, Conservation and Trade Act
of 1990 are vital to the success of the SARE program, and the
Committee directs the Department to ensure that each activity
remain intact in the future.
Zoonotic Disease Research.--Federal and State animal health
officials have made eradicating livestock diseases with
significant wildlife reservoirs a national animal health
priority. This need is reflected in the Agricultural Act of
2014 which made the research and development of surveillance
methods, vaccines, vaccination delivery systems or diagnostic
tests a priority research area under the Competitive, Special,
and Facilities Research Grant Act particularly for bovine
brucellosis and bovine tuberculosis. The Committee recognizes
the need for this research and encourages the agency to make
competitive grants available to study improved management tools
for zoonotic livestock diseases with significant wildlife
reservoirs.
HISPANIC-SERVING AGRICULTURAL COLLEGES AND UNIVERSITIES ENDOWMENT FUND
Appropriations, 2014....................................................
Budget estimate, 2015................................... $10,000,000
Committee recommendation................................ 10,000,000
Section 7129 of the Food, Conservation, and Energy Act of
2008, provides for the establishment of an endowment fund for
the Hispanic-Serving Agricultural Colleges and Universities
[HSACU]. The Hispanic/Latino community is the fastest-growing
sector of the American population. This investment in the
Hispanic-Serving Agricultural Colleges and Universities is
needed to ensure institutions can effectively compete for NIFA
competitive grants.
On the termination of each fiscal year, the Secretary shall
withdraw the income from the endowment fund for the fiscal
year, and after making adjustments for the cost of
administering the endowment fund, shall distribute the adjusted
income as follows: 60 percent of the adjusted income shall be
distributed among the Hispanic-Serving Agricultural Colleges
and Universities on a pro rata basis based on the Hispanic
enrollment count of each institution; and 40 percent shall be
distributed in equal shares to the Hispanic-Serving
Agricultural Colleges and Universities.
COMMITTEE RECOMMENDATIONS
The Committee recommends an appropriation of $10,000,000
for the Hispanic-Serving Agricultural Colleges and Universities
Endowment Fund.
NATIVE AMERICAN INSTITUTIONS ENDOWMENT FUND
Appropriations, 2014.................................... $11,880,000
Budget estimate, 2015................................... 11,880,000
Committee recommendation................................ 11,880,000
The Native American Institutions Endowment Fund authorized
by Public Law 103-382, the Equity in Educational Land-Grant
Status Act, provides an endowment for the 1994 land-grant
institutions (34 tribally controlled colleges). This program
will enhance educational opportunity for Native Americans by
building educational capacity at these institutions in the
areas of student recruitment and retention, curricula
development, faculty preparation, instruction delivery systems,
and scientific instrumentation for teaching. Income funds are
also available for facility renovation, repair, construction,
and maintenance. On the termination of each fiscal year, the
Secretary shall withdraw the income from the endowment fund for
the fiscal year, and after making adjustments for the cost of
administering the endowment fund, distribute the adjusted
income as follows: 60 percent of the adjusted income from these
funds shall be distributed among the 1994 land-grant
institutions on a pro rata basis, the proportionate share being
based on the Indian student count; and 40 percent of the
adjusted income shall be distributed in equal shares to the
1994 land-grant institutions.
COMMITTEE RECOMMENDATIONS
The Committee recommends an appropriation of $11,880,000
for the Native American Institutions Endowment Fund.
EXTENSION ACTIVITIES
Appropriations, 2014.................................... $469,191,000
Budget estimate, 2015................................... 468,968,000
Committee recommendation................................ 472,686,000
Cooperative extension work was established by the Smith-
Lever Act of May 8, 1914, as amended. The Department of
Agriculture is authorized to provide, through the land-grant
colleges, cooperative extension work that consists of the
development of practical applications of research knowledge and
the giving of instruction and practical demonstrations of
existing or improved practices or technologies in agriculture
and related subjects, and to encourage the application of such
information by demonstrations, publications, through 4-H clubs,
and other means to persons not in attendance or resident at the
colleges.
To fulfill the requirements of the Smith-Lever Act, State
and county extension offices in each State, the District of
Columbia, Puerto Rico, the Virgin Islands, Guam, American
Samoa, the Northern Marianas, and Micronesia conduct
educational programs to improve American agriculture and
strengthen the Nation's families and communities.
COMMITTEE RECOMMENDATIONS
The Committee recommends an appropriation of $472,686,000
for extension activities of the National Institute of Food and
Agriculture.
The following table summarizes the Committee's
recommendations for extension activities:
NATIONAL INSTITUTE OF FOOD AND AGRICULTURE--EXTENSION ACTIVITIES
[Dollars in thousands]
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Committee
Program/Activity Authorization recommendation
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Smith-Lever Act, Section 3(b) and (c) and 7 U.S.C. 343(b) and (c) and 208(c) of Public $300,000
Cooperative Extension. Law 93-471.
Extension Services at 1890 Institutions....... 7 U.S.C. 3221.................................. 43,920
Extension Services at 1994 Institutions....... 7 U.S.C. 343(b)(3)............................. 4,446
Facility Improvements at 1890 Institutions.... 7 U.S.C. 3222b................................. 19,730
Renewable Resources Extension Act............. 16 U.S.C. 1671 et seq.......................... 4,060
Rural Health and Safety Education Programs.... 7 U.S.C. 2662(i)............................... 1,500
Food and Animal Residue Avoidance Database 7 U.S.C. 7642.................................. 1,250
Program.
Women and Minorities in STEM Fields........... 7 U.S.C. 5925.................................. 400
Food Safety Outreach Program.................. 7 U.S.C. 7625.................................. 2,500
Smith-LeverAct, Section 3(d):
Food and Nutrition Education.............. 7 U.S.C. 343(d)................................ 67,934
Farm Safety and Youth Farm Safety 7 U.S.C. 343(d)................................ 4,610
Education Programs.
New Technologies for Agricultural 7 U.S.C. 343(d)................................ 1,550
Extension.
Children, Youth, and Families at Risk..... 7 U.S.C. 343(d)................................ 8,395
Federally Recognized Tribes Extension 7 U.S.C. 343(d)................................ 3,039
Program.
----------------
Total, Section 3(d)..................... ............................................... 85,528
================
Necessary Expenses of Research and Education
Activities:
Agriculture in the K-12 Classroom......... ............................................... 552
Federal Administration--Other Necessary ............................................... 8,800
Expenses for Research and Education
Activities.
----------------
Total, Necessary Expenses............. ............................................... 9,352
================
Total, Extension Activities........... ............................................... 472,686
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
INTEGRATED ACTIVITIES
Appropriations, 2014.................................... $35,317,000
Budget estimate, 2015................................... 28,821,000
Committee recommendation................................ 32,217,000
Section 406, as amended, of the Agricultural Research,
Extension, and Education Reform Act of 1998 authorizes an
integrated research, education, and extension competitive
grants program.
COMMITTEE RECOMMENDATIONS
The Committee recommends an appropriation of $32,217,000
for integrated activities of the National Institute of Food and
Agriculture.
The following table summarizes the Committee's
recommendations for integrated activities:
NATIONAL INSTITUTE OF FOOD AND AGRICULTURE--INTEGRATED ACTIVITIES
[Dollars in thousands]
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Committee
Program/Activity Authorization recommendation
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Water Quality Program........................... 7 U.S.C. 7626................................ $4,500
Methyl Bromide Transition Program............... 7 U.S.C. 7626................................ 1,996
Organic Transition Program...................... 7 U.S.C. 7626................................ 4,000
Regional Rural Development Centers.............. 7 U.S.C. 450i(c)............................. 998
Food and Agriculture Defense Initiative\1\...... 7 U.S.C. 3351................................ 3,580
Crop Protection/Pest Management................. 7 U.S.C. 7626, 7 U.S.C. 450i(c), and 7 U.S.C. 17,143
343(d).
----------------
Total, Integrated Activities.............. ............................................. 32,217
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
\1\Funding for the National Animal Health Laboratory Network within this line item is transferred to APHIS.
Potato Research.--To minimize the application of pesticides
and to maximize the yield and quality of harvested potatoes,
the Committee directs the Secretary to support pest management
programs in potato growing States. Such programs help
scientists track potential pest outbreaks and provide growers
and industry professionals with current information on specific
and timely treatments. Additionally, the programs help identify
serious diseases, such as late blight disease, in their early
stages, allowing for preventive measure to be put into place
quickly to avoid crop losses.
Office of the Under Secretary for Marketing and Regulatory Programs
Appropriations, 2014.................................... $893,000
Budget estimate, 2015................................... 898,000
Committee recommendation................................ 898,000
The Office of the Under Secretary for Marketing and
Regulatory Programs provides direction and coordination in
carrying out laws with respect to the Department's marketing,
grading, and standardization activities related to grain;
competitive marketing practices of livestock, marketing orders,
and various programs; veterinary services; and plant protection
and quarantine. The Office has oversight and management
responsibilities for the Animal and Plant Health Inspection
Service; Agricultural Marketing Service; and Grain Inspection,
Packers and Stockyards Administration.
COMMITTEE RECOMMENDATIONS
The Committee recommends an appropriation of $898,000 for
the Office of the Under Secretary for Marketing and Regulatory
Programs.
Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service
SALARIES AND EXPENSES
Appropriations, 2014.................................... $821,721,000
Budget estimate, 2015................................... 834,341,000
Committee recommendation................................ 872,414,000
The Secretary of Agriculture established the Animal and
Plant Health Inspection Service [APHIS] on April 2, 1972, under
the authority of reorganization plan No. 2 of 1953, and other
authorities. The major objectives of APHIS are to protect the
animal and plant resources of the Nation from diseases and
pests. These objectives are carried out under the major areas
of activity, as follows:
Safeguarding and Emergency Preparedness/Response.--The
agency monitors plant and animal health worldwide, and sets
import polices to prevent the introduction of foreign plant and
animal pests and diseases. Domestically, the agency works
cooperatively to conduct plant and animal health monitoring
programs, pursue eradication, or limit the spread of the
threat. The agency also conducts diagnostic laboratory
activities that support disease prevention, detection, control,
and eradication programs. In addition, the agency protects
agriculture from detrimental animal predators, and through its
regulatory structure helps advance genetic research while
protecting against the release of harmful organisms.
Safe Trade and International Technical Assistance.--The
agency helps resolve technical trade issues to ensure the
smooth and safe movement of agricultural commodities into and
out of the United States. The agency negotiates animal and
plant health certification requirements and assists U.S.
exporters meet foreign regulatory demands. In addition, the
agency assists developing countries in improving their
safeguarding systems, to protect the United States from
emerging plant and animal pests and diseases.
Animal Care.--The agency conducts regulatory activities
that ensure the humane care and treatment of animals and horses
as the Animal Welfare and Horse Protection Acts require. These
activities include inspection of certain establishments that
handle animals intended for research, exhibition, and as pets,
and monitoring certain horse shows.
COMMITTEE RECOMMENDATIONS
The Committee recommends an appropriation of $872,414,000
for salaries and expenses of the Animal and Plant Health
Inspection Service. Included in this amount is $42,567,000 for
payments to the General Services Administration for rent and
for payments to the Department of Homeland Security for
building security activities, which was previously funded
through the Agriculture Buildings and Facilities and Rental
Payments account.
The following table reflects the Committee's specific
recommendations for the Animal and Plant Health Inspection
Service:
ANIMAL AND PLANT HEALTH INSPECTION SERVICE
[In thousands of dollars]
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Fiscal year
Fiscal year 2015 budget Committee
2014 enacted request recommendation
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Safeguarding and International Technical Assistance:
Animal Health Technical Services......................... 35,339 37,889 35,401
Aquatic Animal Health.................................... 2,253 2,253 2,274
Avian Health............................................. 52,340 50,223 52,529
Cattle Health............................................ 92,500 92,500 93,032
Equine, Cervid and Small Ruminant Health................. 19,500 19,500 19,617
National Veterinary Stockpile............................ 3,722 3,722 3,723
Swine Health............................................. 22,250 22,250 24,353
Veterinary Biologics..................................... 16,417 16,417 16,523
Veterinary Diagnostics................................... 31,540 31,540 25,025
National Animal Health Laboratory Network\1\............. ............... ............... 10,000
Zoonotic Disease Management.............................. 9,523 9,523 9,567
--------------------------------------------------
Subtotal, Animal Health................................ 285,384 285,817 292,044
==================================================
Agricultural Quarantine Inspection (Appropriated)........ 26,900 26,900 27,234
Cotton Pests............................................. 12,720 9,055 11,575
Field Crop & Rangeland Ecosystems Pests.................. 8,826 8,826 8,883
Pest Detection........................................... 27,446 27,446 27,587
Plant Protection Methods Development..................... 24,549 20,549 20,686
Specialty Crop Pests..................................... 151,500 137,393 152,667
Tree & Wood Pests........................................ 54,000 45,392 54,304
--------------------------------------------------
Subtotal, Plant Health................................. 305,941 275,561 302,936
==================================================
Wildlife Damage Management............................... 87,428 87,428 90,027
Wildlife Services Methods Development.................... 18,856 18,856 19,014
--------------------------------------------------
Subtotal, Wildlife Services............................ 106,284 106,284 109,041
==================================================
Animal & Plant Health Regulatory Enforcement............. 16,224 16,224 16,362
Biotechnology Regulatory Services........................ 18,135 18,135 19,223
--------------------------------------------------
Subtotal, Regulatory Services.......................... 34,359 34,359 35,585
==================================================
Contingency Fund......................................... 470 470 485
Emergency Preparedness & Response........................ 16,966 16,966 17,055
--------------------------------------------------
Subtotal, Emergency Management......................... 17,436 17,436 17,540
==================================================
Subtotal, Safeguarding and Emergency Preparedness/ 749,404 719,457 757,146
Response..............................................
==================================================
Safe Trade and International Technical Assistance:
Agriculture Import/Export................................ 14,099 14,099 14,189
Overseas Technical & Trade Operations.................... 20,114 20,114 20,188
--------------------------------------------------
Subtotal, Safe Trade................................... 34,213 34,213 34,377
==================================================
Animal Welfare:
Animal Welfare........................................... 28,010 28,010 28,222
Horse Protection......................................... 697 697 705
--------------------------------------------------
Subtotal, Animal Welfare............................... 28,707 28,707 28,927
==================================================
Agency Management:
APHIS Information Technology Infrastructure.............. 4,251 4,251 4,251
Physical/Operational Security............................ 5,146 5,146 5,146
GSA rent and DHS security payments....................... ............... 42,567 42,567
--------------------------------------------------
Subtotal, Agency Management............................ 9,397 51,964 51,964
==================================================
Total, Direct Appropriation............................ 821,721 834,341 872,414
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
\1\This incorporates funding previously provided separately to NIFA and APHIS.
Agricultural Quarantine Inspection.--The Committee
recognizes that prevention of infestations of pests and
diseases is much more cost effective than subsequent control or
eradication. This is an important Federal responsibility and
the Committee provides $27,234,000 for the agricultural
quarantine inspections (AQI) function, including pre-departure
and interline inspections.
In April 2014, the Department proposed new user fee
regulations and overtime reimbursements for certain AQI
services provided at U.S. ports. The current fee structure has
been in place since fiscal year 2010 and does not fully reflect
the cost of providing AQI services. The Committee supports the
Department's intent to update user fees to comply with the
requirements set forth in the Food, Agriculture, Conservation,
and Trade Act of 1990. Furthermore, the Committee notes that
imported fruits and vegetables comprise a growing percentage of
the produce available to consumers. Timely inspection at U.S.
Ports is critical given the highly perishable nature of these
commodities. Upon implementation of the new fee structure, the
Committee encourages the Department to work closely with U.S.
Customs and Border Protection to ensure that resources are made
available to facilitate the timely processing of fruits and
vegetable shipments.
Animal Disease Traceability.--The Committee provides
$13,000,000 to continue support for implementation of the new
animal disease traceability system.
APHIS Cargo Release.--The Committee recommends that APHIS
continue to work with the Department of Homeland Security's
Customs and Border Protection [CBP] in order to facilitate the
release of cargo at commercial import facilities by ensuring
that CBP officials earn Cargo Release Authority certification
for those species and groups of organisms listed in the Cargo
Release Authority Plan. Such coordination will allow CBP
officials to release cargo authorized by the Cargo Release
Authority Plan while allowing APHIS entomologists, plant
pathologists, and botanists to make release decisions upon
discovery of those reportable organisms that may pose a threat
to the Nation's agricultural security. APHIS is directed to
report to the Committee regarding ongoing interagency
coordination efforts, as well as specific steps planned for the
fiscal year to improve release decisionmaking processes for
import agriculture cargo.
Asian Long-Horned Beetle.--The Committee recognizes that
the forest products industry and family forest owners are under
great threat from a variety of invasive forest pests. It is
essential that APHIS carry out a comprehensive program to
counter the spread of invasive species and completely eradicate
the Asian long-horned beetle, which was detected in a new
location in Long Island, New York, in 2013. The Secretary is
directed to report to the Committee on Appropriations regarding
the steps being taken to eradicate Asian long-horned beetles in
northeast forests.
Chronic Wasting Disease.--The national deer farming
industry is adapting to a 2012 interim final rule that
established a national, voluntary herd certification program
[HCP] that provides uniform herd certification standards and
will support the domestic and international marketability of
U.S. cervid herds. The Committee believes the industry requires
funding support to ensure that the newly implemented chronic
wasting disease HCP is successful. Therefore, APHIS should
spend no less than $3,000,000 for cervid health activities.
Within the funds provided, APHIS should give consideration to
indemnity payments if warranted.
Committee Directives.--In complying with the Committee's
directives, the Committee expects APHIS not to redirect support
for programs and activities without prior notification to and
approval by the House and Senate Committees on Appropriations
in accordance with the reprogramming procedures specified in
the act. Unless otherwise directed, the Animal and Plant Health
Inspection Service shall implement appropriations by programs,
projects, and activities as specified by the Appropriations
Committees of both Houses of Congress. Unspecified reductions
necessary to carry out the provisions of this act are to be
implemented in accordance with the definitions contained in the
program, project, and activity section of this report.
Eradication of Invasive Pests.--The Committee expects
APHIS, through its Tree and Wood Pests, Specialty Crop Pests,
Animal Health, and Wildlife Services programs to continue to
work to support solutions to control and eradicate destructive
invasive species affecting U.S. agriculture and the
environment.
Honey Bee Pests.--The Committee remains concerned with
declining bee populations and the tragic implications for
pollination of U.S. agriculture. The Committee directs the
agency to continue priority work with other Federal and State
agencies and the public to manage, suppress, and eradicate
varroa mites, small hive beetles, and other pests and diseases
contributing to colony collapse disorder.
Invasive Annual Grasses.--The Secretary is encouraged to
consider targeted herbicide treatments of invasive annual
grasses and restoration efforts to compliment juniper control
efforts on greater sage-grouse habitat on private rangelands.
National Animal Health Laboratory Network [NAHLN].--Funding
for the NAHLN shall be administered through APHIS in
consultation with the NAHLN Coordinating Council. NAHLN funding
was previously administered through the Veterinary Diagnostics
program.
PED Virus.--Since the first positive test case in April
2013, farms in 30 States have tested positive for the porcine
epidemic diarrhea [PED] virus and millions of small pigs have
died as a result. The Committee provides additional funding for
the Swine Health program in support of increased biosecurity
and herd management efforts and encourages the Department to
continue development of a coordinated response strategy with
industry stakeholders. The Committee also encourages the
Secretary to utilize contingency funding from the Commodity
Credit Corporation for surveillance of the PED virus.
Peer-Reviewed Accreditation.--The Committee recognizes the
diversity of individuals and establishments regulated under
APHIS' animal welfare programs and the commensurate diversity
of violations of the animal protection statutes which APHIS is
charged with enforcing. The Committee expects APHIS to continue
to prioritize its inspection resources and frequency of
inspections to better address higher risk individuals and
institutions. The Committee also encourages APHIS to recognize
the merits of zoos and aquariums receiving peer-reviewed
accreditation from a commissioned organization that heeds
rigorous publicly available standards, utilizes notable experts
in the field to conduct comprehensive inspection and review,
and provides opportunity for public input. The Committee
encourages APHIS to continue its collaborations with these
peer-reviewed accredited zoos and aquariums on critical
initiatives such as: foreign animal disease surveillance; all-
hazards preparedness and response; and animal welfare symposia.
Sudden Oak Death Syndrome.--The Committee remains
interested in efforts to manage P. ramorum while minimizing
regulatory burden on nurseries and at the same time preventing
disruption to the interstate movement of plant materials and
commercial trade. The Committee expects APHIS to use an
appropriate portion of the funding for specialty crop pests to
expeditiously implement the revised Federal order governing the
de-regulation of lower risk nurseries and the shipment of plant
materials from quarantined and regulated counties and also
minimize the number of nurseries required to pre-notify
officials in States receiving shipments of higher-risk nursery
stock. The Committee further expects APHIS to continue efforts
to partner with the regulated states and the nursery industry
to develop and implement Best Management Practices [BMPs] for
mitigating P. ramorum during the effective period of the order.
Wildlife Damage Management.--APHIS is responsible for
providing Federal leadership in managing problems caused by
wildlife. The Committee provides $90,027,000 for wildlife
damage control to maintain priority initiatives, including
preventing the transport of invasive snakes and other harmful
species.
The Committee maintains support for assistance to
aquaculture producers to help mitigate wildlife depredation,
particularly as it pertains to fish-eating birds. The Committee
encourages USDA to continue providing tools and resources to
cooperators and assisting aquaculture producers in the removal
of cormorant roosts if applicable.
The Committee is concerned with the persistent rabies
threat to humans, livestock, and domesticated animals.
Approximately 6,000 to 8,000 rabid animals are reported to the
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention annually, with more
than 90 percent of cases occurring in wildlife. Oral rabies
vaccinations have helped establish barriers to isolate impacted
areas, increase rabies immunity in wildlife, and prevent
spreading to new areas of the United States. The Committee
provides $26,000,000 for the National Rabies Management Program
to fortify existing barriers and advance prevention and
eradication efforts.
Wildlife Services Education and Training.--The Committee is
aware of the wide range of hazardous procedures and materials
utilized by APHIS personnel in the conduct of daily duties. In
addition, a recent comprehensive study noted the critical need
to provide standardized safety training, certification, and
database management for tracking, to ensure the safest working
environment possible. As such, the Committee directs APHIS to
deliver a training program focused on those areas of greatest
concern such as pyrotechnics, firearms, hazardous materials,
immobilization and euthanasia drugs, pesticides, animal care
and handling, land vehicles, watercraft, and zoonotic diseases.
Wildlife Services Methods Development.--The Committee
appreciates the important work done by the National Wildlife
Research Center and its affiliated field locations to resolve
problems caused by the interaction of wild animals and society.
The Committee provides $19,014,000 to ensure continued
development of technical and scientific information on wildlife
damage management.
BUILDINGS AND FACILITIES
Appropriations, 2014.................................... $3,175,000
Budget estimate, 2015................................... 3,175,000
Committee recommendation................................ 3,175,000
The APHIS appropriation for ``Buildings and Facilities''
funds major nonrecurring construction projects in support of
specific program activities and recurring construction,
alterations, preventive maintenance, and repairs of existing
APHIS facilities.
COMMITTEE RECOMMENDATIONS
The Committee recommendation includes an appropriation of
$3,175,000 for buildings and facilities of the Animal and Plant
Health Inspection Service. This funding is necessary to allow
APHIS to maintain existing facilities, and perform critically
needed repairs to and replacements of building components, such
as heating, ventilation and air-conditioning on a prioritized
basis at APHIS facilities. The Committee notes that due to the
environmentally sensitive nature of many APHIS facilities,
closure of a facility could result if APHIS is unable to
complete the required repairs.
Agricultural Marketing Service
MARKETING SERVICES
Appropriations, 2014.................................... $79,914,000
Budget estimate, 2015................................... 82,963,000
Committee recommendation................................ 81,634,000
The Agricultural Marketing Service [AMS] was established by
the Secretary of Agriculture on April 2, 1972. AMS carries out
programs authorized by more than 50 different statutory
authorities, the primary ones being the Agricultural Marketing
Act of 1946 (7 U.S.C. 1621-1627, 1635-1638); the U.S. Cotton
Standards Act (7 U.S.C. 51-65); the Cotton Statistics and
Estimates Act (7 U.S.C. 471-476); the Tobacco Inspection Act (7
U.S.C. 511-511q); the Perishable Agricultural Commodities Act
(7 U.S.C. 499a-499t); the Egg Products Inspection Act (21
U.S.C. 1031-1056); and section 32 of the Act of 1935 (Public
Law 74-320, 7 U.S.C. 612c).
Programs administered by this agency include the market
news services, standardization, grading, classing, shell egg
surveillance services, transportation services, wholesale
farmers and alternative market development, grant payments to
States for marketing activities, the Federal administration of
marketing agreements and orders, commodity purchases,
Perishable Agricultural Commodities Act, the Plant Variety
Protection Act (7 U.S.C. 2321 et seq.), and market protection
and promotion activities.
COMMITTEE RECOMMENDATIONS
The Committee recommends an appropriation of $81,634,000
for Marketing Services of the Agricultural Marketing Service.
Included in this amount is $1,277,000 for payments to the
General Services Administration for rent and for payments to
the Department of Homeland Security for building security
activities, which was previously funded through the Agriculture
Buildings and Facilities and Rental Payments account.
Organic Data Collection.--The Committee encourages the
Department to collect price data on organic commodities and
other data relevant to the marketing of organic agricultural
products.
LIMITATION ON ADMINISTRATIVE EXPENSES
Limitation, 2014........................................ $60,435,000
Budget limitation, 2015................................. 60,709,000
Committee recommendation................................ 60,709,000
The Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act of 1981 (Public Law
97-35) initiated a system of user fees for the cost of grading
and classing cotton, and tobacco. These activities, authorized
under the U.S. Cotton Standards Act (7 U.S.C. 51 et seq.), the
Tobacco Inspection Act (7 U.S.C. 511 et seq.), and other
provisions of law are designed to facilitate commerce and
protect participants in the industry.
COMMITTEE RECOMMENDATIONS
The Committee recommends a limitation of $60,709,000 on
administrative expenses of the Agricultural Marketing Service.
FUNDS FOR STRENGTHENING MARKETS, INCOME, AND SUPPLY
(SECTION 32)
Appropriations, 2014.................................... $20,056,000
Budget estimate, 2015................................... 20,317,000
Committee recommendation................................ 20,317,000
Under section 32 of the Act of August 24, 1935, (7 U.S.C.
612c), an amount equal to 30 percent of customs receipts
collected during each preceding calendar year and unused
balances are available for encouraging the domestic consumption
and exportation of agricultural commodities. An amount equal to
30 percent of receipts collected on fishery products is
transferred to the Department of Commerce. Additional transfers
to the child nutrition programs of the Food and Nutrition
Service have been provided in recent appropriations Acts.
The following table reflects the status of this fund for
fiscal years 2014-2015:
ESTIMATED TOTAL FUNDS AVAILABLE AND BALANCE CARRIED FORWARD--FISCAL YEARS 2014-2015
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Fiscal year 2014 Fiscal year 2015 Fiscal year 2015
enacted budget estimate
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Appropriation (30 percent of Customs Receipts)............ $9,211,182,712 $9,714,922,892 $9,714,922,892
Less Transfers:
Food and Nutrition Service............................ -8,011,568,806 -8,299,922,892 -8,299,922,892
Commerce Department................................... -130,144,436 -131,000,000 -131,000,000
-----------------------------------------------------
Total, Transfers.................................... -8,141,713,242 -8,430,922,892 -8,430,922,892
=====================================================
Prior Year Appropriation Available, Start of Year......... 313,530,530 119,000,000 119,000,000
Prior Year Collections and Recoveries..................... ................ ................ ................
Unavailable for Obligations (recoveries and offsetting ................ ................ ................
collections).............................................
Transfer of Prior Year Funds to FNS (F&V)................. -117,000,000 -119,000,000 -119,000,000
-----------------------------------------------------
Budget Authority, Farm Bill........................... 1,266,000,000 1,284,000,000 1,284,000,000
Rescission of Current Year Funds...................... -189,000,000 -203,000,000 -121,000,000
Appropriations Temporarily Reduced--Sequestration\1\.. -79,703,000 ................ -81,906,000
Unavailable for Obligations (Fruit and Veg transfer to -119,000,000 -122,000,000 -122,000,000
FNS).................................................
-----------------------------------------------------
Budget Authority, Appropriations Act.............. 878,297,000 959,000,000 959,000,000
Less Obligations:
Child Nutrition Programs (Entitlement Commodities).... 465,000,000 465,000,000 465,000,000
State Option Contract................................. 5,000,000 5,000,000 5,000,000
Removal of Defective Commodities...................... 2,500,000 2,500,000 2,500,000
Emergency Surplus Removal............................. 196,900,000 ................ ................
Small Business Support................................ ................ 500,000 500,000
Disaster Relief....................................... 5,000,000 5,000,000 5,000,000
Additional Fruits, Vegetables, and Nuts Purchases..... 29,100,000 206,000,000 206,000,000
Fresh Fruit and Vegetable Program..................... 41,000,000 40,000,000 40,000,000
Estimated Future Needs................................ 79,119,000 179,973,000 179,973,000
-----------------------------------------------------
Total, Commodity Procurement........................ 823,619,000 903,973,000 903,973,000
=====================================================
Administrative Funds:
Commodity Purchase Support............................ 34,622,000 34,710,000 34,710,000
Marketing Agreements and Orders....................... 20,056,000 20,317,000 20,317,000
-----------------------------------------------------
Total, Administrative Funds......................... 54,678,000 55,027,000 55,027,000
=====================================================
Total Obligations................................... 878,297,000 959,000,000 959,000,000
=====================================================
Unobligated Balance, End of Year.......................... ................ ................ ................
Unavailable for Obligations (Fruit and Veg transfer to 119,000,000 122,000,000 122,000,000
FNS).....................................................
Balances, Collections and Recoveries Not Available........ ................ ................ ................
-----------------------------------------------------
Total End of Year Balances.......................... 119,000,000 122,000,000 122,000,000
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
\1\ The Budget Control Act of 2011 as amended by the American Taxpayer Relief Act of 2012 reduced all non-
defense mandatory accounts by 7.2 percent in 2014 and 7.3 percent in 2015.
COMMITTEE RECOMMENDATIONS
The Committee recommends a transfer from section 32 funds
of $20,317,000 for the formulation and administration of
marketing agreements and orders.
Section 32 Authorities.--Under the authority described in
clause 3 of 7 U.S.C. 612c, the Secretary is able to direct
funds from the section 32 account to increase the purchasing
power of producers. This practice has been used on various
occasions to provide direct assistance to producers when market
forces or natural conditions adversely affect the financial
condition of farmers and ranchers. The Committee notes the
importance of the ability of the Secretary to utilize this
authority, but believes that communication between the
Department and the Congress should be improved when this
practice is used. Therefore, the Committee directs the
Secretary to provide notification to the Appropriations
Committee in advance of any public announcement or release of
section 32 funds under the specific authorities cited above.
PAYMENTS TO STATES AND POSSESSIONS
Appropriations, 2014.................................... $1,363,000
Budget estimate, 2015................................... 1,235,000
Committee recommendation................................ 1,363,000
The Federal-State Marketing Improvement Program [FSMIP] is
authorized by section 204(b) of the Agricultural Marketing Act
of 1946 and is also funded from appropriations. Matching grants
are awarded on a competitive basis to State marketing agencies
to identify and test market alternative farm commodities,
determine methods of providing more reliable market
information, and develop better commodity grading standards.
This program has made possible many types of projects, such as
electronic marketing and agricultural product diversification.
Current projects are focused on the improvement of marketing
efficiency and effectiveness, and seeking new outlets for
existing farm produced commodities. The legislation grants the
U.S. Department of Agriculture authority to establish
cooperative agreements with State departments of agriculture or
similar State agencies to improve the efficiency of the
agricultural marketing chain. The States perform the work or
contract it to others, and must contribute at least one-half of
the cost of the projects.
COMMITTEE RECOMMENDATIONS
The Committee recommends an appropriation of $1,363,000 for
Payments to States and Possessions for Federal-State marketing
projects and activities.
Grain Inspection, Packers and Stockyards Administration
SALARIES AND EXPENSES
Appropriations, 2014.................................... $40,261,000
Budget estimate, 2015................................... 44,017,000
Committee recommendation................................ 44,017,000
The Grain Inspection, Packers and Stockyards Administration
[GIPSA] was established pursuant to the Secretary's 1994
reorganization. Grain inspection and weighing programs are
carried out under the U.S. Grain Standards Act (7 U.S.C. 71 et
seq.) and other programs under the authority of the
Agricultural Marketing Act of 1946, including the inspection
and grading of rice and grain-related products; conducting
official weighing and grain inspection activities; and grading
dry beans and peas, and processed grain products. Under the
Packers and Stockyards Act (7 U.S.C. 181 et seq.), assurance of
the financial integrity of the livestock, meat, and poultry
markets is provided. The Administration monitors competition in
order to protect producers, consumers, and industry from
deceptive and fraudulent practices which affect meat and
poultry prices.
COMMITTEE RECOMMENDATIONS
The Committee recommends an appropriation of $44,017,000
for salaries and expenses of the Grain Inspection, Packers and
Stockyards Administration. Included in this amount is
$2,787,000 for payments to the General Services Administration
for rent and for payments to the Department of Homeland
Security for building security activities, which was previously
funded through the Agriculture Buildings and Facilities and
Rental Payments account.
LIMITATION ON INSPECTION AND WEIGHING SERVICES EXPENSES
Limitation, 2014........................................ $50,000,000
Budget limitation, 2015................................. 50,000,000
Committee recommendation................................ 50,000,000
The agency provides an official grain inspection and
weighing system under the U.S. Grain Standards Act [USGSA], and
official inspection of rice and grain-related products under
the Agricultural Marketing Act [AMA] of 1946. The USGSA was
amended in 1981 to require the collection of user fees to fund
the costs associated with the operation, supervision, and
administration of Federal grain inspection and weighing
activities.
COMMITTEE RECOMMENDATIONS
The Committee recommends a limitation of $50,000,000 on
inspection and weighing services expenses.
Office of the Under Secretary for Food Safety
Appropriations, 2014.................................... $811,000
Budget estimate, 2015................................... 816,000
Committee recommendation................................ 816,000
The Office of the Under Secretary for Food Safety provides
direction and coordination in carrying out the laws enacted by
the Congress with respect to the Department's inspection of
meat, poultry, and processed egg products. The Office has
oversight and management responsibilities for the Food Safety
and Inspection Service.
COMMITTEE RECOMMENDATIONS
The Committee recommends an appropriation of $816,000 for
the Office of the Under Secretary for Food Safety.
Food Safety and Inspection Service
Appropriations, 2014.................................... $1,010,689,000
Budget estimate, 2015................................... 1,001,402,000
Committee recommendation................................ 1,022,770,000
The major objectives of the Food Safety and Inspection
Service are to assure that meat and poultry products are
wholesome, unadulterated, and properly labeled and packaged, as
required by the Federal Meat Inspection Act (21 U.S.C. 601 et
seq.) and the Poultry Products Inspection Act (21 U.S.C. 451 et
seq.); and to provide continuous in-plant inspection to egg
processing plants under the Egg Products Inspection Act.
The Food Safety and Inspection Service was established on
June 17, 1981, by Secretary's Memorandum No. 1000-1, issued
pursuant to Reorganization Plan No. 2 of 1953.
The inspection program of the Food Safety and Inspection
Service provides in-plant inspection of all domestic plants
preparing meat, poultry or egg products for sale or
distribution; reviews foreign inspection systems and
establishments that prepare meat or poultry products for export
to the United States; and provides technical and financial
assistance to States which maintain meat and poultry inspection
programs.
COMMITTEE RECOMMENDATIONS
The Committee recommends an appropriation of $1,022,770,000
for the Food Safety and Inspection Service [FSIS]. Included in
this amount is $10,913,000 for payments to the General Services
Administration for rent and for payments to the Department of
Homeland Security for building security activities, which was
previously funded through the Agriculture Buildings and
Facilities and Rental Payments account. The Committee finds the
implementation schedule set forth by FSIS for revised
inspections processes unrealistically rapid and provides
additional funds to accomplish this transition in a more
feasible manner.
Humane Slaughter.--The Committee directs FSIS to continue
to provide annual reports to the Committee on the
implementation of objective scoring methods undertaken by FSIS
to enforce the Humane Methods of Slaughter Act.
The Committee also directs FSIS to ensure that personnel
hired with funding previously provided specifically for Humane
Methods of Slaughter Act enforcement focus their attention on
overseeing compliance with humane handling rules for live
animals as they arrive and are offloaded and handled in pens,
chutes, and stunning areas.
Inspections.--The Committee is disappointed in the
Department's failure to issue a final rule within the timeframe
set forth in section 12106 of Public Law 113-79. The Committee
directs the Department to meet its statutory obligation by
promulgating final regulations expeditiously and meeting the
implementation deadline for all domestic and imported
inspection no later than 1 year after the enactment of the
Agricultural Act of 2014.
Water Conservation.--The Committee supports the Agency's
efforts to encourage innovation by poultry slaughter
establishments, particularly with regard to hand rinsing
facilities. Allowing wash stations the capability of being
immediately activated and deactivated in a hands-free manner
substantially reduces a facility's water consumption. In order
to encourage water conservation, energy savings and a reduction
in cross-contamination, the Committee directs the Agency to
pursue implementation of this innovation.
The following table represents the Committee's specific
recommendations for the Food Safety and Inspection Service as
compared to the fiscal year 2014 and budget request levels:
FOOD SAFETY AND INSPECTION SERVICE SALARIES AND EXPENSES
[In thousands of dollars]
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Fiscal year
Fiscal year 2015 budget Committee
2014 enacted request recommendation
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Food safety inspection:
Federal..................................................... 893,740 885,569 905,037
State....................................................... 62,734 60,905 62,805
International............................................... 15,883 16,589 16,589
Codex Alimentarius.......................................... 3,752 3,759 3,759
PHDCIS...................................................... 34,580 34,580 34,580
-----------------------------------------------
Total..................................................... 1,010,689 1,001,402 1,022,770
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Office of the Under Secretary for Farm and Foreign Agricultural
Services
Appropriations, 2014.................................... $893,000
Budget estimate, 2015................................... 898,000
Committee recommendation................................ 898,000
The Office of the Under Secretary for Farm and Foreign
Agricultural Services provides direction and coordination in
carrying out the laws enacted by the Congress with respect to
the Department's international affairs (except for foreign
economic development), commodity programs, farm loans, disaster
assistance, crop insurance, and some conservation and energy
programs. The Office has oversight and management
responsibilities for the Farm Service Agency (including the
Commodity Credit Corporation), Risk Management Agency, and the
Foreign Agricultural Service.
COMMITTEE RECOMMENDATIONS
The Committee recommends an appropriation of $898,000 for
the Office of the Under Secretary for Farm and Foreign
Agricultural Services.
Farm Service Agency
The Farm Service Agency [FSA] was established October 3,
1994, pursuant to the Federal Crop Insurance Reform and
Department of Agriculture Reorganization Act of 1994, Public
Law 103-354. The FSA administers a variety of activities, such
as the commodity price support and production adjustment
programs financed by the Commodity Credit Corporation; the
Conservation Reserve Program [CRP]; the Emergency Conservation
Program; the Commodity Operation Programs including the
warehouse examination function; farm ownership, farm operating,
emergency disaster, and other loan programs; and the Noninsured
Crop Disaster Assistance Program [NAP], which provides crop
loss protection for growers of many crops for which crop
insurance is not available. In addition, FSA currently provides
certain administrative support services to the Foreign
Agricultural Service [FAS] and to the Risk Management Agency
[RMA].
SALARIES AND EXPENSES
[In thousands of dollars]
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Transfers from Total, FSA,
Appropriations program salaries and
accounts expenses
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Appropriations, 2014......................................... 1,777,926 310,087 1,488,013
Budget estimate, 2015........................................ 1,139,323 309,880 1,449,203
Committee recommendation..................................... 1,182,544 309,880 1,492,424
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
The account Salaries and Expenses, Farm Service Agency,
funds the administrative expenses of program administration and
other functions assigned to FSA. The funds consist of
appropriations and transfers from the CCC export credit
guarantees, Food for Peace loans, and Agricultural Credit
Insurance Fund program accounts, and miscellaneous advances
from other sources. All administrative funds used by FSA are
consolidated into one account. The consolidation provides
clarity and better management and control of funds, and
facilitates accounting, fiscal, and budgetary work by
eliminating the necessity for making individual allocations and
allotments and maintaining and recording obligations and
expenditures under numerous separate accounts.
COMMITTEE RECOMMENDATIONS
The Committee recommends an appropriation of $1,492,424,000
for salaries and expenses of the Farm Service Agency, including
a direct appropriation of $1,182,544,000. Included in this
amount is $27,142,000 for payments to the General Services
Administration for rent and for payments to the Department of
Homeland Security for building security activities, which was
previously funded through the Agriculture Buildings and
Facilities and Rental Payments account.
Continuous Conservation Reserve Program.--The Secretary is
strongly encouraged to, within the total acreage made available
for enrollment in the conservation reserve program and without
reducing the periodic availability of general signup, enroll,
to the maximum extent practicable, acreage for activities
included in the State Acres for Wildlife Enhancement practice
or other similar administratively established wetland and
habitat practices that benefit priority fish and wildlife
species identified in State, regional, and national
conservation initiatives with a priority for initiatives that
provide large blocks of cover ideal for wildlife nesting.
County Staff.--The Committee does not agree with the budget
proposal to reduce 815 non-Federal staff and provides
sufficient funding to maintain acceptable staffing levels.
Emergency Forestry Conservation Reserve Program.--The
Committee directs the Department to expeditiously carry out its
contractual obligations on all contracts and agreements entered
into by the Secretary of Agriculture under section 1231A of the
Food Security Act of 1985 (16 U.S.C. 3831a). The Committee
expects the authorized review process for outstanding 2013
EFCRP payments to remain consistent with the review process for
2012 and prior year CRP payments.
Farm to Fleet.--The Committee is concerned that the
Department has given inconsistent indications of whether algae-
derived fuel qualifies for Commodity Credit Corporation support
under the Farm to Fleet initiative. The Committee is aware that
USDA is in the process of clarifying algae's eligibility for
this program and believes defining algae as an eligible
commodity would be consistent with the Department's treatment
of algae under other programs. The Committee encourages the
Department to make this determination expeditiously and apply
it consistently across each agency that has a role in
implementing the Farm to Fleet initiative.
MIDAS.--The Committee recommendation includes $32,500,000
for Modernize and Innovate the Delivery of Agricultural Systems
[MIDAS]. Since fiscal year 2009, the Committee has provided
over $360,000,000 for MIDAS and has supported the overall goal
of stabilizing and updating the agency's outdated information
technology [IT] systems. The Committee is concerned that
despite this investment, MIDAS is not meeting the original
goals and objectives of streamlining business processes and
developing an effective long-term IT system that will ensure
seamless delivery of new farm bill programs. The Committee is
also concerned that implementation of the new farm bill will
not be done through MIDAS but through outdated systems that
have proven unreliable. In addition, in 2008, 2011, and 2013
GAO raised major concerns about the viability of MIDAS citing
unrealistic schedules as well as poor management practices.
While the Committee remains dedicated to ensuring FSA has
reliable and functioning IT systems, without a clear path
forward, the Committee cannot justify providing the full budget
request for this project.
The Committee understands that USDA is currently engaged in
a comprehensive assessment of MIDAS and plans to rebase funding
requirements, scope, and schedule. The Committee finds an
overall lack of communication unacceptable and directs the
Secretary, by June 20, 2014, to provide detailed information on
future funding requirements and a schedule for full
implementation of a system capable of implementing all farm
programs.
National Agriculture Imagery Program.--The Committee
recommends that funding shall be allocated to purchase imagery
products to meet programmatic requirements.
Office Closures.--The Committee does not agree with the
budget proposal to close 250 Farm Service Agency county
offices. The Committee cannot be expected to agree to close
offices when the location of those offices are unknown. The
Committee is concerned that in light of the recently passed
farm bill, the Department does not have a clear understanding
of where or how the county office workload will be impacted.
The Department is directed to conduct a thorough workload
analysis to assess how new farm bill programs will impact
current and future work in county offices. The Department is
further directed to work with a third-party entity, such as the
National Academy of Public Administration, to determine a clear
path forward to ensure the agency continues to provide the
highest level of customer service. The Committee directs the
Department to provide quarterly reports on the status of the
workload analysis.
STATE MEDIATION GRANTS
Appropriations, 2014.................................... $3,782,000
Budget estimate, 2015................................... 3,404,000
Committee recommendation................................ 3,404,000
This program is authorized under title V of the
Agricultural Credit Act of 1987 (7 U.S.C. 5101 et seq.).
Originally designed to address agricultural credit disputes,
the program was expanded by the Federal Crop Insurance Reform
and Department of Agriculture Reorganization Act of 1994
(Public Law 103-354) to include other agricultural issues such
as wetland determinations, conservation compliance, rural water
loan programs, grazing on National Forest System lands, and
pesticides. Grants are made to States whose mediation programs
have been certified by the FSA. Grants will be solely for
operation and administration of the State's agricultural
mediation program.
COMMITTEE RECOMMENDATIONS
The Committee recommends an appropriation of $3,404,000 for
State Mediation Grants.
GRASSROOTS SOURCE WATER PROTECTION PROGRAM
Appropriations, 2014.................................... $5,526,000
Budget estimate, 2015...................................................
Committee recommendation................................ 6,500,000
This program is intended to assist in the protection of
groundwater through State rural water associations.
COMMITTEE RECOMMENDATIONS
The Committee recommends an appropriation of $6,500,000 for
Grassroots Source Water Protection.
DAIRY INDEMNITY PROGRAM
Appropriations, 2014.................................... $500,000
Budget estimate, 2015................................... 500,000
Committee recommendation................................ 500,000
Under the program, the Department makes indemnification
payments to dairy farmers and manufacturers of dairy products
who, through no fault of their own, suffer income losses
because they are directed to remove their milk from commercial
markets due to contamination of their products by registered
pesticides. The program also authorizes indemnity payments to
dairy farmers for losses resulting from the removal of cows or
dairy products from the market due to nuclear radiation or
fallout.
COMMITTEE RECOMMENDATIONS
The Committee recommends an appropriation of such sums as
may be necessary, estimated in fiscal year 2015 to be $500,000,
for indemnity payments to dairy farmers.
AGRICULTURAL CREDIT INSURANCE FUND PROGRAM ACCOUNT
The Agricultural Credit Insurance Fund Program Account is
used to provide direct and guaranteed farm ownership, farm
operating, conservation, Indian highly fractioned land, and
emergency loans to individuals, as well as the following types
of loans to associations: irrigation and drainage, grazing,
Indian tribe land acquisition, and boll weevil eradication.
FSA is also authorized to provide financial assistance to
borrowers by guaranteeing loans made by private lenders having
a contract of guarantee from FSA as approved by the Secretary
of Agriculture and to establish Beginning Farmer and Rancher
Individual Development grant accounts.
The following programs are financed through this fund:
Boll Weevil Eradication Loans.--Made to assist foundations
in financing the operations of the boll weevil eradication
programs provided to farmers.
Credit Sales of Acquired Property.--Property is sold out of
inventory and is made available to an eligible buyer by
providing FSA loans.
Emergency Loans.--Made to producers to aid recovery from
production and physical losses due to drought, flooding, other
natural disasters, or quarantine. The loans may be used to:
restore or replace essential property; pay all or part of
production costs associated with the disaster year; pay
essential family living expenses; reorganize the farming
operation; and refinance certain debts.
Farm Operating Loans.--Provide short-to-intermediate term
production or chattel credit to farmers who cannot obtain
credit elsewhere, to improve their farm and home operations,
and to develop or maintain a reasonable standard of living. The
term of the loan varies from 1 to 7 years.
Farm Ownership Loans.--Made to borrowers who cannot obtain
credit elsewhere to restructure their debts, improve or
purchase farms, refinance nonfarm enterprises which supplement
but do not supplant farm income, or make additions to farms.
Loans are made for 40 years or less.
Indian Tribe Land Acquisition Loans.--Made to any Indian
tribe recognized by the Secretary of the Interior or tribal
corporation established pursuant to the Indian Reorganization
Act (Public Law 93-638) which does not have adequate
uncommitted funds to acquire lands or interest in lands within
the tribe's reservation or Alaskan Indian community, as
determined by the Secretary of the Interior, for use of the
tribe or the corporation or the members thereof.
Indian Highly Fractionated Land Loans.--Made to Indian
tribal members to purchase highly fractionated lands, as
authorized by the Food, Conservation, and Energy Act of 2008.
COMMITTEE RECOMMENDATIONS
The Committee recommends a total loan level of
$6,402,114,000 for programs within the Agricultural Credit
Insurance Fund Program Account.
The following table reflects the program levels for farm
credit programs administered by the Farm Service Agency
recommended by the Committee, as compared to the fiscal year
2014 and the budget request levels:
AGRICULTURAL CREDIT PROGRAMS--LOAN LEVELS
[In thousands of dollars]
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Fiscal year Fiscal year Committee
2014 enacted 2015 budget recommendation
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Farm ownership:
Direct................................................... 575,000 1,500,000 1,500,000
Guaranteed............................................... 2,000,000 2,000,000 2,000,000
Farm Operating:
Direct................................................... 1,195,620 1,252,004 1,252,004
Guaranteed unsubsidized.................................. 1,500,000 1,393,443 1,393,443
Emergency Loans.............................................. 34,658 34,667 34,667
Indian Tribe Land Acquisition................................ 2,000 2,000 2,000
Conservation Loans:
Guaranteed............................................... 150,000 150,000 150,000
Indian Highly Fractionated Land Loans........................ 10,000 10,000 10,000
Boll Weevil Eradication...................................... 60,000 60,000 60,000
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
The Federal Credit Reform Act of 1990 established the
program account. Appropriations to this account are used to
cover the lifetime subsidy costs associated with the direct
loans obligated and loan guarantees committed, as well as for
administrative expenses.
The following table reflects the cost of programs under
credit reform:
[In thousands of dollars]
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Committee
2014 enacted 2015 budget recommendation
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Farm Ownership:
Direct................................................... 4,428 ............... ...............
Farm Operating:
Direct................................................... 65,520 63,101 63,101
Guaranteed unsubsidized.................................. 18,300 14,770 14,770
Emergency Loans.............................................. 1,698 856 856
Indian Highly Fractionated Land Loans........................ 68 ............... ...............
Individual Development Account Grants........................ ............... 2,500 2,500
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Risk Management Agency
Appropriations, 2014.................................... $71,496,000
Budget estimate, 2015................................... 76,779,000
Committee recommendation................................ 76,779,000
The Risk Management Agency performs administrative
functions relative to the Federal crop insurance program that
is authorized by the Federal Crop Insurance Act (7 U.S.C.
1508), as amended by the Agricultural Risk Protection Act of
2000 [ARPA], Public Law 106-224, and the Agricultural Act of
2014 (Public Law 113-79).
ARPA authorized significant changes in the crop insurance
program. This act provides higher government subsidies for
producer premiums to make coverage more affordable; expands
research and development for new insurance products and under-
served areas through contracts with the private sector; and
tightens compliance. Functional areas of risk management are:
research and development; insurance services; and compliance,
whose functions include policy formulation and procedures and
regulations development.
COMMITTEE RECOMMENDATIONS
The Committee recommends an appropriation of $76,779,000
for the Risk Management Agency. Included in this amount is
$3,333,000 for payments to the General Services Administration
for rent and for payments to the Department of Homeland
Security for building security activities, which was previously
funded through the Agriculture Buildings and Facilities and
Rental Payments account.
The Committee recognizes that there are many research
priorities that competitive funding may be used to address,
including the feasibility of insurance programs to cover
business interruption due to integrator bankruptcy and
catastrophic loss in the poultry industry. The Committee
encourages RMA to support research into these priorities.
Price Elections.--The Committee encourages RMA to pool data
from as many sources as possible, including guaranteed
contracts as well as data from industry and extension agents,
to demonstrate compliance with the Agriculture Act of 2014. In
addition, RMA is encouraged to make use of the data from the
NASS 2014 Organic Production and Price Survey to publish
remaining organic price elections as quickly as possible.
CORPORATIONS
Federal Crop Insurance Corporation Fund
Appropriations, 2014.................................... $9,502,944,000
Budget estimate, 2015................................... 8,668,000,000
Committee recommendation................................ 8,668,000,000
The Federal Crop Insurance Act, as amended by the Federal
Crop Insurance Reform Act of 1994, authorizes the payment of
expenses which may include indemnity payments, loss adjustment,
delivery expenses, program-related research and development,
startup costs for implementing this legislation such as
studies, pilot projects, data processing improvements, public
outreach, and related tasks and functions.
All program costs, except for Federal salaries and
expenses, are mandatory expenditures subject to appropriation.
Producers of insurable crops are eligible to receive a
basic level of protection against catastrophic losses, which
cover 50 percent of the normal yield at 55 percent of the
expected price. The only cost to the producer is an
administrative fee of $300 per crop per county.
COMMITTEE RECOMMENDATIONS
The Committee recommends an appropriation of such sums as
may be necessary, estimated to be $8,668,000,000 in fiscal year
2015 for the Federal Crop Insurance Corporation Fund.
Commodity Credit Corporation Fund
The Commodity Credit Corporation [CCC] is a wholly owned
Government corporation created in 1933 to stabilize, support,
and protect farm income and prices; to help maintain balanced
and adequate supplies of agricultural commodities, including
products, foods, feeds, and fibers; and to help in the orderly
distribution of these commodities. CCC was originally
incorporated under a Delaware charter and was reincorporated
June 30, 1948, as a Federal corporation within the Department
of Agriculture by the Commodity Credit Corporation Charter Act,
approved June 29, 1948 (15 U.S.C. 714).
The Commodity Credit Corporation engages in buying,
selling, lending, and other activities with respect to
agricultural commodities, their products, food, feed, and
fibers. Its purposes include stabilizing, supporting, and
protecting farm income and prices; maintaining the balance and
adequate supplies of selected commodities; and facilitating the
orderly distribution of such commodities. In addition, the
Corporation makes available materials and facilities required
in connection with the storage and distribution of such
commodities. The Corporation also disburses funds for sharing
of costs with producers for the establishment of approved
conservation practices on environmentally sensitive land and
subsequent rental payments for such land for the duration of
Conservation Reserve Program contracts.
Corporation activities are primarily governed by the
following statutes: the Commodity Credit Corporation Charter
Act (Public Law 80-806), as amended; the Agricultural Act of
1949 (Public Law 81-439), as amended (1949 Act); the
Agricultural Adjustment Act of 1938 (Public Law 75-430), as
amended (the 1938 Act); the Food Security Act of 1985 (Public
Law 99-198), as amended (1985 Act); the Food, Conservation, and
Energy Act of 2008 (Public Law 110-246); and the Agricultural
Act of 2014 (Public Law 113-79).
Management of the Corporation is vested in a board of
directors, subject to the general supervision and direction of
the Secretary of Agriculture, who is an ex officio director and
chairman of the board. The board consists of seven members, in
addition to the Secretary, who are appointed by the President
of the United States with the advice and consent of the Senate.
Officers of the Corporation are designated according to their
positions in the Department of Agriculture.
The activities of the Corporation are carried out mainly by
the personnel and through the facilities of the Farm Service
Agency [FSA] and the Farm Service Agency State and county
committees. The Foreign Agricultural Service, the General Sales
Manager, other agencies and offices of the Department, and
commercial agents are also used to carry out certain aspects of
the Corporation's activities.
Under Public Law 87-155 (15 U.S.C. 713a-11, 713a-12),
annual appropriations are authorized for each fiscal year,
commencing with fiscal year 1961. These appropriations are to
reimburse the Corporation for net realized losses.
REIMBURSEMENT FOR NET REALIZED LOSSES
Appropriations, 2014.................................... $12,538,880,000
Budget estimate, 2015................................... 9,067,281,000
Committee recommendation................................ 9,067,281,000
COMMITTEE RECOMMENDATIONS
The Committee recommends an appropriation of such sums as
may be necessary, estimated in fiscal year 2015 to be
$9,067,281,000, for the payment to reimburse the Commodity
Credit Corporation for net realized losses.
HAZARDOUS WASTE MANAGEMENT
Limitation, 2014........................................ $5,000,000
Budget estimate, 2015................................... 5,000,000
Committee recommendation................................ 5,000,000
The Commodity Credit Corporation's [CCC] hazardous waste
management program is intended to ensure compliance with the
Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and
Liability Act (42 U.S.C. 9601 et seq.) and the Resource
Conservation and Recovery Act (42 U.S.C. 6901 et seq.). The CCC
funds operations and maintenance costs as well as site
investigation and cleanup expenses. Investigative and cleanup
costs associated with the management of CCC hazardous waste are
also paid from USDA's hazardous waste management appropriation.
COMMITTEE RECOMMENDATIONS
The Committee recommends a limitation of $5,000,000 for the
Commodity Credit Corporation's hazardous waste management
program.
TITLE II
CONSERVATION PROGRAMS
Office of the Under Secretary for Natural Resources and Environment
Appropriations, 2014.................................... $893,000
Budget estimate, 2015................................... 898,000
Committee recommendation................................ 898,000
The Office of the Under Secretary for Natural Resources and
Environment provides direction and coordination in carrying out
the laws enacted by the Congress with respect to natural
resources and the environment. The Office has oversight and
management responsibilities for the Natural Resources
Conservation Service and the Forest Service.
COMMITTEE RECOMMENDATIONS
The Committee recommends an appropriation of $898,000 for
the Office of the Under Secretary for Natural Resources and
Environment.
Natural Resources Conservation Service
The Natural Resources Conservation Service [NRCS] was
established pursuant to Public Law 103-354, the Department of
Agriculture Reorganization Act of 1994 (7 U.S.C. 6962). The
NRCS works with conservation districts, watershed groups, and
Federal and State agencies to bring about physical adjustments
in land use that will conserve soil and water resources,
provide for agricultural production on a sustained basis, and
reduce flood damage and sedimentation.
CONSERVATION OPERATIONS
Appropriations, 2014.................................... $812,939,000
Budget estimate, 2015................................... 814,772,000
Committee recommendation................................ 849,295,000
Conservation operations are authorized by Public Law 74-46
(16 U.S.C. 590a-590f). Activities include:
Conservation Technical Assistance provides assistance to
district cooperators and other land users in the planning and
application of conservation treatments to control erosion and
improve the quantity and quality of soil resources, improve and
conserve water, enhance fish and wildlife habitat, conserve
energy, improve woodland, pasture and range conditions, and
reduce upstream flooding; all to protect and enhance the
natural resource base.
Resource appraisal and program development ensures that
programs administered by the Secretary of Agriculture for the
conservation of soil, water, and related resources shall
respond to the Nation's long-term needs.
Plant Materials Centers assemble, test, and encourage
increased use of plant species which show promise for use in
the treatment of conservation problem areas.
Snow Survey and Water Forecasting provides estimates of
annual water availability from high mountain snow packs and
relates to summer stream flow in the Western States and Alaska.
Information is used by agriculture, industry, and cities in
estimating future water supplies.
Soil Surveys inventory the Nation's basic soil resources
and determine land capabilities and conservation treatment
needs. Soil survey publications include interpretations useful
to cooperators, other Federal agencies, State, and local
organizations.
COMMITTEE RECOMMENDATIONS
The Committee recommends an appropriation of $849,295,000
for Conservation Operations. Included in this amount is
$28,614,000 for payments to the General Services Administration
for rent and for payments to the Department of Homeland
Security for building security activities, which was previously
funded through the Agriculture Buildings and Facilities and
Rental Payments account.
Acre-for-acre Wetlands Mitigation.--The Secretary is
encouraged to use mitigation with the conversion of a natural
wetland and equivalent wetlands functions at a ratio not to
exceed a ratio of 1-to-1 acreage.
Cover Crops.--The Committee recognizes the importance of
conservation technical assistance and encourages NRCS to
maximize the staff available to provide land users direct
assistance in planning and implantation techniques to promote
soil health including the adoption of cover crops.
Herbicide Resistance.--The Committee is concerned that
pigweed has seriously endangered conservation tillage and has
increased herbicide costs by more than 70 percent for some
crops. In an effort to address herbicide-resistant weeds and
associated environmental concerns, agricultural advisors and
producers have become increasingly more aggressive with
conservation planning and practice implementation to solve this
issue. The Committee directs NRCS to ensure agency staff,
partners, and producers are aware of new and interim
conservation practice standards and conservation activity plans
to address herbicide-resistant weeds, such as pigweed, and that
financial assistance through certain conservation programs is
available to assist producers in their efforts to control these
weeds.
Honey Bee Health.--The Committee understands that NRCS
through the EQIP, provided $3,000,000 in technical and
financial assistance for farmers and ranchers to help improve
honey bee health through better conservation practices. Access
to good forage is an ongoing challenge for commercial
beekeepers, and the Committee supports continuing and expanding
this technical and financial assistance program, and recommends
that a significant portion of the funds should be devoted to
facilitating training by expert researchers and beekeepers of
NRCS officials and agents in pollinator conservation practices.
Invasive Species.--The Committee reiterates its concern for
the need to address threats posed by invasive plant species and
the need to protect, restore and enhance native plants,
including those that are endangered or threatened. The
Committee encourages the Secretary to increase support for
native plant conservation efforts throughout the Department and
urges the Secretary to work closely with the Department of the
Interior to better integrate and coordinate the plant
conservation efforts of both Departments.
WATERSHED REHABILITATION PROGRAM
Appropriations, 2014.................................... $12,000,000
Budget estimate, 2015...................................................
Committee recommendation................................................
The watershed rehabilitation program account provides for
technical and financial assistance to carry out rehabilitation
of structural measures, in accordance with section 14 of the
Watershed Protection and Flood Prevention Act, approved August
4, 1954 (16 U.S.C. 1012, U.S.C. 1001, et seq.), as amended by
section 313 of Public Law 106-472, November 9, 2000, and by
section 2803 of Public Law 110-246.
COMMITTEE RECOMMENDATIONS
The Committee does not recommend an appropriation for the
Watershed Rehabilitation Program.
TITLE III
RURAL DEVELOPMENT PROGRAMS
The Federal Crop Insurance Reform and Department of
Agriculture Reorganization Act of 1994 (Public Law 103-354)
abolished the Farmers Home Administration, Rural Development
Administration, and Rural Electrification Administration and
replaced those agencies with the Rural Housing and Community
Development Service, (currently, the Rural Housing Service),
Rural Business and Cooperative Development Service (currently,
the Rural Business--Cooperative Service), and Rural Utilities
Service and placed them under the oversight of the Under
Secretary for Rural Economic and Community Development,
(currently, Rural Development). These agencies deliver a
variety of programs through a network of State and field
offices.
Office of the Under Secretary for Rural Development
Appropriations, 2014.................................... $893,000
Budget estimate, 2015................................... 898,000
Committee recommendation................................ 898,000
The Office of the Under Secretary for Rural Development
provides direction and coordination in carrying out laws with
respect to the Department's rural economic and community
development activities. The Office has oversight and management
responsibilities for the Rural Housing Service, Rural
Business--Cooperative Service, and the Rural Utilities Service.
COMMITTEE RECOMMENDATIONS
The Committee recommends an appropriation of $898,000 for
the Office of the Under Secretary for Rural Development.
Broadband.--High speed broadband and high-bandwidth
telecommunications capabilities are essential for economic
competitiveness and quality of life for rural America. The
Secretary is encouraged to promote development and demonstrate
innovative connectivity solutions such as providing high-speed
Internet via optical laser beams in free space, which help
connect rural America without broadband infrastructure costs
and where wireless coverage does not exist.
RURAL DEVELOPMENT SALARIES AND EXPENSES
[In thousands of dollars]
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Fiscal year--
---------------------------------- Committee
2014 2015 budget recommendation
appropriation request
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Appropriation................................................ 203,424 225,101 228,898
Transfer from:
Rural Housing Insurance Fund Loan Program Account........ 415,100 397,296 415,100
Rural Electrification and Telecommunications Program 34,478 33,000 34,478
Account.................................................
Rural Development Loan Program Account................... 4,439 4,249 4,439
--------------------------------------------------
Total, Rural Development salaries and expenses......... 662,441 659,646 682,915
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
These funds are used to administer the loan and grant
programs of the Rural Utilities Service, the Rural Housing
Service, and the Rural Business--Cooperative Service, including
reviewing applications, making and collecting loans and
providing technical assistance and guidance to borrowers; and
to assist in extending other Federal programs to people in
rural areas.
Under credit reform, administrative costs associated with
loan programs are appropriated to the program accounts.
Appropriations to the salaries and expenses account will be for
costs associated with grant programs.
COMMITTEE RECOMMENDATIONS
The Committee recommends $682,915,000 for salaries and
expenses of Rural Development. Included in this amount is
$20,777,000 for payments to the General Services Administration
for rent and for payments to the Department of Homeland
Security for building security activities, which was previously
funded through the Agriculture Buildings and Facilities and
Rental Payments account.
New Hires.--The Committee notes the abundance of staffing
vacancies at Rural Development and remains concerned about its
impacts on program delivery and the integrity of the Agency's
portfolio. The Secretary is directed to focus any new hiring
efforts on staffing to support portfolio management and to
redress imbalances that might have developed among States'
workforce needs. The Committee does not include funding for the
Rural Corps pilot.
Rural Housing Service
The Rural Housing Service [RHS] was established under the
Federal Crop Insurance Reform and Department of Agriculture
Reorganization Act of 1994, dated October 13, 1994.
RURAL HOUSING INSURANCE FUND PROGRAM ACCOUNT
Appropriations, 2014 (budget authority)................. $462,404,000
Budget estimate, 2015 (budget authority)................ 453,380,000
Committee recommendation (budget authority)............. 511,036,000
This fund was established in 1965 (Public Law 89-117)
pursuant to section 517 of title V of the Housing Act of 1949
(42 U.S.C. 517(d)), as amended. This fund may be used to insure
or guarantee rural housing loans for single-family homes,
rental and cooperative housing, farm labor housing, and rural
housing sites. Rural housing loans are made to construct,
improve, alter, repair, or replace dwellings and essential farm
service buildings that are modest in size, design, and cost.
Rental housing insured loans are made to individuals,
corporations, associations, trusts, or partnerships to provide
low-cost rental housing and related facilities in rural areas.
These loans are repayable in terms up to 30 years. Loan
programs are limited to rural areas, which include towns,
villages, and other places of not more than 10,000 population,
which are not part of an urban area. Loans may also be made in
areas with a population in excess of 10,000, but less than
20,000, if the area is not included in a standard metropolitan
statistical area and has a serious lack of mortgage credit for
low- and moderate-income borrowers.
COMMITTEE RECOMMENDATIONS
The Committee recommends an appropriation of $511,036,000
for the Rural Housing Insurance Fund Program Account [RHIF].
The Federal Credit Reform Act of 1990 (Public Law 101-508)
established the RHIF program account. Appropriations to this
account will be used to cover the lifetime subsidy costs
associated with the direct loans obligated and loan guarantees
committed in 2014, as well as for administrative expenses. The
following table presents the loan subsidy levels as compared to
the 2014 levels and the 2015 budget request:
RURAL HOUSING INSURANCE FUND PROGRAM ACCOUNT
[In thousands of dollars]
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Fiscal year
2014 2015 budget Committee
appropriation request recommendation
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Loan Levels:
Single-Family Housing (sec. 502):
Direct............................................... 900,000 360,000 900,000
Guaranteed........................................... 24,000,000 24,000,000 24,000,000
Housing repair (sec. 504)................................ 26,280 26,279 26,279
Direct rental housing (sec. 515)......................... 28,432 28,432 28,432
Guaranteed rental housing (sec. 538)..................... 150,000 150,000 150,000
Site development loans (sec. 524)........................ 5,000 5,000 5,000
Credit sales of acquired property........................ 10,000 10,000 10,000
Self help land development loans (sec. 523).............. 5,000 ............... 5,000
Farm labor housing loans (sec. 514)...................... 23,855 23,854 23,854
--------------------------------------------------
Total, loan levels..................................... 25,156,903 24,611,902 25,148,565
==================================================
Loan Subsidies and Grants:
Single-Family Housing (sec. 502):
Direct............................................... 24,480 26,568 66,420
Housing repair (sec. 504)................................ 2,176 3,687 3,687
Direct rental housing (sec. 515)......................... 6,656 9,812 9,812
Farm labor housing loans (sec. 514)...................... 5,656 7,681 7,681
Farm labor housing grants (sec. 516)..................... 8,336 8,336 8,336
--------------------------------------------------
Total, loan subsidies and grants....................... 47,304 56,084 95,936
==================================================
Administrative expenses...................................... 415,100 397,296 415,100
==================================================
Total, loan subsidies and administrative expenses...... 462,404 453,380 511,036
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Coordinated Environmental Reviews in Indian Country.--
Tribes face challenges with differing environmental review
requirements when resources are leveraged from a variety of
Federal housing and infrastructure programs. The Committee
believes substantial efficiencies and cost-savings could be
achieved by creating a coordinated project environmental review
process. The Committee directs the Secretary to work with HUD,
who is leading the initiative, and other agencies to
investigate opportunities to design a coordinated environmental
review process for tribal housing and related infrastructure
development.
RENTAL ASSISTANCE PROGRAM
Appropriations, 2014.................................... $1,110,000,000
Budget estimate, 2015................................... 1,088,500,000
Committee recommendation................................ 1,093,500,000
Rental assistance is authorized under section 521(a)(2) of
the Housing Act of 1949, as amended (42 U.S.C. 1490a). The
objective of the program is to reduce rents paid by low-income
families living in Rural Housing Service financed rental
projects and farm labor housing projects. Under this program,
low-income tenants will contribute the higher of: (1) 30
percent of monthly adjusted income; (2) 10 percent of monthly
income; or (3) designated housing payments from a welfare
agency.
Payments from the fund are made to the project owner for
the difference between the tenant's payment and the approved
rental rate established for the unit.
The program is administered in tandem with the Rural
Housing Service section 515 rural rental housing program and
the farm labor loan and grant programs. Priority is given to
existing projects for units occupied by rent over-burdened low-
income families and projects experiencing financial
difficulties beyond the control of the owner.
COMMITTEE RECOMMENDATIONS
The Committee recommends an appropriation of $1,093,500,000
for the Rental Assistance Program.
Rental Assistance.--The Committee includes statutory
language requiring rental assistance to be held in 514/516
projects for a minimum period of time. Rental assistance
contracts are funded for 1-year durations and shall not be
renewed within a 12-month period. The Committee is concerned
with the potential impacts on very low-income tenants with the
proposed minimum rent requirement, particularly as it pertains
to the absence of criteria for hardship exemptions as noted in
the budget request. Furthermore, proposals for selective
renewal authority and partial year funding lack sufficient
justification in meeting the goal of setting the rental
assistance program on a more fiscally sustainable path. While
the Committee is encouraged by the Department's efforts to
reform the rental assistance program, the Secretary shall
continue to pursue options that increase program efficiency
while maintaining protection for very low-income rural
households.
MULTI-FAMILY HOUSING REVITALIZATION PROGRAM ACCOUNT
Appropriations, 2014.................................... $32,575,000
Budget estimate, 2015................................... 28,000,000
Committee recommendation................................ 28,000,000
The Rural Housing Voucher Program was authorized under the
Housing Act of 1949 (42 U.S.C. 1940r) to assist very low income
families and individuals who reside in rental housing in rural
areas. Housing vouchers may be provided to residents of rental
housing projects financed by section 515 loans that have been
prepaid after September 30, 2005. Voucher amounts reflect the
difference between comparable market rents and tenant-paid rent
prior to loan prepayment. Vouchers allow tenants to remain in
existing projects or move to other rental housing.
The Multi-family Housing Revitalization Program includes
funding for housing vouchers and a demonstration program for
the preservation and revitalization of affordable multi-family
housing projects. Rural Development's multi-family housing
portfolio faces dual pressures for loan prepayments and repair/
rehabilitation stemming from inadequate reserves resulting in
deferred property maintenance.
Provision of affordable rental housing can be accomplished
more economically by revitalizing existing housing stock rather
than funding new construction. The Multi-family Housing
Revitalization Program includes revitalization tools for
maintenance of existing units and vouchers to protect tenants
in those projects that prepay. Flexibility is provided to allow
Rural Development to utilize funding to meet the most urgent
local needs for tenant protection and project revitalization.
COMMITTEE RECOMMENDATIONS
The Committee recommends an appropriation of $28,000,000
for the Multi-family Housing Revitalization Program, including
$8,000,000 for vouchers and $20,000,000 for a housing
preservation demonstration program.
MUTUAL AND SELF-HELP HOUSING GRANTS
Appropriations, 2014.................................... $25,000,000
Budget estimate, 2015................................... 10,000,000
Committee recommendation................................ 25,000,000
The Mutual and Self-Help Housing Grants Program is
authorized by title V of the Housing Act of 1949. Grants are
made to local organizations to promote the development of
mutual or self-help programs under which groups of usually 6 to
10 families build their own homes by mutually exchanging labor.
Funds may be used to pay the cost of construction supervisors
who work with families in the construction of their homes and
for administrative expenses of the organizations providing the
self-help assistance.
COMMITTEE RECOMMENDATIONS
The Committee recommends an appropriation of $25,000,000
for Mutual and Self-Help Housing Grants.
RURAL HOUSING ASSISTANCE GRANTS
Appropriations, 2014.................................... $32,239,000
Budget estimate, 2015................................... 25,000,000
Committee recommendation................................ 32,239,000
The Rural Housing Assistance Grants Program consolidates
funding for rural housing grant programs. This consolidation of
housing grant funding provides greater flexibility to tailor
financial assistance to applicant needs.
Very Low-Income Housing Repair Grants.--The Very Low-Income
Housing Repair Grants Program is authorized under section 504
of title V of the Housing Act of 1949. The rural housing repair
grant program is carried out by making grants to very low-
income families to make necessary repairs to their homes in
order to make such dwellings safe and sanitary, and remove
hazards to the health of the occupants, their families, or the
community.
These grants may be made to cover the cost of improvements
or additions, such as repairing roofs, providing toilet
facilities, providing a convenient and sanitary water supply,
supplying screens, repairing or providing structural supports
or making similar repairs, additions, or improvements,
including all preliminary and installation costs in obtaining
central water and sewer service. A grant can be made in
combination with a section 504 very low-income housing repair
loan.
No assistance can be extended to any one individual in the
form of a loan, grant, or combined loans and grants in excess
of $27,500, and grant assistance is limited to persons, or
families headed by persons who are 62 years of age or older.
Supervisory and Technical Assistance Grants.--Supervisory
and technical assistance grants are made to public and private
nonprofit organizations for packaging loan applications for
housing assistance under sections 502, 504, 514/516, 515, and
533 of the Housing Act of 1949. The assistance is directed to
very low-income families in underserved areas where at least 20
percent of the population is below the poverty level and at
least 10 percent or more of the population resides in
substandard housing. In fiscal year 1994 a Homebuyer Education
Program was implemented under this authority. This program
provides low-income individuals and families education and
counseling on obtaining and/or maintaining occupancy of
adequate housing and supervised credit assistance to become
successful homeowners.
Compensation for Construction Defects.--Compensation for
construction defects provides funds for grants to eligible
section 502 borrowers to correct structural defects, or to pay
claims of owners arising from such defects on a newly
constructed dwelling purchased with RHS financial assistance.
Claims are not paid until provisions under the builder's
warranty have been fully pursued. Requests for compensation for
construction defects must be made by the owner of the property
within 18 months after the date financial assistance was
granted.
Rural Housing Preservation Grants.--Rural housing
preservation grants (section 533) of the Housing and Urban-
Rural Recovery Act of 1983 (42 U.S.C. 1490m) authorizes the
Rural Housing Service to administer a program of home repair
directed at low- and very low-income people.
COMMITTEE RECOMMENDATIONS
The Committee recommends an appropriation of $32,239,000
for the Rural Housing Assistance Grants Program.
The following table compares the grant program levels
recommended by the Committee to the fiscal year 2014 levels and
the budget request:
RURAL HOUSING ASSISTANCE GRANTS
[In thousands of dollars]
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Fiscal year--
---------------------------------- Committee
2014 level 2015 request recommendation
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Very low-income housing repair grants........................ 28,701 25,000 28,701
Housing preservation grants.................................. 3,538 ............... 3,538
--------------------------------------------------
Total.................................................. 32,239 25,000 32,239
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
The Committee recommends that the Rural Housing Service
prioritize funding for communities with unique weather patterns
in need of replacing antiquated heating systems with more
efficient technologies.
Rural Community Facilities Program Account
Appropriations, 2014.................................... $32,520,000
Budget estimate, 2015................................... 21,000,000
Committee recommendation................................ 32,330,000
Community facility loans were created by the Rural
Development Act of 1972 (7 U.S.C. 1926 et seq.) to finance a
variety of rural community facilities. Loans are made to
organizations, including certain Indian tribes and corporations
not operated for profit and public and quasi-public agencies,
to construct, enlarge, extend, or otherwise improve community
facilities providing essential services to rural residents.
Such facilities include those providing or supporting overall
community development, such as fire and rescue services,
healthcare, transportation, traffic control, and community,
social, cultural, and recreational benefits. Loans are made for
facilities which primarily serve rural residents of open
country and rural towns and villages of not more than 20,000
people. Healthcare and fire and rescue facilities are the
priorities of the program and receive the majority of available
funds.
The Community Facility Grant Program authorized in the
Federal Agriculture Improvement and Reform Act of 1996 (Public
Law 104-127), is used in conjunction with the existing direct
and guaranteed loan programs for the development of community
facilities, such as hospitals, fire stations, and community
centers. Grants are targeted to the lowest income communities.
Communities that have lower population and income levels
receive a higher cost-share contribution through these grants,
to a maximum contribution of 75 percent of the cost of
developing the facility.
COMMITTEE RECOMMENDATIONS
The Committee recommends an appropriation of $32,330,000
for the Rural Community Facilities Program Account.
The following table provides the Committee's
recommendations, as compared to the fiscal year 2014 and budget
request levels:
RURAL COMMUNITY FACILITIES PROGRAM ACCOUNT
[Loan levels and budget authority in thousands of dollars]
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Fiscal year
2014 2015 budget Committee
appropriation request recommendations
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Loan levels:
Community facilities direct loans........................ 2,200,000 2,200,000 2,200,000
Community facilities guaranteed loans.................... 59,543 ............... 75,000
--------------------------------------------------
Total loan levels...................................... 2,259,543 2,200,000 2,275,000
==================================================
Budget authority:
Community facilities guaranteed loans.................... 3,775 ............... 3,585
Community facilities grants.............................. 13,000 17,000 13,000
Economic initiative grants............................... 5,778 ............... 5,778
Rural community development initiative................... 5,967 ............... 5,967
Tribal college grants.................................... 4,000 4,000 4,000
--------------------------------------------------
Total budget authority................................. 32,520 21,000 32,330
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Care Facilities.--The Committee directs the Secretary
to increase efforts to provide assistance for day care
facilities through the Community Facilities program.
Availability of proper day care facilities is limited in rural
areas, making it difficult for many parents to work and
sometimes resulting in children receiving substandard care.
Rural Business--Cooperative Service
The Rural Business--Cooperative Service [RBS] was
established by Public Law 103-354, Federal Crop Insurance
Reform and Department of Agriculture Reorganization Act of
1994, dated October 13, 1994. Its programs were previously
administered by the Rural Development Administration, the Rural
Electrification Administration, and the Agricultural
Cooperative Service.
RURAL BUSINESS PROGRAM ACCOUNT
Appropriations, 2014.................................... $96,539,000
Budget estimate, 2015................................... 30,190,000
Committee recommendation................................ 78,527,000
The Rural Business and Industry Loan Program was created by
the Rural Development Act of 1972, and finances a variety of
rural industrial development loans. Loans are made for rural
industrialization and rural community facilities under Rural
Development Act amendments to the Consolidated Farm and Rural
Development Act (7 U.S.C. 1932 et seq.) authorities. Business
and industrial loans are made to public, private, or
cooperative organizations organized for profit, to certain
Indian tribes, or to individuals for the purpose of improving,
developing or financing business, industry, and employment or
improving the economic and environmental climate in rural
areas. Such purposes include financing business and industrial
acquisition, construction, enlargement, repair or
modernization, financing the purchase and development of land,
easements, rights-of-way, buildings, payment of startup costs,
and supplying working capital.
Rural business development grants were authorized by the
Agricultural Act of 2014 and can be made to governmental and
nonprofit entities, and Indian tribes. Up to 10 percent of
appropriated funds may be used to: identify and analyze
business opportunities; identify, train, and provide technical
assistance to existing or prospective rural entrepreneurs and
managers; assist in the establishment of new rural businesses
and the maintenance of existing businesses; conduct economic
development planning, coordination and leadership development;
and establish centers for training, technology, and trade. The
balance of appropriated funding may be used for projects that
support the development of business enterprises that finance or
facilitate: the development of small and emerging private
business enterprise; the establishment, expansion, and
operation of rural distance learning networks; the development
of rural learning programs; and the provision of technical
assistance and training to rural communities for the purpose of
improving passenger transportation.
COMMITTEE RECOMMENDATIONS
The Committee recommends an appropriation of $78,527,000
for the Rural Business Program Account.
The following table provides the Committee's
recommendations, as compared to the fiscal year 2014 and budget
request levels:
RURAL BUSINESS PROGRAM ACCOUNT
[Loan levels and budget authority in thousands of dollars]
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Fiscal year
2014 2015 budget Committee
appropriation request recommendations
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Loan levels:
Business and industry guaranteed loans loan levels....... 958,097 590,802 958,102
Budget authority:
Business and industry guaranteed loans................... 66,971 30,190 48,959
Business enterprise grants............................... 24,318 ............... ...............
Business opportunity grants.............................. 2,250 ............... ...............
Rural business development grants........................ ............... ............... 26,568
Delta Regional Authority grants.......................... 3,000 ............... 3,000
--------------------------------------------------
Total budget authority................................. 96,539 30,190 78,527
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Rural Business Program Account.--The Committee recommends
$500,000 for transportation technical assistance.
The Committee directs that of the $4,000,000 recommended
for grants to benefit Federally Recognized Native American
Tribes, $250,000 shall be used to implement an American Indian
and Alaska Native passenger transportation development and
assistance initiative.
INTERMEDIARY RELENDING PROGRAM FUND
[In thousands of dollars]
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Fiscal year--
---------------------------------- Committee
2014 level 2015 request recommendation
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Estimated loan level......................................... 18,889 10,013 18,889
Direct loan subsidy.......................................... 4,082 3,084 5,818
Administrative expenses...................................... 4,439 4,249 4,439
--------------------------------------------------
Total, loan subsidies and administrative expenses...... 8,521 7,333 10,257
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
The rural development (intermediary relending) loan program
was originally authorized by the Economic Opportunity Act of
1964 (Public Law 88-452). The making of rural development loans
by the Department of Agriculture was reauthorized by Public Law
113-79, the Agricultural Act of 2014.
Loans are made to intermediary borrowers (small investment
groups) who in turn will reloan the funds to rural businesses,
community development corporations, private nonprofit
organizations, public agencies, et cetera, for the purpose of
improving business, industry, community facilities, and
employment opportunities and diversification of the economy in
rural areas.
The Federal Credit Reform Act of 1990 established the
program account. Appropriations to this account will be used to
cover the lifetime subsidy costs associated with the direct
loans obligated in 2015, as well as for administrative
expenses.
COMMITTEE RECOMMENDATIONS
The Committee recommends an appropriation of $10,257,000
for the Intermediary Relending Program Fund.
RURAL ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT LOANS PROGRAM ACCOUNT
[In thousands of dollars]
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Estimated loan
level
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Fiscal year 2014 level................................. 33,077
Fiscal year 2015 request............................... 59,456
Committee recommendation............................... 33,077
------------------------------------------------------------------------
The Rural Economic Development Loans program was
established by the Reconciliation Act of December 1987 (Public
Law 100-203), which amended the Rural Electrification Act of
1936 (Act of May 20, 1936), by establishing a new section 313.
This section of the Rural Electrification Act (7 U.S.C. 901)
established a cushion of credits payment program and created
the rural economic development subaccount. The Administrator of
RUS is authorized under the act to utilize funds in this
program to provide zero interest loans to electric and
telecommunications borrowers for the purpose of promoting rural
economic development and job creation projects, including
funding for feasibility studies, startup costs, and other
reasonable expenses for the purpose of fostering rural economic
development.
COMMITTEE RECOMMENDATION
The Committee recommends a loan program level of
$33,077,000, to be funded from earnings on the Cushion of
Credit and fees on guaranteed underwriting loans made pursuant
to section 313A of the Rural Electrification Act of 1936.
RURAL COOPERATIVE DEVELOPMENT GRANTS
Appropriations, 2014.................................... $26,050,000
Budget estimate, 2015................................... 16,087,000
Committee recommendation................................ 26,050,000
Rural cooperative development grants are authorized under
section 310B(e) of the Consolidated Farm and Rural Development
Act, as amended. Grants are made to fund the establishment and
operation of centers for rural cooperative development with
their primary purpose being the improvement of economic
conditions in rural areas. Grants may be made to nonprofit
institutions or institutions of higher education. Grants may be
used to pay up to 75 percent of the cost of the project and
associated administrative costs. The applicant must contribute
at least 25 percent from non-Federal sources, except 1994
institutions, which only need to provide 5 percent. Grants are
competitive and are awarded based on specific selection
criteria.
Cooperative research agreements are authorized by 7 U.S.C.
2204b. The funds are used for cooperative research agreements,
primarily with colleges and universities, on critical
operational, organizational, and structural issues facing
cooperatives.
Cooperative agreements are authorized under 7 U.S.C. 2201
to any qualified State departments of agriculture, university,
and other State entity to conduct research that will strengthen
and enhance the operations of agricultural marketing
cooperatives in rural areas.
The Appropriate Technology Transfer for Rural Areas [ATTRA]
program was first authorized by the Food Security Act of 1985.
The program provides information and technical assistance to
agricultural producers to adopt sustainable agricultural
practices that are environmentally friendly and lower
production costs.
COMMITTEE RECOMMENDATIONS
The Committee recommends an appropriation of $26,050,000
for Rural Cooperative Development Grants.
Of the funds recommended, $2,250,000 is for the Appropriate
Technology Transfer for Rural Areas program.
The Committee has included language in the bill that not
more than $3,000,000 shall be made available to cooperatives or
associations of cooperatives whose primary focus is to provide
assistance to small, minority producers.
Value Added.--The Committee recommends $15,000,000 for
value-added agricultural product market development grants.
RURAL MICROENTERPRISE INVESTMENT PROGRAM
Appropriations, 2014....................................................
Budget estimate, 2015................................... $3,290,000
Committee recommendation................................................
This program, authorized by section 379E of the
Consolidated Farm and Rural Development Act (7 U.S.C. 1981 et
seq.), provides loans and grants to intermediaries that assist
micro-entrepreneurs.
COMMITTEE RECOMMENDATIONS
The Committee recommendation does not include funding for
the Rural Microenterprise Investment Program.
RURAL ENERGY FOR AMERICA PROGRAM
Appropriations, 2014.................................... $3,500,000
Budget estimate, 2015................................... 10,000,000
Committee recommendation................................ 1,350,000
The Rural Energy for America Program is authorized under
section 9007 of the Farm Security and Rural Investment Act of
2002 (7 U.S.C. 8107). This program may fund energy audits,
direct loans, loan guarantees, and grants to farmers, ranchers,
and small rural businesses for the purchase of renewable energy
systems and for energy efficiency improvements.
COMMITTEE RECOMMENDATIONS
The Committee recommends an appropriation of $1,350,000 for
the Rural Energy for America Program.
The following table provides the Committee's recommendation
as compared to the fiscal year 2014 and budget request levels:
RURAL ENERGY FOR AMERICA PROGRAM
[In thousands of dollars]
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Fiscal year Committee
2014 level 2015 request recommendation
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Estimated loan level............................................ 12,760 47,259 12,760
Guaranteed loan subsidy......................................... 3,500 5,000 1,350
Grants.......................................................... .............. 5,000 ..............
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Biogas System Deployment.--The Committee encourages Rural
Development to support biogas system deployment with financial
and technical assistance from existing energy programs,
including the Rural Energy for America Program [REAP], the
Bioenergy Program for Advanced Biofuels, and the Biorefinery
Assistance Program.
REAP.--The Committee recognizes the opportunity for
agricultural operations to conserve energy and pioneer the next
generation of American energy. To the greatest extent possible,
the Department shall prioritize projects proposed by
agricultural producers.
Rural Utilities Service
The Rural Utilities Service [RUS] was established under the
Federal Crop Insurance Reform and Department of Agriculture
Reorganization Act of 1994 (Public Law 103-354), October 13,
1994. RUS administers the electric and telephone programs of
the former Rural Electrification Administration and the water
and waste programs of the former Rural Development
Administration.
RURAL WATER AND WASTE DISPOSAL PROGRAM ACCOUNT
Appropriations, 2014.................................... $462,371,000
Budget estimate, 2015................................... 304,000,000
Committee recommendation................................ 463,230,000
The water and waste disposal program is authorized by
sections 306, 306A, 309A, 306C, 306D, 306E, and 310B of the
Consolidated Farm and Rural Development Act (7 U.S.C. 1921 et
seq., as amended). This program makes loans for water and waste
development costs. Development loans are made to associations,
including corporations operating on a nonprofit basis,
municipalities and similar organizations, generally designated
as public or quasi-public agencies, that propose projects for
the development, storage, treatment, purification, and
distribution of domestic water or the collection, treatment, or
disposal of waste in rural areas. Such grants may not exceed 75
percent of the development cost of the projects and can
supplement other funds borrowed or furnished by applicants to
pay development costs.
The solid waste grant program is authorized under section
310B(b) of the Consolidated Farm and Rural Development Act.
Grants are made to public bodies and private nonprofit
organizations to provide technical assistance to local and
regional governments for the purpose of reducing or eliminating
pollution of water resources and for improving the planning and
management of solid waste disposal facilities.
COMMITTEE RECOMMENDATIONS
The Committee recommends an appropriation of $463,230,000
for the Rural Water and Waste Disposal Program Account.
The Committee recommends $66,500,000 for water and waste
disposal systems grants for Native Americans, including Native
Alaskans, the Colonias, and residents of Hawaiian Home Lands.
The Committee recognizes the special needs and problems for
delivery of basic services to these populations. In addition,
the Committee makes up to $15,919,000 available for the circuit
rider program.
The following table provides the Committee's
recommendations, as compared to the fiscal year 2014 and budget
request levels:
RURAL WATER AND WASTE DISPOSAL PROGRAM ACCOUNT
[Loan levels and budget authority in thousands of dollars]
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Fiscal year 2014 2015 budget Committee
appropriation request recommendation
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Loan levels:
Water and waste disposal direct loans................. 1,200,000 1,200,000 1,200,000
Direct loans authorized by Public Law 83-566.......... 40,000 ................ ................
Water and waste disposal guaranteed loans............. 50,000 ................ 50,000
-----------------------------------------------------
Total loan levels................................... 1,290,000 1,200,000 1,250,000
=====================================================
Budget authority:
Water and waste disposal guaranteed loans............. 355 ................ 295
Water and waste disposal grants....................... 345,523 246,800 345,523
Solid waste management grants......................... 4,000 4,000 4,000
Water well systems grants............................. 993 ................ 993
Colonias and AK/HI/Native American grants............. 66,500 36,480 66,500
Water and waste water revolving funds................. 1,000 ................ 1,000
High energy cost grants............................... 10,000 ................ 10,000
Circuit rider......................................... 15,000 7,600 15,919
Technical assistance grants........................... 19,000 9,120 19,000
-----------------------------------------------------
Total, budget authority............................. 462,371 304,000 463,230
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
RURAL ELECTRIFICATION AND TELECOMMUNICATIONS LOANS PROGRAM ACCOUNT
The Rural Electrification Act of 1936 (7 U.S.C. 901 et
seq.) provides the statutory authority for the electric and
telecommunications programs.
The Federal Credit Reform Act of 1990 (Public Law 101-508)
established the program account. An appropriation to this
account will be used to cover the lifetime subsidy costs
associated with the direct loans obligated and loan guarantees
committed in fiscal year 2015, as well as for administrative
expenses.
COMMITTEE RECOMMENDATIONS
The Committee is very concerned about the potential impacts
of a proposed rule issued by Rural Development on February 4,
2014. The stated goal of the rule is to consolidate
environmental procedures of the Rural Utilities Service, Rural
Business-Cooperative Service, and Rural Housing Service.
However, in its present form the rule would dramatically
increase USDA workload, and place undue burdens on RUS and its
electric borrowers without commensurate benefit. Before issuing
a final rule, the Committee directs Rural Development to report
to the Committee on additional personnel requirements,
obstacles to RUS program delivery and impacts on borrowers.
Furthermore, additional loan processing fees proposed in the
President's Budget are not appropriate at this time.
The following table reflects the Committee's recommendation
for the Rural Electrification and Telecommunications Loans
Program Account, the loan subsidy and administrative expenses,
as compared to the fiscal year 2014 and budget request levels:
RURAL ELECTRIFICATION AND TELECOMMUNICATIONS LOANS PROGRAM ACCOUNT
[In thousands of dollars]
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Fiscal year--
---------------------------------- Committee
2014 level 2015 request recommendation
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Loan authorizations:
Electric:
Direct FFB........................................... 5,000,000 5,000,000 5,000,000
Guaranteed underwriting.............................. 500,000 ............... 500,000
--------------------------------------------------
Subtotal........................................... 5,500,000 5,000,000 5,500,000
==================================================
Telecommunications....................................... 690,000 690,000 690,000
--------------------------------------------------
Total loan authorization............................... 6,190,000 5,690,000 6,190,000
==================================================
Administrative expenses...................................... 34,478 33,000 34,478
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
DISTANCE LEARNING, TELEMEDICINE, AND BROADBAND PROGRAM LOANS AND GRANTS
[In thousands of dollars]
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Fiscal year--
---------------------------------- Committee
2014 level 2015 request recommendation
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Loan and grant levels:
Distance learning and Telemedicine Program:
Grants............................................... 24,323 24,950 24,323
Broadband program:
Treasury rate loans...................................... 34,430 44,238 34,430
Treasury rate loans budget authority..................... 4,500 8,268 6,435
Grants................................................... 10,372 20,372 10,372
--------------------------------------------------
Total DLT and Broadband Program level.................. 69,125 89,560 69,125
==================================================
Total DLT and Broadband Budget authority............... 39,195 53,590 41,130
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
The Distance Learning, Telemedicine, and Broadband Program
is authorized by the Food, Agriculture, Conservation and Trade
Act of 1990 (7 U.S.C. 950aaa et seq.), as amended by the
Federal Agriculture Improvement and Reform Act of 1996 (Public
Law 104-127). This program provides incentives to improve the
quality of phone services, to provide access to advanced
telecommunications services and computer networks, and to
improve rural opportunities.
This program provides the facilities and equipment to link
rural education and medical facilities with more urban centers
and other facilities providing rural residents access to better
healthcare through technology and increasing educational
opportunities for rural students. These funds are available for
loans and grants.
COMMITTEE RECOMMENDATIONS
The Committee recommends an appropriation of $41,130,000
for the Distance Learning, Telemedicine, and Broadband Program.
Funds recommended for the RUS broadband program are intended to
promote broadband availability in those areas where there is
not otherwise a business case for private investment in a
broadband network. The Committee encourages RUS to focus
expenditures on projects that bring broadband service to
currently unserved households.
The Committee is concerned about the longstanding, unmet
health needs in the Mississippi River Delta. The Committee
recommendation includes $3,000,000 to address critical
healthcare needs in the region, as authorized by section 379G
of the Consolidated Farm and Rural Development Act.
Broadband Grants.--Of the funds recommended, $10,372,000 in
grants shall be made available to support broadband
transmission and local dial-up Internet services for rural
areas.
TITLE IV
DOMESTIC FOOD PROGRAMS
Office of the Under Secretary for Food, Nutrition and Consumer Services
Appropriations, 2014.................................... $811,000
Budget estimate, 2015................................... 816,000
Committee recommendation................................ 816,000
The Office of the Under Secretary for Food, Nutrition and
Consumer Services provides direction and coordination in
carrying out the laws enacted by the Congress with respect to
the Department's nutrition assistance activities. The Office
has oversight and management responsibilities for the Food and
Nutrition Service.
COMMITTEE RECOMMENDATIONS
The Committee recommends an appropriation of $816,000 for
the Office of the Under Secretary for Food, Nutrition and
Consumer Services.
Food and Nutrition Service
The Food and Nutrition Service represents an organizational
effort to eliminate hunger and malnutrition in this country.
Nutrition assistance programs provide access to a nutritionally
adequate diet for families and persons with low incomes and
encourage better eating patterns among the Nation's children.
These programs include:
Child Nutrition Programs.--The National School Lunch and
School Breakfast, Summer Food Service, and Child and Adult Care
Food programs provide funding to the States, Puerto Rico, the
Virgin Islands, American Samoa, and Guam for use in serving
nutritious lunches and breakfasts to children attending schools
of high school grades and under, to children of preschool age
in child care centers, and to children in other institutions in
order to improve the health and well-being of the Nation's
children, and broaden the markets for agricultural food
commodities. Through the Special Milk Program, assistance is
provided to the States for making reimbursement payments to
eligible schools and child care institutions which institute or
expand milk service in order to increase the consumption of
fluid milk by children. Funds for this program are provided by
direct appropriation and transfer from section 32.
Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants,
and Children [WIC].--This program safeguards the health of
pregnant, postpartum, and breast-feeding women, infants, and
children up to age 5 who are at nutritional risk because of
inadequate nutrition and income by providing supplemental
foods. The delivery of supplemental foods may be done through
health clinics, vouchers redeemable at retail food stores, or
other approved methods which a cooperating State health agency
may select. Funds for this program are provided by direct
appropriation.
Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program.--This program
seeks to improve nutritional standards of needy persons and
families. Assistance is provided to eligible households to
enable them to obtain a better diet by increasing their food
purchasing capability, usually by furnishing benefits in the
form of electronic access to funds. The program also includes
Nutrition Assistance to Puerto Rico.
The program also includes the Food Distribution Program on
Indian Reservations, which provides nutritious agricultural
commodities to low-income persons living on or near Indian
reservations who choose not to participate in the Supplemental
Nutrition Assistance Program.
Commodity Assistance Program [CAP].--This program provides
funding for the Commodity Supplemental Food Program [CSFP], the
Farmers' Market Nutrition Program, Disaster Assistance, Pacific
Island Assistance, and administrative expenses for TEFAP.
CSFP provides supplemental foods to infants and children up
to age 6, and to pregnant, postpartum, and breast-feeding women
with low incomes, and who reside in approved project areas. In
addition, this program operates commodity distribution projects
directed at low-income elderly persons.
TEFAP provides commodities and grant funds to State
agencies to assist in the cost of storage and distribution of
donated commodities.
Nutritious agricultural commodities are provided to
residents of the Federated States of Micronesia and the
Marshall Islands. Cash assistance is provided to distributing
agencies to assist them in meeting administrative expenses
incurred. It also provides funding for use in non-
presidentially declared disasters, and for FNS' administrative
costs in connection with relief for all disasters. Funds for
this program are provided by direct appropriation.
Nutrition Programs Administration.--Most salaries and
Federal operating expenses of the Food and Nutrition Service
are funded from this account. Also included is the Center for
Nutrition Policy and Promotion [CNPP] which oversees
improvements in and revisions to the food guidance systems, and
serves as the focal point for advancing and coordinating
nutrition promotion and education policy to improve the health
of all Americans.
child nutrition programs
Appropriations, 2014.................................... $19,287,957,000
Budget estimate, 2015................................... 20,537,000,000
Committee recommendation................................ 20,497,000,000
The Child Nutrition Programs, authorized by the Richard B.
Russell National School Lunch Act (Public Law 79-396) and the
Child Nutrition Act of 1966 (Public Law 89-642), provide
Federal assistance to State agencies in the form of cash and
commodities for use in preparing and serving nutritious meals
to children while they are attending school, residing in
service institutions, or participating in other organized
activities away from home. The purpose of these programs is to
help maintain the health and proper physical development of
America's children. Milk is provided to children either free or
at a low cost, depending on their family income level. FNS
provides cash subsidies to States for administering the
programs and directly administers the program in the States
which choose not to do so. Grants are also made for nutritional
training and surveys and for State administrative expenses.
Under current law, most of these payments are made on the basis
of reimbursement rates established by law and applied to
lunches and breakfasts actually served by the States. The
reimbursement rates are adjusted annually to reflect changes in
the Consumer Price Index for food away from home.
COMMITTEE RECOMMENDATIONS
The Committee recommends $20,497,000,000 for the Child
Nutrition Programs.
The Committee's recommendation provides for the following
annual rates for the child nutrition programs.
TOTAL OBLIGATIONAL AUTHORITY
[In thousands of dollars]
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Committee
Child nutrition programs 2015 budget recommendation
------------------------------------------------------------------------
School Lunch Program.................. 11,369,079 11,369,079
School Breakfast Program.............. 3,904,967 3,904,967
Child and Adult Care Food Program..... 3,149,700 3,149,700
Summer Food Service Program........... 492,738 492,738
Special Milk Program.................. 10,350 10,350
State Administrative Expenses......... 264,016 264,016
Commodity Procurement................. 1,199,797 1,199,797
Team Nutrition/HUSSC/CMS.............. 17,004 17,004
Food Safety Education................. 2,718 2,718
Coordinated Review.................... 10,000 10,000
Computer Support...................... 11,250 11,250
CACFP Training and Technical 8,137 8,137
Assistance...........................
CNP Studies and Evaluation............ 20,079 20,079
Farm to School Team................... 2,261 2,261
Payment Accuracy...................... 9,904 9,904
School Meal Equipment Grants.......... 35,000 25,000
Summer EBT Demonstration.............. 30,000 ...............
------------------------------------------------------------------------
The Committee expects FNS to utilize the National Food
Service Management Institute to carry out the food safety
education program.
School Meals.--The Committee recognizes that some schools
anticipate difficulties in complying with the 100 percent whole
grain requirement that is set to go in effect in July 2014. The
Committee directs the Department to consult with individual
school districts that express concern and to work with both
schools and relevant industry stakeholders.
Summer Food Service Program [SFSP].--The Committee
recognizes the importance of SFSP to promote year-round child
nutrition. The Committee encourages FNS to work with nonprofit
national youth mentoring organizations in administering this
program. When working with these organizations, FNS should
consider organizations with national headquarters that already
provide services to the community and have well defined
management practices.
SPECIAL SUPPLEMENTAL NUTRITION PROGRAM FOR WOMEN, INFANTS, AND CHILDREN
[WIC]
Appropriations, 2014.................................... $6,715,841,000
Budget estimate, 2015................................... 6,823,000,000
Committee recommendation................................ 6,623,000,000
The special supplemental nutrition program for women,
infants, and children [WIC] is authorized by section 17 of the
Child Nutrition Act of 1966. Its purpose is to safeguard the
health of pregnant, breast-feeding and postpartum women and
infants, and children up to age 5 who are at nutritional risk
because of inadequate nutrition and inadequate income.
The WIC program food packages are designed to provide foods
which studies have demonstrated are lacking in the diets of the
WIC program target population. The authorized supplemental
foods are iron-fortified breakfast cereal, fruit or vegetable
juice which contains vitamin C, dry beans, peas, and peanut
butter.
There are three general types of delivery systems for WIC
foods: (1) retail purchase in which participants obtain
supplemental foods through retail stores; (2) home delivery
systems in which food is delivered to the participant's home;
and (3) direct distribution systems in which participants pick
up food from a distribution outlet. The food is free of charge
to all participants.
COMMITTEE RECOMMENDATIONS
The Committee recommends an appropriation of $6,623,000,000
for the Special Supplemental Food Program for Women, Infants,
and Children [WIC].
The Committee recommendation fully funds estimated WIC
participation in fiscal year 2015. The Committee recommendation
includes $60,000,000 for breastfeeding support initiatives,
$14,000,000 for infrastructure, and $30,000,000 for management
information systems.
Income Eligibility.--The Food and Nutrition Service is to
submit, within 30 days, a report to the subcommittee on the
policies, procedures, training and technical assistance it has
provided to State WIC programs on income eligibility
determination and verification since the release of the
February 2013 Government Accountability Office report ``WIC
Program: Improved Oversight of Income Eligibility Determination
Needed.'' The report is to include data from the USDA's
regional offices on the extent to which all State WIC programs
have complied with the use of a standard set of income
eligibility and verification criteria.
WIC Food Package.--The Committee understands the Department
is working with the Institute of Medicine to make
recommendations for the fish species to include in the WIC food
packages that scientific evidence shows to be low in mercury
and in other respects nutritious, including wild salmon, for
pregnant, postpartum and breastfeeding women. The Committee
requests a report, within 120 days of enactment of this act, on
this effort.
SUPPLEMENTAL NUTRITION ASSISTANCE PROGRAM
Appropriations, 2014.................................... $82,169,945,000
Budget estimate, 2015................................... 84,256,387,000
Committee recommendation................................ 82,251,387,000
The Food Stamp Program was reauthorized through fiscal year
2012 and renamed the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program
[SNAP] in the Food, Conservation, and Energy Act of 2008. The
Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program attempts to alleviate
hunger and malnutrition among low-income persons by increasing
their food purchasing power. Eligible households receive SNAP
benefits with which they can purchase food through regular
retail stores.
Other programs funded through SNAP include Nutrition
Assistance to Puerto Rico and American Samoa, the Food
Distribution Program on Indian Reservations, the Emergency Food
Assistance Program, and the Community Food Projects program.
The Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program is currently
in operation in all 50 States, the District of Columbia, the
Virgin Islands, and Guam. Participating households receive food
benefits, the value of which is determined by household size
and income. The cost of the benefits is paid by the Federal
Government. As required by law, the Food and Nutrition Service
annually revises household benefit allotments to reflect
changes in the cost of the thrifty food plan.
Administrative Costs.--All direct and indirect
administrative costs incurred for certification of households,
issuance of benefits, quality control, outreach, and fair
hearing efforts are shared by the Federal Government and the
States on a 50-50 basis.
State Antifraud Activities.--Under the provisions of the
Food and Nutrition Act of 2008, States are eligible to be
reimbursed for 50 percent of the costs of their fraud
investigations and prosecutions.
States are required to implement an employment and training
program for the purpose of assisting members of households
participating in SNAP in gaining skills, training, or
experience that will increase their ability to obtain regular
employment. The Department of Agriculture has implemented a
grant program to States to assist them in providing employment
and training services.
COMMITTEE RECOMMENDATIONS
The Committee recommends an appropriation of
$82,251,387,000 for the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance
Program. Of the amount recommended, $3,000,000,000 is made
available as a contingency reserve.
Food Distribution Program on Indian Reservations.--The
Committee encourages the Secretary to continue the purchase of
bison from producer-owned and Native American owned
cooperatives for the Food Distribution Program on Indian
Reservations. Although funding is not provided specifically for
bison purchase, historically these purchases have been
important for the Native American population both economically
and nutritionally.
commodity assistance program
Appropriations, 2014.................................... $269,701,000
Budget estimate, 2015................................... 275,701,000
Committee recommendation................................ 275,701,000
The Commodity Assistance Program includes funding for the
Commodity Supplemental Food Program and funding to pay expenses
associated with the storage and distribution of commodities
through The Emergency Food Assistance Program.
The Commodity Supplemental Food Program [CSFP].--Authorized
by section 4(a) of the Agricultural and Consumer Protection Act
of 1973 (7 U.S.C. 612c note), as amended in 1981 by Public Law
97-98, this program provides supplemental food to infants and
children up to age 6, and to pregnant, post partum, and breast-
feeding women who have low incomes, and reside in approved
project areas. In addition, the program operates commodity
distribution projects directed at low-income elderly persons 60
years of age or older.
The foods for CSFP are provided by the Department of
Agriculture for distribution through State agencies. The
authorized commodities include: iron-fortified infant formula,
rice cereal, cheese, canned juice, evaporated milk and/or
nonfat dry milk, canned vegetables or fruits, canned meat or
poultry, egg mix, dehydrated potatoes, farina, and peanut
butter and dry beans. Elderly participants may receive all
commodities except iron-fortified infant formula and rice
cereal.
The Emergency Food Assistance Program [TEFAP].--Authorized
by the Emergency Food Assistance Act of 1983 (7 U.S.C. 7501 et
seq.), as amended, the program provides nutrition assistance to
low-income people through prepared meals served on site and
through the distribution of commodities to low-income
households for home consumption. The commodities are provided
by USDA to State agencies for distribution through State-
established networks. State agencies make the commodities
available to local organizations, such as soup kitchens, food
pantries, food banks, and community action agencies, for their
use in providing nutrition assistance to those in need.
Funds are administered by FNS through grants to State
agencies which operate commodity distribution programs.
Allocation of the funds to States is based on a formula which
considers the States' unemployment rate and the number of
persons with income below the poverty level.
Farmers' Market Nutrition Program.--The Farmers' Market
Nutrition Program [FMNP] provides WIC or WIC-eligible
participants with coupons to purchase fresh, nutritious,
unprepared foods, such as fruits and vegetables, from farmers'
markets. This benefits both participants and local farmers by
increasing the awareness and use of farmers' markets by low-
income households.
Pacific Island and Disaster Assistance.--This program
provides funding for assistance to the nuclear-affected islands
in the form of commodities and administrative funds. It also
provides funding for use in non-presidentially declared
disasters and for FNS' administrative costs in connection with
relief for all disasters.
COMMITTEE RECOMMENDATIONS
The Committee recommends an appropriation of $275,701,000
for the Commodity Assistance Program. The Committee continues
to encourage the Department to distribute Commodity Assistance
Program funds equitably among the States, based on an
assessment of the needs and priorities of each State and the
State's preference to receive commodity allocations through
each of the programs funded under this account.
Commodity Supplemental Food Program.--The Committee
recommends $208,682,000 for the Commodity Supplemental Food
Program. This amount fully funds participation in fiscal year
2015. The Committee is aware that there are additional States
that have approved applications to participate in the Commodity
Supplemental Food Program, and encourages USDA to work to
provide sufficient funding for these States in future budget
requests.
Farmers' Market Nutrition Program.--The Committee is aware
that the Farmers' Market Nutrition Program provides fresh
fruits and vegetables to low-income mothers and children,
benefiting not only WIC participants, but local farmers as
well. Therefore, the Committee recommends $16,548,000 for the
Farmers' Market Nutrition Program and directs the Secretary to
obligate these funds within 45 days.
The Emergency Food Assistance Program.--The Agricultural
Act of 2014 provides $324,000,000 for TEFAP commodities to be
purchased with Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program funds.
The Committee recommendation includes $49,401,000 for TEFAP
transportation, storage, and program integrity. In addition,
the Committee recommendation grants the Secretary authority to
transfer up to an additional 10 percent from TEFAP commodities
for this purpose.
The Committee encourages the Secretary to identify
opportunities for increasing the supply of TEFAP commodities in
the coming fiscal year through bonus and specialty crop
purchases. The Department shall make available to the States
domestically produced catfish fillets for distribution to local
agencies.
nutrition programs administration
Appropriations, 2014.................................... $141,348,000
Budget estimate, 2015................................... 155,000,000
Committee recommendation................................ 155,000,000
The Nutrition Programs Administration appropriation
provides for most of the Federal operating expenses of the Food
and Nutrition Service, which includes the Child Nutrition
Programs; Special Milk Program; Special Supplemental Nutrition
Program for Women, Infants, and Children [WIC]; Supplemental
Nutrition Assistance Program; Nutrition Assistance for Puerto
Rico; the Commodity Assistance Program, including the Commodity
Supplemental Food Program and the Emergency Food Assistance
Program; and Farmers' Market Nutrition Program and Pacific
Island and Disaster Assistance.
The major objective of Nutrition Programs Administration is
to efficiently and effectively carry out the nutrition
assistance programs mandated by law. This is to be accomplished
by the following: (1) giving clear and consistent guidance and
supervision to State agencies and other cooperators; (2)
assisting the States and other cooperators by providing
program, managerial, financial, and other advice and expertise;
(3) measuring, reviewing, and analyzing the progress being made
toward achieving program objectives; and (4) carrying out
regular staff support functions.
COMMITTEE RECOMMENDATIONS
The Committee recommends an appropriation of $155,000,000
for Nutrition Programs Administration. Included in this amount
is $12,999,000 for payments to the General Services
Administration for rent and for payments to the Department of
Homeland Security for building security activities, which was
previously funded through the Agriculture Buildings and
Facilities and Rental Payments account.
TITLE V
FOREIGN ASSISTANCE AND RELATED PROGRAMS
Foreign Agricultural Service
SALARIES AND EXPENSES
[In thousands of dollars]
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Transfers from
Appropriations loan accounts Total
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Appropriations, 2014......................................... 177,863 6,394 184,257
Budget estimate, 2015........................................ 182,563 6,394 188,957
Committee recommendation..................................... 182,797 6,394 189,191
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
The Foreign Agricultural Service [FAS] was established
March 10, 1953, by Secretary's Memorandum No. 1320, supplement
1. Public Law 83-690, approved August 28, 1954, transferred the
agricultural attaches from the Department of State to the
Foreign Agricultural Service.
The mission of FAS overseas is to represent U.S.
agricultural interests, to promote export of domestic farm
products, improve world trade conditions, and report on
agricultural production and trade in foreign countries. FAS
staff are stationed at 98 offices around the world where they
provide expertise in agricultural economics and marketing, as
well as provide attache services.
FAS carries out several export assistance programs to
counter the adverse effects of unfair trade practices by
competitors on U.S. agricultural trade. The Export Enhancement
Program uses CCC-owned commodities as export bonuses to provide
export enhancements to U.S. producers. The Market Access
Program [MAP] conducts both generic and brand-identified
promotional programs in conjunction with nonprofit agricultural
associations and private firms financed through reimbursable
CCC payments.
The General Sales Manager was established pursuant to
section 5(f) of the charter of the Commodity Credit Corporation
and 15 U.S.C. 714-714p. The funds allocated to the General
Sales Manager are used for conducting the following programs:
(1) CCC Export Credit Guarantee Program (GSM-102), including
facilities financing guarantees; (2) Food for Peace; (3)
section 416b Overseas Donations Program; (4) Market Access
Program; and (5) programs authorized by the Commodity Credit
Corporation Charter Act including barter, export sales of most
CCC-owned commodities, export payments, and other programs as
assigned to encourage and enhance the export of U.S.
agricultural commodities.
COMMITTEE RECOMMENDATIONS
The Committee recommends $189,191,000 for the Foreign
Agricultural Service, including a direct appropriation of
$182,797,000. Included in this amount is $1,140,000 for
payments to the General Services Administration for rent and
for payments to the Department of Homeland Security for
building security activities, which was previously funded
through the Agriculture Buildings and Facilities and Rental
Payments account. While the Committee has a history of
supporting USDA reconstruction and stabilization activities,
the Committee expects appropriated funds to be used for
established FAS trade promotion, trade policy, trade capacity
building, and food security efforts.
Borlaug Fellows Program.--The Committee recommendation
includes $1,500,000 for the Borlaug International Agricultural
Science and Technology Fellows Program. This program provides
training for international scientists and policymakers from
selected developing countries. The fellows work closely with
U.S. specialists in their fields of expertise and apply that
knowledge in their home countries. The Committee recognizes the
importance of this program in helping developing countries
strengthen their agricultural practices and food security.
Cochran Fellowship Program.--The Committee recommendation
includes $5,300,000 for the Cochran Fellowship Program. The
Committee encourages the Secretary to continue to provide
additional support for the program through the Commodity Credit
Corporation Emerging Markets Program.
Foreign Market Development Cooperator Program.--The
Committee expects the FAS to fund the Foreign Market
Development Cooperator Program.
Market Access Program.--The Committee continues the full
mandatory funding for the Market Access Program and expects the
Department to administer the program as authorized in 7 U.S.C.
5623, without changing the eligibility requirements for
participation of cooperative organizations, small businesses,
trade associations, and other entities.
FOOD FOR PEACE TITLE I DIRECT CREDIT AND FOOD FOR PROGRESS PROGRAM
ACCOUNT
Appropriations, 2014.................................... $2,735,000
Budget estimate, 2015................................... 2,528,000
Committee recommendation................................ 2,528,000
COMMITTEE RECOMMENDATIONS
The Committee recommends an appropriation of $2,528,000 for
administrative expenses to continue servicing existing Food for
Peace title I agreements.
FOOD FOR PEACE TITLE II GRANTS
Appropriations, 2014.................................... $1,466,000,000
Budget estimate, 2015................................... 1,400,000,000
Committee recommendation................................ 1,466,000,000
Commodities Supplied in Connection With Dispositions Abroad
(Title II) (7 U.S.C. 1721-1726).--Commodities are supplied
without cost through foreign governments to combat malnutrition
and to meet famine and other emergency requirements.
Commodities are also supplied for nonemergencies through public
and private agencies, including intergovernmental
organizations. The Commodity Credit Corporation pays ocean
freight on shipments under this title, and may also pay
overland transportation costs to a landlocked country, as well
as internal distribution costs in emergency situations. The
funds appropriated for title II are made available to private
voluntary organizations and cooperatives to assist these
organizations in meeting administrative and related costs.
COMMITTEE RECOMMENDATIONS
The Committee recommends an appropriation of $1,466,000,000
for Food for Peace title II grants.
MCGOVERN-DOLE INTERNATIONAL FOOD FOR EDUCATION AND CHILD NUTRITION
PROGRAM GRANTS
Appropriations, 2014.................................... $185,126,000
Budget estimate, 2015................................... 185,126,000
Committee recommendation................................ 185,126,000
The McGovern-Dole International Food for Education and
Child Nutrition Program helps support education, child
development, and food security for some of the world's poorest
children. The program provides for donations of U.S.
agricultural products, as well as financial and technical
assistance, for school feeding and maternal and child nutrition
projects in low-income, food-deficit countries that are
committed to universal education. Commodities made available
for donation through agreements with private voluntary
organizations, cooperatives, intergovernmental organizations,
and foreign governments may be donated for direct feeding or
for local sale to generate proceeds to support school feeding
and nutrition projects.
COMMITTEE RECOMMENDATIONS
The Committee recommends an appropriation of $185,126,000
for the McGovern-Dole International Food for Education and
Child Nutrition Program.
COMMODITY CREDIT CORPORATION EXPORT LOANS PROGRAM ACCOUNT (EXPORT CREDIT
PROGRAMS AND GSM-102)
[In thousands of dollars]
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Guaranteed loan Administrative
levels expenses
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Appropriations, 2014.................. 5,500,000 6,748
Budget estimate, 2015................. 5,500,000 6,748
Committee recommendation.............. 5,500,000 6,748
------------------------------------------------------------------------
In 1980, the Commodity Credit Corporation [CCC] instituted
the Export Credit Guarantee Program (GSM-102) under its charter
authority. With this program, CCC guarantees, for a fee,
payments due U.S. exporters under deferred payment sales
contracts (up to 36 months) for defaults due to commercial as
well as noncommercial risks. The risk to CCC extends from the
date of export to the end of the deferred payment period
covered in the export sales contract and covers only that
portion of the payments agreed to in the assurance agreement.
Operation of this program is based on criteria which will
assure that it is used only where it is determined that it will
develop new market opportunities and maintain and expand
existing world markets for U.S. agricultural commodities. The
program encourages U.S. financial institutions to provide
financing to those areas where the institutions would be
unwilling to provide financing in the absence of the CCC
guarantees. CCC also provides facilities financing guarantees.
The Federal Credit Reform Act of 1990 establishes the
program account. The subsidy costs of the CCC export guarantee
programs are exempt from the requirement of advance
appropriations of budget authority according to section
504(c)(2) of the Federal Credit Reform Act of 1990, Public Law
101-508. Appropriations to this account will be used for
administrative expenses.
TITLE VI
RELATED AGENCY AND FOOD AND DRUG ADMINISTRATION
Department of Health and Human Services
FOOD AND DRUG ADMINISTRATION
The Food and Drug Administration [FDA] is a scientific
regulatory agency whose mission is to promote and protect the
public health and safety of Americans. FDA's work is a blend of
science and law. The Food and Drug Administration Amendments
Act of 2007 [FDAAA] (Public Law 110-85) reaffirmed the
responsibilities of the FDA: to ensure safe and effective
products reach the market in a timely way, and to monitor
products for continued safety while they are in use. In
addition, FDA is entrusted with two critical functions in the
Nation's war on terrorism: preventing willful contamination of
all regulated products, including food, and improving the
availability of medications to prevent or treat injuries caused
by biological, chemical, radiological, or nuclear agents.
The FDA Foods program has the primary responsibility for
assuring that the food supply, quality of foods, food
ingredients and dietary supplements are safe, sanitary,
nutritious, wholesome, and honestly labeled, and that cosmetic
products are safe and properly labeled. The variety and
complexity of the food supply has grown dramatically while new
and more complex safety issues, such as emerging microbial
pathogens, natural toxins, and technological innovations in
production and processing, have developed. This program plays a
major role in keeping the United States food supply among the
safest in the world.
In January 2011, the Food Safety Modernization Act was
signed into law. This law enables FDA to better protect public
health by strengthening the food safety system. It enables FDA
to focus more on preventing food safety and feed problems
rather than relying primarily on reacting to problems after
they occur. The law also provides FDA with new enforcement
authorities designed to achieve higher rates of compliance with
prevention- and risk-based food and feed safety standards and
to better respond to and contain problems when they do occur.
The law also gives FDA important new tools to hold imported
food and feed to the same standards as domestic food and feed
and directs FDA to build an integrated national food safety
system in partnership with State and local authorities.
The FDA Drugs programs are comprised of four separate
areas, Human Drugs, Animal Drugs, Medical Devices and
Biologics. FDA is responsible for the lifecycle of products,
including premarket review and postmarket surveillance of human
and animal drugs, medical devices and biological products to
ensure their safety and effectiveness. For Human Drugs this
includes assuring that all drug products used for the
prevention, diagnosis and treatment of disease are safe and
effective. Additional procedures include the review of
investigational new drug applications; evaluation of market
applications for new and generic drugs, labeling and
composition of prescription and over-the-counter drugs;
monitoring the quality and safety of products manufactured in,
or imported into, the United States; and, regulating the
advertising and promotion of prescription drugs. The Animal
Drugs and Feeds Program ensures only safe and effective
veterinary drugs, intended for the treatment and/or prevention
of diseases in animals and the improved production of food-
producing animals, are approved for marketing.
The FDA Biologics program assures that blood and blood
products, blood test kits, vaccines, and therapeutics are pure,
potent, safe, effective, and properly labeled. The program
inspects blood banks and blood processors, licenses and
inspects firms collecting human source plasma, evaluates and
licenses biologics manufacturing firms and products; lot
releases licensed products; and monitors adverse events
associated with vaccine immunization, blood products, and other
biologics.
The FDA Devices and Radiological program ensures the safety
and effectiveness of medical devices and eliminates unnecessary
human exposure to manmade radiation from medical, occupational,
and consumer products. In addition, the program enforces
quality standards under the Mammography Quality Standards Act
(Public Law 108-365). Medical devices include thousands of
products from thermometers and contact lenses to heart
pacemakers, hearing aids, and MRIs. Radiological products
include items such as microwave ovens and video display
terminals.
FDA's National Center for Toxicological Research in
Jefferson, Arkansas, serves as a specialized resource,
conducting peer-review scientific research that provides the
basis for FDA to make sound science-based regulatory decisions
through its premarket review and postmarket surveillance. The
research is designed to define and understand the biological
mechanisms of action underlying the toxicity of products and
lead to developing methods to improve assessment of human
exposure, susceptibility and risk of those products regulated
by FDA.
In 2009, Congress granted FDA new authority to regulate the
manufacture, distribution, and marketing of tobacco products.
FDA exercises this responsibility by protecting the public
health from the health effects of tobacco, setting scientific
standards and standards for tobacco product review, conducting
compliance activities to enforce its authority over tobacco,
and conducting public education and outreach about the health
effects of tobacco products.
salaries and expenses
[In thousands of dollars]
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Appropriation User fees Total
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Appropriations, 2014......... 2,551,905 1,825,965 4,377,870
Budget estimate, 2015........ 2,575,383 2,161,827 4,737,210
Committee recommendation..... 2,588,536 1,902,324 4,490,860
------------------------------------------------------------------------
committee recommendations
The Committee recommends an appropriation of $2,588,536,000
for FDA salaries and expenses. The Committee also recommends
$798,000,000 in Prescription Drug User Fee Act user fee
collections; $128,282,000 in Medical Device User Fee and
Modernization Act user fee collections; $22,464,000 in Animal
Drug User Fee Act user fee collections; $6,944,000 in Animal
Generic Drug User Fee Act user fee collections; $566,000,000 in
Tobacco Product user fee collections; $312,116,000 in Generic
Drug User Fee Act user fee collections; $21,014,000 in
Biosimilar User Fee Act user fee collections; $5,300,000 in
Voluntary Qualified Importer Program collections; $1,434,000 in
food and feed recall collections; $6,414,000 in food
reinspection collections; $19,705,000 in Mammography Quality
Standards Act fee collections; and $13,651,000 in export and
certification fees, as assumed in the President's budget. The
Committee recommendation includes bill language which prohibits
FDA from developing, establishing, or operating any program of
user fees authorized by 31 U.S.C. 9701.
The Committee recommendation does not include proposed user
fees for food facility registration and inspection, food
import, food contact substance notification, cosmetics, and
international courier imports. None of these user fee proposals
have been authorized by Congress. The Committee will continue
to monitor any action by the appropriate authorizing Committees
regarding these proposed user fees.
For direct appropriations, the Committee recommendation is
consistent with the budget request, including fully funding the
amount requested for implementation of the Food Safety
Modernization Act. In addition, the Committee recommendation
includes a $4,000,000 increase for the National Antimicrobial
Resistance Monitoring System.
The Committee expects FDA to continue all projects,
activities, laboratories, and programs as included in fiscal
year 2014 unless otherwise specified.
The following table reflects the Committee's
recommendations, as compared to the fiscal year 2014 and budget
request levels:
FOOD AND DRUG ADMINISTRATION SALARIES AND EXPENSES
[In thousands of dollars]
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Fiscal year--
---------------------------------- Committee
2014 enacted 2015 request recommendation
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Centers and related field activities:
Foods.................................................... 882,817 903,403 903,403
Center for Food Safety and Applied Nutrition [CFSAN]. 266,408 279,994 279,994
Field Activities..................................... 616,409 623,409 623,409
Human Drugs.............................................. 466,374 479,678 484,223
Center for Drug Evaluation and Research [CDER]....... 339,838 347,513 347,873
Field Activities..................................... 126,536 132,165 136,350
Biologics................................................ 210,928 209,754 209,754
Center for Biologics Evaluation and Research [CBER].. 170,744 169,890 169,890
Field Activities..................................... 40,184 39,864 39,864
Animal Drugs............................................. 141,566 144,577 148,577
Center for Veterinary Medicine [CVM]................. 87,846 90,505 94,505
Field Activities..................................... 53,720 54,072 54,072
Medical and radiological devices......................... 320,825 317,937 317,937
Center for Devices and Radiological Health........... 240,345 238,308 238,308
Field Activities..................................... 80,480 79,629 79,629
National Center for Toxicological Research............... 62,494 58,998 63,331
Other Activities............................................. 172,107 175,360 175,635
Rent and related activities.................................. 132,718 116,340 116,340
Rental Payments to GSA....................................... 162,076 169,336 169,336
--------------------------------------------------
Total, FDA salaries and expenses, new budget authority. 2,551,905 2,575,383 2,588,536
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Abuse Deterrent Drug Development.--The Committee urges FDA
to make faster progress on setting and applying appropriate
regulatory incentives and expectations regarding abuse-
deterrent opioids. This includes finalizing the January 2013
draft guidance on evaluation and labeling of abuse-deterrent
opioids and publishing draft guidance on the assessment of
generic versions of such products. The draft guidance on
generics should include a discussion of whether and in what
circumstances human abuse liability studies will be needed, and
if so, how applicants can ensure that such studies are
acceptable for review by FDA. The Committee further urges FDA
to include, where appropriate, descriptions of studies of a
product's abuse-deterrent properties when a sponsor has not yet
established a claim of abuse deterrence.
Antibiotics.--The Commissioner is urged to devise a
strategy to help ensure the use of medically important
antibiotics in food animals for disease prevention, as defined
in guidance for Industry No. 213, that is judicious and
appropriate. Additionally, the Commissioner is directed to
finalize a Veterinary Feed Directive rule prior to April 1,
2015, and is encouraged to include provisions that provide
adequate assurance that licensed veterinarians will be familiar
with the animals and premises where they are kept when
prescribing medically important antibiotics for use in food
animals.
Artificial Pancreas.--The Committee commends the FDA for
taking critical steps in advancing artificial pancreas systems,
including its recent approval of the threshold suspend system.
The Committee encourages the FDA to continue collaboration with
key stakeholders to ensure that artificial pancreas systems are
further developed, tested and approved, ensuring timely access
to safe and effective systems for patients with type I
diabetes.
Compounding Guidance Documents.--The Committee notes that
the Food and Drug Administration has begun implementing the
Compounding Quality Act by releasing guidances and working to
appoint members to the Pharmacy Compounding Advisory Committee.
The Committee is concerned that the Food and Drug
Administration is not meeting with any stakeholders before
publicly releasing further guidance for public comment. The
Committee directs the Food and Drug Administration to meet with
stakeholders to help inform the implementation of the
Compounding Quality Act to ensure continued access to safe
compounded drugs for which there is a clinical need.
Comprehensive Device Review Assessment.--FDA is directed to
participate in a comprehensive assessment of the process for
the review of device applications conducted by an independent
entity capable of performing technical analysis, management
assessment, and program evaluation for the device review
program. In consultation with FDA and industry, the assessment
should include, but is not limited to, an identification of
process improvements and best practices for conducting
predictable, efficient, and consistent premarket reviews that
meet regulatory review standards; analysis of elements of the
review process to facilitate a more efficient process;
assessment of FDA methods and controls for collecting and
reporting information on premarket review process resource use
and performance; assessment of the effectiveness of FDA's
Reviewer Training Program implementation; and recommendations
for ongoing periodic assessments and any additional, more
detailed or focused program assessments. Following this
assessment, FDA is directed to report to the Committee, within
120 days of the enactment of this act, on the findings of the
assessment and the agency's plan to incorporate those findings
and recommendations, as appropriate, into its management of the
premarket review program.
Counterfeit Products.--The Committee recommendation
includes an increase of $4,820,000 to provide FDA with
additional resources to investigate counterfeit drugs both
within the United States and internationally. These funds will
be used to complete undercover purchases of suspected
counterfeit products for testing; to remove counterfeit
products from the market; and to prosecute criminal actors. The
Committee believes that the growing marketplace for counterfeit
drugs available on the Internet is particularly concerning, and
these funds will allow FDA to enhance its cybercrime program,
which will ultimately allow FDA to seek appropriate criminal
fines and forfeitures, and to protect the public health.
Fixed Dose Combination Drugs.--The Committee applauds the
agency's issuance of draft guidance to promote the development
of fixed combination drug products for critical diseases like
cancer, HIV, global diseases like malaria and tuberculosis, and
against health threats like drug-resistant infections. The
Committee encourages the FDA to finalize the guidance by the
end of this calendar year to facilitate development of new
treatments against serious and life-threatening diseases.
Food Safety Modernization Act.--The Committee notes that
FDA has stated its intent to re-propose certain sections of the
Food Safety Modernization Act proposed rules for produce safety
and preventive controls for human food and animal food because
significant changes are warranted. The Committee is concerned
that the agency only intends to address discrete portions of
these proposed rules. FDA is reminded that the activities
covered by the proposed rules are complex and interrelated and
that the concerns raised by the rules are broader than the
handful of items FDA has announced that it will address. The
agency shall ensure that all Food Safety Modernization Act
regulations are science-based, risk-based, and flexible, taking
into account the different risks posed by different
commodities. For example, the secondary market for spent grains
and byproduct from human food manufacturing and agricultural
practices is an important part of the supply chain for
agricultural producers that reduces waste and produces safe,
cost effective animal feed. FDA should reconsider how its
proposed preventive controls for animal food rule will affect
this relationship and the environment. Additionally, FDA should
take into account the diversity of many integrated livestock
and poultry feeding arrangements, and aquaculture feeding
arrangements, when promulgating the final rule.
Further, FDA is directed to ensure that the public has an
opportunity to review and comment on all preventive controls
for human food requirements, accompanied by an economic
analysis, including such elements as supplier verification,
environmental monitoring, and verification testing of products
in the form of a proposed rule, not an interim final or final
rule. FDA should allow flexibility in the location and
frequency of verification testing. The Committee strongly
encourages the agency to re-propose the produce safety and
preventive controls for human and animal food rules in their
entirety so stakeholders may comment on the agency's proposals
as a whole.
Food Safety Outreach and Technical Assistance.--As FDA
implements the requirements of the Food Safety Modernization
Act [FSMA], it is critical that the agency work with USDA to
perform outreach and technical assistance to farmers and small
businesses to help them understand FSMA requirements and
resources available to help with FSMA compliance as rules are
developed and implemented. The Committee recommendation
includes $2,500,000 for the National Institute of Food and
Agriculture to conduct extension activities related to FSMA, as
requested in the budget.
Global Drug Supply Chain.--FDA is directed to ensure that
adequate resources are dedicated to the Office Global
Regulatory Operations and Policy and the Center for Drug
Evaluation and Research to advance the agency's strategic
priority of strengthening the safety and integrity of the
global drug supply chain. In order to advance this initiative,
resources should be dedicated to FDA's international leadership
to combat threats to global health and the global drug supply
chain from counterfeit medicines; promote regulatory
convergence and the harmonization of international standards
that will strengthen global drug supply chain security; and
build upon and achieve key goals as articulated in FDA's
reports on Global Engagement and the Pathway to Global Product
Safety and Quality. As part of this effort, funding and
personnel should be dedicated to advance the success of key
efforts, including the FDA-championed Global Road Map on
Medical Product Quality and Supply Chain Integrity under the
Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation Regulatory Harmonization
Steering Committee which will require FDA's continued
leadership to ensure its success and tangible outcomes. In
addition, adequate resources should be dedicated to FDA's work
to improve policy, international cooperation, and enforcement
collaboration related to the Internet and the unprecedented
growth in illegal drug sales via the Internet, including the
online trade of counterfeit, adulterated, misbranded, and
unapproved drugs.
Import Shipments.--The Commissioner is encouraged to ensure
that sufficient FDA personnel are available to clear shipments
expeditiously at the time of their arrival at the port of
entry, including outside normal working hours and on holidays.
The Commissioner is further encouraged to work to develop a
process by which shipments from highly compliant importers may
be released with minimal administrative disruption. Recognizing
that FDA has a responsibility to ensure legitimate trade is
cleared rapidly and that compliant shipments are not unduly
detained, FDA is directed to provide two reports to the
Committees on Appropriations, the first 6 months after the
enactment of this act, and the second in 6 additional months.
These reports shall provide information on the number of
shipments being identified for FDA examination as a percentage
of all shipments subject to FDA regulatory review and the
number of violative products detained as a percentage of those
being held.
Inclusion in Clinical Trials.--Research has shown that
gender differences, as well as differences based on age, race,
or other factors, may contribute to differences in the safety
and efficacy of drugs, biologics, and devices. The Committee
directs FDA to encourages diverse participation, including
women, racial and ethnic minorities, and the elderly, to help
assure that clinical trials are representative of those
individuals who ultimately will use these medical products, and
that the products will be safe and effective for people in
these demographic subgroups. The Committee urges the FDA to
issue the Action Plan required by section 907 of the Food and
Drug Administration Safety and Innovation Act and provide a
timeline for implementation of the actions FDA will take, in
cooperation with industry stakeholders, to ensure that women,
minorities, and others are appropriately represented in
clinical research, that meaningful subgroup analyses of
clinical trials are conducted, and that subgroup specific
clinical trial results are made publically available in an
accessible and timely manner.
Mammography Quality Standards Act.--The Committee
recommendation includes full funding as requested for
implementation of the Mammography Quality Standards Act. This
program sets national quality standards for mammography
facilities, equipment, personnel and operating procedures, and
has improved the quality of mammography and made mammograms a
more reliable tool to detect breast cancers.
Nanotechnology.--The Committee recognizes the increased
capabilities that FDA has developed to study environment,
health, and safety of nanomaterials within FDA's Jefferson
Laboratory Campus, including the National Center for
Toxicological Research, and its consolidated headquarters at
White Oak, Maryland. The Committee expects FDA to continue to
support collaborative research with universities and industry
on the toxicology of nanotechnology products and processes in
accordance with the National Nanotechnology Initiative
Environment, Health, and Safety Research Strategy as updated in
October 2011.
Office of Cosmetics and Colors.--The Committee
recommendation includes not less than $11,700,000 for cosmetics
activities, including not less than $7,200,000 for the Office
of Colors and Cosmetics [OCAC]. Funding provided for OCAC is
for direct support of the operation, staffing, compliance,
research and international activities performed by this office.
The Committee notes that every year since fiscal year 2012, it
has requested that OCAC respond to a citizen petition setting
safety levels for trace amount of lead in cosmetics. The
Committee is disappointed that OCAC has not responded to these
requests and urges OCAC to make this a priority. Therefore, the
Committee directs the Office of Colors and Cosmetics to respond
to the petition by March 15, 2015. Additionally, in light of
China's importance to U.S.-based manufacturers and consumers,
the Committee directs FDA establish a bilateral technical
dialogue with Chinese regulators. The Committee directs FDA to
promote international regulatory harmonization and trade in
cosmetic products by supporting international trade
negotiations on cosmetics in bilateral and multilateral trade
agreements.
Oversight Activities.--The Committee notes that over the
past 5 years FDA's responsibilities have grown significantly
and resources available to the agency have increased more than
60 percent. The Committee is concerned that oversight of FDA
has not kept pace with the growth in the agency's regulatory
authority or funding. Therefore, the Committee recommendation
includes $1,500,000 for the HHS Office of Inspector General
specifically for oversight of FDA activities. The funding
provided under this appropriation is in addition to FDA
oversight activities supported within the Inspector General's
regular appropriation. The Committee instructs the Inspector
General to submit a plan, within 60 days of the enactment of
this act, on the additional oversight activities planned with
this funding.
Pediatric Device Consortia Grants.--The Committee is
pleased that the nine FDA-funded Pediatric Device Consortia
have assisted in advancing the development of 324 proposed
pediatric medical devices since its inception in 2009, as well
as promoting job-growth in the healthcare sector, and as such,
continues to support this critical effort. The program funds
consortia to assist innovators in developing medical and
surgical devices designed for the unique needs of children,
needs that often go unmet by devices currently available on the
market. However, the Committee remains concerned that
children's medical devices continue to lag behind those
manufactured for adults and directs the FDA to fund the program
at the levels authorized by the Food and Drug Safety and
Innovation Act of 2012 (Public Law 112-144).
Prescription Drug Inserts.--The Committee is aware that FDA
is considering regulatory changes that could eliminate printed
professional inserts for prescription drugs. A July 2013 GAO
report on the topic concluded that while there were potential
public health benefits associated with electronic drug
labeling, relying exclusively on electronic labeling could
disadvantage physicians, pharmacists, other healthcare
providers, and ultimately patients, potentially adversely
impacting public health. Therefore, the Committee directs FDA
to ensure that any proposed regulation regarding electronic
inserts of drug labeling does not come in lieu of paper
inserts.
Seafood Advisory.--The Committee is concerned that after
many years, the FDA has not published an updated advice on
seafood consumption for pregnant women, mothers and children.
The Committee directs the FDA to publish final advice to
pregnant women on seafood consumption in conjunction with all
applicable parties as directed in House Report 112-101 and
Senate Report 112-73 by June 30, 2014.
Seafood Economic Integrity.--The Committee recognizes the
importance of seafood to a healthy diet, but is concerned that
the FDA does not focus sufficient attention on economic
integrity issues, particularly with respect to mislabeling of
species, weights, and treatment. The Committee encourages the
FDA to work with States and the Department of Commerce to more
aggressively combat fraud in parts of the seafood industry.
Shellfish Embargo.--As a result of a dispute over
sanitation protocols, the European Union imposed a retaliatory
ban on U.S. shellfish in July 2010, depriving U.S. shellfish
growers of a lucrative market. The Committee is concerned that,
in nearly 4 years, a resolution has not been achieved. The
Committee recommends that the FDA continue its ongoing
consultation with the U.S. Trade Representative [USTR] to
address the issue as expeditiously as possible. The FDA is also
directed to provide a report to the Committee on this issue
within 100 days.
Special Protocol Assessment.--The Committee is aware that
questions have arisen in connection with the rescission of a
Special Protocol Assessment [SPA] Agreement. While FDA can
rescind a SPA agreement reached under section 505(b)(5)(C) of
the Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act if certain requirements are
met, the Committee expects that FDA should be accountable for
continued diligence in in identifying issues that bear on a SPA
agreement and in notifying the sponsor of such issues within a
reasonable period of time after FDA becomes aware. To ensure
clarity over the standard to rescind a SPA agreement, the
Committee encourages FDA to revise and re-issue, after public
comment, its existing guidance regarding SPA agreements,
including the statutory standards associated with the
rescission of such agreements.
Sunscreen Labeling Regulations.--The Committee is pleased
that FDA finalized regulations establishing significant new
labeling and testing requirements for products marketed under
FDA's monograph for over-the-counter sunscreen drug products.
The Committee directs the FDA to finalize its proposed rule
limiting the maximum Sun Protection Factor [SPF] to ``50'' or
``50+'' and issue a proposed rule to establish testing and
labeling standards for sunscreen sprays.
User Fees.--The Committee notes that the restoration in
fiscal year 2014 of user fees sequestered in fiscal year 2013
was to be used by FDA to mitigate the impact of the sequester
on the user fee programs. This includes the hiring of new
staff, and FDA initiatives supported by PDUFA user fees,
including the regulatory science activities as outlined in
sections IX, X, and XI of the PDUFA Reauthorization Performance
Goals and Procedures Fiscal Years 2013 Through 2017. The
Committee requests that FDA provide a detailed financial
summary for the restored fiscal year 2013 PDUFA user fees;
identify funding spent to date; and a detailed plan for the
allocation of the remaining funds. Specifically, the Committee
requests that FDA identify and report to the Committee an
itemized accounting of any and all funds expended for each of
the regulatory science activities as outlined in sections IX,
X, and XI of the PDUFA V Performance Goals and provide a plan
for how the PDUFA user fees will be allocated for each such
activity through fiscal year 2017.
White Oak Consolidation.--The Commissioner is directed to
identify in FDA's fiscal year 2016 budget justification the
funding level that is necessary to complete Phase II and Phase
III of the White Oak Consolidation. Additionally, the Committee
expects FDA to provide a justification and spending plan in
subsequent budget requests for completion of both Phase II and
Phase III of the White Oak Consolidation.
buildings and facilities
Appropriations, 2014.................................... $8,788,000
Budget estimate, 2015................................... 8,788,000
Committee recommendation................................ 8,788,000
FDA maintains offices and staff in 49 States and in the
District of Columbia and Puerto Rico, including field
laboratories and specialized facilities, as well as the
National Center for Toxicological Research complex. Repairs,
modifications, improvements, and construction to FDA
headquarters and field facilities must be made to preserve the
properties, ensure employee safety, meet changing program
requirements, and permit the agency to keep its laboratory
methods up to date.
committee recommendations
The Committee recommends an appropriation of $8,788,000 for
FDA buildings and facilities. This funding shall be used to
upgrade FDA facilities and laboratories which are currently
below public safety standards and incapable of performing
agency requirements.
INDEPENDENT AGENCY
Farm Credit Administration
limitation on administrative expenses
Appropriations, 2014.................................... $62,600,000
Budget estimate, 2015................................... 65,100,000
Committee recommendation................................ 65,100,000
The Farm Credit Administration [FCA] is the independent
agency in the executive branch of the Government responsible
for the examination and regulation of the banks, associations,
and other institutions of the Farm Credit System.
Activities of the Farm Credit Administration include the
planning and execution of examinations of Farm Credit System
institutions and the preparation of examination reports. FCA
also promulgates regulations, establishes standards, enforces
rules and regulations, and approves certain actions of the
institutions.
The administration and the institutions under its
jurisdiction now operate under authorities contained in the
Farm Credit Act of 1971, Public Law 92-181, effective December
10, 1971. Public Law 99-205, effective December 23, 1985,
restructured FCA and gave the agency regulatory authorities and
enforcement powers.
The act provides for the farmer-owned cooperative system to
make sound, adequate, and constructive credit available to
farmers and ranchers and their cooperatives, rural residences,
and associations and other entities upon which farming
operations are dependent, and to modernize existing farm credit
law to meet current and future rural credit needs.
The Agricultural Credit Act of 1987 authorized the
formation of the Federal Agricultural Mortgage Corporation
[FAMC] to operate a secondary market for agricultural and rural
housing mortgages. The Farm Credit Administration, under
section 8.11 of the Farm Credit Act of 1971, as amended, is
assigned the responsibility of regulating this entity and
assuring its safe and sound operation.
Expenses of the Farm Credit Administration are paid by
assessments collected from the Farm Credit System institutions
and by assessments to the Federal Agricultural Mortgage
Corporation.
committee recommendations
The Committee recommends a limitation of $65,100,000 on
administrative expenses of the Farm Credit Administration.
Annual Report.--The Committee recognizes the importance of
the Farm Credit System in agricultural finance, including
lending to beginning farmers and ranchers and to farmers and
ranchers utilizing local and regional food markets. The
Committee encourages the Farm Credit Administration to provide
to the Committee an annual report with data and analysis of the
operations and achievements of the Farm Credit System in
providing financial and other forms of support for farms and
ranches serving emerging local and regional food markets,
including but not limited to beginning farmers and ranchers.
TITLE VII
GENERAL PROVISIONS
The Committee recommends the following provisions:
Section 701. This section makes funds available for the
purchase, replacement, and hire of passenger motor vehicles.
Section 702. This section gives the Secretary of
Agriculture authority to transfer unobligated balances to the
Working Capital Fund and clarifies longstanding practices
associated with the Fund.
Section 703. This section limits the funding provided in
the bill to 1 year, unless otherwise specified.
Section 704. This section limits negotiated indirect costs
on cooperative agreements between the Department of Agriculture
and nonprofit organizations to 10 percent.
Section 705. This section makes appropriations to the
Department of Agriculture for the cost of direct guaranteed
loans available until expended to disburse obligations for
certain Rural Development programs.
Section 706. This section prohibits the purchase of new
information technology equipment in excess of $25,000 without
the prior approval of the Chief Information Officer.
Section 707. This section makes funds for certain
conservation programs available until expended to disburse
certain obligations made in the current fiscal year.
Section 708. This section makes certain former Rural
Utilities Service borrowers eligible for the Rural Economic
Development loan and grant program.
Section 709. This section includes language regarding a
limitation of funds.
Section 710. This section provides funds for Rural
Development and the Farm Service Agency information technology
expenses.
Section 711. This section includes language regarding
reconstituted infant formula.
Section 712. This section includes language regarding
first-class travel.
Section 713. This section includes language regarding the
Commodity Credit Corporation.
Section 714. This section limits the amount of funding
available to reimburse the Commodity Credit Corporation for the
release of commodities under the Bill Emerson Humanitarian
Trust.
Section 715. This section makes funds available for the
expenses and activities of certain advisory committees, panels,
commissions, and task forces at the Department of Agriculture.
Section 716. This section includes language regarding the
limitation on direct costs for grants awarded by the National
Institute of Food and Agriculture.
Section 717. This section includes language regarding loan
levels.
Section 718. This section includes language regarding the
availability of funds for certain Department of Agriculture
programs.
Section 719. This section includes language regarding the
availability of funds for certain Department of Agriculture
programs.
Section 720. This section prohibits the use of funds for
user fee proposals that fail to provide sufficient budget
impact information.
Section 721. This section prohibits the reprogramming of
funds for programs, projects, or activities in excess of
$500,000 or 10 percent, whichever is less without the prior
notification of the Committee on Appropriations.
Section 722. This section includes language for the
establishment of a fee under the business and industry loan
program.
Section 723. This section prohibits the Department of
Agriculture and the Department of Health and Human Services
from transmitting questions or responses as a result of the
appropriations hearing process to non-Department employees.
Section 724. This section includes language regarding
prepackaged news.
Section 725. This section requires Department of
Agriculture agencies to provide reimbursement to other
Department of Agriculture agencies for employees detailed for
longer than 30 days.
Section 726. This section provides funding for the
Geographically Disadvantaged Farmers Program.
Section 727. This section provides funding to carry out a
program for hardwood trees.
Section 728. This section includes language regarding
spending plans.
Section 729. This section includes language regarding the
guaranteed single family housing program.
Section 730. This section includes language regarding the
Water Bank Program.
Section 731. This section includes language regarding
conferences.
Section 732. This section includes language regarding the
Department of Health and Human Services.
Section 733. This section includes language regarding Rural
Economic Area Partnership Zones.
Section 734. This section includes language regarding the
Emergency Community Water Assistance Grant Program.
Section 735. This section includes language regarding the
Food Safety and Inspection Service.
Section 736. This section includes language regarding
housing programs.
Section 737. This section includes language regarding
nonrecurring expenses.
Section 738. This section includes language regarding
emergency spending.
Section 739. This section includes language regarding milk
marketing orders.
Section 740. This section includes language regarding
official portraits.
Section 741. This section includes language regarding rural
housing loans.
Section 742. This section includes language regarding
travel.
Section 743. This section includes a rescission of funds.
PROGRAM, PROJECT, AND ACTIVITY
During fiscal year 2015, for purposes of the Balanced
Budget and Emergency Deficit Control Act of 1985 (Public Law
99-177) or the Balanced Budget and Emergency Deficit Control
Reaffirmation Act of 1987 (Public Law 100-119), 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, 2015, and the accompanying Senate
Report.
If a sequestration order is necessary, in implementing the
Presidential order, departments and agencies shall apply any
percentage reduction required for fiscal year 2015 pursuant to
the provisions of Public Law 99-177 or Public Law 100-119 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 2015 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.
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, regional, State, district, and county offices.
COMPLIANCE WITH PARAGRAPH 7, RULE XVI OF THE STANDING RULES OF THE
SENATE
Paragraph 7 of rule XVI requires that Committee reports
accompanying general appropriations bills identify each
recommended amendment which proposes an item of appropriation
which is not made to carry out the provisions of an existing
law, a treaty stipulation, or an act or resolution previously
passed by the Senate during that session.
The Committee is filing an original bill, which is not
covered under this rule, but reports this information in the
spirit of full disclosure.
The Committee recommends funding for the following programs
or activities which currently lack authorization for fiscal
year 2015:
Multi-family Housing Revitalization Program
COMPLIANCE WITH PARAGRAPH 7(c), RULE XXVI OF THE STANDING RULES OF THE
SENATE
Pursuant to paragraph 7(c) of rule XXVI, on May 22, 2014,
the Committee ordered favorably reported en bloc a bill (H.R.
4486) making appropriations for military construction, the
Department of Veterans Affairs, and related agencies for the
fiscal year ending September 30, 2015, and for other purposes,
with an amendment in the nature of a substitute and an original
bill making appropriations for Agriculture, Rural Development,
Food and Drug Administration, and Related Agencies programs for
the fiscal year ending September 30, 2015, and for other
purposes, provided, that the bills be subject to amendment (or
further amendment) and that the bills be consistent with the
subcommittee allocations, by a recorded vote of 30-0, a quorum
being present. The vote was as follows:
Yeas Nays
Chairwoman Mikulski
Mr. Leahy
Mr. Harkin
Mrs. Murray
Mrs. Feinstein
Mr. Durbin
Mr. Johnson
Ms. Landrieu
Mr. Reed
Mr. Pryor
Mr. Tester
Mr. Udall
Mrs. Shaheen
Mr. Merkley
Mr. Begich
Mr. Coons
Mr. Shelby
Mr. Cochran
Mr. McConnell
Mr. Alexander
Ms. Collins
Ms. Murkowski
Mr. Graham
Mr. Kirk
Mr. Coats
Mr. Blunt
Mr. Moran
Mr. Hoeven
Mr. Johanns
Mr. Boozman
COMPLIANCE WITH PARAGRAPH 12, RULE XXVI OF THE STANDING RULES OF THE
SENATE
Paragraph 12 of rule XXVI requires that Committee reports
on a bill or joint resolution repealing or amending any statute
or part of any statute include ``(a) the text of the statute or
part thereof which is proposed to be repealed; and (b) a
comparative print of that part of the bill or joint resolution
making the amendment and of the statute or part thereof
proposed to be amended, showing by stricken-through type and
italics, parallel columns, or other appropriate typographical
devices the omissions and insertions which would be made by the
bill or joint resolution if enacted in the form recommended by
the committee.''
The Committee bill as recommended contains no such
provisions.
BUDGETARY IMPACT OF BILL
PREPARED IN CONSULTATION WITH THE CONGRESSIONAL BUDGET OFFICE PURSUANT TO SEC. 308(a), PUBLIC LAW 93-344, AS
AMENDED
[In millions of dollars]
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Budget authority Outlays
-------------------------------------------------------
Committee Amount in Committee Amount in
allocation bill allocation bill
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Comparison of amounts in the bill with the subcommittee
allocation for 2015: Subcommittee on Agriculture, Rural
Development, Food and Drug Administration, and Related
Agencies:
Mandatory........................................... 114,937 114,937 107,310 \1\107,310
Discretionary....................................... 20,575 20,675 21,833 \1\21,649
Security........................................ ............ ............ ............ NA
Nonsecurity..................................... 20,575 20,675 ............ NA
Projections of outlays associated with the
recommendation:
2015................................................ ............ ............ ............ \2\114,734
2016................................................ ............ ............ ............ 4,627
2017................................................ ............ ............ ............ 1,048
2018................................................ ............ ............ ............ 403
2019 and future years............................... ............ ............ ............ 349
Financial assistance to State and local governments for NA 38,923 NA 32,858
2015...................................................
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
\1\Includes outlays from prior-year budget authority.
\2\Excludes outlays from prior-year budget authority.
NA: Not applicable.
Consistent with the funding recommended in the bill for disaster funding and in accordance with section
251(b)(2)(D) of the BBEDCA, the Committee anticipates that the Budget Committee will file a revised section
302(a) allocation for the Committee on Appropriations reflecting an upward adjustment of $100,000,000 in
budget authority plus associated outlays.
COMPARATIVE STATEMENT OF NEW BUDGET (OBLIGATIONAL) AUTHORITY FOR FISCAL YEAR 2014 AND BUDGET ESTIMATES AND AMOUNTS RECOMMENDED IN THE BILL FOR FISCAL
YEAR 2015
[In thousands of dollars]
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Senate Committee recommendation
compared with (+ or -)
Item 2014 Budget estimate Committee ---------------------------------
appropriation recommendation 2014
appropriation Budget estimate
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
TITLE I--AGRICULTURAL PROGRAMS
Production, Processing, and Marketing
Office of the Secretary
Office of the Secretary............................................ 5,051 5,086 5,086 +35 ...............
Office of Tribal Relations......................................... 498 502 502 +4 ...............
Office of Homeland Security and Emergency Coordination............. 1,496 1,507 1,507 +11 ...............
Office of Advocacy and Outreach.................................... 1,209 1,217 1,217 +8 ...............
Office of the Assistant Secretary for Administration............... 804 809 809 +5 ...............
Departmental Administration........................................ 22,786 25,661 25,311 +2,525 -350
Office of the Assistant Secretary for Congressional Relations...... 3,869 3,897 3,897 +28 ...............
Office of Communications........................................... 8,065 8,137 8,137 +72 ...............
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Total, Office of the Secretary............................... 43,778 46,816 46,466 +2,688 -350
====================================================================================
Executive Operations:
Office of the Chief Economist.................................. 16,777 16,854 16,854 +77 ...............
National Appeals Division...................................... 12,841 13,430 13,430 +589 ...............
Office of Budget and Program Analysis.......................... 9,064 10,292 9,305 +241 -987
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Subtotal, Executive Operations............................... 38,682 40,576 39,589 +907 -987
Office of the Chief Information Officer............................ 44,031 45,199 45,199 +1,168 ...............
Office of the Chief Financial Officer.............................. 6,213 6,080 6,080 -133 ...............
Office of the Assistant Secretary for Civil Rights................. 893 898 898 +5 ...............
Office of Civil Rights............................................. 21,400 24,236 24,236 +2,836 ...............
Agriculture buildings and facilities and rental payments........... (233,000) (64,825) (64,844) (-168,156) (+19)
Payments to GSA................................................ 164,470 ............... ............... -164,470 ...............
Department of Homeland Security................................ 13,800 ............... ............... -13,800 ...............
Building operations and maintenance............................ 54,730 64,825 64,844 +10,114 +19
Hazardous materials management..................................... 3,592 3,600 3,600 +8 ...............
Office of Inspector General........................................ 89,902 97,240 97,240 +7,338 ...............
Office of the General Counsel...................................... 41,202 47,567 47,567 +6,365 ...............
Office of Ethics................................................... 3,440 3,867 3,867 +427 ...............
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Total, Departmental Administration........................... 526,133 380,904 379,586 -146,547 -1,318
====================================================================================
Office of the Under Secretary for Research, Education, and 893 898 898 +5 ...............
Economics.........................................................
Economic Research Service.......................................... 78,058 83,446 85,373 +7,315 +1,927
====================================================================================
National Agricultural Statistics Service........................... 161,206 178,999 178,154 +16,948 -845
Census of Agriculture.......................................... (44,545) (48,044) (48,044) (+3,499) ...............
Agricultural Research Service:
Salaries and expenses.......................................... 1,122,482 1,104,403 1,139,673 +17,191 +35,270
National Institute of Food and Agriculture:
Research and education activities.............................. 772,559 837,747 787,545 +14,986 -50,202
Native American Institutions Endowment Fund.................... (11,880) (11,880) (11,880) ............... ...............
Hispanic-Serving Agricultural Colleges and Universities ............... (10,000) (10,000) (+10,000) ...............
Endowment Fund................................................
Extension activities........................................... 469,191 468,968 472,686 +3,495 +3,718
Integrated activities.......................................... 35,317 28,821 32,217 -3,100 +3,396
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Total, National Institute of Food and Agriculture............ 1,277,067 1,335,536 1,292,448 +15,381 -43,088
====================================================================================
Office of the Under Secretary for Marketing and Regulatory Programs 893 898 898 +5 ...............
Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service:
Salaries and expenses.......................................... 821,721 834,341 872,414 +50,693 +38,073
Buildings and facilities....................................... 3,175 3,175 3,175 ............... ...............
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Total, Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service............ 824,896 837,516 875,589 +50,693 +38,073
====================================================================================
Agricultural Marketing Service:
Marketing Services............................................. 79,914 82,963 81,634 +1,720 -1,329
Standardization activities (user fees) NA.................. (64,000) (64,000) ............... (-64,000) (-64,000)
(Limitation on administrative expenses, from fees collected)... (60,435) (60,709) (60,709) (+274) ...............
Funds for strengthening markets, income, and supply (Section
32):
Permanent, Section 32...................................... 1,107,000 1,122,000 1,122,000 +15,000 ...............
Marketing agreements and orders (transfer from section (20,056) (20,317) (20,317) (+261) ...............
32)...................................................
Payments to States and Possessions............................. 1,363 1,235 1,363 ............... +128
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Total, Agricultural Marketing Service program................ 1,248,712 1,266,907 1,265,706 +16,994 -1,201
====================================================================================
Grain Inspection, Packers and Stockyards Administration:
Salaries and expenses.......................................... 40,261 44,017 44,017 +3,756 ...............
Limitation on inspection and weighing services................. (50,000) (50,000) (50,000) ............... ...............
Office of the Under Secretary for Food Safety...................... 811 816 816 +5 ...............
Food Safety and Inspection Service................................. 1,010,689 1,001,402 1,022,770 +12,081 +21,368
Lab accreditation fees......................................... (1,000) (1,000) (1,000) ............... ...............
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Total, Production, Processing, and Marketing................. 6,231,666 6,175,033 6,225,219 -6,447 +50,186
====================================================================================
Farm Assistance Programs
Office of the Under Secretary for Farm and Foreign Agricultural 893 898 898 +5 ...............
Services..........................................................
Farm Service Agency:
Salaries and expenses.......................................... 1,177,926 1,139,323 1,182,544 +4,618 +43,221
(Transfer from Food for Peace (Public Law 480))................ (2,735) (2,528) (2,528) (-207) ...............
(Transfer from export loans)................................... (354) (354) (354) ............... ...............
(Transfer from ACIF)........................................... (306,998) (306,998) (306,998) ............... ...............
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Subtotal, transfers from program accounts.................... (310,087) (309,880) (309,880) (-207) ...............
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Total, Salaries and expenses................................. (1,488,013) (1,449,203) (1,492,424) (+4,411) (+43,221)
====================================================================================
State mediation grants......................................... 3,782 3,404 3,404 -378 ...............
Grassroots source water protection program..................... 5,526 ............... 6,500 +974 +6,500
Dairy indemnity program........................................ 250 ............... 500 +250 +500
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Subtotal, Farm Service Agency................................ 1,187,484 1,142,727 1,192,948 +5,464 +50,221
====================================================================================
Agricultural Credit Insurance Fund [ACIF] Program Account:
Loan authorizations:
Farm ownership loans:
Direct............................................. (575,000) (1,500,000) (1,500,000) (+925,000) ...............
Guaranteed......................................... (2,000,000) (2,000,000) (2,000,000) ............... ...............
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Subtotal......................................... (2,575,000) (3,500,000) (3,500,000) (+925,000) ...............
Farm operating loans:
Direct............................................. (1,195,620) (1,252,004) (1,252,004) (+56,384) ...............
Unsubsidized guaranteed............................ (1,500,000) (1,393,443) (1,393,443) (-106,557) ...............
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Subtotal......................................... (2,695,620) (2,645,447) (2,645,447) (-50,173) ...............
Emergency loans........................................ (34,658) (34,667) (34,667) (+9) ...............
Indian tribe land acquisition loans.................... (2,000) (2,000) (2,000) ............... ...............
Conservation loans:
Guaranteed......................................... (150,000) (150,000) (150,000) ............... ...............
Indian highly fractionated land loans.................. (10,000) (10,000) (10,000) ............... ...............
Boll weevil eradication loans.......................... (60,000) (60,000) (60,000) ............... ...............
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Total, Loan authorizations........................... (5,527,278) (6,402,114) (6,402,114) (+874,836) ...............
====================================================================================
Loan subsidies:
Farm ownership loans:
Direct............................................. 4,428 ............... ............... -4,428 ...............
Farm operating loans:
Direct............................................. 65,520 63,101 63,101 -2,419 ...............
Unsubsidized guaranteed............................ 18,300 14,770 14,770 -3,530 ...............
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Subtotal......................................... 83,820 77,871 77,871 -5,949 ...............
Emergency Loans........................................ 1,698 856 856 -842 ...............
Indian highly fractionated land loans.................. 68 ............... ............... -68 ...............
Individual development account grants.................. ............... 2,500 2,500 +2,500 ...............
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Total, Loan subsidies................................ 90,014 81,227 81,227 -8,787 ...............
====================================================================================
ACIF administrative expenses:
Salaries and expense (transfer to FSA)................. 306,998 306,998 306,998 ............... ...............
Administrative expenses................................ 7,721 7,920 7,920 +199 ...............
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Total, ACIF expenses................................. 314,719 314,918 314,918 +199 ...............
====================================================================================
Total, Agricultural Credit Insurance Fund............ 404,733 396,145 396,145 -8,588 ...............
(Loan authorization)............................. (5,527,278) (6,402,114) (6,402,114) (+874,836) ...............
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Total, Farm Service Agency........................... 1,592,217 1,538,872 1,589,093 -3,124 +50,221
====================================================================================
Risk Management Agency; Administrative and operating expenses...... 71,496 76,779 76,779 +5,283 ...............
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Total, Farm Assistance Programs.............................. 1,664,606 1,616,549 1,666,770 +2,164 +50,221
====================================================================================
Corporations
Federal Crop Insurance Corporation:
Federal Crop Insurance Corporation Fund........................ 9,502,944 8,668,000 8,668,000 -834,944 ...............
Commodity Credit Corporation Fund:
Reimbursement for net realized losses.......................... 12,538,880 9,067,281 9,067,281 -3,471,599 ...............
Hazardous waste management (limitation on expenses)............ (5,000) (5,000) (5,000) ............... ...............
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Total, Corporations.......................................... 22,041,824 17,735,281 17,735,281 -4,306,543 ...............
====================================================================================
Total, Title I, Agricultural Programs........................ 29,938,096 25,526,863 25,627,270 -4,310,826 +100,407
(By transfer)............................................ (330,143) (330,197) (330,197) (+54) ...............
(Loan authorization)..................................... (5,527,278) (6,402,114) (6,402,114) (+874,836) ...............
(Limitation on administrative expenses).................. (115,435) (115,709) (115,709) (+274) ...............
====================================================================================
TITLE II--CONSERVATION PROGRAMS
Office of the Under Secretary for Natural Resources and Environment 893 898 898 +5 ...............
Natural Resources Conservation Service:
Conservation operations........................................ 812,939 814,772 849,295 +36,356 +34,523
Farm Security and Rural Investment program (transfer ............... (732,819) ............... ............... (-732,819)
authority)................................................
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Total, Public Lands Conservation operations.............. 812,939 1,547,591 849,295 +36,356 -698,296
====================================================================================
Watershed rehabilitation program............................... 12,000 ............... ............... -12,000 ...............
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Total, Natural Resources Conservation Service................ 824,939 814,772 849,295 +24,356 +34,523
====================================================================================
Total, Title II, Conservation Programs....................... 825,832 815,670 850,193 +24,361 +34,523
====================================================================================
TITLE III--RURAL DEVELOPMENT
Office of the Under Secretary for Rural Development................ 893 898 898 +5 ...............
Rural Development:
Rural development expenses:
Salaries and expenses...................................... 203,424 225,101 228,898 +25,474 +3,797
(Transfer from RHIF)....................................... (415,100) (397,296) (415,100) ............... (+17,804)
(Transfer from RDLFP)...................................... (4,439) (4,249) (4,439) ............... (+190)
(Transfer from Healthy Foods, HNI)......................... ............... (750) ............... ............... (-750)
(Transfer from RETLP)...................................... (34,478) (33,000) (34,478) ............... (+1,478)
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Subtotal, Transfers from program accounts................ (454,017) (435,295) (454,017) ............... (+18,722)
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Total, Rural development expenses........................ (657,441) (660,396) (682,915) (+25,474) (+22,519)
====================================================================================
Rural Housing Service:
Rural Housing Insurance Fund Program Account:
Loan authorizations:
Single family direct (Sec. 502)........................ (900,000) (360,000) (900,000) ............... (+540,000)
Unsubsidized guaranteed............................ (24,000,000) (24,000,000) (24,000,000) ............... ...............
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Subtotal, Single family.......................... (24,900,000) (24,360,000) (24,900,000) ............... (+540,000)
Housing repair (Sec. 504).............................. (26,280) (26,279) (26,279) (-1) ...............
Rental housing (Sec. 515).............................. (28,432) (28,432) (28,432) ............... ...............
Multifamily housing guarantees (Sec. 538).............. (150,000) (150,000) (150,000) ............... ...............
Site development loans (Sec. 524)...................... (5,000) (5,000) (5,000) ............... ...............
Single family housing credit sales..................... (10,000) (10,000) (10,000) ............... ...............
Self-help housing land develop. (Sec. 523)............. (5,000) ............... (5,000) ............... (+5,000)
Farm Labor Housing (Sec. 514).......................... (23,855) (23,854) (23,854) (-1) ...............
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Total, Loan authorizations........................... (25,148,567) (24,603,565) (25,148,565) (-2) (+545,000)
====================================================================================
Loan subsidies:
Single family direct (Sec. 502)........................ 24,480 26,568 66,420 +41,940 +39,852
Housing repair (Sec. 504).............................. 2,176 3,687 3,687 +1,511 ...............
Rental housing (Sec. 515).............................. 6,656 9,812 9,812 +3,156 ...............
Farm labor housing (Sec. 514).......................... 5,656 7,681 7,681 +2,025 ...............
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Total, Loan subsidies................................ 38,968 47,748 87,600 +48,632 +39,852
====================================================================================
Farm labor housing grants.................................. 8,336 8,336 8,336 ............... ...............
RHIF administrative expenses (transfer to RD).............. 415,100 397,296 415,100 ............... +17,804
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Total, Rural Housing Insurance Fund program.............. 462,404 453,380 511,036 +48,632 +57,656
(Loan authorization)................................. (25,148,567) (24,603,565) (25,148,565) (-2) (+545,000)
====================================================================================
Rental assistance program:
Rental assistance (Sec. 521)............................... 1,110,000 1,088,500 1,093,500 -16,500 +5,000
Multi-Family Housing Revitalization Program Account:
Rural housing voucher program.................................. 12,575 8,000 8,000 -4,575 ...............
Multi-family housing revitalization program.................... 20,000 20,000 20,000 ............... ...............
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Total, Multi-family housing revitalization................... 32,575 28,000 28,000 -4,575 ...............
====================================================================================
Mutual and self-help housing grants............................ 25,000 10,000 25,000 ............... +15,000
Rural housing assistance grants................................ 32,239 25,000 32,239 ............... +7,239
Rural community facilities program account:
Loan authorizations:
Community facility:
Direct............................................. (2,200,000) (2,200,000) (2,200,000) ............... ...............
Guaranteed......................................... (59,543) ............... (75,000) (+15,457) (+75,000)
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Total, Loan authorizations....................... (2,259,543) (2,200,000) (2,275,000) (+15,457) (+75,000)
====================================================================================
Loan subsidies and grants:
Community facility:
Guaranteed......................................... 3,775 ............... 3,585 -190 +3,585
Grants............................................. 13,000 17,000 13,000 ............... -4,000
Rural community development initiative................. 5,967 ............... 5,967 ............... +5,967
Economic impact initiative grants...................... 5,778 ............... 5,778 ............... +5,778
Tribal college grants.................................. 4,000 4,000 4,000 ............... ...............
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Total, RCFP Loan subsidies and grants................ 32,520 21,000 32,330 -190 +11,330
====================================================================================
Subtotal, grants and payments........................ 89,759 56,000 89,569 -190 +33,569
====================================================================================
Total, Rural Housing Service......................... 1,694,738 1,625,880 1,722,105 +27,367 +96,225
(Loan authorization)............................. (27,408,110) (26,803,565) (27,423,565) (+15,455) (+620,000)
====================================================================================
Rural Business--Cooperative Service:
Rural Business Program Account:
(Guaranteed business and industry loans)................... (958,097) (590,802) (958,102) (+5) (+367,300)
Loan subsidies and grants:
Guaranteed business and industry subsidy............... 66,971 30,190 48,959 -18,012 +18,769
Rural business enterprise.......................... 24,318 ............... ............... -24,318 ...............
Rural business opportunity......................... 2,250 ............... ............... -2,250 ...............
Rural business development......................... ............... ............... 26,568 +26,568 +26,568
Delta regional authority........................... 3,000 ............... 3,000 ............... +3,000
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Total, RBP loan subsidies and grants............. 96,539 30,190 78,527 -18,012 +48,337
====================================================================================
Rural Business and Cooperative Grants.......................... ............... 57,500 ............... ............... -57,500
Intermediary Relending Program Fund:
(Loan authorization)....................................... (18,889) (10,013) (18,889) ............... (+8,876)
Loan subsidy............................................... 4,082 3,084 5,818 +1,736 +2,734
Administrative expenses (transfer to RD)................... 4,439 4,249 4,439 ............... +190
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Total, Rural Development Loan Fund....................... 8,521 64,833 10,257 +1,736 -54,576
====================================================================================
Rural Economic Development Loans Program Account:
(Loan authorization)....................................... (33,077) (59,456) (33,077) ............... (-26,379)
Limit cushion of credit interest spending.................. (172,000) (155,000) (158,000) (-14,000) (+3,000)
(Rescission)........................................... -172,000 -155,000 -158,000 +14,000 -3,000
Rural Cooperative Development Grants:
Cooperative development.................................... 5,800 ............... 5,800 ............... +5,800
Appropriate technology transfer for rural areas............ 2,250 2,087 2,250 ............... +163
Grants to assist minority producers........................ 3,000 3,000 3,000 ............... ...............
Value-added agricultural product market development........ 15,000 11,000 15,000 ............... +4,000
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Total, Rural Cooperative development grants.............. 26,050 16,087 26,050 ............... +9,963
====================================================================================
Rural Microenterprise Investment Program Account:
(Loan authorization)....................................... ............... (25,683) ............... ............... (-25,683)
Loan subsidies and grants.................................. ............... 3,290 ............... ............... -3,290
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Total, Rural Microenterprise Investment.................. ............... 3,290 ............... ............... -3,290
====================================================================================
Rural Business Investment Program Account:
(Loan authorization)....................................... ............... (39,254) ............... ............... (-39,254)
Loan subsidy............................................... ............... 4,000 ............... ............... -4,000
Grants..................................................... ............... 2,000 ............... ............... -2,000
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Total, Rural Business Investment Program................. ............... 6,000 ............... ............... -6,000
====================================================================================
Rural Energy for America Program:
(Loan authorization)....................................... (12,760) (47,259) (12,760) ............... (-34,499)
Loan subsidy............................................... 3,500 5,000 1,350 -2,150 -3,650
Grants..................................................... ............... 5,000 ............... ............... -5,000
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Total, Rural Energy for America Program.................. 3,500 10,000 1,350 -2,150 -8,650
====================================================================================
Healthy Foods, Healthy Neighborhoods Initiative:
Grants..................................................... ............... 12,250 ............... ............... -12,250
Administrative expenses (transfer to RD)................... ............... 750 ............... ............... -750
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Total, Healthy Foods, Healthy Neighborhoods Initiative... ............... 13,000 ............... ............... -13,000
====================================================================================
Total, Rural Business--Cooperative Service............... -37,390 -11,600 -41,816 -4,426 -30,216
(Loan authorization)................................. (1,022,823) (772,467) (1,022,828) (+5) (+250,361)
====================================================================================
Rural Utilities Service:
Rural Water and Waste Disposal Program Account:
Loan authorizations:
Direct................................................. (1,200,000) (1,200,000) (1,200,000) ............... ...............
Guaranteed............................................. (50,000) ............... (50,000) ............... (+50,000)
Direct loans authorized by Public Law 83-566........... (40,000) ............... ............... (-40,000) ...............
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Total, Loan authorization............................ 1,290,000 1,200,000 1,250,000 -40,000 +50,000
====================================================================================
Loan subsidies and grants:
Guaranteed subsidy..................................... 355 ............... 295 -60 +295
Water and Waste Revolving Fund......................... 1,000 ............... 1,000 ............... +1,000
Water well system grants............................... 993 ............... 993 ............... +993
Colonias and AK/HI grants.............................. 66,500 36,480 66,500 ............... +30,020
Water and waste technical assistance................... 19,000 9,120 19,000 ............... +9,880
Circuit rider program.................................. 15,000 7,600 15,919 +919 +8,319
Solid waste management grants.......................... 4,000 4,000 4,000 ............... ...............
High energy cost grants................................ 10,000 ............... 10,000 ............... +10,000
Water and waste disposal grants........................ 345,523 246,800 345,523 ............... +98,723
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Total, Loan subsidies and grants..................... 462,371 304,000 463,230 +859 +159,230
====================================================================================
Rural Electrification and Telecommunications Loans Program
Account:
Loan authorizations:
Electric:
Direct, 5 percent.................................. ............... ............... ............... ............... ...............
Direct, FFB........................................ (5,000,000) (5,000,000) (5,000,000) ............... ...............
Guaranteed underwriting............................ (500,000) ............... (500,000) ............... (+500,000)
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Subtotal, Electric............................... (5,500,000) (5,000,000) (5,500,000) ............... (+500,000)
Telecommunications:
Direct, Treasury rate.............................. (690,000) (345,000) (690,000) ............... (+345,000)
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Total, Loan authorizations....................... (6,190,000) (5,345,000) (6,190,000) ............... (+845,000)
====================================================================================
RETLP administrative expenses (transfer to RD)............. 34,478 33,000 34,478 ............... +1,478
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Total, Rural Electrification and Telecommunications Loans 34,478 33,000 34,478 ............... +1,478
Program Account.........................................
(Loan authorization)................................. (6,190,000) (5,345,000) (6,190,000) ............... (+845,000)
====================================================================================
Distance Learning, Telemedicine, and Broadband Program:
Loan authorizations:
Broadband telecommunications........................... (34,483) (44,238) (34,430) (-53) (-9,808)
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Total, Loan authorizations........................... (34,483) (44,238) (34,430) (-53) (-9,808)
====================================================================================
Loan subsidies and grants:
Distance learning and telemedicine:
Grants............................................. 24,323 24,950 24,323 ............... -627
Broadband telecommunications:
Direct............................................. 4,500 8,268 6,435 +1,935 -1,833
Grants............................................. 10,372 20,372 10,372 ............... -10,000
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Total, Loan subsidies and grants................. 39,195 53,590 41,130 +1,935 -12,460
====================================================================================
Total, Rural Utilities Service................... 536,044 390,590 538,838 +2,794 +148,248
(Loan authorization)......................... (7,514,483) (6,589,238) (7,474,430) (-40,053) (+885,192)
====================================================================================
Total, Title III, Rural Development Programs..... 2,397,709 2,230,869 2,448,923 +51,214 +218,054
(By transfer)................................ (454,017) (435,295) (454,017) ............... (+18,722)
(Loan authorization)......................... (35,945,416) (34,165,270) (35,920,823) (-24,593) (+1,755,553)
====================================================================================
TITLE IV--DOMESTIC FOOD PROGRAMS
Office of the Under Secretary for Food, Nutrition and Consumer 811 816 816 +5 ...............
Services..........................................................
Food and Nutrition Service:
Child nutrition programs....................................... 19,262,957 20,472,000 20,472,000 +1,209,043 ...............
School breakfast program equipment grants.................. 25,000 35,000 25,000 ............... -10,000
Demonstration projects..................................... ............... 30,000 ............... ............... -30,000
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Total, Child nutrition programs.......................... 19,287,957 20,537,000 20,497,000 +1,209,043 -40,000
====================================================================================
Special supplemental nutrition program for women, infants, and 6,715,841 6,823,000 6,623,000 -92,841 -200,000
children (WIC)................................................
Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program:
(Food stamp program)....................................... 79,168,947 79,250,389 79,250,389 +81,442 ...............
Reserve................................................ 3,000,000 5,000,000 3,000,000 ............... -2,000,000
FDPIR nutrition education services..................... 998 998 998 ............... ...............
National food consumption survey....................... ............... 5,000 ............... ............... -5,000
Fiscal year 2016 (first quarter)....................... ............... 21,064,097 ............... ............... -21,064,097
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Total, Food stamp program............................ 82,169,945 105,320,484 82,251,387 +81,442 -23,069,097
====================================================================================
Fiscal year 2015................................. (82,169,945) (84,256,387) (82,251,387) (+81,442) (-2,005,000)
====================================================================================
Commodity Assistance Program:
Commodity supplemental food program........................ 202,682 208,682 208,682 +6,000 ...............
(By transfer).......................................... ............... ............... (2,800) (+2,800) (+2,800)
Farmers market nutrition program........................... 16,548 16,548 16,548 ............... ...............
Emergency food assistance program.......................... 49,401 49,401 49,401 ............... ...............
Pacific island and disaster assistance..................... 1,070 1,070 1,070 ............... ...............
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Total, Commodity assistance program...................... 269,701 275,701 275,701 +6,000 ...............
Nutrition programs administration.............................. 141,348 155,000 155,000 +13,652 ...............
(Transfer out)............................................. ............... ............... (-2,800) (-2,800) (-2,800)
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Total, Food and Nutrition Service........................ 108,584,792 133,111,185 109,802,088 +1,217,296 -23,309,097
Fiscal year 2015..................................... (108,584,792) (112,047,088) (109,802,088) (+1,217,296) (-2,245,000)
====================================================================================
Total, Title IV, Domestic Food Programs.................. 108,585,603 133,112,001 109,802,904 +1,217,301 -23,309,097
Fiscal year 2015..................................... (108,584,792) (112,047,088) (109,802,088) (+1,217,296) (-2,245,000)
====================================================================================
TITLE V--FOREIGN ASSISTANCE AND
RELATED PROGRAMS
Foreign Agricultural Service
Salaries and expenses.............................................. 177,863 182,563 182,797 +4,934 +234
(Transfer from export loans)................................... (6,394) (6,394) (6,394) ............... ...............
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Total, Salaries and expenses................................. 184,257 188,957 189,191 +4,934 +234
====================================================================================
Food for Peace Title I Direct Credit and Food for Progress Program
Account, administrative expenses:
Farm Service Agency, Salaries and expenses (transfer to FSA)... 2,735 2,528 2,528 -207 ...............
Unobligated balances (rescission).............................. ............... -13,000 -13,000 -13,000 ...............
Food for Peace Title II Grants:
Expenses....................................................... 1,466,000 1,400,000 1,466,000 ............... +66,000
Commodity Credit Corporation Export Loans Program Account
(administrative expenses):
Salaries and expenses (Export Loans):
General Sales Manager (transfer to FAS).................... 6,394 6,394 6,394 ............... ...............
Farm Service Agency S&E (transfer to FSA).................. 354 354 354 ............... ...............
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Total, CCC Export Loans Program Account.................. 6,748 6,748 6,748 ............... ...............
====================================================================================
McGovern-Dole International Food for Education and Child Nutrition 185,126 185,126 185,126 ............... ...............
program grants....................................................
====================================================================================
Total, Title V, Foreign Assistance and Related Programs...... 1,838,472 1,763,965 1,830,199 -8,273 +66,234
(By transfer)............................................ (6,394) (6,394) (6,394) ............... ...............
====================================================================================
TITLE VI--RELATED AGENCIES AND
FOOD AND DRUG ADMINISTRATION
DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES
Food and Drug Administration
Salaries and expenses, direct appropriation........................ 2,551,905 2,575,383 2,588,536 +36,631 +13,153
Prescription drug user fees.................................... (760,000) (798,000) (798,000) (+38,000) ...............
Medical device user fees....................................... (114,833) (128,282) (128,282) (+13,449) ...............
Human generic drug user fees................................... (305,996) (312,116) (312,116) (+6,120) ...............
Biosimilar biological products user fees....................... (20,716) (21,014) (21,014) (+298) ...............
Animal drug user fees.......................................... (23,600) (22,464) (22,464) (-1,136) ...............
Animal generic drug user fees.................................. (7,328) (6,944) (6,944) (-384) ...............
Tobacco product user fees...................................... (534,000) (566,000) (566,000) (+32,000) ...............
Food and feed recall user fees................................. (12,925) ............... ............... (-12,925) ...............
Food Reinspection fees......................................... (15,367) ............... ............... (-15,367) ...............
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Subtotal (including user fees)............................... (4,346,670) (4,430,203) (4,443,356) (+96,686) (+13,153)
Mammography user fees.......................................... (19,318) (19,705) (19,705) (+387) ...............
Export and color certification user fees....................... (12,447) (13,651) (13,651) (+1,204) ...............
Food and feed recall user fees................................. ............... (1,434) (1,434) (+1,434) ...............
Food reinspection fees......................................... ............... (6,414) (6,414) (+6,414) ...............
Voluntary qualified importer program fees...................... ............... (5,300) (5,300) (+5,300) ...............
Pharmacy compounding fees (CBO estimate)....................... ............... (1,000) (1,000) (+1,000) ...............
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Subtotal, FDA (with user fees)............................... (4,378,435) (4,477,707) (4,490,860) (+112,425) (+13,153)
FDA new user fees (Leg. proposals):
Food facility registration and inspection user fees........ ............... (60,120) ............... ............... (-60,120)
Food import user fees...................................... ............... (169,021) ............... ............... (-169,021)
International courier user fees............................ ............... (5,807) ............... ............... (-5,807)
Cosmetic user fees......................................... ............... (19,457) ............... ............... (-19,457)
Food contact substance notification user fees.............. ............... (5,098) ............... ............... (-5,098)
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Subtotal, FDA new user fees (Leg Proposals).............. ............... (259,503) ............... ............... (-259,503)
Buildings and facilities........................................... 8,788 8,788 8,788 ............... ...............
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Total, FDA (w/user fees, including proposals)................ (4,387,223) (4,745,998) (4,499,648) (+112,425) (-246,350)
Total, FDA (w/enacted user fees only)........................ (4,387,223) (4,486,495) (4,499,648) (+112,425) (+13,153)
Total, FDA (excluding user fees)............................. 2,560,693 2,584,171 2,597,324 +36,631 +13,153
====================================================================================
INDEPENDENT AGENCIES
Farm Credit Administration (limitation on administrative expenses). (62,600) (65,100) (65,100) (+2,500) ...............
====================================================================================
Total, Title VI, Related Agencies and Food and Drug 2,560,693 2,584,171 2,597,324 +36,631 +13,153
Administration..............................................
====================================================================================
TITLE VII--GENERAL PROVISIONS
Limit dam rehab (Sec. 718(1))...................................... -153,000 ............... ............... +153,000 ...............
(rescission)................................................... ............... -153,000 -142,000 -142,000 +11,000
Limit environmental quality incentives program (Sec. 718(2))....... -272,000 -250,000 -136,000 +136,000 +114,000
Limit fruit and vegetable program (Sec. 719)....................... -119,000 -122,000 -122,000 -3,000 ...............
Section 32 (rescission) (Sec. 719)................................. -189,000 -203,000 -121,000 +68,000 +82,000
Resource conservation and development (rescission) (Sec. 727)...... -2,017 ............... ............... +2,017 ...............
Geographic disadvantaged farmers (Sec. 728)........................ 1,996 ............... 1,996 ............... +1,996
Hardwood trees (Reforestation Pilot Program) (Sec. 729)............ 600 ............... 600 ............... +600
Agriculture buildings and facilities and rental payments -30,000 ............... ............... +30,000 ...............
(rescission) (Sec. 731)...........................................
Rural Housing Service (rescission) (Sec. 733)...................... -1,314 ............... ............... +1,314 ...............
Section 9005 Bioenergy program (rescission) (Sec. 734)............. -8,000 ............... ............... +8,000 ...............
Water Bank program (Sec. 739)...................................... 4,000 ............... 4,000 ............... +4,000
Section 9003 Biorefinery program (rescission) (Sec. 741)........... -40,694 ............... ............... +40,694 ...............
Hunger Commission (Sec. 743)....................................... 1,000 ............... ............... -1,000 ...............
FDA user fees (Sec. 747)........................................... 79,000 ............... ............... -79,000 ...............
Citrus greening [APHIS] (Sec. 748)................................. 20,000 ............... ............... -20,000 ...............
Southwest Border Regional Commission............................... ............... 2,000 ............... ............... -2,000
Emergency livestock assistance program (rescission)................ ............... -125,000 -125,000 -125,000 ...............
Emergency watershed protection program (disaster relief category).. ............... ............... 85,000 +85,000 +85,000
Emergency forestry restoration program (disaster relief category).. ............... ............... 15,000 +15,000 +15,000
Emergency watershed protection program............................. ............... ............... 24,978 +24,978 +24,978
Emergency conservation program..................................... ............... ............... 11,755 +11,755 +11,755
====================================================================================
Total, Title VII, General provisions......................... -708,429 -851,000 -502,671 +205,758 +348,329
====================================================================================
Grand total.................................................. 145,437,976 165,182,539 142,654,142 -2,783,834 -22,528,397
Appropriations fiscal year 2015.......................... (145,881,001) (144,767,442) (143,113,142) (-2,767,859) (-1,654,300)
Disaster relief category................................. ............... ............... (100,000) (+100,000) (+100,000)
Rescissions.............................................. (-443,025) (-649,000) (-559,000) (-115,975) (+90,000)
Advance appropriations, fiscal year 2016................. ............... (21,064,097) ............... ............... (-21,064,097)
(By transfer)................................................ (790,554) (771,886) (793,408) (+2,854) (+21,522)
(Loan authorization)......................................... (41,472,694) (40,567,384) (42,322,937) (+850,243) (+1,755,553)
(Limitation on administrative expenses)...................... (178,035) (180,809) (180,809) (+2,774) ...............
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