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Public Law 104-127

Excerpt from Public Law 104-127

TITLE VIII--RESEARCH EXTENSION AND EDUCATION

Subtitle A--Modification and Extension of Activities Under 1977 Act

SEC. 801. PURPOSES OF AGRICULTURAL RESEARCH, EXTENSION, AND EDUCATION.

Section 1402 of the National Agricultural Research, Extension, and Teaching Policy Act of 1977 (7 U.S.C. 3101) is amended to read as follows:

"SEC. 1402. PURPOSES OF AGRICULTURAL RESEARCH, EXTENSION, AND EDUCATION.

"The purposes of federally supported agricultural research, extension, and education are to--

"(1) enhance the competitiveness of the United States agriculture and food industry in an increasingly competitive world environment;

"(2) increase the long-term productivity of the United States agriculture and food industry while maintaining and enhancing the natural resource base on which rural America and the United States agricultural economy depend;

"(3) develop new uses and new products for agricultural commodities, such as alternative fuels, and develop new crops;

"(4) support agricultural research and extension to promote economic opportunity in rural communities and to meet the increasing demand for information and technology transfer throughout the United States agriculture industry;

"(5) improve risk management in the United States agriculture industry;

"(6) improve the safe production and processing of, and adding of value to, United States food and fiber resources using methods that maintain the balance between yield and environmental soundness;

"(7) support higher education in agriculture to give the next generation of Americans the knowledge, technology, and applications necessary to enhance the competitiveness of United States agriculture; and

"(8) maintain an adequate, nutritious, and safe supply of food to meet human nutritional needs and requirements.".

SEC. 802. NATIONAL AGRICULTURAL RESEARCH, EXTENSION, EDUCATION, AND ECONOMICS ADVISORY BOARD.

(a) IN GENERAL- Section 1408 of the National Agricultural Research, Extension, and Teaching Policy Act of 1977 (7 U.S.C. 3123) is amended to read as follows:

"SEC. 1408. NATIONAL AGRICULTURAL RESEARCH, EXTENSION, EDUCATION, AND ECONOMICS ADVISORY BOARD.

"(a) ESTABLISHMENT- The Secretary shall establish within the Department of Agriculture a board to be known as the "National Agricultural Research, Extension, Education, and Economics Advisory Board".

"(b) MEMBERSHIP-

"(1) IN GENERAL- The Advisory Board shall consist of 30 members, appointed by the Secretary.

"(2) SELECTION OF MEMBERS- The Secretary shall appoint members of the Advisory Board from nominations submitted by organizations, associations, societies, councils, federations, groups, and companies fitting the criteria specified in paragraph (3).

"(3) MEMBERSHIP CATEGORIES- The Advisory Board shall consist of members from each of the following categories:

"(A) 1 member representing a national farm organization.

"(B) 1 member representing farm cooperatives.

"(C) 1 member actively engaged in the production of a food animal commodity.

"(D) 1 member actively engaged in the production of a plant commodity.

"(E) 1 member representing a national animal commodity organization.

"(F) 1 member representing a national crop commodity organization.

"(G) 1 member representing a national aquaculture association.

"(H) 1 member representing a national food animal science society.

"(I) 1 member representing a national crop, soil, agronomy, horticulture, or weed science society.

"(J) 1 member representing a national food science organization.

"(K) 1 member representing a national human health association.

"(L) 1 member representing a national nutritional science society.

"(M) 1 member representing the land-grant colleges and universities eligible to receive funds under the Act of July 2, 1862 (7 U.S.C. 301 et seq.).

"(N) 1 member representing the land-grant colleges and universities eligible to receive funds under the Act of August 30, 1890 (7 U.S.C. 321 et seq.), including Tuskegee University.

"(O) 1 member representing the 1994 Institutions (as defined in section 532 of the Equity in Educational Land-Grant Status Act of 1994 (Public Law 103-382; 7 U.S.C. 301 note)).

"(P) 1 member representing Hispanic-serving institutions.

"(Q) 1 member representing the American Colleges of Veterinary Medicine.

"(R) 1 member representing that portion of the scientific community not closely associated with agriculture.

"(S) 1 member engaged in the transportation of food and agricultural products to domestic and foreign markets.

"(T) 1 member representing food retailing and marketing interests.

"(U) 1 member representing food and fiber processors.

"(V) 1 member actively engaged in rural economic development.

"(W) 1 member representing a national consumer interest group.

"(X) 1 member representing a national forestry group.

"(Y) 1 member representing a national conservation or natural resource group.

"(Z) 1 member representing private sector organizations involved in international development.

"(AA) 1 member representing an agency within the Department of Agriculture that lacks research capabilities.

"(BB) 1 member representing a research agency of the Federal Government (other than the Department of Agriculture).

"(CC) 1 member representing a national social science association.

"(DD) 1 member representing national organizations directly concerned with agricultural research, education, and extension.

 

"(4) EX OFFICIO MEMBERS- The Secretary, the Under Secretary of Agriculture for Research, Education, and Economics, the Administrator of the Agricultural Research Service, the Administrator of the Cooperative State Research, Education, and Extension Service, the Administrator of the Economic Research Service, and the Administrator of the National Agricultural Statistics Service shall serve as ex officio members of the Advisory Board.

"(5) OFFICERS- At the first meeting of the Advisory Board each year, the members shall elect from among the members of the Advisory Board a chairperson, vice chairperson, and 7 additional members to serve on the executive committee established under paragraph (6).

"(6) EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE- The Advisory Board shall establish an executive committee charged with the responsibility of working with the Secretary and officers and employees of the Department of Agriculture to summarize and disseminate the recommendations of the Advisory Board.

"(c) DUTIES- The Advisory Board shall--

"(1) review and provide consultation to the Secretary and land-grant colleges and universities on long-term and short-term national policies and priorities, as set forth in section 1402, relating to agricultural research, extension, education, and economics;

"(2) evaluate the results and effectiveness of agricultural research, extension, education, and economics with respect to the policies and priorities;

"(3) review and make recommendations to the Under Secretary of Agriculture for Research, Education, and Economics on the research, extension, education, and economics portion of the draft strategic plan required under section 306 of title 5, United States Code; and

"(4) review the mechanisms of the Department of Agriculture for technology assessment (which should be conducted by qualified professionals) for the purposes of--

"(A) performance measurement and evaluation of the implementation by the Secretary of the strategic plan required under section 306 of title 5, United States Code;

"(B) implementation of the national research policies and priorities set forth in section 1402; and

"(C) the development of mechanisms for the assessment of emerging public and private agricultural research and technology transfer initiatives.

"(d) CONSULTATION- In carrying out this section, the Advisory Board shall solicit opinions and recommendations from persons who will benefit from and use federally funded agricultural research, extension, education, and economics.

"(e) APPOINTMENT- A member of the Advisory Board shall be appointed by the Secretary for a term of up to 3 years. The members of the Advisory Board shall be appointed to serve staggered terms.

"(f) FEDERAL ADVISORY COMMITTEE ACT- The Advisory Board shall be deemed to have filed a charter for the purpose of section 9(c) of the Federal Advisory Committee Act (5 U.S.C. App.).

"(g) TERMINATION- The Advisory Board shall remain in existence until September 30, 2002.".

(b) CONFORMING AMENDMENTS-

(1) Section 1404(1) of the National Agricultural Research, Extension, and Teaching Policy Act of 1977 (7 U.S.C. 3103(1)) is amended by striking "National Agricultural Research and Extension Users Advisory Board" and inserting "National Agricultural Research, Extension, Education, and Economics Advisory Board".

(2) Section 1410(2) of the National Agricultural Research, Extension, and Teaching Policy Act of 1977 (7 U.S.C. 3125(2)) is amended by striking "the recommendations of the Advisory Board developed under section 1408(g)," and inserting "any recommendations of the Advisory Board".

(3) The last sentence of section 4(a) of the Renewable Resources Extension Act of 1978 (16 U.S.C. 1673(a)) is amended by striking "National Agricultural Research and Extension Users Advisory Board" and inserting "National Agricultural Research, Extension, Education, and Economics Advisory Board".