TITLE VII—RESEARCH, EXTENSION, EDUCATION, AND RELATED MATTERS
Subtitle A—National Agricultural Research, Extension, and Teaching Policy Act of 1977
SEC. 7101. HIGHER EDUCATION CHALLENGE GRANTS PROGRAM.
(a) NAME.--The “Higher Education Challenge Grants Program” carried out under section
1417(b)(1) of the National Agricultural Research, Extension, and Teaching Policy Act of 1977 (7
U.S.C. 3152(b)(1)) shall be renamed the “Higher Education Teaching Excellence Grant
Program”.
(b) EXTENSION.—Section 1417(m) of the National Agricultural Research, Extension, and
Teaching Policy Act of 1977 is amended by striking ‘‘2012’’ and inserting ‘‘2017’’.
(c) EFFECTIVE DATE.—This section takes effect on October 1, 2012.
SEC. 7102. NUTRITION EDUCATION PROGRAM.
Section 1425(f) of the National Agricultural Research, Extension, and Teaching Policy Act of
1977 (7 U.S.C. 3175(f)) is amended by striking “2012” and inserting “2017”.
SEC. 7103. CONTINUING ANIMAL HEALTH AND DISEASE RESEARCH
PROGRAMS.
Section 1433(a) of the National Agricultural Research, Extension, and Teaching Policy Act of
1977 (7 U.S.C. 3195(a)) is amended in the first sentence by striking ‘‘2012’’ and inserting
‘‘2017’’.
SEC. 7104. APPROPRIATIONS FOR RESEARCH ON NATIONAL OR REGIONAL
PROBLEMS.
Section 1434(a) of the National Agricultural Research, Extension, and Teaching Policy Act of
1977 (7 U.S.C. 3196(a)) is amended by striking ‘‘2012’’ and inserting ‘‘2017’’.
SEC. 7105. GRANTS TO UPGRADE AGRICULTURAL AND FOOD SCIENCES
FACILITIES AT 1890 LAND-GRANT COLLEGES, INCLUDING
TUSKEGEE UNIVERSITY.
(a) EXTENSION.—Section 1447(b) of the National Agricultural Research, Extension, and
Teaching Policy Act of 1977 (7 U.S.C. 3222b(b)) is amended by striking ‘‘2012’’ and inserting
‘‘2017’’.
(b) FACILITIES AND EQUIPMENT MAINTENANCE.-- Section 1447(c) of the National
Agricultural Research, Extension, and Teaching Policy Act of 1977 (7 U.S.C. 3222b(c)) is
amended in the second sentence by inserting “the maintenance of equipment and facilities,”
before “the purchase”.
(c) EFFECTIVE DATE.—This section takes effect on October 1, 2012.
SEC. 7106. GRANTS TO UPGRADE AGRICULTURE AND FOOD SCIENCES
FACILITIES AND EQUIPMENT AT INSULAR AREA LAND-GRANT INSTITUTIONS.
Section 1447B(d) of the National Agricultural Research, Extension, and Teaching Policy Act of
1977 (7 U.S.C. 3222b-2(d)) is amended by striking ‘‘2012’’ and inserting ‘‘2017’’.
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SEC. 7107. COMPETITIVE GRANTS FOR INTERNATIONAL AGRICULTURAL
SCIENCE AND EDUCATION PROGRAMS.
Section 1459A(c) of the National Agricultural Research, Extension, and Teaching Policy Act of
1977 (7 U.S.C. 3292b(c)) is amended by striking ‘‘2012’’ and inserting ‘‘2017’’.
SEC. 7108. LIMITATION ON INDIRECT COSTS FOR AGRICULTURAL
RESEARCH, EDUCATION, AND EXTENSION PROGRAMS.
Section 1462(a) of the National Agriculture Research, Extension, and Teaching Policy Act of
1977 (7 U.S.C. 3310(a)) is amended by striking ‘‘22 percent’’ and inserting “30 percent”.
SEC. 7109. CAPACITY BUILDING GRANTS FOR NLGCA INSTITUTIONS.
Section 1473F(b) of the National Agricultural Research, Extension, and Teaching Policy Act of
1977 (7 U.S.C. 3319i(b)) is amended by striking ‘‘2012” and inserting ‘‘2017”.
SEC. 7110. BORLAUG INTERNATIONAL AGRICULTURAL SCIENCE AND
TECHNOLOGY FELLOWSHIP PROGRAM.
Section 1473G(a)(1) of the National Agricultural Research, Extension, and Teaching Policy Act
of 1977 (7 U.S.C. 3319j(b)(1)) is amended by inserting “short-term and long-term” before
“fellowships for scientific training”.
SEC. 7111. SPECIAL AUTHORIZATION FOR BIOSECURITY PLANNING AND
RESPONSE.
Section 1484(a) of the National Agricultural Research, Extension, and Teaching Policy Act of
1977 (7 U.S.C. 3351(a)) is amended by striking ‘‘2012” and inserting ‘‘2017”.
SEC. 7112. RESIDENT INSTRUCTION AND DISTANCE EDUCATION GRANTS
PROGRAM FOR INSULAR AREA INSTITUTIONS OF HIGHER EDUCATION.
(a) DISTANCE EDUCATION GRANTS FOR INSULAR AREAS.—Section 1490(f) of the
National Agricultural Research, Extension, and Teaching Policy Act of 1977 (7 U.S.C. 3362(f))
is amended by striking ‘‘2012” and inserting ‘‘2017”.
(b) RESIDENT INSTRUCTION GRANTS FOR INSULAR AREAS.—Section 1491(c) of the
National Agricultural Research, Extension, and Teaching Policy Act of 1977 (7 U.S.C. 3363(c))
is amended by striking ‘‘2012” and inserting ‘‘2017”.
Subtitle B—Food, Agriculture, Conservation, and Trade Act of 1990
SEC. 7201. HIGH-PRIORITY RESEARCH AND EXTENSION AREAS.
(a) IN GENERAL.—Section 1672(e) of the Food, Agriculture, Conservation, and Trade Act of
1990 (7 U.S.C. 5925(e)) is amended by adding at the end the following:
‘‘(52) ECOSYSTEM SERVICES, INVASIVE SPECIES MANAGEMENT, AND
INNOVATIVE BIOBASED PRODUCTS.—Research and extension grants may be made under
this section for the purposes of ecosystem services, invasive species management, and innovative
biobased products.”.
(b) EXTENSION.— Section 1672(j) of the Food, Agriculture, Conservation, and Trade Act of
1990 (7 U.S.C. 5925(j)) is amended by striking “2012” and inserting “2017”.
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SEC. 7202. REGIONAL CENTERS OF EXCELLENCE.
(a) IN GENERAL.—Section 1672(i) of the Food, Agriculture, Conservation, and Trade Act of
1990 (7 U.S.C. 5925(i)) is amended by adding at the end the following:
“(4) AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.—There is authorized to be appropriated to
carry out this subsection $15,000,000 for each fiscal year.”
(b) REGULATIONS.— Not later than 270 days after the date of enactment of this Act, the
Secretary shall promulgate such regulations as are necessary to implement section 1672(i) of the
Food, Agriculture, Conservation, and Trade Act of 1990 (7 U.S.C. 5925(i)).
SEC. 7203. ORGANIC AGRICULTURE RESEARCH AND EXTENSION INITIATIVE.
(a) IN GENERAL.—Section 1672B(f) of the Food, Agriculture, Conservation, and Trade Act of
1990 (7 U.S.C. 5925b(f)) (commonly known as the ‘‘Organic Agriculture Research and
Extension Initiative’’) is amended by striking subsection (f) and inserting the following:
“(f) AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.—There is authorized to be appropriated to
carry out this section $25,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2012 through 2017.”.
(b) EFFECTIVE DATE.—This section takes effect on October 1, 2012.
Subtitle C—Agricultural Research, Extension, and Education Reform Act of 1998
SEC. 7301. INTEGRATED RESEARCH, EDUCATION, AND EXTENSION
COMPETITIVE GRANTS PROGRAM.
Section 406(f) of the Agricultural Research, Extension, and Education Reform Act of 1998 (7
U.S.C. 7626(f)) is amended by striking ‘‘2012’’ and inserting ‘‘2017’’.
SEC. 7302. SPECIALTY CROP RESEARCH INITIATIVE.
(a) EXTENSION.—Section 412 of the Agricultural Research, Extension, and Education Reform
Act of 1998 (7 U.S.C. 7632) is amended striking subsection (h) and inserting the following:
‘‘(h) AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.—There is authorized to be appropriated to
carry out this section $100,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2012 through 2017.”
(b) EFFECTIVE DATE.—The amendments made by this section take effect on October 1, 2012.
Subtitle D—Other Laws
SEC. 7401. MCINTIRE-STENNIS COOPERATIVE FORESTRY ACT.
(a) 1890 WAIVERS.—Section 4 of Public Law 87–788 (commonly known as the “McIntireStennis Cooperative Forestry Act”) (16 U.S.C. 582a–1) is amended by inserting “The matching
funds requirement shall not be applicable to eligible 1890 Institutions (as defined in section 2 of
the Agricultural Research, Extension, and Education Reform Act of 1998 (7 U.S.C. 7601)) if the
allocation is below $200,000.” before ‘‘The Secretary is authorized” in the second sentence.
(b) PARTICIPATION.—Section 8 of Public Law 87–788 (commonly known as the ‘‘McIntireStennis Cooperative Forestry Act’’) (16 U.S.C. 582a–1) is amended by inserting ‘‘the Federated
States of Micronesia, American Samoa, the Northern Marianas Islands,’’ before ‘‘and Guam’’.
(c) EFFECTIVE DATE.—The amendments made by this section take effect on October 1, 2012.
SEC. 7402. RENEWABLE RESOURCES EXTENSION ACT OF 1978.
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(a) AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.—Section 6 of the Renewable Resources
Extension Act of 1978 (16 U.S.C. 1675) is amended in the first sentence by striking ‘‘2012” and
inserting “2017”.
(b) TERMINATION DATE.—Section 8 of the Renewable Resources Extension Act of 1978 (16
U.S.C. 1671 note; Public Law 95–306) is amended by striking “20012” and inserting “2017”.
SEC. 7403. AGRICULTURE AND FOOD RESEARCH INITIATIVE.
Section 2(b)(11) of the Competitive, Special, and Facilities Research Grant Act (7 U.S.C.
450i(b)(11)) is amended by striking “2012” and inserting “2017”.
SEC. 7404. BEGINNING FARMER AND RANCHER DEVELOPMENT PROGRAM.
(a) EXTENSION.--Section 7405(h) of the Farm Security and Rural Investment Act of 2002 (7
U.S.C. 3319f(h)) is amended by striking subsection (h) and inserting the following:
‘‘(h) AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.—There is authorized to be appropriated to
carry out this section $30,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2012 through 2017.”
(b) EFFECTIVE DATE.—The amendments made by this section take effect on October 1, 2012.
SEC. 7405. FARM SECURITY AND RURAL INVESTMENT ACT OF 2002.
(a) EXTENSION OF BIODIESEL FUEL EDUCATION PROGRAM.--Section 9006(d) of the
Farm Security and Rural Investment Act of 2002 (7 U.S.C. 8106(d)/Pub. L. 110-246) is amended
by striking subsection (d) and inserting the following:
“(d) AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.—There is authorized to be appropriated to
carry out this section $1,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2012 through 2017.”
(b) EXTENSION OF BIOMASS RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT.--Section 9008(h) of the
Farm Security and Rural Investment Act of 2002 (7 U.S.C. 8108(h)) is amended by striking
subsection (h) and inserting the following:
“(h) AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.—There is authorized to be appropriated to
carry out this section $35,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2012 through 2017.”
(c) EFFECTIVE DATE.—The amendments made by this section take effect on October 1, 2012.
SEC. 7406. HEALTHY URBAN FOOD ENTERPRISE DEVELOPMENT CENTER.
Section 25(h)(9)(B) of the Food and Nutrition Act of 2008 (7 U.S.C. 2034(h)(9)(B)) is amended
by striking subparagraph (B) and inserting the following:
“(B) ADDITIONAL FUNDING.—There is authorized to be appropriated $2,000,000 to carry
out this subsection for each of fiscal year 2012 through 2017.”.
SEC. 7407. EQUITY IN EDUCATIONAL LAND-GRANT STATUS ACT OF 1994.
(a) DEFINITION OF 1994 INSTITUTIONS.—Section 532 of the Equity in Educational LandGrant Status Act of 1994 (7 U.S.C. 301 note; Public Law 103–382) is amended-(1) by striking “Crownpoint Institute of Technology” and inserting in lieu thereof “Navajo
Technical College”;
(2) by striking “Fort Belknap College” and inserting in lieu thereof “Aaniiih Nakoda
College”;
(3) by striking “Sisseton Wahpeton Community College” and inserting “Sisseton
Wahpeton College”;
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(4) by striking “(27) Si Tanka/Huron University.” and redesignating paragraphs (28)
through (34) as paragraphs (27) through (33) respectively; and
(5) by adding at the end the following:
“(34) Keweenaw Bay Ojibwa Community College.
“(35) College of the Muscogee Nation.
“(36) Comanche Nation College.”.
(b) SMITH-LEVER ACT FOR 1994 INSTITUTIONS.—Section 533 of the Equity in
Educational Land-Grant Status Act of 1994 (7 U.S.C. 301 note; Public Law 103–382) is
amended—
(1) in clause (a)(2)(A)(ii) by striking “(as added by section 534(b)(1) of this part)” and
inserting ‘‘and for the youth-at-risk programs and the federally recognized Tribes Extension
Program implemented under 3(d) of such Act”; and
(2) in the first sentence of subsection (b), by striking ‘‘2012’’ and inserting ‘‘2017’’.
(c) CONFORMING AMENDMENT.-- Section 3(d) of the Act of May 8, 1914 (commonly
known as the “Smith-Lever Act’’; 7 U.S.C. 343(d)), is amended by inserting “and in the case of
youth-at-risk programs and the federally recognized Tribes Extension Program the 1994
Institutions (as defined in section 532 of the Equity in Educational Land-Grant Status Act of
1994 (7 U.S.C. 301 note; Public Law 103–382)),” before “may compete for”.
(d) APPROPRIATIONS.—Section 534(a)(1) of the Equity in Educational Land-Grant Status
Act of 1994 (7 U.S.C. 301 note; Public Law 103–382) is amended by striking ‘‘an amount equal
to” and all that follows and inserting “such sums as may be necessary to carry out this section.”.
(e) INSTITUTIONAL CAPACITY BUILDING GRANTS.—Section 535 of the Equity in
Educational Land-Grant Status Act of 1994 (7 U.S.C. 301 note; Public Law 103–382) is
amended by striking ‘‘2012’’ each place it appears and inserting ‘‘2017’’.
(f) RESEARCH GRANTS.—Section 536 of the Equity in Educational Land-Grant Status Act of
1994 (7 U.S.C. 301 note; Public Law 103–382) is amended—
(1) in subsection (b) by striking “at least 1 other land-grant college or university
(exclusive of another 1994 Institution)” and inserting “the Agricultural Research Service of the
U.S. Department of Agriculture or with at least 1 other land-grant college or university
(exclusive of another 1994 Institution), Non-Land-Grant College of Agriculture (as defined in
section 1404(14) of the National Agriculture Research, Extension, and Teaching Policy Act of
1977 (7 U.S.C. 3103)), or cooperating forestry school (as defined in section 1404(5) of the
National Agriculture Research, Extension, and Teaching Policy Act of 1977 (7 U.S.C. 3103))”;
and
(2) in subsection (c) in the first sentence by striking ‘‘2012’’ and inserting ‘‘2017’’.
(g) EFFECTIVE DATE.—The amendments made by this section take effect on October 1, 2012.
Subtitle E—Miscellaneous
SEC. 7501. SENSE OF CONGRESS REGARDING THE USE OF THE COOPERATIVE
EXTENSION SERVICE.
It is the sense of Congress that—
(1) the Cooperative Extension System is an existing nationwide, non-credit educational network:
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(2) each U.S. state and territory has a state office at its land-grant university and a network of
local or regional offices which are staffed by one or more experts who provide useful,
practical, and research-based information to agricultural producers, small business owners,
youth, consumers, and others in rural areas and communities of all sizes;
(3) many programs within USDA and in other Agencies and Departments outside of USDA
include an educational component;
(4) duplicating education extension in USDA agencies or other agencies and departments is not
only redundant but is a wasteful use of scarce federal resources;
(5) the Secretary should ensure that the existing Cooperative Extension Service is utilized to
deliver the educational component of USDA programs and should engage in discussions with
other federal departments and agencies to explore ways to use the Cooperative Extension
Service to deliver education extension in all programs government wide to the maximum
extent possible.
Proposals contained in other titles.
TITLE VI—RURAL DEVELOPMENT
SEC. 6XXX. TRIBAL COLLEGE AND UNIVERSITY ESSENTIAL COMMUNITY
FACILITIES.
Section 306(a)(25)(C) of the Consolidated Farm and Rural Development Act (7 U.S.C.
1926(a)(25)(C)) is amended by striking ‘‘2012’’ and inserting ‘‘2017’’.
TITLE VIII—FORESTRY
SEC. 8XXX. HEALTHY FORESTS RESERVE PROGRAM.
(a) PURPOPSES.—Section 501(a) of the Healthy Forests Restoration Act of 2003 (16 U.S.C.
6572(a)) is amended—
(1) by striking “and” in paragraph (2);
(2) by redesignating paragraph (3) as paragraph (5); and
(3) by inserting after paragraph (2) the following new paragraphs:
‘‘(3) to reduce wildfire risk;
“(4) to mitigate and adapt to any effects from climate; and”.
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