[104th Congress Public Law 37] [From the U.S. Government Printing Office] <DOC> [DOCID: f:publ37.104] [[Page 109 STAT. 299]] Public Law 104-37 104th Congress An Act Making appropriations for Agriculture, Rural Development, Food and Drug Administration, and Related Agencies programs for the fiscal year ending September 30, 1996, and for other purposes. <<NOTE: Oct. 21, 1995 - [H.R. 1976]>> Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress <<NOTE: Agriculture, Rural Development, Food and Drug Administration, and Related Agencies Appropriations Act, 1996.>> assembled, That the following sums are appropriated, out of any money in the Treasury not otherwise appropriated, for Agriculture, Rural Development, Food and Drug Administration, and Related Agencies programs for the fiscal year ending September 30, 1996, and for other purposes, namely: TITLE I AGRICULTURAL PROGRAMS Production, Processing, and Marketing Office of the Secretary (including transfers of funds) For necessary expenses of the Office of the Secretary of Agriculture, and not to exceed $75,000 for employment under 5 U.S.C. 3109, $10,227,000, of which $7,500,000 to remain available until expended, shall be available for InfoShare: Provided, That not to exceed $11,000 of this amount, along with any unobligated balances of representation funds in the Foreign Agricultural Service shall be available for official reception and representation expenses, not otherwise provided for, as determined by the Secretary. Executive Operations chief economist For necessary expenses of the Chief Economist, including economic analysis, risk assessment, cost benefit analysis, and the functions of the World Agricultural Outlook Board, as authorized by the Agricultural Marketing Act of 1946 (7 U.S.C. 1622g), and including employment pursuant to the second sentence of the section 706(a) of the Organic Act of 1944 (7 U.S.C. 2225), of which not to exceed $5,000 is for employment under 5 U.S.C. 3109, $3,948,000. [[Page 109 STAT. 300]] national appeals division For necessary expenses of the National Appeals Division, including employment pursuant to the second sentence of section 706(a) of the Organic Act of 1944 (7 U.S.C. 2225), of which not to exceed $25,000 is for employment under 5 U.S.C. 3109, $11,846,000. office of budget and program analysis For necessary expenses of the Office of Budget and Program Analysis, including employment pursuant to the second sentence of section 706(a) of the Organic Act of 1944 (7 U.S.C. 2225), of which not to exceed $5,000 is for employment under 5 U.S.C. 3109, $5,899,000. Chief Financial Officer For necessary expenses of the Office of the Chief Financial Officer, including employment pursuant to the second sentence of section 706(a) of the Organic Act of 1944 (7 U.S.C. 2225), of which not to exceed $10,000 is for employment under 5 U.S.C. 3109, $4,133,000: Provided, That the Chief Financial Officer shall reinstate and market cross- servicing activities of the National Finance Center: Provided further, That none of the funds appropriated or otherwise made available by this Act shall be used to obtain, modify, re-engineer, license, operate, implement, or expand commercial off-the-shelf financial management software systems or existing commercial off-the-shelf system financial management contracts, beyond general ledger systems and accounting support software, at the National Finance Center until thirty legislative days after the Secretary of Agriculture submits to the House and Senate Committees on Appropriations a complete and thorough cost- benefit analysis and a certification by the Secretary of Agriculture that this analysis provides a detailed and accurate cost-benefit analysis comparison between obtaining or expanding commercial off-the- shelf software systems and conducting identical or comparable software systems acquisitions, re-engineering, or modifications in-house. Office of the Assistant Secretary for Administration For necessary salaries and expenses of the Office of the Assistant Secretary for Administration to carry out the programs funded in this Act, $596,000. Agriculture Buildings and Facilities and Rental Payments (including transfers of funds) For payment of space rental and related costs pursuant to Public Law 92-313, including authorities pursuant to the 1984 delegation of authority from the Administrator of General Services to the Department of Agriculture under 40 U.S.C. 486, for programs and activities of the Department which are included in this Act, $110,187,000, of which $20,216,000 shall be retained by the Department for the operation, maintenance, and repair of Agriculture buildings: Provided, That in the event an agency within the Department should require modification of space needs, the Secretary [[Page 109 STAT. 301]] of Agriculture may transfer a share of that agency's appropriation made available by this Act to this appropriation, or may transfer a share of this appropriation to that agency's appropriation, but such transfers shall not exceed 5 percent of the funds made available for space rental and related costs to or from this account. In addition, for construction, repair, improvement, extension, alteration, and purchase of fixed equipment or facilities as necessary to carry out the programs of the Department, where not otherwise provided, $25,587,000, to remain available until expended; making a total appropriation of $135,774,000. Advisory Committees (USDA) For necessary expenses for activities of advisory committees of the Department of Agriculture which are included in this Act, $650,000: Provided, That no other funds appropriated to the Department in this Act shall be available to the Department for support of activities of advisory committees. Hazardous Waste Management (including transfers of funds) For necessary expenses of the Department of Agriculture, to comply with the requirement of section 107(g) of the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act, as amended, 42 U.S.C. 9607(g), and section 6001 of the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act, as amended, 42 U.S.C. 6961, $15,700,000, to remain available until expended: Provided, That appropriations and funds available herein to the Department for Hazardous Waste Management may be transferred to any agency of the Department for its use in meeting all requirements pursuant to the above Acts on Federal and non-Federal lands. Departmental Administration (including transfers of funds) For Personnel, Operations, Information Resources Management, Civil Rights Enforcement, Small and Disadvantaged Business Utilization, Administrative Law Judges and Judicial Officer, Disaster Management and Coordination, and Modernization of the Administrative Process, $27,986,000, to provide for necessary expenses for management support services to offices of the Department and for general administration and disaster management of the Department, repairs and alterations, and other miscellaneous supplies and expenses not otherwise provided for and necessary for the practical and efficient work of the Department, including employment pursuant to the second sentence of section 706(a) of the Organic Act of 1944 (7 U.S.C. 2225), of which not to exceed $10,000 is for employment under 5 U.S.C. 3109: Provided, That this appropriation shall be reimbursed from applicable appropriations in this Act for travel expenses incident to the holding of hearings as required by 5 U.S.C. 551-558. [[Page 109 STAT. 302]] Office of the Assistant Secretary for Congressional Relations For necessary salaries and expenses of the Office of the Assistant Secretary for Congressional Relations to carry out the programs funded in this Act, including programs involving intergovernmental affairs and liaison within the executive branch, $3,797,000: Provided, That no other funds appropriated to the Department in this Act shall be available to the Department for support of activities of congressional relations: Provided further, That not less than $2,355,000 shall be transferred to agencies funded in this Act to maintain personnel at the agency level. Office of Communications For necessary expenses to carry on services relating to the coordination of programs involving public affairs, for the dissemination of agricultural information, and the coordination of information, work, and programs authorized by Congress in the Department, $8,198,000, including employment pursuant to the second sentence of section 706(a) of the Organic Act of 1944 (7 U.S.C. 2225), of which not to exceed $10,000 shall be available for employment under 5 U.S.C. 3109, and not to exceed $2,000,000 may be used for farmers' bulletins. Office of the Inspector General For necessary expenses of the Office of the Inspector General, including employment pursuant to the second sentence of section 706(a) of the Organic Act of 1944 (7 U.S.C. 2225), and the Inspector General Act of 1978, as amended, $63,639,000, including such sums as may be necessary for contracting and other arrangements with public agencies and private persons pursuant to section 6(a)(9) of the Inspector General Act of 1978, as amended, including a sum not to exceed $50,000 for employment under 5 U.S.C. 3109; and including a sum not to exceed $95,000 for certain confidential operational expenses including the payment of informants, to be expended under the direction of the Inspector General pursuant to Public Law 95-452 and section 1337 of Public Law 97-98: Provided, That funds transferred to the Office of the Inspector General through forfeiture proceedings or from the Department of Justice Assets Forfeiture Fund or the Department of the Treasury Forfeiture Fund, as a participating agency, as an equitable share from the forfeiture of property in investigations in which the Office of Inspector General participates, or through the granting of a Petition for Remission or Mitigation, shall be deposited to the credit of this account for law enforcement activities authorized under the Inspector General Act of 1978, as amended, to remain available until expended. Office of the General Counsel For necessary expenses of the Office of the General Counsel, $27,860,000. [[Page 109 STAT. 303]] Office of the Under Secretary for Research, Education and Economics For necessary salaries and expenses of the Office of the Under Secretary for Research, Education and Economics to administer the laws enacted by the Congress for the Economic Research Service, the National Agricultural Statistics Service, the Agricultural Research Service and the Cooperative State Research, Education, and Extension Service, $520,000. Economic Research Service For necessary expenses of the Economic Research Service in conducting economic research and analysis, as authorized by the Agricultural Marketing Act of 1946 (7 U.S.C. 1621-1627) and other laws, $53,131,000: Provided, That this appropriation shall be available for employment pursuant to the second sentence of section 706(a) of the Organic Act of 1944 (7 U.S.C. 2225). National Agricultural Statistics Service For necessary expenses of the National Agricultural Statistics Service in conducting statistical reporting and service work, including crop and livestock estimates, statistical coordination and improvements, and marketing surveys, as authorized by the Agricultural Marketing Act of 1946 (7 U.S.C. 1621-1627) and other laws, $81,107,000: Provided, That this appropriation shall be available for employment pursuant to the second sentence of section 706(a) of the Organic Act of 1944 (7 U.S.C. 2225), and not to exceed $40,000 shall be available for employment under 5 U.S.C. 3109. Agricultural Research Service (including transfers of funds) For necessary expenses to enable the Agricultural Research Service to perform agricultural research and demonstration relating to production, utilization, marketing, and distribution (not otherwise provided for); home economics or nutrition and consumer use including the acquisition, preservation, and dissemination of agricultural information; and for acquisition of lands by donation, exchange, or purchase at a nominal cost not to exceed $100, $710,000,000: Provided, That appropriations hereunder shall be available for temporary employment pursuant to the second sentence of section 706(a) of the Organic Act of 1944 (7 U.S.C. 2225), and not to exceed $115,000 shall be available for employment under 5 U.S.C. 3109: Provided further, That <<NOTE: 7 USC 2254.>> appropriations hereunder shall be available for the operation and maintenance of aircraft and the purchase of not to exceed one for replacement only: Provided further, That appropriations <<NOTE: 7 USC 2254.>> hereunder shall be available pursuant to 7 U.S.C. 2250 for the construction, alteration, and repair of buildings and improvements, but unless otherwise provided the cost of constructing any one building shall not exceed $250,000, except for headhouses or greenhouses which shall each be limited to $1,000,000, and except for ten buildings to be constructed or improved at a cost not to exceed $500,000 each, and the cost of altering any one building during the fiscal year shall not exceed 10 percent of the current replacement value of the building or [[Page 109 STAT. 304]] $250,000, whichever is greater: Provided further, That the limitations on alterations contained in this Act shall not apply to modernization or replacement of existing facilities at Beltsville, Maryland: Provided further, That the foregoing limitations shall not apply to replacement of buildings needed to carry out the Act of April 24, 1948 (21 U.S.C. 113a): Provided further, That the foregoing limitations shall not apply to the purchase of land at Beckley, West Virginia: Provided further, That not to exceed $190,000 of this appropriation may be transferred to and merged with the appropriation for the Office of the Under Secretary for Research, Education and Economics for the scientific review of international issues involving agricultural chemicals and food additives: Provided further, That funds may be received from any State, other political subdivision, organization, or individual for the purpose of establishing or operating any research facility or research project of the Agricultural Research Service, as authorized by law: Provided further, That <<NOTE: Public lands. Louisiana. American Sugar Cane League Foundation.>> all rights and title of the United States in the property known as USDA Houma Sugar Cane Research Laboratory, consisting of approximately 20 acres in the City of Houma and 150 acres of farmland in Chacahula, Louisiana, including facilities and equipment, shall be conveyed to the American Sugar Cane League Foundation: Provided further, That <<NOTE: Public lands. California.>> all rights and title of the United States in the Agricultural Research Station at Brawley, California, consisting of 80 acres of land, including facilities and equipment, shall be conveyed to Imperial County, California: Provided further, That <<NOTE: Public lands. Texas. Texas A&M University.>> all rights and title of the United States in the Pecan Genetics and Improvement Research Laboratory, consisting of 84.2 acres of land, including facilities and equipment, shall be conveyed to Texas A&M University: <<NOTE: Public lands. Tennessee. University of Tennessee.>> Provided further, That the property originally conveyed by the State of Tennessee to the U.S. Department of Agriculture, Agricultural Research Service, in Lewisburg, Tennessee be conveyed to the University of Tennessee. None of the funds in the foregoing paragraph shall be available to carry out research related to the production, processing or marketing of tobacco or tobacco products. buildings and facilities For acquisition of land, construction, repair, improvement, extension, alteration, and purchase of fixed equipment or facilities as necessary to carry out the agricultural research programs of the Department of Agriculture, where not otherwise provided, $30,200,000, to remain available until expended (7 U.S.C. 2209b): Provided, That funds may be received from any State, other political subdivision, organization, or individual for the purpose of establishing any research facility of the Agricultural Research Service, as authorized by law. Cooperative State Research, Education, and Extension Service research and education activities For payments to agricultural experiment stations, for cooperative forestry and other research, for facilities, and for other expenses, including $168,734,000 to carry into effect the provisions of the Hatch Act (7 U.S.C. 361a-361i); $20,497,000 for grants for [[Page 109 STAT. 305]] cooperative forestry research (16 U.S.C. 582a-582-a7); $27,735,000 for payments to the 1890 land-grant colleges, including Tuskegee University (7 U.S.C. 3222); $49,846,000 for special grants for agricultural research (7 U.S.C. 450i(c)); $9,769,000 for special grants for agricultural research on improved pest control (7 U.S.C. 450i(c)); $96,735,000 for competitive research grants (7 U.S.C. 450i(b)); $5,051,000 for the support of animal health and disease programs (7 U.S.C. 3195); $650,000 for supplemental and alternative crops and products (7 U.S.C. 3319d); $500,000 for grants for research pursuant to the Critical Agricultural Materials Act of 1984 (7 U.S.C. 178) and section 1472 of the Food and Agriculture Act of 1977, as amended (7 U.S.C. 3318), to remain available until expended; $475,000 for rangeland research grants (7 U.S.C. 3331-3336); $3,500,000 for higher education graduate fellowships grants (7 U.S.C. 3152(b)(6)), to remain available until expended (7 U.S.C. 2209b); $4,350,000 for higher education challenge grants (7 U.S.C. 3152(b)(1)); $1,000,000 for a higher education minority scholars program (7 U.S.C. 3152(b)(5)), to remain available until expended (7 U.S.C. 2209b); $4,000,000 for aquaculture grants (7 U.S.C. 3322); $8,100,000 for sustainable agriculture research and education (7 U.S.C. 5811); $9,200,000 for a program of capacity building grants to colleges eligible to receive funds under the Act of August 30, 1890 (7 U.S.C. 321-326 and 328), including Tuskegee University, to remain available until expended (7 U.S.C. 2209b); $1,450,000 for payments to the 1994 Institutions pursuant to section 534(a)(1) of Public Law 103-382; and $10,337,000 for necessary expenses of Research and Education Activities, of which not to exceed $100,000 shall be for employment under 5 U.S.C. 3109; in all, $421,929,000. None of the funds in the foregoing paragraph shall be available to carry out research related to the production, processing or marketing of tobacco or tobacco products. native american institutions endowment fund For establishment of a Native American institutions endowment fund, as authorized by Public Law 130-382 (7 U.S.C. 301 note), $4,600,000. buildings and facilities For acquisition of land, construction, repair, improvement, extension, alteration, and purchase of fixed equipment or facilities and for grants to States and other eligible recipients for such purposes, as necessary to carry out the agricultural research, extension, and teaching programs of the Department of Agriculture, where not otherwise provided, $57,838,000, to remain available until expended (7 U.S.C. 2209b). extension activities Payments to States, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, Guam, the Virgin Islands, Micronesia, Northern Marianas, and American Samoa: For payments for cooperative extension work under the Smith-Lever Act, as amended, to be distributed under sections 3(b) and 3(c) of said Act, and under section 208(c) of Public Law 93-471, for retirement and employees' compensation costs for extension agents and for costs of penalty mail for coopera [[Page 109 STAT. 306]] tive extension agents and State extension directors, $268,493,000; payments for the nutrition and family education program for low-income areas under section 3(d) of the Act, $60,510,000; payments for the pest management program under section 3(d) of the Act, $10,783,000; payments for the farm safety program under section 3(d) of the Act, $2,943,000; payments for the pesticide impact assessment program under section 3(d) of the Act, $3,313,000; payments to upgrade 1890 land-grant college research, extension, and teaching facilities as authorized by section 1447 of Public Law 95-113, as amended (7 U.S.C. 3222b), $7,782,000, to remain available until expended; payments for the rural development centers under section 3(d) of the Act, $936,000; payments for a groundwater quality program under section 3(d) of the Act, $11,065,000; payments for the agricultural telecommunications program, as authorized by Public Law 101-624 (7 U.S.C. 5926), $1,203,000; payments for youth- at-risk programs under section 3(d) of the Act, $9,850,000; payments for a food safety program under section 3(d) of the Act, $2,438,000; payments for carrying out the provisions of the Renewable Resources Extension Act of 1978, $3,291,000; payments for Indian reservation agents under section 3(d) of the Act, $1,724,000; payments for sustainable agriculture programs under section 3(d) of the Act, $3,411,000; payments for rural health and safety education as authorized by section 2390 of Public Law 101-624 (7 U.S.C. 2661 note, 2662), $2,709,000; payments for cooperative extension work by the colleges receiving the benefits of the second Morrill Act (7 U.S.C. 321-326, 328) and Tuskegee University, $25,090,000; and for Federal administration and coordination including administration of the Smith-Lever Act, as amended, and the Act of September 29, 1977 (7 U.S.C. 341-349), as amended, and section 1361(c) of the Act of October 3, 1980 (7 U.S.C. 301 note), and to coordinate and provide program leadership for the extension work of the Department and the several States and insular possessions, $12,209,000; in all, $427,750,000: Provided, That funds hereby appropriated pursuant to section 3(c) of the Act of June 26, 1953, and section 506 of the Act of June 23, 1972, as amended, shall not be paid to any State, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, Guam, or the Virgin Islands, Micronesia, Northern Marianas, and American Samoa prior to availability of an equal sum from non-Federal sources for expenditure during the current fiscal year. Office of the Assistant Secretary for Marketing and Regulatory Programs For necessary salaries and expenses of the Office of the Assistant Secretary for Marketing and Regulatory Programs to administer programs under the laws enacted by the Congress for the Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service, Agricultural Marketing Service, and the Grain Inspection, Packers and Stockyards Administration, $605,000. Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service salaries and expenses (including transfers of funds) For expenses, not otherwise provided for, including those pursuant to the Act of February 28, 1947, as amended (21 U.S.C. 114b- [[Page 109 STAT. 307]] c), necessary to prevent, control, and eradicate pests and plant and animal diseases; to carry out inspection, quarantine, and regulatory activities; to discharge the authorities of the Secretary of Agriculture under the Act of March 2, 1931 (46 Stat. 1468; 7 U.S.C. 426-426b); and to protect the environment, as authorized by law, $331,667,000, of which $4,799,000 shall be available for the control of outbreaks of insects, plant diseases, animal diseases and for control of pest animals and birds to the extent necessary to meet emergency conditions: Provided, That in fiscal year 1996, amounts in the agricultural quarantine inspection user fee account shall be available for authorized purposes without further appropriation: Provided further, That no funds shall be used to formulate or administer a brucellosis eradication program for the current fiscal year that does not require minimum matching by the States of at least 40 percent: Provided further, That this appropriation shall be available for field employment pursuant to the second sentence of section 706(a) of the Organic Act of 1944 (7 U.S.C. 2225), and not to exceed $40,000 shall be available for employment under 5 U.S.C. 3109: Provided further, That this appropriation shall be available for the operation and maintenance of aircraft and the purchase of not to exceed four, of which two shall be for replacement only: Provided further, That, in addition, <<NOTE: 21 USC 129.>> in emergencies which threaten any segment of the agricultural production industry of this country, the Secretary may transfer from other appropriations or funds available to the agencies or corporations of the Department such sums as he may deem necessary, to be available only in such emergencies for the arrest and eradication of contagious or infectious diseases or pests of animals, poultry, or plants, and for expenses in accordance with the Act of February 28, 1947, as amended, and section 102 of the Act of September 21, 1944, as amended, and any unexpended balances of funds transferred for such emergency purposes in the next preceding fiscal year shall be merged with such transferred amounts: Provided further, That appropriations hereunder shall be available pursuant to law (7 U.S.C. 2250) for the repair and alteration of leased buildings and improvements, but unless otherwise provided the cost of altering any one building during the fiscal year shall not exceed 10 percent of the current replacement value of the building: Provided further, That of the funds provided, the Secretary of Agriculture may provide for the funding of all fees or charges under section 2509 of Public Law 101-624, codified at 21 U.S.C. 136a(c), for any service related to the cost of providing import, entry, diagnostic and quarantine services in connection with the 1996 Summer Olympic Games to be held in Atlanta, Georgia. In fiscal year 1996 the agency is authorized to collect fees to cover the total costs of providing technical assistance, goods, or services requested by States, other political subdivisions, domestic and international organizations, foreign governments, or individuals, provided that such fees are structured such that any entity's liability for such fees is reasonably based on the technical assistance, goods, or services provided to the entity by the agency, and such fees shall be credited to this account, to remain available until expended, without further appropriation, for providing such assistance, goods, or services. [[Page 109 STAT. 308]] buildings and facilities For plans, construction, repair, preventive maintenance, environmental support, improvement, extension, alteration, and purchase of fixed equipment or facilities, as authorized by 7 U.S.C. 2250, and acquisition of land as authorized by 7 U.S.C. 428a, $8,757,000, to remain available until expended. Agricultural Marketing Service marketing services For necessary expenses to carry on services related to consumer protection, agricultural marketing and distribution, transportation, and regulatory programs, as authorized by law, and for administration and coordination of payments to States; including field employment pursuant to section 706(a) of the Organic Act of 1944 (7 U.S.C. 2225), and not to exceed $90,000 for employment under 5 U.S.C. 3109, $46,517,000, including funds for the wholesale market development program for the design and development of wholesale and farmer market facilities for the major metropolitan areas of the country: Provided, That this appropriation shall be available pursuant to law (7 U.S.C. 2250) for the alteration and repair of buildings and improvements, but the cost of altering any one building during the fiscal year shall not exceed 10 percent of the current replacement value of the building. Fees may be collected for the cost of standardization activities, as established by regulation pursuant to law (31 U.S.C. 9701). limitation on administrative expenses Not to exceed $58,461,000 (from fees collected) shall be obligated during the current fiscal year for administrative expenses: Provided, That if crop size is understated and/or other uncontrollable events occur, the agency may exceed this limitation by up to 10 percent with notification to the Appropriations Committees. funds for strengthening markets, income, and supply (section 32) (including transfers of funds) Funds available under section 32 of the Act of August 24, 1935 (7 U.S.C. 612c) shall be used only for commodity program expenses as authorized therein, and other related operating expenses, except for: (1) transfers to the Department of Commerce as authorized by the Fish and Wildlife Act of August 8, 1956; (2) transfers otherwise provided in this Act; and (3) not more than $10,451,000 for formulation and administration of marketing agreements and orders pursuant to the Agricultural Marketing Agreement Act of 1937, as amended, and the Agricultural Act of 1961. In fiscal year 1996, no more than $23,900,000 in section 32 funds shall be used to promote sunflower and cottonseed oil exports as authorized by section 1541 of Public Law 101-624 (7 U.S.C. 1464 note), and such funds shall be used to facilitate additional sales of such oils in world markets. [[Page 109 STAT. 309]] payments to states and possessions For payments to departments of agriculture, bureaus and departments of markets, and similar agencies for marketing activities under section 204(b) of the Agricultural Marketing Act of 1946 (7 U.S.C. 1623(b)), $1,200,000. Grain Inspection, Packers and Stockyards Administration salaries and expenses For necessary expenses to carry out the provisions of the United States Grain Standards Act, as amended, for the administration of the Packers and Stockyards Act, for certifying procedures used to protect purchasers of farm products, and the standardization activities related to grain under the Agricultural Marketing Act of 1946, as amended, including field employment pursuant to section 706(a) of the Organic Act of 1944 (7 U.S.C. 2225), and not to exceed $25,000 for employment under 5 U.S.C. 3109, $23,058,000: Provided, That this appropriation shall be available pursuant to law (7 U.S.C. 2250) for the alteration and repair of buildings and improvements, but the cost of altering any one building during the fiscal year shall not exceed 10 percent of the current replacement value of the building. inspection and weighing services limitation on inspection and weighing services expenses Not to exceed $42,784,000 (from fees collected) shall be obligated during the current fiscal year for inspection and weighing services: Provided, That if grain export activities require additional supervision and oversight, or other uncontrollable factors occur, this limitation may be exceeded by up to 10 percent with notification to the Appropriations Committees. Office of the Under Secretary for Food Safety For necessary salaries and expenses of the Office of the Under Secretary for Food Safety to administer the laws enacted by the Congress for the Food Safety and Inspection Service, $440,000. Food Safety and Inspection Service For necessary expenses to carry on services authorized by the Federal Meat Inspection Act, as amended, the Poultry Products Inspection Act, as amended, and the Egg Products Inspection Act, as amended, $544,906,000, and in addition, $1,000,000 may be credited to this account from fees collected for the cost of laboratory accreditation as authorized by section 1017 of Public Law 102-237: Provided, That this appropriation shall not be available for shell egg surveillance under section 5(d) of the Egg Products Inspection Act (21 U.S.C. 1034(d)): Provided further, That this appropriation shall be available for field employment pursuant to section 706(a) of the Organic Act of 1944 (7 U.S.C. 2225), and not to exceed $75,000 shall be available for employment under 5 U.S.C. 3109: Provided further, That this appropriation shall be available pursuant to law (7 U.S.C. 2250) for the alteration and repair of buildings and improvements, but the cost of altering any one build [[Page 109 STAT. 310]] ing during the fiscal year shall not exceed 10 percent of the current replacement value of the building. Office of the Under Secretary for Farm and Foreign Agricultural Services For necessary salaries and expenses of the Office of the Under Secretary for Farm and Foreign Agricultural Services to administer the laws enacted by Congress for the Consolidated Farm Service Agency, Foreign Agricultural Service, and the Commodity Credit Corporation, $549,000. Consolidated Farm Service Agency salaries and expenses For necessary expenses for carrying out the administration and implementation of programs administered by the Consolidated Farm Service Agency, $795,000,000: Provided, That the Secretary is authorized to use the services, facilities, and authorities (but not the funds) of the Commodity Credit Corporation to make program payments for all programs administered by the Agency: Provided further, That other funds made available to the Agency for authorized activities may be advanced to and merged with this account: Provided further, That these funds shall be available for employment pursuant to the second sentence of section 706(a) of the Organic Act of 1944 (7 U.S.C. 2225), and not to exceed $1,000,000 shall be available for employment under 5 U.S.C. 3109. state mediation grants For grants pursuant to section 502(b) of the Agricultural Credit Act of 1987, as amended (7 U.S.C. 5101-5106), $2,000,000. dairy indemnity program (including transfers of funds) For necessary expenses involved in making indemnity payments to dairy farmers for milk or cows producing such milk and manufacturers of dairy products who have been directed to remove their milk or dairy products from commercial markets because it contained residues of chemicals registered and approved for use by the Federal Government, and in making indemnity payments for milk, or cows producing such milk, at a fair market value to any dairy farmer who is directed to remove his milk from commercial markets because of (1) the presence of products of nuclear radiation or fallout if such contamination is not due to the fault of the farmer, or (2) residues of chemicals or toxic substances not included under the first sentence of the Act of August 13, 1968, as amended (7 U.S.C. 450j), if such chemicals or toxic substances were not used in a manner contrary to applicable regulations or labeling instructions provided at the time of use and the contamination is not due to the fault of the farmer, $100,000, to remain available until expended (7 U.S.C. 2209b): Provided, That none of the funds contained in this Act shall be used to make indemnity payments to any farmer whose milk was removed from commercial markets as a result of his willful failure to follow procedures prescribed by the Federal Government: Provided further, [[Page 109 STAT. 311]] That this amount shall be transferred to the Commodity Credit Corporation: Provided further, That the Secretary is authorized to utilize the services, facilities, and authorities of the Commodity Credit Corporation for the purpose of making dairy indemnity disbursements. outreach for socially disadvantaged farmers For grants and contracts pursuant to section 2501 of the Food, Agriculture, Conservation, and Trade Act of 1990 (7 U.S.C. 2279), $1,000,000, to remain available until expended. agricultural credit insurance fund program account (including transfers of funds) For gross obligations for the principal amount of direct and guaranteed loans as authorized by 7 U.S.C. 1928-1929, to be available from funds in the Agricultural Credit Insurance Fund, as follows: farm ownership loans, $610,000,000, of which $550,000,000 shall be for guaranteed loans; operating loans, $2,450,000,000, of which $1,700,000,000 shall be for unsubsidized guaranteed loans and $200,000,000 shall be for subsidized guaranteed loans; Indian tribe land acquisition loans as authorized by 25 U.S.C. 488, $750,000; for emergency insured loans, $100,000,000 to meet the needs resulting from natural disasters. For the cost of direct and guaranteed loans, including the cost of modifying loans as defined in section 502 of the Congressional Budget Act of 1974, as follows: farm ownership loans, $34,053,000, of which $20,019,000 shall be for guaranteed loans; operating loans, $111,505,000, of which $18,360,000 shall be for unsubsidized guaranteed loans and $17,960,000 shall be for subsidized guaranteed loans; Indian tribe land acquisition loans as authorized by 25 U.S.C. 488, $206,000; for emergency insured loans, $32,080,000 to meet the needs resulting from natural disasters. In addition, for administrative expenses necessary to carry out the direct and guaranteed loan programs, $221,541,000, which shall be transferred to and merged with the following accounts in the following amounts: $208,446,000 to ``Salaries and Expenses''; $318,000 to ``Rural Utilities Service, Salaries and Expenses''; and $171,000 to ``Rural Housing and Community Development Service, Salaries and Expenses''. CORPORATIONS The following corporations and agencies are hereby authorized to make expenditures, within the limits of funds and borrowing authority available to each such corporation or agency and in accord with law, and to make contracts and commitments without regard to fiscal year limitations as provided by section 104 of the Government Corporation Control Act, as amended, as may be necessary in carrying out the programs set forth in the budget for the current fiscal year for such corporation or agency, except as hereinafter provided. [[Page 109 STAT. 312]] Federal Crop Insurance Corporation Fund For payments as authorized by section 516 of the Federal Crop Insurance Act, as amended, such sums as may be necessary, to remain available until expended (7 U.S.C. 2209b). Commodity Credit Corporation Fund reimbursement for net realized losses For fiscal year 1996, such sums as may be necessary to reimburse the Commodity Credit Corporation for net realized losses sustained, but not previously reimbursed (estimated to be $10,400,000,000 in the President's fiscal year 1996 Budget Request (H. Doc. 104-4)), but not to exceed $10,400,000,000, pursuant to section 2 of the Act of August 17, 1961, as amended (15 U.S.C. 713a-11). operations and maintenance for hazardous waste management For fiscal year 1996, the Commodity Credit Corporation shall not expend more than $5,000,000 for expenses to comply with the requirement of section 107(g) of the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act, as amended, 42 U.S.C. 9607(g), and section 6001 of the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act, as amended, 42 U.S.C. 6961: Provided, That expenses shall be for operations and maintenance costs only and that other hazardous waste management costs shall be paid for by the USDA Hazardous Waste Management appropriation in this Act. TITLE II CONSERVATION PROGRAMS Office of the Under Secretary for Natural Resources and Environment For necessary salaries and expenses of the Office of the Under Secretary for Natural Resources and Environment to administer the laws enacted by the Congress for the Forest Service and the Natural Resources Conservation Service, $677,000. Natural Resources Conservation Service conservation operations For necessary expenses for carrying out the provisions of the Act of April 27, 1935 (16 U.S.C. 590a-590f) including preparation of conservation plans and establishment of measures to conserve soil and water (including farm irrigation and land drainage and such special measures for soil and water management as may be necessary to prevent floods and the siltation of reservoirs and to control agricultural related pollutants); operation of conservation plant materials centers; classification and mapping of soil; dissemination of information; acquisition of lands, water, and interests therein for use in the plant materials program by donation, [[Page 109 STAT. 313]] exchange, or purchase at a nominal cost not to exceed $100 pursuant to the Act of August 3, 1956 (7 U.S.C. 428a); purchase and erection or alteration or improvement of permanent and temporary buildings; and operation and maintenance of aircraft, $629,986,000, to remain available until expended (7 U.S.C. 2209b), of which not less than $5,852,000 is for snow survey and water forecasting and not less than $8,875,000 is for operation and establishment of the plant materials centers: Provided, That appropriations hereunder shall be available pursuant to 7 U.S.C. 2250 for construction and improvement of buildings and public improvements at plant materials centers, except that the cost of alterations and improvements to other buildings and other public improvements shall not exceed $250,000: Provided further, That when buildings or other structures are erected on non-Federal land, that the right to use such land is obtained as provided in 7 U.S.C. 2250a: Provided further, That this appropriation shall be available for technical assistance and related expenses to carry out programs authorized by section 202(c) of title II of the Colorado River Basin Salinity Control Act of 1974, as amended (43 U.S.C. 1592(c)): Provided further, That no part of this appropriation may be expended for soil and water conservation operations under the Act of April 27, 1935 (16 U.S.C. 590a-590f) in demonstration projects: Provided further, That this appropriation shall be available for employment pursuant to the second sentence of section 706(a) of the Organic Act of 1944 (7 U.S.C. 2225) and not to exceed $25,000 shall be available for employment under 5 U.S.C. 3109: Provided further, That qualified local engineers may be temporarily employed at per diem rates to perform the technical planning work of the Service (16 U.S.C. 590e-2). watershed and flood prevention operations For necessary expenses to carry out preventive measures, including but not limited to research, engineering operations, methods of cultivation, the growing of vegetation, rehabilitation of existing works and changes in use of land, in accordance with the Watershed Protection and Flood Prevention Act approved August 4, 1954, as amended (16 U.S.C. 1001-1005, 1007-1009), the provisions of the Act of April 27, 1935 (16 U.S.C. 590a-f), and in accordance with the provisions of laws relating to the activities of the Department, $100,000,000, to remain available until expended (7 U.S.C. 2209b) (of which $15,000,000 shall be available for the watersheds authorized under the Flood Control Act approved June 22, 1936 (33 U.S.C. 701, 16 U.S.C. 1006a), as amended and supplemented): Provided, That this appropriation shall be available for employment pursuant to the second sentence of section 706(a) of the Organic Act of 1944 (7 U.S.C. 2225), and not to exceed $200,000 shall be available for employment under 5 U.S.C. 3109: Provided further, That not to exceed $1,000,000 of this appropriation is available to carry out the purposes of the Endangered Species Act of 1973 (Public Law 93-205), as amended, including cooperative efforts as contemplated by that Act to relocate endangered or threatened species to other suitable habitats as may be necessary to expedite project construction. [[Page 109 STAT. 314]] resource conservation and development For necessary expenses in planning and carrying out projects for resource conservation and development and for sound land use pursuant to the provisions of section 32(e) of title III of the Bankhead-Jones Farm Tenant Act, as amended (7 U.S.C. 1010-1011; 76 Stat. 607), and the provisions of the Act of April 27, 1935 (16 U.S.C. 590a-f), and the provisions of the Agriculture and Food Act of 1981 (16 U.S.C. 3451- 3461), $29,000,000, to remain available until expended (7 U.S.C. 2209): Provided, That this appropriation shall be available for employment pursuant to the second sentence of section 706(a) of the Organic Act of 1944 (7 U.S.C. 2225), and not to exceed $50,000 shall be available for employment under 5 U.S.C. 3109. forestry incentives program For necessary expenses, not otherwise provided for, to carry out the program of forestry incentives, as authorized in the Cooperative Forestry Assistance Act of 1978 (16 U.S.C. 2101), including technical assistance and related expenses, $6,325,000, to remain available until expended, as authorized by that Act. colorado river basin salinity control program For necessary expenses for carrying out a voluntary cooperative salinity control program pursuant to section 202(c) of title II of the Colorado River Basin Salinity Control Act, as amended (43 U.S.C. 1592(c)), to be used to reduce salinity in the Colorado River and to enhance the supply and quality of water available for use in the United States and the Republic of Mexico, $2,681,000, to remain available until expended (7 U.S.C. 2209b), to be used for the establishment of on-farm irrigation management systems, including lateral improvement measures, for making cost-share payments to agricultural landowners and operators, Indian tribes, irrigation districts and associations, local governmental and nongovernmental entities, and other landowners to aid them in carrying out approved conservation practices as determined and recommended by the Secretary, and for associated costs of program planning, information and education, and program monitoring and evaluation. watershed surveys and planning For necessary expenses to conduct research, investigation, and surveys of watersheds of rivers and other waterways, and for small watershed investigations and planning, in accordance with the Watershed Protection and Flood Prevention Act approved August 4, 1954, as amended (16 U.S.C. 1001-1009), $14,000,000: Provided, That this appropriation shall be available for employment pursuant to the second sentence of section 706(a) of the Organic Act of 1944 (7 U.S.C. 2225), and not to exceed $110,000 shall be available for employment under 5 U.S.C. 3109. [[Page 109 STAT. 315]] wetlands reserve program (including transfers of funds) For necessary expenses to carry out the wetlands reserve program pursuant to subchapter C of subtitle D of title XII of the Food Security Act of 1985 (16 U.S.C. 3837), $77,000,000, to remain available until expended: Provided, That the Secretary is authorized to use the services, facilities, and authorities of the Commodity Credit Corporation for the purpose of carrying out the wetlands reserve program. Consolidated Farm Service Agency agricultural conservation program (including transfers of funds) For necessary expenses to carry into effect the program authorized in sections 7 to 15, 16(a), 16(f), and 17 of the Soil Conservation and Domestic Allotment Act approved February 29, 1936, as amended and supplemented (16 U.S.C. 590g-590o, 590p(a), 590p(f), and 590q), and sections 1001-1004, 1006-1008, and 1010 of the Agricultural Act of 1970, as added by the Agriculture and Consumer Protection Act of 1973 (16 U.S.C. 1501-1504, 1506-1508, and 1510), and including not to exceed $15,000 for the preparation and display of exhibits, including such displays at State, interstate, and international fairs within the United States, $75,000,000, to remain available until expended (16 U.S.C. 590o), for agreements, excluding administration but including technical assistance and related expenses (16 U.S.C. 590o), except that no participant in the agricultural conservation program shall receive more than $3,500 per year, except where the participants from two or more farms or ranches join to carry out approved practices designed to conserve or improve the agricultural resources of the community, or where a participant has a long-term agreement, in which case the total payment shall not exceed the annual payment limitation multiplied by the number of years of the agreement: Provided, That no portion of the funds for the current year's program may be utilized to provide financial or technical assistance for drainage on wetlands now designated as Wetlands Types 3 (III) through 20 (XX) in United States Department of the Interior, Fish and Wildlife Circular 39, Wetlands of the United States, 1956: Provided further, That such amounts shall be available for the purchase of seeds, fertilizers, lime, trees, or any other conservation materials, or any soil-terracing services, and making grants thereof to agricultural producers to aid them in carrying out approved farming practices as authorized by the Soil Conservation and Domestic Allotment Act, as amended, as determined and recommended by the county committees, approved by the State committees and the Secretary, under programs provided for herein: Provided further, That such assistance will not be used for carrying out measures and practices that are primarily production-oriented or that have little or no conservation or pollution abatement benefits: Provided further, That not to exceed 5 percent of the allocation for the current year's program for any county may, on the recommendation of such county committee and approval of the State committee, be withheld and allotted to the Natural Resources Conservation Service for services [[Page 109 STAT. 316]] of its technicians in formulating and carrying out the agricultural conservation program in the participating counties, and shall not be utilized by the Natural Resources Conservation Service for any purpose other than technical and other assistance in such counties, and in addition, on the recommendation of such county committee and approval of the State committee, not to exceed 1 percent may be made available to any other Federal, State, or local public agency for the same purpose and under the same conditions: Provided further, That not to exceed $11,000,000 of the amount appropriated shall be used for water quality payments and practices in the same manner as permitted under the program for water quality authorized in chapter 2 of subtitle D of title XII of the Food Security Act of 1985, as amended (16 U.S.C. 3838 et seq.). conservation reserve program (including transfers of funds) For necessary expenses to carry out the conservation reserve program pursuant to the Food Security Act of 1985 (16 U.S.C. 3831-3845), $1,781,785,000, to remain available until expended, to be used for Commodity Credit Corporation expenditures for cost-share assistance for the establishment of conservation practices provided for in approved conservation reserve program contracts, for annual rental payments provided in such contracts, and for technical assistance. TITLE III RURAL ECONOMIC AND COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT PROGRAMS Office of the Under Secretary for Rural Economic and Community Development For necessary salaries and expenses of the Office of the Under Secretary for Rural Economic and Community Development to administer programs under the laws enacted by the Congress for the Rural Housing and Community Development Service, Rural Business and Cooperative Development Service, and the Rural Utilities Service of the Department of Agriculture, $568,000. Rural Housing and Community Development Service salaries and expenses For necessary expenses of the Rural Housing and Community Development Service, including administering the programs authorized by the Consolidated Farm and Rural Development Act, as amended, title V of the Housing Act of 1949, as amended, and cooperative agreements, $46,583,000: Provided, That this appropriation shall be available for employment pursuant to the second sentence of 706(a) of the Organic Act of 1944, and not to exceed $500,000 may be used for employment under 5 U.S.C. 3109. [[Page 109 STAT. 317]] rural housing insurance fund program account (including transfers of funds) For gross obligations for the principal amount of direct and guaranteed loans as authorized by title V of the Housing Act of 1949, as amended, to be available from funds in the rural housing insurance fund, as follows: $2,700,000,000 for loans to section 502 borrowers, as determined by the Secretary, of which $1,700,000,000 shall be for unsubsidized guaranteed loans; $35,000,000 for section 504 housing repair loans; $15,000,000 for section 514 farm labor housing; $150,000,000 for section 515 rental housing; $600,000 for site loans: Provided, That notwithstanding section 520 of the Housing Act of 1949, the Secretary of Agriculture may make loans under section 502 of such Act for properties in the Pine View West Subdivision, located in Gibsonville, North Carolina, in the same manner as provided under such section for properties in rural areas. For the cost of direct and guaranteed loans, including the cost of modifying loans, as defined in section 502 of the Congressional Budget Act of 1974, as follows: section 502 loans, $148,723,000, of which $2,890,000 shall be for unsubsidized guaranteed loans; section 504 housing repair loans, $14,193,000; section 514 farm labor housing, $8,629,000; section 515 rental housing, $82,035,000: Provided, That no funds for new construction may be available for fiscal year 1996 until the program is authorized. In addition, for the cost (as defined in section 502 of the Congressional Budget Act of 1974) of guaranteed loans under a demonstration program of loan guarantees for multifamily rental housing in rural areas, $1,000,000, to be derived from the amount made available under this heading for the cost of low-income section 515 loans and to become available for obligation only upon the enactment of authorizing legislation. In addition, for administrative expenses necessary to carry out the direct and guaranteed loan programs, $385,889,000, of which $372,897,000 shall be transferred to and merged with the appropriation for ``Rural Housing and Community Development Service, Salaries and Expenses''. rental assistance program For rental assistance agreements entered into or renewed pursuant to the authority under section 521(a)(2) or agreements entered into in lieu of forgiveness or payments for eligible households as authorized by section 502(c)(5)(D) of the Housing Act of 1949, as amended, $540,900,000; and in addition such sums as may be necessary, as authorized by section 521(c) of the Act, to liquidate debt incurred prior to fiscal year 1992 to carry out the rental assistance program under section 521(a)(2) of the Act: Provided, That of this amount not more than $5,900,000 shall be available for debt forgiveness or payments for eligible households as authorized by section 502(c)(5)(D) of the Act, and not to exceed $10,000 per project for advances to nonprofit organizations or public agencies to cover direct costs (other than purchase price) incurred in purchasing projects pursuant to section 502(c)(5)(C) of the Act: Provided further, That agreements entered into or renewed during fiscal year 1996 shall be funded for a five-year period, although [[Page 109 STAT. 318]] the life of any such agreement may be extended to fully utilize amounts obligated. self-help housing land development fund For the principal amount of direct loans, as authorized by section 523(b)(1)(B) of the Housing Act of 1949, as amended (42 U.S.C. 1490c), $603,000. For the cost of direct loans, including the cost of modifying loans, as defined in section 502 of the Congressional Budget Act of 1974, $31,000. community facility loans program account (including transfers of funds) For the cost of direct loans, $34,880,000, and for the cost of guaranteed loans, $3,555,000, as authorized by 7 U.S.C. 1928 and 86 Stat. 661-664, as amended: Provided, That such costs, including the cost of modifying such loans, shall be as defined in section 502 of the Congressional Budget Act of 1974: Provided further, That such sums shall remain available until expended for the disbursement of loans obligated in fiscal year 1996: Provided further, That these funds are available to subsidize gross obligations for the principal amount of direct loans not to exceed $200,000,000 and total loan principal, any part of which is to be guaranteed, not to exceed $75,000,000: Provided further, That of the amounts available for the cost of direct loans not to exceed $1,208,000, to subsidize gross obligations for the principal amount not to exceed $6,930,000, shall be available for empowerment zones and enterprise communities, as authorized by Public Law 103-66: Provided further, That if such funds are not obligated for empowerment zones and enterprise communities by June 30, 1996, they remain available for other authorized purposes under this head. In addition, for administrative expenses to carry out the direct and guaranteed loan programs, $8,836,000, of which $8,731,000 shall be transferred to and merged with the appropriation for ``Salaries and Expenses''. very low-income housing repair grants For grants to the very low-income elderly for essential repairs to dwellings pursuant to section 504 of the Housing Act of 1949, as amended, $24,900,000, to remain available until expended. rural housing for domestic farm labor For financial assistance to eligible nonprofit organizations for housing for domestic farm labor, pursuant to section 516 of the Housing Act of 1949, as amended (42 U.S.C. 1486), $10,000,000, to remain available until expended. mutual and self-help housing grants For grants and contracts pursuant to section 523(b)(1)(A) of the Housing Act of 1949 (42 U.S.C. 1490c), $12,650,000, to remain available until expended (7 U.S.C. 2209b). [[Page 109 STAT. 319]] rural community fire protection grants For grants pursuant to section 7 of the Cooperative Forestry Assistance Act of 1978 (Public Law 95-313), $2,000,000 to fund up to 50 percent of the cost of organizing, training, and equipping rural volunteer fire departments. compensation for construction defects For compensation for construction defects as authorized by section 509(c) of the Housing Act of 1949, as amended, $495,000, to remain available until expended. rural housing preservation grants For grants for rural housing preservation as authorized by section 552 of the Housing and Urban-Rural Recovery Act of 1983 (Public Law 98- 181), $11,000,000. Rural Business and Cooperative Development Service salaries and expenses For necessary expenses of the Rural Business and Cooperative Development Service, including administering the programs authorized by the Consolidated Farm and Rural Development Act, as amended; section 1323 of the Food Security Act of 1985; the Cooperative Marketing Act of 1926; for activities relating to the marketing aspects of cooperatives, including economic research findings, as authorized by the Agricultural Marketing Act of 1946; for activities with institutions concerning the development and operation of agricultural cooperatives; and cooperative agreements; $9,013,000: Provided, That this appropriation shall be available for employment pursuant to the second sentence of 706(a) of the Organic Act of 1944, and not to exceed $250,000 may be used for employment under 5 U.S.C. 3109. rural business and industry loans program account (including transfers of funds) For the cost of guaranteed loans, $6,437,000, as authorized by 7 U.S.C. 1928 and 86 Stat. 661-664, as amended: Provided, That such costs, including the cost of modifying such loans, shall be as defined in section 502 of the Congressional Budget Act of 1974: Provided further, That such sums shall remain available until expended for the disbursement of loans obligated in fiscal year 1996: Provided further, That these funds are available to subsidize gross obligations for the principal amount of guaranteed loans of $500,000,000: Provided further, That of the amounts available for the cost of guaranteed loans including the cost of modifying loans, $148,000, to subsidize gross obligations for the loan principal, any part of which is guaranteed, not to exceed $10,842,000, shall be available for empowerment zones and enterprise communities, as authorized by Public Law 103-66: Provided further, That if such funds are not obligated for empowerment zones and enterprise communities by June 30, 1996, they remain available for other authorized activities under this head. [[Page 109 STAT. 320]] In addition, for administrative expenses to carry out the direct and guaranteed loan programs, $14,868,000, of which $14,747,000 shall be transferred to and merged with the appropriation for ``Salaries and Expenses''. rural development loan fund program account For the cost of direct loans, $22,395,000, as authorized by the Rural Development Loan Fund (42 U.S.C. 9812(a)): Provided, That such costs, including the cost of modifying such loans, shall be as defined in section 502 of the Congressional Budget Act of 1974: Provided further, That these funds are available to subsidize gross obligations for the principal amount of direct loans of $37,544,000: Provided further, That through June 30, 1996, of these amounts, $4,322,000 shall be available for the cost of direct loans, for empowerment zones and enterprise communities, as authorized by title XIII of the Omnibus Budget Reconcilation Act of 1993, to subsidize gross obligations for the principal amount of direct loans, $7,246,000. In addition, for administrative expenses necessary to carry out the direct loan programs, $1,476,000, of which $1,470,000 shall be transferred to and merged with the appropriation for ``Salaries and Expenses''. rural economic development loans program account (including transfers of funds) For the principal amount of direct loans, as authorized under section 313 of the Rural Electrification Act, for the purpose of promoting rural economic development and job creation projects, $12,865,000. For the cost of direct loans, including the cost of modifying loans as defined in section 502 of the Congressional Budget Act of 1974, $3,729,000. In addition, for administrative expenses necessary to carry out the direct loan program, $654,000, which shall be transferred to and merged with the appropriation for ``Salaries and Expenses''. alternative agricultural research and commercialization revolving fund For necessary expenses to carry out the Alternative Agricultural Research and Commercialization Act of 1990 (7 U.S.C. 5901-5908), $6,500,000 is appropriated to the alternative agricultural research and commercialization revolving fund. rural business enterprise grants For grants authorized under section 310B(c) and 310B(j) (7 U.S.C. 1932) of the Consolidated Farm and Rural Development Act to any qualified public or private nonprofit organization, $45,000,000, of which $8,381,000 shall be available through June 30, 1996, for assistance to empowerment zones and enterprise communities, as authorized by title XIII of the Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act of 1993, after which any funds not obligated shall remain available for other authorized purposes under this head: Provided, That $500,000 shall be available for grants to qualified nonprofit organizations to provide technical assistance [[Page 109 STAT. 321]] and training for rural communities needing improved passenger transportation systems or facilities in order to promote economic development. rural technology and cooperative development grants For grants pursuant to section 310(f) of the Consolidated Farm and Rural Development Act, as amended (7 U.S.C. 1932), $2,300,000, of which up to $1,300,000 may be available for the appropriate technology transfer for rural areas program. Rural Utilities Service rural electrification and telephone loans program account (including transfers of funds) Insured loans pursuant to the authority of section 305 of the Rural Electrification Act of 1936, as amended (7 U.S.C. 935), shall be made as follows: 5 percent rural electrification loans, $90,000,000; 5 percent rural telephone loans, $70,000,000; cost of money rural telephone loans, $300,000,000; municipal rate rural electric loans, $525,000,000; and loans made pursuant to section 306 of that Act, $420,000,000, to remain available until expended. For the cost, as defined in section 502 of the Congressional Budget Act of 1974, including the cost of modifying loans, of direct and guaranteed loans authorized by the Rural Electrification Act of 1936, as amended (7 U.S.C. 935), as follows: cost of direct loans, $35,126,000; cost of municipal rate loans, $56,858,000; cost of money rural telephone loans, $60,000; cost of loans guaranteed pursuant to section 306, $2,520,000: Provided, That notwithstanding section 305(d)(2) of the Rural Electrification Act of 1936, borrower interest rates may exceed 7 percent per year. In addition, for administrative expenses necessary to carry out the direct and guaranteed loan programs, $29,982,000, which shall be transferred to and merged with the appropriation for ``Salaries and Expenses''. rural telephone bank program account The Rural Telephone Bank is hereby authorized to make such expenditures, within the limits of funds available to such corporation in accord with law, and to make such contracts and commitments without regard to fiscal year limitations as provided by section 104 of the Government Corporation Control Act, as amended, as may be necessary in carrying out its authorized programs for the current fiscal year. During fiscal year 1996 and within the resources and authority available, gross obligations for the principal amount of direct loans shall be $175,000,000. For the cost, as defined in section 502 of the Congressional Budget Act of 1974, including the cost of modifying loans, of direct loans authorized by the Rural Electrification Act of 1936, as amended (7 U.S.C. 935), $5,023,000. In addition, for administrative expenses necessary to carry out the loan programs, $3,541,000. [[Page 109 STAT. 322]] distance learning and medical link grants For necessary expenses to carry into effect the programs authorized in sections 2331-2335 of Public Law 101-624, $7,500,000, to remain available until expended. rural utilities assistance program (including transfers of funds) For the cost of direct loans, loan guarantees, and grants, as authorized by 7 U.S.C. 1926, 1928, and 1932, $487,868,000, to remain available until expended, to be available for loans and grants for rural water and waste disposal and solid waste management grants: Provided, That the costs of direct loans and loan guarantees, including the cost of modifying such loans, shall be as defined in section 502 of the Congressional Budget Act of 1974: Provided further, That of the total amount appropriated, not to exceed $4,500,000 shall be available for contracting with the National Rural Water Association or equally qualified national organizations for a circuit rider program to provide technical assistance for rural water systems: Provided further, That of the total amount appropriated, not to exceed $18,700,000 shall be available for water and waste disposal systems to benefit the Colonias along the United States/Mexico border, including grants pursuant to section 306C: Provided further, That of the total amount appropriated, $18,688,000 shall be for empowerment zones and enterprise communities, as authorized by Public Law 103-66: Provided further, That if such funds are not obligated for empowerment zones and enterprise communities by June 30, 1996, they shall remain available for other authorized purposes under this head. In addition, for administrative expenses necessary to carry out direct loans, loan guarantees, and grants, $12,740,000, of which $12,623,000 shall be transferred to and merged with ``Rural Utilities Service, Salaries and Expenses''. salaries and expenses For necessary expenses of the Rural Utilities Service, including administering the programs authorized by the Rural Electrification Act of 1936, as amended, and the Consolidated Farm and Rural Development Act, as amended, $18,449,000, of which $7,000 shall be available for financial credit reports: Provided, That this appropriation shall be available for employment pursuant to the second sentence of 706(a) of the Organic Act of 1944, and not to exceed $103,000 may be used for employment under 5 U.S.C. 3109. TITLE IV DOMESTIC FOOD PROGRAMS Office of the Under Secretary for Food, Nutrition and Consumer Services For necessary salaries and expenses of the Office of the Under Secretary for Food, Nutrition and Consumer Services to administer the laws enacted by the Congress for the Food and Consumer Service, $440,000. [[Page 109 STAT. 323]] Food and Consumer Service child nutrition programs (including transfers of funds) For necessary expenses to carry out the National School Lunch Act (42 U.S.C. 1751-1769b), and the applicable provisions other than section 21 of the National School Lunch Act and sections 17 and 19 of the Child Nutrition Act of 1966 (42 U.S.C. 1772-1785, and 1789); $7,946,024,000, to remain available through September 30, 1997, of which $2,348,166,000 is hereby appropriated and $5,597,858,000 shall be derived by transfer from funds available under section 32 of the Act of August 24, 1935 (7 U.S.C. 612c): Provided, That up to $3,964,000 shall be available for independent verification of school food service claims. special supplemental nutrition program for women, infants, and children (wic) (including transfers of funds) For necessary expenses to carry out the special supplemental nutrition program as authorized by section 17 of the Child Nutrition Act of 1966 (42 U.S.C. 1786), $3,729,807,000, to remain available through September 30, 1997: Provided, That for fiscal year 1996, $20,000,000 that would otherwise be available to States for nutrition services and administration shall be made available for food benefits: Provided further, That $4,000,000 from unobligated balances for supervisory and technical assistance grants may be transferred to and merged with this account: Provided further, That up to $6,750,000 may be used to carry out the farmers' market nutrition program from any funds not needed to maintain current caseload levels: Provided further, That none of the funds in this Act shall be available to pay administrative expenses of WIC clinics except those that have an announced policy of prohibiting smoking within the space used to carry out the program: Provided further, That once the amount for fiscal year 1995 carryover funds has been determined by the Secretary, any funds in excess of $100,000,000 may be transferred by the Secretary of Agriculture to the Rural Utilities Assistance Program and shall remain available until expended: Provided further, That none of the funds provided in this account shall be available for the purchase of infant formula except in accordance with the cost containment and competitive bidding requirements specified in section 17 of the Child Nutrition Act of 1966 (42 U.S.C. 1786). food stamp program For necessary expenses to carry out the Food Stamp Act (7 U.S.C. 2011-2029), $27,597,828,000: Provided, That funds provided herein shall remain available through September 30, 1996, in accordance with section 18(a) of the Food Stamp Act: Provided further, That $500,000,000 of the foregoing amount shall be placed in reserve for use only in such amounts and at such times as may become necessary to carry out program operations: Provided further, That funds provided herein shall be expended in accordance with section 16 of the Food Stamp Act: Provided further, That this appropriation shall be subject to any work registration or [[Page 109 STAT. 324]] workfare requirements as may be required by law: Provided further, That $1,143,000,000 of the foregoing amount shall be available for nutrition assistance for Puerto Rico as authorized by 7 U.S.C. 2028. commodity assistance program For necessary expenses to carry out the commodity supplemental food program as authorized by section 4(a) of the Agriculture and Consumer Protection Act of 1973 (7 U.S.C. 612c(note)), the Emergency Food Assistance Act of 1983, as amended, and section 110 of the Hunger Prevention Act of 1988, $166,000,000, to remain available through September 30, 1997: Provided, That none of these funds shall be available to reimburse the Commodity Credit Corporation for commodities donated to the program: Provided further, That none of the funds in this Act or any other Act may be used for demonstration projects in the emergency food assistance program. food donations programs for selected groups For necessary expenses to carry out section 4(a) of the Agriculture and Consumer Protection Act of 1973 (7 U.S.C. 612c (note)), section 4(b) of the Food Stamp Act (7 U.S.C. 2013(b)), and section 311 of the Older Americans Act of 1965, as amended (42 U.S.C. 3030a), $215,000,000, to remain available through September 30, 1997: Provided, That <<NOTE: 42 USC 3030a note.>> hereafter notwithstanding any other provision of law, for meals provided pursuant to the Older Americans Act of 1965, a maximum rate of reimbursement to States will be established by the Secretary, subject to reduction if obligations would exceed the amount of available funds, with any unobligated funds to remain available only for obligation in the fiscal year beginning October 1, 1996. food program administration For necessary administrative expenses of the domestic food programs funded under this Act, $107,769,000, of which $5,000,000 shall be available only for simplifying procedures, reducing overhead costs, tightening regulations, improving food stamp coupon handling, and assistance in the prevention, identification, and prosecution of fraud and other violations of law: Provided, That this appropriation shall be available for employment pursuant to the second sentence of section 706(a) of the Organic Act of 1944 (7 U.S.C. 2225), and not to exceed $150,000 shall be available for employment under 5 U.S.C. 3109. TITLE V FOREIGN ASSISTANCE AND RELATED PROGRAMS Foreign Agricultural Service (including transfers of funds) For necessary expenses of the Foreign Agricultural Service, including carrying out title VI of the Agricultural Act of 1954, as amended (7 U.S.C. 1761-1768), market development activities abroad, and for enabling the Secretary to coordinate and integrate [[Page 109 STAT. 325]] activities of the Department in connection with foreign agricultural work, including not to exceed $128,000 for representation allowances and for expenses pursuant to section 8 of the Act approved August 3, 1956 (7 U.S.C. 1766), $124,775,000, of which $5,176,000 may be transferred from Commodity Credit Corporation funds, $2,792,000 may be transferred from the Commodity Credit Corporation program account in this Act, and $1,005,000 may be transferred from the Public Law 480 program account in this Act: Provided, That the Service may utilize advances of funds, or reimburse this appropriation for expenditures made on behalf of Federal agencies, public and private organizations and institutions under agreements executed pursuant to the agricultural food production assistance programs (7 U.S.C. 1736) and the foreign assistance programs of the International Development Cooperation Administration (22 U.S.C. 2392): Provided further, That none of the funds made available by this Act may be used to carry out activities of the market promotion program (7 U.S.C. 5623) which provides direct grants to any for-profit corporation that is not recognized as a small business concern under section 3(a) of the Small Business Act (15 U.S.C. 632(a)), excluding cooperatives and associations as described in 7 U.S.C. 291 and non- profit trade associations: Provided further, That funds available to trade associations, cooperatives, and small businesses may be used for individual branded promotions; with the beneficiaries having matched the cost of such promotions. None of the funds in the foregoing paragraph shall be available to promote the sale or export of tobacco or tobacco products. public law 480 program and grant accounts (including transfers of funds) For expenses during the current fiscal year, not otherwise recoverable, and unrecovered prior years' costs, including interest thereon, under the Agricultural Trade Development and Assistance Act of 1954, as amended (7 U.S.C. 1691, 1701-1715, 1721-1726, 1727-1727f, 1731- 1736g), as follows: (1) $291,342,000 for Public Law 480 title I credit, including Food for Progress programs; (2) $25,000,000 is hereby appropriated for ocean freight differential costs for the shipment of agricultural commodities pursuant to title I of said Act and the Food for Progress Act of 1985, as amended; (3) $821,100,000 is hereby appropriated for commodities supplied in connection with dispositions abroad pursuant to title II of said Act, of which $60,000,000 shall be financed from funds credited to the Commodity Credit Corporation pursuant to section 426 of Public Law 103-465; and (4) $50,000,000 is hereby appropriated for commodities supplied in connection with dispositions abroad pursuant to title III of said Act: Provided, That not to exceed 15 percent of the funds made available to carry out any title of said Act may be used to carry out any other title of said Act: Provided further, That such sums shall remain available until expended (7 U.S.C. 2209b). For the cost, as defined in section 502 of the Congressional Budget Act of 1974, of direct credit agreements as authorized by the Agricultural Trade Development and Assistance Act of 1954, as amended, and the Food for Progress Act of 1985, as amended, including the cost of modifying credit agreements under said Act, $236,162,000. [[Page 109 STAT. 326]] In addition, for administrative expenses to carry out the Public Law 480 title I credit program, and the Food for Progress Act of 1985, as amended, to the extent funds appropriated for Public Law 480 are utilized, $1,750,000. short-term export credit The Commodity Credit Corporation shall make available not less than $5,200,000,000 in credit guarantees under its export credit guarantee program for short-term credit extended to finance the export sales of United States agricultural commodities and the products thereof, as authorized by section 202(a) of the Agricultural Trade Act of 1978 (7 U.S.C. 5641). intermediate-term export credit The Commodity Credit Corporation shall make available not less than $500,000,000 in credit guarantees under its export credit guarantee program for intermediate-term credit extended to finance the export sales of United States agricultural commodities and the products thereof, as authorized by section 202(b) of the Agricultural Trade Act of 1978 (7 U.S.C. 5641). commodity credit corporation export loans program account (including transfers of funds) For administrative expenses to carry out the Commodity Credit Corporation's export guarantee program, GSM-102 and GSM-103, $3,381,000; to cover common overhead expenses as permitted by section 11 of the Commodity Credit Corporation Charter Act and in conformity with the Federal Credit Reform Act of 1990, of which not to exceed $2,792,000 may be transferred to and merged with the appropriation for the salaries and expenses of the Foreign Agricultural Service, and of which not to exceed $589,000 may be transferred to and merged with the appropriation for the salaries and expenses of the Consolidated Farm Service Agency. TITLE VI RELATED AGENCIES AND FOOD AND DRUG ADMINISTRATION DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES Food and Drug Administration salaries and expenses For necessary expenses of the Food and Drug Administration, including hire and purchase of passenger motor vehicles; for rental of special purpose space in the District of Columbia or elsewhere; and for miscellaneous and emergency expenses of enforcement activities, authorized and approved by the Secretary and to be accounted for solely on the Secretary's certificate, not to exceed $25,000; $904,694,000, of which not to exceed $84,723,000 in fees pursuant to section 736 of the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act may be credited to this appropriation and remain available until expended: Provided, That fees derived from applications [[Page 109 STAT. 327]] received during fiscal year 1996 shall be subject to the fiscal year 1996 limitation: Provided further, That none of these funds shall be used to develop, establish, or operate any program of user fees authorized by 31 U.S.C. 9701. In addition, fees pursuant to section 354 of the Public Health Service Act may be credited to this account, to remain available until expended. buildings and facilities For plans, construction, repair, improvement, extension, alteration, and purchase of fixed equipment or facilities of or used by the Food and Drug Administration, where not otherwise provided, $12,150,000, to remain available until expended (7 U.S.C. 2209b). rental payments (fda) (including transfers of funds) For payment of space rental and related costs pursuant to Public Law 92-313 for programs and activities of the Food and Drug Administration which are included in this Act, $46,294,000: Provided, That in the event the Food and Drug Administration should require modification of space needs, a share of the salaries and expenses appropriation may be transferred to this appropriation, or a share of this appropriation may be transferred to the salaries and expenses appropriation, but such transfers shall not exceed 5 percent of the funds made available for rental payments (FDA) to or from this account. DEPARTMENT OF THE TREASURY Financial Management Service payments to the farm credit system financial assistance corporation For necessary payments to the Farm Credit System Financial Assistance Corporation by the Secretary of the Treasury, as authorized by section 6.28(c) of the Farm Credit Act of 1971, as amended, for reimbursement of interest expenses incurred by the Financial Assistance Corporation on obligations issued through 1994, as authorized, $15,453,000. INDEPENDENT AGENCIES Commodity Futures Trading Commission For necessary expenses to carry out the provisions of the Commodity Exchange Act, as amended (7 U.S.C. 1 et seq.), including the purchase and hire of passenger motor vehicles; the rental of space (to include multiple year leases) in the District of Columbia and elsewhere; and not to exceed $25,000 for employment under 5 U.S.C. 3109; $53,601,000, including not to exceed $1,000 for official reception and representation expenses: Provided, That the Commission is authorized to charge reasonable fees to attendees of Commission sponsored educational events and symposia to cover the Commission's costs of providing those events and symposia, [[Page 109 STAT. 328]] and notwithstanding 31 U.S.C. 3302, said fees shall be credited to this account, to be available without further appropriation. Farm Credit Administration administrative provision Sec. 601. <<NOTE: Health and health care. 5 USC 8901 note.>> (a) For purposes of the administration of chapter 89 of title 5, United States Code, any period of enrollment under a health benefits plan administered by the Farm Credit Administration prior to the effective date of this Act shall be deemed to be a period of enrollment in a health benefits plan under chapter 89 of such title. (b)(1) An individual who, on September 30, 1995, is covered by a health benefits plan administered by the Farm Credit Administration may enroll in an approved health benefits plan described under section 8903 or 8903a of title 5, United States Code-- (A) either as an individual or for self and family, if such individual is an employee, annuitant, or former spouse as defined under section 8901 of such title; and (B) for coverage effective on and after September 30, 1995. (2) An individual who, on September 30, 1995, is entitled to continued coverage under a health benefits plan administered by the Farm Credit Administration-- (A) shall be deemed to be entitled to continued coverage under section 8905a of title 5, United States Code, for the same period that would have been permitted under the plan administered by the Farm Credit Administration; and (B) may enroll in an approved health benefits plan described under sections 8903 or 8903a of such title in accordance with section 8905A of such title for coverage effective on and after September 30, 1995. (3) An individual who, on September 30, 1995, is covered as an unmarried dependent child under a health benefits plan administered by the Farm Credit Administration and who is not a member of family as defined under section 8901(5) of title 5, United States Code-- (A) shall be deemed to be entitled to continued coverage under section 8905a of such title as though the individual had, on September 30, 1995, ceased to meet the requirements for being considered an unmarried dependent child under chapter 89 of such title; and (B) may enroll in an approved health benefits plan described under section 8903 or 8903a of such title in accordance with section 8905a for continued coverage on and after September 30, 1995. (c) The Farm Credit Administration shall transfer to the Federal Employees Health Benefits Fund established under section 8909 of title 5, United States Code, amounts determined by the Director of the Office of Personnel Management, after consultation with the Farm Credit Administration, to be necessary to reimburse the Fund for the cost of providing benefits under this section not otherwise paid for by the individuals covered by this section. The amount so transferred shall be held in the Fund and used by the Office in addition to the amounts available under section 8906(g)(1) of such title. (d) The Office of Personnel Management-- [[Page 109 STAT. 329]] (1) shall administer the provisions of this section to provide for-- (A) a period of notice and open enrollment for individuals affected by this section; and (B) no lapse of health coverage for individuals who enroll in a health benefits plan under chapter 89 of title 5, United States Code, in accordance with this section; and (2) may prescribe regulations to implement this section. TITLE VII--GENERAL PROVISIONS Sec. 701. Within the unit limit of cost fixed by law, appropriations and authorizations made for the Department of Agriculture for the fiscal year 1996 under this Act shall be available for the purchase, in addition to those specifically provided for, of not to exceed 665 passenger motor vehicles, of which 642 shall be for replacement only, and for the hire of such vehicles. Sec. 702. Funds in this Act available to the Department of Agriculture shall be available for uniforms or allowances therefor as authorized by law (5 U.S.C. 5901-5902). Sec. 703. <<NOTE: 7 USC 1623a.>> Not less than $1,500,000 of the appropriations of the Department of Agriculture in this Act for research and service work authorized by the Acts of August 14, 1946, and July 28, 1954 (7 U.S.C. 427, 1621-1629), and by chapter 63 of title 31, United States Code, shall be available for contracting in accordance with said Acts and chapter. Sec. 704. The cumulative total of transfers to the Working Capital Fund for the purpose of accumulating growth capital for data services and National Finance Center operations shall not exceed $2,000,000: Provided, That no funds in this Act appropriated to an agency of the Department shall be transferred to the Working Capital Fund without the approval of the agency administrator. Sec. 705. <<NOTE: 7 USC 2209b.>> New obligational authority provided for the following appropriation items in this Act shall remain available until expended (7 U.S.C. 2209b): Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service, the contingency fund to meet emergency conditions, and integrated systems acquisition project; Consolidated Farm Service Agency, salaries and expenses funds made available to county committees; and Foreign Agricultural Service, middle-income country training program. New obligational authority for the boll weevil program; up to 10 percent of the screwworm program of the Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service; Food Safety and Inspection Service, field automation and information management project; funds appropriated for rental payments; funds for the Native American institutions endowment fund in the Cooperative State Research, Education, and Extension Service, and funds for the competitive research grants (7 U.S.C. 450i(b)) shall remain available until expended. Sec. 706. No part of any appropriation contained in this Act shall remain available for obligation beyond the current fiscal year unless expressly so provided herein. Sec. 707. Not to exceed $50,000 of the appropriations available to the Department of Agriculture in this Act shall be available to provide appropriate orientation and language training pursuant to Public Law 94- 449. [[Page 109 STAT. 330]] Sec. 708. No funds appropriated by this Act may be used to pay negotiated indirect cost rates on cooperative agreements or similar arrangements between the United States Department of Agriculture and nonprofit institutions in excess of 10 percent of the total direct cost of the agreement when the purpose of such cooperative arrangements is to carry out programs of mutual interest between the two parties. This does not preclude appropriate payment of indirect costs on grants and contracts with such institutions when such indirect costs are computed on a similar basis for all agencies for which appropriations are provided in this Act. Sec. 709. <<NOTE: 7 USC 612c note.>> Notwithstanding any other provision of this Act, commodities acquired by the Department in connection with Commodity Credit Corporation and section 32 price support operations may be used, as authorized by law (15 U.S.C. 714c and 7 U.S.C. 612c), to provide commodities to individuals in cases of hardship as determined by the Secretary of Agriculture. Sec. 710. None of the funds in this Act shall be available to reimburse the General Services Administration for payment of space rental and related costs in excess of the amounts specified in this Act; nor shall this or any other provision of law require a reduction in the level of rental space or services below that of fiscal year 1995 or prohibit an expansion of rental space or services with the use of funds otherwise appropriated in this Act. Further, no agency of the Department of Agriculture, from funds otherwise available, shall reimburse the General Services Administration for payment of space rental and related costs provided to such agency at a percentage rate which is greater than is available in the case of funds appropriated in this Act. Sec. 711. None of the funds in this Act shall be available to restrict the authority of the Commodity Credit Corporation to lease space for its own use or to lease space on behalf of other agencies of the Department of Agriculture when such space will be jointly occupied. Sec. 712. With the exception of grants awarded under the Small Business Innovation Development Act of 1982, Public Law 97-219, as amended (15 U.S.C. 638), none of the funds in this Act shall be available to pay indirect costs on research grants awarded competitively by the Cooperative State Research, Education, and Extension Service that exceed 14 percent of total Federal funds provided under each award. Sec. 713. Notwithstanding any other provisions of this Act, all loan levels provided in this Act shall be considered estimates, not limitations. Sec. 714. Appropriations to the Department of Agriculture for the cost of direct and guaranteed loans made available in fiscal year 1996 shall remain available until expended to cover obligations made in fiscal year 1996 for the following accounts: the rural development loan fund program account; the Rural Telephone Bank program account; the rural electrification and telecommunications loans program account; and the rural economic development loans program account. Sec. 715. Such sums as may be necessary for fiscal year 1996 pay raises for programs funded by this Act shall be absorbed within the levels appropriated in this Act. Sec. 716. (a) Compliance With Buy American Act.--None of the funds made available in this Act may be expended by an entity unless the entity agrees that in expending the funds the [[Page 109 STAT. 331]] entity will comply with sections 2 through 4 of the Act of March 3, 1933 (41 U.S.C. 10a-10c; popularly known as the ``Buy American Act''). (b) Sense of Congress; Requirement Regarding Notice.-- (1) Purchase of american-made equipment and products.--In the case of any equipment or product that may be authorized to be purchased with financial assistance provided using funds made available in this Act, it is the sense of the Congress that entities receiving the assistance should, in expending the assistance, purchase only American-made equipment and products. (2) Notice to recipients of assistance.--In providing financial assistance using funds made available in this Act, the head of each Federal agency shall provide to each recipient of the assistance a notice describing the statement made in paragraph (1) by the Congress. (c) Prohibition of Contracts With Persons Falsely Labeling Products as Made in America.--If it has been finally determined by a court or Federal agency that any person intentionally affixed a label bearing a ``Made in America'' inscription, or any inscription with the same meaning, to any product sold in or shipped to the United States that is not made in the United States, the person shall be ineligible to receive any contract or subcontract made with funds made available in this Act, pursuant to the debarment, suspension, and ineligibility procedures described in sections 9.400 through 9.409 of title 48, Code of Federal Regulations. Sec. 717. Notwithstanding the Federal Grant and Cooperative Agreement Act, marketing services of the Agricultural Marketing Service may use cooperative agreements to reflect a relationship between Agricultural Marketing Service and a State or Cooperator to carry out agricultural marketing programs. Sec. 718. <<NOTE: 7 USC 1446h note.>> Prohibition on Use of Funds for Honey Payments or Loan Forfeitures.--Notwithstanding any other provision of this Act, none of the funds appropriated or otherwise made available by this Act shall be used by the Secretary of Agriculture to provide for a total amount of payments and/or total amount of loan forfeitures to a person to support the price of honey under section 207 of the Agricultural Act of 1949 (7 U.S.C. 1446h) and section 405A of such Act (7 U.S.C. 1425a) in excess of zero dollars in the 1994, 1995, and 1996 crop years. Sec. 719. None of the funds in this Act may be used to retire more than 5% of the Class A stock of the Rural Telephone Bank. Sec. 720. None of the funds appropriated or otherwise made available by this Act may be used to provide benefits to households whose benefits are calculated using a standard deduction greater than the standard deduction in effect for fiscal year 1995. Sec. 721. None of the funds made available in this Act may be used for any program, project, or activity when it is made known to the Federal entity or official to which the funds are made available that the program, project, or activity is not in compliance with any applicable Federal law relating to risk assessment, the protection of private property rights, or unfunded mandates. Sec. 722. None of the funds made available in this Act shall be used to increase, from the fiscal year 1995 level, the level of Full Time Equivalency Positions (whether through new hires or by transferring full time equivalents from other offices) in any [[Page 109 STAT. 332]] of the following Food and Drug Administration offices: Office of the Commissioner, Office of Policy, Office of External Affairs (Immediate Office, as well as Office of Health Affairs, Office of Legislative Affairs, Office of Consumer Affairs, and Office of Public Affairs), and the Office of Management and Systems (Immediate Office, as well as Office of Planning and Evaluation and Office of Management). Sec. 723. None of the funds made available in this Act may be used to provide assistance to, or to pay the salaries of personnel who carry out a market promotion program pursuant to section 203 of the Agricultural Trade Act of 1978 (7 U.S.C. 5623) that provides assistance to, the U.S. Mink Export Development Council or any mink industry trade association. Sec. 724. None of the funds appropriated or otherwise made available by this Act shall be used to enroll in excess of 100,000 acres in the fiscal year 1996 wetlands reserve program, as authorized by 16 U.S.C. 3837. Sec. 725. None of the funds appropriated or otherwise made available by this Act shall be used to enroll additional acres in the Conservation Reserve Program authorized by 16 U.S.C. 3831-3845: Provided, That 1,579,000 new acres shall be enrolled in the program in the year beginning January 1, 1997. Sec. 726. None of the funds appropriated or otherwise made available by this Act may be used to develop compliance guidelines, implement or enforce a regulation promulgated by the Food Safety and Inspection Service on August 25, 1995 (60 Fed. Reg. 44396): Provided, That this regulation shall take effect only if legislation is enacted into law which directs the Secretary of Agriculture to promulgate such regulation, or the House Committee on Agriculture and the Senate Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition and Forestry receive and approve a proposed revised regulation submitted by the Secretary of Agriculture. Sec. 727. None of the funds appropriated or made available to the Food and Drug Administration by this Act shall be used to operate the Board of Tea Experts. Sec. 728. None of the funds available in this Act shall be used for any action, including the development or assertion of any position or recommendation by or on behalf of the Forest Service, that directly or indirectly results in the loss of or restriction on the diversion and use of water from existing water supply facilities located on National Forest lands by the owners of such facilities, or result in a material increase in the cost of such yield to the owners of the water supply: Provided, That nothing in this section shall preclude a mutual agreement between any agency of the Department of Agriculture and a State or local governmental entity or private entity or individual. Sec. 729. <<NOTE: Effective date.>> Upon the date of enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Agriculture shall not enforce Federal regulation 36 CFR Part 223 promulgated on September 8, 1995, for a period of no less than 120 days: Provided, That during such time the Secretary shall take notice and public comment on the regulations and make the necessary revisions to reflect public comment. Any fines assessed pursuant to 36 CFR Part 223, from the effective date of said regulation to the date of enactment of this Act, shall be null and void. During the 120 day period, the interim regulatory guidelines published pursuant to 55 CFR 48572 and 56 CFR 65834 shall remain in effect. [[Page 109 STAT. 333]] This Act may be cited as the ``Agriculture, Rural Development, Food and Drug Administration, and Related Agencies Appropriations Act, 1996''. Approved October 21, 1995. LEGISLATIVE HISTORY--H.R. 1976: --------------------------------------------------------------------------- HOUSE REPORTS: Nos. 104-172 (Comm. on Appropriations) and 104-268 (Comm. of Conference). SENATE REPORTS: No. 104-142 (Comm. on Appropriations). CONGRESSIONAL RECORD, Vol. 141 (1995): July 19-21, considered and passed House. Sept. 18-20, considered and passed Senate, amended. Oct. 12, House and Senate agreed to conference report. <all>