USC Subchapter II

in effect

7 U.S.C. § 3121 Responsibilities of Secretary and Department of Agriculture

The Department of Agriculture is designated as the lead agency of the Federal Government for agricultural research (except with respect to the biomedical aspects of human nutrition concerned with diagnosis or treatment of disease), extension, and teaching in the food and agricultural sciences, and the Secretary, in carrying out the Secretary’s responsibilities, shall— (1) establish jointly with the Secretary of Health and Human Services procedures for coordination with respect to nutrition research in areas of mutual interest; (2) keep informed of developments in, and the Nation’s need for, research, extension, teaching, and manpower development in the food and agricultural sciences and represent such need in deliberations within the Department of Agriculture, elsewhere within the executive branch of the United States Government, and with the several States and their designated land-grant colleges and universities, other colleges and universities, agricultural and related industries, and other interested institutions and groups; (3) coordinate all agricultural research, extension, and teaching activity conducted or financed by the Department of Agriculture and, to the maximum extent practicable, by other agencies of the executive branch of the United States Government; (4) take the initiative in establishing coordination of State-Federal cooperative agricultural research, extension, and teaching programs, funded in whole or in part by the Department of Agriculture in each State, through the administrative heads of land-grant colleges and universities and the State directors of agricultural experiment stations and cooperative extension services, and other appropriate program administrators; (5) consult the Advisory Board and appropriate advisory committees of the Department of Agriculture in the formulation of basic policies, goals, strategies, and priorities for programs of agricultural research, extension, and teaching; (6) report (as a part of the Department of Agriculture’s annual budget submissions) to the House Committee on Agriculture, the House Committee on Appropriations, the Senate Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry, and the Senate Committee on Appropriations actions taken or proposed to support the recommendations of the Advisory Board; (7) establish appropriate review procedures to assure that agricultural research projects are timely and properly reported and published and that there is no unnecessary duplication of effort or overlapping between agricultural research units; (8) establish Federal or cooperative multidisciplinary research teams on major agricultural research problems with clearly defined leadership, budget responsibility, and research programs; (9) in order to promote the coordination of agricultural research of the Department of Agriculture, conduct a continuing inventory of ongoing and completed research projects being conducted within or funded by the Department; (10) coordinate all agricultural research, extension, and teaching activities conducted or financed by the Department of Agriculture with the periodic renewable resource assessment and program provided for in sections 1601 and 1602 of title 16 and the appraisal and program provided for in sections 2004 and 2005 of title 16; (11) coordinate the efforts of States, State cooperative institutions, State extension services, the Advisory Board, and other appropriate institutions in assessing the current status of, and developing a plan for, the effective transfer of new technologies, including biotechnology, to the farming community, with particular emphasis on addressing the unique problems of small- and medium-sized farms in gaining information about those technologies; and (12) establish appropriate controls with respect to the development and use of the application of biotechnology to agriculture.

7 U.S.C. § 3123 National Agricultural Research, Extension, Education, and Economics Advisory Board

(a) EstablishmentThe Secretary shall establish within the Department of Agriculture a board to be known as the “National Agricultural Research, Extension, Education, and Economics Advisory Board”. (b) Membership(1) In generalThe Advisory Board shall consist of 15 members, appointed by the Secretary. (2) Selection of membersThe Secretary shall appoint members of the Advisory Board from nominations submitted by organizations, associations, societies, councils, federations, groups, and companies fitting the criteria specified in paragraph (3). (3) Membership categoriesThe Advisory Board shall consist of members from each of the following categories:(A) 3 members representing national farm or producer organizations, which may include members—(i) representing farm cooperatives; (ii) who are producers actively engaged in the production of a food animal commodity and who are recommended by a coalition of national livestock organizations; (iii) who are producers actively engaged in the production of a plant commodity and who are recommended by a coalition of national crop organizations; or (iv) who are producers actively engaged in aquaculture and who are recommended by a coalition of national aquacultural organizations. (B) 2 members representing academic or research societies, which may include members representing—(i) a national food animal science society; (ii) a national crop, soil, agronomy, horticulture, plant pathology, or weed science society; (iii) a national food science organization; (iv) a national human health association; or (v) a national nutritional science society. (C) 5 members representing agricultural research, extension, and education, which shall include each of the following:(i) 1 member representing the land-grant colleges and universities eligible to receive funds under the Act of July 2, 1862 (7 U.S.C. 301 et seq.). (ii) 1 member representing the land-grant colleges and universities eligible to receive funds under the Act of August 30, 1890 (7 U.S.C. 321 et seq.), including Tuskegee University. (iii) 1 member representing the 1994 Institutions (as defined in section 532 of the Equity in Educational Land-Grant Status Act of 1994 (7 U.S.C. 301 note; Public Law 103–382)). (iv) 1 member representing NLGCA Institutions or Hispanic-serving institutions. (v) 1 member representing American colleges of veterinary medicine. (D) 5 members representing industry, consumer, or rural interests, including members representing—(i) entities engaged in transportation of food and agricultural products to domestic and foreign markets; (ii) food retailing and marketing interests; (iii) food and fiber processors; (iv) rural economic development interests; (v) a national consumer interest group; (vi) a national forestry group; (vii) a national conservation or natural resource group; (viii) a national social science association; (ix) private sector organizations involved in international development; or (x) a national association of agricultural economists. (4) Ex officio membersThe Secretary, the Under Secretary of Agriculture for Research, Education, and Economics, the Administrator of the Agricultural Research Service, the Director of the National Institute of Food and Agriculture, the Administrator of the Economic Research Service, and the Administrator of the National Agricultural Statistics Service shall serve as ex officio members of the Advisory Board. (5) OfficersAt the first meeting of the Advisory Board each year, the members shall elect from among the members of the Advisory Board a chairperson, vice chairperson, and 7 additional members to serve on the executive committee established under paragraph (6). (6) Executive committeeThe Advisory Board shall establish an executive committee charged with the responsibility of working with the Secretary and officers and employees of the Department of Agriculture to summarize and disseminate the recommendations of the Advisory Board. (7) Equal representation of public and private sector membersIn appointing members to serve on the Advisory Board, the Secretary shall ensure, to the maximum extent practicable, equal representation of public and private sector members. (c) DutiesThe Advisory Board shall—(1) make recommendations, review, and provide consultation to the Secretary, land-grant colleges and universities, and the Committee on Agriculture of the House of Representatives, the Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry of the Senate, the Subcommittee on Agriculture, Rural Development, Food and Drug Administration and Related Agencies of the Committee on Appropriations of the House of Representatives, and the Subcommittee on Agriculture, Rural Development and Related Agencies of the Committee on Appropriations of the Senate on—(A) long-term and short-term national policies and priorities consistent with the—(i) purposes specified in section 3101 of this title for agricultural research, extension, education, and economics; and (ii) priority areas of the Agriculture and Food Research Initiative specified in subsection (b)(2) of section 3157 of this title; (B) the annual establishment of national priorities that are in accordance with the priority areas of the Agriculture and Food Research Initiative specified in subsection (b)(2) of section 3157 of this title. (2) evaluate the results and effectiveness of agricultural research, extension, education, and economics with respect to the policies and priorities and make recommendations to the Secretary based on such evaluation; (3) review and make recommendations to the Under Secretary of Agriculture for Research, Education, and Economics on the research, extension, education, and economics portion of the draft strategic plan required under section 306 of title 5; (4) review and make recommendations on the mechanisms of the Department of Agriculture for technology assessment (which should be conducted by qualified professionals) for the purposes of—(A) performance measurement and evaluation of the implementation by the Secretary of the strategic plan required under section 306 of title 5; (B) implementation of national research policies and priorities that are consistent with the purposes specified in section 3101 of this title; and (C) the development of mechanisms for the assessment of emerging public and private agricultural research and technology transfer initiatives; and (5) consult with industry groups on agricultural research, extension, education, and economics, and make recommendations to the Secretary based on that consultation. (d) Consultation(1) Duties of Advisory BoardIn carrying out this section, the Advisory Board shall consult with any appropriate agencies of the Department of Agriculture and solicit opinions and recommendations from persons who will benefit from and use federally funded agricultural research, extension, education, and economics. (2) Duties of SecretaryTo comply with a provision of this chapter or any other law that requires the Secretary to consult or cooperate with the Advisory Board or that authorizes the Advisory Board to submit recommendations to the Secretary, the Secretary shall—(A) solicit the written opinions and recommendations of the Advisory Board; and (B) provide a written response to the Advisory Board regarding the manner and extent to which the Secretary will implement recommendations submitted by the Advisory Board. (e) AppointmentA member of the Advisory Board shall be appointed by the Secretary for a term of up to 3 years. The members of the Advisory Board shall be appointed to serve staggered terms. (f) Chapter 10 of title 5The Advisory Board shall be deemed to have filed a charter for the purpose of section 1008(c) of title 5. (g) Annual limitation on Advisory Board expenses(1) Maximum amountNot more than $500,000 may be used to cover the necessary expenses of the Advisory Board for each fiscal year. (2) General limitationThe expenses of the Advisory Board shall not be counted toward any general limitation on the expenses of advisory committees, panels, commissions, and task forces of the Department of Agriculture contained in any Act making appropriations for the Department of Agriculture, whether enacted before, on, or after June 23, 1998, unless the appropriation Act specifically refers to this subsection and specifically includes this Advisory Board within the general limitation. (h) TerminationThe Advisory Board shall remain in existence until September 30, 2023.

7 U.S.C. § 3123a Specialty crop committee

(a) Establishment(1) In generalNot later than 90 days after December 21, 2004, the executive committee of the Advisory Board shall establish, and appoint the initial members of, a permanent specialty crops committee that will be responsible for studying the scope and effectiveness of research, extension, and economics programs affecting the specialty crop industry. (2) Citrus disease subcommittee(A) In generalNot later than 45 days after February 7, 2014, the Secretary shall establish within the specialty crops committee, and appoint the initial members of, a citrus disease subcommittee to carry out the responsibilities of the subcommittee described in subsection (g) in accordance with subsection (j)(3) of section 7632 of this title. (B) CompositionThe citrus disease subcommittee shall be composed of 11 members, each of whom is a domestic producer of citrus in a State, represented as follows:(i) Five of such members shall represent Arizona or California. (ii) Five of such members shall represent Florida. (iii) One of such members shall represent Texas. (C) MembershipThe Secretary may appoint individuals who are not members of the specialty crops committee or the Advisory Board established under section 3123 of this title as members of the citrus disease subcommittee 11 So in original. Probably should be followed by a period. (D) TerminationThe subcommittee established under subparagraph (A) shall terminate on September 30, 2023. (E) Chapter 10 of title 5The subcommittee established under subparagraph (A) shall be covered by the exemption to section 1008(c) of title 5 applicable to the Advisory Board under section 3123(f) of this title. (b) Members(1) EligibilityIndividuals who are not members of the Advisory Board may be appointed as members of the specialty crops committee. (2) ServiceMembers of the specialty crops committee shall serve at the discretion of the executive committee. (3) DiversityMembership of the specialty crops committee shall reflect diversity in the specialty crops represented. (c) Annual committee reportNot later than 180 days after the establishment of the specialty crops committee, and annually thereafter, the specialty crops committee shall submit to the Advisory Board a report containing the findings of its study under subsection (a). The specialty crops committee shall include in each report recommendations regarding the following:(1) Programs designed to improve the efficiency, productivity, and profitability of specialty crop production in the United States. (2) Research, extension, and teaching programs designed to improve competitiveness in the specialty crop industry, including programs that would—(A) enhance the quality and shelf-life of fresh fruits and vegetables, including their taste and appearance; (B) develop new crop protection tools and expand the applicability and cost-effectiveness of integrated pest management; (C) prevent the introduction of foreign invasive pests and diseases; (D) develop new products and new uses of specialty crops, including improving the quality and taste of processed specialty crops; (E) develop new and improved marketing tools for specialty crops; (F) enhance food safety regarding specialty crops; (G) improve the remote sensing and the mechanization of production practices; and (H) enhance irrigation techniques used in specialty crop production. (3) Analyses of changes in macroeconomic conditions, technologies, and policies on specialty crop production and consumption, with particular focus on the effect of those changes on the financial stability of producers. (4) Development of data that provide applied information useful to specialty crop growers, their associations, and other interested beneficiaries in evaluating that industry from a regional and national perspective. (5) Analysis of the alignment of specialty crops committee recommendations with grants awarded through the specialty crop research initiative established under section 7632 of this title. (d) Consultation with specialty crop industryIn studying the scope and effectiveness of programs under subsection (a), the specialty crops committee shall consult on an ongoing basis with diverse sectors of the specialty crop industry. (e) Consideration by SecretaryIn preparing the annual budget recommendations for the Department of Agriculture, the Secretary shall take into consideration those findings and recommendations contained in the most-recent report of the specialty crops committee that are adopted by the Advisory Board. (f) Annual report by SecretaryIn the budget material submitted to Congress by the Secretary in connection with the budget submitted pursuant to section 1105 of title 31 for a fiscal year, the Secretary shall include a report describing how the Secretary addressed each recommendation of the specialty crops committee described in subsection (e). (g) Citrus disease subcommittee dutiesFor the purposes of subsection (j) of section 7632 of this title, the citrus disease subcommittee shall—(1) advise the Secretary on citrus research, extension, and development needs; (2) propose, by a favorable vote of two-thirds of the members of the subcommittee, a research and extension agenda and annual budgets for the funds made available to carry out such subsection; (3) evaluate and review ongoing research and extension funded under the emergency citrus disease research and extension program (as defined in such subsection); (4) establish, by a favorable vote of two-thirds of the members of the subcommittee, annual priorities for the award of grants under such subsection; (5) provide the Secretary any comments on grants awarded under such subsection during the previous fiscal year; and (6) engage in regular consultation and collaboration with the Department and other institutional, governmental, and private persons conducting scientific research on, and extension activities related to, the causes or treatments of citrus diseases and pests, both domestic and invasive, for purposes of—(A) maximizing the effectiveness of research and extension projects funded under the citrus disease research and extension program; (B) hastening the development of useful treatments; (C) avoiding duplicative and wasteful expenditures; and (D) providing the Secretary with such information and advice as the Secretary may request.

7 U.S.C. § 3124 Existing research programs

It is the intent of Congress in enacting this chapter to augment, coordinate, and supplement the planning, initiation, and conduct of agricultural research programs existing prior to September 29, 1977, except that it is not the intent of Congress in enacting this title to limit the authority of the Secretary of Health and Human Services under any Act which the Secretary of Health and Human Services administers.

7 U.S.C. § 3124a Federal-State partnership and coordination

(a) Covered programs; statement of purposesA unique partnership arrangement exists in food and agricultural research, extension, and teaching between the Federal Government and the governments of the several States whereby the States have accepted and have supported, through legislation and appropriations—(1) research programs under—(A) the Act of March 2, 1887 (7 U.S.C. 361a et seq.), commonly known as the Hatch Act of 1887; (B) the Act of October 10, 1962 (16 U.S.C. 582a et seq.), commonly known as the McIntire-Stennis Act of 1962; (C) subchapter V of this chapter; and (D) subchapter VI of this chapter; (2) extension programs under subchapter VI of this chapter and the Act of May 8, 1914 (7 U.S.C. 341 et seq.), commonly known as the Smith-Lever Act; (3) teaching programs under—(A) the Act of July 2, 1862 (7 U.S.C. 301 et seq.), commonly known as the First Morrill Act; (B) the Act of August 30, 1890 (7 U.S.C. 321 et seq.), commonly known as the Second Morrill Act; and (C) the Act of June 29, 1935 (7 U.S.C. 329), commonly known as the Bankhead-Jones Act; and (4) international agricultural programs under title XII of the Foreign Assistance Act of 1961 (22 U.S.C. 2220a et seq.). This partnership in publicly supported agricultural research, extension, and teaching involving the programs of Federal agencies and the programs of the States has played a major role in the outstanding successes achieved in meeting the varied, dispersed, and in many cases, site-specific needs of American agriculture. This partnership must be preserved and enhanced. (b) Establishment, etc., of cooperative centersIn order to promote research and education in food and human nutrition, the Secretary may establish cooperative human nutrition centers to focus resources, facilities, and scientific expertise on particular high priority nutrition problems identified by the Department. Such centers shall be established at State cooperative institutions; and at other colleges and universities, having a demonstrable capacity to carry out human nutrition research and education. (c) Designation of State cooperative institutions; reports; research grants(1) To promote research for purposes of developing agricultural policy alternatives, the Secretary is encouraged—(A) to designate at least one State cooperative institution to conduct research in an interdisciplinary fashion; and (B) to report on a regular basis with respect to the effect of emerging technological, economic, sociological, and environmental developments on the structure of agriculture. (2) Support for this effort should include grants to examine the role of various food production, processing, and distribution systems that may primarily benefit small- and medium-sized family farms, such as diversified farm plans, energy, water, and soil conservation technologies, direct and cooperative marketing, production and processing cooperatives, and rural community resource management. (d) Designation of State agricultural experiment stations and Agricultural Research Service facilities; pilot projects; additional researchTo address more effectively the critical need for reducing farm input costs, improving soil, water, and energy conservation on farms and in rural areas, using sustainable agricultural methods, adopting alternative processing and marketing systems, and encouraging rural resources management, the Secretary is encouraged to designate at least one State agricultural experiment station and one Agricultural Research Service facility to examine these issues in an integrated and comprehensive manner, while conducting ongoing pilot projects contributing additional research through the Federal-State partnership. (e) Applicability of chapter 10 of title 5(1) Public meetingsAll meetings of any entity described in paragraph (3) shall be publicly announced in advance and shall be open to the public. Detailed minutes of meetings and other appropriate records of the activities of such an entity shall be kept and made available to the public on request. (2) ExemptionChapter 10 of title 5 and title XVIII of this Act [7 U.S.C. 2281 et seq.] shall not apply to any entity described in paragraph (3). (3) Entities describedThis subsection shall apply to any committee, board, commission, panel, or task force, or similar entity that—(A) is created for the purpose of cooperative efforts in agricultural research, extension, or teaching; and (B) consists entirely of—(i) full-time Federal employees; and (ii) one or more individuals who are employed by, or are officials of—(I) a State cooperative institution or State cooperative agency; or (II) a public college or university or other postsecondary institution.

7 U.S.C. § 3125 Annual report of Secretary of Agriculture to President and Congress

The Secretary shall submit to the President and Congress by January 1 of each year a report on the Nation’s agricultural research, extension, and teaching activities, and such report shall include— (1) a review covering the following three categories of activities of the Department of Agriculture with respect to agricultural research, extension, and teaching activities and the relationship of these activities to similar activities of other departments and agencies of the Federal Government, the States, colleges and universities, and the private sector—(A) a current inventory of such activities organized by statutory authorization and budget outlay; (B) a current inventory of such activities organized by field of basic and applied science; and (C) a current inventory of such activities organized by commodity and product category; (2) any recommendations of the Advisory Board; and (3) in the second and succeeding years, a five-year projection of national priorities with respect to agricultural research, extension, and teaching, taking into account both domestic and international needs.

7 U.S.C. § 3125a National Agricultural Library

(a) PurposeThe purpose of this section is to consolidate and expand the statutory authority for the operation of the library of the Department of Agriculture established pursuant to section 2201 of this title as the primary agricultural information resource of the United States. (b) EstablishmentThere is established in the Department of Agriculture the National Agricultural Library to serve as the primary agricultural information resource of the United States. (c) DirectorThe Secretary shall appoint a Director for the National Agricultural Library who shall be subject to the direction of the Secretary. (d) Functions of DirectorThe Director may—(1) acquire, preserve, and manage information and information products and services in all phases of agriculture and allied sciences; (2) organize agricultural information and information products and services by cataloging, indexing, bibliographical listing, and other appropriate techniques; (3) provide agricultural information and information products and services to agencies of the Department of Agriculture and the Federal Government, public and private organizations, and individuals, within the United States and internationally; (4) plan for, coordinate, and evaluate information and library needs related to agricultural research and education; (5) cooperate with and coordinate efforts among agricultural college and university libraries, in conjunction with private industry and other agricultural library and information centers, toward the development of a comprehensive agricultural library and information network; and (6) coordinate the development of specialized subject information services among the agricultural and library information communities. (e) Library products and servicesThe Director may—(1) make copies of the bibliographies prepared by the National Agricultural Library; (2) make microforms and other reproductions of books and other library materials in the Department; (3) provide any other library and information products and services; and (4) sell those products and services at such prices (not less than the estimated total cost of disseminating the products and services) as the Secretary may determine appropriate. (f) ReceiptsFunds received from sales under subsection (e) shall be deposited in the Treasury of the United States to the credit of the applicable appropriation and shall remain available until expended. (g) Agreements(1) In generalThe Director may enter into agreement with, and receive funds from any State, and other political subdivision, organization, business, or individual for the purpose of conducting activities to carry out this section. (2) FundsFunds received under this subsection for payments for library products and services or other activities shall be deposited to the miscellaneous contributed fund account, and shall remain available until expended. (h) Authorization of appropriationsThere are authorized to be appropriated for each fiscal year such sums as may be necessary to carry out this section.

7 U.S.C. § 3125a–1 Agricultural and food law research, legal tools, and information

(a) PartnershipsThe Secretary of Agriculture, acting through the National Agricultural Library, shall support the dissemination of objective, scholarly, and authoritative agricultural and food law research, legal tools, and information by entering into cooperative agreements with institutions of higher education (as defined in section 1001 of title 20) that on February 7, 2014, are carrying out objective programs for research, legal tools, and information in agricultural and food law. (b) Authorization of appropriationsThere are authorized to be appropriated to carry out this section $5,000,000 for fiscal year 2014 and each fiscal year thereafter.

7 U.S.C. § 3125b National Rural Information Center Clearinghouse

(a) EstablishmentThe Secretary shall establish, within the National Agricultural Library, in coordination with the National Institute of Food and Agriculture, a National Rural Information Center Clearinghouse (in this section referred to as the “Clearinghouse”) to perform the functions specified in subsection (b). (b) FunctionsThe Clearinghouse shall provide and distribute information and data to any industry, organization, or Federal, State, or local government entity, on request, about programs and services provided by Federal, State, and local agencies and private nonprofit organizations and institutions under which individuals residing in, or organizations and State and local government entities operating in, a rural area may be eligible for any kind of assistance, including job training, education, health care, and economic development assistance, and emotional and financial counseling. To the extent possible, the National Agricultural Library shall use telecommunications technology to disseminate information to rural areas. (c) Federal agenciesOn request of the Secretary, the head of a Federal agency shall provide to the Clearinghouse such information as the Secretary may request to enable the Clearinghouse to carry out subsection (b). (d) State and local agencies and nonprofit organizationsThe Secretary shall request State and local governments and private nonprofit organizations and institutions to provide to the Clearinghouse such information as such agencies and organizations may have about any program or service of such agencies, organizations, and institutions under which individuals residing in a rural area may be eligible for any kind of assistance, including job training, educational, health care, and economic development assistance, and emotional and financial counseling. (e) Limitation on authorization of appropriationsTo carry out this section, there are authorized to be appropriated $500,000 for each of the fiscal years 1991 through 2023.

7 U.S.C. § 3126 Libraries and information network

(a) Congressional declaration of policyIt is declared to be the policy of Congress that—(1) cooperation and coordination among, and the more effective utilization of, disparate agricultural libraries and information units be facilitated; (2) information and library needs related to agricultural research and education be effectively planned for, coordinated, and evaluated; (3) a structure for the coordination of the agricultural libraries of colleges and universities, Department of Agriculture libraries, and their closely allied information gathering and disseminating units be established in close conjunction with private industry and other research libraries; (4) effective access by all colleges and universities and Department of Agriculture personnel to literature and information regarding the food and agricultural sciences be provided; (5) programs for training in information utilization with respect to the food and agricultural sciences, including research grants for librarians, information scientists, and agricultural scientists be established or strengthened; and (6) the Department of Agriculture establish mutually valuable working relationships with international and foreign information and data programs. (b) Food and Nutrition and Education Resources CenterThere is established within the National Agricultural Library of the Department of Agriculture a Food and Nutrition Information and Education Resources Center. Such Center shall be responsible for—(1) assembling and collecting food and nutrition education materials, including the results of nutrition research, training methods, procedures, and other materials related to the purpose of this chapter; (2) maintaining such information and materials in a library; and (3) providing notification about these collections on a regular basis to the State cooperative extension services, State educational agencies, and other interested persons. (c) Authorization of appropriationsFunds are authorized to be appropriated annually in such amounts as Congress may determine necessary to support the purposes of this section. The Secretary is authorized to carry out this section with existing facilities through the use of grants, contracts, or such other means as the Secretary deems appropriate and to require matching of funds. No funds appropriated to support the purposes of this section shall be used to purchase additional equipment unless specifically authorized by law subsequent to September 29, 1977.

7 U.S.C. § 3127 Support for Advisory Board

(a) Appointment of staffTo assist the Advisory Board in the performance of its duties, the Secretary may appoint, after consultation with the chairperson of the Advisory Board—(1) a full-time executive director who shall perform such duties as the chairperson of the Advisory Board may direct and who shall receive compensation at a rate not to exceed the rate payable for GS–18 of the General Schedule established in section 5332 of title 5; and (2) a professional staff of not more than five full-time employees qualified in the food and agricultural sciences, of which one shall serve as the executive secretary to the Advisory Board. (b) Additional clerical assistance and staff personnelThe Secretary shall provide such additional clerical assistance and staff personnel as may be required to assist the Advisory Board in carrying out its duties. (c) Assistance of outside personnelIn formulating its recommendations to the Secretary, the Advisory Board may obtain the assistance of Department of Agriculture employees, and, to the maximum extent practicable, the assistance of employees of other Federal departments and agencies conducting related programs of agricultural research, extension, and teaching and of appropriate representatives of colleges and universities, including State agricultural experiment stations, cooperative extension services, and other non-Federal organizations conducting significant programs in the food and agricultural sciences.

7 U.S.C. § 3128 General provisions

(a) Vacancies in Advisory BoardAny vacancy in the Advisory Board shall not affect its duties under this title and shall be filled in the same manner as the original position. (b) Compensation and expenses of members of Advisory BoardMembers of the Advisory Board shall serve without compensation, if not otherwise officers or employees of the United States, except that they shall, while away from their homes or regular places of business in the performance of services under this chapter, be allowed travel expenses, including per diem in lieu of subsistence, in the same manner as persons employed intermittently in the Government service are allowed expenses under sections 5701 through 5707 of title 5. (c) Authorization of appropriationsThere are authorized to be appropriated annually such sums as Congress may determine necessary to carry out the provisions of section 3127 of this title and subsection (b) of this section.

7 U.S.C. § 3129 Accountability

(a) Review of information technology systemsThe Secretary shall conduct a comprehensive review of state-of-the-art information technology systems that are available for use in developing the system required by subsection (b). (b) Monitoring and evaluation systemThe Secretary shall develop and carry out a system to monitor and evaluate agricultural research and extension activities conducted or supported by the Department of Agriculture that will enable the Secretary to measure the impact and effectiveness of research, extension, and education programs according to priorities, goals, and mandates established by law. In developing the system, the Secretary shall incorporate information transfer technologies to optimize public access to research information. (c) Consistency with other requirementsThe Secretary shall develop and implement the system in a manner consistent with the Government Performance and Results Act of 1993 (Public Law 103–62; 107 Stat. 285) and amendments made by the Act. (d) Authorization of appropriationsThere are authorized to be appropriated such sums as are necessary to carry out this section.

7 U.S.C. § 3129a Exemption from chapter 10 of title 5 for competitive research, extension, and education programs

Chapter 10 of title 5 and title XVIII of this Act [7 U.S.C. 2281 et seq.] shall not apply to any committee, board, commission, panel, or task force, or similar entity, created solely for the purpose of reviewing applications or proposals requesting funding under any competitive research, extension, or education program carried out by the Secretary.