USC Subchapter VIII

USC Subchapter VIII
in effect

7 U.S.C. § 3291 International agricultural research, extension, and teaching

(a) Authority of SecretaryTo carry out the policy of this subchapter, the Secretary (in consultation with the Agency for International Development and subject to such coordination with other Federal officials, Departments, and agencies as the President may direct) may—(1) expand the operational coordination of the Department of Agriculture with institutions and other persons throughout the world performing agricultural and related research, extension, and teaching activities by—(A) exchanging research materials and results with the institutions or persons; (B) conducting with the institutions or persons joint or coordinated research, extension, and teaching activities that address problems of significance to food and agriculture in the United States; and (C) giving priority to those institutions with existing memoranda of understanding, agreements, or other formal ties to United States institutions, or Federal or State agencies; (2) enter into cooperative arrangements with Departments and Ministries of Agriculture in other nations to conduct research, extension, and teaching activities in support of the development of a viable and sustainable global agricultural system, including efforts to establish a global system for plant genetic resources conservation; (3) enter into agreements with land-grant colleges and universities, Hispanic-serving agricultural colleges and universities, the Agency for International Development, and international organizations (such as the United Nations, the World Bank, regional development banks, international agricultural research centers), or other organizations, institutions, or individuals with comparable goals, to promote and support—(A) the development of a viable and sustainable global agricultural system; (B) antihunger and improved international nutrition efforts; and (C) increased quantity, quality, and availability of food; (4) further develop within the Department highly qualified and experienced science and education experts who specialize in international programs, to be available to carry out the activities described in this section; (5) work with transitional and more advanced countries in food, agricultural, and related research, development, teaching, and extension (including providing technical assistance, training, and advice to persons from the countries engaged in the activities and the stationing of scientists and other specialists at national and international institutions in the countries); (6) expand collaboration and coordination with the Agency for International Development regarding food and agricultural research, extension, and teaching programs in developing countries; (7) assist colleges and universities in strengthening their capabilities for food, agricultural, and related research, extension, and teaching programs relevant to agricultural development activities in other countries through—(A) the provision of support to State universities, land-grant colleges and universities, and Hispanic-serving agricultural colleges and universities to do collaborative research with other countries on issues relevant to United States agricultural competitiveness; (B) the provision of support for cooperative extension education in global agriculture and to promote the application of new technology developed in foreign countries to United States agriculture; and (C) the provision of support for the internationalization of resident instruction programs of the universities and colleges described in subparagraph (A); (8) continue, in cooperation with the Secretary of State, a program, coordinated through the International Arid Land Consortium, to enhance collaboration and cooperation between institutions possessing research, extension, and teaching capabilities applied to the development, management, and reclamation of arid lands; (9) make competitive grants for collaborative projects that—(A) involve Federal scientists or scientists from land-grant colleges and universities, Hispanic-serving agricultural colleges and universities, or other colleges and universities with scientists at international agricultural research centers in other nations, including the international agricultural research centers of the Consultative Group on International Agriculture Research; (B) focus on developing and using new technologies and programs for—(i) increasing the production of food and fiber, while safeguarding the environment worldwide and enhancing the global competitiveness of United States agriculture; or (ii) training scientists; (C) are mutually beneficial to the United States and other countries; and (D) encourage private sector involvement and the leveraging of private sector funds; (10) establish a program, to be coordinated by the National Institute of Food and Agriculture and the Foreign Agricultural Service, to place interns from United States colleges and universities at Foreign Agricultural Service field offices overseas; and (11) establish a program for the purpose of providing fellowships to United States or foreign students to study at foreign agricultural colleges and universities working under agreements provided for under paragraph (3). (b) Enhancing linkagesThe Secretary shall draw upon and enhance the resources of the land-grant colleges and universities, and other colleges and universities, for developing linkages among these institutions, the Federal Government, international research centers, and counterpart research, extension, and teaching agencies and institutions in both the developed and less-developed countries to serve the purposes of agriculture and the economy of the United States and to make a substantial contribution to the cause of improved food and agricultural progress throughout the world. (c) Provision of specialized or technical servicesThe Secretary may provide specialized or technical services, on an advance of funds or a reimbursable basis, to United States colleges and universities and other nongovernmental organizations carrying out international food, agricultural, and related research, extension, and teaching development projects and activities. All funds received in payment for furnishing such specialized or technical services shall be deposited to the credit of the appropriation from which the cost of providing such services has been paid or is to be charged. (d) ReportsThe Secretary shall provide biennial reports to the Committee on Agriculture of the House of Representatives and the Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry of the Senate on efforts of the Federal Government—(1) to coordinate international agricultural research within the Federal Government; and (2) to more effectively link the activities of domestic and international agricultural researchers, particularly researchers of the Agricultural Research Service. (e) Certain binational projects(1) Full payment of fundsNotwithstanding any other provision of law, the full amount of any funds appropriated or otherwise made available to carry out cooperative projects under the arrangement entered into between the Secretary and the Government of Israel to support the United States-Israel Binational Agricultural Research and Development Fund (referred to in this subsection as the “BARD Fund”) shall be paid directly to the Fund. (2) ActivitiesActivities under the BARD Fund to promote and support agricultural research and development that are of mutual benefit to the United States and Israel shall—(A) accelerate the demonstration, development, and application of agricultural solutions resulting from or relating to BARD Fund programs, including BARD Fund-sponsored research and innovations in drip irrigation, pesticides, aquaculture, livestock, poultry, disease control, and farm equipment; and (B) encourage research carried out by governmental, nongovernmental, and private entities, including through collaboration with colleges and universities, research institutions, and the private sector.

7 U.S.C. § 3292 Partnerships to build capacity in international agricultural research, extension, and teaching

(a) DefinitionsIn this section:(1) 1862 Institution; 1890 Institution; 1994 InstitutionThe terms “1862 Institution”, “1890 Institution”, and “1994 Institution” have the meanings given the terms in section 7601 of this title. (2) Covered InstitutionThe term “covered Institution” means—(A) an 1862 Institution; (B) an 1890 Institution; (C) a 1994 Institution; (D) an NLGCA Institution; (E) a Hispanic-serving agricultural college or university; and (F) a cooperating forestry school. (3) Developing countryThe term “developing country” means a country, as determined by the Secretary using a gross national income per capita test selected by the Secretary. (4) International partner institutionThe term “international partner institution” means an agricultural higher education institution in a developing country that is performing, or desiring to perform, activities similar to agricultural research, extension, and teaching activities carried out through covered Institutions in the United States. (b) Authority of the SecretaryThe Secretary may promote cooperation and coordination between covered Institutions and international partner institutions through—(1) improving extension by—(A) encouraging the exchange of research materials and results between covered Institutions and international partner institutions; (B) facilitating the broad dissemination of agricultural research through extension; and (C) assisting with efforts to plan and initiate extension services in developing countries; (2) improving agricultural research by—(A) in partnership with international partner institutions, encouraging research that addresses problems affecting food production and security, human nutrition, agriculture, forestry, livestock, and fisheries, including local challenges; and (B) supporting and strengthening national agricultural research systems in developing countries; (3) supporting the participation of covered Institutions in programs of international organizations, such as the United Nations, the World Bank, regional development banks, and international agricultural research centers; (4) improving agricultural teaching and education by—(A) in partnership with international partner institutions, supporting education and teaching relating to food and agricultural sciences, including technical assistance, degree training, research collaborations, classroom instruction, workforce training, and education programs; and (B) assisting with efforts to increase student capacity, including to encourage equitable access for women and other underserved populations, at international partner institutions by promoting partnerships with, and improving the capacity of, covered Institutions; (5) assisting covered Institutions in strengthening their capacity for food, agricultural, and related research, extension, and teaching programs relevant to agricultural development activities in developing countries to promote the application of new technology to improve education delivery; (6) providing support for the internationalization of resident instruction programs of covered Institutions; (7) establishing a program, to be coordinated by the Director of the National Institute of Food and Agriculture and the Administrator of the Foreign Agricultural Service, to place interns from covered Institutions in, or in service to benefit, developing countries; and (8) establishing a program to provide fellowships to students at covered Institutions to study at foreign agricultural colleges and universities. (c) Enhancing linkagesThe Secretary shall enhance the linkages among covered Institutions, the Federal Government, international research centers, counterpart research, extension, and teaching agencies and institutions in developed countries and developing countries—(1) to carry out the activities described in subsection (b); and (2) to make a substantial contribution to the cause of improved food and agricultural progress throughout the world. (d) Authorization of appropriationsThere is authorized to be appropriated to carry out this section $10,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2019 through 2023.

7 U.S.C. § 3292a United States-Mexico joint agricultural research

(a) Research and development programThe Secretary may provide for an agricultural research and development program with the George E. Brown United States/Mexico Foundation for Science. The program shall focus on binational problems facing agricultural producers and consumers in the 2 countries, in particular pressing problems in the areas of food safety, plant and animal pest control, and the natural resources base on which agriculture depends. (b) AdministrationGrants under the research and development program shall be awarded competitively through the Foundation. (c) Matching requirementsThe provision of funds to the Foundation by the United States Government shall be subject to the condition that the Government of Mexico match, on at least a dollar-for-dollar basis, any funds provided by the United States Government. (d) Limitation on use of fundsFunds provided under this section may not be used for the planning, repair, rehabilitation, acquisition, or construction of a building or facility.

7 U.S.C. § 3292b Competitive grants for international agricultural science and education programs

(a) Competitive grants authorizedThe Secretary may make competitive grants to colleges and universities in order to strengthen United States economic competitiveness and to promote international market development. (b) Purpose of grantsGrants under this section shall be directed to agricultural research, extension, and teaching activities that will—(1) enhance the international content of the curricula in colleges and universities so as to ensure that United States students acquire an understanding of the international dimensions and trade implications of their studies; (2) ensure that United States scientists, extension agents, and educators involved in agricultural research and development activities outside of the United States have the opportunity to convey the implications of their activities and findings to their peers and students in the United States and to the users of agricultural research, extension, and teaching; (3) enhance the capabilities of colleges and universities to do collaborative research with other countries, in cooperation with other Federal agencies, on issues relevant to United States agricultural competitiveness; (4) enhance the capabilities of colleges and universities to provide cooperative extension education to promote the application of new technology developed in foreign countries to United States agriculture; and (5) enhance the capability of United States colleges and universities, in cooperation with other Federal agencies, to provide leadership and educational programs that will assist United States natural resources and food production, processing, and distribution businesses and industries to compete internationally, including product market identification, international policies limiting or enhancing market production, development of new or enhancement of existing markets, and production efficiencies. (c) Authorization of appropriationsThere are authorized to be appropriated to carry out this section—(1) such sums as are necessary for each of fiscal years 1999 through 2013; and (2) $5,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2014 through 2023.

7 U.S.C. § 3293 Agricultural fellowship program for middle income countries, emerging democracies, and emerging markets

(a) EstablishmentThe Secretary of Agriculture shall establish a fellowship program for,11 So in original. The word “for” probably should not appear. to be known as the “Cochran Fellowship Program”, to provide fellowships to individuals from eligible countries (as determined under subsection (b)) who specialize in agriculture for study—(1) in the United States; or (2) at a college or university located in an eligible country that the Secretary determines—(A) has sufficient scientific and technical facilities; (B) has established a partnership with at least one college or university in the United States; and (C) has substantial participation by faculty members of the United States college or university in the design of the fellowship curriculum and classroom instruction under the fellowship. (b) Eligible countriesCountries described in any of the following paragraphs shall be eligible to participate in the program established under this section:(1) Middle-income countryA country that has developed economically to the point where it no longer qualifies for bilateral foreign aid assistance from the United States because its per capita income level exceeds the eligibility requirements of such assistance programs (hereafter referred to in this section as a “middle-income” country). (2) Ongoing relationshipA middle-income country that has never qualified for bilateral foreign aid assistance from the United States, but with respect to which an ongoing relationship with the United States, including technical assistance and training, would provide mutual benefits to such country and the United States. (3) Type of governmentA country that has recently begun the transformation of its system of government from a non-representative type of government to a representative democracy and that is encouraging democratic institution building, and the cultural values, institutions, and organizations of democratic pluralism. (4) Independent states of the former Soviet UnionA country that is an independent state of the former Soviet Union (as defined in section 5602(8) of this title), to the extent that the Secretary of Agriculture determines that such country should be eligible to participate in the program established under this section. (5) Emerging marketAny emerging market, as defined in section 1542(e). (c) Purpose of fellowshipsFellowships under this section shall be provided to permit the recipients to gain knowledge and skills that will—(1) assist eligible countries to develop agricultural systems (which may include agricultural extension services) necessary to meet the food and fiber needs of their domestic populations; and (2) strengthen and enhance—(A) trade linkages between eligible countries and agricultural interests in the United States; or (B) linkages between agricultural interests in the United States and regulatory systems governing sanitary and phytosanitary standards for agricultural products that—(i) may enter the United States; and (ii) may pose risks to human, animal, or plant life or health. (d) Individuals who may receive fellowshipsThe Secretary shall utilize the expertise of United States agricultural counselors, trade officers, and commodity trade promotion groups working in participating countries to help identify program candidates for fellowships under this section from both the public and private sectors of those countries. The Secretary may provide fellowships under the program authorized by this section to private agricultural producers from eligible countries. (e) Program implementationThe Secretary shall consult with other United States Government agencies, United States universities, and the private agribusiness sector, as appropriate, to design and administer training programs to accomplish the objectives of the program established under this section. (f) Authorization of appropriationsThere are authorized to be appropriated without fiscal year limitation such sums as may be necessary to carry out the program established under this section, except that the amount of such funds in any fiscal year shall not exceed—(1) for eligible countries that meet the requirements of subsection (b)(1), $4,000,000; (2) for eligible countries that meet the requirements of subsection (b)(2), $3,000,000; and (3) for eligible countries that meet the requirements of subsection (b)(3), $6,000,000. (g) Complementary fundsIf the Secretary of Agriculture determines that it is advisable in furtherance of the purposes of the program established under this section, the Secretary may accept money, funds, property, and services of every kind by gift, devise, bequest, grant, or otherwise, and may, in any manner, dispose of all such holdings and use the receipts generated from such disposition as general program funds under this section. All funds so designated for the program established under this section shall remain available until expended.

7 U.S.C. § 3294 Center For North American Studies

(a) EstablishmentThe Secretary of Agriculture shall establish a center, to be known as the Center For North American Studies, whose primary purpose shall be to promote better agricultural relationships among Canada, Mexico, and the United States through cooperative study, training, and research. (b) LocationThe Institute shall be located at an institution of higher education or at a consortium of such institutions. (c) Authorization of appropriationsTo carry out this section, there are authorized to be appropriated $10,000,000 for fiscal year 1994 and such sums as may necessary 11 So in original. Probably should be “may be necessary”. for each of fiscal years 1995 and 1996.

7 U.S.C. § 3295 International Agricultural Education Fellowship Program

(a) Fellowship program establishmentThe Secretary shall establish a fellowship program to be known as the International Agricultural Education Fellowship Program to provide fellowships to citizens of the United States to assist eligible countries in developing school-based agricultural education and youth extension programs. (b) Eligible country describedFor purposes of this section, an eligible country is a developing country, as determined by the Secretary using a gross national income per capita test selected by the Secretary. (c) Purpose of fellowshipsThe goals of providing a fellowship under this section are to—(1) develop globally minded United States agriculturists with experience living abroad; (2) focus on meeting the food and fiber needs of the domestic population of eligible countries; and (3) strengthen and enhance trade linkages between eligible countries and the United States agricultural industry. (d) Eligible candidatesThe Secretary may provide fellowships to citizens of the United States who—(1) hold at least a bachelors degree in an agricultural related field of study; and (2) have an understanding of United States school-based agricultural education and youth extension programs, as determined by the Secretary. (e) Candidate identificationThe Secretary shall consult with the National FFA Organization, the National 4–H Council, and other entities as the Secretary determines are appropriate to identify candidates for fellowships. (f) Program implementationThe Secretary shall provide for the management, coordination, evaluation, and monitoring of the Fellowship Program, except that the Secretary may contract out the management of the fellowship program to an outside organization with experience in implementing fellowship programs focused on building capacity for school-based agricultural education and youth extension programs in developing countries. (g) Authorization of appropriations(1) In generalThere are authorized to be appropriated $5,000,000 to carry out this section for each of fiscal years 2019 through 2023. (2) DurationAny funds made available under this subsection shall remain available until expended.

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