JOINT COUNCIL ON FOOD AND AGRICULTURAL SCIENCES AND NATIONAL AGRICULTURAL RESEARCH AND EXTENSION USERS ADVISORY BOARD.

SEC. 1604. JOINT COUNCIL ON FOOD AND AGRICULTURAL SCIENCES AND NATIONAL AGRICULTURAL RESEARCH AND EXTENSION USERS ADVISORY BOARD. (a) Joint Council.— Section 1407 of the National Agricultural Research, Extension, and Teaching Policy Act of 1977 (7 U.S.C. 3122(a)) is amended to read as follows: “SEC. 1407. JOINT COUNCIL ON FOOD AND AGRICULTURAL SCIENCES. “(a) Establishment.— The Secretary shall establish within the Department of Agriculture a committee to be known as the Joint Council on Food and Agricultural Sciences which shall remain in existence until September 30, 1995. “(b) Membership.— The Joint Council shall be composed of not less than 21 representatives of organizations or agencies which conduct or assist in conducting programs of research, extension, or teaching in the food and agricultural sciences, including the following: “(1) Six representatives from State cooperative institutions, including at least one from institutions eligible to receive funds under the Act of August 30, 1890 (7 U.S.C. 321 et seq.), including Tuskegee University. “(2) Four representatives from agencies within the Department of Agriculture which have significant research, extension, and teaching responsibilities. “(3) One representative from public colleges and universities having a demonstrable capacity to carry out food and agricultural research, extension, or teaching. “(4) One representative from colleges and universities conducting research related to the food and agricultural sciences. “(5) Three representatives from private organizations or corporations conducting research in the food and agricultural sciences, including one representative from the food processing industry involved in food technology research. “(6) One representative from among foundations funding research in the food and agricultural sciences. “(7) One representative from among farmers, ranchers, and other producers of domestic agricultural commodities. “(8) One representative from the Office of Science and Technology Policy. “(9) Two representatives from other Federal agencies determined by the Secretary to be appropriate. “(10) One representative from the National Academy of Sciences. 104 STAT. 3707 “(11) To the extent the Joint Council is composed of more than 21 members, representatives of other public and private institutions, producers, and representatives of the public who are interested in and have the potential to contribute to (as determined by the Secretary) the formulation of national policy in the food and agricultural sciences. “(c) Administrative Provisions.— “(1) Terms.— Members of the Joint Council shall be appointed for a term of up to three years by the Secretary from nominations made by the organizations and agencies described in subsection (b). The terms of the members shall be staggered. “(2) Chairperson.— The Joint Council shall be jointly chaired by the Assistant Secretary of Agriculture for research, extension, and teaching, and a person to be elected from among the non-Federal membership of the Joint Council. “(3) Meetings.— The Joint Council shall meet at least once during each three-month period. At least one meeting each year shall be a combined meeting with the Advisory Board. The meetings of the Joint Council shall be publicly announced in advance and shall be open to the public. Appropriate records of the activities of the Joint Council shall be kept and made available to the public on request. “(d) Primary Responsibility.— The primary responsibility of the Joint Council is to bring about more effective research, extension, and teaching in the food and agricultural sciences in the United States by improving the planning and coordination of publicly and privately supported food and agricultural science activities and by relating Federal budget development and program management to these processes. “(e) Other Responsibilities.— The responsibilities of the Joint Council shall also include the following: “(1) Provide a forum for the interchange of information among the organizations represented by the members of the Joint Council that will assure improved awareness among these organizations concerning the agricultural research, extension, and teaching programs, results, and directions of each organization. “(2) Analyze and evaluate the economic, environmental, and social impacts of agricultural research, extension, and teaching programs conducted in the United States. “(3) Determine high priority issues and goals for agricultural research, extension, and teaching programs, and submit annual reports identifying such high priority issues and goals to the Secretary and to Congress. “(4) Develop and review the effectiveness of a system, for use by the Secretary, of compiling, maintaining, and disseminating information about each federally supported agricultural research or extension project and, to the maximum extent possible, information about private agricultural research and extension projects conducted by colleges and universities, foundations, contract research groups, businesses, and others. Information about private agricultural research and extension shall not be included in this system unless they are partially or entirely funded by the Federal Government or the organizations sponsoring the projects agree to the inclusions of information about such projects. 104 STAT. 3708 “(5) Assist the parties in developing, reviewing, and evaluating memoranda of understanding or other documents that detail the terms and conditions between the Secretary and the participants in agricultural research, extension, and teaching programs under this Act and other Acts. “(6) Assist the Secretary in carrying out the responsibilities assigned to the Secretary under this title through planning and coordination in the food and agricultural sciences, by using, wherever possible, the existing regional research, extension, and teaching organizations of State cooperative institutions to provide regional planning and coordination, and by the development of recommendations and reports describing current and long-range needs, priorities, and goals in the food and agricultural sciences and means to achieve these goals. “(7) Coordinate with the Secretary in assessing the current status of, and developing a plan for, the effective transfer of new technologies to the farming community; “(8) In consultation with the Users Advisory Board— “(A) provide an annual review and prioritize requests for agricultural related special grants and construction grants; “(B) provide an annual review of the competitive grants made by the Secretary to determine priority research and grant categories and types that best advance the purposes expressed in section 1402; and “(C) review and make budget recommendations on the research, extension, and teaching budgets for the Agricultural Research Service, the Forest Service, the Economic Research Service, the Extension Service, the National Agricultural Library, the Cooperative State Research Service, and other department agencies. “(f) Reports.— “(1) Annual report.— Not later than June 30 of each year, the Joint Council shall prepare a report specifying its conclusions on— “(A) priorities for food and agricultural research, extension, and teaching programs; “(B) suggested areas of responsibility among Federal, State, and private organizations in carrying out such programs; “(C) the levels of financial and other support needed to carry out such programs; “(D) the progress made toward accomplishing the priorities and associated levels of financial and other support recommended in the annual report issued in the prior year; and “(E) the activities of the Board in meeting its responsibilities under this section. “(2) Five-year plan.— Not later than November 30, 1990, the Joint Council shall prepare a report outlining a five-year plan for food and agricultural sciences that reflects the coordinated views of the research, extension, and teaching community. The Joint Council shall update this plan every two years thereafter in reports reflecting the progress being made toward implementing the plan. “(3) Submission of reports.— Each report prepared under this subsection shall be submitted to the Secretary. Minority104 STAT. 3709 views, if timely submitted, shall be included in each such report.”. (b) Users Advisory Board.— Section 1408 of the National Agricultural Research, Extension, and Teaching Policy Act of 1977 (7 U.S.C. 3123) is amended to read as follows: “SEC. 1408. NATIONAL AGRICULTURAL RESEARCH AND EXTENSION USERS ADVISORY BOARD. “(a) Establishment.— The Secretary shall establish within the Department of Agriculture a board to be known as the National Agricultural Research and Extension Users Advisory Board which shall remain in existence until September 30, 1995. “(b) Membership.— The Advisory Board shall be composed of 21 members appointed by the Secretary. The members shall be appointed to serve staggered terms, in a manner determined appropriate by the Secretary. The members of the Advisory Board shall consist of the following: “(1) One member who is a producer representing farm cooperatives. “(2) Two members who are producers representing general farm organizations. “(3) Four members who are producers representing agricultural commodities, forest product, and aquacultural product groups from various geographic regions. “(4) One member representing agricultural farm suppliers. “(5) One member representing food and fiber processors. “(6) One member representing animal health interests. “(7) One member engaged in transportation of food and agricultural products to domestic or foreign markets. “(8) One member representing labor organizations primarily concerned with the production, processing, distribution, or transport of food and agricultural products. “(9) One member representing food marketing interests. “(10) One member representing private nonprofit organizations and foundations involved in agricultural research, sustainable agricultural research, education, and extension. “(11) One member representing private sector organizations involved in development programs and issues in developing countries. “(12) One member representing agencies of the Department of Agriculture that do not have research capabilities. “(13) One member engaged in rural development work. “(14) One member engaged in human nutrition work. “(15) Two members representing consumer interests, including one member who represents nonprofit consumer advocacy organizations. “(16) One member representing nonprofit environmental protection organizations. “(c) Chairperson; Vice-Chairperson.— At the first meeting each year of the Advisory Board, the members of the Advisory Board shall elect a chairperson and vice-chairperson from the members. The chairperson and vice-chairperson shall serve in such positions for a term of one year. “(d) Meetings.— The Advisory Board shall meet a sufficient number of times each year to carry out its responsibilities under subsection (f). At least one meeting each year shall be held as a combined meeting with the Joint Council. 104 STAT. 3710 “(e) Panels.— The Advisory Board may establish such panels as the Advisory Board considers appropriate to develop information, reports, advice, and recommendations for the use of the Advisory Board in meeting the responsibilities of the Advisory Board. Members of such panels may include members of the Advisory Board, Advisory Board staff members, individuals from the Department of Agriculture and other departments and agencies of the Federal government, and individuals from the private sector who have expertise in the subject to be examined by the panel. “(f) Responsibilities.— “(1) Advisory opinions.— The Advisory Board shall have general responsibility for preparing independent advisory opinions on the food and agricultural sciences. “(2) Specific duties.— The Advisory Board shall have specific responsibility to perform the following duties: “(A) Review the policies, plans, and goals of programs within the Department of Agriculture involving the food and agricultural sciences, and related programs in other Federal and State departments and agencies and in the colleges and universities developed by the Secretary under this title. “(B) Review and assess the extent of agricultural research, teaching, and extension being conducted by the private sector and the relationships and coordination of such activities with Federally supported agricultural research, teaching, and extension programs. “(C) Review and provide consultation to the Secretary on national policies, priorities, and strategies for agricultural research and extension for both the short and long term. “(D) Assess the overall adequacy of the distribution of resources and the allocation of funds for the agricultural research, extension, and teaching activities of the Department of Agriculture and make recommendations with regard to such distribution and allocation to the Secretary, Federal agencies, and private organizations that are contributing to the funding of agricultural research, extension, and teaching. “(E) Identify emerging agricultural research, teaching, and extension issues and suggest programs and technology transfer solutions for use by the public and private agricultural science and education community. “(F) Evaluate the results and the effectiveness of research and extension programs with regard to their influence on long-term goals of agriculture expressed in sections 1402 and 1403 and consumer needs. “(g) Reports by the Advisory Board.— “(1) Examination of federally supported agricultural research and extension programs.— Not later than July 1 of each year, the Advisory Board shall provide an oral briefing to the Secretary (by the chairperson of the Advisory Board) and a written report to Congress and the Secretary of recommendations concerning the allocation of responsibilities and levels of funding among Federally supported agricultural research and extension programs. The Advisory Board shall include in each oral briefing and written report prepared under this paragraph— “(A) a review and assessment of the allocation of funds for agricultural research and extension made for the preceding fiscal year by the Department of Agriculture; 104 STAT. 3711 “(B) an evaluation of— “(i) the effectiveness of coordination of Federal and private research initiatives; “(ii) new research and extension programs that need to be conducted by the research system; and “(iii) the effectiveness of the private and public research and extension system; and “(C) minority views, if timely submitted. “(2) Review of budget and secretary’s report.— Not later than February 20 of each year, the Advisory Board shall submit to the President, the Committees on Agriculture and Appropriations of the House of Representatives, and the Committees on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry and Appropriations of the Senate a report containing— “(A) an appraisal by the Advisory Board of the proposed budget of the President for the food and agricultural sciences for the fiscal year beginning in the year that report is submitted; “(B) the recommendations of the Secretary contained in the annual report submitted by the Secretary pursuant to section 1410; and “(C) separate views of members of the Advisory Board, if timely submitted. “(3) Requirement of reports.— Each report prepared by the Advisory Board shall list the membership of the Advisory Board as of the time the report was prepared, including the organizational and employment affiliation of each member of the Advisory Board. “(h) Report by Secretary.— Not later than February 1 of each year, the Secretary shall submit to the Committee on Agriculture of the House of Representatives and the Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry of the Senate a report that describes the manner in which the recommendations of the Advisory Board have been incorporated into the budget and programs of the Department of Agriculture.”.