COORDINATION AND PLANNING OF AGRICULTURAL RESEARCH, EXTENSION, AND EDUCATION.

SEC. 804. COORDINATION AND PLANNING OF AGRICULTURAL RESEARCH, EXTENSION, AND EDUCATION. The National Agricultural Research, Extension, and Teaching Policy Act of 1977 is amended by inserting after section 1413 (7 U.S.C. 3128) the following: “SEC. 1413A. ACCOUNTABILITY. “(a) Review of Information Technology Systems.— The 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 System.— The 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 Requirements.— The 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 Appropriations.— There are authorized to be appropriated such sums as are necessary to carry out this section. “SEC. 1413B. FEDERAL ADVISORY COMMITTEE ACT EXEMPTION FOR COMPETITIVE RESEARCH, EXTENSION, AND EDUCATION PROGRAMS. “The Federal Advisory Committee Act (5 U.S.C. App.) and title XVIII of this Act 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.”.