Public Law 83–156

TITLE I— REGULAR ACTIVITIES

Agricultural Marketing Act To enable the Secretary to improve and develop, independently or through cooperation among Federal and State agencies, and others, a sound and efficient system for the distribution and marketing of agricultural products under the provisions of titles II and III of the Act of August 14, 1946, as amended (7 U. S. C. 1621–1629), and for expenses of any advisory committees established as provided in title III of said Act to assist in effectuating the research and service work of the Department, $5,500,000: Provided, That not less than $600,000 of this amount shall be available for contracts in accordance with the provisions of section 205 of said Act: Provided further, That the Secretary may make available to any bureau, office, or agency of the Department such amounts from this appropriation as may be necessary to carry out the functions for which it is made (but amounts made available to the Office of the Secretary, Office of the Solicitor, and Office of Information, shall not exceed those which the Bureau of the Budget, after a hearing thereon with representatives of the Department, shall determine), and any such amounts shall be in addition to amounts transferred or otherwise made available to other appropriation items of the Department: Provided further, That no part of this appropriation shall be available for work relating to fish or shellfish or any product thereof, except for the support of equitable transportation rates before Federal agencies concerned with such rates and for development of foreign markets.

Bureau of Agricultural Economics For necessary expenses in carrying out the provisions of the Act establishing the Bureau of Agricultural Economics (7 U. S. C. 411) and related Acts, as follows: Economic investigations: For conducting investigations and for acquiring and diffusing useful information among the people of the United States, relative to agricultural production, distribution, land utilization, and conservation in their broadest aspects, including farm management and practice, utilization of farm and food products, purchasing of farm supplies, farm population and rural life, farm labor, farm finance, insurance and taxation, adjustments in production to probable demand for the different farm and food products; land ownership and values, costs, prices and income in their relation to agriculture, including causes for their variations and trends, $2,246,060: Provided, That no part of the funds herein appropriated or made available to the Bureau of Agricultural Economics under the heading “Economic investigations” shall be used for State and county land-use planning, for conducting cultural surveys, or for the maintenance of regional offices. Crop and livestock estimates: For collecting, compiling, abstracting, analyzing, summarizing, interpreting, and publishing data relating to agriculture, including crop and livestock estimates, acreage, yield, grades, staples of cotton, stocks, and value of farm crops and numbers, grades, am value of livestock and livestock products on farms, production, distribution, and consumption of turpentine and rosin pursuant to the Act of August 15, 1935 (5 U. S. C. 556b), and for the collection and publication of statistics of peanuts as provided by the Act approved June 24, 1936, as amended May 12, 1938 (7 U. S. C. 951–957), $3,158,000: Provided, That no part of the funds herein appropriated shall be. available for any expense incident to ascertaining, collating or publishing a report stating the intention of farmers as to the acreage to be planted in cotton, or for estimates of apple production for other than the commercial crop.

Agricultural Research Administration office of the administrator For necessary expenses of the Office of the Administrator, including travel and subsistence expenses of advisory committees authorized by title III of the Act of August 14, 1946 (7 U. S. C. 1628–1629), $341,677: Provided, That of the several appropriations of the Agricultural Research Administration, not to exceed $15,000 shall be available for employment pursuant to the second sentence of section 706 (a) of the Organic Act of 1944 (5 U. S. C. 574), as amended by section 15 of the Act of August 2, 1946 (5 U. S. C. 55a): Provided further, That the several appropriations of the Agricultural Research Administration shall be available for the construction, alteration, and repair of buildings and improvements: Provided, however, That unless otherwise provided, the cost of constructing any one building (excepting headhouses connecting greenhouses and experimental farm houses) shall not exceed $5,000, the total amount for construction of buildings costing more than $2,500 each shall he within the limits of the estimates submitted and approved therefor, and the cost, of altering any one building during the fiscal year shall not exceed $2,500 or 2 percent um of the cost of the building, whichever is greater: Provided further, That transfers not to exceed $11,000 may be made to this appropriation from the several appropriations of the Agricultural Research Administration for general-use capital improvements at the Agricultural Research Center.

Office of Experiment Stations payments to states, hawaii, alaska, and puerto rico For payments to the States, Hawaii, Alaska, and Puerto Rico to be paid quarterly in advance where applicable, to carry into effect the provisions of the following Acts relating to agricultural experiment stations: Hatch Act, the Act approved March 2, 1887 (7 U. S. C, 362, 363, 365, 368, 377–379), $720,000; Adams Act, the Act approved March 16, 1906 (7 U. S. C. 369), $720,000; Purnell Act, the Act approved February 24, 1925 (7 U. S. C. 361, 366, 370, 371, 373–376, 380, 382), $2,880,000; Bankhead-Jones Act, title 1 of the Act approved June 29, 1935 (7 U. S. C. 427–427g), sections 3 and 51 $2,863,708, and sections 9 and 11 of said Act as added by the Act of August 14, 1946 (7 U. S. C. 427h, 427j), including administration by the Office of Experiment Stations in the United States Department of Agriculture, $6,000,000, no part of which latter amount shall be used for beginning construction of any building costing in excess of $15,000; Hawaii, the Act approved May 16, 1928 (7 U. S. C. 386–386b), extending the benefits of certain Acts of Congress to the Territory of Hawaii, $90,000: Alaska, the Act approved February 23, 1929 (7 U. S. C. 386c), extending the benefits of the Hatch Act to the Territory of Alaska, $15,000, and the provisions of section 2 of the Act approved June 20, 1936, as amended (7 U. S.,C. 369a), extending the benefits of the Adams and Purnell Acts to the Territory of Alaska, $75,000: Puerto Rico, the Act approved March 4, 1931, as amended (7 U. S. C. 386d–386f), extending the benefits of certain Acts of Congress to Puerto Rico, $90,000; in all, payments to States, Hawaii, Alaska, and Puerto Rico, $13,453,708. salaries and expenses For necessary expenses in connection with administration of grants and coordination of research with States pursuant to the Acts approved March 2, 1887, March 16, 1906, February 24, 1925, May 16, 1928, February 23, 1929, March 4, 1931, and June 20, 1936, and Acts amendatory thereto (7 U. S. C. 361–363, 365–383, 386–386f), and title I of the Act approved June 29, 1935, as amended by the Act of September 21, 1944 (7 U. S. C. 427–427g), and for the administration, operation, and maintenance of an agricultural experiment station in Puerto Rico, $380,000; and the Secretary shall prescribe the form of the annual financial statement required under the above Acts, ascertain whether the expenditures are in accordance with their provisions, coordinate die research work of the State agricultural colleges and experiment stations in the lines authorized in said Acts with research of the Department in similar lines, and make report thereon to Congress. virgin islands agricultural program For expenses necessary to carry out an agricultural program in the Virgin Islands in accordance with the provisions of the Act approved October 29, 1951 (48 U. S. C. 1409m–1409o), $100,000. research on agricultural problems of alaska For expenses necessary to enable the Secretary to conduct research into the basic agricultural needs and problems of the Territory of Alaska, through such agencies of the Department as he may designate, independently or in cooperation with appropriate agencies of the Territory of Alaska, $270,000. bureau of human nutrition and home economics For necessary expenses in connection with conducting investigations of the relative utility and economy of agricultural products for food, clothing, and other uses in the home, with special suggestions of plans and methods for the more effective utilization of such products for these purposes, and such economic investigations, including housing and household buying, as have for their purpose the improvement, of the rural home, for coordinating nutrition services made available by Federal, State, and other agencies, and for disseminating useful information on these subjects, $1,404,500. bureau of animal industry For expenses necessary to carry out the provisions of the Act, as amended, establishing a Bureau of Animal Industry, and related Acts, and for investigation concerned with the livestock and meat industries and the domestic raising of fur-bearing animals, as follows: Animal research: For animal husbandry investigations; investigations of diseases of animals and of tuberculin, serums, antitoxins, and analogous products; and cooperation in the administration of regulations for the improvement of poultry, poultry products, and hatcheries, as authorized by law (7 U. S. C. 429), $4,049,500. Animal disease control and eradication: For the control and eradication of tuberculosis and paratuberculosis of animals, avian tuberculosis, brucellosis of domestic animals, scabies in sheep and cattle, southern cattle ticks, hog cholera and related swine diseases, and dourine in horses, and other inspection and quarantine work authorized by law; for supervision of the transportation of livestock, including administration of the twenty-eight-hour law; for inspection of vessels; and for carrying out the provisions of the Act of March 4, 1913 (21 U. S. C. 151–158) and sections 56 to 60, inclusive, of the Act approved August 24, 1935 (7 U. S. C. 851–855), relating to veterinary biological products, $8,480,500: Provided, That no payment hereunder as compensation for any cattle condemned for slaughter for tuberculosis, paratuberculosis, or brucellosis shall exceed (1) $25 for any grade animal or $50 for any pure bred animal, (2) one-third of the difference between the appraised value and the value of salvage thereof, or (3) the amount paid or to be paid by the State or other cooperating agency, and no payment hereunder shall be made for any animal if at the time of test or condemnation it shall belong to or be upon the premises of any person, firm, or corporation to which it has been sold, shipped, or delivered for slaughter. Meat inspection: For carrying out the provisions of laws relating to Federal inspection of meat and meat-food products, $14,160,000: Provided, That the proviso permitting reimbursement for meat inspection appearing under the heading “Bureau of Animal Industry, Salaries and expenses, meat inspection” in the Department of Agriculture Appropriation Act, 1952 is hereby repealed. bureau of dairy industry For necessary expenses in carrying out the provisions of the Act of May 29, 1924 (7 U. S. C. 401–404), including investigations, experiments, and demonstrations in dairy industry, the applicable provisions of the Act of May 9, 1902 (26 U. S. C. 2325, 2326 (c)), relating to process or renovated butter, as amended, and the Act of May 23, 1908 (21 U. S. C. 94 (a)), insofar as it relates to the exportation of process or renovated butter, $1,659,500. bureau of agricultural and industrial chemistry For expenses necessary for investigations, experiments, and demonstrations established under the provisions of section(a) to 202 (e), inclusive, of title II of the Agricultural Adjustment Act of 1938 (7 U. S. C. 1292); for the development of new and extended food, feed, and industrial uses for agricultural commodities, both plant and animal, and potential replacement crops, and processing, biological, chemical, physical, pharmalogical, toxicological, and technological investigation thereof, $7,725,000. bureau of plant industry, soils, and agricultural engineering Plant, soil, and agricultural engineering research: For expenses necessary for investigations, experiments, and demonstrations concerning plants, soils, and agricultural engineering, including those related to the production, improvement, handling, processing, transportation, and storage of farm and other crops; control of weeds, plant diseases, and nematodes; discovery and introduction of new and useful plants, both foreign and native; soil and water management to improve soil productivity and to conserve soil and water resources; the relation of soils to plant, animal, and human nutrition; fertilizers, liming materials, and soil amendments; farm machinery and processing equipment; farm buildings, and farm electrification; and for the operation and maintenance of airplanes; $12,074,000, National Arboretum: For the maintenance and development of the National Arboretum established under the provisions of the Act approved March 4, 1927 (20 U. S. C. 191–194), $174,000. bureau of entomology and plant quarantine For expenses necessary for investigations, experiments, demonstrations, and surveys for the promotion of economic entomology, for investigating and ascertaining the best means of destroying insects and related pests injurious to agriculture, for importing useful and beneficial insects and bacterial, fungal, and other diseases of insects and related pests, for investigating and ascertaining the best means of destroying insects affecting man and animals, and the best ways of utilizing beneficial insects, for carrying into effect the provisions of the Plant Quarantine Act of August 20, 1912, as amended (7 U. S. C. 151–167), the Honey Bee Act (7 U. S. C. 281–283), the Insect Pest Act (7 U. S. C. 141–144), the Mexican Border Act (7 U. S. C. 149), the Act of May 9, 1938, relating to grasshoppers, Mormon crickets, and chinch bugs (7 U. S. C. 148–148e), and the Organic Act of 1944 (7 U. S. C. 147a), as amended, authorizing the eradication, control, and prevention of spread of injurious insects and plant pests; including the operation and maintenance of airplanes and the purchase (for emergency replacement only) of not to exceed one, as follows: Insect, investigations: For the investigation of insects affecting fruits, grapes, nuts, trees, shrubs, forests and forest products, truck and garden crops, cereal, forage and range crops, cotton, tobacco, sugar plants, ornamental and other plants and agricultural products, household possessions, and man and animals: for bee culture and apiary management; for classifying, identifying, and collecting information to determine the distribution and abundance of insects; for investigations in connection with introduction of natural enemies of injurious insects and related pests and for the exchange with other countries of useful and beneficial insects and other arthropods; for developing methods, equipment, and apparatus to aid in enforcing plant quarantines and in the eradication and control of insect pests and plant diseases; and for investigations of insecticides and fungicides, including methods of their manufacture and use and the effects of their application; $3,982,830: Provided That of the amount allotted for oriental fruitfly, not to exceed $250,000 may be used for contracts with public or private agencies for research in accordance with section 10 (a) of the Act of August 14, 1946 (7 U. S. C. 427i), and the amounts obligated for contract research shall remain available until expended. Insect and plant-disease control: For carrying out operations or measures to eradicate, suppress, control, or to prevent or retard the spread of Japanese beetle, sweetpotato weevil, Mexican fruitflies, phony peach mosaic cereal rusts, pink bollworm and and Thur- beria weevil, golden nematode, citrus blackfly, white-fringed beetle, Hall scale, and gypsy and brown-tail moths, and grasshoppers, Mormon crickets, and chinch bugs in accordance with the Act of May 9, 1938 (7 U. S. C. 148–148e), including the enforcement of quarantine regulations and cooperation with States to enforce plant, quarantines as authorized by the Plant Quarantine Act of August 20, 1912, as amended (7 U. S, C. 151–167), and including the establishment of such cotton-free areas as may be necessary to stamp out any infestation of the pink boll worm as authorized by the Act of February 8, 1930 (46 Stat. 67), and for cooperation with States in the compensation of growers for losses resulting from the destruction of or for not planting potatoes and tomatoes on lands infested or exposed to infestations of the. golden nematode for the purpose authorized by the Golden Nematode Act (7 U. S. C. 150–150g), $5,487,000: Provided, That no part, of this appropriation shall be used to pay the cost or value of trees, farm animals, farm crops, or other property injured or destroyed, except potatoes and tomatoes as authorized under the Golden Nematode Act: Provided further, That, in the discretion of the Secretary, no part of this appropriation shall be expended for the control of sweet-potato weevil in any State until such State has provided cooperation necessary to accomplish this purpose, or for barberry eradication until a sum or sums at least equal to such expenditures shall have been appropriated, subscribed, or contributed by States, counties, or local authorities, or by individuals or organizations for the accomplishment of this purpose, or with respect to the golden nematode except as prescribed in section 4 of I he Golden Nematode Act. Plant quarantines: For operations against the introduction of insect pests or plant diseases into the United States, including the enforcement of foreign-plant quarantines and regulations promulgated under sections 5 and 7 of the Plant Quarantine Act of August 20, 1912, as amended (7 U. S. C. 151–167), the Insect Pest Act of 1905 (7 U. S. C. 141–144), and the Mexican Border Act of 1942 (7 U. S. C. 149), for enforcement of domestic-plant quarantines as they pertain to Territories and districts of the United States, for the enforcement of plant quarantines through inspection in transit, including the interception and disposition of materials found to have teen transported in violation of Federal plant quarantine laws or regulations, and operations under the Terminal Inspection Act (7 U. S. C. 166), and enforcement, of regulations governing the movement of plants into and from the District of Columbia promulgated under section 15 of the Plant Quarantine Act of August 20, 1912, as amended, and for inspection and certification of plants and plant products to meet the sanitary requirements of foreign countries, as authorized in section 102 of the Organic Act of 1944 (7 U. S. C. 147a), $2,675,000. Emergency outbreaks of insects and plant diseases: For expenses necessary to carry out the provisions of the joint resolution approved May 9, 1938 (7 U. S. C. 148–148e), including the operation and maintenance of airplanes, control operations in Canada in cooperation with the Canadian Government or local Canadian authorities, and the employment of Canadian citizens, $600,000, which shall be apportioned for use pursuant to section 3679 of the Revised Statutes, as amended, for the purposes of said joint resolution to the extent necessary to meet emergency conditions.

Control of Forest Pests For expenses necessary for carrying out operations, measures, or surveys necessary to eradicate, suppress, control, or to prevent or retard the spread of insects or diseases which endanger forest trees on any lands in the United States, and for such quarantine measures relating thereto as may be necessary pursuant to the Plant Quarantine Act of August 20, 1912, as amended (7 U. S. C. 151–167), including the purchase (not to exceed one for emergency replacement only) and operation and maintenance of airplanes, and construction and alteration of necessary buildings: Provided, That the cost of constructing or altering any one building during the fiscal year shall not exceed $2,500, as follows: Forest Pest Control Act: For carrying out the provisions of the Act approved June 25, 1947 (16 U. S. C., Supp. V, 594–1–594–5), $2,300,000, of which $1,900,000 shall be apportioned for use pursuant to section 3679 of the Revised Statutes, as amended, for the purposes of said Act to the extent necessary under the then existing conditions. White pine blister rust: White pine blister rust, pursuant to the Act of April 26, 1940 (16 U. S. C. 594a), $3,000,000, of which $460,000 shall be available to the Department of the Interior for the control of white pine blister rust on or endangering Federal lands under the jurisdiction of that Department or lands of Indian tribes which are under the jurisdiction of or retained under restrictions of the United States; $1,590,000 to the Forest Service for the control of white pine blister rust on or endangering lands under its jurisdiction; and $950,000 to the Bureau of Entomology and Plant Quarantine for leadership and general coordination of the entire program, method development, and for operations conducted under its direction for such control, including, but not confined to, the control of white pine blister rust on or endangering State and privately owned lands.

Forest Service salaries and expenses For expenses necessary, including not to exceed $15,000 for employment pursuant to the second sentence of section 706 (a) of the Organic Act of 1944 (5 U. S. C. 574), as amended by section 15 of the Act of August 2, 1946 (5 U. S. C. 55a); to experiment and make investigations and report on forestry, national forests, forest fires, and lumbering, but no part of this appropriation shall be used for any experiment or test made outside the jurisdiction of the United States; to advise the owners of woodlands as to the proper care of the same; to investigate and test American timber and timber trees and their uses, and methods, for the preservative treatment of timber; to seek, through investigations and the planting of native and foreign species, suitable trees for the treeless regions; to erect necessary buildings: Provided, That the cost of any building purchased, erected, or as improved, exclusive of the cost of constructing a water-supply or sanitary system and of connecting the same with any such building, and exclusive of the cost of any tower upon which a lookout house may be erected, shall not exceed $18,500 ($22,500 in Alaska) with the exception that any building erected, purchased, or acquired, the cost of which was $18,500 or more, may be improved out of the appropriations made under this Act for the Forest Service by an amount not to exceed 2 per centum of the cost of such building; to protect, administer, and improve the national forests, including tree planting and other measures to prevent erosion, drift, surface wash, soil waste, and the formation of Hoods, and to conserve water: to ascertain the natural conditions upon and utilize the national forests, to transport and care for fish and game supplied to stock the national forests or the waters therein; to collate, digest, report, and illustrate the results of experiments and investigations made by the Forest Service: Provided further, That the appropriations available to the Forest Service for the current fiscal year may be used for the operation and maintenance of aircraft, and the purchase of not to exceed three (for replacement only), and not to exceed $250,000 of such appropriations may be used for the maintenance, improvement, and construction of airplane landing fields in the national forests, as follows: National forest protection and management: For the administration, protection, use, maintenance, improvement, and development of the national forests, including the establishment and maintenance of forest tree nurseries, including the procurement of tree seed and nursery stock by purchase, production, or otherwise, seeding and tree planting and the care of plantations and young growth: the maintenance of roads and trails and the construction and maintenance of all other improvements necessary for the proper and economical administration, protection, development, and use of the national forests, including experimental areas under Forest Service administration, except that where direct purchases will be more economical than construction, improvements may be purchased; the construction (not to exceed $18,500 for any one structure), equipment, and maintenance of sanitary and recreational facilities; timber cultural operations; development and application of fish and game management plans; propagation and transplanting of plants suitable for planting on semi arid portions of the national forests; estimating and appraising of timber and other resources and development and application of plans for their effective management, sale, and use; expenses of the National Forest Reservation Commission as authorized by section 14 of the Act of March 1, 1911 (16 U. S. C. 514): examination, classification, surveying, and appraisal of land incident to effecting exchanges authorized by law and of lands within the boundaries of the national forests that may be opened to homestead settlement and entry under the Act of June 11, 1906, and the Act of August 10, 1912 (16 U. S. C. 506–509), as provided by the Act of March 4, 1913 (16 U. S. C. 512); investigation and establishment of water rights, including the purchase thereof or of lands or interests in lands or rights-of-way for use and protection of water rights necessary or beneficial in connection with the administration and public use of the national forests; not to exceed $100,000 for the purchase of parcels of land and interests (herein in Sanders County, Montana, but such land shall not be acquired without the approval of the local government concerned; and all expenses necessary for the use, maintenance, improvement, protection, and general administration of the national forests; $29,715,700. Fighting forest fires: For fighting and preventing forest fires on or threatening lands under Forest Service administration, including lands under contract for purchase or in process of condemnation for Forest Service purposes, and for liquidation of obligations incurred in the preceding fiscal year for such purpose, $6,000,000 of which $2,500,000 shall be apportioned for use, pursuant to section 3679 of the Revised Statutes, as amended, to the extent necessary to meet emergency conditions. Forest research: For forest research at forest or range experiment stations, the Forest Products Laboratory, or elsewhere, in accordance with the provisions of sections I, 2. 7. 8, 9, and 1(1 of the Act approved May 22, 1928, as amended (16 U. S. C. 581, 581a, 581 f–581i), including the construction and maintenance of improvements; fire, silvicultural, watershed, and other forest investigations and experiments; investigations and experiments to develop improved methods of management of forest and other ranges; experiments, investigations, and tests of forest products; a comprehensive forest survey; and investigations in forest economics; $5,350,000: Provided, That funds may be advanced to cooperators under such regulations as the Secretary may prescribe when such action will stimulate or facilitate cooperative work. forest roads and trails For expenses necessary for carrying out the provisions of section 23 of the Federal Highway Act approved November 9, 1921, as amended (23 U. S. C. 23, 23a), relating to forest development roads and trails, including the construction, reconstruction, and maintenance of roads and trails on experimental areas under Forest Service administration, $14,500,000, which sum is authorized to be appropriated by the Act of September 7, 1950 (64 Stat. 786), to remain available until expended: Provided, That this appropriation shall be available for the rental, purchase, construction, or alteration of buildings necessary for the storage and repair of equipment and supplies used for road and trail construction and maintenance, but the total cost of any such building purchased, altered, or constructed under this authorization shall not exceed $18,500 ($22,500 in Alaska), with the exception that any building erected, purchased, or acquired, the cost of which was $18,500 or more, may be improved within any fiscal year by an amount not to exceed 2 per centum of the cost of such buildings. acquisition of lands for national forests Weeks Act For the acquisition of forest lands under the provisions of the Act approved March 1, 1911, as amended (16 U. S. C. 513–519, 521), $75,000, to be available only for payment of the purchase price of any lands acquired, including the cost of surveys in connection with such acquisition: Provided, That no part of this appropriation shall be used for acquisition of any land which is not within the boundaries of a national forest: Provided further, That no part of this appropriation shall be used for the acquisition of any land without the approval of the local government concerned. state and private forestry cooperation For expenses necessary for cooperation with the various States in forest-fire prevention and suppression, in forest tree planting, in forest management and processing, and in farm forestry extension, pursuant to the Act of August 25, 1950 (16 U. S. C, 568c, 568d), and sections 1, 2, 3, 4, and 5 of the Act of June 7, 1924 (16 U. S. C. 564–568a), and Acts supplementary thereto; advising timberland owners, associations, and other appropriate agencies in the application of forest management principles to federally owned lands leased to States and to private forest lands, and advising wood-using industries in processing of forest products, so as to attain sustained-yield management, the conservation of the timber resources, the productivity of forest lands, and the stabilization of employment and economic continuance of forest industries; $10,792,708. cooperative range improvements For artificial re vegetation, construction, and maintenance of range improvements, control of rodents, and eradication of poisonous and noxious plants on national forests as authorized by section 12 of the Act of April 24, 1950 (16 U. S. C. 580h), $531,000, to remain available until expended.

Flood Prevention For expenses necessary, in accordance with the Flood Control Act, approved June 22, 1936 (Public Law 738) as amended and supplemented, and in accordance with the provisions of laws relating to the activities of the Department, to make preliminary examinations and surveys, and to perform works of improvement, and to plan the agricultural phases of the development of the Columbia Basin area, the Arkansas-White-Red River area, the New England-New York area, the Missiouri River area, and the Mississippi River area, including not to exceed $100,000 for employment pursuant to the second sentence of section 706 (a) of the Organic Act of 1944 (5 U. S. C. 574), as amended by section 15 of the Act of August 2, 1946 (5 U. S. C. 55a), at rates for individuals not to exceed $100 per diem, to remain available until expended, $7,000,000, with which shall be merged the unexpended balances of funds heretofore appropriated or transferred to the Department for flood prevention purposes: Provided, That no part of such funds shall be used for the purchase of lands in the Yazoo and Little Tallahatchie watersheds without specific approval of the county board of supervisors of the county in which such lands are situated, nor shall any part of such funds he used for I he purchase of lands in the counties of Adair, Cherokee, and Sequoyah, in the State of Oklahoma, and Neosho, Cottonwood, Verdigris, Caney, and tributaries in Kansas, without the specific approval of the Board of County Commissioners of the county in which such lands are situated: Provided further, That of the funds available herein, not in excess of $6,286,329 (with which shall be merged the unexpended balance of funds heretofore made available for these purposes) may be expended in watersheds heretofore authorized by section 13 of the Flood Control Act of December 22, 1944, for necessary gully control, floodwater detention, and floodway structures in areas other than those over which the Department of the Army has jurisdiction and responsibility.

Watershed Protection For expenses necessary to conduct surveys, investigations, and research and to carry out preventive measures, including, but not limited to, engineering operations, methods of cultivation, the growing of vegetation, and changes in use of land, in accordance with the provisions of Public Law 46, Seventy-fourth Congress; $5,000,000.

Soil Conservation Service salaries and expenses For necessary expenses for carrying out the provisions of the Act of April 27, 1935 (16 U. S. C. 590a–590i), title III of the Act of July 22, 1937 (7 U. S. C. 1010–1012), and the Act of August 11, 1945 (7 U. S. C. 1011 note), including research and investigations into irrigation, drainage, and watershed hydrology (including the construction, operation, and maintenance of experimental watersheds, stations, laboratories, plots, and installations); classification and mapping of soils; preparing conservation plans and establishing measures to conserve soil and water (including farm irrigation and land drainage and such special measures as may be necessary to prevent floods and the siltation of reservoirs); establishment and operation of conservation nurseries; development and management of land utilization project lands and facilities; dissemination of information; purchase and erection or alteration of permanent buildings; operation and maintenance of aircraft; and furnishing of subsistence to employees; $60,944,014: Pro- vided, That the cost of any permanent building purchased, erected, or as improved, exclusive of the cost of constructing a water supply or sanitary system and connecting the same to any such building and with the exception of buildings acquired in conjunction with land being purchased for other purposes, shall not exceed $2,500, except for eight buildings to be constructed or improved at a cost not to exceed $15,000 per building and except that alterations or improvements to other existing permanent buildings costing $2,500 or more may be made in any fiscal year in an amount not to exceed $500 per building: Provided further, That no part of this appropriation shall be available for the construction of any such building on land not owned by the Government: Provided further, That in the State of Missouri, where the State has established a central State agency authorized to enter into agreements with the United States or any of its agencies on policies and general programs for the saving of its soil by the extension of Federal aid to any soil conservation district in such State, the agreements made by or on behalf of the United States with any such soil conservation district shall have the prior approval of such central State agency before they shall become effective as to such district: 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 not to exceed $5,000 may be used for employment pursuant to the second sentence of section 706 (a) of the Organic Act of 1944 (5 U. S. C. 574), as amended by section 15 of the Act of August 2, 1946 (5 U. S. C. 55a): Provided further, That qualified local engineers may be temporarily employed at per diem rates to perform the technical planning work of the service: Provided further, That the Secretary may sell at market value any property located in Yalobusha, Chickasaw, and Pontotoc Counties, Mississippi, administered under title III of the Act of July 22, 1937 (7 U. S. C. 1(110–1012), and suitable for return to private ownership under such terms and conditions as would not conflict with the purposes of said Act. water conservation and utilization projects For expenses necessary to carry into effect the functions of the Department under the Acts of May 10, 1939 (53 Stat. 685.719), October 14, 1940 (16 U. S. C. 590y–z–10), as amended and supplemented, June 28, 1949 (Public Law 132), and September 6, 1950 (7 U. S. C. 1033–1039), relating to water conservation and utilization projects, to remain available until expended, $685,000, which sum shall be merged with the unexpended balances of funds heretofore appropriated to said Department for the purposes of said Acts.

Agricultural Conservation Program To enable the Secretary to carry into effect the provisions of sections 7 to 17, inclusive, of the Soil Conservation and Domestic Allotment Act, approved February 29, 1936, as amended (16 U. S. C. 590g–590q), including not to exceed $6,000 for the preparation and display of exhibits, including such displays at State, interstate, and international fairs within the United States; $211,982,000, to remain available until December 31 of the next succeeding fiscal year for compliance with the program of soil-building practices and soil-and water-conserving practices authorized under this head in the Department of Agriculture Appropriation Act, 1953, carried out during the period July 1, 1952, to December 31, 1953, inclusive, of which amount $2,500,000 shall be available for technical assistance in formulating and carrying out agricultural conservation practices and $1,000,000 shall be available for conservation practices related directly to flood prevention work in approved watersheds: Provided, That not to exceed $26,178,700 of the total sum provided under this head shall be available during the current fiscal year for salaries and other administrative expenses for carrying out such program, the cost of aerial photographs, however, not to be charged to such limitation; but not more than $4,500,000 shall be transferred to the appropriation account, “Administrative expenses, section 392, Agricultural Adjustment Act of 1938”: Provided further, That payments to claimants hereunder may be made upon the certificate of the claimant, which certificate shall be in such form as the Secretary may prescribe, that he has carried out the conservation practice or practices and has complied with all other requirements as conditions for such payments and that the statements and information contained in the application for payment are correct and true, to the best of his knowledge and belief, under the penalties of title 18, United States Code: Provided further, That none of the funds herein appropriated or made available for the functions assigned to the Agricultural Adjustment Agency pursuant to the Executive Order Numbered 9069, of February 23, 1942, shall be used to pay the salaries or expenses of any regional information employees or any State information employees, but this shall not preclude the answering of inquiries or supplying of information at the county level to individual farmers: Provided further, That such amount shall be available for salaries and other administrative expenses in connection with the formulation and administration of the 1954 program of soil-building practices and soil-and water-conserving practices, under the Act of February 29, 1936, as amended (amounting to $195,000,000, including administration, and formulated on the basis of a distribution of the funds available for payments and grants among the several States in accordance with their conservation needs as determined by the Secretary, except that the proportion allocated to any State shall not be reduced more than 15 per centum from the distribution for the next preceding program year, and no participant shall receive more than $1,500); but the payments or grants under such programs shall be conditioned upon the utilization of land with respect to which such payments or grants are to be made in conformity with farming practices which will encourage and provide for soil-building and soil-and water-conserving practices in the most practical and effective manner and adapted to conditions in the several States, as determined and approved by the State committees appointed pursuant to section 8 (b) of the Soil Conservation and Domestic Allotment Act, as amended (16 U. S. C. 590h (b)), for the respective States: Provided further, That not to exceed 5 per centum of the allocation for the agricultural conservation program for any county may, on the recommendation of such county committee and approval of the State committee, be withheld and allotted to the Soil Conservation Service for services of its technicians in formulating and carrying out the agricultural conservation program in the participating counties, and the funds so allotted may be placed in a single account for each State, and shall not be utilized by the Soil Conservation Service for any purpose other than technical and other assistance in such counties: Provided further, That such amounts shall be available for the purchase of seeds, fertilizers, lime, trees, or any other farming material, or any soil-terracing services, and making grants thereof to agricultural producers to aid them in carrying out farming practices approved by the Secretary under programs provided for herein: Provided further, That no part of any funds available to the Department, or any bureau, office, corporation, or other agency constituting a part of such Department, shall be used in the current fiscal year for the payment of salary or travel expenses of any person who has been convicted of violating the Act entitled “An Act to prevent pernicious political activities”, approved August 2, 1939, as amended, or who has been found in accordance with the provisions of title 18, United States Code, section 1913, to have violated or attempted to violate such section which prohibits the use of Federal appropriations for the payment of personal services or other expenses designed to influence in any manner a Member of Congress to favor or oppose any legislation or appropriation by Congress except upon request of any Member or through the proper official channels.

Production and Marketing Administration agricultural adjustment programs To enable the Secretary to formulate and carry out acreage allotment and marketing quota programs pursuant to provisions of title III of the Agricultural Adjustment Act of 1938, as amended (7 U. S. C. 1301–1393), and to provide advice and assistance to selective service authorities in connection with farm labor, $38,500,000, of which not more than $5,500,000 shall be transferred to the appropriation account “Administrative expenses, section 392, Agricultural Adjustment Act of 1938”: Provided, That $6,000,000 of this appropriation shall be placed in reserve pending determination by the Secretary as to the necessity of marketing quotas for the 1954 crop of wheat, and this amount shall be released in such sums and at such times as may be determined by the Bureau of the Budget to lie necessary. sugar act program To enable the Secretary to carry into effect the provisions of the Sugar Act of 1948 (7 U. S. C. 1101–1160), $59,645,000 to remain available until June 30 of the next succeeding fiscal year: Provided, That expenditures (including transfers) from this appropriation for other than payments to sugar producers shall not exceed $1,445,000. school lunch program To enable the Secretary to carry out the provisions of the National School Lunch Act (42 U. S. C, 1751–1760), $83,365,000: Provided, That no part of this appropriatiob shall be used for nonfood assistance under section 5 of said Act. marketing services For expenses necessary for acquiring and diffusing market information on agricultural commodities, food products and byproducts, the standardization, classification, grading, handling, storage, and marketing thereof, including the demonstration and promotion of the use of uniform standards of classification of American farm and food products throughout the world, the analysis of cotton fiber, the classing of cotton for producer members of cotton quality” improvement groups, the establishment of classification standards and maintenance of an inspection service for tobacco (7 U. S. C. 471–476, 501–508, 511–511q); for investigating and certifying, in one or more jurisdictions, to shippers and other interested parties the class, quality, and condition of any agricultural commodity or food product, whether raw or processed, and any product containing an agricultural commodity or derivative thereof when offered for interstate shipment or when received at such important central markets as the Secretary may from time to time designate, or at points which may be conveniently reached therefrom under such rules and regulations as he may pre- scribe, including the collection of such fees as are reasonable and as nearly as may cover the cost of the service rendered; for performing the duties imposed upon the Secretary by chapter 14 of the Internal Revenue Code relating to cotton futures (26 U. S. C. 1920–1935); and for carrying into effect the United States Cotton Standards Act (7 U. S. C. 51–65), the United States Grain Standards Act (7 U. S. C. 71–87), the Naval Stores Act (7 U. S. C. 91–99), section 201 (a) to 201 (d), inclusive, of title II of the Agricultural Adjustment Act of 1938 (7 U. S. C. 1291), including not to exceed $25,000 for employment at rates not to exceed $100 per diem, pursuant to the second sentence of section 706 (a), of the Organic Act of 1944 (5 U. S. C. 5 74), as amended by section 15 of the Act of August 2, 1946 (5 U. S. C. 55a), the Acts to provide standards for containers for fruits and vegetables (15 U. S. C. 251–257i), the United States Warehouse Act (7 U. S. C. 241–273), the Federal Seed Act (7 U. S. C. 1551–1610), the Packers and Stockyards Act (7 U. S. C. 181–229), the Federal Insecticide, Fungicide, and Rodenticide Act (7 U. S. C. 135–135k),and the Tobacco Plant and Seed Exportation Act (7 U. S, C. 516), $11,496,000. repayment to commodity credit corporation For reimbursement to Commodity Credit Corporation for sums transferred to the appropriation “Marketing services”, fiscal year 1952 (including interest thereon through June 30, 1953), pursuant to authority contained under the head “Marketing services” in the Department of Agriculture Appropriation Act, 1952 (7 U. S. C. 414a), for grading tobacco and classing cotton without charge to producers, as authorized by law (7 U. S. C. 473a, 511d), $768,505.

Commodity Exchange Authority To enable the Secretary to carry into effect the provisions of the Commodity Exchange Act, as amended (7 U. S. C. 1–17a), $700,000.

Federal Crop Insurance Corporation For operating and administrative expenses, $7,350,000.

Rural Electrification Administration To carry into effect the provisions of the Rural Electrification Act of 1936, as amended (7 U. S. C. 901–924), as follows: loan authorizations For loans in accordance with said Act, and for carrying out the provisions of section 7 thereof, to be borrowed from the Secretary of the Treasury in accordance with the provisions of section 3 (a) of said Act as follows: Rural Electrification program, $135,000,900; and rural telephone program, $67,500,000; and additional amounts, not to exceed $45,000.000 for the rural electrification program, may be borrowed under the same terms and conditions to the extent that such additional amounts are required during the fiscal year 1954, under the then existing conditions, for the expeditious and orderly development of the program. salaries and expenses For administrative expenses, including not to exceed $500 for financial and credit reports, and not to exceed $150,000 for employment pursuant to the second sentence of section 706 (a) of the Organic Act of 1944 (5 U. S. C. 574), as amended by section 15 of the Act of August 2, 1946 (5 U. S. C. 55a), $7,775,000.

Farmers’ Home Administration To carry into effect the provisions of titles I, II, and the related provisions of title IV of the Bankhead-Jones Farm Tenant Act, as amended (7 U. S. C. 1000–1031); the Farmers’ Home Administration Act of 1946 (7 U. S. C. 1001, note; 31 U. S. C. 82h; 12 U. S. C. 3 71; 35 D. C. Code 535; 60 Stat. 1062–1080); the Act of July 30, 1946 (40 U. S. C. 436–439); the Act of August 28, 1937, as amended (16 U. S. C. 590r–590x, 590z–5), for the development of facilities for water storage and utilization in the arid and semiarid areas of the United States; the provisions of title V of the Housing Act of 1949 (42 U. S. C. 1471–1483), as amended by the Housing Act of 1952 (Public Law 531, approved July 14, 1952), relating to financial assistance for farm housing: the Rural Rehabilitation Corporation Trust Liquidation Act, approved May 3, 1950 (40 U. S. C. 440–444); and the Act to direct the Secretary of Agriculture to convey certain mineral interests, approved September 6, 1950 (7 U. S. C. 1033–1039), as follows: loan authorizations For loans (including payments in lieu of taxes and taxes under section 50 of the Bankhead-Jones Farm Tenant Act, as amended, and advances incident to the acquisition and preservation of security of obligations under the foregoing several authorities): Title I and section 43 of title IV of the Bankhead-Jones Farm Tenant Act, as amended, and title V of the Housing Act of 1949, as amended, (except grants under 504 (a)), $35,500,000, of which not to exceed $5,000,000 of the amount available for the purposes of title I and section 43 of the Bankhead-Jones Farm Tenant Act, as amended, may be distributed to States and Territories without regard to farm population and prevalence of tenancy, in addition to the amount otherwise distributed thereto, for loans in reclamation projects and to entrymen on unpatented public land (sums available for loans under title V of the Housing Act of 1949, as amended, to remain available until expended); title II of the Bankhead-Jones Farm Tenant Act, as amended, $120,000,000; the Act of August 28, 1937, as amended, $6,500,000: Provided, That not to exceed the foregoing several amounts shall be borrowed in one account from the Secretary of the Treasury in accordance with the provisions set forth under this head in the Department of Agriculture Appropriation Act, 1952. salaries and expenses For the making, servicing, and collecting of loans and insured mortgages, the servicing and collecting of loans made under prior authority, the liquidation of assets transferred to Farmers’ Home Administration pursuant to the Farmers’ Home Administration Act of 1946, the extension of financial assistance under the Housing Act of 1949, as amended, and the administration of assets transferred under subsection 2 (f) of the Act of May 3, 1950, $27,600,000, together with a transfer to this appropriation item of not to exceed $325,000 of the fees and administrative expense charges mad available by subsections (d) and (e) of section 12 of the Bankhead-Jones Farm Tenant Act, as amended.

Farm Credit .Administration For necessary expenses, including library membership fees or clues in organizations which issue publications to members only or to members at a lower price than to others, payment for which may be made in advance; not to exceed $20,000 for expenditures authorized by section 602 of the Organic Act of 1944 (12 U. S. C. 833); $410,000, together with not to exceed $2,135,500 of receipts from Farm Credit agencies, to be advanced to this appropriation, to cover the cost of supervision, facilities, examinations, and other services rendered to such agencies; $2,545,500.

Extension Service payments to states, hawaii, alaska, and puerto rico For payments to the States, Hawaii, Alaska, and Puerto Rico, for cooperative agricultural extension Work as follows: Capper-Ketcham Act, the Act approved May 22, 1928 (7 U. S. C. 343a, 343b), $1,480,000; Bankhead-Jones Act, section 21, title II, of the Act approved June 29, 1935 (7 U. S. C. 343c), $12,000,000; Bankhead-Jones Act, section 23, title II, of the Act approved June 29, 1935, as amended by the Act of June 6, 1945 (7 U. S. C. 343d–1), $12,496,827; additional extension work, the Act approved April 24, 1939, as amended (7 U. S. C. 343cl), $555,000; Alaska, the Act approved February 23, 1929 (7 U. S. C. 386c), extending the benefits of the Smith-Lever Act to the Territory of Alaska, $17,300, and the Act approved October 27, 1949 (7 U. S. C. 343d–4, 5), extending to the Territory of Alaska the benefits of the Capper-Ketcham Act and sect ions 21 and 23 of title II of the Bankhead-Jones Act, $42,558; Puerto Rico, section 3 of the Act of March 4, 1931 (7 U. S, C. 386f), authorizing extension of the Capper-Ketcham Act to Puerto Rico, $32,131; the Act approved August 28, 1937 (7 U. S. C. 343f–343g), extending the benefits of section 21 of the Bankhead-Jones Act to Puerto Rico, $408,000; and the Act approved October 26, 1949 (7 U. S. C. 343d–2, 3), extending the benefits of section 23 of title II of the Bankhead-Jones Act to Puerto Rico, $101,090; and section 506a of title V of the Housing Act of 1949 (42 U. S. C. 1476), $33,050; in all, payments to States, Hawaii, Alaska, and Puerto Rico, $27,165,956. salaries and expenses For expenses necessary to administer the provisions of the Smith-Lever Act, approved May 8, 1914 (7 U. S. C, 341–348), and Acts amendatory or supplementary thereto, and to coordinate the extension work of the Department and the several States, Territories, and insular possessions, $920,000.

Office of the Secretary For expenses of the Office of the Secretary of Agriculture, including the purchase of one passenger motor vehicle for replacement only; travel expenses, including examination of estimates for appropriations in the field; stationery, supplies, materials, and equipment; freight, express, and drayage charges; advertising of bids, communication service, postage, washing towel, repairs and alterations, and other miscellaneous supplies and expenses not otherwise provided for and necessary for the practical and efficient work of the Department of Agriculture, $2,188,000, together with such amounts from other Appropriations or authorizations as are provided in the schedules in the budget for the current fiscal year for such services and expenses, which several amounts or portions thereof, as may be determined by the Secretary, not exceeding a total of $101,280, shall be transferred to and made a part of this appropriation.

Office of the Solicitor For necessary expenses, including payment of fees or dues for the use of law libraries by attorneys in the field service, $2,300,011, together with such amounts from other appropriations or authorizations as are provided in the schedules in the budget for the current fiscal year for such expenses which several amounts not exceeding a total of $318,000 shall be transferred to and made a part of this appropriation.

Foreign Agricultural Service For necessary expenses for the Foreign Agricultural Service and for enabling the Secretary to coordinate and integrate activities of the Department in connection with foreign agricultural work, $673,000.

Office of Information For necessary expenses of the Office of Information for the dissemination of agricultural information and the coordination of informational work and programs authorized by Congress in the Department, $1,160,000, together with such amounts from other Appropriations or authorizations as are provided in the schedules in the budget for the current fiscal year for such expenses, which several amounts not exceeding a total of $16,014 shall be transferred to and made a part of this appropriation, of which total appropriation not to exceed $560,000 may be used for farmers’ bulletins, which shall be adapted to the interests of the people of the different sections of the country, an equal proportion of four-fifths of which shall be delivered to or sent out under the addressed franks furnished by the Senators, Representatives, and Delegates in Congress, as they shall direct (7 U. S. C. 417) and not less than two hundred thirty thousand eight hundred and fifty copies for the use of the Senate and House of Representatives of part 2 of the annual report, of the Secretary (known as the Yearbook of Agriculture) as authorized by section 73 of the Act of January 12, 1895 (44 U. S. C. 241): Provided, That in the preparation of motion pictures or exhibits by the Department, not exceeding a total of $10,000 may be used for employment pursuant to the second sentence of section 706 (a) of the Organic Act of 1944 (5 U. S. C. 574), as amended by section 15 of the Act of August 2, 1946 (5 U. S. C. 55a): Provided further, That no part of this appropriation shall be used for the establishment or maintenance of regional or State field offices, or for the compensation of employees in such offices.

Library For necessary expenses, including dues for library membership in societies or associations which issue publications to members only or at a price to members lower than to subscribers who are not members; $673,800.

TITLE II— CORPORATIONS

The following corporations and agencies are hereby authorized to make such expenditures, within the limits of funds and borrowing authority available to each such corporation or agency and 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

59 Stat. 598.

31 USC 849.

out the programs set forth in the budget for the fiscal year 1954 for such corporation or agency, except as hereinafter provided:

Federal Crop Insurance Corporation. Commodity Credit Corporation: Nothing in this Act shall be so construed as to prevent the Commodity Credit. Corporation from carrying out any activity or any program authorized by law: Provided, That not to exceed $17,100,000 shall be available for administrative expenses of the Corporation: Provided further, That $600,000 of this authorization shall be placed in reserve to be apportioned

31 USC 665.

pursuant to Section 3679 of the Revised Statutes, as amended, for use only in such amounts and at such times as may become necessary to carry out program operations: Provided further, That all necessary expenses (including legal and special services performed on a contract or fee basis, but not including other personal services) in connection with the acquisition, operation, maintenance, improvement, or disposition of any real or personal property belonging to the Corporation or in which it has an interest, including expenses of collections of pledged collateral, shall be considered as nonadministrative expenses for the purposes hereof: Provided further, That the Secretary of the Treasury is hereby authorized and directed to discharge indebtedness of the Commodity Credit Corporation to the Secretary of the Treasury by canceling notes issued by the Corporation to the Secretary of the Treasury in the amount of the capital impairment determined by the appraisal of June 30, 1952, pursuant to sections 1 and 4 of the Act of

52 Stat. 107, 108.

March 8, 1938, as amended (15 U. S. C. 713a–1, 4), $96,205,161. Federal Farm Mortgage Corporation: Not to exceed $750,000 (to be computed on an accrual basis) of the funds of the Corporation shall be available for administrative expenses, including employment on a contract or fee basis of persons, firms, and corporations for the performance of special services, including legal services, and the use of the services and facilities of Federal land banks, national farm loan associations, Federal Reserve banks, and agencies of the Government as

48 Stat. 344.

authorized by the Act of January 31, 1934 (12 U. S. C. 1020–1020h); and said total sum shall be exclusive of services and facilities furnished and examinations made by the Farm Credit Administration central office, interest expense, and expenses in connection with the acquisition, operation, maintenance, improvement, protection, or disposition of real or personal property belonging to the Corporation or in which

Dividends.

it has an interest: Provided, That promptly after June 30 of each fiscal year all cash funds in excess of the estimated operating requirements for the current fiscal year shall be declared as dividends and

Bonds.

paid into the general fund of the Treasury: Provided further, That the aggregate amount of bonds the Corporation may issue and have outstanding at any one time shall not exceed $500,000,000. Federal intermediate credit banks: Not to exceed $1,690,000 (to be computed on an accrual basis) of the funds of the banks shall be available for administrative expenses and services performed for the banks by other Government agencies (except services and facilities furnished and examinations made by the Farm Credit Administration central office, and services performed by any Federal Reserve bank and by the United States Treasury in connection with the financial transactions of the banks); and said total sum shall be exclusive of interest expense, legal and special services performed on a contract or fee basis, and expenses in connection with the acquisition, operation, maintenance, improvement, protection, or disposition of real or personal property belonging to the banks or in which they have an interest. Production credit corporations: Not to exceed $1,465,000 (to be computed on an accrual basis) of the funds of the corporations shall be available for administrative expenses and services performed for the corporations by other Government agencies (except services and facilities furnished and examinations made by the Farm Credit Administration central office); and said total sum shall be exclusive of interest expense, legal and special services performed on a contract or fee basis, and expenses in connection with the acquisition, operation, maintenance, improvement, protection, or disposition of real or personal property belonging to the corporations or in which they have an interest.

TITLE III— SPECIAL ACTIVITIES

Research on Strategic and Critical Agricultural Materials For expenses necessary to enable the Secretary to carry out his responsibilities under section 7 (b) of the Strategic and Critical Materials Stock Piling Act of July 23, 1946 (50 U. S. C. 98f), $439,500: Provided, That this appropriation shall be subject to applicable provisions contained in the item “Office of Administrator, Agricultural Research Administration”.

Eradication of Foot-and-Mouth and Other Contagious Diseases of Animals and Poultry For expenses necessary in the arrest and eradication of foot-and-mouth disease, rinderpest, contagious pleuropneumonia, or other contagious or infectious diseases of animals, or European fowl pest and similar diseases in poultry, including the payment of claims growing out of destruction of animals (including poultry) affected by or exposed to, or of materials contaminated by or exposed to, any such disease, when there has been compliance with all lawful quarantine regulations, and for foot-and-mouth disease and rinderpest programs undertaken pursuant to the provisions of the Act of February 28, 1947, and the Act of May 29, 1884, as amended (7 U. S. C. 391; 21 U. S. C. 111–122), including expenses in accordance with section 2 of said Act of February 28, 1947, the Secretary may transfer from other Appropriations or funds available to the bureaus, corporations, or agencies of the Department such sums as he may deem necessary, but not to exceed $2,650,000 for eradication of vesicular exanthema of swine, to be available only in an emergency which threatens the livestock or poultry industry of the country, and any unexpended balances of funds transferred under this head in the next preceding fiscal year shall be merged with such transferred amounts: Provided, That, except for payments made pursuant to said Act of February 28, 1947, the payment for animals may be made on appraisement based on the meat, egg-production, dairy, or breeding value, but in case of appraisement based on breeding value no appraisement of any animal shall exceed three times its meat, egg-production, or dairy value and, except in case of an extraordinary emergency to be determined by the Secretary, the payment by the United States shall not exceed one-half of any such appraisements: Provided further, That poultry may be appraised in groups when the basis for appraisal is the same for each bird: Provided further, That this appropriation shall be subject to applicable provisions contained in the item “Office of Administrator, Agricultural Research Administration”: Provided further, That, the Secretary of the Treasury is hereby authorized and directed to discharge indebtedness of the Commodity Credit Corporation to the Secretary of the Treasury by canceling notes issued by the Corporation to the Secretary of the Treasury in the amount of $7,057,575 for funds transferred and expenses incurred under this bead through fiscal year 1952 (including interest thereon through June 30, 1953) pursuant to authority granted in the Department of Agriculture Appropriation Act, 1952.

International Wheat Agreement The Secretary of the Treasury is hereby authorized and directed to discharge indebtedness of the Commodity Credit Corporation to the Secretary of the Treasury by canceling notes issued by the Corporation of the Secretary of the Treasury in the amount of $171,740,395 for the net costs during the fiscal year 1952 (including interest thereon through June 30, 1953) under the International Wheat Agreement Act of 1949 (7 U. S. C. 1641–1642).

TITLE IV— GENERAL PROVISIONS