Public Law 95–97

That the following sums are appropriated, out of any money in the Treasury not otherwise appropriated, for Agriculture and Related Agencies programs for the fiscal year ending September 30, 1978, and for other purposes; namely:

TITLE I— AGRICULTURAL PROGRAMS

Production, Processing and Marketing Office of the Secretary For necessary expenses of the Office of the Secretary of Agriculture, including not to exceed $5,000 for employment under 5 U.S.C. 3109, $2,496,000; in addition to appropriations provided herein, the Secretary may transfer up to $1,500,000 for salaries and expenses of personnel on detail to his office: Provided, That this appropriation shall be reimbursed from applicable appropriations in this Act for travel expenses incident to the holding of hearings as required by 5 U.S.C. 551–558: Provided further, That not to exceed $4,000 of this amount shall be available for official reception and representation expenses, not otherwise provided for, as determined by the Secretary. departmental administration For Budget, Fiscal and Management, $3,568,721; for General Operations, $1,670,217; for ADP Systems, $201,335; for Personnel Administration, $2,146,127; for Equal Opportunity, $1,444,600; for Information Services provided by the Office of Communication, including the dissemination of agricultural information and the coordination of informational work and programs authorized by Congress in the Department, $5,245,000; making a total of $14,276,000 for Departmental Administration to provide for necessary expenses for management support services to offices of the Department of Agriculture, and for general administration of the Department of Agriculture, 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, of which not to exceed $10,000 for employment under 5 U.S.C. 3109 and, not to exceed $1,585,000 may be used for farmers’ bulletins and not less than two hundred thirty-two thousand two 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 44 U.S.C. 1301: Provided, That in the preparation of motion pictures or exhibits by the Department, this appropriation shall be available for employment pursuant to the second sentence of section 706(a) of the Organic Act of 1944 (7 U.S.C. 2225). economic management support center For necessary expenses of the Economic Management Support Center to provide management support services to selected agencies of the Department of Agriculture. $3,006,000: Provided, That this appropriation shall be available for employment pursuant to the second sentence of section 706(a) of the Organic Act of 1944 (7 U.S.C. 2225), and not to exceed $25,000 shall be available for employment under 5 U.S.C. 3109. Office of the Inspector General For necessary expenses of the Office of the Inspector General, including employment pursuant to the second sentence of section 706(a) of the Organic Act of 1944 (7 US.C. 2225), and not to exceed $10,000, for employment under 5 U.S.C. 3109, $20,204,000, and in addition, $8,231,000 shall be derived by transfer from the appropriation, “Food Stamp Program” and merged with this appropriation. Office of the General Counsel For necessary expenses, including payment of fees or dues for the use of law libraries by attorneys in the field service, $9,450,000. Federal Grain Inspection Service For necessary expenses to carry out the provisions of the United States Grain Standards Act, as amended, and the standardization activities related to grain under the Agricultural Marketing Act of 1946, as amended, including field employment pursuant to section 706(a) of the Organic Act of 1944 (7 U.S.C. 2225), and not to exceed $50,000 for employment under 5 U.S.C. 3109, $11,000,000: Provided,That this appropriation shall be available pursuant to law (7 U.S.C. 2250) for the alteration and repair of buildings and improvements, but, unless otherwise provided, the cost of altering any one building during the fiscal year shall not exceed 10 per centum of the current replacement value of the building: Provided further, That none of the funds provided by this act may be used to pay the salaries of any person or persons who require non-export, non-terminal interior elevators to maintain records not involving official inspection or official weighing in the United States under Public Law 94–582 other than those necessary to fulfill the purposes of such act. Agricultural Research Service For necessary expenses to enable the Agricultural Research Service to perform agricultural research and demonstration relating to production, utilization, marketing, and distribution (not otherwise provided for), home economics or nutrition and consumer use, and for acquisition of lands by donation, exchange, or purchase at a nominal cost not to exceed $100, except that the foregoing limitation shall not apply to the acquisition of lands for the United States Pecan Field Station at Brownwood, Texas, $324,859,000: Provided, That appropriations hereunder shall be available for field employment pursuant to the second sentence of section 706(a) of the Organic Act of 1944 (7 U.S.C. 2225), and not to exceed $75,000 shall be available for employment under 5 U.S.C. 3109: Provided further, That appropriations hereunder shall be available for the operation and maintenance of aircraft and the purchase of not to exceed one for replacement only and for the acquisition without cost of not to exceed one to be obtained by transfer: Provided further, That of the appropriations hereunder, not less than $10,526,600 shall be available to conduct marketing research: Provided further, That appropriations hereunder shall be available pursuant to 7 U.S.C. 2250 for the construction, alteration, and repair of buildings and improvements, but, unless otherwise provided, the cost of constructing any one building (except headhouses connecting greenhouses) shall not exceed $65,000, except for eight buildings to be constructed or improved at a cost not to exceed $125,000 each, and the cost of altering any one building during the fiscal year shall not exceed 8.5 per centum of the current replacement value of the building: Provided further, That $8,975,000 of this appropriation shall remain available until expended for plans, construction, and improvement of facilities without regard to the foregoing limitation: Provided further, That the limitations on alterations contained in this Act shall not apply to a total of $100,000 for facilities at Beltsville, Maryland: Provided further, That the foregoing limitations shall not apply to replacement of buildings needed to carry out the Act of April 24, 1948 ( 21 U.S.C. 113a). Special fund : To provide for additional labor, subprofessional, and junior scientific help to be employed under contracts and cooperative agreements to strengthen the work at research installations in the field, not more than $2,000,000 of the amount appropriated under this head for the previous fiscal year may be used by the Administrator of the Agricultural Research Service in departmental research programs in the current fiscal year, the amount so used to be transferred to and merged with the appropriation otherwise available under “Agricultural Research Service”. scientific activities overseas (special foreign currency program) For payments in foreign currencies owed to or owned by the United States for market development research authorized by section 104(b) (1) and for agricultural and forestry research and other functions related thereto authorized by section 104(b) (3) of the Agricultural Trade Development and Assistance Act of 1954, as amended (7 U.S.C. 1704(b) (1), (3)), $5,750,000: Provided, That this appropriation shall be available, in addition to other appropriations for these purposes, for payments in the foregoing currencies: Provided further, That funds appropriated herein shall be used for payments in such foreign currencies as the Department determines are needed, and can be used most effectively to carry out the purposes of this paragraph: Provided further, That not to exceed $25,000 of this appropriation shall be available for payments in foreign currencies for expenses of employment pursuant to the second sentence of section 706(a) of the Organic Act of 1944 (7 U.S.C. 2225), as amended by 5 U.S.C. 3109. Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service For expenses, not otherwise provided for, including those pursuant to the Act of February 28, 1947, as amended (21 U.S.C. 114b–c) necessary to prevent, control, and eradicate pests and plant and animal diseases; to carry out inspection, quarantine, and regulatory activities; to carry on services related to consumer protection; and to protect the environment, as authorized by law, $441,204,000 of which $2,500,000 shall be available for the control of outbreaks of insects, plant diseases and animal diseases to the extent necessary to meet emergency conditions and $4,460,000 may be for repayment to the Commodity Credit Corporation of advances (and interest thereon) made in accordance with authorities contained in the provisions of the appropriation items for the Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service in the Agriculture and Related Agencies Appropriation Act, 1976: Provided, That $1,000,000 of the funds for control of the fire ant shall be placed in reserve for matching purposes with States which may come into the program: Provided further, That no funds shall be used to formulate or administer a brucellosis eradication program for the current fiscal year that does not require minimum matching by any State of at least 40 per centum: Provided further, That this appropriation shall be available for field employment pursuant to the second sentence of section 706(a) of the Organic Act of 1944 (7 U.S.C. 2225), and not to exceed $60,000 shall be available for employment under 5 U.S.C. 3109: Provided further, That this appropriation shall be available for the operation and maintenance of aircraft and the purchase of not to exceed four, of which two shall be for replacement only: Provided further, That this appropriation shall be available pursuant to 7 U.S.C. 2250 for the construction, alteration, and repair of buildings and improvements, but, unless otherwise provided, the cost of constructing any one building shall not exceed $62,500, except for three buildings to be constructed or improved at a cost of not to exceed $120,000 each, and the cost of altering any one building during the fiscal year shall not exceed 8.5 per centum of the current replacement value of the building: Provided further, That this appropriation shall be available for acquisition of lands by donation, exchange, or purchase at a nominal cost not to exceed $100, except for purchase of land for an Animal Holding and Testing Facility at Ames, Iowa: Provided further, That, in addition, in emergencies which threaten the livestock or poultry industries of the country, the Secretary may transfer from other appropriations or funds available to the agencies or corporations of the Department such sums as he may deem necessary, to be available only in such emergencies for 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, and for expenses in accordance with the Act of February 28, 1947, as amended, and any unexpended balances of funds transferred for such emergency purposes in the next preceding fiscal year shall be merged with such transferred amounts. Cooperative State Research Service For payments to agricultural experiment stations, for cooperative forestry and other research, for facilities, and for other expenses, including $109,066,000 to carry into effect the provisions of the Hatch Act, approved March 2, 1887, as amended by the Act approved August 11, 1955 (7 U.S.C. 361a–361i), and further amended by Public Law 92–318 approved June 23, 1972, and further amended by Public Law 93–471 approved October 26, 1974, including administration by the United States Department of Agriculture, and penalty mail costs of agricultural experiment stations under section 6 of the Hatch Act of 1887, as amended; $9,500,000 for grants for cooperative forestry research under the Act approved October 10, 1962 (16 U.S.C. 582a–582a–7), as amended by Public Law 92–318 approved June 23, 1972; $21,388,000, in addition to funds otherwise available, for contracts and grants for scientific research under the Act of August 4, 1965 (7 U.S.C. 450i); $1,500,000 for Rural Development Research as authorized under the Rural Development Act of 1972, as amended (7 U.S.C. 2661–2668), including administrative expenses; and $1,696,000 for necessary expenses of the Cooperative State Research Service, including administration of payments to State agricultural experiment stations, funds for employment pursuant to the second sentence of section 706(a) of the Organic Act of 1944 (7 U.S.C. 2225), and not to exceed $50,000 for employment under 5 U.S.C. 3109; in all, $143,150,000. Extension Service Payments to States, Puerto Rico, Guam, and the Virgin Islands: For payments for cooperative agricultural extension work under the Smith-Lever Act, as amended by the Act of June 26, 1953, the Act of August 11, 1955, the Act of October 5, 1962 ( 7 U.S.C. 341–349), and section 506 of the Act of June 23, 1972, to be distributed under sections 3(b) and 3(c) of the Act, for retirement and employees’ compensation costs for extension agents, and for costs of penalty mail for cooperative extension agents and State extension directors, $176,031,000; payments for the nutrition and family education program for low-income areas under section 3(d) of the Act, $50,560,000; payments for the urban gardening programs under section 3(d) of the Act, $3,000,000; payments for extension work by the colleges receiving the benefits of the second Morrill Act (7 U.S.C. 321–326, 328) and Tuskegee Institute under section 3(d) of the Act, $9,333,000; payments for rural development work under section 3(d) of the Act, $1,000,000; payments for the pest management program under section 3(d) of the Act, $4,435,000; payments for the farm safety program under section 3(d) of the Act, $1,020,000; payments for the pesticide impact assessment program under section 3(d) of the Act, $735,000; and payments for extension work under section 208(c) of Public Law 93–471, $910,000; payments under section 5 of the Farmer-to-Consumer Direct Marketing Act of 1976, $1,500,000; and $2,500,000 for Rural Development Education as authorized under the Rural Development Act of 1972 (7 U.S.C. 2661–2668); in all, $251,024,000: Provided, That funds hereby appropriated pursuant to section 3(c) of the Act of June 26, 1953, and section 506 of the Act of June 23, 1972, as amended, shall not be paid to any State, Puerto Rico, Guam, or the Virgin Islands prior to availability of an equal sum from non-Federal sources for expenditure during the current fiscal year. Federal administration and coordination : For administration of the Smith-Lever Act, as amended by the Act of June 26, 1953, the Act of August 11, 1955, the Act of October 5, 1962 (7 U.S.C. 341–349), and section 506 of the Act of June 23, 1972, and section 208(d) of Public Law 93–471, and to coordinate and provide program leadership for the extension work of the Department and the several States and insular possessions, $6,197,000. National Agricultural Library For necessary expenses of the National Agricultural Library, $6,877,000: Provided, That this appropriation shall be available for employment pursuant to the second sentence of section 706(a) of the Organic Act of 1944 (7 U.S.C. 2225), and not to exceed $35,000 shall be available for employment under 5 U.S.C. 3109: Provided further,That not to exceed $100,000 shall be available pursuant to 7 U.S.C. 2250 for the alteration and repair of buildings and improvements. Statistical Reporting Service For necessary expenses of the Statistical Reporting Service in conducting statistical reporting and service work, including crop and livestock estimates, statistical coordination and improvements, and marketing surveys, as authorized by the Agricultural Marketing Act of 1946 (7 U.S.C. 1621–1627) and other laws, $36,996,000: Provided,That no part of the funds herein appropriated shall be available for any expense incident to publishing estimates of apple production for other than the commercial crop: Provided further, That this appropriation shall be. available for employment pursuant to the second sentence of section 706(a) of the Organic Act of 1944 (7 U.S.C. 2225), and not to exceed $40,000 shall be available for employment under 5 U.S.C. 3109. Economic Research Service For necessary expenses of the Economic Research Service in conducting economic research and service relating to agricultural production, marketing, and distribution, as authorized by the Agricultural Marketing Act of 1946 (7 U.S.C. 1621–1627), and other laws, including economics of marketing; analyses relating to farm prices, income and population, and demand for farm products, use of resources in agriculture, adjustments, cost and returns in farming, and farm finance; and for analyses of supply and demand for farm products in foreign countries and their effect on prospects for United States exports, progress in economic development and its relation to sales of farm products, assembly and analysis of agricultural trade statistics and analysis of international financial and monetary programs and policies as they affect the competitive position of United States farm products; $29,864,000, of which not less than $200,000 shall be available for investigation, determination and finding as to the effect upon the production of food and upon the agricultural economy of any proposed action affecting such subject matter pending before the Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency for presentation, in the public interest, before said administrator, other agencies or before the courts: Provided, That not less than $350,000 of the funds contained in this appropriation shall be available to continue to gather statistics and conduct a special study on the price spread between the farmer and consumer: Provided further,That this appropriation shall be available for employment pursuant to the second sentence of section 706(a) of the Organic Act of 1944 (7 U.S.C. 2225), and not to exceed $75,000 shall be available for employment under 5 U.S.C. 3109: Provided further, That not less than $145,000 of the funds contained in this appropriation shall be available for analysis of statistics and related facts on foreign production and full and complete information on methods used by other countries to move farm commodities in world trade on a competitive basis. Agricultural Marketing Service marketing services For necessary expenses to carry on services related to consumer protection, agricultural marketing and distribution, and regulatory programs, other than Packers and Stockyards Act, as authorized by law, and for administration and coordination of payments to States; including field employment pursuant to section 706(a) of the Organic Act of 1944 (7 U.S.C. 2225), and not to exceed $45,000 for employment under 5 U.S.C. 3109, $46,484,000: Provided, That this appropriation shall be available pursuant to law (7 U.S.C. 2250) for the alteration and repair of buildings and improvements, but, unless otherwise provided, the cost of altering any one building during the fiscal year shall not exceed $7,500 or 7.5 per centum of the cost of the building, whichever is greater. payments to states and possessions For payments to departments of agriculture, bureaus and departments of markets, and similar agencies for marketing activities under section 204(b) of the Agricultural Marketing Act of 1946 (7 U.S.C. 1623(b)). $1,600,000. funds for strengthening markets, income, and supply (section 32) Funds available under section 32 of the Act of August 24, 1935 (7 U.S.C. 612c) shall be used only for commodity program expenses as authorized therein, and other related operating expenses, except for (1) transfers to the Department of Commerce as authorized by the Fish and Wildlife Act of August 8, 1956; (2) transfers otherwise provided in this Act; and (3) not more than $4,443,000 for formulation and administration of marketing agreements and orders pursuant to the Agricultural Marketing Agreement Act of 1937, as amended, and the Agricultural Act of 1961. Packers and Stockyards Administration For necessary expenses for administration of the Packers and Stockyards Act, as authorized by law, including field employment pursuant to section 706(a) of the Organic Act of 1944 (7 U.S.C. 2225), and not to exceed $5,000 for employment under 5 U.S.C. 3109, $6,252,000. Farmer Cooperative Service For necessary expenses to carry out the Act of July 2, 1926 (7 U.S.C. 451–457), and for conducting research relating to the economic and marketing aspects of farmer cooperatives, as authorized by the Agricultural Marketing Act of 1946 (7 U.S.C. 1621–1627), $3,370,000. Farm Income Stabilization Agricultural Stabilization and Conservation Service salaries and expenses For necessary administrative expenses of the Agricultural Stabilization and Conservation Service, including expenses to formulate and carry out programs authorized by title III of the Agricultural Adjustment Act of 1938, as amended (7 U.S.C. 1301–1393); sections 7 to 15, 16(a), 16(b), 16(d), 16(e), 16(f), 16(i), and 17 of the Soil Conservation and Domestic Allotment Act, as amended and supplemented (16 U.S.C. 590g–590q); sections 1001 to 1010 of the Agricultural Act of 1970 as added by the Agriculture and Consumer Protection Act of 1973 (16 U.S.C. 1501 to 1510); the Water Bank Act (16 U.S.C. 1301–1311); and laws pertaining to the Commodity Credit Corporation, $161,838,000: Provided, That, in addition, not to exceed $76,415,000 may be transferred to and merged with this appropriation from the Commodity Credit Corporation fund (including not to exceed $34,216,000 under the limitation on Commodity Credit Corporation administrative expenses): Provided further, That other funds made available to the Agricultural Stabilization and Conservation Service for authorized activities may be advanced to and merged with this appropriation: Provided further, That this appropriation shall be available for employment pursuant to the second sentence of section 706(a) of the Organic Act of 1944 (7 U.S.C. 2225), and not to exceed $100,000 shall be available for employment under 5 U.S.C. 3109: Provided further, That no part of the funds appropriated or made available under this act shall be used (1) to influence the vote in any referendum; (2) to influence agricultural legislation, except as permitted in 18 U.S.C. 1913; or (3) for salaries or other expenses of members of county and community committees established pursuant to section 8(b) of the Soil Conservation and Domestic Allotment Act, as amended, for engaging in any activities other than advisory and supervisory duties and delegated program functions prescribed in administrative regulations. dairy and beekeeper indemnity programs For necessary expenses involved in making indemnity payments to dairy farmers for milk or cows producing such milk and manufacturers of dairy products who have been directed to remove their milk or dairy products from commercial markets because it contained residues of chemicals registered and approved for use by the Federal Government, and to beekeepers who through no fault of their own have suffered losses as a result of the use of economic poisons which had been registered and approved for use by the Federal Government, $4,050,000: Provided, That none of the funds contained in this Act shall be used to make indemnity payments to any farmer whose milk was removed from commercial markets as a result of his willful failure to follow procedures prescribed by the Federal Government. 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 out the programs set forth in the budget for the current fiscal year for such corporation or agency, except as hereinafter provided: Federal Crop Insurance Corporation administrative and operating expenses For administrative and operating expenses, $12,000,000. federal crop insurance corporation fund Not to exceed $11,413,000 of administrative and operating expenses may be paid from premium income. Commodity Credit Corporation reimbursement for net realized losses To reimburse the Commodity Credit Corporation for net realized losses sustained in prior years, but not previously reimbursed, pursuant to the Act of August 17, 1961 (15 U.S.C, 713a–11, 713a–12), $524,342,000. limitation on administrative expenses Not to exceed $39,800,000 shall be available for administrative expenses of the Commodity Credit Corporation: Provided, That this authorization shall be available to support the Office of the General Sales Manager which shall work to expand and strengthen sales of U.S. commodities in world markets (including those of the Corporation) pursuant to existing authority (including that contained in the Corporation’s charter), and that such funds shall be used by the General Sales Manager to carry out the above activities. The General Sales Manager shall report directly to the Board of Directors of the Corporation of which the Secretary of Agriculture is a member. The General Sales Manager shall obtain, assimilate, and analyze all available information on developments related to private sales, as well as those funded by the Corporation, including grade and quality as sold and as delivered and shall submit quarterly reports to the appropriate committees of Congress concerning such developments: Provided further, That not less than 7 per centum of this authorization shall be placed in reserve to be apportioned 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.

TITLE II— RURAL DEVELOPMENT PROGRAMS

Rural Development Assistance Farmers Home Administration rural housing insurance fund For direct loans and related advances pursuant to section 517(m) of the Housing Act of 1949, as amended, $15,000,000 shall be available from funds in the rural housing insurance fund, and for insured loans as authorized by title V of the Housing Act of 1949, as amended, $3,379,000,000, of which not less than $2,330,000,000 shall be available for subsidized interest loans to low-income borrowers as determined by the Secretary: Provided, That unsubsidized interest guaranteed loans of not to exceed $900,000,000 shall be in addition to these amounts. For an additional amount to reimburse the rural housing insurance fund for losses sustained in prior years, but not previously reimbursed, in carrying out the provisions of title V of the Housing Act of 1949, as amended (42 U.S.C. 1483, 1487e, and 1490a(c)), including $70,354,000 as authorized by section 521 (c) of the Act, $327,402,000, and not to exceed $17,000,000 in fiscal year 1978 to carry out a rental assistance program under section 521(a)(2) of the Housing Act of 1949, as amended.

agricultural credit insurance fund For an additional amount to reimburse the agricultural credit insurance fund for losses sustained in prior years, but not previously reimbursed, in carrying out the provisions of the Consolidated Farm and Rural Development Act, as amended (7 U.S.C, 1988(a)), $164,735,000. Loans may be insured, or made to be sold and insured, under this fund in accordance with and subject to the provisions of 7 U.S.C. 1928–1929, as follows: real estate loans, $620,000,000, including not less than $550,000,000 for farm ownership loans; and not less than $54,000,000 for water development, use, and conservation loans; operating loans, $825,000,000; and emergency loans in amounts necessary to meet the needs resulting from natural disasters.

rural water and waste disposal grants For grants pursuant to sections 306(a)(2) and 306(a)(6) of the Consolidated Farm and Rural Development Act, as amended (7 U.S.C. 1926), $250,000,000 to remain available until expended, pursuant to section 306(d) of the above Act.

very low-income housing repair grants For grants to the elderly pursuant to section 504 of the Housing Act of 1949, as amended, $5,000,000.

rural housing for domestic farm labor For financial assistance to public nonprofit organizations for housing for domestic farm labor, pursuant to section 516 of the Housing Act of 1949, as amended (42 U.S.C. 1486), $7,500,000.

mutual and self-help housing For grants pursuant to section 523(b) (1) (A) of the Housing Act of 1949 (42 U.S.C. 1490c), $9,000,000.

rural development insurance fund For an additional amount to reimburse the rural development insurance fund for losses sustained in prior years, but not previously reimbursed, in carrying out the provisions of the Consolidated Farm and Rural Development Act, as amended (7 U.S.C, 1988(a)), $75,547,000. For loans to be insured, or made to be sold and insured, under this fund in accordance with and subject to the provisions of 7 U.S.C. 1928 and 86 Stat. 661–664, as follows: water and sewer facility loans, $750,000,000; industrial development loans, $1,000,000,000; and community facility loans. $250.000.000.

rural community fire protection grants For grants pursuant to section 404 of the Rural Development Act of 1972, as amended (7 U.S.C. 2654), $3,500,000 to fund up to 50 per centum of the cost of organizing, training, and equipment for rural volunteer fire departments.

rural development planning grants For rural development planning grants pursuant to section 306(a) (11) of the Consolidated Farm and Rural Development Act, as amended (7 U.S.C. 1926(a) (11)),$5,000,000.

salaries and expenses For necessary expenses of the Farmers Home Administration, not otherwise provided for, in administering the programs authorized by the Consolidated Farm and Rural Development Act (7 U.S.C. 1921–1992), as amended; title V of the Housing Act of 1949, as amended (42 U.S.C. 1471–1490g); the Rural Rehabilitation Corporation Trust Liquidation Act, approved May 3, 1950 (40 U.S.C. 440–444), for administering the loan program authorized by title IIIA of the Economic Opportunity Act of 1964 (Public Law 88–452, approved August 20, 1964), as amended, and such other programs for which Farmers Home Administration has the responsibility for administering, $185,184,000, together with not more than $3,000,000 of the charges collected in connection with the insurance of loans as authorized by section 309(e) of the Consolidated Farm and Rural Development Act, as amended, and section 517(i) of the Housing Act of 1949, as amended, or in connection with charges made on borrowers under section 502(a) of the Housing Act of 1949, as amended: Provided, That, in addition, not to exceed $500,000 of the funds available for the various programs administered by this agency may be transferred to this appropriation for temporary field employment pursuant to the second sentence of section 706(a) of the Organic Act of 1944 (7 U.S.C. 2225), to meet unusual or heavy workload increases: Provided further, That not to exceed $1,000,000 of this appropriation may be used for employment under 5 U.S.C. 3109.

rural development grants For grants pursuant to section 310B(c) of the Consolidated Farm and Rural Development Act, as amended (7 U.S.C. 1932), $10,000,000.

Rural Development Service For necessary expenses, not otherwise provided for, of the Rural Development Service in providing leadership, coordination, and related services in carrying out the rural development activities of the Department of Agriculture, $1,663,000: Provided, That this appropriation shall be available for employment pursuant to the second sentence of section 706(a) of the Organic Act of 1944 (7 U.S.C. 2225), and not to exceed $3,000 shall be available for employment under 5 U.S.C. 3109.

Rural Electrification Administration To carry into effect the provisions of the Rural Electrification Act of 1936, as amended (7 U.S.C. 901–950(b)), as follows: rural electrification and telephone revolving fund loan authorizations Insured loans pursuant to the authority of section 305 of the Rural Electrification Act of 1936, as amended (7 U.S.C. 935), shall be made as follows: rural electrification loans, not less than $750,000,000, nor more than $900,000,000, and rural telephone loans, not less than $250,000,000, to remain available until expended: Provided, That loans made pursuant to section 306 of that Act are in addition to these amounts. rural telephone bank For the purchase of Class A stock of the Rural Telephone Bank, $30,000,000, to remain available until expended (7 U.S.C. 901–950(b)). The Rural Telephone Bank is hereby authorized to make such expenditures, within the limits of funds and borrowing authority available to such corporation 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 out its authorized programs for the current fiscal year. salaries and expenses For administrative expenses to carry out the provisions of the Rural Electrification Act of 1936, as amended (7 U.S.C. 901–950(b)), including not to exceed $500 for financial and credit reports, funds for employment pursuant to the second sentence of section 706(a) of the Organic Act of 1944 (7 U.S.C. 2225), and not to exceed $150,000 for employment under 5 U.S.C. 3109, $22,567,000. Conservation Soil Conservation Service conservation operations For necessary expenses for carrying out the provisions of the Act of April 27, 1935 (16 U.S.C. 590a–590f), including preparation of conservation plans and establishment of measures to conserve soil and water (including farm irrigation and land drainage and such special measures for soil and water management as may be necessary to prevent floods and the siltation of reservoirs and to control agricultural related pollutants); operation of conservation plant material centers; classification and mapping of soil; dissemination of information; purchase and erection or alteration of permanent buildings; and operation and maintenance of aircraft, to remain available until expended, $229,060,000: Provided, 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 $5,000, except for one building to be constructed at a cost not to exceed $50,000 and eight buildings to be constructed or improved at a cost not to exceed $30,000 per building and except that alterations or improvements to other existing permanent buildings costing $5,000 or more may be made in any fiscal year in an amount not to exceed $1,000 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 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 this appropriation shall be available for field employment pursuant to the second sentence of section 706(a) of the Organic Act of 1944 (7 U.S.C. 2225) and not to exceed $25,000 shall be available for employment under 5 U.S.C. 3109: 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, not to exceed $1,000,000 of this appropriation is available to carry out the purposes of the Endangered Species Act of 1973 (Public Law 93–205), as amended, including cooperative efforts as contemplated by that Act to relocate endangered or threatened species to other suitable habitats as may be necessary to expedite project construction. river basin surveys and investigations For necessary expenses to conduct research, investigations, and surveys of the watersheds of rivers and other waterways, in accordance with section 6 of the Watershed Protection and Flood Prevention Act, approved August 4, 1954, as amended (16 U.S.C. 1006–1009), to remain available until expended, $15,506,000: Provided, That this appropriation shall be available for field employment pursuant to the second sentence of section 706(a) of the Organic Act of 1944 (7 U.S.C. 2225), and not to exceed $60,000 shall be available for employment under 5 U.S.C. 3109. watershed planning For necessary expenses for small watershed investigations and planning, in accordance with the Watershed Protection and Flood Prevention Act, as amended (16 U.S.C. 1001–1008), to remain available until expended, $11,847,000: Provided, That this appropriation shall be available for field employment pursuant to the second sentence of section 706(a) of the Organic Act of 1944 (7 U.S.C. 2225), and not to exceed $50,000 shall be available for employment under 5 U.S.C. 3109. watershed and flood prevention operations For necessary expenses to carry out preventive measures, including but not limited to research, engineering operations, methods of cultivation, the growing of vegetation, and changes in use of land, in accordance with the Watershed Protection and Flood Prevention Act, approved August 4, 1954, as amended (16 U.S.C. 1001–1005, 1007–1009), the provisions of the Act of April 27, 1935 (16 U.S.C. 590a–f), and in accordance with the provisions of laws relating to the activities of the Department, $156,492,000 (of which $26,044,000 shall be available for the watersheds authorized under the Flood Control Act, approved June 22, 1936 (33 U.S.C. 701, 16 U.S.C. 1006a), as amended and supplemented): Provided, That this appropriation shall be available for field employment pursuant to the second sentence of section 706(a) of the Organic Act of 1944 (7 U.S.C. 2225), and not to exceed $200,000 shall be available for employment under 5 U.S.C. 3109: Provided further, That $23,400,000 in loans may be insured, or made to be sold and insured, under the Agricultural Credit Insurance Fund of the Farmers Home Administration (86 Stat. 663). resource conservation and development For necessary expenses in planning and carrying out projects for resource conservation and development, and for sound land use, pursuant to the provisions of section 32(e) of title III of the Bankhead-Jones Farm Tenant Act, as amended (7 U.S.C. 10101011; 76 Stat. 607), and the provisions of the Act of April 27, 1935 (16 U.S.C. 590a-f), $31,033,000: Provided, That $3,600,000 in loans may be insured, or made to be sold and insured, under the Agricultural Credit Insurance Fund of the Farmers Home Administration (86 Stat. 663): Provided further, That this appropriation shall be available for field employment pursuant to the second sentence of section 706(a) of the Organic Act of 1944 (7 U.S.C. 2225), and not to exceed $50,000 shall be available for employment under 5 U.S.C. 3109. great plains conservation program For necessary expenses to carry into effect a program of conservation in the Great Plains area, pursuant to section 16(b) of the Soil Conservation and Domestic Allotment Act, as added by the Act of August 7, 1956, as amended (16 US.C. 590p(b)), $21,704,000, to remain available until expended. Agricultural Stabilization and Conservation Service agricultural conservation program For necessary expenses to carry into effect the program authorized in sections 7 to 15,16(a), and 17 of the Soil Conservation and Domestic Allotment Act, approved February 29, 1936, as amended and supplemented (16 U.S.C. 590g–590o, 590p(a), and 590q), and sections 1001–1008, and 1010 of the Agricultural Act of 1970, as added by the Agriculture and Consumer Protection Act of 1973 (16 U.S.C. 1501–1508, and 1510), and including not to exceed $15,000 for the preparation and display of exhibits, including such displays at State, interstate, and international fairs within the United States, $190,000,000, of which $25,000,000 shall be available immediately upon enactment, for compliance with the programs of soil-building and soil- and waterconserving practices authorized under this head in the Agriculture and Related Agencies Appropriation Act, 1977, entered into during the period October 1, 1976, to December 31, 1977. inclusive: Provided, That no portion of the funds for the current year’s program may be utilized to provide financial or technical assistance for drainage on wetlands now designated as Wetland Types 3 (III), 4(IV), and 5(V) in United States Department of the Interior, Fish and Wildlife Circular 39, Wetlands of the United States, 1956: Provided further, That necessary amounts shall be available for administrative expenses in connection with the formulation and administration of the 1978 program of soil-building and soil- and water-conserving practices, including related wildlife conserving practices, and pollution abatement practices, under the Act of February 29, 1936, as amended (amounting to $190,000,000, excluding administration, except that no participant in the Agricultural Conservation Program shall receive more than $2,500, except where the participants from two or more farms or ranches join to carry out approved practices designed to conserve or improve the agricultural resources of the community): Provided further, That such amounts shall be available for the purchase of seeds, fertilizers, lime, trees, or any other conservation material, or any soil-terracing services, and making grants thereof to agricultural producers to aid them in carrying out approved 1970 fanning practices to be selected by the county committees under programs provided for herein: Provided further, That no part of the funds in this Act may be used to obtain or require submission of information from participants in this program not required in carrying out the 1970 program: Provided further, That not to exceed 5 per centum of the allocation for the current year’s 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 shall not be utilized by the Soil Conservation Service for any purpose other than technical and other assistance in such counties, and in addition, on the recommendation of such county committee and approval of the State committee, not to exceed 1 per centum may be made available to any other Federal, State, or local public agency for the same purpose and under the same conditions: Provided further, That for the current year’s program $2,500,000 shall lie available for technical assistance in formulating and carrying out rural environmental practices : 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 U.S.C. 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: Provided further, That for an additional amount to carry out the Agricultural Conservation Program, $50,000,000, to be immediately available upon enactment, to incur obligations for the period ending September 30, 1977, and to liquidate such obligations for soil and water conserving practices in major drought or flood damaged areas as designated by the President or the Secretary of Agriculture: Provided further, That, not to exceed 5 per centum of the amount herein may be withheld with the approval of the State committee and allotted to the Soil Conservation Service for services of its technicians in the designated drought or flood damaged areas. forestry incentives program For necessary expenses, not otherwise provided for, to carry out the program of forestry incentives, as authorized in sections 1009 and 1010 of the Agricultural Act of 1970, as added by the Agriculture and Consumer Protection Act of 1973 (16 U.S.C. 1509–1510), including technical assistance and related expenses, $15,000,000. water bank program For necessary expenses to carry into effect the provisions of the Water Bank Act (16 U.S.C. 1301–1311), $10,000,000, to remain available until expended. emergency conservation measures For emergency conservation measures, to be used for the same purposes and subject to the same conditions as funds appropriated under this head in the Third Supplemental Appropriations Act, 1957, $10,000,000, with which shall be merged the unexpended balances of funds heretofore appropriated for emergency conservation measures.

TITLE III— DOMESTIC FOOD PROGRAMS

Food and Nutrition Service child nutrition programs For necessary expenses to carry out the provisions of the National School Lunch Act, as amended (42 U.S.C. 1751–1761, and 1766), and the applicable provisions other than section 3 of the Child Nutrition Act of 1966, as amended (42 U.S.C. 1773–1785, and 1787); $2,422,901,000, of which $934,557,000 shall be derived by transfer from funds available under section 32 of the Act of August 24, 1935 (7 U.S.C. 612c): Provided, That of the foregoing total amount there shall be available $28,000,000 for the nonfood assistance program, $1,000,000 for nutrition education projects pursuant to section 18 of the Child Nutrition Act of 1966 (42 U.S.C. 1787), and $13,675,000 for the State administrative expenses: Provided further, That funds provided herein shall remain available until expended in accordance with section 3 of the National School Lunch Act, as amended: Provided further, That an additional $80,000,000 shall be transferred to this appropriation from funds available under section 32 of the Act of August 24, 1935 (7 U.S.C. 612c), for purchase and distribution of agricultural commodities and other foods pursuant to section 6 of the National School Lunch Act, as amended.

special milk program For necessary expenses to carry out the provisions of the special milk program, as authorized by section 3 of the Child Nutrition Act of 1966, as amended (42 U.S.C. 1772), $155,000,000.

special supplemental food program (wic) For necessary expenses to carry out the provisions of the special supplemental food program as authorized by section 17 of the Child Nutrition Act of 1966, as amended (42 U.S.C. 1786), $247,000,000: Provided, That funds provided herein shall remain available until expended in accordance with section 3 of the National School Lunch Act, as amended.

food stamp program For necessary expenses of the food stamp program pursuant to the Food Stamp Act of 1964, as amended, $5,627,000,000: Provided, That funds provided herein shall remain available until expended in accordance with section 16 of the Food Stamp Act of 1964, as amended: Provided further, That no part of the funds appropriated by this Act shall be used during the fiscal year ending September 30, 1978, to make food stamps available to any household, to the extent that the entitlement otherwise available to such household is attributable to an individual who: (i) has reached his eighteenth birthday; (ii) is enrolled in an institution of higher education; and (iii) is properly claimed as a dependent child for Federal income tax purposes by a taxpayer who is not a member of an eligible household: Provided further, That funds provided herein shall be expended in accordance with section 15(b) of the Food Stamp Act of 1964, as amended: Provided further, That not less than 7 per centum of this authorization shall be placed in reserve to be apportioned 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.

food donations program For necessary expenses to carry out the provisions of section 4(a) of the Agriculture and Consumer Protection Act of 1973, as amended (7 U.S.C. 612c (note)), $31,400,000, of which $17,600,000 shall be available for the Commodity Supplemental Food Program without regard to whether an area is under the Food Stamp Program.

elderly feeding program For necessary expenses to carry out the provisions of section 707 of the Older Americans Act of 1965, as amended (42 U.S.C. 3045f), $30,000,000.

Food Program Administration For necessary administrative expenses of the Domestic Food Programs funded under this Act, $64,951,000 to remain available until expended: Provided, That this appropriation shall be available for employment pursuant to the second sentence of section 706(a) of the Organic Act of 1944 (7 U.S.C. 2225), and not to exceed $150,000 shall be available for employment under 5 U.S.C. 3109.

TITLE IV— INTERNATIONAL PROGRAMS

Foreign Agricultural Service For necessary expenses for the Foreign Agricultural Service, including carrying out title VI of the Agricultural Act of 1954 (7 U.S.C. 1761–1768), market development activities abroad, and for enabling the Secretary to coordinate and integrate activities of the Department in connection with foreign agricultural work, including not to exceed $47,000 for representation allowances and for expenses pursuant to section 8 of the Act approved August 3, 1956 (7 U.S.C. 1766), $45,665,000: Provided, That not less than $255,000 of the funds contained in this appropriation shall be available to obtain statistics and related facts on foreign production and full and complete information on methods used by other countries to move farm commodities in world trade on a competitive basis.

public law 480 For expenses during the current fiscal year, not otherwise recoverable, and unrecovered prior years’ costs, including interest thereon, under the Agricultural Trade Development and Assistance Act of 1954, as amended (7 U.S.C. 1701–1711, 1721–1726. 1731–1736d), as follows: (1) sale of agricultural commodities for foreign currencies and for dollars on credit terms pursuant to title I of said Act, $276,865,000 and (2) commodities supplied in connection with dispositions abroad, pursuant to title II of said Act, $646,020,000.

TITLE V— RELATED AGENCIES

Food and Drug Administration salaries and expenses For necessary expenses, not otherwise provided for, of the Food and Drug Administration; for payment of salaries and expenses for services as authorized by 5 U.S.C. 3109, but at rates for individuals not to exceed the per diem rate equivalent to the rate for GS–18; for rental of special purpose space in the District of Columbia or elsewhere; for miscellaneous and emergency expenses of enforcement activities, authorized or approved by the Secretary and to be accounted for solely on his certificate, not to exceed $10,000; $276,243,000.

buildings and facilities For construction, repair, improvement, extension, alteration, and purchase of fixed equipment or facilities of or used by the Food and Drug Administration, where not otherwise provided, $6,665,000.

Commodity Futures Trading Commission For necessary expenses to carry out the provisions of the Commodity Exchange Act, as amended (7 U.S.C. 1 et seq.) including the purchase and hire of passenger motor vehicles; the rental of space in the District of Columbia and elsewhere; and not to exceed $125,000 for employment under 5 U.S.C. 3109, $13,196,000: Provided, That not to exceed $1,000 shall be available for official reception and representation expenses.

Farm Credit Administration limitation on administrative expenses Not to exceed $9,509,000 (from assessments collected from farm credit agencies) shall be obligated during the current fiscal year for administrative expenses, including the hire of one passenger motor vehicle.

TITLE VI— GENERAL PROVISIONS