[Congressional Bills 119th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 4121 Reported in House (RH)]
<DOC>
Union Calendar No. 138
119th CONGRESS
1st Session
H. R. 4121
[Report No. 119-172]
Making appropriations for Agriculture, Rural Development, Food and Drug
Administration, and Related Agencies programs for the fiscal year
ending September 30, 2026, and for other purposes.
_______________________________________________________________________
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
June 25, 2025
Mr. Harris of Maryland, from the Committee on Appropriations, reported
the following bill; which was committed to the Committee of the Whole
House on the State of the Union and ordered to be printed
_______________________________________________________________________
A BILL
Making appropriations for Agriculture, Rural Development, Food and Drug
Administration, and Related Agencies programs for the fiscal year
ending September 30, 2026, and for other purposes.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the
United States of America in Congress assembled, That the following sums
are appropriated, out of any money in the Treasury not otherwise
appropriated, for Agriculture, Rural Development, Food and Drug
Administration, and Related Agencies programs for fiscal year ending
September 30, 2026, and for other purposes, namely:
TITLE I
AGRICULTURAL PROGRAMS
Processing, Research, and Marketing
Office of the Secretary
(including transfers of funds)
For necessary expenses of the Office of the Secretary, $43,856,000
of which not to exceed $5,551,000 shall be available for the immediate
Office of the Secretary; not to exceed $1,700,000 shall be available
for the Office of Homeland Security; not to exceed $5,190,000 shall be
available for the Office of Tribal Relations; not to exceed $5,000,000
shall be available for the Office of Partnerships and Public
Engagement; not to exceed $17,915,000 shall be available for the Office
of the Assistant Secretary for Administration, of which $17,015,000
shall be available for Departmental Administration to provide for
necessary expenses for management support services to offices of the
Department and for general administration, security, repairs and
alterations, and other miscellaneous supplies and expenses not
otherwise provided for and necessary for the practical and efficient
work of the Department: Provided, That funds made available by this
Act to an agency in the Administration mission area for salaries and
expenses are available to fund up to one administrative support staff
for the Office; not to exceed $3,500,000 shall be available for the
Office of Assistant Secretary for Congressional Relations and
Intergovernmental Affairs to carry out the programs funded by this Act,
including programs involving intergovernmental affairs and liaison
within the executive branch; and not to exceed $5,000,000 shall be
available for the Office of Communications: Provided further, That the
Secretary of Agriculture is authorized to transfer funds appropriated
for any office of the Office of the Secretary to any other office of
the Office of the Secretary: Provided further, That no appropriation
for any office shall be increased or decreased by more than 5 percent:
Provided further, That not to exceed $22,000 of the amount made
available under this paragraph for the immediate Office of the
Secretary shall be available for official reception and representation
expenses, not otherwise provided for, as determined by the Secretary:
Provided further, That the amount made available under this heading for
Departmental Administration 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
funds made available under this heading for the Office of the Assistant
Secretary for Congressional Relations and Intergovernmental Affairs
shall be transferred to agencies of the Department of Agriculture
funded by this Act to maintain personnel at the agency level: Provided
further, That no funds made available under this heading for the Office
of Assistant Secretary for Congressional Relations may be obligated
after 30 days from the date of enactment of this Act, unless the
Secretary has notified the Committees on Appropriations of both Houses
of Congress on the allocation of these funds by USDA agency: Provided
further, That during any 30 day notification period referenced in
section 716 of this Act, the Secretary of Agriculture shall take no
action to begin implementation of the action that is subject to section
716 of this Act or make any public announcement of such action in any
form.
Executive Operations
office of the chief economist
For necessary expenses of the Office of the Chief Economist,
$28,000,000, of which $11,225,000 shall be for grants or cooperative
agreements for policy research under 7 U.S.C. 3155: Provided, That of
the amounts made available under this heading, $500,000 shall be
available to carry out section 224 of subtitle A of the Department of
Agriculture Reorganization Act of 1994 (7 U.S.C. 6924), as amended by
section 12504 of Public Law 115-334.
office of hearings and appeals
For necessary expenses of the Office of Hearings and Appeals,
$12,703,000.
office of budget and program analysis
For necessary expenses of the Office of Budget and Program
Analysis, $14,967,000.
Office of the Chief Information Officer
For necessary expenses of the Office of the Chief Information
Officer, $85,000,000, of which not less than $60,032,000 is for
cybersecurity requirements of the department.
Office of the Chief Financial Officer
For necessary expenses of the Office of the Chief Financial
Officer, $5,867,000.
Office of the Assistant Secretary for Civil Rights
For necessary expenses of the Office of the Assistant Secretary for
Civil Rights, $900,000: Provided, That funds made available by this
Act to an agency in the Civil Rights mission area for salaries and
expenses are available to fund up to one administrative support staff
for the Office.
Office of Civil Rights
For necessary expenses of the Office of Civil Rights, $24,500,000.
Agriculture Buildings and Facilities
(including transfers of funds)
For payment of space rental and related costs pursuant to Public
Law 92-313, including authorities pursuant to the 1984 delegation of
authority from the Administrator of General Services to the Department
of Agriculture under 40 U.S.C. 121, for programs and activities of the
Department which are included in this Act, and for alterations and
other actions needed for the Department and its agencies to consolidate
unneeded space into configurations suitable for release to the
Administrator of General Services, and for the operation, maintenance,
improvement, and repair of Agriculture buildings and facilities, and
for related costs, $10,603,000, to remain available until expended.
Hazardous Materials Management
(including transfers of funds)
For necessary expenses of the Department of Agriculture, to comply
with the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and
Liability Act (42 U.S.C. 9601 et seq.) and the Solid Waste Disposal Act
(42 U.S.C. 6901 et seq.), $1,000,000, to remain available until
expended: Provided, That appropriations and funds available herein to
the Department for Hazardous Materials Management may be transferred to
any agency of the Department for its use in meeting all requirements
pursuant to the above Acts on Federal and non-Federal lands.
Office of Safety, Security, and Protection
For necessary expenses of the Office of Safety, Security, and
Protection, $18,300,000.
Office of Inspector General
For necessary expenses of the Office of Inspector General,
including employment pursuant to the Inspector General Act of 1978
(Public Law 95-452; 5 U.S.C. App.), $94,561,000, including such sums as
may be necessary for contracting and other arrangements with public
agencies and private persons pursuant to section 6(a)(9) of the
Inspector General Act of 1978 (Public Law 95-452; 5 U.S.C. App.), and
including not to exceed $125,000 for certain confidential operational
expenses, including the payment of informants, to be expended under the
direction of the Inspector General pursuant to the Inspector General
Act of 1978 (Public Law 95-452; 5 U.S.C. App.) and section 1337 of the
Agriculture and Food Act of 1981 (Public Law 97-98).
Office of the General Counsel
For necessary expenses of the Office of the General Counsel,
$55,537,000.
Office of Ethics
For necessary expenses of the Office of Ethics, $4,136,000.
Office of the Under Secretary for Research, Education, and Economics
For necessary expenses of the Office of the Under Secretary for
Research, Education, and Economics, $2,384,000: Provided, That funds
made available by this Act to an agency in the Research, Education, and
Economics mission area for salaries and expenses are available to fund
up to one administrative support staff for the Office: Provided
further, That of the amounts made available under this heading,
$1,000,000 shall be made available for the Office of the Chief
Scientist.
Economic Research Service
For necessary expenses of the Economic Research Service,
$85,612,000.
National Agricultural Statistics Service
For necessary expenses of the National Agricultural Statistics
Service, $180,000,000, of which up to $46,000,000 shall be available
until expended for the Census of Agriculture: Provided, That amounts
made available for the Census of Agriculture may be used to conduct
Current Industrial Report surveys subject to 7 U.S.C. 2204g(d) and (f):
Provided further, That the Secretary shall notify the Committees on
Appropriations of the House and Senate in writing 30 days prior to
discontinuing data collection programs and reports.
Agricultural Research Service
salaries and expenses
For necessary expenses of the Agricultural Research Service and for
acquisition of lands by donation, exchange, or purchase at a nominal
cost not to exceed $100,000 and with prior notification and approval of
the Committees on Appropriations of both Houses of Congress, and for
land exchanges where the lands exchanged shall be of equal value or
shall be equalized by a payment of money to the grantor which shall not
exceed 25 percent of the total value of the land or interests
transferred out of Federal ownership, $1,790,550,000, which shall be
for the purposes, and in the amounts, specified in the table titled
``Agricultural Research Service Salaries and Expenses'' in the report
accompanying this Act: Provided, That appropriations hereunder shall
be available for the operation and maintenance of aircraft and the
purchase of not to exceed one for replacement only: 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 shall not exceed $500,000, except for headhouses or
greenhouses which shall each be limited to $1,800,000, except for 10
buildings to be constructed or improved at a cost not to exceed
$1,100,000 each, and except for four buildings to be constructed at a
cost not to exceed $5,000,000 each, and the cost of altering any one
building during the fiscal year shall not exceed 10 percent of the
current replacement value of the building or $500,000, whichever is
greater: Provided further, That appropriations hereunder shall be
available for entering into lease agreements at any Agricultural
Research Service location for the construction of a research facility
by a non-Federal entity for use by the Agricultural Research Service
and a condition of the lease shall be that any facility shall be owned,
operated, and maintained by the non-Federal entity and shall be removed
upon the expiration or termination of the lease agreement: Provided
further, That the limitations on alterations contained in this Act
shall not apply to modernization or replacement of existing facilities
at Beltsville, Maryland: Provided further, That appropriations
hereunder shall be available for granting easements at the Beltsville
Agricultural Research Center: 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): Provided further, That
appropriations hereunder shall be available for granting easements at
any Agricultural Research Service location for the construction of a
research facility by a non-Federal entity for use by, and acceptable
to, the Agricultural Research Service and a condition of the easements
shall be that upon completion the facility shall be accepted by the
Secretary, subject to the availability of funds herein, if the
Secretary finds that acceptance of the facility is in the interest of
the United States: Provided further, That funds may be received from
any State, other political subdivision, organization, or individual for
the purpose of establishing or operating any research facility or
research project of the Agricultural Research Service, as authorized by
law.
buildings and facilities
For the acquisition of land, construction, repair, improvement,
extension, alteration, and purchase of fixed equipment or facilities as
necessary to carry out the agricultural research programs of the
Department of Agriculture, where not otherwise provided, $21,000,000,
to remain available until expended, for the purposes, and in the
amounts, specified for this account in the table titled ``Community
Project Funding'' in the report accompanying this Act.
National Institute of Food and Agriculture
research and education activities
For payments to agricultural experiment stations, for cooperative
forestry and other research, for facilities, and for other expenses,
$1,058,000,000, which shall be for the purposes, and in the amounts,
specified in the table titled ``National Institute of Food and
Agriculture, Research and Education Activities'' in the report
accompanying this Act: Provided, That funds for research grants for
1994 institutions, education grants for 1890 institutions, Hispanic
serving institutions education grants, capacity building for non-land-
grant colleges of agriculture, the agriculture and food research
initiative, veterinary medicine loan repayment, multicultural scholars,
graduate fellowship and institution challenge grants, grants management
systems, tribal colleges education equity grants, and scholarships at
1890 institutions shall remain available until expended: Provided
further, That each institution eligible to receive funds under the
Evans-Allen program receives no less than $1,000,000: Provided
further, That funds for education grants for Alaska Native and Native
Hawaiian-serving institutions be made available to individual eligible
institutions or consortia of eligible institutions with funds awarded
equally to each of the States of Alaska and Hawaii: Provided further,
That funds for providing grants for food and agricultural sciences for
Alaska Native and Native Hawaiian-Serving institutions and for Insular
Areas shall remain available until September 30, 2027: Provided
further, That funds for education grants for 1890 institutions shall be
made available to institutions eligible to receive funds under 7 U.S.C.
3221 and 3222: Provided further, That not more than 5 percent of the
amounts made available by this or any other Act to carry out the
Agriculture and Food Research Initiative under 7 U.S.C. 3157 may be
retained by the Secretary of Agriculture to pay administrative costs
incurred by the Secretary in carrying out that authority.
native american institutions endowment fund
For the Native American Institutions Endowment Fund authorized by
Public Law 103-382 (7 U.S.C. 301 note), $11,880,000, to remain
available until expended.
extension activities
For payments to States, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico,
Guam, the Virgin Islands, Micronesia, the Northern Marianas, and
American Samoa, $556,000,000, which shall be for the purposes, and in
the amounts, specified in the table titled ``National Institute of Food
and Agriculture, Extension Activities'' in the report accompanying this
Act: Provided, That funds for extension services at 1994 institutions
and for facility improvements at 1890 institutions shall remain
available until expended: Provided further, That institutions eligible
to receive funds under 7 U.S.C. 3221 for cooperative extension receive
no less than $1,000,000: Provided further, That funds for cooperative
extension under sections 3(b) and (c) of the Smith-Lever Act (7 U.S.C.
343(b) and (c)) and section 208(c) of Public Law 93-471 shall be
available for retirement and employees' compensation costs for
extension agents.
integrated activities
For the integrated research, education, and extension grants
programs, including necessary administrative expenses, $40,100,000,
which shall be for the purposes, and in the amounts, specified in the
table titled ``National Institute of Food and Agriculture, Integrated
Activities'' in the report accompanying this Act: Provided, That funds
for the Food and Agriculture Defense Initiative shall remain available
until September 30, 2027: Provided further, That notwithstanding any
other provision of law, indirect costs shall not be charged against any
Extension Implementation Program Area grant awarded under the Crop
Protection/Pest Management Program (7 U.S.C. 7626).
Office of the Under Secretary for Marketing and Regulatory Programs
For necessary expenses of the Office of the Under Secretary for
Marketing and Regulatory Programs, $1,617,000: Provided, That funds
made available by this Act to an agency in the Marketing and Regulatory
Programs mission area for salaries and expenses are available to fund
up to one administrative support staff for the Office.
Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service
salaries and expenses
(including transfers of funds)
For necessary expenses of the Animal and Plant Health Inspection
Service, including up to $30,000 for representation allowances and for
expenses pursuant to the Foreign Service Act of 1980 (22 U.S.C. 4085),
$1,146,000,000, which shall be for the purposes, and in the amounts,
specified in the table titled ``Animal and Plant Health Inspection
Service, Salaries and Expenses'' in the report accompanying this Act;
of which $250,000, to remain available until expended, shall be
available for the control of outbreaks of insects, plant diseases,
animal disea