Summary:
(This measure has not been amended since it was introduced. The summary has been expanded because action occurred on the measure.)

Agriculture, Rural Development, Food and Drug Administration, and Related Agencies Appropriations Act, 2014 - Title I: Agricultural Programs - Appropriates FY2014 funds for the following Department of Agriculture (USDA) programs and services: (1) Office of the Secretary of Agriculture (Secretary); (2) Office of the Chief Economist; (3) National Appeals Division; (4) Office of Budget and Program Analysis; (5) Office of the Chief Information Officer; (6) Office of the Chief Financial Officer; (7) Office of the Assistant Secretary for Civil Rights; (8) Office of Civil Rights; (9) agriculture buildings and facilities; (10) hazardous materials management; (11) Office of Inspector General; (12) Office of the General Counsel; (13) Office of Ethics; (14) Office of the Under Secretary for Research, Education, and Economics; (15) Economic Research Service; (16) National Agricultural Statistics Service; (17) Agricultural Research Service; (18) National Institute of Food and Agriculture; (19) Native American Institutions Endowment Fund; (20) extension and integrated activities; (21) Office of the Under Secretary for Marketing and Regulatory Programs; (22) Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service; (23) Agricultural Marketing Service; (24) Grain Inspection, Packers and Stockyards Administration; (25) Office of the Under Secretary for Food Safety; (26) Food Safety and Inspection Service; (27) Office of the Under Secretary for Farm and Foreign Agricultural Services; (28) Farm Service Agency; (29) Risk Management Agency; (30) Federal Crop Insurance Corporation Fund; and (31) Commodity Credit Corporation Fund.

Title II: Conservation Programs - Appropriates funds for the following: (1) Office of the Under Secretary for Natural Resources and Environment, and (2) Natural Resources Conservation Service.

Title III: Rural Development Programs - Appropriates funds for the following: (1) Office of the Under Secretary for Rural Development, (2) Rural Housing Service, (3) Rural Business-Cooperative Service, and (4) Rural Utilities Service.

Title IV: Domestic Food Programs - Appropriates funds for the following: (1) Office of the Under Secretary for Food, Nutrition and Consumer Services; and (2) Food and Nutrition Service.

Title V: Foreign Assistance and Related Programs - Appropriates funds for the following: (1) the Foreign Agricultural Service, (2) Food for Peace Act (P.L. 480) program title I and title II grants, (3) Commodity Credit Corporation (CCC) export loans, and (4) the McGovern-Dole international food for education and child nutrition program.

Title VI: Related Agencies and Food and Drug Administration - Appropriates funds for the following: (1) Food and Drug Administration (FDA), and (2) Farm Credit Administration.

Title VII: General Provisions - Specifies certain uses and limits on or prohibitions against the use of funds appropriated by this Act.

(Sec. 702) Authorizes the Secretary to transfer unobligated balances to the Working Capital Fund for plant and capital equipment acquisition, which shall remain available until expended.

(Sec. 703) Prohibits appropriations under this Act from remaining available for obligation beyond the current fiscal year unless expressly provided for.

(Sec. 704) Limits negotiated indirect costs on cooperative agreements between USDA and nonprofit organizations to 10%.

(Sec. 705) Makes USDA appropriations for direct and guaranteed loans available for: (1) the Rural Development Loan Fund program account, (2) the Rural Electrification and Telecommunication Loans program account, and (3) the Rural Housing Insurance Fund program account.

(Sec. 706) Prohibits funds made available to USDA under this Act from being used to acquire new information technology systems or significant upgrades.

(Sec. 707) Makes funds available in the current fiscal year for agricultural management assistance under the Federal Crop Insurance Act and for specified conservation programs under the Food Security Act of 1985 until expended for current fiscal year obligations.

(Sec. 708) Makes eligible for economic development and job creation assistance under the Rural Electrification Act in the same manner as a borrower under such Act any former Rural Utilities Service borrower that has repaid or prepaid an insured, direct, or guaranteed loan under such Act, or any not-for-profit utility that is eligible to receive an insured or direct loan under such Act.

(Sec. 709) Prohibits, regarding the specialty crop research initiative, funds from being used to prohibit the provision of certain in-kind support from non-federal sources.

(Sec. 710) Makes unobligated balances for salaries and expenses for the Farm Service Agency and the Rural Development mission area under this Act available for information technology expenses through September 30, 2015.

(Sec. 711) Authorizes the Secretary to permit a state agency to use funds provided in this Act to exceed a specified maximum amount of liquid infant formula when issuing liquid infant formula to participants.

(Sec. 712) Prohibits first-class travel by employees of agencies funded under this Act.

(Sec. 713) States that with regard to certain programs established or amended by the Food, Conservation, and Energy Act of 2008 to be carried out using CCC funds: (1) such funds shall be available for salaries and administrative expenses without regard to certain allotment and fund transfer limits, and (2) the use of such funds shall not be considered to be a fund transfer or allotment for purposes of applying such limits.

(Sec. 714) Limits funds made available in FY2014 or preceding fiscal years under P.L. 480 to reimburse the CCC for the release of certain commodities under the Bill Emerson Humanitarian Trust Act.

(Sec. 715) Limits funds available for USDA advisory committees, panels, commissions, and task forces.

(Sec. 716) Prohibits funds under this Act from being used to pay indirect costs charged against any agricultural research, education, or extension grant awards issued by the National Institute of Food and Agriculture that exceed 30% of total federal funds provided under each award.

(Sec. 717) Extends the FY2013 funding level for supplemental nutrition assistance (SNAP, formerly known as the food stamp program) employment and training programs to FY2014.

(Sec. 718) Prohibits the use of funds for the watershed rehabilitation program.

Limits the use of funds for: (1) the environmental quality incentives program, (2) the farmland protection program, (3) the wildlife habitat incentives program, (4) the agricultural management assistance program, and (5) the wetland reserve program.

(Sec. 719) Limits FY2014 funds for the following domestic food assistance categories under the Act of August 24, 1935: (1) child nutrition program entitlement commodities, (2) state option contracts, and (3) defective commodity removal.

Limits funds for the fresh fruit and vegetable program until October 1, 2014.

Rescinds specified unobligated balances available in FY2014 for domestic food assistance.

(Sec. 720) Prohibits the use of funds for user fee proposals that fail to provide certain budget impact information.

(Sec. 721) Prohibits, without congressional notification, funds available under this Act or under previous appropriations Acts from being used through a reprogramming of funds to: (1) eliminate or create a new program, (2) relocate or reorganize an office or employees, (3) privatize federal employee functions, or (4) increase funds or personnel for any project for which funds have been denied or restricted.

Prohibits, without congressional notification, funds available under this Act or under previous appropriations Acts from being used through a reprogramming of funds in excess of $500,000 or 10%, whichever is less: (1) to augment an existing program, (2) to reduce by 10% funding or personnel for any existing program, or (3) that results from a reduction in personnel which would result in a change in existing programs.

(Sec. 722) Authorizes the Secretary to assess a one-time fee for any guaranteed business and industry loan that does not exceed 3% of the guaranteed principal portion of the loan.

(Sec. 723) Prohibits USDA or FDA funds from being used to transmit to any non-USDA or non-Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) employee questions or responses to questions that are a result of information requested for the appropriations hearing process.

(Sec. 724) Prohibits the use of funds under this Act by any executive branch entity to produce a prepackaged news story for U.S. broadcast or distribution unless it contains audio or text notice that it was produced or funded by such executive entity.

(Sec. 725) Requires USDA agencies to reimburse each other for employees detailed for longer than 30 days.

(Sec. 726) Prohibits specified nonrecourse marketing assistance loans for mohair.

(Sec. 727) Cancels a specified amount of unobligated balances in the Natural Resources Conservation Service, Resource Conservation and Development Account. (States that no amounts may be cancelled from amounts that were designated by the Congress as an emergency requirement pursuant to the Concurrent Resolution on the Budget or the Balanced Budget and Emergency Deficit Control Act of 1985, as amended.)

(Sec. 728) Directs the Secretary, the Commissioner of the Food and Drug Administration, and the Chairman of the Farm Credit Administration to submit to Congress a spending plan by program, project, and activity for the funds made available under this Act.

(Sec. 729) Rescinds specified funds from unobligated balances available to the Department under the "Agriculture Buildings and Facilities and Rental Payments" account.

(Sec. 730) Makes specified funds available for assistance to recipient nations only if adequate controls are in place to ensure that emergency food aid is received by the intended beneficiaries and not otherwise diverted.

(Sec. 731) Authorizes increases in FY2009 amounts of emergency food assistance available for non-emergency food assistance.

(Sec. 732) States that sums as may be necessary for FY2014 rental payments to the General Services Administration (GSA) for programs funded by this Act shall be absorbed within the discretionary levels appropriated in this Act.

(Sec. 733) Rescinds specified funds from unobligated funds available to USDA for single family housing guaranteed loans for FY2007-FY2010.

(Sec. 734) Rescinds specified funds from unobligated balances for the bioenergy program for advanced biofuels.

(Sec. 735) Directs the Secretary to expand the pilot program for packaging direct loans for single family rural housing to states and communities not served by such pilot program.

(Sec. 736) Limits funds available for repair or replacement of bulk fuel storage tanks in Alaska that are not in compliance with applicable Federal or state law.

(Sec. 737) Rescinds specified funds from unobligated balances for biorefinery assistance.

(Sec. 738) Rescinds specified funds from unobligated balances for the value-added agricultural product market development grant program.

(Sec. 739) Authorizes the Secretary to increase the program level by up to 25% for certain loans and loan guarantees that do not require budget authority. Requires congressional notification prior to implementing any such increase.

(Sec. 740) Obligates specified funds for an assessment of the existing and prospective scope of domestic hunger and food insecurity. Directs the Secretary to enter into an agreement with a tax-exempt private-sector organization that has recognized expertise in domestic hunger affairs to conduct such assessment.

Establishes the National Commission on Hunger which shall: (1) provide policy recommendations to Congress and the Secretary regarding programs and funds to combat domestic hunger and food insecurity; and (2) develop recommendations to encourage public-private partnerships, faith-based sector engagement, and community initiatives to reduce the need for government nutrition assistance programs, while protecting the safety net for the most vulnerable members of society.

(Sec. 741) Prohibits funds under this Act from being used to eliminate or reduce funding for a program or activity as proposed in the President's budget request for a fiscal year: (1) until such proposed change is enacted in an appropriation Act, or (2) unless such change is made pursuant to the reprogramming or transfer provisions of this Act.

(Sec. 742) Limits the amount of funds that may be used to write, prepare, or publish a final or an interim rule to implement "Implementation of Regulations Required Under Title XI, of the Food, Conservation and Energy Act of 2008; Conduct in Violation of the Act."

(Sec. 743) Prohibits funds under this Act from being used to exclude or restrict the eligibility of any variety of fresh, whole, or cut vegetables, except for vegetables with added sugars, fats, or oils, from being provided as supplemental foods under the special supplemental nutrition program for women, infants, and children (WIC).

(Sec. 744) Prohibits funds under this Act from being used to pay more than 75% of the salary of any specified senior USDA official during the period July 1, 2014-September 30, 2014, unless as of July 1, 2014, the percentage of improper payments for the school lunch program and the school breakfast program has been reduced by at least 25%.

(Sec. 745) Prohibits: (1) a state from receiving funds under this Act unless it is in compliance with SNAP eligibility requirements, and (2) funds under this Act from being used to promote WIC or SNAP benefits for ineligible individuals.

(Sec. 746) Expresses the sense of Congress that Congress should not pass any legislation which authorizes spending cuts that would increase hunger in the United States.

(Sec. 747) Prohibits funds under this Act from being used to reclassify, for rural housing purposes and as a result of data received from or after the 2010 decennial census, any area classified as "rural" or a "rural area" as of June 1, 2013.

(Sec. 748) Prohibits funds under this Act from being used to promulgate rules, regulations, orders, interpretive guidance, or policy regarding the extraterritorial application of the swaps provisions of the Commodity Exchange Act unless such rules, regulations, orders, interpretive guidance, or policy are subject to specified notice and comment procedures, and are promulgated jointly by the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) and the Commodity Futures Trading Commission CFTC).

(Sec. 749) Prohibits funds under this Act from being used to inspect horses for slaughter purposes.

(Sec. 750) States that the amount by which the applicable allocation of new budget authority made by the House Committee on Appropriations under the Congressional Budget Act of 1974 exceeds the amount of proposed new budget authority is $0.

measure amended introduced summary expanded action occurred measure agriculture rural_development food_and_drug_administration related agencies appropriations act title agricultural programs appropriates fy2014 funds following department_of_agriculture usda programs services office_of_the_secretary agriculture secretary office chief economist national appeals division office budget program analysis office chief information officer office chief financial officer office assistant secretary civil rights office civil rights agriculture buildings facilities hazardous materials management office_of_inspector_general office general counsel office ethics office secretary research education economics economic research service national agricultural statistics service agricultural_research_service national_institute_of_food_and_agriculture native american institutions endowment fund extension integrated activities office secretary marketing regulatory programs animal plant_health_inspection_service agricultural marketing service grain inspection packers administration office secretary food safety food_safety_and_inspection_service office secretary farm foreign agricultural services farm_service_agency risk_management_agency federal_crop_insurance_corporation fund commodity_credit_corporation fund title conservation programs appropriates funds following office secretary natural resources environment natural_resources_conservation_service title iii rural_development programs appropriates funds following office secretary rural_development rural housing service rural business cooperative service rural_utilities_service title domestic food programs appropriates funds following office secretary food nutrition consumer services food nutrition service title foreign assistance related programs appropriates funds following foreign agricultural service food_for_peace_act program title title grants commodity_credit_corporation ccc export loans mcgovern dole international food education child nutrition program title related agencies food_and_drug_administration appropriates funds following food_and_drug_administration fda farm credit administration title vii general_provisions specifies certain uses limits prohibitions use funds appropriated act sec authorizes secretary transfer unobligated balances working capital_fund plant capital equipment acquisition shall remain available expended sec prohibits appropriations act remaining available obligation current fiscal year expressly provided sec limits negotiated indirect costs cooperative agreements usda nonprofit organizations sec makes usda appropriations direct guaranteed loans available rural_development loan fund program account rural electrification telecommunication loans program account rural housing insurance fund program account sec prohibits funds available usda act acquire new information technology systems significant upgrades sec makes funds available current fiscal year agricultural management assistance federal_crop_insurance_act specified conservation programs food security act expended current fiscal year obligations sec makes eligible economic development job creation assistance rural electrification act manner borrower act rural_utilities_service borrower repaid prepaid insured direct guaranteed loan act profit utility eligible receive insured direct_loan act sec prohibits specialty crop research initiative funds prohibit provision certain kind support non federal sources sec makes unobligated balances salaries expenses farm_service_agency rural_development mission area act available information technology expenses september sec authorizes secretary permit state agency use funds provided act exceed specified maximum liquid infant formula issuing liquid infant formula participants sec prohibits class travel employees agencies funded act sec states regard certain programs established amended food conservation energy act carried ccc funds funds shall available salaries administrative expenses regard certain allotment fund transfer limits use funds shall considered fund transfer allotment purposes applying limits sec limits funds available fy2014 preceding fiscal years reimburse ccc release certain commodities bill emerson humanitarian trust act sec limits funds available usda advisory committees panels commissions task forces sec prohibits funds act pay indirect costs charged agricultural research education extension grant awards issued national_institute_of_food_and_agriculture exceed total federal funds provided award sec extends fy2013 funding level supplemental nutrition assistance snap known food stamp program employment training programs fy2014 sec prohibits use funds watershed rehabilitation program limits use funds environmental quality incentives program farmland protection program wildlife habitat incentives program agricultural management assistance program wetland reserve program sec limits fy2014 funds following domestic food assistance categories act august child nutrition program entitlement commodities state option contracts defective commodity removal limits funds fresh fruit vegetable program october rescinds specified unobligated balances available fy2014 domestic food assistance sec prohibits use funds user fee proposals fail provide certain budget impact information sec prohibits congressional notification funds available act previous appropriations acts reprogramming funds eliminate create new program relocate reorganize office employees federal employee functions increase funds personnel project funds denied restricted prohibits congressional notification funds available act previous appropriations acts reprogramming funds excess whichever augment existing program reduce funding personnel existing program results reduction personnel result change existing programs sec authorizes secretary assess time fee guaranteed business industry loan exceed guaranteed principal portion loan sec prohibits usda fda funds transmit non usda non department_of_health_and_human_services hhs employee questions responses questions result information requested appropriations hearing process sec prohibits use funds act executive branch entity produce news story broadcast distribution contains audio text notice produced funded executive entity sec requires usda agencies reimburse employees detailed longer days sec prohibits specified nonrecourse marketing assistance loans sec cancels specified unobligated balances natural_resources_conservation_service resource conservation development account states amounts cancelled amounts designated congress emergency requirement pursuant concurrent resolution budget balanced_budget emergency deficit control act amended sec directs secretary commissioner food_and_drug_administration chairman farm credit administration submit congress spending plan program project activity funds available act sec rescinds specified funds unobligated balances available department agriculture buildings facilities rental payments account sec makes specified funds available assistance recipient nations adequate controls place ensure emergency food aid received intended beneficiaries diverted sec authorizes increases fy2009 amounts emergency food assistance available non emergency food assistance sec states sums necessary fy2014 rental payments general_services_administration gsa programs funded act shall discretionary levels appropriated act sec rescinds specified funds unobligated funds available usda single family housing guaranteed loans fy2007 fy2010 sec rescinds specified funds unobligated balances bioenergy program advanced biofuels sec directs secretary expand pilot program packaging direct_loans single family rural housing states communities served pilot program sec limits funds available repair replacement bulk fuel storage tanks alaska compliance applicable federal state law sec rescinds specified funds unobligated balances biorefinery assistance sec rescinds specified funds unobligated balances value added agricultural product market development grant program sec authorizes secretary increase program level certain loans loan guarantees require budget authority requires congressional notification prior implementing increase sec obligates specified funds assessment existing prospective scope domestic hunger food insecurity directs secretary enter agreement tax exempt private sector organization recognized expertise domestic hunger affairs conduct assessment establishes national_commission hunger shall provide policy recommendations congress secretary programs funds combat domestic hunger food insecurity develop recommendations encourage public private partnerships faith based sector engagement community initiatives reduce need government nutrition assistance programs protecting safety net vulnerable members society sec prohibits funds act eliminate reduce funding program activity proposed president budget request fiscal year proposed change enacted appropriation act change pursuant reprogramming transfer provisions act sec limits funds write prepare publish final interim rule implement implementation regulations required title food conservation energy act conduct violation act sec prohibits funds act exclude restrict eligibility variety fresh cut vegetables vegetables added sugars fats oils provided supplemental foods special supplemental nutrition program women infants children wic sec prohibits funds act pay salary specified senior usda official period july september july percentage improper payments school lunch program school breakfast program reduced sec prohibits state receiving funds act compliance snap eligibility requirements funds act promote wic snap benefits ineligible individuals sec expresses sense congress congress pass legislation authorizes spending cuts increase hunger united_states sec prohibits funds act reclassify rural housing purposes result data received decennial census area classified rural rural area june sec prohibits funds act promulgate rules regulations orders interpretive guidance policy extraterritorial application swaps provisions commodity_exchange_act rules regulations orders interpretive guidance policy subject specified notice comment procedures promulgated jointly securities_and_exchange_commission sec commodity_futures_trading_commission cftc sec prohibits funds act inspect horses slaughter purposes sec states applicable allocation new budget authority house_committee appropriations congressional_budget_act exceeds proposed new budget authority


Summary:
Balancing Food, Farm, and the Environment Act of 2013 - Amends the Food Security Act of 1985 to make a producer violating certain conservation requirements under the highly erodible land or wetland programs ineligible for federal crop insurance premiums.

Requires producers under the highly erodible land program and the wetland conservation program to comply with specified conservation requirements.

Extends and revises: (1) the conservation reserve program, (2) the conservation stewardship program, and (3) the environmental quality incentives program.

Establishes: (1) a conservation reserve easement program, and (2) a conservation innovation grant program.

Directs the Secretary of Agriculture (USDA) to use Commodity Credit Corporation funds and facilities to carry out the following programs through FY2018: (1) the conservation reserve program, (2) the conservation security program, (3) the conservation stewardship program, (4) the environmental quality incentives program, (5) the conservation innovation grant program, (6) the agricultural conservation easement program, and (7) the conservation loan and loan guarantee program.

Authorizes a conservation loan and loan guarantee program.

Establishes an agricultural conservation easement program which shall combine the purposes and functions of the wetlands reserve program, the grassland reserve program, and the farmland protection program.

Provides: (1) funding for the purchase by eligible entities of agricultural land easements and other interests in eligible land, and (2) assistance to owners of eligible land to restore and protect wetland through easements and related wetland easement plans.

Authorizes the Secretary to enter into one or more agreements with a state, nongovernmental organization, or Indian tribe to carry out a special wetlands reserve enhancement program which shall include a reservation of haying and grazing component.

Establishes a regional conservation partnership program which shall combine the purposes and functions of the agricultural water enhancement program, the Chesapeake Bay Watershed program, the cooperative conservation partnership initiative, and the Great Lakes basin program for soil erosion and sediment control.

Repeals: (1) the emergency forestry conservation reserve program, (2) the wetlands reserve program, (3) the farmland protection program and farm viability program, (4) the grassland reserve program, (5) the environmental easement program, (6) the program of conservation innovation grants and payments, (7) the agricultural water enhancement program, (8) the wildlife habitat incentive program, (9) the Great Lakes Basin program, (10) the cooperative conservation partnership initiative, and (11) the desert terminal lakes program.

balancing food farm environment act amends food security act producer violating certain conservation requirements highly land wetland programs ineligible federal crop insurance premiums requires producers highly land program wetland conservation program comply specified conservation requirements extends revises conservation reserve program conservation stewardship program environmental quality incentives program establishes conservation reserve easement program conservation innovation grant program directs secretary agriculture usda use commodity_credit_corporation funds facilities carry following programs fy2018 conservation reserve program conservation security program conservation stewardship program environmental quality incentives program conservation innovation grant program agricultural conservation easement program conservation loan loan guarantee program authorizes conservation loan loan guarantee program establishes agricultural conservation easement program shall combine purposes functions wetlands reserve program grassland reserve program farmland protection program provides funding purchase eligible entities agricultural land easements interests eligible land assistance owners eligible land restore protect wetland easements related wetland easement plans authorizes secretary enter agreements state nongovernmental organization indian tribe carry special wetlands reserve enhancement program shall include reservation grazing component establishes regional conservation partnership program shall combine purposes functions agricultural water enhancement program chesapeake_bay watershed program cooperative conservation partnership initiative great_lakes_basin program soil erosion sediment control repeals emergency forestry conservation reserve program wetlands reserve program farmland protection program farm viability program grassland reserve program environmental easement program program conservation innovation grants payments agricultural water enhancement program wildlife habitat incentive program great_lakes_basin program cooperative conservation partnership initiative desert terminal lakes program