TITLE 7 - US CODE - SUBCHAPTER III - AGRICULTURAL RESEARCH AND EDUCATION GRANTS AND FELLOWSHIPS

7 USC 3151 - Grants to enhance research capacity in schools of veterinary medicine

(a) Competitive grant program 
The Secretary shall conduct a program of competitive grants to States for the purpose of meeting the costs of renovation, improving compliance with Federal regulations, employing faculty, acquiring equipment, and taking other action related to the improvement of schools of veterinary medicine to ensure agricultural competitiveness on a worldwide basis. This grant program shall be based on a matching formula of 50 per centum Federal and 50 per centum State funding.
(b) Preference 
Except with respect to the States of Alaska and Hawaii, the Secretary shall give preference in awarding grants to States which file, with their application for funds under this section, assurances satisfactory to the Secretary that
(1) the State has established a veterinary medical training program with one or more States without colleges of veterinary medicine which consists of appropriate cooperative agreements providing for a sharing of curriculum and costs by the individual States;
(2) the clinical training of the school to be improved shall emphasize care and preventive medical programs for food animals and companion animals (including horses) which support industries of major economic importance; and
(3) the Secretary may set aside a portion of funds appropriated for the award of grants under this section and make such amounts available only for grants to eligible colleges and universities that the Secretary determines have unique capabilities for achieving the objective of full participation of minority groups in research in the Nations schools of veterinary medicine.

Notwithstanding clause (1) of this subsection, no State which the Secretary determines has made a reasonable effort to establish appropriate cooperative agreements shall be denied a grant or otherwise prejudiced because of its failure to establish such cooperative agreements.

(c) Apportionment and distribution of funds 
Funds appropriated to carry out this section for any fiscal year shall be apportioned and distributed as follows:
(1) Five per centum shall be retained by the Department of Agriculture for administration, program assistance to eligible States, and program coordination.
(2) The remainder shall be apportioned and distributed by the Secretary to those States which have applied for funds under this section on such basis as the Secretary may deem appropriate.

7 USC 3151a - Veterinary medicine loan repayment

(a) Program 

(1) Service in shortage situations 
The Secretary shall carry out a program of entering into agreements with veterinarians under which the veterinarians agree to provide, for a period of time as determined by the Secretary and specified in the agreement, veterinary services in veterinarian shortage situations. For each year of such service under an agreement under this paragraph, the Secretary shall pay an amount, as determined by the Secretary and specified in the agreement, of the principal and interest of qualifying educational loans of the veterinarians.
(2) Service to Federal Government in emergency situations 

(A) In general 
The Secretary may enter into agreements of 1 year duration with veterinarians who have agreements pursuant to paragraph (1) for such veterinarians to provide services to the Federal Government in emergency situations, as determined by the Secretary, under terms and conditions specified in the agreement. Pursuant to an agreement under this paragraph, the Secretary shall pay an amount, in addition to the amount paid pursuant to the agreement in paragraph (1), as determined by the Secretary and specified in the agreement, of the principal and interest of qualifying educational loans of the veterinarians.
(B) Requirements 
Agreements entered into under this paragraph shall include the following:
(i) A veterinarian shall not be required to serve more than 60 working days per year of the agreement.
(ii) A veterinarian who provides service pursuant to the agreement shall receive a salary commensurate with the duties and shall be reimbursed for travel and per diem expenses as appropriate for the duration of the service.
(b) Determination of veterinarian shortage situations 
In determining veterinarian shortage situations, the Secretary may consider
(1) geographical areas that the Secretary determines have a shortage of veterinarians; and
(2) areas of veterinary practice that the Secretary determines have a shortage of veterinarians, such as food animal medicine, public health, epidemiology, and food safety.
(c) Administration 

(1) Authority 
The Secretary may carry out this program directly or enter into agreements with another Federal agency or other service provider to assist in the administration of this program.
(2) Breach remedies 

(A) In general 
Agreements with program participants shall provide remedies for any breach of an agreement by a participant, including repayment or partial repayment of financial assistance received, with interest.
(B) Amounts recovered 
Funds recovered under this subsection shall be credited to the account available to carry out this section and shall remain available until expended.
(3) Waiver 
The Secretary may grant a waiver of the repayment obligation for breach of contract in the event of extreme hardship or extreme need, as determined by the Secretary.
(4) Amount 
The Secretary shall develop regulations to determine the amount of loan repayment for a year of service by a veterinarian. In making the determination, the Secretary shall consider the extent to which such determination
(A) affects the ability of the Secretary to maximize the number of agreements that can be provided under the Veterinary Medicine Loan Repayment Program from the amounts appropriated for such agreements; and
(B) provides an incentive to serve in veterinary service shortage areas with the greatest need.
(5) Qualifying educational loans 
Loan repayments provided under this section may consist of payments on behalf of participating individuals of the principal and interest on government and commercial loans received by the individual for attendance of the individual at an accredited college of veterinary medicine resulting in a degree of Doctor of Veterinary Medicine or the equivalent, which loans were made for
(A) tuition expenses;
(B) all other reasonable educational expenses, including fees, books, and laboratory expenses, incurred by the individual; or
(C) reasonable living expenses as determined by the Secretary.
(6) Repayment schedule 
The Secretary may enter into an agreement with the holder of any loan for which payments are made under this section to establish a schedule for the making of such payments.
(7) Tax liability 
In addition to educational loan repayments, the Secretary shall make such additional payments to participants as the Secretary determines to be appropriate for the purpose of providing reimbursements to participants for individual tax liability resulting from participation in this program.
(8) Priority 
In administering the program, the Secretary shall give priority to agreements with veterinarians for the practice of food animal medicine in veterinarian shortage situations.
(d) Use of funds 
None of the funds appropriated to the Secretary under subsection (f) may be used to carry out section 5379 of title 5.
(e) Regulations 
Notwithstanding subchapter II of chapter 5 of title 5, not later than 270 days after the date of enactment of this subsection, the Secretary shall promulgate regulations to carry out this section.
(f) Authorization of appropriations 
There are authorized to be appropriated for carrying out this section such sums as may be necessary and such sums shall remain available to the Secretary for the purposes of this section until expended.

7 USC 3152 - Grants and fellowships for food and agricultural sciences education

(a) Higher education teaching programs 
The Secretary shall promote and strengthen higher education in the food and agricultural sciences by formulating and administering programs to enhance college and university teaching programs in agriculture, natural resources, forestry, veterinary medicine, home economics, disciplines closely allied to the food and agricultural system, and rural economic, community, and business development.
(b) Grants 
The Secretary may make competitive grants (or grants without regard to any requirement for competition) to land-grant colleges and universities (including the University of the District of Columbia), to colleges and universities having significant minority enrollments and a demonstrable capacity to carry out the teaching of food and agricultural sciences, and to other colleges and universities having a demonstrable capacity to carry out the teaching of food and agricultural sciences, for a period not to exceed 5 years
(1) to strengthen institutional capacities, including curriculum, faculty, scientific instrumentation, instruction delivery systems, and student recruitment and retention, to respond to identified State, regional, national, or international educational needs in the food and agricultural sciences, or in rural economic, community, and business development;
(2) to attract and support undergraduate and graduate students in order to educate the students in national need areas of the food and agricultural sciences, or in rural economic, community, and business development;
(3) to facilitate cooperative initiatives between two or more eligible institutions, or between eligible institutions and units of State government or organizations in the private sector, to maximize the development and use of resources such as faculty, facilities, and equipment to improve food and agricultural sciences teaching programs, or teaching programs emphasizing rural economic, community, and business development;
(4) to design and implement food and agricultural programs, or programs emphasizing rural economic, community, and business development, to build teaching, research, and extension capacity at colleges and universities having significant minority enrollments;
(5) to conduct undergraduate scholarship programs to meet national and international needs for training food and agricultural scientists and professionals, or professionals in rural economic, community, and business development; and
(6) to conduct graduate and postdoctoral fellowship programs to attract highly promising individuals to research or teaching careers in the food and agricultural sciences.
(c) Priorities 
In awarding grants under subsection (b) of this section, the Secretary shall give priority to
(1) applications for teaching enhancement projects that demonstrate enhanced coordination among all types of institutions eligible for funding under this section; and
(2) applications for teaching enhancement projects that focus on innovative, multidisciplinary education programs, material, and curricula.
(d) Eligibility for grants 

(1) In general 
To be eligible for a grant under subsection (b) of this section, a recipient institution must have a significant demonstrable commitment to higher education teaching programs in the food and agricultural sciences, or in rural economic, community, and business development, and to each specific subject area for which the grant is to be used.
(2) Minority groups 
The Secretary may set aside a portion of the funds appropriated for the awarding of grants under subsection (b) of this section, and make such amounts available only for grants to eligible colleges and universities (including the University of the District of Columbia) that the Secretary determines have unique capabilities for achieving the objective of full representation of minority groups in the food and agricultural sciences workforce, or in the rural economic, community, and business development workforce, of the United States.
(3) Research foundations 
An eligible college or university under subsection (b) includes a research foundation maintained by the college or university.
(e) Food and agricultural education information system 
From amounts made available for grants under this section, the Secretary may maintain a national food and agricultural education information system that contains
(1) information on enrollment, degrees awarded, faculty, and employment placement in the food and agricultural sciences; and
(2) such other similar information as the Secretary considers appropriate.
(f) Evaluation of teaching programs 
The Secretary shall conduct programs to develop, analyze, and provide to colleges and universities data and information that are essential to the evaluation of the quality of teaching programs and to facilitate the design of more effective programs comprising the food and agricultural sciences higher education system of the United States.
(g) Continuing education 
The Secretary shall conduct special programs with colleges and universities, and with organizations in the private sector, to support educational initiatives to enable food and agricultural scientists and professionals to maintain their knowledge of changing technology, the expanding knowledge base, societal issues, and other factors that impact the skills and competencies needed to maintain the expertise base available to the agricultural system of the United States. The special programs shall include grants and technical assistance.
(h) Transfers of funds and functions 
Funds authorized in section 22 of the Act of June 29, 1935 (49 Stat. 439, chapter 338; 7 U.S.C. 329) are transferred to and shall be administered by the Secretary of Agriculture. There are transferred to the Secretary all the functions and duties of the Secretary of Education under such Act applicable to the activities and programs for which funds are made available under section 22 of such Act.
(i) National Food and Agricultural Sciences Teaching, Extension, and Research Awards 

(1) Establishment 

(A) In general 
The Secretary shall establish a National Food and Agricultural Sciences Teaching, Extension, and Research Awards program to recognize and promote excellence in teaching, extension, and research in the food and agricultural sciences at a college or university.
(B) Minimum requirement 
The Secretary shall make at least 1 cash award in each fiscal year to a nominee selected by the Secretary for excellence in each of the areas of teaching, extension, and research of food and agricultural science at a college or university.
(2) Funding 
The Secretary may transfer funds from amounts appropriated for the conduct of any agricultural research, extension, or teaching program to an account established pursuant to this section for the purpose of making the awards. The Secretary may accept gifts in accordance with section 2269 of this title for the purpose of making the awards.
(j) Secondary education, 2-year postsecondary education, and agriculture in the K–12 classroom 

(1) Definitions 
In this subsection:
(A) Institution of higher education 
The term institution of higher education has the meaning given the term in section 1001 of title 20.
(B) Secondary school 
The term secondary school has the meaning given the term in section 7801 of title 20.
(2) Agriscience and agribusiness education 
The Secretary shall
(A) promote and strengthen secondary education and 2-year postsecondary education in agriscience and agribusiness in order to help ensure the existence in the United States of a qualified workforce to serve the food and agricultural sciences system; and
(B) promote complementary and synergistic linkages among secondary, 2-year postsecondary, and higher education programs in the food and agricultural sciences in order to promote excellence in education and encourage more young Americans to pursue and complete a baccalaureate or higher degree in the food and agricultural sciences.
(3) Grants 
The Secretary may make competitive or noncompetitive grants, for grant periods not to exceed 5 years, to public secondary schools, institutions of higher education that award an associates degree, other institutions of higher education, and nonprofit">nonprofit organizations, that the Secretary determines have made a commitment to teaching agriscience and agribusiness
(A) to enhance curricula in agricultural education;
(B) to increase faculty teaching competencies;
(C) to interest young people in pursuing higher education in order to prepare for scientific and professional careers in the food and agricultural sciences;
(D) to promote the incorporation of agriscience and agribusiness subject matter into other instructional programs, particularly classes in science, business, and consumer education;
(E) to facilitate joint initiatives by the grant recipient with other secondary schools, institutions of higher education that award an associates degree, and institutions of higher education that award a bachelors degree to maximize the development and use of resources, such as faculty, facilities, and equipment, to improve agriscience and agribusiness education;
(F) to support other initiatives designed to meet local, State, regional, or national needs related to promoting excellence in agriscience and agribusiness education; and
(G) to support current agriculture in the classroom programs for grades K12.
(k) Administration 
The Federal Advisory Committee Act and title XVIII of the Food and Agriculture Act of 1977 (7 U.S.C. 2281 et seq.) shall not apply to a panel or board created for the purpose of reviewing applications and proposals for grants or nominations for awards submitted under this section.
(l) Report 
The Secretary shall submit to the Committee on Agriculture of the House of Representatives and the Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry of the Senate a biennial report detailing the distribution of funds used to implement the teaching programs under subsection (j).
(m) Authorization of appropriations 
There are authorized to be appropriated for carrying out this section $60,000,000 for each of the fiscal years 1990 through 2012.

7 USC 3153 - National Agricultural Science Award

(a) Establishment 
The Secretary shall establish the National Agricultural Science Award for research or advanced studies in the food and agricultural sciences, including the social sciences. Two such awards, one for each of the categories described in subsection (d) of this section, shall be made in each fiscal year.
(b) Amount and term 
The awards shall not exceed $50,000 per year for a period of not to exceed three years to support research or study by the recipient.
(c) Eligibility 
The awards shall be open to persons in agricultural research, extension, teaching, or any combination thereof.
(d) Categories 
Awards under this section shall be made in each fiscal year in two categories as follows:
(1) to a scientist in recognition of outstanding contributions to the advancement of the food and agricultural sciences; and
(2) to a research scientist in early career development or a graduate student, in recognition of demonstrated capability and promise of significant future achievement in the food and agricultural sciences.
(e) Nominating and selection committees 
The Secretary may establish such nominating and selection committees, to consist of scientists and others, to receive nominations and make recommendations for awards under this section, as the Secretary deems appropriate.

7 USC 3154 - Repealed. Pub. L. 110234, title VII, 7110(a), May 22, 2008, 122 Stat. 1218, and Pub. L. 110246, 4(a), title VII, 7110(a), June 18, 2008, 122 Stat. 1664, 1980

Section, Pub. L. 95–113, title XIV, § 1419, Sept. 29, 1977, 91 Stat. 997; Pub. L. 96–294, title II, § 252, June 30, 1980, 94 Stat. 705; Pub. L. 97–98, title XIV, § 1422, Dec. 22, 1981, 95 Stat. 1306; Pub. L. 101–624, title XVI, § 1609(a), Nov. 28, 1990, 104 Stat. 3718; Pub. L. 102–237, title IV, § 402(7), Dec. 13, 1991, 105 Stat. 1863; Pub. L. 104–127, title VIII, § 806, Apr. 4, 1996, 110 Stat. 1162; Pub. L. 105–185, title III, § 301(a)(2), June 23, 1998, 112 Stat. 562; Pub. L. 107–171, title VII, §§ 7134, 7209 (b), May 13, 2002, 116 Stat. 436, 445, related to grants for research on production and marketing of alcohols and industrial hydrocarbons from agricultural commodities and forest products.

7 USC 3155 - Policy research centers

(a) In general 
Consistent with this section, the Secretary may make grants, competitive grants, and special research grants to, and enter into cooperative agreements and other contracting instruments with, policy research centers described in subsection (b) of this section to conduct research and education programs that are objective, operationally independent, and external to the Federal Government and that concern the effect of public policies and trade agreements on
(1) the farm and agricultural sectors (including commodities, livestock, dairy, and specialty crops);
(2) the environment;
(3) rural families, households, and economies; and
(4) consumers, food, and nutrition.
(b) Eligible recipients 
State agricultural experiment stations, colleges and universities, other research institutions and organizations (including the Food Agricultural Policy Research Institute, the Agricultural and Food Policy Center, the Rural Policy Research Institute, and the National Drought Mitigation Center), private organizations, corporations, and individuals shall be eligible to apply for funding under subsection (a) of this section.
(c) Activities 
Under this section, funding may be provided for disciplinary and interdisciplinary research and education concerning policy research activities consistent with this section, including activities that
(1) quantify the implications of public policies and regulations;
(2) develop theoretical and research methods;
(3) collect, analyze, and disseminate data for policymakers, analysts, and individuals; and
(4) develop programs to train analysts.
(d) Authorization of appropriations 
There are authorized to be appropriated such sums as are necessary to carry out this section for each of fiscal years 1996 through 2012.

7 USC 3156 - Education grants to Alaska Native serving institutions and Native Hawaiian serving institutions

(a) Education grants program for Alaska Native serving institutions 

(1) Grant authority 
The Secretary of Agriculture may make competitive grants (or grants without regard to any requirement for competition) to Alaska Native serving institutions for the purpose of promoting and strengthening the ability of Alaska Native serving institutions to carry out education, applied research, and related community development programs.
(2) Use of grant funds 
Grants made under this section shall be used
(A) to support the activities of consortia of Alaska Native serving institutions to enhance educational equity for under represented students;
(B) to strengthen institutional educational capacities, including libraries, curriculum, faculty, scientific instrumentation, instruction delivery systems, and student recruitment and retention, in order to respond to identified State, regional, national, or international educational needs in the food and agriculture sciences;
(C) to attract and support undergraduate and graduate students from under represented groups in order to prepare them for careers related to the food, agricultural, and natural resource systems of the United States, beginning with the mentoring of students at the high school level including by village elders and continuing with the provision of financial support for students through their attainment of a doctoral degree; and
(D) to facilitate cooperative initiatives between two or more Alaska Native serving institutions, or between Alaska Native serving institutions and units of State government or the private sector, to maximize the development and use of resources, such as faculty, facilities, and equipment, to improve food and agricultural sciences teaching programs.
(3) Authorization of appropriations 
There are authorized to be appropriated to make grants under this subsection $10,000,000 in fiscal years 2001 through 2012.
(b) Education grants program for Native Hawaiian serving institutions 

(1) Grant authority 
The Secretary of Agriculture may make competitive grants (or grants without regard to any requirement for competition) to Native Hawaiian serving institutions for the purpose of promoting and strengthening the ability of Native Hawaiian serving institutions to carry out education, applied research, and related community development programs.
(2) Use of grant funds 
Grants made under this section shall be used
(A) to support the activities of consortia of Native Hawaiian serving institutions to enhance educational equity for under represented students, including permitting consortia to designate fiscal agents for the members of the consortia and to allocate among the members funds made available under this section;
(B) to strengthen institutional educational capacities, including libraries, curriculum, faculty, scientific instrumentation, instruction delivery systems, and student recruitment and retention, in order to respond to identified State, regional, national, or international educational needs in the food and agriculture sciences;
(C) to attract and support undergraduate and graduate students from under represented groups in order to prepare them for careers related to the food, agricultural, and natural resource systems of the United States, beginning with the mentoring of students at the high school level and continuing with the provision of financial support for students through their attainment of a doctoral degree; and
(D) to facilitate cooperative initiatives between two or more Native Hawaiian serving institutions, or between Native Hawaiian serving institutions and units of State government or the private sector, to maximize the development and use of resources, such as faculty, facilities, and equipment, to improve food and agricultural sciences teaching programs.
(3) Authorization of appropriations 
There are authorized to be appropriated to make grants under this subsection $10,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2001 through 2012.