Collapse to view only § 7657. Senior Scientific Research Service
- § 7651. Nutrient composition data
- § 7652. Role of Secretary regarding food and agricultural sciences research and extension
- § 7653. Office of Pest Management Policy
- § 7654. Food Safety Research Information Office
- § 7655. Safe food handling education
- § 7655a. Food safety education initiatives
- § 7655b. Forestry products advanced utilization research
- § 7655c. Clarification of research and development program for wood building construction
- § 7655d. Wood innovation grant program
- § 7656. Designation of Crisis Management Team within Department
- § 7657. Senior Scientific Research Service
§ 7651. Nutrient composition data
(a) In general
(b) Report
Not later than 180 days after June 23, 1998, 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 report that describes—
(1) the method the Secretary will use to update nutrient composition data, including the quality assurance criteria that will be used and the method for generating the data; and
(2) the timing for updating the data.
(Pub. L. 105–185, title VI, § 611, June 23, 1998, 112 Stat. 605.)
§ 7652. Role of Secretary regarding food and agricultural sciences research and extension
The Secretary of Agriculture shall be the principal official in the executive branch responsible for coordinating all Federal research and extension activities related to food and agricultural sciences.
(Pub. L. 105–185, title VI, § 613, June 23, 1998, 112 Stat. 605.)
§ 7653. Office of Pest Management Policy
(a) Purpose
(b) Establishment of Office; principal responsibilities
The Secretary of Agriculture shall establish in the Department an Office of Pest Management Policy, which shall be responsible for—
(1) the development and coordination of Department policy on pest management and pesticides;
(2) the coordination of activities and services of the Department, including research, extension, and education activities, regarding the development, availability, and use of economically and environmentally sound pest management tools and practices;
(3) assisting other agencies of the Department in fulfilling their responsibilities related to pest management or pesticides under the Food Quality Protection Act of 1996 (Public Law 104–170; 110 Stat. 1489), the Federal Insecticide, Fungicide, and Rodenticide Act (7 U.S.C. 136 et seq.), the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act (21 U.S.C. 301 et seq.), and other applicable laws; and
(4) performing such other functions as may be required by law or prescribed by the Secretary.
(c) Interagency coordination
(d) Outreach
(e) Director
(f) Authorization of appropriations
There are authorized to be appropriated to carry out this section—
(1) such sums as are necessary for each of fiscal years 1999 through 2013; and
(2) $3,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2014 through 2023.
(Pub. L. 105–185, title VI, § 614, June 23, 1998, 112 Stat. 605; Pub. L. 107–171, title VII, § 7132, May 13, 2002, 116 Stat. 435; Pub. L. 110–234, title VII, § 7313, May 22, 2008, 122 Stat. 1245; Pub. L. 110–246, § 4(a), title VII, § 7313, June 18, 2008, 122 Stat. 1664, 2006; Pub. L. 113–79, title VII, § 7309, Feb. 7, 2014, 128 Stat. 891; Pub. L. 115–334, title VII, § 7307, Dec. 20, 2018, 132 Stat. 4816.)
§ 7654. Food Safety Research Information Office
(a) Establishment
(b) Purpose
The Office shall provide to the research community and the general public information on publicly funded, and to the maximum extent practicable, privately funded food safety research initiatives for the purpose of—
(1) preventing unintended duplication of food safety research; and
(2) assisting the executive and legislative branches of the Federal Government and private research entities to assess food safety research needs and priorities.
(c) Cooperation
(Pub. L. 105–185, title VI, § 615, June 23, 1998, 112 Stat. 606; Pub. L. 107–171, title VII, § 7301(a), (b)(1), May 13, 2002, 116 Stat. 454.)
§ 7655. Safe food handling education
The Secretary of Agriculture shall continue to develop a national program of safe food handling education for adults and young people to reduce the risk of food-borne illness. The national program shall be suitable for adoption and implementation through State cooperative extension services and school-based education programs.
(Pub. L. 105–185, title VI, § 616, June 23, 1998,
§ 7655a. Food safety education initiatives
(a) Initiative authorized
The Secretary may carry out a food safety education program to educate the public and persons in the fresh produce industry about—
(1) scientifically proven practices for reducing microbial pathogens on fresh produce; and
(2) methods of reducing the threat of cross-contamination of fresh produce through sanitary handling practices.
(b) Cooperation
(c) Authorization of appropriations
(Pub. L. 110–234, title X, § 10105, May 22, 2008, 122 Stat. 1336; Pub. L. 110–246, § 4(a), title X, § 10105, June 18, 2008, 122 Stat. 1664, 2098; Pub. L. 113–79, title X, § 10006, Feb. 7, 2014, 128 Stat. 947; Pub. L. 115–334, title X, § 10106, Dec. 20, 2018, 132 Stat. 4905.)
§ 7655b. Forestry products advanced utilization research
(a) Establishment
(b) ActivitiesThe initiative described in subsection (a) shall include the following activities:
(1) Research conducted for purposes of—
(A) wood quality improvement with respect to lumber strength and grade yield;
(B) the development of novel engineered lumber products and renewable energy from wood; and
(C) enhancing the longevity, sustainability, and profitability of timberland through sound management and utilization.
(2) Demonstration activities and technology transfer to demonstrate the beneficial characteristics of wood as a green building material, including investments in life cycle assessment for wood products.
(3) Projects designed to improve—
(A) forestry products, lumber, and evaluation standards and valuation techniques;
(B) lumber quality and value-based, on-forest management techniques; and
(C) forestry products conversion and manufacturing efficiency, productivity, and profitability over the long term (including forestry product marketing).
(c) Grants
(1) In general
(2) PrioritiesIn making grants under this section, the Secretary shall give higher priority to activities that are carried out by entities that—
(A) are multistate, multiinstitutional, or multidisciplinary;
(B) have explicit mechanisms to communicate results to producers, forestry industry stakeholders, policymakers, and the public; and
(C) have—
(i) extensive history and demonstrated experience in forestry and forestry products research;
(ii) existing capacity in forestry products research and dissemination; and
(iii) a demonstrated means of evaluating and responding to the needs of the related commercial sector.
(3) Administration
(4) Term
(d) Coordination
(e) ReportThe Secretary shall submit an annual report to the Committee on Agriculture of the House of Representatives and the Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry of the Senate describing, for the period covered by the report—
(1) the research that has been conducted under paragraph (2) of subsection (b);
(2) the number of buildings the Forest Service has built with wood as the primary structural material; and
(3) the investments made by the Forest Service in green building and wood promotion.
(f) Authorization of appropriations
(1) In general
(2) Matching funds
(Pub. L. 105–185, title VI, § 617, as added Pub. L. 113–79, title VII, § 7310, Feb. 7, 2014, 128 Stat. 892; amended Pub. L. 115–334, title VII, § 7308, Dec. 20, 2018, 132 Stat. 4816.)
§ 7655c. Clarification of research and development program for wood building construction
(a) In general
(b) Activities
In carrying out subsection (a), the Secretary shall—
(1) after receipt of input and guidance from, and collaboration with, the wood products industry, conservation organizations, and institutions of higher education, conduct research and development, education, and technical assistance at the Forest Products Laboratory or through the State and Private Forestry deputy area that meets measurable performance goals for the achievement of the priorities described in subsection (c); and
(2) after coordination and collaboration with the wood products industry and conservation organizations, make competitive grants to institutions of higher education to conduct research and development, education, and technical assistance that meets measurable performance goals for the achievement of the priorities described in subsection (c).
(c) Priorities
The research and development, education, and technical assistance conducted under subsection (a) shall give priority to—
(1) ways to improve the commercialization of innovative wood products;
(2) analyzing the safety of tall wood building materials;
(3) calculations by the Forest Products Laboratory of the lifecycle environmental footprint, from extraction of raw materials through the manufacturing process, of tall wood building construction;
(4) analyzing methods to reduce the lifecycle environmental footprint of tall wood building construction;
(5) analyzing the potential implications of the use of innovative wood products in building construction on wildlife; and
(6) 1 or more other research areas identified by the Secretary, in consultation with conservation organizations, institutions of higher education, and the wood products industry.
(d) Timeframe
(Pub. L. 115–334, title VIII, § 8642, Dec. 20, 2018, 132 Stat. 4871.)
§ 7655d. Wood innovation grant program
(a) Definitions
In this section:
(1) Eligible entity
The term “eligible entity” means—
(A) an individual;
(B) a public or private entity (including a center of excellence that consists of 1 or more partnerships between forestry, engineering, architecture, or business schools at 1 or more institutions of higher education); or
(C) a State, local, or Tribal government.
(2) Secretary
(b) Grant program
(1) In general
(2) Proposals
(c) Incentivizing use of existing milling capacity
(d) Matching requirement
(Pub. L. 115–334, title VIII, § 8643, Dec. 20, 2018, 132 Stat. 4872.)
§ 7656. Designation of Crisis Management Team within Department
(a) Designation of Crisis Management Team
The Secretary of Agriculture shall designate a Crisis Management Team within the Department of Agriculture, which shall be—
(1) composed of senior departmental personnel with strong subject matter expertise selected from each relevant agency of the Department; and
(2) headed by a team leader with management and communications skills.
(b) Duties of Crisis Management Team
The Crisis Management Team shall be responsible for the following:
(1) Developing a Department-wide crisis management plan, taking into account similar plans developed by other government agencies and other large organizations, and developing written procedures for the implementation of the crisis management plan.
(2) Conducting periodic reviews and revisions of the crisis management plan and procedures developed under paragraph (1).
(3) Ensuring compliance with crisis management procedures by personnel of the Department and ensuring that appropriate Department personnel are familiar with the crisis management plan and procedures and are encouraged to bring information regarding crises or potential crises to the attention of members of the Crisis Management Team.
(4) Coordinating the Department’s information gathering and dissemination activities concerning issues managed by the Crisis Management Team.
(5) Ensuring that Department spokespersons convey accurate, timely, and scientifically sound information regarding crises or potential crises that can be easily understood by the general public.
(6) Cooperating with, and coordinating among, other Federal agencies, States, local governments, industry, and public interest groups, Department activities regarding a crisis.
(c) Role in prioritizing certain research
(d) Cooperative agreements
(Pub. L. 105–185, title VI, § 618, June 23, 1998, 112 Stat. 607.)
§ 7657. Senior Scientific Research Service
(a) In general
(b) Members
(1) In general
(2) Qualifications
To be eligible for appointment to the Service, an individual shall—
(A) have conducted outstanding research in the field of agriculture or forestry;
(B) have earned a doctoral level degree at an institution of higher education (as defined in section 1001 of title 20); and
(C) meet qualification standards prescribed by the Director of the Office of Personnel Management for appointment to a position at level GS–15 of the General Schedule.
(3) Number
(4) Other requirements
(A) In general
Subject to subparagraph (B) and subsection (d)(2), the Secretary may appoint and employ a member of the Service without regard to—
(i) the provisions of title 5 governing appointments in the competitive service;
(ii) the provisions of subchapter I of chapter 35 of title 5 relating to retention preference;
(iii) the provisions of chapter 43 of title 5 relating to performance appraisal and performance actions;
(iv) the provisions of chapter 51 and subchapter III of chapter 53 of title 5 relating to classification and General Schedule pay rates; and
(v) the provisions of chapter 75 of title 5 relating to adverse actions.
(B) Exception
(c) Performance appraisal system
The Secretary shall develop a performance appraisal system for members of the Service that is designed to—
(1) provide for the systematic appraisal of the employment performance of the members; and
(2) encourage excellence in employment performance by the members.
(d) Compensation
(1) In general
(2) Limitations
The rate of pay for a member of the Service shall—
(A) not be less than the minimum rate payable for a position at level GS–15 of the General Schedule; and
(B) not be more than the rate payable for a position at level I of the Executive Schedule, unless the rate is approved by the President under section 5377(d)(2) of title 5.
(e) Retirement contributions
(1) In general
(2) Federal retirement system
(A) In general
(B) Annual leave
(f) Involuntary separation
(1) In general
Subject to paragraph (2) and notwithstanding the provisions of title 5 governing appointment in the competitive service, in the case of an individual who is separated from the Service involuntarily and without cause—
(A) the Secretary may appoint the individual to a position in the competitive civil service at level GS–15 of the General Schedule; and
(B) the appointment shall be a career appointment.
(2) Excepted civil service
In the case of an individual described in paragraph (1) who immediately prior to appointment as a member of the Service was not a career appointee in the civil service or the Senior Executive Service, the appointment of the individual under paragraph (1)—
(A) shall be to the excepted civil service; and
(B) may not exceed a period of 2 years.
(Pub. L. 105–185, title VI, § 620, as added Pub. L. 107–171, title VII, § 7219, May 13, 2002, 116 Stat. 449.)