Bill Summary
The Agriculture Research Integrity Act of 2019 is a bill that aims to amend the Department of Agriculture Reorganization Act of 1994. Its main purpose is to reaffirm the authority of the Under Secretary of Agriculture for Research, Education, and Economics, and to clarify the roles and responsibilities of various agencies within the Department. This bill also requires that certain agencies be located within the National Capital Region for better coordination and interaction with each other and other federal science agencies.
Possible Impacts
1. This bill could affect employees within the Department of Agriculture, as it redefines the authority of the Under Secretary for Research, Education, and Economics. This could result in changes to their job responsibilities and reporting structure.
2. It could also affect farmers and researchers who rely on the services provided by the Agricultural Research Service, the Economic Research Service, the National Agricultural Statistics Service, and the National Institute for Food and Agriculture. Changes in leadership and location of these agencies could impact the availability and quality of their services.
3. The location requirement for the agencies within the National Capital Region could also impact individuals living in that area, as it could potentially lead to increased traffic and competition for resources.
[Congressional Bills 116th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 1221 Introduced in House (IH)]
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116th CONGRESS
1st Session
H. R. 1221
To amend the Department of Agriculture Reorganization Act of 1994 to
reaffirm the authority of the Under Secretary of Agriculture for
Research, Education, and Economics, and for other purposes.
_______________________________________________________________________
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
February 14, 2019
Ms. Pingree (for herself, Mr. Hoyer, Mr. Bishop of Georgia, Ms.
DeLauro, Mr. Pocan, Ms. Lee of California, Ms. McCollum, Mr. Cuellar,
Mr. McGovern, Ms. Fudge, Mr. Carbajal, Mr. Panetta, Ms. Kuster of New
Hampshire, and Ms. Norton) introduced the following bill; which was
referred to the Committee on Agriculture
_______________________________________________________________________
A BILL
To amend the Department of Agriculture Reorganization Act of 1994 to
reaffirm the authority of the Under Secretary of Agriculture for
Research, Education, and Economics, and for other purposes.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the
United States of America in Congress assembled,
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.
This Act may be cited as ``Agriculture Research Integrity Act of
2019''.
SEC. 2. REAFFIRMING AUTHORITY OF THE UNDER SECRETARY OF AGRICULTURE FOR
RESEARCH, EDUCATION, AND ECONOMICS.
Subtitle F of the Department of Agriculture Reorganization Act of
1994 (7 U.S.C. 6971 et seq.) is amended by adding at the end the
following:
``SEC. 253. REAFFIRMING AUTHORITY OF THE UNDER SECRETARY.
``(a) In General.--Notwithstanding the authority specified in
Reorganization Plan No. 2 of 1953 (5 U.S.C. App.; 7 U.S.C. 2201 note)
or any other provision of Federal law relating to the authority of the
Secretary, including section 296--
``(1) the Agricultural Research Service, the Economic
Research Service, the National Agricultural Statistics Service,
and the National Institute for Food and Agriculture, and any
successor agencies shall be within the research, education, and
economics mission area of the Department;
``(2) the authority to administer such agencies is vested
in the Under Secretary for Research, Education, and Economics;
and
``(3) such authority may not be vested in the head of
another agency or office within the Department.
``(b) Location.--The Secretary shall locate each agency referred to
in subsection (a)(1) and the majority of the staff of each such agency
within the National Capital Region to ensure maximum coordination and
interaction with each other such agency, with the agencies delivering
food and agricultural programs and services of the Department, and with
other Federal Government science agencies (including science agencies
of the Department).''.
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