Page:United States Statutes at Large Volume 110 Part 1.djvu/1202

 110 STAT. 1178 PUBLIC LAW 104-127—APR. 4, 1996 Reports. 7 USC 390b. Records. "(i) 1 or more of the national research poHcies and priorities set forth in section 1402 of the National Agricultural Research, Extension, and Teaching Policy Act of 1977 (7 U.S.C. 3101); and "(ii) regional needs. "(D) LONG-TERM SUPPORT.— The proposal shall demonstrate that the recipient college, university, or nonprofit institution has the ability and commitment to support the long-term, ongoing operating costs of— "(i) the agricultural research facility after the facility is completed; and "(ii) each program to be based at the facility. "(d) EVALUATION OF PROPOSALS.—Not later than 90 days after receiving a proposal under subsection (a), the Secretary shall— "(1) evaluate and assess the merits of the proposal, including the extent to which the proposal meets the criteria set forth in subsection (c); and "(2) report to the congressional agriculture committees on the results of the evaluation and assessment. "SEC. 4. TASK FORCE ON 10-YEAR STRATEGIC PLAN FOR AGRICUL- TURAL RESEARCH FACILITIES. "(a) ESTABLISHMENT.— Not later than 6 months after the date of enactment of the Federal Agriculture Improvement and Reform Act of 1996, the Secretary shall establish a task force, to be known as the 'Strategic Planning Task Force'. The task force shall be comprised of 15 members. "(b) COMPOSITION.—The Secretary shall select the members of the task force from a list of individuals recommended by the Advisory Board established under section 1408 of the National Agricultural Research, Extension, and Teaching Policy Act of 1977 (7 U.S.C. 3123). In submitting the hst to the Secretary, the Board may recommend for selection individuals (including members of the Advisory Board) who have expertise in facilities development, modernization, construction, consolidation, and closure. "(c) DUTIES. —The task force shall review all currently operating agricultural research facilities constructed in whole or in part with Federal funds, and all planned agricultural research facilities proposed to be constructed with Federal funds, pursuant to criteria established by the Secretary, to ensure that a comprehensive research capacity is maintained. "(d) 10-YEAR STRATEGIC PLAN. —Not later than 2 years after the task force is established, the task force shall prepare and submit to the Secretary and the congressional agriculture committees a 10-year strategic plan, reflecting both national and regional perspectives, for development, modernization, construction, consolidation, and closure of Federal agricultural research facilities and agricultural research facilities proposed to be constructed with Federal funds. " (e) APPLICABILITY OF FEDERAL ADVISORY COMMITTEE ACT. — "(1) PUBLIC MEETINGS.— All meetings of the task force shall be publicly announced in advance and shall be open to the public. Detailed minutes of meetings and other appropriate records of the activities of the task force shall be kept and made available to the public on request. "(2) EXEMPTION. —The Federal Advisorj' Committee Act (5 U.S.C. App.) and title XVIII of the Food and Agriculture Act

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