National Agricultural Research, Extension, Education, and Economics Advisory Board

The Secretary shall establish within the Department of Agriculture a board to be known as the “National Agricultural Research, Extension, Education, and Economics Advisory Board”. The Advisory Board shall consist of 15 members, appointed by the Secretary. The Secretary shall appoint members of the Advisory Board from nominations submitted by organizations, associations, societies, councils, federations, groups, and companies fitting the criteria specified in paragraph (3). The Advisory Board shall consist of members from each of the following categories: 3 members representing national farm or producer organizations, which may include members— 2 members representing academic or research societies, which may include members representing— 5 members representing agricultural research, extension, and education, which shall include each of the following: 5 members representing industry, consumer, or rural interests, including members representing— The Secretary, the Under Secretary of Agriculture for Research, Education, and Economics, the Administrator of the Agricultural Research Service, the Director of the National Institute of Food and Agriculture, the Administrator of the Economic Research Service, and the Administrator of the National Agricultural Statistics Service shall serve as ex officio members of the Advisory Board. At the first meeting of the Advisory Board each year, the members shall elect from among the members of the Advisory Board a chairperson, vice chairperson, and 7 additional members to serve on the executive committee established under paragraph (6). The Advisory Board shall establish an executive committee charged with the responsibility of working with the Secretary and officers and employees of the Department of Agriculture to summarize and disseminate the recommendations of the Advisory Board. In appointing members to serve on the Advisory Board, the Secretary shall ensure, to the maximum extent practicable, equal representation of public and private sector members. The Advisory Board shall— make recommendations, review, and provide consultation to the Secretary, land-grant colleges and universities, and the Committee on Agriculture of the House of Representatives, the Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry of the Senate, the Subcommittee on Agriculture, Rural Development, Food and Drug Administration and Related Agencies of the Committee on Appropriations of the House of Representatives, and the Subcommittee on Agriculture, Rural Development and Related Agencies of the Committee on Appropriations of the Senate on— long-term and short-term national policies and priorities consistent with the— review and make recommendations on the mechanisms of the Department of Agriculture for technology assessment (which should be conducted by qualified professionals) for the purposes of— In carrying out this section, the Advisory Board shall consult with any appropriate agencies of the Department of Agriculture and solicit opinions and recommendations from persons who will benefit from and use federally funded agricultural research, extension, education, and economics. To comply with a provision of this chapter or any other law that requires the Secretary to consult or cooperate with the Advisory Board or that authorizes the Advisory Board to submit recommendations to the Secretary, the Secretary shall— A member of the Advisory Board shall be appointed by the Secretary for a term of up to 3 years. The members of the Advisory Board shall be appointed to serve staggered terms. The Advisory Board shall be deemed to have filed a charter for the purpose of section 1008(c) of title 5. Not more than $500,000 may be used to cover the necessary expenses of the Advisory Board for each fiscal year. The expenses of the Advisory Board shall not be counted toward any general limitation on the expenses of advisory committees, panels, commissions, and task forces of the Department of Agriculture contained in any Act making appropriations for the Department of Agriculture, whether enacted before, on, or after June 23, 1998, unless the appropriation Act specifically refers to this subsection and specifically includes this Advisory Board within the general limitation. The Advisory Board shall remain in existence until September 30, 2023.