7 U.S.C. § 2204: General duties of Secretary; advisory functions; research and development

The Secretary of Agriculture shall procure and preserve all information concerning agriculture, rural development, aquaculture, and human nutrition which he can obtain by means of books and correspondence, and by practical and scientific experiments, accurate records of which experiments shall be kept in his office, by the collection of statistics, and by any other appropriate means within his power; he shall collect new and valuable seeds and plants; shall test, by cultivation, the value of such of them as may require such tests; shall propagate such as may be worthy of propagation; and shall distribute them among agriculturists; and he shall advise the President, other members of his Cabinet, and the Congress on policies and programs designed to improve the quality of life for people living in the rural and nonmetropolitan regions of the Nation. The Secretary is authorized to initiate or expand research and development efforts related to solution of problems of rural water supply, rural sewage and solid waste management, rural housing, rural industrialization, and technology appropriate to small- and moderate-sized family farming operations, and any other problem that the Secretary may determine has an effect upon the economic development or the quality of life in rural areas. an insular area (as defined in section 1404 of the National Agricultural Research, Extension, and Teaching Policy Act of 1977 ( 7 U.S.C. 3103 ) (as amended by section 7502(a)); or a State other than 1 of the 48 contiguous States. barriers to efficient and competitive transportation of inputs and products by geographically disadvantaged farmers and ranchers; and to own and operate farms and ranches; and to participate equitably in the full range of agricultural programs offered by the Department of Agriculture.” agricultural commodity, price support, and farm income support programs (collectively referred to in this section as ‘agricultural commodity programs’); conservation programs (including financial and technical assistance); agricultural credit programs; rural development programs; and forestry programs. the extent to which agricultural commodity programs and conservation programs are consistent with tribal goals and priorities regarding the sustainable use of agricultural land; strategies for increasing tribal participation in agricultural commodity programs and conservation programs; the educational and training opportunities available to Indian tribes and members of Indian tribes in the practical, technical, and professional aspects of agriculture and land management; and ensure proper management of the land; produce increased economic returns; promote employment opportunities; and improve the social and economic well-being of Indian tribes and members of Indian tribes. the Secretary of the Interior; local officers and employees of the Department of Agriculture; and program recipients. a description of the results of the review conducted under this section; recommendations for program improvements; and a description of actions that will be taken to carry out the improvements.” The intent of the study required by this subsection is to examine the cost efficiencies of conducting inspections of aircraft and pilots by one Federal agency without reducing aircraft, passenger, or pilot safety standards or lowering mission preparedness. The Secretary of Agriculture and the Secretary of Transportation shall jointly conduct a study of the inspection specifications and procedures by which aircraft and pilots contracted by the Department are certified to determine the cost efficiencies of eliminating duplicative Department inspection requirements and transferring some or all inspection requirements to the Federal Aviation Administration, while ensuring that neither aircraft, passenger, nor pilot safety is reduced and that mission preparedness is maintained. In conducting the study, the Secretaries shall evaluate current inspection specifications and procedures mandated by the Department and the Forest Service, taking into consideration the unique requirements and risks of particular Department and Forest Service missions that may require special inspection specifications and procedures to ensure the safety of Department and Forest Service personnel and their contractees. In making recommendations to transfer inspection authority or otherwise change Department inspection specifications and procedures, the Secretaries shall ensure that the implementation of any such recommendations does not lower aircraft or pilot standards or preparedness for Department or Forest Service missions. Not later than 180 days after the date of the enactment of this Act [ Oct. 13, 1994 ], the Secretaries shall submit to Congress the results of the study, including any recommendations to transfer inspection authority or otherwise change Department inspection specifications and procedures and a cost-benefit analysis of such recommendations. The Secretaries shall review the policy initiated by the Secretary of Agriculture on July 1, 1994 , to accept Federal Aviation Administration inspections on aircraft and pilots that provide ‘airport to airport’ service for the Forest Service. The policy is currently being cooperatively developed by the Department and the Federal Aviation Administration and is intended to reduce duplicative inspections and to reduce Government costs, while maintaining aircraft, passenger, and pilot safety standards, specifications and procedures currently required by the Department and the Forest Service. As part of the review, the Secretaries shall examine the feasibility and desirability of applying this policy on a Government-wide basis. Not later than one year after the date of the implementation of the policy, the Secretary of Agriculture shall submit to Congress the results of the review, including any recommendations that the Secretary considers appropriate.”