§ 7613. — Relevance and merit of agricultural research, extension, and education funded by the Department.
[Laws in effect as of January 24, 2002]
[Document not affected by Public Laws enacted between
January 24, 2002 and December 19, 2002]
[CITE: 7USC7613]
TITLE 7--AGRICULTURE
CHAPTER 103--AGRICULTURAL RESEARCH, EXTENSION, AND EDUCATION REFORM
SUBCHAPTER I--PRIORITIES, SCOPE, REVIEW, AND COORDINATION OF
AGRICULTURAL RESEARCH, EXTENSION, AND EDUCATION
Sec. 7613. Relevance and merit of agricultural research,
extension, and education funded by the Department
(a) Review of Cooperative State Research, Education, and Extension
Service
(1) Peer review of research grants
The Secretary shall establish procedures that provide for
scientific peer review of each agricultural research grant
administered, on a competitive basis, by the Cooperative State
Research, Education, and Extension Service of the Department.
(2) Merit review of extension and education grants
(A) Establishment of procedures
The Secretary shall establish procedures that provide for
merit review of each agricultural extension or education grant
administered, on a competitive basis, by the Cooperative State
Research, Education, and Extension Service.
(B) Consultation with Advisory Board
The Secretary shall consult with the Advisory Board in
establishing the merit review procedures.
(b) Advisory Board review
On an annual basis, the Advisory Board shall review--
(1) the relevance to the priorities established under section
7612(a) of this title of the funding of all agricultural research,
extension, or education activities conducted or funded by the
Department; and
(2) the adequacy of the funding.
(c) Requests for proposals
(1) Review results
As soon as practicable after the review is conducted under
subsection (b) of this section for a fiscal year, the Secretary
shall consider the results of the review when formulating each
request for proposals, and evaluating proposals, involving an
agricultural research, extension, or education activity funded, on a
competitive basis, by the Department.
(2) Input
In formulating a request for proposals described in paragraph
(1) for a fiscal year, the Secretary shall solicit and consider
input from persons who conduct or use agricultural research,
extension, or education regarding the prior year's request for
proposals.
(d) Scientific peer review of agricultural research
(1) Peer review procedures
The Secretary shall establish procedures that ensure scientific
peer review of all research activities conducted by the Department.
(2) Review panel required
As part of the procedures established under paragraph (1), a
review panel shall verify, at least once every 5 years, that each
research activity of the Department and research conducted under
each research program of the Department has scientific merit and
relevance.
(3) Mission area
If the research activity or program to be reviewed is included
in the research, educational, and economics mission area of the
Department, the review panel shall consider--
(A) the scientific merit and relevance of the activity or
research in light of the priorities established pursuant to
section 7612 of this title; and
(B) the national or multistate significance of the activity
or research.
(4) Composition of review panel
(A) In general
A review panel shall be composed of individuals with
scientific expertise, a majority of whom are not employees of
the agency whose research is being reviewed.
(B) Scientists from colleges and universities
To the maximum extent practicable, the Secretary shall use
scientists from colleges and universities to serve on the review
panels.
(5) Submission of results
The results of the panel reviews shall be submitted to the
Advisory Board.
(e) Merit review
(1) 1862 and 1890 Institutions
Effective October 1, 1999, to be eligible to obtain agricultural
research or extension funds from the Secretary for an activity, each
1862 Institution and 1890 Institution shall--
(A) establish a process for merit review of the activity;
and
(B) review the activity in accordance with the process.
(2) 1994 Institutions
Effective October 1, 1999, to be eligible to obtain agricultural
extension funds from the Secretary for an activity, each 1994
Institution shall--
(A) establish a process for merit review of the activity;
and
(B) review the activity in accordance with the process.
(Pub. L. 105-185, title I, Sec. 103, June 23, 1998, 112 Stat. 527.)
Codification
Section is comprised of section 103 of Pub. L. 105-185. Subsec. (f)
of section 103 of Pub. L. 105-185 amended sections 361g, 3221, and 3222
of this title and repealed sections 346 and 3314 of this title.
Section Referred to in Other Sections
This section is referred to in sections 343, 361c, 7621 of this
title.
