---
kind: "range"
citation: "7 U.S.C. §§ 361a–361i"
title: "7"
from: "361a"
to: "361i"
count: 9
release: "119-102"
url: "https://uscodex.org/usc/7/361a..361i"
---

# §361a. Congressional declaration of purpose; definitions


It is the policy of Congress to continue the agricultural research at [State agricultural experiment stations](/usc/7/5801.md?p=b-8) which has been encouraged and supported by the Hatch Act of 1887 [7 U.S.C. 361a et seq.], the Adams Act of 1906, the Purnell Act of 1925, the Bankhead-Jones Act of 1935, and title I, [section 9](/usc/7/9.md), of that Act as added by the Act of August 14, 1946, and Acts amendatory and supplementary thereto, and to promote the efficiency of such research by a codification and simplification of such laws. As used in this Act [7 U.S.C. 361a et seq.], the terms “State” or “States” are defined to include the several States (including the District of Columbia), Puerto Rico, Guam and the Virgin Islands. As used in this Act [7 U.S.C. 361a et seq.], the term “State agricultural experiment station” means a department which shall have been established, under direction of the college or university or agricultural departments of the college or university in each State in accordance with an Act approved July 2, 1862, (12 Stat. 503), entitled “An Act donating public lands to the several States and Territo­ries which may provide colleges for the benefit of agriculture and the mechanic arts” [[7 U.S.C. 301](/usc/7/301.md) et seq.]; or such other substantially equivalent arrangements as any State shall determine.


# §361b. Congressional statement of policy; researches, investigations and experiments


It is further the policy of the Congress to promote the efficient production, marketing, distribution, and utilization of products of the farm as essential to the health and welfare of our peoples and to promote a sound and prosperous agriculture and [rural](/usc/7/1991.md?p=a-13-B) life as indispensable to the maintenance of maximum employment and national prosperity and security. It is also the intent of Congress to assure agriculture a position in research equal to that of industry, which will aid in maintaining an equitable balance between agriculture and other segments of our economy. It shall be the object and duty of the [State agricultural experiment stations](/usc/7/5801.md?p=b-8) through the expenditure of the appropriations hereinafter authorized to conduct original and other researches, investigations, and experiments bearing directly on and contributing to the establishment and maintenance of a permanent and effective agricultural industry of the [United States](/usc/7/6402.md?p=8), including researches basic to the problems of agriculture in its broadest aspects, and such investigations as have for their purpose the development and improvement of the [rural](/usc/7/1991.md?p=a-13-B) home and [rural](/usc/7/1991.md?p=a-13-B) life and the maximum contribution by agriculture to the welfare of the consumer, as may be deemed advisable, having due regard to the varying conditions and needs of the respective [States](/usc/7/361a.md).


# §361c. Authorization of appropriations and allotments of grants

- (a) **Authorization—** There are authorized to be appropriated for the purposes of [sections 361a to 361i](/usc/7/361a..361i.md) of this title such sums as Congress may from time to time determine to be necessary.
- (b) **Allotments to States; authorization of appropriations for Virgin Islands and Guam; limitation—**
  - (1) Out of such sums each [State](/usc/7/361a.md) shall be entitled to receive annually a sum of money equal to and subject to the same requirement as to use for marketing research projects as the sums received from Federal appropriations for [State agricultural experiment stations](/usc/7/5801.md?p=b-8) for the fiscal year 1955, except that amounts heretofore made available from the [fund](/usc/7/4531.md?p=5) known as the “Regional research [fund](/usc/7/4531.md?p=5), Office of Experiment Stations” shall continue to be available for the support of cooperative regional projects as defined in [subsection (c)(3)](#c-3), and the said [fund](/usc/7/4531.md?p=5) shall be designated “Regional research [fund](/usc/7/4531.md?p=5), [State agricultural experiment stations](/usc/7/5801.md?p=b-8),” and the Secretary of Agriculture shall be entitled to receive annually for the administration of [sections 361a to 361i](/usc/7/361a..361i.md) of this title, a sum not less than that available for this purpose for the fiscal year ending June 30, 1955: Provided, That if the appropriations hereunder available for distribution in any fiscal year are less than those for the fiscal year 1955 the allotment to each [State](/usc/7/361a.md) and the amounts for Federal administration and the regional research [fund](/usc/7/4531.md?p=5) shall be reduced in proportion to the amount of such reduction.
  - (2) There is authorized to be appropriated for the fiscal year ending June 30, 1973, and for each fiscal year thereafter, for payment to the Virgin Islands and Guam, $100,000 each, which sums shall be in addition to the sums appropriated for the several [States](/usc/7/361a.md) of the [United States](/usc/7/6402.md?p=8) and Puerto Rico under the provisions of this section. The amount paid by the Federal Government to the Virgin Islands and Guam pursuant to this paragraph shall not exceed during any fiscal year, except the fiscal years ending June 30, 1971, and June 30, 1972, when such amount may be used to pay the total cost of providing services pursuant to [sections 361a to 361i](/usc/7/361a..361i.md) of this title, the amount available and budgeted for expenditure by the Virgin Islands and Guam for the purposes of such sections.
- (c) **Allotment of additional sums—** Any sums made available by the Congress in addition to those provided for in [subsection (b)](#b) of this section for [State agricultural experiment station](/usc/7/361a.md) work shall be distributed as follows:
  - (1) Twenty per centum shall be allotted equally to each [State](/usc/7/361a.md);
  - (2) Not less than 52 per centum of such sums shall be allotted to each [State](/usc/7/361a.md), as follows: One-half in an amount which bears the same ratio to the total amount to be allotted as the [rural](/usc/7/1991.md?p=a-13-B) population of the [State](/usc/7/361a.md) bears to the total [rural](/usc/7/1991.md?p=a-13-B) population of all the [States](/usc/7/361a.md) as determined by the last preceding decennial census current at the time each such additional sum is first appropriated; and one-half in an amount which bears the same ratio to the total amount to be allotted as the farm population of the [State](/usc/7/361a.md) bears to the total farm population of all the [States](/usc/7/361a.md) as determined by the last preceding decennial census current at the time such additional sum is first appropriated;
  - (3) Not less than 25 percent shall be allotted to the [States](/usc/7/361a.md) for cooperative research employing multidisciplinary approaches in which a [State agricultural experiment station](/usc/7/361a.md), working with another [State agricultural experiment station](/usc/7/361a.md), the Agricultural Research Service, or a college or university, cooperates to solve problems that concern more than 1 [State](/usc/7/361a.md). The [funds](/usc/7/4531.md?p=5) available under this paragraph, together with the [funds](/usc/7/4531.md?p=5) available under [subsection (b)](#b) for a similar purpose, shall be designated as the “Multistate Research [Fund](/usc/7/4531.md?p=5), [State Agricultural Experiment Stations](/usc/7/5801.md?p=b-8)”.
  - (4) Three per centum shall be available to the Secretary of Agriculture for administration of [sections 361a to 361i](/usc/7/361a..361i.md) of this title. These administrative [funds](/usc/7/4531.md?p=5) may be used for transportation of scientists who are not officers or employees of the [United States](/usc/7/6402.md?p=8) to research meetings convened for the purpose of assessing research opportunities or research planning.
- (d) **Matching funds—**
  - (1) **Requirement—** Except as provided in [paragraph (4)](#d-4), no allotment shall be made to a [State](/usc/7/361a.md) under subsection [(b)](#b) or [(c)](#c), and no payments from the allotment shall be made to a [State](/usc/7/361a.md), in excess of the amount that the [State](/usc/7/361a.md) makes available out of non-Federal [funds](/usc/7/4531.md?p=5) for agricultural research and for the establishment and maintenance of facilities for the performance of the research.
  - (2) **Failure to provide matching funds—** If a [State](/usc/7/361a.md) fails to comply with the requirement to provide matching [funds](/usc/7/4531.md?p=5) for a fiscal year under [paragraph (1)](#d-1), the Secretary of Agriculture shall withhold from payment to the [State](/usc/7/361a.md) for that fiscal year an amount equal to the difference between—
    - (A) the amount that would be allotted and paid to the [State](/usc/7/361a.md) under subsections [(b)](#b) and [(c)](#c) (if the full amount of matching [funds](/usc/7/4531.md?p=5) were provided by the [State](/usc/7/361a.md)); and
    - (B) the amount of matching [funds](/usc/7/4531.md?p=5) actually provided by the [State](/usc/7/361a.md).
  - (3) **Reapportionment—**
    - (A) **In general—** The Secretary of Agriculture shall reapportion amounts withheld under [paragraph (2)](#d-2) for a fiscal year among the [States](/usc/7/361a.md) satisfying the matching requirement for that fiscal year.
    - (B) **Matching requirement—** Any reapportionment of [funds](/usc/7/4531.md?p=5) under this paragraph shall be subject to the matching requirement specified in [paragraph (1)](#d-1).
  - (4) **Exception for insular areas and the District of Columbia—**
    - (A) **In general—** Effective beginning for fiscal year 2003, in lieu of the matching [funds](/usc/7/4531.md?p=5) requirement of [paragraph (1)](#d-1), the insular [areas](/usc/7/1471.md?p=5) of the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, Guam, and the Virgin Islands of the [United States](/usc/7/6402.md?p=8) and the District of Columbia shall provide matching [funds](/usc/7/4531.md?p=5) from non-Federal sources in an amount equal to not less than 50 percent of the [formula funds](/usc/7/3222d.md?p=a-2) distributed by the Secretary to each of the insular [areas](/usc/7/1471.md?p=5), respectively, and the District of Columbia under this section.
    - (B) **Waivers—** The Secretary may waive the matching [fund](/usc/7/4531.md?p=5) requirement of [subparagraph (A)](#d-4-A) for any fiscal year if the Secretary determines that the government of the insular [area](/usc/7/1471.md?p=5) or the District of Columbia will be unlikely to meet the matching requirement for the fiscal year.
- (e) **“Administration” defined—** “Administration” as used in this section shall include participation in planning and coordinating cooperative regional research as defined in [subsection (c)(3)](#c-3).
- (f) **Adjustment of payments—** In making payments to [States](/usc/7/361a.md), the Secretary of Agriculture is authorized to adjust any such payment to the nearest dollar.
- (g) **Reductions and reapportionments—** If in any year the amount made available by a [State](/usc/7/361a.md) from its own [funds](/usc/7/4531.md?p=5) (including any revenue-sharing [funds](/usc/7/4531.md?p=5)) to a [State agricultural experiment station](/usc/7/361a.md) is reduced because of an increase in the allotment made available under [sections 361a to 361i](/usc/7/361a..361i.md) of this title, the allotment to the [State agricultural experiment station](/usc/7/361a.md) from the appropriation in the next succeeding fiscal year shall be reduced in an equivalent amount. The Secretary shall reapportion the amount of such reduction to other [States](/usc/7/361a.md) for use by their agricultural experiment stations.
- (h) **Peer review—** Research carried out under [subsection (c)(3)](#c-3) shall be subject to scientific peer review. The review of a project conducted under this subsection shall be considered to satisfy the merit review requirements of [section 7613(e) of this title](/usc/7/7613.md?p=e).
- (i) **Integration of research and extension—**
  - (1) **In general—** Not less than the applicable percentage specified under [paragraph (2)](#i-2) of the Federal [formula funds](/usc/7/3222d.md?p=a-2) that are paid under [sections 361a to 361i](/usc/7/361a..361i.md) of this title and subsections (b) and (c) of [section 343 of this title](/usc/7/343.md) to colleges and universities eligible to receive [funds](/usc/7/4531.md?p=5) under the Act of July 2, 1862 (12 Stat. 503, chapter 130; [7 U.S.C. 301](/usc/7/301.md) et seq.), during a fiscal year shall be expended for activities that integrate cooperative research and [extension](/usc/7/5801.md?p=b-5) (referred to in this subsection as “integrated activities”).
  - (2) **Applicable percentages—**
    - (A) **1997 expenditures on multistate activities—** Of the Federal [formula funds](/usc/7/3222d.md?p=a-2) that were paid to each [State](/usc/7/361a.md) for fiscal year 1997 under [sections 361a to 361i](/usc/7/361a..361i.md) of this title and subsections (b) and (c) of [section 343 of this title](/usc/7/343.md), the Secretary of Agriculture shall determine the percentage that the [State](/usc/7/361a.md) expended for integrated activities.
    - (B) **Required expenditures on multistate activities—** Of the Federal [formula funds](/usc/7/3222d.md?p=a-2) that are paid to each [State](/usc/7/361a.md) for fiscal year 2000 and each subsequent fiscal year under [sections 361a to 361i](/usc/7/361a..361i.md) of this title and subsections (b) and (c) of [section 343 of this title](/usc/7/343.md), the [State](/usc/7/361a.md) shall expend for the fiscal year for integrated activities a percentage that is at least equal to the lesser of—
      - (i) 25 percent; or
      - (ii) twice the percentage for the [State](/usc/7/361a.md) determined under [subparagraph (A)](#i-2-A).
    - (C) **Reduction by Secretary—** The Secretary of Agriculture may reduce the minimum percentage required to be expended by a [State](/usc/7/361a.md) for integrated activities under [subparagraph (B)](#i-2-B) in a case of hardship, infeasibility, or other similar circumstance beyond the control of the [State](/usc/7/361a.md), as determined by the Secretary.
  - (3) **Applicability—** This subsection does not apply to [funds](/usc/7/4531.md?p=5) provided—
    - (A) by a [State](/usc/7/361a.md) or local government pursuant to a matching requirement;
    - (B) to a [1994 Institution](/usc/7/3292.md?p=a-1) (as defined in section 532 of the Equity in Educational Land-Grant Status Act of 1994 (Public Law 103–382; [7 U.S.C. 301](/usc/7/301.md) note)); or
    - (C) to the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, the Virgin Islands, or Guam.
  - (4) **Relationship to other requirements—** Federal [formula funds](/usc/7/3222d.md?p=a-2) described in [paragraph (1)](#i-1) that are used by a [State](/usc/7/361a.md) for a fiscal year for integrated activities in accordance with [paragraph (2)(B)](#i-2-B) may also be used to satisfy the multistate activities requirements of [subsection (c)(3)](#c-3) of this section and [section 343(h) of this title](/usc/7/343.md?p=h) for the same fiscal year.

# §361d. Use of funds


Moneys appropriated pursuant to [sections 361a to 361i](/usc/7/361a..361i.md) of this title shall also be available, in addition to meeting expenses for research and investigations conducted under [authority](/usc/7/2009aa.md?p=1) of [section 361b of this title](/usc/7/361b.md), for printing and disseminating the results of such research, retirement of employees subject to the provisions of [section 331 of this title](/usc/7/331.md), administrative planning and direction, and for the purchase and rental of land and the construction, acquisition, alteration, or repair of buildings necessary for conducting research. The [State agricultural experiment stations](/usc/7/5801.md?p=b-8) are authorized to plan and conduct any research authorized under [section 361b of this title](/usc/7/361b.md) in cooperation with each other and such other agencies and individuals as may contribute to the solution of the agricultural problems involved, and moneys appropriated pursuant to [sections 361a to 361i](/usc/7/361a..361i.md) of this title shall be available for paying the necessary expenses of planning, coordinating, and conducting such cooperative research.


# §361e. Payment of allotments to State agricultural experiment stations; directors and treasurers or other officers; accounting; reports to Secretary; replacement by States of diminished, lost or misapplied allotments; subsequent allotments or payments contingent on such replacement


Sums available for allotment to the [States](/usc/7/361a.md) under the terms of [sections 361a to 361i](/usc/7/361a..361i.md) of this title, excluding the Multistate Research [Fund](/usc/7/4531.md?p=5), [State Agricultural Experiment Stations](/usc/7/5801.md?p=b-8), shall be paid to each [State agricultural experiment station](/usc/7/361a.md) in equal quarterly payments beginning on the first day of October of each fiscal year upon vouchers approved by the Secretary of Agriculture. Each such station authorized to receive allotted [funds](/usc/7/4531.md?p=5) shall have a chief administrative officer known as a director, and a treasurer or other officer appointed by the governing [board](/usc/7/1502.md?p=b-4) of the station. Such treasurer or other officer shall receive and account for all [funds](/usc/7/4531.md?p=5) allotted to the [State](/usc/7/361a.md) under the provisions of [sections 361a to 361i](/usc/7/361a..361i.md) of this title and shall report, with the approval of the director, to the Secretary of Agriculture on or before the first day of December of each year a detailed statement of the amount received under provisions of said sections during the preceding fiscal year, and of its disbursement on schedules prescribed by the Secretary of Agriculture. If any portion of the allotted moneys received by the authorized receiving officer of any [State agricultural experiment station](/usc/7/361a.md) shall by any action or contingency be diminished, lost, or misapplied, it shall be replaced by the [State](/usc/7/361a.md) concerned and until so replaced no subsequent appropriation shall be allotted or paid to such [State](/usc/7/361a.md).


# §361f. Publications of experiment stations; free mailing


Bulletins, reports, periodicals, reprints of articles, and other publications necessary for the dissemination of results of the researches and experiments, including lists of publications available for distribution by the experiment stations, shall be transmitted in the mails of the [United States](/usc/7/6402.md?p=8). Such publications may be mailed from the principal place of business of the station or from an established subunit of said station.


# §361g. Duties of Secretary; ascertainment of entitlement of State to funds; plans of work

- (a) **Duties of Secretary—** The Secretary of Agriculture is charged with the responsibility for the proper administration of [sections 361a to 361i](/usc/7/361a..361i.md) of this title, and is authorized and directed to prescribe such rules and regulations as may be necessary to carry out its provisions. It shall be the duty of the Secretary to furnish such advice and assistance as will best promote the purposes of said sections, including participation in coordination of research initiated under said sections by the [State agricultural experiment stations](/usc/7/5801.md?p=b-8), from time to time to indicate such lines of inquiry as to him seem most important, and to encourage and assist in the establishment and maintenance of cooperation by and between the several [State agricultural experiment stations](/usc/7/5801.md?p=b-8), and between the stations and the [United States](/usc/7/6402.md?p=8) Department of Agriculture.
- (b) **Ascertainment of entitlement—** On or before the first day of October in each year after the passage of [sections 361a to 361i](/usc/7/361a..361i.md) of this title, the Secretary of Agriculture shall ascertain as to each [State](/usc/7/361a.md) whether it is entitled to receive its share of the annual appropriations for agricultural experiment stations under said sections and the amount which thereupon each is entitled, respectively, to receive.
- (c) **Carryover—**
  - (1) **In general—** The balance of any annual [funds](/usc/7/4531.md?p=5) provided under [sections 361a to 361i](/usc/7/361a..361i.md) of this title to a [State agricultural experiment station](/usc/7/361a.md) for a fiscal year that remains unexpended at the end of the fiscal year may be carried over for use during the following fiscal year.
  - (2) **Failure to expend full allotment—**
    - (A) **In general—** If any unexpended balance carried over by a [State](/usc/7/361a.md) is not expended by the end of the second fiscal year, an amount equal to the unexpended balance shall be deducted from the next succeeding annual allotment to the [State](/usc/7/361a.md).
    - (B) **Redistribution—** Federal [funds](/usc/7/4531.md?p=5) that are deducted under [subparagraph (A)](#c-2-A) for a fiscal year shall be redistributed by the Secretary in accordance with the formula set forth in [section 361c(c) of this title](/usc/7/361c.md?p=c) to those [States](/usc/7/361a.md) for which no deduction under [subparagraph (A)](#c-2-A) has been taken for that fiscal year.
- (d) **Plan of work required—** Before [funds](/usc/7/4531.md?p=5) may be provided to a [State](/usc/7/361a.md) under [sections 361a to 361i](/usc/7/361a..361i.md) of this title for any fiscal year, a plan of work to be carried out under [sections 361a to 361i](/usc/7/361a..361i.md) of this title shall be submitted by the proper officials of the [State](/usc/7/361a.md) and shall be approved by the Secretary of Agriculture.
- (e) **Requirements related to plan of work—** Each plan of work for a [State](/usc/7/361a.md) required under [subsection (d)](#d) shall contain descriptions of the following:
  - (1) A summary of planned projects or programs in the [State](/usc/7/361a.md) using [formula funds](/usc/7/3222d.md?p=a-2).
  - (2) A description of the manner in which the [State](/usc/7/361a.md) will meet the requirements of subsections (c)(3) and (i)(2) of [section 361c of this title](/usc/7/361c.md).
  - (3) A description of matching [funds](/usc/7/4531.md?p=5) provided by the [State](/usc/7/361a.md) with respect to the previous fiscal year.
- (f) **Research protocols—**
  - (1) **Development—** The Secretary of Agriculture shall develop protocols to be used to evaluate the success of multistate, multi-institutional, and multidisciplinary research activities and joint research and [extension](/usc/7/5801.md?p=b-5) activities in addressing critical agricultural issues identified in the plans of work submitted under [subsection (d)](#d).
  - (2) **Consultation—** The Secretary of Agriculture shall develop the protocols in consultation with the National Agricultural Research, [Extension](/usc/7/5801.md?p=b-5), Education, and Economics [Advisory Board](/usc/7/7601.md?p=4) established under [section 3123 of this title](/usc/7/3123.md) and land-grant colleges and universities.
- (g) **Treatment of plans of work for other purposes—** To the maximum extent practicable, the Secretary shall consider a plan of work submitted under [subsection (d)](#d) to satisfy other appropriate Federal reporting requirements.

# §361h. Relation of college or university to State unaffected; division of appropriations


Nothing in [sections 361a to 361i](/usc/7/361a..361i.md) of this title shall be construed to impair or modify the legal relation existing between any of the colleges or universities under whose direction [State agricultural experiment stations](/usc/7/5801.md?p=b-8) have been established and the government of the [States](/usc/7/361a.md) in which they are respectively located. [States](/usc/7/361a.md) having agricultural experiment stations separate from such colleges or universities and established by law, shall be authorized to apply such benefits to research at stations so established by such [States](/usc/7/361a.md): Provided, That in any [State](/usc/7/361a.md) in which more than one such college, university, or agricultural experiment station has been established the appropriations made pursuant to [sections 361a to 361i](/usc/7/361a..361i.md) of this title for such [State](/usc/7/361a.md) shall be divided between such institutions as the legislature of such [State](/usc/7/361a.md) shall direct.


# §361i. Power to amend, repeal, etc., reserved


The Congress may at any time, amend, suspend, or repeal any or all of the provisions of [sections 361a to 361i](/usc/7/361a..361i.md) of this title.