SA 3572. Mr. ALLARD submitted an amendment intended to be proposed by him to the bill H.R. 2419, to provide for the continuation of agricultural programs through fiscal year 2012, and for other purposes; which was ordered to lie on the table; as follows:

Amendment No. 3572

On page 966, between lines 13 and 14, insert the following:
SEC. 7050. REGIONAL CENTERS OF EXCELLENCE IN FOOD SYSTEMS VETERINARY MEDICINE.
Subtitle K of the National Agricultural Research, Extension, and Teaching Policy Act of 1977 (7 U.S.C. 3310 et seq.) (as amended by section 7049) is amended by adding at the end the following:
``SEC. 1473S. REGIONAL CENTERS OF EXCELLENCE IN FOOD SYSTEMS VETERINARY MEDICINE.
``(a) Definition of Eligible School of Veterinary Medicine.--In this section, the term `eligible school of veterinary medicine' means a school of veterinary medicine that is--
``(1) a public or other nonprofit entity; and
``(2) accredited by an entity that is approved for such purpose by the Department of Education.
``(b) Grant Program.--The Secretary shall make grants to eligible schools of veterinary medicine to assist the eligible schools of veterinary medicine in supporting centers of emphasis in food systems veterinary medicine.
``(c) Application Process.--
``(1) APPLICATION REQUIREMENT.--To be eligible to receive a grant from the Secretary under subsection (b), an eligible school of veterinary medicine shall submit to the Secretary an application at such time, in such manner, and containing such information as the Secretary may require.
``(2) CONSIDERATION OF APPLICATIONS.--The Secretary shall establish procedures to ensure that--
``(A) each application submitted under paragraph (1) is rigorously reviewed; and
``(B) grants are competitively awarded based on--
``(i) the ability of the eligible school of veterinary medicine to provide a comprehensive educational experience for students with particular emphasis on the species of food animal for which the eligible school of veterinary medicine is applying that is used for food production (including food animal veterinary medicine, food supply bioterrorism prevention and surveillance, food-safety, and the improvement of the quality of the environment);
``(ii) the ability of the eligible school of veterinary medicine to increase capacity with respect to research on the species of food animal for which the eligible school of veterinary medicine is applying that is used for food production; and
``(iii) any other consideration that the Secretary determines to be appropriate.
``(3) PREFERENCE FOR CONSORTIUM.--In making grants under subsection (b), the Secretary shall give preference to eligible schools of veterinary medicine that participate in interinstitutional agreements that--
``(A) cover issues relating to residency, tuition, or fees; and
``(B) consist of more than 1 other--
``(i) school of veterinary medicine;
``(ii) school of public health;
``(iii) school of agriculture; or
``(iv) appropriate entity that carries out education and research activities with respect to food production systems, as determined by the Secretary.
``(d) Required Use of Funds.--The Secretary may not make a grant to an eligible school of veterinary medicine under subsection (b) unless the eligible school of veterinary medicine agrees to use the grant funds--
``(1) to develop a competitive student applicant pool through linkages with other appropriate schools of veterinary medicine, as determined by the Secretary;
``(2) to improve the capacity of the eligible school of veterinary medicine--
``(A) to train, recruit, and retain faculty;
``(B) to pay such stipends and fellowships as the Secretary determines to be appropriate in areas of research relating to--
``(i) food animal medicine; and
``(ii) food-safety and defense; and
``(C) to enhance the quality of the environment;
``(3) to carry out activities to improve the information resources, curriculum, and clinical education of students of the eligible school of veterinary medicine with respect to--
``(A) food animal veterinary medicine; and
``(B) food-safety;
``(4) to facilitate faculty and student research on health issues that--
``(A) affect--
``(i) food-producing animals; and
``(ii) food-safety; and
``(B) enhance the environment;
``(5) to provide stipends for students to offset costs relating to travel, tuition, and other expenses associated with attending the eligible school of veterinary medicine; and
``(6) for any other purpose that the Secretary determines to be appropriate.
``(e) Period of Grants.--
``(1) IN GENERAL.--Subject to paragraph (2), an eligible school of veterinary medicine that receives funds through a grant under subsection (b) shall receive funds under the grant for not more than 5 years after the date on which the grant was first provided.
``(2) CONDITIONS RELATING TO GRANT FUNDS.--Funds provided to an eligible school of veterinary medicine through a grant under subsection (b) shall be subject to--
``(A) the annual approval of the Secretary; and
``(B) the availability of appropriations.
``(f) Authorization of Appropriations.--There are authorized to be appropriated such sums as are necessary to carry out this section for each of fiscal years 2008 through 2012.''.


(As printed in the Congressional Record for the Senate on Nov 8, 2007.)