[Congressional Bills 109th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[S. 3746 Introduced in Senate (IS)]
109th CONGRESS
2d Session
S. 3746
To authorize the Secretary of the Interior and the Secretary of
Agriculture to make grants to facilitate the establishment of the
National Ag Science Center in Stanislaus County, California.
_______________________________________________________________________
IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES
July 27 (legislative day, July 26), 2006
Mrs. Boxer (for herself and Mrs. Feinstein) introduced the following
bill; which was read twice and referred to the Committee on
Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry
_______________________________________________________________________
A BILL
To authorize the Secretary of the Interior and the Secretary of
Agriculture to make grants to facilitate the establishment of the
National Ag Science Center in Stanislaus County, California.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the
United States of America in Congress assembled,
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.
This Act may be cited as the ``National Ag Science Center Act of
2006''.
SEC. 2. FINDINGS.
Congress finds that--
(1) the State of California (referred to in this Act as the
``State'') is a preeminent producer of more than 350 different
agricultural commodities, including--
(A) more than 90 percent of all of the tomatoes and
grapes produced in the United States;
(B) all of the commercial almonds, dates, figs,
olives, cling peaches, prunes, and raisins produced in
the United States; and
(C) 1 out of every 5 glasses of milk consumed in
the United States;
(2) California is the leading State in terms of
agricultural exports, annually shipping more than
$7,000,000,000 worth of agricultural commodities around the
world;
(3) the direct and indirect economic impact of the total
investment by the 78,500 farms in the State is staggering;
(4) if the State is going to keep the agricultural industry
of the State strong and vibrant, the State must focus on the
needs of agricultural producers who are valuable contributors
to the economic, social, and cultural life of the State and the
United States.
(5) since 1945, agricultural land has been rapidly
disappearing across the State, with soil erosion, urbanization,
the growth of deserts, and salinization all contributing to the
loss of productive farmland in the State;
(6) if the trends described in paragraph (5) continue, the
State will be unable--
(A) to supply food for the population of the State,
let alone the United States; or
(B) to export food to the rest of the world;
(7) as people in the United States grow more and more
detached from the great agrarian history of the United States,
fewer people in the United States understand the fundamental
importance of agriculture to the society of the United States;
(8) educating young people in the United States about
agriculture and the importance of agriculture to the United
States is an investment that would pay off in future benefits;
(9) greater public understanding and appreciation of the
importance of agriculture to the State, the United States, and
the world is needed to secure a positive future in which the
United States can rely on healthy food that is produced
domestically;
(10) citizens of all ages, especially youth, must play a
meaningful, hands-on role in determining the future of
agriculture in the State;
(11) as planners, conservationists, and other interested
persons throughout the State organize to help protect
agricultural resources, the proposed National Ag Science Center
(referred to in this Act as the ``Center'') in Stanislaus
County, California, is preparing--
(A) to educate and alert future generations about
the need to preserve agricultural land; and
(B) to foster an understanding of the importance of
agriculture;
(12) the mission of the National Ag Science Center would be
to--
(A) provide exciting and fun agricultural learning
opportunities and resources in order for young people
to learn how a vibrant agricultural economy is
necessary for a vibrant society; and
(B) ensure a bright future for all aspects of the
agriculture industry;
(13) the Center would prepare young people in the United
States for career and leadership opportunities in agriculture;
(14) according to findings of the Center for Public Policy
Studies at California State University, Stanislaus, the Center
would--
(A) create or support up to 359 new local jobs;
(B) create or support up to $57,500,000 in economic
activity and $15,200,000 in labor income through
construction of the new facility;
(C) generate as much as $8,500,000 in total annual
economic activity; and
(D) result in as much as $3,400,000 in total annual
labor income;
(15) on September 14, 2005, the Yosemite Community College
District Board, in Stanislaus County, California, voted
unanimously to approve the dedication of a 3.5-acre site on the
West Campus of Modesto Community College for the Center; and
(16) establishment of the Center is in the national
interest, because the proposed Center would enable future
generations to help ensure a healthy and profitable place for
agriculture in the economy of the State and the United States.
SEC. 3. ASSISTANCE FOR ESTABLISHMENT OF NATIONAL AG SCIENCE CENTER,
STANISLAUS COUNTY, CALIFORNIA.
(a) Assistance Authorized.--Using amounts made available under
subsection (c), the Secretary of the Interior and the Secretary of
Agriculture shall provide to the entity known as ``Ag Science Center,
Inc.,'' in Stanislaus County, California, grants to pay not more than a
total of 33 percent of the total costs of establishing the National Ag
Science Center, including any costs relating to the design, planning,
construction, furnishing, equipping, and expansion of the Center.
(b) Grant Proposal.--
(1) In general.--To receive a grant under subsection (a),
Ag Science Center, Inc., shall submit to the Secretary of the
Interior, the Secretary of Agriculture, or the Secretary of the
Interior and the Secretary of Agriculture, a proposal for the
use of the grant funds.
(2) Inclusions.--A grant proposal submitted under paragraph
(1) shall include detailed plans for the design, construction,
furnishing, equipping, and expansion of the Center.
(c) Authorization of Appropriations.--There is authorized to be
appropriated to the Secretary of the Interior and the Secretary of
Agriculture to make grants under subsection (a) $10,000,000, to remain
available until expended.
<all>