Historic, Archive Document Do not assume content reflects current scientific knowledge, policies, or practices. U.S. Department of Agriculture 1993 BUDGET EXPLANATORY NOTES FOR COMMITTEE ON APPROPRIATIONS VOLUME 1 Office of the Secretary Alternative Agricultural Research Departmental Administration and Commercialization Office of Public Affairs Office of the inspector General Agricultural Research Service Office of Budget and Program Analysis Cooperative State Research Service Office of the General Counsel Extension Service National Agricultural Library Soil Conservation Service Rural Electrification Administration Federal Crop Insurance Corporation Farmers Home Administration Rural Development Administration -nr ’i'!. 7^, ] .- •■■* 1 ,v^ ■ N J'' PREFACE Pro.iect Statements The obligations shown in the Project Statements are based on the appropriations and activities proposed in the 1993 budget estimates. In some Project Statements the activities are further divided into subcategories, reflecting a more detailed description of the work conducted under the appropriation items. In those accounts where prior year balances are also available for obligation during the year, such amounts are shown in a separate Project Statement. The amounts shown in Project Statements for the past year are taken directly from the accounting records to the maximum extent possible. Where the Department has adjusted obligations after Treasury has closed the books for the year, we have shown our most current estimate. These adjustments will be picked up by Treasury in subsequent reports. Statement of Available Funds and Staff-Years A statement is included for each agency, immediately following the introductory purpose statement, to reflect all sources of funds available to the agency and to show the staff-years related to each source of funds. These statements reflect the best available information at the time these Explanatory Notes were prepared (January 1992). However, it is not possible in many instances to determine in advance the extent to which agencies may be requested to perform additional services for other Federal and non-Federal agencies or organizations. Therefore, amounts of actual reimbursements and other funds received from sources other than appropriations directly to the agency may vary from those shown in the statements. In those cases where the funds are not appropriated (reimbursements, trust funds, transfers, revolving funds, etc.), the dollar amounts shown represent actual or estimated Obiioations for the year. In some instances there may be duplication of amounts shown. This results largely from cases involving reimbursements between different agencies within the Department and where amounts are paid from appropriations to the Working Capital Fund. There is no duplication of the staff-years shown. Classification bv Objects A statement is included for each agency showing total obligations by Object Classification for the agency. Obligations for personnel compensation are also broken between headquarters and field. 2 Loan Levels Knowledge of the following basic budget terminology will assist the reader in understanding the budget proposals. “Direct" loans involve the Federal government disbursing the money to the borrower and receiving the money back from the borrower in regular installments in future years. The Federal agency having responsibility for administering the credit program must counsel prospective borrowers on eligibility criteria and application procedures, evaluate applicant's eligibility and ability to repay, perform the administrative procedures to process the application, make and record the loan payment, receive and record the receipts for repayment, calculate the interest and remaining balance status, monitor the regularity of payments, follow up on delinquent status, and, where necessary, institute legal action to eliminate or minimize the loss to the Federal government in the event of the borrower's default on the loan. For international trade "Credit Sales", the same basic process is involved except that the disbursement of the cash loan is replaced by the disbursement of cash to purchase and ship the commodities being exported to the foreign country involved. Loan "Guarantees" involves the Federal government actually guaranteeing a private lending institution that a stipulated portion of a borrower's loan will be repaid. The Federal government does not disburse or receive funds involved in the loan and repayment between the lending institution and the borrower. If the borrower defaults on the loan, the Federal government would have to disburse to the lending institution the portion of the borrower's unpaid balance representing the amount of the Federal guarantee. The Federal agency having responsibility for administering the credit program must counsel prospective borrowers on eligibility criteria and application procedures, evaluate applicant's eligibility and ability to pay, counsel and assist the borrower in arranging the loan with the lending institution, perform administrative procedures necessary to record the loan guarantee transaction, maintain liaison with the lending institutions to keep informed of the status of loan repayments, follow up on seriously delinquent status, and, where necessary, institute legal action to eliminate or minimize the loss of the Federal government in the event of the borrower's default on the loan. The Rural Electrification Administration (REA), however, guarantees loans made by the Federal Financing Bank. Because REA is guaranteeing loans made by another Federal agency, the transaction more closely resembles an insured loan. CONTENTS (Volume 1) PAGE Office of the Secretary . 1-1 Departmental Administration . 2-1 Working Capital Fund . 2-16 Rental Payments and Building Operations . 2-29 Advisory Committees . 2-34 Hazardous Waste . 2-42 Office of Public Affairs . 3-1 Office of the Inspector General . 4-1 Office of Budget and Program Analysis . 5-1 Office of the General Counsel . 6-1 Alternative Agricultural Research and Commercialization . 6a-l Agricultural Research Service . 7-1 Buildings and Facilities . 7-29 Cooperative State Research Service . 8-1 Buildings and Facilities . 8-56 Extension Service . 9-1 National Agricultural Library . 10-1 Soil Conservation Service . 11-1 Conservation Operations . 11-13 River Basin Surveys and Investigations . 11-23 Watershed Planning . 11-29 Watershed and Flood Prevention Operations . 11-34 Great Plains Conservation Program . 11-43 Resource Conservation and Development . 11-47 Rural Electrification Administration . 12-1 RETRF . 12-8 Rural Telephone Bank . 12-25 Salaries and Expenses . 12-33 Federal Crop Insurance Corporation . 13-1 Administrative and Operating Expenses . 13-7 Federal Crop Insurance Corporation Fund . 13-17 Farmers Home Administration . 14-1 Salaries and Expenses . 14-15 Agricultural Credit Insurance Fund . 14-29 Other Farm Programs . 14-50 Rural Housing Insurance Fund . 14-52 Other Housing Programs . 14-66 Rural Development Administration . 14a-l Salaries and Expenses . 14a-10 Rural Development Insurance Fund . 14a-14 Rural Development Loan Fund . 14a-28 Agricultural Resource Conservation Demonstration . 14a-32 Other Community Programs . 14a-34 •f.iA . ; :>’’r'. > '■ '. i ,0.... , ., ./'(■ ■ - : <t Jill . •'.' u ' '^ ' ■■ .. 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Pwoii ... ... . r ......... — . .. h(m% ocyt:?j. i^»s ^sl 1-1 OFFICE OF THE SECRETARY Purpose Statement The Secretary of Agriculture, assisted by the Deputy Secretary, Under Secretaries and Assistant Secretaries, and members of their immediate staffs, directs and coordinates the work of the Department. This includes developing policy, maintaining relationships with agricultural organizations and others in the development of farm programs, and maintaining liaison with the Executive Office of the President and members of Congress on all matters pertaining to Agriculture policy. The Board of Contract Appeals is a reimbursable activity in the Office of the Secretary. It is the authorized representative of the Secretary of Agriculture to make final administrative determinations for the Department of Agriculture in appeals handled under the Secretary's regulations. The general authority of the Secretary to supervise and control the work of the Department is contained in the Organic Act (7 U.S.C. 2201-2202). The delegation of regulatory functions to the Department employees and authorization of appropriations to carry out these functions are contained in 7 U.S.C. 450c-450g. Except for one employee located in the Foreign Agricultural Service's Foreign Office, the Secretary's staffs financed from this appropriation are located in Washington, D. C. As of September 30, 1991, there were 86 employees. Of this total, 80 were full-time permanent employees and 6 were other than full-time permanent employees. I OFFICE OF THE SECRETARY Available Funds and Staff-Years 1991 Actual and Estimated. 1992 and 1993 1991 1992 1993 Actual Estimated Estimated iStaff :Staff Staff Item Amount :Years Amount :Years Amount Years Direct Appropriation... $7,637,901: 77.0 $6,646,000: 81.0 $9,754,000 83.0 Obliaations Under Other USDA ADorooriations: Board of Contract Appeals. 1,049,585: 10.0 1,140,000: 10.0 1,201,000 10.0 Forest Service. 86,877: 1.0 97,000: 1.0 102,000 1.0 Foreign Agricultural Service. 157,296: .5 200,000: .5 140,000 Agricultural Stabili- zation and Conserva¬ tion Service. 86,345: .5 67,000: .5 Miscellaneous Reimbursements. 121,984! 1.0 133.000; 1.0 Total, Other USDA Appropriations. 1.504.087: 13.0 1.637.000: 13.0 1.443.000 11.0 Total, Office of the Secretary. 9,141.988: 90.0 10.283,000- 94.0 11.197.000 94.0 Full-time Equivalent 1991 1992 1993 Staff-Years: Actual Estimated Estimated Ceiling. 90 94 94 Non-Ceiling. 2 4 6 Total. 92 98 100