2017 US Code
Title 7 - Agriculture
Chapter 64 - Agricultural Research, Extension, and Teaching
Subchapter I - Findings, Purposes, and Definitions
Sec. 3105 - Agricultural research; authorization of additional appropriations; administrative expenses; availability of special research fund

(a) In order to carry out further research on utilization and associated problems in connection with the development and application of present, new, and extended uses of agricultural commodities and products thereof authorized by section 3104 of this title, and to disseminate information relative thereto, and in addition to all other appropriations authorized by this title,¹ there is authorized to be appropriated the following sums:

The Secretary of Agriculture, in accordance with such regulations as he deems necessary, and when in his judgment the work to be performed will be carried out more effectively, more rapidly, or at less cost than if performed by the Department of Agriculture, may enter into contracts with such public or private organizations or individuals as he may find qualified to carry on work under this section without regard to the provisions of section 6101 of title 41, and with respect to such contracts he may make advance progress or other payments without regard to the provisions of section 3324(a) and (b) of title 31. Contracts under this section may be made for work to continue not more than four years from the date of any such contract. Notwithstanding the provisions of section 5 of the Act of June 20, 1874, as amended (31 U.S.C. 713),¹ any unexpended balances of appropriations properly obligated by contracting with an organization as provided in this subsection may remain upon the books of the Treasury for not more than five fiscal years before being carried to the surplus fund and covered into the Treasury. Research authorized under this subsection shall be conducted so far as practicable at laboratories of the Department of Agriculture. Projects conducted under contract with public and private agencies shall be supplemental to and coordinated with research of these laboratories. Any contracts made pursuant to this authority shall contain requirements making the results of research and investigations available to the public through dedication, assignment to the Government, or such other means as the Secretary shall determine.

(b) In order to carry out further the purposes of section 3104 of this title, other than research on utilization of agricultural commodities and the products thereof, and in addition to all other appropriations authorized by this title,¹ there is authorized to be appropriated for cooperative research with the State agricultural experiment stations and such other appropriate agencies as may be mutually agreeable to the Department of Agriculture and the experiment stations concerned, the following sums:

(c) The Secretary may incur necessary administrative expenses not to exceed 3 per centum of the amount appropriated in any fiscal year in carrying out this section, including the specific objects of expense enumerated in section 427b ¹ of this title.

(d) The "Special research fund, Department of Agriculture," provided by section 427c ¹ of this title, shall continue to be available solely for research into laws and principles underlying basic problems of agriculture in its broadest aspects; research relating to the improvement of the quality of, and the development of, new and improved methods of production of, distribution of, and new and extended uses and markets for, agricultural commodities and byproducts and manufactures thereof; and research relating to the conservation, development, and use of land and water resources for agricultural purposes. Such research shall be in addition to research provided for under other law (but both activities shall be coordinated so far as practicable) and shall be conducted by such agencies of the Department of Agriculture as the Secretary of Agriculture may designate or establish.

(e) Appropriations for research work in the Department of Agriculture shall be available for accomplishing such purposes by contract through the means provided in subsection (a) of this section.

(June 29, 1935, ch. 338, title I, §10, as added Aug. 14, 1946, ch. 966, title I, §101(2), 60 Stat. 1085; amended July 28, 1954, ch. 591, 68 Stat. 574.)

This title, referred to in subsecs. (a) and (b), means title I of act June 29, 1935, ch. 338, 49 Stat. 436. For complete classification of this Act to the Code, see Short Title of 1935 Amendment note set out under section 3101 of this title and Tables.

Section 5 of the Act of June 20, 1874, as amended (31 U.S.C. 713), referred to in subsec. (a), was repealed by act July 6, 1949, ch. 299, §3, 63 Stat. 407.

Section 427b of this title, referred to in subsec. (c), was repealed by act Aug. 11, 1955, ch. 790, §2, 69 Stat. 674.

Section 427c of this title, referred to in subsec. (d), was repealed by act Aug. 11, 1955, ch. 790, §2, 69 Stat. 674.

Section was formerly classified to section 427i of this title prior to editorial reclassification and renumbering as this section.

Section was enacted as part of act June 29, 1935, ch. 338, popularly known as the "Agricultural Research Act" and also as the "Bankhead-Jones Act", and not as part of the National Agricultural Research, Extension, and Teaching Policy Act of 1977 which comprises this chapter.

In subsec. (a), "section 6101 of title 41" substituted for "section 3709, Revised Statutes" on authority of Pub. L. 111–350, §6(c), Jan. 4, 2011, 124 Stat. 3854, which Act enacted Title 41, Public Contracts.

In subsec. (a), "section 3324(a) and (b) of title 31" substituted for "section 3648, Revised Statutes [31 U.S.C. 529]" on authority of Pub. L. 97–258, §4(b), Sept. 13, 1982, 96 Stat. 1067, the first section of which enacted Title 31, Money and Finance.

1954—Subsec. (e). Act July 23, 1954, added subsec. (e).

Functions of all officers, agencies, and employees of Department of Agriculture transferred, with certain exceptions, to Secretary of Agriculture by 1953 Reorg. Plan No. 2, §1, eff. June 4, 1953, 18 F.R. 3219, 67 Stat. 633, set out as a note under section 2201 of this title.

¹ See References in Text note below.