,,ii #aaeth ,,congress #b;d ,session ,s4 #bdgi ,,in ,,the ,,senate ,,of ,,the ,,united ,,states ,march #a1 #bjah,ms4 ,hirono 7for herself1 ,mr4 ,van ,hollen1 ,mr4 ,king1 and ,ms4 ,warren7 introduced the following bill2 which was read twice and referred to the ,committee on ,agriculture1 ,nutrition1 and ,forestry ,a ,,bill ,to amend the ,agricultural ,research1 ,extension1 and ,education ,reform ,act of #aiih to address deferred maintenance at agricultural research facilities1 and for other purposes4 #a4 ,short title ,this ,act may be cited as the ,augmenting ,research and ,educational ,sites to ,ensure ,agriculture ,remains ,cutting-,edge and ,helpful ,act or the ,,ag ,,research ,act4 #b4 ,agricultural research facilities 7a7 ,findings ,congress finds that-- 7#a7 in #bjae1 agriculture and related industries-- 7,a7 contributed #iib1jjj1jjj1jjj to the gross domestic product of the ,united ,states 7#e4e percent of the total gross domestic product of the ,united ,states72 and 7,b7 provided #ba1jjj1jjj jobs domestically 7#aa percent of total employment in the ,united ,states72 7#b7 the ,department of ,agriculture funds more than #a1ejj1jjj1jjj in research funding each year to schools of agriculture2 7#c7 a study published in #bjae found that deferred maintenance at #ia schools of agriculture across the ,united ,states totaled #h1bjj1jjj1jjj1 with a total replacement cost of #bi1jjj1jjj1jjj2 and 7#d7 infrastructure investments must be made at schools of agriculture to ensure that ,united ,states agricultural research remains globally competitive4 7b7 ,grants for agricultural research facilities ,title ,,iv of the ,agricultural ,research1 ,extension1 and ,education ,reform ,act of #aiih is amended by inserting before section #djd 7#g ,u4,s4,c4 #gfbd7 the following3 #dja4 ,grants for agricultural research facilities 7a7 ,purpose ,the purpose of this section is to assist agricultural research facilities in efforts to alter or repair those facilities or equipment of the facilities necessary for conducting agricultural research4 7b7 ,definition of agricultural research facility ,in this section1 the term agricultural research facility has the meaning given the term in section #b of the ,research ,facilities ,act 7#g ,u4,s4,c4 #cij74 7c7 ,grant program 7#a7 ,in general ,the ,secretary shall establish in the ,national ,institute of ,food and ,agriculture a competitive grant program to provide to agricultural research facilities the ,federal share of the cost of the alteration1 modernization1 renovation1 or remodeling of-- 7,a7 the agricultural research facilities2 or 7,b7 equipment of the agricultural research facilities necessary for conducting agricultural research4 7#b7 ,federal share ,the ,federal share referred to in paragraph 7#a7 shall be not greater than #ej percent4 7d7 ,requirements 7#a7 ,amount2 terms and conditions ,grants awarded under this section shall be in such amounts and under such terms and conditions as the ,secretary determines are necessary to carry out the purpose of this section4 7#b7 ,geographic distribution ,to the maximum extent practicable1 grants shall be awarded under this section to ensure an equitable geographic distribution of funds4 7#c7 ,limitation ,not greater than #bj percent of amounts made available to carry out this section shall be awarded to projects in any #a ,state4 7#d7 ,administration ,in carrying out this section1 the ,secretary shall establish procedures for-- 7,a7 the submission of proposals for competitive grants2 and 7,b7 in consultation with representatives of ,national ,institute of ,food and ,agriculture grantmaking peer review panels1 the review and selection of proposals submitted under subparagraph 7,a74 7#e7 ,priority ,in selecting proposals under paragraph 7#d77;,b71 the ,secretary shall give priority to proposals that-- 7,a7 are-- 7i7 ready to proceed quickly2 and 7ii7 included in the facilities master plan or capital improvement plan of the college1 university1 or nonprofit institution2 or 7,b7 incorporate-- 7i7 renewable energy2 7ii7 energy- or water-efficient technology2 or 7iii7 both energy and technology described in clauses 7i7 and 7ii74 7e7 ,authorization of appropriations ,there is authorized to be appropriated to carry out this section #a1jjj1jjj1jjj for each of fiscal years #bjah through #bjbh4 4 #c4 ,agricultural research centers 7a7 ,finding ,congress finds that the ,agricultural ,research ,service ,capital ,investment ,strategy dated ,april #bjab indicates that research facilities of the ,agricultural ,research ,services have more than #a1jjj1jjj1jjj in deferred maintenance4 7b7 ,direct funding for deferred maintenance at ,,ars research facilities ,title ,,iv of the ,agricultural ,research1 ,extension1 and ,education ,reform ,act of #aiih 7#g ,u4,s4,c4 #gfbd et seq47 is amended by inserting after section #dja 7as added by section #b7;b77 the following3 #djb4 ,direct funding for deferred maintenance at ,,ars research facilities 7a7 ,in general ,using amounts made available under subsection 7c71 the ,secretary shall provide direct payments to research facilities of the ,agricultural ,research ,service for the purpose of addressing deferred maintenance4 7b7 ,priority ,in providing direct payments under subsection 7a71 the ,secretary shall give priority to the most critical structures in accordance with the ,agricultural ,research ,service ,capital ,investment ,strategy dated ,april #bjab4 7c7 ,funding ,of the funds of the ,commodity ,credit ,corporation1 the ,secretary shall use to carry out this section #ajj1jjj1jjj for each of fiscal years #bjah through #bjbh4 4