Agricultural Research, Extension, and Education Reform Act of 1998 explained

Shorttitle:Agricultural Research, Extension, and Education Reform Act of 1998
Longtitle:An Act to ensure that federally funded agricultural research, extension, and education address high-priority concerns with national or multistate significance, to reform, extend, and eliminate certain agricultural research programs, and for other purposes.
Enacted By:105th
Effective Date:June 23, 1998
Public Law Url:http://www.gpo.gov/fdsys/pkg/PLAW-105publ185/pdf/PLAW-105publ185.pdf
Cite Public Law:105-185
Leghisturl:http://thomas.loc.gov/cgi-bin/bdquery/z?d105:SN01150:@@@S
Introducedin:Senate
Introducedby:Richard Lugar (R–IN)
Introduceddate:September 5, 1997
Committees:Senate Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry
Passedbody1:Senate
Passeddate1:October 29, 1997
Passedvote1:Passed
Conferencedate:May 12, 1998
Passedbody3:Senate
Passeddate3:May 12, 1998
Passedvote3:92-8
Passedbody4:House
Passeddate4:June 4, 1998
Passedvote4:364-50
Signedpresident:Bill Clinton
Signeddate:June 23, 1998

The Agricultural Research, Extension, and Education Reform Act of 1998 (P.L. 105-185) was separate legislation that revised and reauthorized federally supported agricultural research, education, and extension programs from June 1998 through May 2002 (historically, these authorities have been part of an omnibus farm policy law enacted every 4 to 6 years). The 1998 Act built upon reforms that were made in the research title of the farm law in effect at the time, the 1996 farm bill (P.L. 104-127). Key provisions were new accountability measures for recipients of federal research funds, and a new competitive research grant program called the Initiative for Future Agriculture and Food Systems, for which mandatory funds were authorized (annually appropriated discretionary funds support most of USDA’s research, education and extension programs). The 1998 law's provisions, as well as new revisions of research, education, and extension policies, are included in Title VII of the 2002 farm bill (P.L. 107-171).