ACE Agriculture Act

(1) in the section heading, by striking pilot;

(2) in subsection (a)(6), by striking growing, and inserting growing (including water conservation technologies and innovation),;

(3) in subsection (b)—

(A) in paragraph (1), by striking pilot;

(B) in paragraph (2)—

(i) by amending subparagraph (B) to read as follows:; and

(B) to overcome the long term and high-risk technological barriers in the development of agricultural technologies, research tools, and qualified products and projects that enhance export competitiveness, environmental sustainability, water conservation, the reduction, avoidance, sequestration, or mitigation of greenhouse gas emissions, and resilience to extreme weather, drought, infectious diseases, plant and animal pathogens, and plant and animal pests;

(ii) in subparagraph (D), by inserting or economic cost after financial uncertainty;

(C) in paragraph (3)(B)—

(i) in clause (ii), in the matter preceding subclause (I), by striking advise the Chief Scientist on, and; and

(ii) by amending clause (iii) to read as follows:

The Director shall report to the Chief Scientist.

No other official who is the head of any other program of the Department of Agriculture shall report to the Director.

(D) in paragraph (6), by striking pilot each place it appears in subparagraphs (A) and (B); and

(E) by amending paragraph (9) to read as follows:

The Director shall establish and maintain within the AGARDA a staff with sufficient qualifications and expertise to enable the AGARDA to carry out the responsibilities of the AGARDA under this section in conjunction with other operations of the Department of Agriculture.

In carrying out this subsection, the Secretary may appoint highly qualified individuals to scientific or professional positions on the same terms and conditions as provided in subsections (b)(3), (b)(4), (c), (d), (e), and (f) of section 620 of the Agricultural Research, Extension, and Education Reform Act of 1998 (7 U.S.C. 7657).

(4) in subsection (c), by adding at the end the following:

The Secretary shall use the strategic plan developed under paragraph (1) to inform the administration of the AGARDA under this section.

(5) in subsection (d)—

(A) in paragraph (2), by striking subparagraph (C);

(B) in paragraph (3), by striking $50,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2019 through 2023 and inserting $100,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2027 through 2032; and

(C) by adding at the end the following:; and

In addition to amounts otherwise made available to carry out this section, the Secretary may use to carry out this section other funds available to the Secretary for any other purpose.

Nothing in paragraph (2) or (4) authorizes the use of the funds of the Commodity Credit Corporation to carry out this section.

(6) by striking subsection (e).