112 STAT. 556 PUBLIC LAW 105-185-JUNE 23, 1998 "(2) WAIVER AUTHORITY.—The Secretary may waive the matching funds requirement specified in paragraph (1) with respect to a research project if the Secretary determines that— "(A) the results of the project, while of particular benefit to a specified agricultural commodity, are likely to be applicable to agricultural commodities generally; or "(B) the project involves a minor commodity, the project deals with scientifically important research, and the grant recipient is unable to satisfy the matching funds requirement. "(d) PARTNERSHIPS ENCOURAGED.— Following the completion of a peer review process for grant proposals received under this section, the Secretary may provide a priority to those grant proposals, found in the peer review process to be scientifically meritorious, that involve the cooperation of multiple entities. "(e) AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.—T here are authorized to be appropriated such sums as are necessary to carry out this section for each of fiscal years 1999 through 2002.". SEC. 246. AGRICULTURAL TELECOMMUNICATIONS PROGRAM. Section 1673 of the Food, Agriculture, Conservation, and Trade Act of 1990 (7 U.S.C. 5926) is amended— (1) in subsection (c)— (A) by redesignating paragraphs (1) through (5) as paragraphs (2) through (6), respectively; (B) by inserting before paragraph (2) (as so redesignated) the following: "(1) A*DEC. —The term 'A*DEC' means the distance education consortiimi known as A*DEC."; and (C) by adding at the end the following: "(7) SECRETARY.— Except as provided in subsection (d)(1), the term 'Secretary* means the Secretary of Agriculture, acting through A*DEC."; (2) in subsection (d)(1), by striking "The Secretary shall estabhsh a program, to be administered by the Assistant Secretary for Science and Education," and inserting "The Secretary of Agriculture shall establish a program, to Be administered through a grant provided to A*DEC under terms and conditions established by the Secretary of Agriculture,"; and (3) in the first sentence of subsection (f)(2), by striking "the Assistant Secretary for Science and Education" and inserting "A*DEC". SEC. 246. ASSISTIVE TECHNOLOGY PROGRAM FOR FARMERS WITH DISABILITIES. Section 1680 of the Food, Agriculture, Conservation, and Trade Act of 1990 (7 U.S.C. 5933) is amended— (1) in subsection (a), by striking paragraph (6); (2) in subsection (b)— (A) by striking "DISSEMINATION. —" and all that follows through "GENERAL.— The" and inserting "DISSEMINATION.— The"; and (B) by striking paragraph (2); and (3) by adding at the end the following: "(c) AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS. — "(1) IN GENERAL.— Subject to paragraph (2), there is authorized to be appropriated to carry out this section $6,000,000 for each of fiscal years 1999 through 2002.
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