7 U.S.C. § 7033 — Availability of agency information tech-

Page 1957 TITLE 7—AGRICULTURE § 7034 (1) The Farm Service Agency. (2) The Natural Resources Conservation Service. (3) The rural development components of the Department included in the Secretary’s serv- ice center initiative regarding State and field office collocation implemented pursuant to section 6915 of this title. (4) The agricultural producer programs com- ponent of the Commodity Credit Corporation administered by the Farm Service Agency and the Natural Resources Conservation Service. (c) Implementation In carrying out subsection (a), the Secretary shall— (1) provide a method by which agricultural producers may— (A) download from the Internet the forms of the agencies specified in subsection (b); and (B) submit completed forms via electronic facsimile, mail, or similar means; (2) redesign the forms by incorporating into the forms user-friendly formats and self-help guidance materials; and (3) ensure that the agencies specified in sub- section (b)— (A) use computer hardware and software that is compatible among the agencies and will operate in a common computing envi- ronment; and (B) develop common Internet user-inter- face locations and applications to consoli- date the agencies’ news, information, and program materials. (d) Progress reports Not later than 180 days after June 20, 2000, the Secretary shall submit to Congress a report that describes the progress made toward imple- menting the Internet-based system required under this section. (Pub. L. 106–222, § 2, June 20, 2000, 114 Stat. 353.) § 7032. Accessing information and filing over the Internet (a) In general Not later than 2 years after June 20, 2000, in accordance with subsection (b), the Secretary shall expand implementation of the Internet- based system established under section 7031 of this title by enabling agricultural producers to access and file all forms and, at the option of the Secretary, selected records and information of the agencies of the Department specified in section 7031(b) of this title. (b) Implementation In carrying out subsection (a), the Secretary shall ensure that an agricultural producer is able— (1) to file electronically or in paper form, at the option of the agricultural producer, all forms required by agencies of the Department specified in section 7031(b) of this title; (2) to file electronically or in paper form, at the option of the agricultural producer, all documentation required by agencies of the De- partment specified in section 7031(b) of this title and determined appropriate by the Sec- retary; and (3) to access information of the Department concerning farm programs, quarterly trade, economic, and production reports, and other similar production agriculture information that is readily available to the public in paper form. (Pub. L. 106–222, § 3, June 20, 2000, 114 Stat. 354.) § 7033. Availability of agency information tech- nology funds (a) Reservation of funds From funds made available for agencies of the Department specified in section 7031(b) of this title for information technology or information resource management, the Secretary shall re- serve from those agencies’ applicable accounts a total amount equal to not more than the fol- lowing: (1) For fiscal year 2001, $3,000,000. (2) For each subsequent fiscal year, $2,000,000. (b) Time for reservation The Secretary shall notify Congress of the amount to be reserved under subsection (a) for a fiscal year not later than December 1 of that fis- cal year. (c) Use of funds (1) Establishment Funds reserved under subsection (a) shall be used to establish the Internet-based system re- quired under section 7031 of this title and to expand the system as required by section 7032 of this title. (2) Maintenance Once the system is established and oper- ational, reserved amounts shall be used for maintenance and improvement of the system. (d) Return of funds Funds reserved under subsection (a) and unob- ligated at the end of the fiscal year shall be re- turned to the agency from which the funds were reserved, to remain available until expended. (Pub. L. 106–222, § 4, June 20, 2000, 114 Stat. 354.) § 7034. Federal Crop Insurance Corporation and Risk Management Agency (a) In general Not later than December 1, 2000, the Federal Crop Insurance Corporation and the Risk Man- agement Agency shall submit to the Committee on Agriculture of the House of Representatives and the Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry of the Senate a plan, that is con- sistent with this subchapter, to allow agricul- tural producers to— (1) obtain, over the Internet, from approved insurance providers all forms and other infor- mation concerning the program under the ju- risdiction of the Corporation and Agency in which the agricultural producer is a partici- pant; and (2) file electronically all paperwork required for participation in the program. (b) Administration The plan shall—