7 U.S.C. § 7656 — Designation of Crisis Management Team

Page 2081 TITLE 7—AGRICULTURE § 7656 and Private Forestry deputy area of the Forest Serv- ice. ‘‘(4) TALL WOOD BUILDING.—The term ‘tall wood building’ means a building designed to be— ‘‘(A) constructed with mass timber; and ‘‘(B) more than 85 feet in height.’’ § 7655d. Wood innovation grant program (a) Definitions In this section: (1) Eligible entity The term ‘‘eligible entity’’ means— (A) an individual; (B) a public or private entity (including a center of excellence that consists of 1 or more partnerships between forestry, engi- neering, architecture, or business schools at 1 or more institutions of higher education); or (C) a State, local, or Tribal government. (2) Secretary The term ‘‘Secretary’’ means the Secretary, acting through the Chief of the Forest Service. (b) Grant program (1) In general The Secretary, in carrying out the wood in- novation grant program of the Secretary de- scribed in the notice of the Secretary entitled ‘‘Request for Proposals: 2016 Wood Innovations Funding Opportunity’’ (80 Fed. Reg. 63498 (Oc- tober 20, 2015)), may make a wood innovation grant to 1 or more eligible entities each year for the purpose of advancing the use of innova- tive wood products. (2) Proposals To be eligible to receive a grant under this subsection, an eligible entity shall submit to the Secretary a proposal at such time, in such manner, and containing such information as the Secretary may require. (c) Incentivizing use of existing milling capacity In selecting among proposals of eligible enti- ties under subsection (b)(2), the Secretary shall give priority to proposals that include the use or retrofitting (or both) of existing sawmill facili- ties located in counties in which the average an- nual unemployment rate exceeded the national average unemployment rate by more than 1 per- cent in the previous calendar year. (d) Matching requirement As a condition of receiving a grant under sub- section (b), an eligible entity shall provide funds equal to the amount received by the eligible en- tity under the grant, to be derived from non- Federal sources. (Pub. L. 115–334, title VIII, § 8643, Dec. 20, 2018, 132 Stat. 4872.) Editorial Notes CODIFICATION Section was enacted as part of the Agriculture Im- provement Act of 2018, and not as part of the Agricul- tural Research, Extension, and Education Reform Act of 1998, which in part comprises this chapter. Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries DEFINITIONS ‘‘Secretary’’ as meaning the Secretary of Agri- culture, see section 2 of Pub. L. 115–334, set out as a Definition of ‘‘Secretary’’ note under section 9001 of this title. For definition of ‘‘innovative wood product’’, see sec- tion 8641 of Pub. L. 115–334, set out as a note under sec- tion 7655c of this title. § 7656. Designation of Crisis Management Team within Department (a) Designation of Crisis Management Team The Secretary of Agriculture shall designate a Crisis Management Team within the Depart- ment of Agriculture, which shall be— (1) composed of senior departmental per- sonnel with strong subject matter expertise selected from each relevant agency of the De- partment; and (2) headed by a team leader with manage- ment and communications skills. (b) Duties of Crisis Management Team The Crisis Management Team shall be respon- sible for the following: (1) Developing a Department-wide crisis management plan, taking into account similar plans developed by other government agencies and other large organizations, and developing written procedures for the implementation of the crisis management plan. (2) Conducting periodic reviews and revisions of the crisis management plan and procedures developed under paragraph (1). (3) Ensuring compliance with crisis manage- ment procedures by personnel of the Depart- ment and ensuring that appropriate Depart- ment personnel are familiar with the crisis management plan and procedures and are en- couraged to bring information regarding crises or potential crises to the attention of mem- bers of the Crisis Management Team. (4) Coordinating the Department’s informa- tion gathering and dissemination activities concerning issues managed by the Crisis Man- agement Team. (5) Ensuring that Department spokespersons convey accurate, timely, and scientifically sound information regarding crises or poten- tial crises that can be easily understood by the general public. (6) Cooperating with, and coordinating among, other Federal agencies, States, local governments, industry, and public interest groups, Department activities regarding a cri- sis. (c) Role in prioritizing certain research The Crisis Management Team shall cooperate with the Advisory Board in the prioritization of agricultural research conducted or funded by the Department regarding animal health, nat- ural disasters, food safety, and other agricul- tural issues. (d) Cooperative agreements The Secretary shall seek to enter into cooper- ative agreements with other Federal depart- ments and agencies that have related programs or activities to help ensure consistent, accurate, Page 2082 TITLE 7—AGRICULTURE § 7657 and coordinated dissemination of information throughout the executive branch in the event of a crisis, such as, in the case of a threat to human health from food-borne pathogens, devel- oping a rapid and coordinated response among the Department, the Centers for Disease Con- trol, and the Food and Drug Administration. (Pub. L. 105–185, title VI, § 618, June 23, 1998, 112 Stat. 607.) § 7657. Senior Scientific Research Service (a) In general There is established in the Department of Ag- riculture the Senior Scientific Research Service (referred to in this section as the ‘‘Service’’). (b) Members (1) In general Subject to paragraphs (2) through (4), the Secretary shall appoint the members of the Service. (2) Qualifications To be eligible for appointment to the Serv- ice, an individual shall— (A) have conducted outstanding research in the field of agriculture or forestry; (B) have earned a doctoral level degree at an institution of higher education (as de- fined in section 1001 of title 20); and (C) meet qualification standards prescribed by the Director of the Office of Personnel Management for appointment to a position at level GS–15 of the General Schedule. (3) Number Not more than 100 individuals may serve as members of the Service at any 1 time. (4) Other requirements (A) In general Subject to subparagraph (B) and sub- section (d)(2), the Secretary may appoint and employ a member of the Service without regard to— (i) the provisions of title 5 governing ap- pointments in the competitive service; (ii) the provisions of subchapter I of chapter 35 of title 5 relating to retention preference; (iii) the provisions of chapter 43 of title 5 relating to performance appraisal and performance actions; (iv) the provisions of chapter 51 and sub- chapter III of chapter 53 of title 5 relating to classification and General Schedule pay rates; and (v) the provisions of chapter 75 of title 5 relating to adverse actions. (B) Exception A member of the Service appointed and employed by the Secretary under subpara- graph (A) shall have the same right of appeal to the Merit Systems Protection Board and the same right to file a complaint with the Office of Special Counsel as an employee ap- pointed to a position at level GS–15 of the General Schedule. (c) Performance appraisal system The Secretary shall develop a performance ap- praisal system for members of the Service that is designed to— (1) provide for the systematic appraisal of the employment performance of the members; and (2) encourage excellence in employment per- formance by the members. (d) Compensation (1) In general Subject to paragraph (2), the Secretary shall determine the compensation of members of the Service. (2) Limitations The rate of pay for a member of the Service shall— (A) not be less than the minimum rate payable for a position at level GS–15 of the General Schedule; and (B) not be more than the rate payable for a position at level I of the Executive Sched- ule, unless the rate is approved by the Presi- dent under section 5377(d)(2) of title 5. (e) Retirement contributions (1) In general On the request of a member of the Service who was an employee of an institution of high- er education (as defined in section 1001 of title 20) immediately prior to appointment as a member of the Service and who retains the right to continue to make contributions to the retirement system of the institution, the Sec- retary may contribute an amount not to ex- ceed 10 percent of the basic pay of the member to the retirement system of the institution on behalf of the member. (2) Federal retirement system (A) In general Subject to subparagraph (B), a member for whom a contribution is made under para- graph (1) shall not, as a result of serving as a member of the Service, be covered by, or earn service credit under, chapter 83 or 84 of title 5. (B) Annual leave Service of a member of the Service de- scribed in subparagraph (A) shall be cred- itable for determining years of service under section 6303(a) of title 5. (f) Involuntary separation (1) In general Subject to paragraph (2) and notwith- standing the provisions of title 5 governing ap- pointment in the competitive service, in the case of an individual who is separated from the Service involuntarily and without cause— (A) the Secretary may appoint the indi- vidual to a position in the competitive civil service at level GS–15 of the General Sched- ule; and (B) the appointment shall be a career ap- pointment. (2) Excepted civil service In the case of an individual described in paragraph (1) who immediately prior to ap- pointment as a member of the Service was not a career appointee in the civil service or the Senior Executive Service, the appointment of the individual under paragraph (1)—