SUBCHAPTER V—NATURAL RESOURCES AND ENVIRONMENT

§6961. Under Secretary of Agriculture for Natural Resources and Environment

(a) Authorization

The Secretary is authorized to establish in the Department the position of Under Secretary of Agriculture for Natural Resources and Environment.

(b) Confirmation required

If the Secretary establishes the position of Under Secretary of Agriculture for Natural Resources and Environment authorized under subsection (a), the Under Secretary shall be appointed by the President, by and with the advice and consent of the Senate.

(c) Functions of Under Secretary

(1) Principal functions

Upon establishment, the Secretary shall delegate to the Under Secretary of Agriculture for Natural Resources and Environment those functions under the jurisdiction of the Department that are related to natural resources and environment (except to the extent those functions are delegated under section 6932 of this title).

(2) Additional functions

The Under Secretary of Agriculture for Natural Resources and Environment shall perform such other functions and duties as may be required by law or prescribed by the Secretary.

(d) Succession

Any official who is serving as Assistant Secretary of Agriculture for Natural Resources and Environment on October 13, 1994, and who was appointed by the President, by and with the advice and consent of the Senate, shall not be required to be reappointed under subsection (b) to the successor position authorized under subsection (a) if the Secretary establishes the position, and the official occupies the new position, within 180 days after October 13, 1994 (or such later date set by the Secretary if litigation delays rapid succession).

(Pub. L. 103–354, title II, §245, Oct. 13, 1994, 108 Stat. 3223.)

Editorial Notes

Codification

Section is comprised of section 245 of Pub. L. 103–354. Subsec. (e) of section 245 of Pub. L. 103–354 amended section 5314 of Title 5, Government Organization and Employees.

§6962. Transferred

Editorial Notes

Codification

Section, Pub. L. 103–354, title II, §228, formerly §246, Oct. 13, 1994, 108 Stat. 3223; Pub. L. 104–127, title III, §336(a)(2)(D), (b)(2)(B), (c)(3), (d)(2), Apr. 4, 1996, 110 Stat. 1005, 1006; Pub. L. 107–171, title VIII, §8002(c), May 13, 2002, 116 Stat. 473; Pub. L. 115–334, title XII, §§12404(b)(1), 12410(a)(c)(1)(A), Dec. 20, 2018, 132 Stat. 4975, 4977, 4978, was moved so as to appear at the end of subtitle B of title II of Pub. L. 103–354 by Pub. L. 115–334, title XII, §12410(c)(1)(B), Dec. 20, 2018, 132 Stat. 4978, and editorially reclassified as section 6936 of this title.

§6962a. Cooperative agreements

Notwithstanding any other provision of law (including provisions of law requiring competition), the Secretary of Agriculture may on and after October 28, 2000, enter into cooperative agreements (which may provide for the acquisition of goods or services, including personal services) with a State, political subdivision, or agency thereof, a public or private agency, organization, or any other person, if the Secretary determines that the objectives of the agreement will: (1) serve a mutual interest of the parties to the agreement in carrying out the programs administered by the Natural Resources Conservation Service; and (2) all parties will contribute resources to the accomplishment of these objectives: Provided, That Commodity Credit Corporation funds obligated for such purposes shall not exceed the level obligated by the Commodity Credit Corporation for such purposes in fiscal year 1998.

(Pub. L. 106–387, §1(a) [title VII, §714], Oct. 28, 2000, 114 Stat. 1549, 1549A-30.)

Editorial Notes

Codification

Section was enacted as part of the Agriculture, Rural Development, Food and Drug Administration, and Related Agencies Appropriations Act, 2001, and not as part of the Department of Agriculture Reorganization Act of 1994, which in part comprises this chapter.

§6963. Repealed. Pub. L. 115–334, title XII, §12414(a)(5), Dec. 20, 2018, 132 Stat. 4981

Section, Pub. L. 103–354, title II, §247, Oct. 13, 1994, 108 Stat. 3225, related to reorganization of Forest Service.