12 2 STA T . 12 7 7 PUBLIC LA W 11 0– 2 34—M A Y 22 , 200 8(B)integra te d re s ear ch, e x tensi o n, and ed u cationa lp ro - gra m s on technolog y implementation . (d) PLANFORRES EAR CHA C TIV ITIES TO BE FU N D ED. — ( 1 ) I N G ENERAL.— S u bj ecttothea v ailability o f funds under subsection (g), and in cooperation w ith land-grant colleges and universities and private industry in accordance with paragraph ( 2 ), the sun grant centers and subcenter shall jointly develop and submit to the Secretary for approval a plan for addressing the bioenergy, biomass, and gasification research priorities of the D epartment of Agriculture and the Department of E nergy at the State and regional levels. (2) G ASIFICATION COORDINATION.— W ith respect to gasifi- cation research activity, the sun grant centers and subcenter shall coordinate planning with land-grant colleges and univer- sities in their respective regions that have ongoing research activities in that area. ( 3 ) FUNDING.—Funds described in subsection (c)(2) shall be available to carry out planning coordination under paragraph (1). ( 4 ) U SE OF P LAN.— T he sun grant centers and subcenter shall use the plan described in paragraph (1) in ma k ing grants under subsection (c)(1). (e) GRANT INFOR M ATION ANAL Y SIS C ENTER.—The sun grant centers and subcenter shall maintain a Sun Grant Information Analysis Center at the sun grant center specified in subsection (b)(1)(A) to provide the sun grant centers and subcenter with anal- ysis and data management support. (f) ANNUAL REPORTS.— N ot later than 90 days after the end of each fiscal year, a sun grant center or subcenter receiving a grant under this section shall submit to the Secretary a report that describes the policies, priorities, and operations of the program carried out by the center or subcenter during the fiscal year, including— (1) the results of all peer and merit review procedures conducted pursuant to subsection (c)(1)(D)(i)
and (2) a description of progress made in facilitating the prior- ities described in subsection (d)(1). (g) AUTHORI Z ATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.—There is authori z ed to be appropriated to carry out this section $75 ,000,000 for each of fiscal years 200 8 through 2012, of which not more than $4,000,000 for each fiscal year shall be made available to carry out subsection (e). SEC.752 7.S TUDYAN D R E PO RT ON F OOD DESERTS. (a) DEFINITION OF FOOD DESERT.—In this section, the term ‘ ‘food desert ’ ’ means an area in the United States with limited access to affordable and nutritious food, particularly such an area composed of predominantly lower-income neighborhoods and communities. (b) STUDY AND REPORT.—The Secretary shall carry out a study of, and prepare a report on, food deserts. (c) CONTENTS.—The study and report shall— (1) assess the incidence and prevalence of food deserts; (2) identify— (A) characteristics and factors causing and influencing food deserts; and
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