7 U.S.C. § 3127 — Support for Advisory Board

(a) Appointment of staff. After consulting the Advisory Board's chairperson, the Secretary may appoint: (1) a full-time executive director. The chairperson may assign the director's duties. The director's pay may not exceed the rate payable for GS-18 of the General Schedule under section 5332 of title 5; and (2) up to five full-time professional employees qualified in food and agricultural sciences. One of them must serve as the Board's executive secretary. (b) Additional clerical assistance and staff personnel. The Secretary must provide whatever additional clerical help and staff personnel are needed to help the Board perform its duties. (c) Assistance of outside personnel. When preparing recommendations for the Secretary, the Board may seek help from Department of Agriculture employees. To the maximum extent practicable, it may also seek help from employees of other federal departments and agencies conducting related agricultural research, extension, and teaching programs, and from suitable representatives of colleges and universities, including state agricultural experiment stations, cooperative extension services, and other nonfederal organizations conducting significant food and agricultural science programs.