# § 361a. Congressional declaration of purpose; definitions
7 U.S.C. 361aAugust 14, 19467 U.S.C. 361a7 U.S.C. 361aJuly 2, 186212 Stat. 5037 U.S.C. 301
It is the policy of Congress to continue the agricultural research at State agricultural experiment stations which has been encouraged and supported by the Hatch Act of 1887 [ et seq.], the Adams Act of 1906, the Purnell Act of 1925, the Bankhead-Jones Act of 1935, and title I, section 9, of that Act as added by the Act of , and Acts amendatory and supplementary thereto, and to promote the efficiency of such research by a codification and simplification of such laws. As used in this Act [ et seq.], the terms “State” or “States” are defined to include the several States (including the District of Columbia), Puerto Rico, Guam and the Virgin Islands. As used in this Act [ et seq.], the term “State agricultural experiment station” means a department which shall have been established, under direction of the college or university or agricultural departments of the college or university in each State in accordance with an Act approved , (), entitled “An Act donating public lands to the several States and Territories which may provide colleges for the benefit of agriculture and the mechanic arts” [ et seq.]; or such other substantially equivalent arrangements as any State shall determine.
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**Source Credit**: (Mar. 2, 1887, ch. 314, § 1, 24 Stat. 440; Aug. 11, 1955, ch. 790, § 1, 69 Stat. 671; Pub. L. 92–318, title V, § 506(k), June 23, 1972, 86 Stat. 351; Pub. L. 93–471, title II, § 208(e), Oct. 26, 1974, 88 Stat. 1429; Pub. L. 105–185, title II, § 203(c)(1), June 23, 1998, 112 Stat. 534.)
## Editorial Notes
### References in Text
The Hatch Act of 1887, referred to in text, is , , which is classified generally to sections 361a to 361i of this title. For complete classification of this act to the Code, see Short Title note set out below, and Tables.
The Adams Act of 1906, referred to in text, is , , which was classified to sections 361, 366, 369, 371, 373 to 376, 380, and 382 of this title, and was repealed by , . For complete classification of this Act to the Code prior to repeal, see Tables.
The Purnell Act of 1925, referred to in text, is , , which was classified to sections 361, 366, 370, 371, 373 to 376, 380, and 382 of this title, and was repealed by , . For complete classification of this Act to the Code prior to repeal, see Tables.
The Bankhead-Jones Act, referred to in text, is , , also popularly known as the Agricultural Research Act. For complete classification of this Act to the Code, see Short Title of 1935 Amendment note under and Tables.
Title I, section 9, of that Act, referred to in text, was classified to prior to repeal.
The Act approved (), referred to in text, is , , popularly known as the “Morrill Act” and also as the “First Morrill Act”, which is classified generally to subchapter I (§ 301 et seq.) of chapter 13 of this title. For complete classification of this Act to the Code, see Short Title note set out under and Tables.
### Codification
, cited as a credit to this section, was renumbered section “209” by D.C. Law 1–36, § 4, , 22 DCR 2911.
Section was formerly classified to .
### Amendments
1998— struck out “Alaska, Hawaii,” before “Puerto Rico” in second sentence.
1974— defined “State” to include the District of Columbia.
1972— defined “State” to include Guam and the Virgin Islands.
1955—Act , amended section generally to continue agricultural research at the agricultural experiment stations, to restate the declaration of purpose, and to insert definitions of “State” and “State agricultural experiment station.” Former provisions which required division of appropriations between colleges of same state are now contained in .
## Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries
### Effective Date of 1974 Amendment
Amendment by effective , unless repealed by District of Columbia Council after , and prior to ; or such amendment by , as amended by the District Council, also effective , or some other date prescribed by the Council as authorized under provisions of .
### Effective Date of 1972 Amendment
Amendment by effective after , see , set out as an Effective Date note under .
### Short Title
> “This Act [enacting sections 361a to 361i of this title] may be cited as the ‘Hatch Act of 1887’.”
, as added by , , , provided that:
### Arlington Estate
Besides the provisions establishing agricultural experiment stations, contained in act , a portion of the Arlington estate in the State of Virginia was set apart for experimental agricultural purposes by , , and provisions for establishing and maintaining a general experimental farm and agricultural station thereon were made by the subsequent agricultural appropriation acts.
## Executive Documents
### Admission of Alaska and Hawaii to Statehood
Alaska was admitted into the Union on , on issuance of Proc. No. 3269, , 24 F.R. 81, 73 Stat. c16, and Hawaii was admitted into the Union on , on issuance of Proc. No. 3309, , 24 F.R. 6868, 73 Stat. c74. For Alaska Statehood Law, see , , , set out as a note preceding , Territories and Insular Possessions. For Hawaii Statehood Law, see , , , set out as a note preceding .