(a) Establishment.--There is hereby established the Board of Sustainable Agriculture to review grant and loan applications and issue loans and grants in accordance with the general considerations and eligibility criteria set forth in this act.

(b) Composition.--The board shall be composed of the chairman and minority chairman of the Agriculture and Rural Affairs Committee of the Senate or their designees and the chairman and the minority chairman of the Agriculture and Rural Affairs Committee of the House of Representatives or their designees. In addition, the board will include the following members appointed by the Secretary of Agriculture:

(c) Quorum.--A majority of the members appointed to the board shall constitute a quorum for purposes of conducting meetings and official actions pursuant to authority given to the board under this act.

(d) Expenses of board members.--The members of the board shall not be entitled to compensation for their services as members, but members of the board appointed pursuant to subsection (b)(2), (3), (4), (5), (6), (7), (8) and (9) shall be entitled to reimbursement for all necessary expenses incurred in connection with the performance of their duties as members of the board.

(e) Powers of board.--The board shall have the power to review and accept or reject loan and grant applications.

(f) Application of member.--A member of the board may apply for a loan or grant provided all decisions regarding the loan or grant application are subject to the provisions of section 3(j) of the act of October 4, 1978 (P.L. 883, No. 170),¹ referred to as the Public Official and Employee Ethics Law.