USC Subchapter II

in effect

7 U.S.C. § 2661 Statement of purposes and goals

(a) The overall purpose of this subchapter is to foster a balanced national development that provides opportunities for increased numbers of the people of the United States to work and enjoy a high quality of life dispersed throughout our Nation by providing the essential knowledge necessary for successful programs of rural development. It is further the purpose of this subchapter to—(1) provide multistate regional agencies, States, counties, cities, multicounty planning and development districts, businesses, industries, Indian tribes on Federal and State reservations or other federally recognized Indian tribal groups and others involved with public services and investments in rural areas or that provide or may provide employment in these areas the best available scientific, technical, economic, organizational, environmental, and management information and knowledge useful to them, and to assist and encourage them in the interpretation and application of this information to practical problems and needs in rural development; (2) provide research and investigations in all fields that have as their purpose the development of useful knowledge and information to assist those planning, carrying out, managing, or investing in facilities, services, businesses, or other enterprises, public and private, that may contribute to rural development; (3) increase the capabilities of, and encourage, colleges and universities to perform the vital public service roles of research, and the transfer and practical application of knowledge, in support of rural development; (4) expand small farm research and extend training and technical assistance to small farm families in assessing their needs and opportunities and in using the best available knowledge on sound economic approaches to small farm operations and on existing services offered by the Department of Agriculture and other public and private agencies and organizations to improve their income and to gain access to essential facilities and services; and (5) support activities to supplement and extend programs that address special research and education needs in States experiencing rapid social and economic adjustments or unique problems caused by rural isolation and that address national and regional rural development policies, strategies, issues, and programs. (b) the 11 So in original. Should be capitalized. goals of this subchapter are to—(1) encourage and support rural United States, in order to help make it a better place to live, work, and enjoy life; (2) increase income and improve employment for persons in rural areas, including the owners or operators of small farms, small businesses, and rural youth; (3) improve the quality and availability of essential community services and facilities in rural areas; (4) improve the quantity and quality of rural housing; (5) improve the rural management of natural resources so that the growth and development of rural communities needed to support the family farm may be accommodated with minimum effect on the natural environment and the agricultural land base; (6) improve the data base for rural development decisionmaking at local, State, and national levels; and (7) improve the problem solving and development capacities and effectiveness of rural governments, officials, institutions, communities, community leaders, and citizen groups in—(A) improving access to Federal programs; (B) improving targeting and delivery of technical assistance; (C) improving coordination among Federal agencies, other levels of government, and institutions and private organizations in rural areas; and (D) developing and disseminating better information about rural conditions.

7 U.S.C. § 2662 Programs authorized

The Secretary of Agriculture (referred to in this subchapter as the “Secretary”) may conduct, in cooperation and coordination with colleges and universities, the following programs to carry out the purposes and achieve the goals of this subchapter. (a) Rural development extension programsRural development extension programs shall consist of the collection, interpretation, and dissemination of useful information and knowledge from research and other sources to units of multistate regional agencies, State, county, municipal, and other units of government, multicounty planning and development districts, organizations of citizens contributing to community and rural development, businesses, Indian tribes on Federal or State reservations or other federally recognized Indian tribal groups, and industries that employ or may employ people in rural areas. The rural development extension programs shall also promote coordinated and integrated rural community initiatives that advance and empower capacity building through leadership development, entrepreneurship, business development and management training, and strategic planning to increase jobs, income, and quality of life in rural communities. These programs also shall include technical services and educational activities, including instruction for persons not enrolled as students in colleges or universities, to facilitate and encourage the use and practical application of this information. These programs may also include feasibility studies and planning assistance. (b) Rural development researchRural development research shall consist of research, investigations, and basic feasibility studies in any field or discipline that may develop principles, facts, scientific and technical knowledge, new technology, and other information that may be useful to agencies of Federal, State, and local government, industries in rural areas, Indian tribes on Federal and State reservations or other federally recognized Indian tribal groups, and other organizations involved in community and rural development programs and activities in planning and carrying out such programs and activities or otherwise be practical and useful in achieving the purposes and goals of this subchapter. (c) Small farm research programsSmall farm research programs shall consist of programs of research to develop new approaches for initiating and upgrading small farm operations through management techniques, agricultural production techniques, farm machinery technology, new products, new marketing techniques, and small farm finance; to develop new enterprises that can use labor, skills, or natural resources available to the small farm family; or that will help to increase the quality and availability of services and facilities needed by the small farm family. (d) Small farm extension programsSmall farm extension programs shall consist of extension programs to improve small farm operations, including management techniques, agricultural production techniques, farm machinery technology, marketing techniques and small farm finance; to increase use by small farm families of existing services offered by the Department of Agriculture and other public and private agencies and organizations; to assist small farm families in establishing and operating cooperatives for the purpose of improving their family income from farming or other economic activities; to increase the quality and availability of services and facilities needed by small farm families; and to develop new enterprises that can use labor, skills, or natural resources available to the small farm family. (e) Special grants programsSpecial grants programs shall consist of extension and research programs to strengthen research and education on national and regional issues in rural development, including the assessment of alternative policies and strategies for rural development and balanced growth; to develop alternative strategies for national and regional investment, and the creation of employment, in rural areas; to develop alternative energy policies to meet rural development needs; and to strengthen rural development programs of agencies of the Department of Agriculture and those in other Federal departments and agencies. (f), (g) Repealed. Pub. L. 104–127, title VII, § 792(a), title VIII, § 871, Apr. 4, 1996, 110 Stat. 1152, 1175 (h) Rural development extension work(1) National programThe Secretary shall establish a national program, to be administered by the National Institute of Food and Agriculture, to provide rural citizens with training in, technical and management assistance regarding, and educational opportunities to enhance their knowledge of—(A) beginning businesses through entrepreneurship; (B) the procedures necessary to establish new businesses in rural areas; (C) self-employment opportunities in rural areas; (D) the uses of modern telecommunications and computer technologies; (E) business and financial planning; and (F) such other training, assistance, and educational opportunities as the Secretary determines are necessary to carry out the program established under this subsection. (2) Leadership abilitiesThe program established under this subsection shall provide assistance designed to increase the leadership abilities of residents in rural areas. Such assistance shall include—(A) information relevant to the development of community goals; (B) instruction regarding the methods by which State or Federal funding for rural development projects might be obtained; (C) instruction regarding the successful writing of applications for loan or grant funds from government and private sources; (D) an updated listing of State, Federal, and other economic development programs available to rural areas; and (E) such other training, information, and assistance as the Secretary determines necessary to increase the leadership abilities of residents in rural areas. (3) Catalog of programsThe National Rural Information Center Clearinghouse of the National Agricultural Library, in cooperation with the Extension Service in each State, should develop, maintain, and provide to each community, and make accessible to any other interested party, a catalog of available State, Federal, or private programs that provide leadership training or other information or services similar or complementary to the training or services required by this subsection. Such catalog should include, at a minimum, the following entities within the State that provide such training or services:(A) Any rural electric cooperative. (B) Any nonprofit company development corporation. (C) Any economic development district that serves a rural community. (D) Any nonprofit subsidiary of any private entity. (E) Any nonprofit organization whose principal purpose is to promote economic development in rural areas. (F) Any investor or publicly owned electric utility. (G) Any small business development center or small business investment company. (H) Any regional development organization. (I) Any vocational or technical school. (J) Any Federal, State, or local government agency or department. (K) Any other entity that the Secretary deems appropriate. The extension service in each State should include in the catalog information on the specific training or services provided by each entity in the catalog. (4) Employee trainingThe Secretary shall provide training for appropriate State extension service employees, assigned to programs other than rural development, to ensure that such employees understand the availability of rural development programs in their respective States and the availability of National Institute of Food and Agriculture staff qualified to provide to rural citizens and to State extension staff training and materials for technical, management, and educational assistance. (5) Coordination of assistanceThe Secretary shall ensure, to the extent practicable, that assistance provided under this subsection is coordinated with and delivered in cooperation with similar services or assistance provided by other Federal agencies or programs for rural residents. (i) Rural health and safety education programs(1) Programs authorized(A) Individual and family health educationThe Secretary may make grants for the establishment of individual and family health education programs that shall provide individuals and families with—(i) information concerning the value of good health; (ii) information to increase the individual or families motivation to take more responsibility for their own health; (iii) access to health promotion activities; and (iv) training for volunteers and health services providers concerning health promotion and health care services, in cooperation with the Department of Health and Human Services. (B) Farm safety educationThe Secretary may make grants for the establishment of farm safety education programs that shall provide information and training to farm workers, timber harvesters, and farm families concerning safety in the work place, including information and training concerning—(i) the reduction of occupational injury and death rates; (ii) the reduction and prevention of exposure to farm chemicals; (iii) the reduction of agricultural respiratory diseases and dermititis; 11 So in original. Probably should be “dermatitis;”. (iv) the reduction and prevention of noise induced hearing loss; (v) the occupational rehabilitation of farmers and timber harvesters with physical disabilities; and (vi) farm accident rescue procedures. (C) Rural health leadership developmentThe Secretary, in consultation with the Office of Rural Health Policy of the Department of Health and Human Services, may make grants to academic medical centers or land grant colleges and universities, or any combination thereof, for the establishment of rural health leadership development education programs that shall assist rural communities in developing health care services and facilities that will provide the maximum benefit for the resources invested and assist community leaders and public officials in understanding their roles and responsibilities relative to rural health services and facilities, including—(i) community decisions regarding funding for and retention of rural hospitals; (ii) rural physician and allied health professionals recruitment and retention; (iii) the aging rural population and senior services required to care for the population; (iv) the establishment and maintenance of rural emergency medical services systems; and (v) the application of computer-assisted capital budgeting decision aids for rural health services and facilities. (2) Coordination of programsEducational programs conducted with grants awarded under this subsection shall be coordinated with the State offices of rural health and other appropriate programs of the Department of Health and Human Services. (3) Dissemination of informationEducational programs conducted with grants awarded under this subsection shall provide leadership within the State for the dissemination of appropriate rural health and safety information resources possessed by the Rural Information Center established at the National Agricultural Library. (4) Procedures and limitationsThe Secretary shall establish policies, procedures and limitations that shall apply to States or entities described in paragraph (1)(C) that desire to receive a grant under this subsection. In States with land-grant colleges and universities that are eligible to receive funds under the Act of July 2, 1862 (7 U.S.C. 301 et seq.), and the Act of August 30, 1890 (7 U.S.C. 321 et seq.), including Tuskegee University, and universities which receive Rural Health Research Center grants, such eligible institutions shall mutually determine the type of rural health and safety education program needed in the State within which such institutions reside. (5) Limitations on authorization of appropriationsFor grants under this subsection, there are authorized to be appropriated $5,000,000 for fiscal year 1991, $10,000,000 for fiscal year 1992, $15,000,000 for fiscal year 1993, and $20,000,000 for fiscal year 1994 and each subsequent fiscal year. Amounts appropriated under this subsection shall remain available until expended.

7 U.S.C. § 2663 Funding

(a) Authorization of appropriationsThere are authorized to be appropriated such sums as are necessary to carry out the purposes of this subchapter. (b) DistributionsSuch sums as are appropriated to carry out the provisions of section 2662(a) and (b) of this title shall be distributed by the Secretary as follows:(1) 4 per centum shall be retained by the Secretary for program administration and national coordination of State programs, and program assistance to the States; (2) 10 per centum shall be used to finance work serving two or more States in which colleges or universities in two or more States cooperate or that is conducted by one college or university to serve two or more States; (3) 20 per centum shall be allocated equally among the States; and (4) 66 per centum shall be allocated to each State as follows: One-half in an amount that bears the same ratio to the total amount to be allotted as the rural population of the State bears to the total rural population of all the States, as determined by the last preceding decennial census current at that time; and one-half in an amount that bears the same ratio to the total amount to be allotted as the farm population of the State bears to the total farm population of all the States, as determined by the last preceding decennial census current at that time: Provided, That, beginning with the fiscal year ending September 30, 1982, no State may receive more than $75,000 until all States have been allotted a minimum of $75,000. (c) Additional distributionsSuch sums as are appropriated to carry out subsections (e) and (i) of section 2662 of this title shall be distributed by the Secretary to colleges and universities, on a competitive or matching fund basis, according to the Secretary’s determination of the projects and manner of funding that show the most promise of fulfilling the objectives of those subsections. (d) Administration of programsFunds appropriated under this subchapter may be used to pay salaries and other expenses of personnel employed to carry out the functions authorized by this subchapter; to obtain necessary supplies, equipment, and services; and to rent, repair, and maintain facilities needed, but not to purchase or construct buildings. (e) Development of plans of work and budgets by eligible institutionsPayment of funds to any State for programs authorized under section 2662(a), (b), (c), and (d) of this title shall be contingent upon approval by the Secretary of a plan of work and budget for such programs and compliance with such regulations as the Secretary may issue under this subchapter. Plans for work shall be jointly developed in each State by the land-grant colleges and universities eligible to receive funds under the Act of July 2, 1862 (7 U.S.C. 301 et seq.), and the Act of August 30, 1890 (7 U.S.C. 321 et seq.), including Tuskegee Institute. In States in which there is no land-grant institution eligible to receive funds under the Act of August 30, 1890, the land-grant institution eligible to receive funds under the Act of July 2, 1862, shall be responsible for developing plans of work and budgets. In the development of the plans of work and budgets, consideration shall be given to involvement of the resources and expertise of the colleges and universities serving the region in which the plans and budgets are to be applied. (f) Availability; budgets and accountsFunds shall be available for use by each State in the fiscal year for which appropriated and the next fiscal year following the fiscal year for which appropriated. Funds shall be budgeted and accounted for on such forms and at such times as the Secretary shall prescribe. (g) Financing of programs at other than cooperating institutionsFunds provided to each State under this subchapter may be used to finance programs through or at private and publicly supported colleges and universities other than the institutions responsible for administering the programs, as provided under section 2664 of this title.

7 U.S.C. § 2664 Cooperating colleges and universities

(a) Program administrationTo ensure national coordination with other federally supported agricultural research and extension programs, administration of each State program shall be the responsibility of the colleges and universities eligible to receive funds under the Act of July 2, 1862 [7 U.S.C. 301 et seq.], and the Act of August 30, 1890 [7 U.S.C. 321 et seq.], including Tuskegee Institute. In States that contain more than one such institution, such administration shall be the responsibility of the institution designated by mutual agreement of all such institutions, subject to approval by the Secretary. The Secretary shall pay funds available to each State to such institution or university. Such administration shall be coordinated with other federally supported agricultural research and extension programs conducted in the State. (b) Eligibility for participationAll private and publicly supported colleges and universities in a State shall be eligible to participate in programs authorized under this subchapter. Officials at universities or colleges other than those responsible for administering the programs that wish to participate in these programs shall submit program proposals to the college or university officials responsible for administering the programs who shall consider such proposals in the process of developing the budgets and plans of work. (c) Designation of official for program coordinationThe institution of each State responsible for administering the programs authorized under this subchapter shall designate an official who shall be responsible for the overall coordination of the programs. (d) Appointment of advisory council for program administration; eligibility, membership, etc.The institution in each State responsible for administering the programs authorized under this subchapter shall name an advisory council to review and approve budgets and plans of work conducted under this subchapter and to advise the chief administrative officer of the institution administering the programs on matters pertaining to the programs. An existing State rural development committee or council may be named to perform this function, or a new council may be appointed by the chief administrative officer or officers. The committee or council named or appointed shall consist of at least twelve members and shall include persons representing farmers, business, labor, banking, local government, multicounty planning and development districts, public and private colleges and universities in the State, and Federal and State agencies involved in rural development.

7 U.S.C. § 2665 Withholding funds

If the Secretary determines that a State is not eligible to receive part or all of the funds to which it is otherwise entitled for programs under section 2662(a) and (b) of this title because of a failure to comply with regulations issued by the Secretary under this subchapter, the facts and reasons therefor shall be reported to the President, and the amount involved shall be kept separate in the Treasury until the expiration of the Congress next succeeding the session of the legislature of the State from which funds have been withheld in order that the State may, if it should so desire, appeal to Congress from the determination of the Secretary. If the next Congress shall not direct such sum to be paid, it shall be covered into the Treasury. If any portion of the moneys that are received by the designated officers of any State for the support and maintenance of programs authorized under this subchapter shall by any action or contingency be diminished or lost, or be misapplied, it shall be replaced by the State.

7 U.S.C. § 2666 Definitions

For the purposes of this subchapter— (a) “rural development” means the planning, financing, and development of facilities and services in rural areas that contribute to making those areas desirable places in which to live and make private and business investments; the planning, development, and expansion of business and industry in rural areas to provide increased employment and income; the planning, development, conservation, and use of land, water, and other natural resources of rural areas to maintain or improve the quality of the environment for people and business in rural areas; and the building or improvement of institutional, organizational, and leadership capacities of rural citizens and leaders to define and resolve their own community problems; (b) “State” means the several States, the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, Guam, American Samoa, the Virgin Islands of the United States, and the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands; and (c) “small farm” means any farm (1) producing family net income from all sources (farm and nonfarm) below the median nonmetropolitan income of the State; (2) operated by a family dependent on farming for a significant though not necessarily a majority of its income; and (3) on which family members provide most of the labor and management.

7 U.S.C. § 2667 Regulations

The Secretary may issue such regulations as the Secretary determines necessary to carry out the provisions of this subchapter.

7 U.S.C. § 2669 Pilot projects for production and marketing of industrial hydrocarbons and alcohols from agricultural commodities and forest products

(a) Formulation and execution of programThe Secretary is authorized and directed to formulate and carry out a pilot program for the production and marketing of industrial hydrocarbons derived from agricultural commodities and forest products for the purpose of stabilizing and expanding the market for such commodities and products and expanding the Nation’s supply of industrial hydrocarbons. (b) Loan guaranteesThe Secretary shall provide for four pilot projects for the production of industrial hydrocarbons and alcohols from agricultural commodities and forest products by guaranteeing loans, not to exceed $15,000,000 per each such project, to public, private, or cooperative organizations organized for profit or nonprofit, or to individuals for a term not to exceed twenty years at a rate of interest agreed upon by the borrower and lender. (c) ConditionsNo loan may be guaranteed under this section unless (1) research indicates the total energy content of the products and byproducts to be manufactured by the loan applicant will exceed the total energy input from fossil fuels used in the manufacture of such products and byproducts, and (2) such other conditions as the Secretary deems appropriate to achieve the purposes of this section are met. (d) Long-term contracts to supply agricultural commodities to loan recipientsIn order to assure that the recipients of loans made under this section have a dependable supply of agricultural commodities at a stable price for use in the pilot projects provided for in this section, the Secretary is authorized to enter into long-term contracts, not exceeding five years, with the recipients of such loans. Such contracts shall guarantee the recipients of such loans a specified quantity of agricultural commodities annually at mutually agreed upon prices, but the agricultural commodities shall not be sold under any such contracts at less than the price support level prescribed for the commodity concerned unless the commodities are out of condition, unstorable, or sample-grade or lower, as prescribed in Department of Agriculture standards. (e) Commodity Credit Corporation stocks as supply sources; outside purchasesThe Secretary shall supply from Commodity Credit Corporation stocks or, to such extent or in such amounts as are provided in appropriation Acts, purchase such quantities of agricultural commodities as may be necessary to comply with the terms of agreements entered into under this section. (f) Commodity Credit CorporationThe provisions of this section shall be carried out through the Commodity Credit Corporation.

7 U.S.C. § 2671 Establishment of technical assistance program

(a) DefinitionIn this section, the term “tribally designated housing entity” has the meaning given the term in section 4103 of title 25. (b) In generalThe Secretary shall, in coordination with the Office of Tribal Relations established under section 6921 11 See References in Text note below. of this title, provide technical assistance to improve access by Tribal entities to rural development programs funded by the Department of Agriculture through available cooperative agreement authorities of the Secretary. (c) Technical assistanceTechnical assistance provided under subsection (b) shall address the unique challenge of Tribal governments, Tribal producers, Tribal businesses, Tribal business entities, and tribally designated housing entities in accessing Department of Agriculture-supported rural infrastructure, rural cooperative development, rural business and industry, rural housing, and other rural development activities.