7 U.S.C. § 2008e — Prohibition under rural development

Page 1177 TITLE 7—AGRICULTURE § 2008f § 2008c. Rural Business-Cooperative Service pro- grams technical assistance and training (a) In general The Secretary may make grants to public bod- ies, private nonprofit corporations, economic de- velopment authorities, institutions of higher education, federally recognized Indian Tribes, and rural cooperatives for the purpose of pro- viding or obtaining technical assistance and training to support funding applications for pro- grams carried out by the Secretary, acting through the Administrator of the Rural Busi- ness-Cooperative Service. (b) Purposes A grant under subsection (a) may be used— (1) to assist communities in identifying and planning for business and economic develop- ment needs; (2) to identify public and private resources to finance business and small and emerging business needs; (3) to prepare reports and surveys necessary to request financial assistance for businesses in rural communities; and (4) to prepare applications for financial as- sistance. (c) Selection priority In selecting recipients of grants under this section, the Secretary shall give priority to grants serving persistent poverty counties and high poverty communities, as determined by the Secretary. (d) Funding (1) In general There is authorized to be appropriated to carry out this section $5,000,000 for each of fis- cal years 2019 through 2023, to remain avail- able until expended. (2) Availability Any amounts authorized to be appropriated under paragraph (1) for any fiscal year that are not appropriated for that fiscal year may be appropriated for the immediately suc- ceeding fiscal year. (Pub. L. 87–128, title III, § 368, as added Pub. L. 115–334, title VI, § 6419, Dec. 20, 2018, 132 Stat. 4764.) Editorial Notes PRIOR PROVISIONS A prior section 2008c, Pub. L. 87–128, title III, § 368, as added Pub. L. 101–624, title XXIII, § 2317, Nov. 28, 1990, 104 Stat. 4009, related to allocation and transfer of loan guarantee authority, prior to repeal by Pub. L. 104–127, title VII, § 756, Apr. 4, 1996, 110 Stat. 1131. § 2008d. Recordkeeping of loans by borrower’s gender The Secretary shall classify, by gender, records of applicants for loans and loan guaran- tees under this chapter. (Pub. L. 87–128, title III, § 369, as added Pub. L. 102–554, § 21(c), Oct. 28, 1992, 106 Stat. 4161.) Editorial Notes REFERENCES IN TEXT This chapter, referred to in text, was in the original ‘‘this title’’, meaning title III of Pub. L. 87–128, Aug. 8, 1961, 75 Stat. 307, known as the Consolidated Farm and Rural Development Act, which is classified principally to this chapter. For complete classification of title III to the Code, see Short Title note set out under section 1921 of this title and Tables. § 2008e. Prohibition under rural development programs (a) Prohibition Assistance under any rural development pro- gram administered by the Rural Development Administration, the Farmers Home Administra- tion, the Rural Electrification Administration, or any other agency of the Department of Agri- culture shall not be conditioned on any require- ment that the recipient of such assistance ac- cept or receive electric service from any par- ticular utility, supplier, or cooperative. (b) Ensuring compliance The Secretary shall establish, by regulation, adequate safeguards to ensure that assistance under such rural development programs is not subject to such a condition. Such safeguards shall include periodic certifications and audits, and appropriate measures and sanctions against any person violating, or attempting to violate, the prohibition in subsection (a). (c) Regulations Not later than 6 months after November 1, 1993, the Secretary shall issue interim final reg- ulations to ensure compliance with subsection (a). (Pub. L. 87–128, title III, § 370, as added Pub. L. 103–129, § 5, Nov. 1, 1993, 107 Stat. 1366.) § 2008f. Crop insurance requirement (a) In general As a condition of obtaining any benefit (in- cluding a direct loan, loan guarantee, or pay- ment) described in subsection (b), a borrower must obtain at least catastrophic risk protec- tion insurance coverage under section 1508 of this title for the crop and crop year for which the benefit is sought, if the coverage is offered by the Corporation. (b) Applicable benefits Subsection (a) shall apply to— (1) a farm ownership loan (FO) under section 1923 of this title; (2) an operating loan (OL) under section 1942 of this title; and (3) an emergency loan (EM) under section 1961 of this title. (Pub. L. 87–128, title III, § 371, as added Pub. L. 103–354, title I, § 119(b), Oct. 13, 1994, 108 Stat. 3208.) Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries EFFECTIVE DATE Section effective Oct. 13, 1994, and applicable to pro- vision of crop insurance under Federal Crop Insurance Act (7 U.S.C. 1501 et seq.) beginning with 1995 crop year, with such Act, as in effect on the day before Oct. 13, 1994, to continue to apply with respect to 1994 crop year, see section 120 of Pub. L. 103–354, set out as an Ef- fective Date of 1994 Amendment note under section 1502 of this title.