Omnibus Appropriations Act, 2009/Division A/Title III

TITLE III — Rural Development Programs

Office of the Under Secretary for Rural Development

For necessary expenses of the Office of the Under Secretary for Rural Development, $646,000.

Rural Development Salaries and Expenses

(including transfers of funds)

For necessary expenses for carrying out the administration and implementation of programs in the Rural Development mission area, including activities with institutions concerning the development and operation of agricultural cooperatives; and for cooperative agreements; $192,484,000:

Provided, That notwithstanding any other provision of law, funds appropriated under this section may be used for advertising and promotional activities that support the Rural Development mission area:

Provided further, That not more than $10,000 may be expended to provide modest nonmonetary awards to non-USDA employees:

Provided further, That any balances available from prior years for the Rural Utilities Service, Rural Housing Service, and the Rural Business-Cooperative Service salaries and expenses accounts shall be transferred to and merged with this appropriation.

Rural Housing Service

rural housing insurance fund program account

(including transfers of funds)

For gross obligations for the principal amount of direct and guaranteed loans as authorized by title V of the Housing Act of 1949, to be available from funds in the rural housing insurance fund, as follows: $7,345,347,000 for loans to section 502 borrowers, of which $1,121,488,000 shall be for direct loans, and of which $6,223,859,000 shall be for unsubsidized guaranteed loans; $34,410,000 for section 504 housing repair loans; $69,512,000 for section 515 rental housing; $129,090,000 for section 538 guaranteed multi-family housing loans; $5,045,000 for section 524 site loans; $11,447,000 for credit sales of acquired property, of which up to $1,447,000 may be for multi-family credit sales; and $4,970,000 for section 523 self-help housing land development loans.

For the cost of direct and guaranteed loans, including the cost of modifying loans, as defined in section 502 of the Congressional Budget Act of 1974, as follows: section 502 loans, $154,407,000, of which $75,364,000 shall be for direct loans, and of which $79,043,000, to remain available until expended, shall be for unsubsidized guaranteed loans; section 504 housing repair loans, $9,246,000; repair, rehabilitation, and new construction of section 515 rental housing, $28,611,000; section 538 multi-family housing guaranteed loans, $8,082,000; credit sales of acquired property, $523,000; and section 523 self-help housing and development loans, $82,000:

Provided, That of the total amount appropriated in this paragraph, $2,500,000 shall be available through June 30, 2009, for authorized empowerment zones and enterprise communities and communities designated by the Secretary of Agriculture as Rural Economic Area Partnership Zones:

Provided further, That, for applications received under the 2009 notice of funding availability, section 538 multi-family housing guaranteed loans funded pursuant to this paragraph shall not be subject to a guarantee fee and the interest on such loans may not be subsidized:

Provided further, That any balances for a demonstration program for the preservation and revitalization of the section 515 multi-family rental housing properties as authorized by Public Law 109-97 and Public Law 110-5 shall be transferred to and merged with the ``Rural Housing Service, Multi-family Housing Revitalization Program Account´´.

In addition, for administrative expenses necessary to carry out the direct and guaranteed loan programs, $460,217,000, which shall be transferred to and merged with the appropriation for ``Rural Development, Salaries and Expenses´´.

rental assistance program

For rental assistance agreements entered into or renewed pursuant to the authority under section 521(a)(2) or agreements entered into in lieu of debt forgiveness or payments for eligible households as authorized by section 502(c)(5)(D) of the Housing Act of 1949, $902,500,000, to remain available through September 30, 2010; and, in addition, such sums as may be necessary, as authorized by section 521(c) of the Act, to liquidate debt incurred prior to fiscal year 1992 to carry out the rental assistance program under section 521(a)(2) of the Act:

Provided, That of this amount, up to $5,958,000 shall be available for debt forgiveness or payments for eligible households as authorized by section 502(c)(5)(D) of the Act, and not to exceed $50,000 per project for advances to nonprofit organizations or public agencies to cover direct costs (other than purchase price) incurred in purchasing projects pursuant to section 502(c)(5)(C) of the Act:

Provided further, That of this amount not less than $2,030,000 is available for newly constructed units financed by section 515 of the Housing Act of 1949, and not less than $3,400,000 is for newly constructed units financed under sections 514 and 516 of the Housing Act of 1949:

Provided further, That rental assistance agreements entered into or renewed during the current fiscal year shall be funded for a one-year period:

Provided further, That any unexpended balances remaining at the end of such one-year agreements may be transferred and used for the purposes of any debt reduction; maintenance, repair, or rehabilitation of any existing projects; preservation; and rental assistance activities authorized under title V of the Act:

Provided further, That rental assistance provided under agreements entered into prior to fiscal year 2009 for a farm labor multi-family housing project financed under section 514 or 516 of the Act may not be recaptured for use in another project until such assistance has remained unused for a period of 12 consecutive months, if such project has a waiting list of tenants seeking such assistance or the project has rental assistance eligible tenants who are not receiving such assistance:

Provided further, That such recaptured rental assistance shall, to the extent practicable, be applied to another farm labor multi-family housing project financed under section 514 or 516 of the Act.

multi-family housing revitalization program account

For the rural housing voucher program as authorized under section 542 of the Housing Act of 1949, but notwithstanding subsection (b) of such section, for the cost to conduct a housing demonstration program to provide revolving loans for the preservation of low-income multi-family housing projects, and for additional costs to conduct a demonstration program for the preservation and revitalization of multi-family rental housing properties described in this paragraph, $27,714,000, to remain available until expended:

Provided, That of the funds made available under this heading, $4,965,000 shall be available for rural housing vouchers to any low-income household (including those not receiving rental assistance) residing in a property financed with a section 515 loan which has been prepaid after September 30, 2005:

Provided further, That the amount of such voucher shall be the difference between comparable market rent for the section 515 unit and the tenant paid rent for such unit:

Provided further, That funds made available for such vouchers shall be subject to the availability of annual appropriations:

Provided further, That the Secretary shall, to the maximum extent practicable, administer such vouchers with current regulations and administrative guidance applicable to section 8 housing vouchers administered by the Secretary of the Department of Housing and Urban Development (including the ability to pay administrative costs related to delivery of the voucher funds):

Provided further, That if the Secretary determines that the amount made available for vouchers in this or any other Act is not needed for vouchers, the Secretary may use such funds for the demonstration programs for the preservation and revitalization of multi-family rental housing properties described in this paragraph:

Provided further, That of the funds made available under this heading, $2,889,000 shall be available for the cost of loans to private non-profit organizations, or such non-profit organizations' affiliate loan funds and State and local housing finance agencies, to carry out a housing demonstration program to provide revolving loans for the preservation of low-income multi-family housing projects:

Provided further, That loans under such demonstration program shall have an interest rate of not more than 1 percent direct loan to the recipient:

Provided further, That the Secretary may defer the interest and principal payment to the Rural Housing Service for up to 3 years and the term of such loans shall not exceed 30 years:

Provided further, That of the funds made available under this heading, $19,860,000 shall be available for a demonstration program for the preservation and revitalization of the section 514, 515, and 516 multi-family rental housing properties to restructure existing USDA multi-family housing loans, as the Secretary deems appropriate, expressly for the purposes of ensuring the project has sufficient resources to preserve the project for the purpose of providing safe and affordable housing for low-income residents and farm laborers including reducing or eliminating interest; deferring loan payments, subordinating, reducing or reamortizing loan debt; and other financial assistance including advances, payments and incentives (including the ability of owners to obtain reasonable returns on investment) required by the Secretary:

Provided further, That the Secretary shall as part of the preservation and revitalization agreement obtain a restrictive use agreement consistent with the terms of the restructuring:

Provided further, That if the Secretary determines that additional funds for vouchers described in this paragraph are needed, funds for the preservation and revitalization demonstration program may be used for such vouchers:

Provided further, That the Secretary may use any unobligated funds appropriated for the rural housing voucher program in a prior fiscal year to support information technology activities of the Rural Housing Service to the extent the Secretary determines that additional funds are not needed for this fiscal year to provide vouchers described in this paragraph:

Provided further, That if Congress enacts legislation to permanently authorize a section 515 multi-family rental housing loan restructuring program similar to the demonstration program described herein, the Secretary may use funds made available for the demonstration program under this heading to carry out such legislation with the prior approval of the Committees on Appropriations of both Houses of Congress.

mutual and self-help housing grants

For grants and contracts pursuant to section 523(b)(1)(A) of the Housing Act of 1949 (42 U.S.C. 1490c), $38,727,000, to remain available until expended:

Provided, That of the total amount appropriated, $1,000,000 shall be available through June 30, 2009, for authorized empowerment zones and enterprise communities and communities designated by the Secretary of Agriculture as Rural Economic Area Partnership Zones.

rural housing assistance grants

(including transfers of funds)

For grants and contracts for very low-income housing repair, supervisory and technical assistance, compensation for construction defects, and rural housing preservation made by the Rural Housing Service, as authorized by 42 U.S.C. 1474, 1479(c), 1490e, and 1490m, $41,500,000, to remain available until expended:

Provided, That of the total amount appropriated, $1,200,000 shall be available through June 30, 2009, for authorized empowerment zones and enterprise communities and communities designated by the Secretary of Agriculture as Rural Economic Area Partnership Zones:

Provided further, That any balances to carry out a housing demonstration program to provide revolving loans for the preservation of low-income multi-family housing projects as authorized in Public Law 108-447 and Public Law 109-97 shall be transferred to and merged with the ``Rural Housing Service, Multi-family Housing Revitalization Program Account´´.

farm labor program account

For the cost of direct loans, grants, and contracts, as authorized by 42 U.S.C. 1484 and 1486, $18,269,000, to remain available until expended, for direct farm labor housing loans and domestic farm labor housing grants and contracts.

Rural Community Facilities Program Account

(including transfers of funds)

For the cost of direct loans, loan guarantees, and grants for rural community facilities programs as authorized by section 306 and described in section 381E(d)(1) of the Consolidated Farm and Rural Development Act, $63,830,000, to remain available until expended:

Provided, That $6,256,000 of the amount appropriated under this heading shall be available for a Rural Community Development Initiative:

Provided further, That such funds shall be used solely to develop the capacity and ability of private, nonprofit community-based housing and community development organizations, low-income rural communities, and Federally Recognized Native American Tribes to undertake projects to improve housing, community facilities, community and economic development projects in rural areas:

Provided further, That such funds shall be made available to qualified private, nonprofit and public intermediary organizations proposing to carry out a program of financial and technical assistance:

Provided further, That such intermediary organizations shall provide matching funds from other sources, including Federal funds for related activities, in an amount not less than funds provided:

Provided further, That $10,000,000 of the amount appropriated under this heading shall be to provide grants for facilities in rural communities with extreme unemployment and severe economic depression (Public Law 106-387), with up to 5 percent for administration and capacity building in the State rural development offices:

Provided further, That $3,972,000 of the amount appropriated under this heading shall be available for community facilities grants to tribal colleges, as authorized by section 306(a)(19) of such Act:

Provided further, That not to exceed $1,000,000 of the amount appropriated under this heading shall be available through June 30, 2009, for authorized empowerment zones and enterprise communities and communities designated by the Secretary of Agriculture as Rural Economic Area Partnership Zones for the rural community programs described in section 381E(d)(1) of the Consolidated Farm and Rural Development Act:

Provided further, That sections 381E-H and 381N of the Consolidated Farm and Rural Development Act are not applicable to the funds made available under this heading:

Provided further, That any prior balances in the Rural Development, Rural Community Advancement Program account for programs authorized by section 306 and described in section 381E(d)(1) of such Act be transferred and merged with this account and any other prior balances from the Rural Development, Rural Community Advancement Program account that the Secretary determines is appropriate to transfer.

Rural Business—Cooperative Service

rural business program account

(including transfers of funds)

For the cost of loan guarantees and grants, for the rural business development programs authorized by sections 306 and 310B and described in sections 310B(f) and 381E(d)(3) of the Consolidated Farm and Rural Development Act, $87,385,000, to remain available until expended:

Provided, That of the amount appropriated under this heading, not to exceed $500,000 shall be made available for a grant to a qualified national organization to provide technical assistance for rural transportation in order to promote economic development and $2,979,000 shall be for grants to the Delta Regional Authority (7 U.S.C. 1921 et seq.) for any Rural Community Advancement Program purpose as described in section 381E(d) of the Consolidated Farm and Rural Development Act, of which not more than 5 percent may be used for administrative expenses:

Provided further, That $4,000,000 of the amount appropriated under this heading shall be for business grants to benefit Federally Recognized Native American Tribes, including $250,000 for a grant to a qualified national organization to provide technical assistance for rural transportation in order to promote economic development:

Provided further, That not to exceed $8,300,000 of the amount appropriated under this heading shall be available through June 30, 2009, for authorized empowerment zones and enterprise communities and communities designated by the Secretary of Agriculture as Rural Economic Area Partnership Zones for the rural business and cooperative development programs described in section 381E(d)(3) of the Consolidated Farm and Rural Development Act:

Provided further, That sections 381E-H and 381N of the Consolidated Farm and Rural Development Act are not applicable to funds made available under this heading:

Provided further, That any prior balances in the Rural Development, Rural Community Advancement Program account for programs authorized by sections 306 and 310B and described in sections 310B(f) and 381E(d)(3) of such Act be transferred and merged with this account and any other prior balances from the Rural Development, Rural Community Advancement Program account that the Secretary determines is appropriate to transfer.

rural development loan fund program account

(including transfers of funds)

For the principal amount of direct loans, as authorized by the Rural Development Loan Fund (42 U.S.C. 9812(a)), $33,536,000.

For the cost of direct loans, $14,035,000, as authorized by the Rural Development Loan Fund (42 U.S.C. 9812(a)), of which $1,724,000 shall be available through June 30, 2009, for Federally Recognized Native American Tribes and of which $3,449,000 shall be available through June 30, 2009, for Mississippi Delta Region counties (as determined in accordance with Public Law 100-460):

Provided, That such costs, including the cost of modifying such loans, shall be as defined in section 502 of the Congressional Budget Act of 1974:

Provided further, That of the total amount appropriated, $880,000 shall be available through June 30, 2009, for the cost of direct loans for authorized empowerment zones and enterprise communities and communities designated by the Secretary of Agriculture as Rural Economic Area Partnership Zones.

In addition, for administrative expenses to carry out the direct loan programs, $4,853,000 shall be transferred to and merged with the appropriation for ``Rural Development, Salaries and Expenses´´.

Rural Economic Development Loans Program Account

(including transfers of funds)

For the principal amount of direct loans, as authorized under section 313 of the Rural Electrification Act, for the purpose of promoting rural economic development and job creation projects, $33,077,000.

Of the funds derived from interest on the cushion of credit payments, as authorized by section 313 of the Rural Electrification Act of 1936, $20,000,000 shall not be obligated and $20,000,000 are rescinded.

rural cooperative development grants

For rural cooperative development grants authorized under section 310B(e) of the Consolidated Farm and Rural Development Act (7 U.S.C. 1932), $12,636,000, of which $300,000 shall be for a cooperative research agreement with a qualified academic institution to conduct research on the national economic impact of all types of cooperatives; and of which $2,582,000 shall be for cooperative agreements for the appropriate technology transfer for rural areas program:

Provided, That not to exceed $1,463,000 shall be for cooperatives or associations of cooperatives whose primary focus is to provide assistance to small, socially disadvantaged producers and whose governing board and/or membership is comprised of at least 75 percent socially disadvantaged members; and of which $3,867,000, to remain available until expended, shall be for value-added agricultural product market development grants, as authorized by section 231 of the Agricultural Risk Protection Act of 2000 (7 U.S.C. 1621 note).

rural empowerment zones and enterprise communities grants

For grants in connection with empowerment zones and enterprise communities, $8,130,000, to remain available until expended, for designated rural empowerment zones and rural enterprise communities, as authorized by the Taxpayer Relief Act of 1997 and the Omnibus Consolidated and Emergency Supplemental Appropriations Act, 1999 (Public Law 105-277):

Provided, That the funds provided under this paragraph shall be made available to empowerment zones and enterprise communities in a manner and with the same priorities such funds were made available during the 2007 fiscal year.

rural energy for america program

For the cost of a program of loan guarantees and grants, under the same terms and conditions as authorized by section 9007 of the Farm Security and Rural Investment Act of 2002 (7 U.S.C. 8107), $5,000,000:

Provided, That the cost of loan guarantees, including the cost of modifying such loans, shall be as defined in section 502 of the Congressional Budget Act of 1974.

Rural Utilities Service

Rural Water and Waste Disposal Program Account

(including transfers of funds)

For the cost of direct loans, loan guarantees, and grants for the rural water, waste water, waste disposal, and solid waste management programs authorized by sections 306, 306A, 306C, 306D, and 310B and described in sections 306C(a)(2), 306D, and 381E(d)(2) of the Consolidated Farm and Rural Development Act, $556,268,000, to remain available until expended, of which not to exceed $497,000 shall be available for the rural utilities program described in section 306(a)(2)(B) of such Act, and of which not to exceed $993,000 shall be available for the rural utilities program described in section 306E of such Act:

Provided, That $65,000,000 of the amount appropriated under this heading shall be for loans and grants including water and waste disposal systems grants authorized by 306C(a)(2)(B) and 306D of the Consolidated Farm and Rural Development Act and for Federally-recognized Native American Tribes authorized by 306C(a)(1):

Provided further, That not to exceed $19,000,000 of the amount appropriated under this heading shall be for technical assistance grants for rural water and waste systems pursuant to section 306(a)(14) of such Act, unless the Secretary makes a determination of extreme need, of which $5,600,000 shall be made available for a grant to a qualified non-profit multi-state regional technical assistance organization, with experience in working with small communities on water and waste water problems, the principal purpose of such grant shall be to assist rural communities with populations of 3,300 or less, in improving the planning, financing, development, operation, and management of water and waste water systems, and of which not less than $800,000 shall be for a qualified national Native American organization to provide technical assistance for rural water systems for tribal communities:

Provided further, That not to exceed $14,000,000 of the amount appropriated under this heading shall be for contracting with qualified national organizations for a circuit rider program to provide technical assistance for rural water systems:

Provided further, That not to exceed $12,700,000 of the amount appropriated under this heading shall be available through June 30, 2009, for authorized empowerment zones and enterprise communities and communities designated by the Secretary of Agriculture as Rural Economic Area Partnership Zones for the rural utilities programs described in section 381E(d)(2) of such Act:

Provided further, That $17,500,000 of the amount appropriated under this heading shall be transferred to, and merged with, the Rural Utilities Service, High Energy Cost Grants Account to provide grants authorized under section 19 of the [[Rural Electrification Act of 1936 (7 U.S.C. 918a):

Provided further, That any prior year balances for high cost energy grants authorized by section 19 of the Rural Electrification Act of 1936]] (7 U.S.C. 901(19)) shall be transferred to and merged with the Rural Utilities Service, High Energy Costs Grants Account:

Provided further, That sections 381E-H and 381N of the Consolidated Farm and Rural Development Act are not applicable to the funds made available under this heading:

Provided further, That any prior balances in the Rural Development, Rural Community Advancement Program account programs authorized by sections 306, 306A, 306C, 306D, and 310B and described in sections 306C(a)(2), 306D, and 381E(d)(2) of such Act be transferred to and merged with this account and any other prior balances from the Rural Development, Rural Community Advancement Program account that the Secretary determines is appropriate to transfer.

rural electrification and telecommunications loans program account

(including transfers of funds)

The principal amount of direct and guaranteed loans as authorized by section 305 of the Rural Electrification Act of 1936 (7 U.S.C. 935) shall be made as follows: 5 percent rural electrification loans, $100,000,000; loans made pursuant to section 306 of that Act, rural electric, $6,500,000,000; 5 percent rural telecommunications loans, $145,000,000; cost of money rural telecommunications loans, $250,000,000; and for loans made pursuant to section 306 of that Act, rural telecommunications loans, $295,000,000.

For the cost, as defined in section 502 of the Congressional Budget Act of 1974, including the cost of modifying loans, of direct and guaranteed loans authorized by sections 305 and 306 of the Rural Electrification Act of 1936 (7 U.S.C. 935 and 936), as follows: the cost of telecommunications loans, $525,000:

Provided, That notwithstanding section 305(d)(2) of the Rural Electrification Act of 1936, borrower interest rates may exceed 7 percent per year.

In addition, for administrative expenses necessary to carry out the direct and guaranteed loan programs, $39,245,000, which shall be transferred to and merged with the appropriation for ``Rural Development, Salaries and Expenses´´.

distance learning, telemedicine, and broadband program

(including transfers of funds)

For the principal amount of broadband telecommunication loans, $400,487,000.

For grants for telemedicine and distance learning services in rural areas, as authorized by 7 U.S.C. 950aaa et seq., $34,755,000, to remain available until expended:

Provided, That the Secretary may use funds under this heading for grants authorized by 379(g) of the Consolidated Farm and Rural Development Act:

Provided further, That $4,965,000 shall be made available to convert analog to digital operation those noncommercial educational television broadcast stations that serve rural areas and are qualified for Community Service Grants by the Corporation for Public Broadcasting under section 396(k) of the Communications Act of 1934, including associated translators and repeaters, regardless of the location of their main transmitter, studio-to-transmitter links, and equipment to allow local control over digital content and programming through the use of high-definition broadcast, multi-casting and datacasting technologies.

For the cost of broadband loans, as authorized by section 601 of the Rural Electrification Act, $15,619,000, to remain available until expended:

Provided, That the cost of direct loans shall be as defined in section 502 of the Congressional Budget Act of 1974:

Provided further, That of the unobligated balances available for the cost of the broadband loans, $6,404,000 are rescinded.

In addition, $13,406,000, to remain available until expended, for a grant program to finance broadband transmission in rural areas eligible for Distance Learning and Telemedicine Program benefits authorized by 7 U.S.C. 950aaa.