
From the U.S. Code Online via GPO Access
[wais.access.gpo.gov]
[Laws in effect as of January 2, 2001]
[Document not affected by Public Laws enacted between
  January 2, 2001 and January 28, 2002]
[CITE: 7USC2204b-1]

 
                          TITLE 7--AGRICULTURE
 
                  CHAPTER 55--DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
 
Sec. 2204b-1. Rural development


(a) Congressional commitment

    The Congress commits itself to a sound balance between rural and 
urban America. The Congress considers this balance so essential to the 
peace, prosperity, and welfare of all our citizens that the highest 
priority must be given to the revitalization and development of rural 
areas.

(b) Location of Federal facilities

    Congress hereby directs the heads of all executive departments and 
agencies of the Government to establish and maintain departmental 
policies and procedures giving first priority to the location of new 
offices and other facilities in rural areas as defined in the private 
business enterprise exception in section 1926(a)(7) \1\ of this title.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
    \1\ See References in Text note below.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

(Pub. L. 91-524, title IX, Sec. 901, Nov. 30, 1970, 84 Stat. 1383; Pub. 
L. 92-419, title VI, Sec. 601, Aug. 30, 1972, 86 Stat. 674; Pub. L. 94-
273, Sec. 7(3), Apr. 21, 1976, 90 Stat. 378; Pub. L. 96-355, Sec. 6, 
Sept. 24, 1980, 94 Stat. 1174.)

                       References in Text

    Section 1926(a)(7) of this title, referred to in subsec. (b), was 
repealed and a new section 1926(a)(7) was added by Pub. L. 104-127, 
title VII, Sec. 741(a)(2), Apr. 4, 1996, 110 Stat. 1123. As added, 
section 1926(a)(7) of this title defines ``rural areas'' but no longer 
contains provisions relating to a private business enterprise exception.

                          Codification

    Section was formerly classified to section 3122 of Title 42, The 
Public Health and Welfare.


                               Amendments

    1980--Subsec. (b). Pub. L. 96-355 struck out provisions respecting 
annual report to Congress by the President covering efforts, etc., made 
for locating all new facilities.
    Subsec. (c). Pub. L. 96-355 struck out subsec. (c) which related to 
planning assistance and annual report to Congress respecting such 
assistance.
    Subsec. (d). Pub. L. 96-355 struck out subsec. (d) which related to 
information and technical assistance and annual report to Congress 
respecting such assistance.
    Subsec. (e). Pub. L. 96-355 struck out subsec. (e) which related to 
provision of government services and annual report to Congress 
respecting such services.
    Subsec. (f). Pub. L. 96-355 struck out subsec. (f) which required 
report to Congress by July 1, 1971, relating to implementation of rural 
financial assistance requirements.
    1976--Subsec. (b). Pub. L. 94-273 substituted ``December'' for 
``September''.
    Subsec. (d). Pub. L. 94-273 substituted ``December 1 of'' for 
``September 1 of''.
    1972--Subsec. (b). Pub. L. 92-419 struck out ``insofar as 
practicable,'' after ``maintain'' and substituted ``policies and 
procedures giving first priority to the location of new offices and 
other facilities in rural areas as defined in the private business 
enterprise exception in section 1926(a)(7) of this title'', for 
``policies and procedures with respect to the location of new offices 
and other facilities in areas or communities of lower population density 
in preference to areas or communities of high population densities''.


                    Effective Date of 1980 Amendment

    Amendment by Pub. L. 96-355 effective Oct. 1, 1980, see section 10 
of Pub. L. 96-355, set out as an Effective Date note under section 2204b 
of this title.

                        Executive Order No. 11797

    Ex. Ord. No. 11797, July 31, 1974, 39 F.R. 27893, which delegated to 
the Secretary of Agriculture the President's authority to prepare and 
submit to Congress annual reports concerning the location of new Federal 
facilities in rural areas, was revoked by Ex. Ord. No. 12553, Feb. 25, 
1986, 51 F.R. 7237.

                  Section Referred to in Other Sections

    This section is referred to in title 16 section 1609.
