
From the U.S. Code Online via GPO Access
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[Laws in effect as of January 2, 2001]
[Document not affected by Public Laws enacted between
  January 2, 2001 and January 28, 2002]
[CITE: 7USC2661]

 
                          TITLE 7--AGRICULTURE
 
CHAPTER 59--RURAL FIRE PROTECTION, DEVELOPMENT, AND SMALL FARM RESEARCH 
                              AND EDUCATION
 
 SUBCHAPTER II--RURAL DEVELOPMENT AND SMALL FARM RESEARCH AND EDUCATION
 
Sec. 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 \1\ goals of this subchapter are to--
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    \1\ So in original. Should be capitalized.
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        (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.

(Pub. L. 92-419, title V, Sec. 501, as added Pub. L. 97-98, title XIV, 
Sec. 1444(a), Dec. 22, 1981, 95 Stat. 1322.)


                            Prior Provisions

    A prior section 2661, Pub. L. 92-419, title V, Sec. 501, Aug. 30, 
1972, 86 Stat. 671, stated Congressional statement of purposes, prior to 
repeal by Pub. L. 97-98, title XIV, Sec. 1444(a), Dec. 22, 1981, 95 
Stat. 1326.


                             Effective Date

    Section effective Dec. 22, 1981, see section 1801 of Pub. L. 97-98, 
set out as a note under section 4301 of this title.


                      Short Title of 1990 Amendment

    Pub. L. 101-624, title XXIII, Sec. 2390(a), Nov. 28, 1990, 104 Stat. 
4055, provided that: ``This section [amending sections 2662 and 2663 of 
this title] may be cited as the `Rural Health and Safety Education Act 
of 1990'.''


                      Short Title of 1987 Amendment

    Pub. L. 100-219, Sec. 1, Dec. 29, 1987, 101 Stat. 1456, provided 
that: ``This Act [amending section 2662 of this title] may be cited as 
the `Rural Crisis Recovery Program Act of 1987'.''


                 Northern Great Plains Rural Development

    Pub. L. 103-318, Aug. 26, 1994, 108 Stat. 1781, as amended by Pub. 
L. 104-327, Sec. 2, Oct. 19, 1996, 110 Stat. 4003, established Northern 
Great Plains Rural Development Commission to study and make 
recommendations regarding economic needs and economic development of 
rural Northern Great Plains by seeking and encouraging participation of 
interested citizens, public officials, groups, agencies, businesses, and 
other entities in developing 10-year rural economic development plan for 
Northern Great Plains, defined terms, provided for membership and 
organization of Commission, duties and powers of Commission, 
compensation of members, administrative provisions, interim and final 
reports to Congress, appropriations, and for termination of Commission 
on Sept. 30, 1997.
