
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: 7USC2662]

 
                          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. 2662. Programs authorized

    The Secretary of Agriculture 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 programs

    Rural 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 research

    Rural 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 programs

    Small 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 programs

    Small 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 programs

    Special 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, Sec. 792(a), title VIII, 
        Sec. 871, Apr. 4, 1996, 110 Stat. 1152, 1175

(h) Rural development extension work

                        (1) National program

        The Secretary of Agriculture shall establish a national program, 
    to be administered by the Extension Service, 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 abilities

        The 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 programs

        The 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 training

        The 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 Extension Service staff qualified to 
    provide to rural citizens and to State extension staff training and 
    materials for technical, management, and educational assistance.

                   (5) Coordination of assistance

        The 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 education

            The 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 education

            The 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; \1\
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
    \1\ So in original. Probably should be ``dermatitis;''.
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                (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 development

            The 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 programs

        Educational 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 information

        Educational 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 limitations

        The 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 appropriations

        For 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.

(Pub. L. 92-419, title V, Sec. 502, as added Pub. L. 97-98, title XIV, 
Sec. 1444(a), Dec. 22, 1981, 95 Stat. 1323; amended Pub. L. 99-198, 
title XIV, Sec. 1440(a), Dec. 23, 1985, 99 Stat. 1560; Pub. L. 100-219, 
Sec. 2, Dec. 29, 1987, 101 Stat. 1456; Pub. L. 101-624, title XXIII, 
Secs. 2346, 2349, 2389(a)-(c)(1), 2390(b)(1), Nov. 28, 1990, 104 Stat. 
4032, 4037, 4053-4055; Pub. L. 102-237, title IV, Sec. 403(a), title 
VII, Sec. 704, Dec. 13, 1991, 105 Stat. 1863, 1881; Pub. L. 104-127, 
title VII, Sec. 792(a), title VIII, Secs. 871, 886, Apr. 4, 1996, 110 
Stat. 1152, 1175, 1180.)

                       References in Text

    Act of July 2, 1862, referred to in subsec. (i)(4), is act July 2, 
1862, ch. 130, 12 Stat. 503, as amended, popularly known as the ``First 
Morrill Act'', which is classified generally to subchapter I (Sec. 301 
et seq.) of chapter 13 of this title. For complete classification of 
this Act to the Code, see Short Title note set out under section 301 of 
this title and Tables.
    Act of August 30, 1890, referred to in subsec. (i)(4), is act Aug. 
30, 1890, ch. 841, 26 Stat. 417, as amended, popularly known as the 
``Agricultural College Act of 1890'' and also as the ``Second Morrill 
Act'', which is classified generally to subchapter II (Sec. 321 et seq.) 
of chapter 13 of this title. For complete classification of this Act to 
the Code, see Short Title note set out under section 321 of this title 
and Tables.


                            Prior Provisions

    A prior section 2662, Pub. L. 92-419, title V, Sec. 502, Aug. 30, 
1972, 86 Stat. 671; Pub. L. 95-113, title XIV, Sec. 1440, Sept. 29, 
1977, 91 Stat. 1005, related to programs authorization and cooperation 
and coordination with colleges and universities, prior to repeal by Pub. 
L. 97-98, title XIV, Sec. 1444(a), Dec. 22, 1981, 95 Stat. 1326.


                               Amendments

    1996--Subsec. (a). Pub. L. 104-127, Sec. 886, inserted after first 
sentence ``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.''
    Subsec. (f). Pub. L. 104-127, Sec. 792(a), struck out subsec. (f), 
which related to competitive grants for financially stressed farmers, 
dislocated farmers, and rural families.
    Subsec. (g). Pub. L. 104-127, Sec. 871, struck out subsec. (g), 
which authorized establishment of Extension Service rural economic and 
business development program to enable States or counties to employ 
specialists as Cooperative Extension Service staff to assist individuals 
in creating new businesses, or to assist existing businesses.
    Subsec. (j). Pub. L. 104-127, Sec. 871, struck out subsec. (j), 
which authorized program to award competitive grants to carry out rural 
development research.
    1991--Subsec. (b). Pub. L. 102-237, Sec. 403(a)(2)(A), redesignated 
subsec. (b), relating to rural development extension work, as (h).
    Subsec. (f). Pub. L. 102-237, Sec. 403(a)(1), amended heading 
generally and in par. (2) substituted ``until'' for ``during the period 
beginning on the date of the enactment of this Act and ending on''.
    Subsec. (h). Pub. L. 102-237, Sec. 403(a)(2), redesignated subsec. 
(b), relating to rural development extension work, as (h), redesignated 
former subsec. (h), relating to rural health and safety education 
programs, as (i) and former subsec. (h), relating to research grants, as 
(j), and moved such subsecs. to appear in proper order.
    Subsec. (i). Pub. L. 102-237, Sec. 403(a)(2)(B), (D), redesignated 
subsec. (h), relating to rural health and safety education programs, as 
(i) and moved such subsec. to appear in proper order.
    Subsec. (i)(1)(C). Pub. L. 102-237, Sec. 704(a), added subpar. (C).
    Subsec. (i)(4). Pub. L. 102-237, Sec. 704(b), inserted ``or entities 
described in paragraph (1)(C)'' after ``to States''.
    Subsec. (j). Pub. L. 102-237, Sec. 403(a)(2)(C), (D), redesignated 
subsec. (h), relating to research grants, as (j) and moved such subsec. 
to appear in proper order.
    1990--Subsec. (b). Pub. L. 101-624, Sec. 2346, added subsec. (b), 
relating to rural development extension work, following subsec. (g).
    Subsec. (f). Pub. L. 101-624, Sec. 2389(c)(1), substituted 
``Competitive'' for ``Special'' in heading.
    Subsec. (f)(1)(A). Pub. L. 101-624, Sec. 2389(b)(1), substituted 
``competitive grants for programs that meet the criteria specified in 
subparagraph (B) to develop counseling, retraining, and educational'' 
for ``special grants for programs to develop educational, retraining, 
and counseling''.
    Subsec. (f)(1)(B). Pub. L. 101-624, Sec. 2389(b)(3), (4), added 
subpar. (B), struck out heading, introductory provisions, and cl. (i) of 
former subpar. (B), and redesignated cls. (ii) to (viii) of former 
subpar. (B) as cls. (i) to (vii) of subpar. (D). Prior to amendment, 
introductory provisions and cl. (i) read as follows: ``Such programs 
shall provide the following services:
        ``(i) Clinical outreach counseling and crisis management 
    assistance through appropriate State officials.''
    Subsec. (f)(1)(C). Pub. L. 101-624, Sec. 2389(b)(2), (4), added 
subpar. (C) and redesignated former subpar. (C) as (E).
    Subsec. (f)(1)(D). Pub. L. 101-624, Sec. 2389(b)(2), (4), added 
heading and introductory provisions of subpar. (D) and redesignated 
former subpar. (D) as (F).
    Subsec. (f)(1)(D)(i) to (vii). Pub. L. 101-624, Sec. 2389(b)(3)(B), 
redesignated former subpar. (B)(ii) to (viii) as subpar. (D)(i) to 
(vii).
    Subsec. (f)(1)(D)(viii). Pub. L. 101-624, Sec. 2389(b)(5), added cl. 
(viii).
    Subsec. (f)(1)(E). Pub. L. 101-624, Sec. 2389(b)(2), redesignated 
former subpar. (C) as (E).
    Subsec. (f)(1)(F). Pub. L. 101-624, Sec. 2389(b)(6), substituted 
``shall work with the appropriate State office of rural health, State 
department or agency of mental health, and other'' for ``is encouraged 
to work with'' and ``an annual comprehensive plan'' for ``a 
comprehensive plan'', struck out ``special'' before ``grant funds'', and 
inserted at end ``For recipients in a State to be eligible for a grant 
under this subsection in any fiscal year, the Cooperative Extension 
Service within the State must develop and sign a Memorandum of Agreement 
with the appropriate State department or agency of mental health and 
other State agencies as may be appropriate to carry out the 
comprehensive plan. Such agreement and plan must emphasize the 
development and delivery of counseling and outreach programs as provided 
under subparagraph (B).''
    Pub. L. 101-624, Sec. 2389(b)(2), redesignated former subpar. (D) as 
(F).
    Subsec. (f)(2). Pub. L. 101-624, Sec. 2389(a), inserted ``to 
eligible applicants in any State applying for such grants'' after 
``under paragraph (1)'', and substituted ``1995'' for ``1990''.
    Subsec. (g). Pub. L. 101-624, Sec. 2346, added subsec. (g).
    Subsec. (h). Pub. L. 101-624, Sec. 2349, added subsec. (h) relating 
to research grants.
    Pub. L. 101-624, Sec. 2390(b)(1), added subsec. (h) relating to 
rural health and safety education programs.
    1987--Subsec. (f). Pub. L. 100-219 amended subsec. (f) generally. 
Prior to amendment, subsec. (f) read as follows:
    ``(1)(A) The Secretary shall provide special grants for programs to 
develop income alternatives for farmers who have been adversely affected 
by the current farm and rural economic crisis and those displaced from 
farming.
    ``(B) Such programs shall consist of educational and counseling 
services to farmers to--
        ``(i) assess human and nonhuman resources;
        ``(ii) assess income earning alternatives;
        ``(iii) identify resources and opportunities available to the 
    farmer in the local community, county, and State;
        ``(iv) implement financial planning and management strategies; 
    and
        ``(v) provide linkages to specific resources and opportunities 
    that are available to the farmer, such as reentering agriculture, 
    new business opportunities, other off-farm jobs, job search 
    programs, and retraining skills.
    ``(C) The Secretary also may provide support to mental health 
officials in developing outreach programs in rural areas.
    ``(2) Grants may be made under paragraph (1) during the period 
beginning on December 23, 1985, and ending 3 years after such date.''
    1985--Subsec. (f). Pub. L. 99-198 added subsec. (f).


                             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.


            Effect of Amendments on Current Grant Recipients

    Section 2389(d) of Pub. L. 101-624 provided that 8 States receiving 
grants under 7 U.S.C. 2662(f) during fiscal year 1990 could continue to 
be eligible to receive grants (in an amount not to exceed the amount 
received during that fiscal year) under that section notwithstanding 
that such grants be awarded competitively, so long as such States 
complied with requirement that not less than one-half of such grant 
amount was to be used for clinical outreach counseling and crisis 
management assistance, prior to repeal by Pub. L. 104-127, title VII, 
Sec. 792(b)(1), Apr. 4, 1996, 100 Stat. 1152.


                 Rural Health Infrastructure Improvement

    Section 2391 of Pub. L. 101-624 provided for award of grant for 
establishment of project to demonstrate model approach to improving 
rural health infrastructure, which was to carry out systematic, 
community-based rural health needs assessments, identify and coordinate 
available health services resources, improve community infrastructure 
through health education and information and leadership development and 
training, and develop community generated health improvement strategies, 
and further provided for project implementation and limitations on 
authorization of appropriations, prior to repeal by Pub. L. 104-127, 
title VII, Sec. 709, Apr. 4, 1996, 110 Stat. 1112.

                  Section Referred to in Other Sections

    This section is referred to in sections 2663, 2665 of this title.
