
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: 7USC902]

 
                          TITLE 7--AGRICULTURE
 
         CHAPTER 31--RURAL ELECTRIFICATION AND TELEPHONE SERVICE
 
                   SUBCHAPTER I--RURAL ELECTRIFICATION
 
Sec. 902. General authority of Secretary of Agriculture


(a) Loans

    The Secretary of Agriculture (referred to in this chapter as the 
``Secretary'') is authorized and empowered to make loans in the several 
States and Territories of the United States for rural electrification 
and for the purpose of furnishing and improving electric and telephone 
service in rural areas, as provided in this chapter, and for the purpose 
of assisting electric borrowers to implement demand side management, 
energy conservation programs, and on-grid and off-grid renewable energy 
systems.

(b) Investigations and reports

    The Secretary may make, or cause to be made, studies, 
investigations, and reports regarding matters, including financial, 
technological, and regulatory matters, affecting the condition and 
progress of electric, telecommunications, and economic development in 
rural areas, and publish and disseminate information with respect to the 
matters.

(May 20, 1936, ch. 432, title I, Sec. 2, 49 Stat. 1363; Oct. 28, 1949, 
ch. 776, Secs. 2, 3, 63 Stat. 948; Pub. L. 103-129, Sec. 2(c)(1), Nov. 
1, 1993, 107 Stat. 1363; Pub. L. 103-354, title II, Sec. 235(a)(2), 
(13), Oct. 13, 1994, 108 Stat. 3220, 3221; Pub. L. 104-127, title VII, 
Sec. 771, Apr. 4, 1996, 110 Stat. 1149.)


                               Amendments

    1996--Pub. L. 104-127, Sec. 771(1), inserted section catchline.
    Subsec. (a). Pub. L. 104-127, Sec. 771(1), (2), inserted heading, 
substituted ``The Secretary of Agriculture (referred to in this chapter 
as the `Secretary') is'' for ``The Secretary of Agriculture is'', struck 
out ``and the furnishing of electric energy to persons in rural areas 
who are not receiving central station service'' after ``rural 
electrification'', and substituted ``systems.'' for ``systems; to make, 
or cause to be made, studies, investigations, and reports concerning the 
condition and progress of the electrification of and the furnishing of 
adequate telephone service in rural areas in the several States and 
Territories; and to publish and disseminate information with respect 
thereto.''
    Subsec. (b). Pub. L. 104-127, Sec. 771(3), added subsec. (b) and 
struck out former subsec. (b) which read as follows: ``By January 1, 
1994, the Secretary shall issue interim regulations to implement the 
authority contained in subsection (a) of this section to make loans for 
the purpose of assisting electric borrowers to implement demand side 
management, energy conservation programs, and on-grid and off-grid 
renewable energy systems. If the regulations are not issued by January 
1, 1994, the Secretary shall consider any demand side management, energy 
conservation, or renewable energy program, system, or activity that is 
approved by a State agency to be eligible for the loans.''
    1994--Pub. L. 103-354 substituted ``Secretary of Agriculture'' for 
``Administrator'' in subsec. (a) and ``Secretary'' for ``Administrator'' 
in two places in subsec. (b).
    1993--Pub. L. 103-129 designated existing provisions as subsec. (a), 
substituted ``electric and telephone service in rural areas, as provided 
in this chapter, and for the purpose of assisting electric borrowers to 
implement demand side management, energy conservation programs, and on-
grid and off-grid renewable energy systems;'' for ``telephone service in 
rural areas, as hereinafter provided;'', and added subsec. (b).
    1949--Act Oct. 28, 1949, authorized loans to furnish and improve 
rural telephone service; and inserted ``title I,'' in credit of act May 
20, 1936.
