,i  #aai? ,,congress  #a/ ,session  ,h4 
,r4 #fjda  ,,9 ,,! ,,h\se ,,(           
,,repres5tatives  ,novemb] #ab1         
#bjbe,ms4 ,sal9as 7= h]self & ,mr4      
,valadao7 introduc$ ! foll[+ bill2 :i* 0
 ref]r$ to ! ,committee on ,agriculture 
,a ,,bill  ,to au?orize ! ,secret>y (   
,agriculture to provide rural p>tn]%ip  
program grants & rural p>tn]%ip te*nical
 assi/ance grants1 & = o!r purposes4    
#a4 ,%ort title ,?is ,act may be cit$ z 
! ,rural ,p>tn]%ip & ,prosp]ity ,act4   
#b4 ,def9itions ,9 ?is ,act3  7#a7      
,indian ,tribe ,! t]m ,indian ,tribe has
 ! mean+ giv5 ! t]m 9 section #d ( !    
,indian ,self-,det]m9ation & ,education 
,assi/ance ,act 7#be ,u4,s4,c4 #ecjd74  
7#b7 ,rural2 rural area ,! t]ms rural & 
rural area h ! mean+ giv5 ^? t]ms 9     
section #cdc7;a77#ac77;,a7 ( !          
,consolidat$ ,f>m & ,rural ,developm5t  
,act 7#g ,u4,s4,c4 #aiia7;a77#ac77;,a774
  7#c7 ,secret>y ,! t]m ,secret>y means 
! ,secret>y ( ,agriculture4  #c4 ,rural 
p>tn]%ip program grants  7a7 ,9 g5]al   

,subject to ! availability (            
appropriations "u subsection 7j71 !     
,secret>y %all e/abli% a program to make
 multiye> grant aw>ds to coord9ate      
,f$]al1 nonpr(it1 & =-pr(it inve/m5t 9  
rural areas4  7b7 ,grant requirem5ts    
7#a7 ,t]m ,! t]m ( a grant aw>d$ "u     
subsection 7a7 %all be n less ?an #b    
ye>s & n m ?an #e ye>s4  7#b7 ,aw>ds    
,except z provid$ 9 p>agraphs 7#c7 &    
7#d71 ! ,/ate (fices ( ! rural          
developm5t mission area %all be         
responsible = review+ applications =    
grant aw>ds "u subsection 7a7 & select+ 
eligible applicants describ$ 9          
subsection 7d7 = ^? grant aw>ds4  7#c7  
,tribal aw>ds ,except z provid$ 9       
p>agraph 7#d71 9 ! case ( grants "u     
subsection 7a7 allocat$ to ,indian      
,tribes "u subsection 7c77#a77;,b71 !   
national (fice ( ! rural developm5t     
mission area %all be responsible =      
review+ applications = grant aw>ds "u   
subsection 7a7 & select+ eligible       
applicants describ$ 9 subsection 7d7 =  

^? grant aw>ds4  7#d7 ,competitive      
process ,if ! am\nt appropriat$ "u      
subsection 7j7 = a fiscal ye> is less   
?an or equal to #cjj1jjj1jjj1 ! national
 (fice ( ! rural developm5t mission area
 %all be responsible = review+          
applications = grant aw>ds "u subsection
 7a7 & select+ eligible applicants      
describ$ 9 subsection 7d7 = ^? grant    
aw>ds--  7,a7 on a competitive basis2 & 
7,b7 by giv+ priority to areas t h high]
 nonmetropolitan pov]ty levels & l[]    
population levels1 :ile ensur+ t grants 
"u ?is section are aw>d$ 9 div]se       
geographic regions ( ! ,unit$ ,/ates4   
7c7 ,grant allocation  7#a7 ,9 g5]al    
,except z provid$ 9 subsection 7b77#d71 
! ,secret>y %all allocate fund+ = grants
 "u subsection 7a7-- 7,a7 = ea* ,/ate   
bas$ on a =mula det]m9$ by ! ,secret>y 9
 accordance ) p>agraph 7#b72 &  7,b7 =  
,indian ,tribes 9 su* am\nts z !        
,secret>y det]m9es to be appropriate1   
subject to ! condition t ! total am\nt  
allocat$ to ,indian ,tribes "u ?is      

subp>agraph %all n be less ?an #e p]c5t 
( ! am\nt appropriat$ "u subsection 7j71
 ) ,indian ,tribes locat$ 9 areas t h   
high] pov]ty levels & l[] populations   
receiv+ high] levels ( fund+4  7#b7     
,allocation requirem5ts  7,a7 ,9 g5]al  
,! ,secret>y %all develop a graduat$    
scale to allocate fund+ = ,/ates "u     
p>agraph 7#a77;,a7 bas$ on !            
nonmetropolitan pov]ty & population     
levels 9 ea* ,/ate4  7,b7 ,limitation ,!
 am\nt allocat$ to any ,/ate "u         
subp>agraph 7,a7 %all n exce$ #e p]c5t (
 ! am\nt appropriat$ "u subsection 7j74 
7#c7 ,small ,/ate exception to =mula    
,not)/&+ p>agraphs 7#a77;,a7 &          
7#b77;,a71 ! ,secret>y %all ensure t ea*
 ,/ate is allocat$ an am\nt = grants "u 
?is subsection t is suffici5t to fulfill
 ! purposes ( ! program e/abli%$ "u ?is 
section1 z det]m9$ by ! ,secret>y4  7#d7
 ,reallocation ,if a ,/ate or ,indian   
,tribe does n use funds allocat$ to !   
,/ate or ,indian ,tribe "u ?is          
subsection1 ! ,secret>y may reallocate !

 unus$ funds to #a or m o!r ,/ates or   
,indian ,tribes1 ea* ( :i* has us$ all (
 ! fund+ allocat$ to ! ,/ate or ,indian 
,tribe "u ?is subsection4  7d7 ,eligible
 applicants ,to be eligible to receive a
 grant "u subsection 7a71 an applicant  
%all--  7#a7 propose to s]ve a rural    
area2  7#b7 be compos$ ( a p>tn]%ip ( #b
 or m (--  7,a7 an in/rum5tality or     
political subdivision ( a ,/ate1 su* z a
 municipality1 c\nty1 di/rict1 or       
au?ority2  7,b7 a nonpr(it corporation  
or association ) significant ties to !  
rural area describ$ 9 p>agraph 7#a71    
includ+ ?r\gh--  7i7 association )1 or  
control by1 #a or m public bodies 9 !   
rural area2  7ii7 broadly bas$ own]%ip &
 control by memb]s ( ! rural area2 or   
7iii7 a sub/antial public fund+         
contribution to ! rural area ?r\gh      
taxes1 rev5ue bonds1 o!r local gov]nm5t 
s\rces1 or sub/antial volunt>y community
 fund+2  7,c7 a coop]ative ) significant
 ties to ! rural area describ$ 9        
p>agraph 7#a72  7,d7 a =-pr(it entity ) 

a significant pres5ce 9 ! rural area    
describ$ 9 p>agraph 7#a72  7,e7 an      
in/itution ( high] education--  7i7 ) a 
significant contribution to or pres5ce 9
 ! rural area describ$ 9 p>agraph 7#a72 
&  7ii7 t includes repres5tatives :o are
 memb]s ( ! rural area2 &  7,f7 an      
,indian ,tribe-- 7i7 9 a rural area     
describ$ 9 p>agraph 7#a72 &  7ii7 )     
demon/rat$ support f ! ,tribal c\ncil or
 duly elect$ ,tribal executive ( !      
appropriate ,tribal gov]nm5t2 &  7#c7   
demon/rate coop]ation among ! memb]s ( !
 p>tn]%ip describ$ 9 p>agraph 7#b7      
necess>y to complete compreh5sive1      
asset-bas$ rural developm5t ?r\gh       
eligible activities describ$ 9          
subsection 7e74  7e7 ,eligible          
activities ,an eligible applicant       
describ$ 9 subsection 7d7 t receives a  
grant "u subsection 7a7 may use ! grant 
funds 9 rural areas-- 7#a7 to coord9ate 
,f$]al1 ,/ate1 regional1 or ,tribal     
initiatives to r$uce duplicative ef=ts )
 respect to ,f$]al inve/m5ts2  7#b7 to  

lev]age non-,f$]al f9ancial & te*nical  
res\rces2  7#c7 to complete compreh5sive
 pr$evelopm5t activities & plann+2  7#d7
 to create public-private p>tn]%ips &   
attract private inve/m5t2  7#e7 to      
support eligible op]ational activities1 
includ+ /aff+1 ( ! eligible applicants1 
except t a =-pr(it entity may n use !   
grant funds = ! purpose describ$ 9 ?is  
p>agraph2  7#f7 to provide capital to   
exi/+ or new projects1 subject to !     
condition t n m ?an #ej p]c5t ( ! grant 
funds may be us$ = t purpose2  7#g7 to  
support regional projects & initiatives2
  7#h7 to address economic recov]y f    
em]g5cies & natural or man-made disa/]s2
 &  7#i7 to develop /rategic community  
inve/m5t plans describ$ 9 section       
#cgi;,h7d7 ( ! ,consolidat$ ,f>m &      
,rural ,developm5t ,act 7#g ,u4,s4,c4   
#bjjhv7d774  7f7 ,ineligible activities 
,an eligible applicant describ$ 9       
subsection 7d7 t receives a grant "u    
subsection 7a7 may n use ! grant funds--
 7#a7 to fund op]ational activities1    

includ+ /aff+1 at a =-pr(it in/itution2 
7#b7 to pur*ase or lease real prop]ty2  
or  7#c7 to support a non-rural area4   
7g7 ,selection crit]ia ,9 aw>d+ grants  
"u subsection 7b71 ! ,secret>y %all give
 priority to an eligible applicant      
describ$ 9 subsection 7d7 t proposes to 
s]ve-- 7#a7 a rural area ) a significant
 *ange 9 population2  7#b7 a rural area 
) significant work=ce *anges or *anges 9
 major employ]s2  7#c7 an economically  
di/ress$ rural area1 z det]m9$ by !     
,secret>y2  7#d7 a rural area t has     
hi/orically receiv$ m9imal ,f$]al fund+1
 z det]m9$ by ! ,secret>y2 or  7#e7 a   
rural area = ! purpose ( job ret5tion & 
economic /abilization1 z det]m9$ by !   
,secret>y4  7h7 ,mat*+ funds  7#a7 ,9   
g5]al ,subject to p>agraph 7#b71 an     
eligible applicant describ$ 9 subsection
 7d7 t receives a grant "u subsection   
7a7 %all provide non-,f$]al mat*+ funds 
9 ! =m ( ca% or an 9-k9d contribution 9 
an am\nt t is n less ?an #be p]c5t ( !  
am\nt ( ! grant4  7#b7 ,waiv]  7,a7 ,9  

g5]al ,! ,secret>y may waive !          
requirem5t "u p>agraph 7#a7 bas$ on !   
demon/rat$ ne$ ( ! eligible applicant or
 ! population s]v$ by ! eligible        
applicant1 z det]m9$ by ! ,secret>y1    
includ+--  7i7 an eligible applicant    
s]v+ an area ) a high] nonmetropolitan  
pov]ty level2  7ii7 an eligible         
applicant s]v+ a ,tribal population2 &  
7iii7 an eligible applicant compos$ ( a 
p>tn]%ip t includes an entity describ$ 9
 subsection 7d77#b77;,a74  7,b7         
,ju/ification ,! ,secret>y %all provide 
to ! ,committee on ,agriculture ( !     
,h\se ( ,repres5tatives & ! ,committee  
on ,agriculture1 ,nutrition1 & ,=e/ry ( 
! ,s5ate a ju/ification = ea* waiv]     
provid$ "u subp>agraph 7,a74  7#c7      
,provid]s ,non-,f$]al mat*+ funds "u    
p>agraph 7#a7 may be provid$ by any     
memb] ( ! applicable p>tn]%ip describ$ 9
 subsection 7d77#b74  7i7 ,coord9ation  
,! ,secret>y %all c>ry out ?is section 9
 coord9ation ) ! ,rural ,p>tn]s ,network
 e/abli%$ by section #fcjf ( !          

,agriculture ,improvem5t ,act ( #bjah   
7#g ,u4,s4,c4 #bbjd;b-#c74  7j7         
,au?orization ( appropriations  7#a7 ,9 
g5]al ,!re are au?oriz$ to be           
appropriat$ to ! ,secret>y su* sums z   
are necess>y to c>ry out ?is section4   
7#b7 ,adm9i/ration ,! ,secret>y may     
reta9 n m ?an #b p]c5t ( ! am\nts made  
available to c>ry out ?is section =     
adm9i/ration ( ! program e/abli%$ "u ?is
 section4  #d4 ,rural p>tn]%ip te*nical 
assi/ance grants  7a7 ,9 g5]al ,subject 
to ! availability ( appropriations "u   
subsection 7g71 ! ,secret>y %all e/abli%
 a program to aw>d grants1 on a         
competitive basis1 = up to a #e-ye>     
p]iod1 to be adm9i/]$ at ! national     
level ?r\gh ! ,"u ,secret>y = ,rural    
,developm5t1 = ! purpose ( advis+ on &  
assi/+ rural community organizations )--
 7#a7 ,f$]al grant managem5t & !        
developm5t ( f9ancial managem5t sy/ems2 
7#b7 h\s+ or community economic         
developm5t projects2 &  7#c7 !          
developm5t ( placemak+ plans &          

applications = ,f$]al grants4  7b7      
,eligible applicants ,to be eligible to 
receive a grant "u subsection 7a71 an   
applicant %all be a qualifi$ private or 
nonpr(it int]m$i>y organization1 includ+
 an in/itution ( high] education ) an   
exi/+ community developm5t & plann+     
program1 includ+ an ext5sion program1 t 
has demon/rat$ exp]i5ce & capacity to   
provide te*nical assi/ance on community 
developm5t & plann+ 9 rural areas4  7c7 
,eligible activities ,an eligible       
applicant describ$ 9 subsection 7b7 t   
receives a grant "u subsection 7a7 may  
use ! grant funds to support ! capacity 
build+ & economic developm5t ( id5tifi$ 
rural areas & local p>tn]s 9 ^? rural   
areas ?r\gh ! foll[+ activities3  7#a7  
,tra9+ & support+ local /aff1 includ+   
relat+ to sy/ems developm5t & support4  
7#b7 ,id5tify+ vett$ te*nical           
consultants = plann+ & design+ physical 
infra/ructure4  7#c7 ,facilitat+        
coord9ation betwe5 ,f$]al ag5cies &     
local p>tn]s4  7#d7 ,provid+ exp]tise on

 develop+ public-private p>tn]%ips4     
7#e7 ,developm5t & project pr$evelopm5t 
activities4  7#f7 ,grant writ+ & grant  
managem5t activities4  7d7 ,ineligible  
activities ,an eligible applicant       
describ$ 9 subsection 7b7 t receives a  
grant "u subsection 7a7 may n use !     
grant funds-- 7#a7 to fund /aff+ at a   
=-pr(it entity2  7#b7 to pur*ase or     
lease real prop]ty1 build+s1 or         
equipm5t2  7#c7 to support a non-rural  
area2 or  7#d7 = rese>* & developm5t4   
7e7 ,priority ,9 aw>d+ grants "u        
subsection 7a71 ! ,secret>y may give    
priority to an eligible applicant       
describ$ 9 subsection 7b7 t s]ves--     
7#a7 a nonmetropolitan area ) a high    
pov]ty level2 or  7#b7 an ,indian ,tribe
 ) demon/rat$ support f ! ,tribal c\ncil
 or duly elect$ ,tribal executive ( !   
appropriate ,tribal gov]nm5t4  7f7      
,mat*+ funds  7#a7 ,9 g5]al ,subject to 
p>agraph 7#b71 an eligible applicant    
describ$ 9 subsection 7b7 t receives a  
grant "u subsection 7a7 %all provide    

non-,f$]al mat*+ funds 9 an am\nt t is n
 less ?an #cj p]c5t ( ! am\nt ( ! grant4
  7#b7 ,waiv]  7,a7 ,9 g5]al ,!         
,secret>y may waive ! requirem5t "u     
p>agraph 7#a7 bas$ on ! demon/rat$ ne$ (
 ! area 9 :i* activities us+ ! grant are
 to be c>ri$ out1 z det]m9$ by !        
,secret>y4  7,b7 ,ju/ification ,!       
,secret>y %all provide to ! ,committee  
on ,agriculture ( ! ,h\se (             
,repres5tatives & ! ,committee on       
,agriculture1 ,nutrition1 & ,=e/ry ( !  
,s5ate a ju/ification = ea* waiv]       
provid$ "u subp>agraph 7,a74  7g7       
,au?orization ( appropriations  7#a7 ,9 
g5]al ,!re are au?oriz$ to be           
appropriat$ to ! ,secret>y su* sums z   
are necess>y to c>ry out ?is section4   
7#b7 ,adm9i/ration ,! ,secret>y may     
reta9 n m ?an #b p]c5t ( ! am\nts made  
available to c>ry out ?is section =     
adm9i/ration ( ! program e/abli%$ "u ?is
 section4  #e4 ,rural ,p>tn]s ,network  
,section #fcjf ( ! ,agriculture         
,improvem5t ,act ( #bjah 7#g ,u4,s4,c4  

#bbjd;b-#c7 is am5d$--  7#a7 9 ! section
 head+1 by /rik+ ,c\ncil on rural       
community innovation & economic         
developm5t & ins]t+ ,rural ,p>tn]s      
,network2  7#b7 9 subsection 7a77#a71 by
 /rik+ c\ncil & ins]t+ network2  7#c7 by
 /rik+ subsection 7b7 & ins]t+ ! foll[+3
  7b7 ,e/abli%m5t  7#a7 ,9 g5]al ,!re is
 e/abli%$ a ,rural ,p>tn]s ,network     
7ref]r$ to 9 ?is section z ! ,network74 
7#b7 ,successor ,! ,network %all be !   
successor to ! ,c\ncil on ,rural        
,community ,innovation & ,economic      
,developm5t e/abli%$ by ?is section 7z 9
 effect on ! day be=e ! date ( enactm5t 
( ! ,rural ,p>tn]%ip & ,prosp]ity ,act74
  2  7#d7 9 subsection 7c7--  7,a7 9    
p>agraph 7#a7-- 7i7 by /rik+            
subp>agraphs 7,c71 7,d71 7,n71 7,q71    
7,r71 7,s71 7,t71 7,v71 7,x71 7,y71 &   
7,z72  7ii7 by r$esignat+ subp>agraphs  
7,e7 ?r\gh 7,m71 7,o71 7,p71 7,u71 7,w71
 & 7,,aa7 z subp>agraphs 7,c7 ?r\gh     
7,k71 7,l71 7,m71 7,n71 7,o71 & 7,x71   
respectively2 &  7iii7 by ins]t+ aft]   

subp>agraph 7,o7 7z s r$esignat$7 !     
foll[+3  7,p7 ,! ,f$]al ,deposit        
,insurance ,corporation4  7,q7 ,!       
,appala*ian ,regional ,commission4  7,r7
 ,! ,consum] ,f9ancial ,protection      
,bureau4  7,s7 ,! ,social ,security     
,adm9i/ration4  7,t7 ,! ,delta ,regional
 ,au?ority4  7,u7 ,! ,d5ali ,commission4
  7,v7 ,! ,nor!rn ,bord] ,regional      
,commission4  7,w7 ,! ,s\!a/ ,cresc5t   
,regional ,commission4  2 &  7,b7 9     
p>agraphs 7#b7 ?r\gh 7#d71 by /rik+     
,c\ncil ea* place x appe>s & ins]t+     
,network2  7#e7 9 subsection 7d71 by    
/rik+ ,c\ncil & ins]t+ ,network2  7#f7 9
 subsection 7e7-- 7,a7 9 ! subsection   
head+1 by /rik+ ,c\ncil & ins]t+        
,network2  7,b7 9 ! matt] prec$+        
p>agraph 7#a71 by /rik+ ,c\ncil & ins]t+
 ,network2  7,c7 9 p>agraph 7#b71 by    
/rik+ & at ! end2  7,d7 9 p>agraph 7#c71
 by /rik+ ! p]iod at ! end & ins]t+ 2 &2
 &  7,e7 by add+ at ! end ! foll[+3     
7#d7 to improve ! effici5cy ( ,f$]al    
assi/ance to rural communities by-- 7,a7

 r$uc+ adm9i/rative burd5s on rural     
communities to pursue ,f$]al fund+2     
7,b7 improv+ ! adm9i/rative effici5cy ( 
,f$]al economic developm5t programs s]v+
 rural communities2 &  7,c7 /reaml9+ &  
simplify+ ! application process = ,f$]al
 fund+ opportunities = rural            
communities4  2  7#g7 9 subsection 7f71 
9 ! matt] prec$+ p>agraph 7#a71 by /rik+
 ,c\ncil & ins]t+ ,network2  7#h7 9     
subsection 7g71 by /rik+ ,c\ncil ea*    
place x appe>s & ins]t+ ,network2 &     
7#i7 by /rik+ subsection 7h7 & ins]t+ ! 
foll[+3  7h7 ,innovative cross-,ag5cy   
coord9ation  7#a7 ,9 g5]al ,! ,secret>y1
 act+ z ,*air ( ! ,network1 may c>ry out
 innovative /rategies = coord9at+ ) o!r 
,f$]al dep>tm5ts & ag5cies ) respect to 
programs t s]ve rural areas4  7#b7      
,priorities ,9 c>ry+ out p>agraph 7#a71 
! ,secret>y %all prioritize-- 7,a7      
improv+ ease ( access to ,f$]al programs
 = res\rce-con/ra9$ rural communities2  
7,b7 utiliz+ e>ly te*nical assi/ance to 
r$uce duplicative applications &        

adm9i/rative co/s at ! ,f$]al level2    
7,c7 lev]ag+ p>tn]%ips ) local1 ,/ate1  
philan?ropic1 & private entities to     
maximize returns on ,f$]al inve/m5ts2   
7,d7 integrat+ /akehold] & program us]  
exp]i5ce into program design2 &  7,e7   
t>get+ areas exp]i5c+ economic di/ress1 
z det]m9$ by ! ,secret>y4  4