,i #aaith ,,congress #b;d ,session ,h4 ,r4 #gegi ,,in ,,the ,,house ,,of ,,representatives ,february #ac1 #bjbf,ms4 ,letlow introduced the following bill2 which was referred to the ,committee on ,agriculture ,a ,,bill ,to improve access to ,department of ,agriculture ,rural ,development discretionary grant programs by establishing a technical assistance set-aside to support low-capacity rural communities1 and for other purposes4 #a4 ,short title ,this ,act may be cited as the ,empowering ,rural ,communities ,act4 #b4 ,technical assistance set-aside for ,rural ,development discretionary grant programs 7a7 ,set-,aside established ,the ,secretary shall reserve not less than #b4e percent of the total amount made available in appropriations ,acts for each ,rural ,development discretionary grant program1 to support technical assistance activities under this ,act4 7b7 ,use of funds ,the ,secretary shall use funds reserved under subsection 7a7 for-- 7#a7 technical assistance1 including training1 project scoping1 application development support1 pre-award planning1 post-award compliance assistance1 and long-term administrative capacity-building2 7#b7 pre-development support1 including engineering1 environmental review preparation1 and financial feasibility analysis necessary to prepare complete applications2 7#c7 outreach activities1 including workshops1 webinars1 and direct community engagement2 or 7#d7 the development of project-ready grant applications for broadband1 water and wastewater systems1 community facilities1 housing1 business development1 and other rural development priorities4 7c7 ,method of delivery ,the ,secretary may carry out this section through-- 7#a7 cooperative agreements2 7#b7 grants or subgrants2 or 7#c7 contracts with eligible entities4 7d7 ,priority for assistance ,in carrying out this section1 the ,secretary shall give priority to an entity serving a community that-- 7#a7 lacks full-time grant writing or administrative staff2 7#b7 has historically low participation rates in ,rural ,development discretionary grant programs2 or 7#c7 is located in a persistent poverty1 underserved1 or high-need rural area4 7e7 ,coordination with ,state offices ,each ,state office of ,rural ,development shall-- 7#a7 identify high-need communities2 7#b7 collaborate with technical assistance providers2 and 7#c7 ensure services are delivered in a geographically balanced and equitable manner4 7f7 ,administrative expense limitation ,funds reserved under subsection 7a7 shall not be taken into account in applying a statutory limitation on administrative expenses applicable to a ,rural ,development program4 #c4 ,annual report 7a7 ,report to ,congress ,the ,secretary shall submit to the ,committee on ,agriculture of the ,house of ,representatives and the ,committee on ,agriculture1 ,nutrition1 and ,forestry of the ,senate a report describing-- 7#a7 the amounts reserved and expended under this ,act2 7#b7 the number1 type1 and geographic distribution of communities assisted under this ,act2 7#c7 measurable outcomes1 including increased application completion rates and award success1 of measures taken under this ,act2 and 7#d7 any recommendations for improving the framework for delivery of technical assistance activities under this ,act4 7b7 ,public availability ,the ,secretary shall make the report publicly available on the ,department of ,agriculture website4 #d4 ,no additional funds authorized ,the ,secretary may use amounts otherwise appropriated to carry out this ,act4 ,this ,act shall not be interpreted to authorize or require an additional appropriation4 #e4 ,definitions ,in this ,act3 7#a7 ,discretionary grant program ,the term discretionary grant program means any grant program for which funds are made available in an appropriations ,act4 7#b7 ,eligible entity ,the term eligible entity means-- 7,a7 a unit of local government1 parish1 or ,tribal government2 7,b7 a nonprofit organization2 7,c7 a rural electric or telephone cooperative2 7,d7 an institution of higher education 7as defined in section #aja of the ,higher ,education ,act of #aife72 7,e7 a private-sector firm with demonstrated experience in planning1 financing1 developing1 administering1 or implementing rural development or infrastructure projects1 including broadband1 water and wastewater systems1 housing1 energy1 transportation1 or community facilities1 as evidenced by prior project delivery1 grants1 or contracts2 or 7,f7 a ,state or territory cooperative extension service authorized under the ,smith-,lever ,act1 including such a service operated by a land-grant institution4 7#c7 ,high-need area ,the term high-need area means an area that demonstrates economic distress or limited local capacity1 including #a or more of the following1 as determined by the ,secretary3 7,a7 ,high poverty or unemployment rates4 7,b7 ,population loss or long-term economic decline4 7,c7 ,inadequate access to basic infrastructure or essential services4 7,d7 ,limited staffing or administrative capacity to compete for ,federal assistance4 7#d7 ,high-need community ,the term high-need community means a community experiencing economic distress1 limited administrative capacity1 or significant infrastructure deficiencies1 as determined by the ,secretary1 consistent with criteria used by ,rural ,development and the ,economic ,development ,administration4 7#e7 ,land-grant institution ,the term land-grant institution means land-grant colleges and universities 7as defined in section #adjd of the ,national ,agricultural ,research1 ,extension1 and ,teaching ,policy ,act of #aigg74 7#f7 ,low-capacity community ,the term low-capacity community means a community in a rural area1 that-- 7,a7 has a population of not more than #bj1jjj individuals2 or 7,b7 lacks full-time grant writing or administrative staff1 as determined by the ,secretary4 7#g7 ,persistent poverty area ,the term persistent poverty area means a county or equivalent jurisdiction in which #bj percent or more of the population has lived in poverty for a period of at least #cj years1 as measured by the decennial census and other data sources used by the ,office of ,management and ,budget1 the ,census ,bureau1 or the ,department of ,agriculture4 7#h7 ,rural area ,the term rural area has the meaning set forth in section #cdc7;a77#ac77;,a7 of the ,consolidated ,farm and ,rural ,development ,act1 without regard to section #cdc7;a77#ac77;,i7 of such ,act4 7#i7 ,rural development ,the term ,rural ,development means the mission area of the ,department of ,agriculture that includes the ,rural ,utilities ,service1 the ,rural ,business-,cooperative ,service1 and the ,rural ,housing ,service4 7#aj7 ,secretary ,the term ,secretary means the ,secretary of ,agriculture4 7#aa7 ,underserved area ,the term underserved area means a community that has historically experienced barriers to accessing ,federal programs1 funding1 or technical assistance1 including due to geographic isolation1 limited administrative capacity1 insufficient local resources1 or historic underinvestment1 as determined by the ,secretary4