,i #aai? ,,congress #b;d ,session ,h4 ,r4 #iaja ,,9 ,,! ,,h\se ,,( ,,repres5tatives ,june #b1 #bjbf,ms4 ,letl[ introduc$ ! foll[+ bill2 :i* 0 ref]r$ to ! ,committee on ,agriculture ,a ,,bill ,to improve transp>5cy1 accessibility1 & acc\ntability 9 ! adm9i/ration ( rural developm5t grant programs at ! ,dep>tm5t ( ,agriculture1 & = o!r purposes4 #a4 ,%ort title ,?is ,act may be cit$ z ! ,rural ,grants ,transp>5cy ,act4 #b4 ,f9d+s ,! ,congress f9ds ! foll[+3 7#a7 ,rural communities (t5 lack /aff capacity & te*nical exp]tise to navigate complex ,f$]al grant programs4 7#b7 ,applicants r\t9ely report difficulty und]/&+ eligibility =1 application /eps =1 timel9es "u1 evaluation crit]ia "u1 & reasons = rejection f rural developm5t programs4 7#c7 ,provid+ cle>1 consi/5t1 & c5traliz$ in=mation improves access to su* programs = small t[ns1 rural nonpr(its1 coop]atives1 & p]si/5t-pov]ty c\nties & p>i%es4 7#d7 ,increas+ transp>5cy 9 ,f$]al grant processes c be a*iev$ )\t additional appropriations4 #c4 ,def9itions ,9 ?is ,act3 7#a7 ,cov]$ program ,! t]m cov]$ program means any grant program adm9i/]$ by ! ,secret>y ( ,agriculture ?r\gh ,rural ,developm5t1 includ+ programs adm9i/]$ by-- 7,a7 ! ,rural ,utilities ,s]vice2 7,b7 ! ,rural ,h\s+ ,s]vice2 or 7,c7 ! ,rural ,bus9ess-,coop]ative ,s]vice4 7#b7 ,qu>t]ly ,! t]m qu>t]ly means n less frequ5tly ?an once e #ij days4 7#c7 ,roadmap ,! t]m ,roadmap means1 ) respect to a cov]$ program1 ! ,rural ,grant ,transp>5cy ,roadmap develop$ = ! program "u section #d4 7#d7 ,rural developm5t ,/ate (fice contact in=mation ,! t]m rural developm5t ,/ate (fice contact in=mation means1 ) respect to a cov]$ program1 to ! appropriate division or program contact )9 ea* ,/ate rural developm5t (fice t is responsible = adm9i/]+ ! cov]$ program1 & is n solely a g5]al hotl9e or swit*bo>d numb]4 7#e7 ,secret>y ,! t]m ,secret>y means ! ,secret>y ( ,agriculture4 #d4 ,rural grant transp>5cy roadmap 7a7 ,e/abli%m5t ,! ,secret>y %all develop1 publi%1 & ma9ta9 a publicly accessible ,rural ,grant ,transp>5cy ,roadmap = ea* cov]$ program4 7b7 ,requir$ compon5ts ,! ,roadmap = a cov]$ program %all include-- 7#a7 a pla9-language description ( ! program2 7#b7 a /ep-by-/ep explanation ( application requirem5ts2 7#c7 a /&>diz$ *eckli/ ( mat]ials requir$ 9 applications2 7#d7 9 ! case ( a competitive program1 a summ>y ( ! evaluation crit]ia us$ "u ! program2 7#e7 common reasons = ineligibility = ! program1 or rejection ( an application2 7#f7 electronic l9ks to =ms & guidance docum5ts2 7#g7 rural developm5t ,/ate (fice contact in=mation relevant to ! program2 & 7#h7 a qu>t]ly-updat$ li/ ( op5 & upcom+ fund+ opportunities4 7c7 ,=mat & accessibility ,! ,roadmap = a cov]$ program %all-- 7#a7 be accessible ?r\gh a s+le1 consolidat$ webpage on ! ,rural ,developm5t website2 7#b7 be writt5 9 pla9 language suitable = small1 res\rce-limit$ rural communities2 & 7#c7 be available 9 =mats accessible to individuals ) disabilities 9 compliance ) section #ejh ( ! ,rehabilitation ,act ( #aigc4 7d7 ,limitations ,?is ,act %all n be int]pret$ to-- 7#a7 require ! ,secret>y to create new evaluation crit]ia = any program2 or 7#b7 alt] eligibility1 priorities1 or requirem5ts e/abli%$ 9 /atute or regulation4 7e7 ,updates ,! ,secret>y %all update ! ,roadmap qu>t]ly & revise compon5t descriptions z necess>y4 #e4 ,/&>diz$ grant application notifications 7a7 ,requirem5t ,! ,secret>y %all provide ea* applicant to a cov]$ program ) /&>diz$ notifications reg>d+-- 7#a7 confirmation ( receipt ( ! application2 7#b7 notice ( complet5ess (1 or defici5cy 91 ! application2 7#c7 notice ( advancem5t ( ! application to review2 7#d7 a grant aw>d or a d5ial ( an application2 & 7#e7 if an application is d5i$1 in=mation on :e!r ! applicant may reapply4 7b7 ,d5ial explanation ,ea* d5ial ( an application submitt$ to a cov]$ program %all include-- 7#a7 a pla9-language summ>y ( ! evaluation crit]ia mo/ det]m9ative to ! outcome2 & 7#b7 guidance on h[ to /r5g!n future submissions4 7c7 ,use ( exi/+ sy/ems ,! ,secret>y %all provide notifications "u ?is section us+ exi/+ electronic or adm9i/rative sy/ems1 & ?is section %all n be int]pret$ to require ! developm5t ( new in=mation te*nology sy/ems4 #f4 ,rural grant aw>d data accessibility 7a7 ,database ,! ,secret>y %all ma9ta9 a publicly accessible1 se>*able database ( aw>ds made "u a cov]$ program1 updat$ qu>t]ly1 conta9+-- 7#a7 ! "n ( ! aw>d recipi5t2 7#b7 ! c\nty or p>i% 9 :i* ! aw>d$ project is locat$2 7#c7 ! am\nt ( ! aw>d2 7#d7 ! "n ( ! program & 7#e7 a brief description ( ! aw>d$ project4 7b7 ,protection ( s5sitive in=mation ,! ,secret>y may n disclose1 or au?orize ! disclosure ( p]sonally id5tifiable or confid5tial bus9ess in=mation "u ?is ,act4 7c7 ,use ( exi/+ res\rces ,! ,secret>y %all utilize exi/+ ,dep>tm5t ( ,agriculture res\rces to c>ry out ?is section4 #g4 ,publication ( scor+ crit]ia 7a7 ,requirem5t ,= ea* competitive cov]$ program1 ! ,secret>y %all publi%-- 7#a7 all scor+ factors2 7#b7 ! weight assign$ to ea* factor2 7#c7 tie-break] rules2 & 7#d7 any /atutory or regulatory priority areas4 7b7 ,limitation ,?is ,act %all n be int]pret$ to au?orize ! ,secret>y to create new scor+ factors or modify exi/+ /atutory requirem5ts4 #h4 ,tra9+ = ,/ate & local ,,usda (fices 7a7 ,annual tra9+ ,! ,secret>y %all ensure t ,/ate1 p>i%1 & c\nty rural developm5t (fices receive annual tra9+ on-- 7#a7 ! ,rural ,grant ,transp>5cy ,roadmap = ea* cov]$ program2 7#b7 ! common *all5ges fac$ by applicants = ea* cov]$ program2 & 7#c7 ! proc$ures = provid+ accurate1 consi/5t in=mation to applicants = a cov]$ program :o are locat$ 9 a rural area4 7b7 ,use ( exi/+ res\rces ,?is section %all be c>ri$ out by exi/+ p]sonnel ( ! ,dep>tm5t ( ,agriculture4 #i4 ,no additional appropriations ,?is ,act %all n be int]pret$ to au?orize or require ! appropriation ( any funds to c>ry out ?is ,act4 #aj4 ,deadl9e = implem5tation ,! ,secret>y %all implem5t all requirem5ts ( ?is ,act )9 #ahj days aft] ! date ( ! enactm5t ( ?is ,act4