plans, in order to help bring new health options and lower 
priced health care coverage to rural Americans. 
(b) LOANS.— 
(1) IN GENERAL.—With respect to plan years 
2019 through 2022, the Secretary of Agriculture, in 
consultation with the Secretary of Labor, may make 
not more than 10 loans under this section, for pur-
poses of establishing agricultural association health 
plans, to qualified agricultural associations that have 
not received a loan under this section. 
(2) USE OF FUNDS.—The proceeds of a loan 
made under this section may only be used to finance 
costs associated with establishing and carrying out 
an agricultural association health plan. 
(3) LOAN TERMS.—A loan made under this sec-
tion shall— 
(A) bear interest at an annual rate equiva-
lent to the cost of borrowing to the Department 
of the Treasury for obligations of comparable 
maturities; 
(B) have a term of such length, not ex-
ceeding 20 years, as the borrower may request; 
(C) be in an amount not to exceed 
$15,000,000; 
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(D) require that the borrower submit an-
nual audited financial statements to the Sec-
retary; and 
(E) include any other requirements or doc-
umentation the Secretary deems necessary to 
carry out this section. 
(c) GRANTS.—The Secretary may make grants to ag-
ricultural trade associations or industry associations which 
have been in existence for at least three years prior to 
applying for such a grant to provide for technical assist-
ance in establishing an agricultural association health 
plan. 
(d) AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.— 
(1) IN GENERAL.—There are authorized to be 
appropriated to carry out this section $65,000,000 
for the period of fiscal years 2019 through 2022, to 
be available until expended. 
(2) RESERVATION
OF
FUNDS.—Of the funds 
made available under paragraph (1), not more than 
15 percent of such funds shall be made available to 
make grants under subsection (c). 
(e) DEFINITIONS.—In this section: 
(1) 
AGRICULTURAL
ASSOCIATION
HEALTH 
PLAN.—The term ‘‘agricultural association health 
plan’’ means a group health plan within the meaning 
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of section 733(a)(1) of the Employee Retirement In-
come Security Act of 1974 (42 U.S.C. 1191b)— 
(A) that is sponsored by a qualified agri-
cultural association; and 
(B) with respect to which the Secretary 
has received a letter from the relevant State in-
surance commissioner certifying that such asso-
ciation may offer such plan in such State. 
(2) QUALIFIED AGRICULTURAL ASSOCIATION.— 
The term ‘‘qualified agricultural association’’ means 
an association— 
(A) composed of members that operate a 
farm or ranch or operate an agribusiness; 
(B) that qualifies as an association health 
plan within the meaning of guidance or regula-
tion issued by the Department of Labor; 
(C) that acts directly or indirectly in the 
interest of its members in relation to the plan; 
(D) that is able to demonstrate an ability 
to implement and manage a group health plan; 
and 
(E) that meets any other criteria the Sec-
retary deems necessary to meet the intent of 
this section. 
Æ 
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