H. R. 4818—24
RURAL TELEPHONE BANK PROGRAM ACCOUNT
(INCLUDING TRANSFER OF FUNDS)
The Rural Telephone Bank is hereby authorized to make such
expenditures, within the limits of funds available to such corpora-
tion in accord with law, and to make such contracts and commit-
ments without regard to fiscal year limitations as provided by
section 104 of the Government Corporation Control Act, as may
be necessary in carrying out its authorized programs. During fiscal
year 2005 and within the resources and authority available, gross
obligations for the principal amount of direct loans shall be
$175,000,000.
In addition, for administrative expenses, including audits, nec-
essary to carry out the loan programs, $3,152,000, which shall
be transferred to and merged with the appropriation for ‘‘Rural
Development, Salaries and Expenses’’.
DISTANCE LEARNING, TELEMEDICINE, AND BROADBAND PROGRAM
For the principal amount of direct distance learning and tele-
medicine loans, $50,000,000; and for the principal amount of direct
broadband telecommunication loans, $550,000,000.
For the cost of direct loans and grants for telemedicine and
distance learning services in rural areas, as authorized by 7 U.S.C.
950aaa et seq., $35,710,000, to remain available until expended,
of which $710,000 shall be for direct loans: Provided, That the
cost of direct loans shall be as defined in section 502 of the Congres-
sional Budget Act of 1974: Provided further, That $10,000,000 shall
be made available to convert analog to digital operation those
noncommercial educational television broadcast stations that serve
rural areas and are qualified for Community Service Grants by
the Corporation for Public Broadcasting under section 396(k) of
the Communications Act of 1934, including associated translators
and repeaters, regardless of the location of their main transmitter,
studio-to-transmitter links, and equipment to allow local control
over digital content and programming through the use of high-
definition broadcast, multi-casting and datacasting technologies.
For the cost of broadband loans, as authorized by 7 U.S.C.
901 et seq., $11,715,000, to remain available until September 30,
2006: Provided, That the interest rate for such loans shall be
the cost of borrowing to the Department of the Treasury for obliga-
tions of comparable maturity: Provided further, That the cost of
direct loans shall be as defined in section 502 of the Congressional
Budget Act of 1974.
In addition, $9,000,000, to remain available until expended,
for a grant program to finance broadband transmission in rural
areas eligible for Distance Learning and Telemedicine Program
benefits authorized by 7 U.S.C. 950aaa.
H. R. 4818—25
TITLE IV
DOMESTIC FOOD PROGRAMS
OFFICE OF THE UNDER SECRETARY FOR FOOD, NUTRITION AND
CONSUMER SERVICES
For necessary salaries and expenses of the Office of the Under
Secretary for Food, Nutrition and Consumer Services to administer
the laws enacted by the Congress for the Food and Nutrition
Service, $595,000.
FOOD AND NUTRITION SERVICE
CHILD NUTRITION PROGRAMS
(INCLUDING TRANSFER OF FUNDS)
For necessary expenses to carry out the National School Lunch
Act (42 U.S.C. 1751 et seq.), except section 21, and the Child
Nutrition Act of 1966 (42 U.S.C. 1771 et seq.), except sections
17 and 21; $11,782,000,000, to remain available through September
30, 2006, of which $6,629,038,000 is hereby appropriated and
$5,152,962,000 shall be derived by transfer from funds available
under section 32 of the Act of August 24, 1935 (7 U.S.C. 612c):
Provided, That none of the funds made available under this heading
shall be used for studies and evaluations: Provided further, That
up to $5,235,000 shall be available for independent verification
of school food service claims.
SPECIAL SUPPLEMENTAL NUTRITION PROGRAM FOR WOMEN, INFANTS,
AND CHILDREN (WIC)
For necessary expenses to carry out the special supplemental
nutrition program as authorized by section 17 of the Child Nutrition
Act of 1966 (42 U.S.C. 1786), $5,277,250,000, to remain available
through September 30, 2006, of which $125,000,000 shall be placed
in reserve, to remain available until expended, to be allocated
as the Secretary deems necessary, notwithstanding section 17(i)
of such Act, to support participation should cost or participation
exceed budget estimates: Provided, That of the total amount avail-
able, the Secretary shall obligate not less than $15,000,000 for
a breastfeeding support initiative in addition to the activities speci-
fied in section 17(h)(3)(A): Provided further, That notwithstanding
section 17(h)(10)(A) of such Act, $14,000,000 shall be available
for the purposes specified in section 17(h)(10)(B): Provided further,
That none of the funds made available under this heading shall
be used for studies and evaluations: Provided further, That none
of the funds in this Act shall be available to pay administrative
expenses of WIC clinics except those that have an announced policy
of prohibiting smoking within the space used to carry out the
program: Provided further, That none of the funds provided in
this account shall be available for the purchase of infant formula
except in accordance with the cost containment and competitive
bidding requirements specified in section 17 of such Act: Provided
further, That none of the funds provided shall be available for
activities that are not fully reimbursed by other Federal Govern-
ment departments or agencies unless authorized by section 17 of
such Act.