HR 2160 RH
$5,900,000 shall be available for debt forgiveness or pay-
ments for eligible households as authorized by section
502(c)(5)(D) of the Act, and not to exceed $10,000 per
project for advances to nonprofit organizations or public
agencies to cover direct costs (other than purchase price)
incurred in purchasing projects pursuant to section
502(c)(5)(C) of the Act: Provided further, That agree-
ments entered into or renewed during fiscal year 1998
shall be funded for a five-year period, although the life
of any such agreement may be extended to fully utilize
amounts obligated.
MUTUAL AND SELF-HELP HOUSING GRANTS
For grants and contracts pursuant to section
523(b)(1)(A) of the Housing Act of 1949 (42 U.S.C.
1490c), $26,000,000, to remain available until expended
(7 U.S.C. 2209b).
RURAL COMMUNITY FIRE PROTECTION GRANTS
For grants pursuant to section 7 of the Cooperative
Forestry Assistance Act of 1978 (Public Law 95–313),
$2,000,000 to fund up to 50 percent of the cost of orga-
nizing, training, and equipping rural volunteer fire depart-
ments.
RURAL HOUSING ASSISTANCE PROGRAM
(INCLUDING TRANSFERS OF FUNDS)
For the cost of direct loans, loan guarantees, agree-
ments, and grants, as authorized by 7 U.S.C. 1926, 42
HR 2160 RH
U.S.C. 1472, 1474, 1479, 1486, and 1490(a), except for
sections 381E, 381H, and 381N of the Consolidated Farm
and Rural Development Act, $86,488,000, to remain
available until expended, for direct loans and loan guaran-
tees for community facilities, community facilities grant
program, rural housing for domestic farm labor grants,
very low-income housing repair grants, rural housing pres-
ervation grants, and compensation for construction defects
of the Rural Housing Service: Provided, That the cost of
direct loans and loan guarantees shall be as defined in
section 502 of the Congressional Budget Act of 1974, as
amended: Provided further, That the amounts appro-
priated shall be transferred to loan program and grant ac-
counts as determined by the Secretary: Provided further,
That of the total amount appropriated, not to exceed
$1,200,000 shall be available for the cost of direct loans,
loan guarantees, and grants to be made available for
empowerment zones and enterprise communities as au-
thorized by Public Law 103–66: Provided further, That
if such funds are not obligated for empowerment zones
and enterprise communities by June 30, 1998, they re-
main available for other authorized purposes under this
head.
HR 2160 RH
SALARIES AND EXPENSES
For necessary expenses of the Rural Housing Service,
including administering the programs authorized by the
Consolidated Farm and Rural Development Act, as
amended, title V of the Housing Act of 1949, as amended,
and cooperative agreements, $58,804,000: Provided, That
this appropriation shall be available for employment pur-
suant to the second sentence of section 706(a) of the Or-
ganic Act of 1944, and not to exceed $520,000 may be
used for employment under 5 U.S.C. 3109.
RURAL BUSINESS-COOPERATIVE SERVICE
RURAL DEVELOPMENT LOAN FUND PROGRAM ACCOUNT
(INCLUDING TRANSFERS OF FUNDS)
For the cost of direct loans, $16,888,000, as author-
ized by the Rural Development Loan Fund (42 U.S.C.
9812(a)): Provided, That such costs, including the cost of
modifying such loans, shall be as defined in section 502
of the Congressional Budget Act of 1974: Provided fur-
ther, That these funds are available to subsidize gross obli-
gations for the principal amount of direct loans of
$35,000,000: Provided further, That through June 30,
1998, of the total amount appropriated, $3,345,000 shall
be available for the cost of direct loans for empowerment
zones and enterprise communities, as authorized by title
XIII of the Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act of 1993,
HR 2160 RH
to subsidize gross obligations for the principal amount of
direct loans, $7,246,000.
In addition, for administrative expenses to carry out
the direct loan programs, $3,482,000 shall be transferred
to and merged with the appropriation for ‘‘Rural Busi-
ness-Cooperative Service, Salaries and Expenses.’’
RURAL ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT LOANS PROGRAM
ACCOUNT
(INCLUDING TRANSFERS OF FUNDS)
For the principal amount of direct loans, as author-
ized under section 313 of the Rural Electrification Act,
as amended, for the purpose of promoting rural economic
development and job creation projects, $25,000,000.
For the cost of direct loans, including the cost of
modifying loans as defined in section 502 of the Congres-
sional Budget Act of 1974, up to $5,978,000, to be de-
rived by transfer from interest on the cushion of credit
payments, as authorized by section 313 of the Rural Elec-
trification Act of 1936, as amended, to remain available
until expended.
RURAL COOPERATIVE DEVELOPMENT GRANTS
For rural cooperative development grants authorized
under section 310B(e) of the Consolidated Farm and
Rural Development Act, as amended (7 U.S.C. 1932),
$3,000,000, of which up to $1,300,000 may be available
HR 2160 RH
for cooperative agreements for appropriate technology
transfer for rural areas program.
RURAL BUSINESS-COOPERATIVE ASSISTANCE PROGRAM
(INCLUDING TRANSFERS OF FUNDS)
For the cost of direct loans, loan guarantees, and
grants, as authorized by 7 U.S.C. 1926, 1928, and 1932,
except for sections 381E, 381H, and 381N of the Consoli-
dated Farm and Rural Development Act, $51,400,000, to
remain available until expended, for direct loans and loan
guarantees for business and industry assistance and rural
business enterprise grants of the Rural Business-Coopera-
tive Service: Provided, That the cost of direct loans and
loan guarantees shall be as defined in section 502 of the
Congressional Budget Act of 1974, as amended: Provided
further, That $500,000 shall be available for grants to
qualified nonprofit organizations as authorized under sec-
tion 310B(c)(2) of the Consolidated Farm and Rural De-
velopment Act (7 U.S.C. 1932): Provided further, That the
amounts appropriated shall be transferred to loan pro-
gram and grant accounts as determined by the Secretary:
Provided further, That, of the total amount appropriated,
not to exceed $148,000 shall be available for the cost of
direct loans, loan guarantees, and grants to be made avail-
able for business and industry loans for empowerment
zones and enterprise communities as authorized by Public
HR 2160 RH
Law 
103–66 
and 
rural 
development 
loans 
for
empowerment zones and enterprise communities as au-
thorized by title XIII of the Omnibus Budget Reconcili-
ation Act of 1993: Provided further, That if such funds
are not obligated for empowerment zones and enterprise
communities by June 30, 1998, they remain available for
other authorized purposes under this head.
SALARIES AND EXPENSES
For necessary expenses of the Rural Business-Coop-
erative Service, including administering the programs au-
thorized by the Consolidated Farm and Rural Develop-
ment Act, as amended; section 1323 of the Food Security
Act of 1985; the Cooperative Marketing Act of 1926; for
activities relating to the marketing aspects of cooperatives,
including economic research findings, as authorized by the
Agricultural Marketing Act of 1946; for activities with in-
stitutions concerning the development and operation of ag-
ricultural cooperatives; and for cooperative agreements;
$25,680,000: Provided, That this appropriation shall be
available for employment pursuant to the second sentence
of section 706(a) of the Organic Act of 1944, and not to
exceed $260,000 may be used for employment under 5
U.S.C. 3109.
HR 2160 RH
In addition, for administrative expenses necessary to
carry out the direct and guaranteed loan programs,
$34,398,000, which shall be transferred to and merged
with the appropriation for ‘‘Rural Utilities Service, Sala-
ries and Expenses.’’
RURAL TELEPHONE BANK PROGRAM ACCOUNT
The Rural Telephone Bank is hereby authorized to
make such expenditures, within the limits of funds avail-
able to such corporation in accord with law, and to make
such contracts and commitments without regard to fiscal
year limitations as provided by section 104 of the Govern-
ment Corporation Control Act, as amended, as may be
necessary in carrying out its authorized programs for the
current fiscal year. During fiscal year 1998 and within
the resources and authority available, gross obligations for
the 
principal 
amount 
of 
direct 
loans 
shall 
be
$175,000,000.
For the cost, as defined in section 502 of the Con-
gressional Budget Act of 1974, including the cost of modi-
fying loans, of direct loans authorized by the Rural Elec-
trification Act of 1936, as amended (7 U.S.C. 935),
$3,710,000.
In addition, for administrative expenses necessary to
carry out the loan programs, $3,000,000, which shall be
HR 2160 RH
transferred to and merged with the appropriation for
‘‘Rural Utilities Service, Salaries and Expenses.’’
DISTANCE LEARNING AND MEDICAL LINK PROGRAM
For the cost of direct loans and grants, as authorized
by 7 U.S.C. 950aaa et seq., as amended, $15,030,000, to
remain available until expended, to be available for loans
and grants for telemedicine and distance learning services
in rural areas: Provided, That the costs of direct loans
shall be as defined in section 502 of the Congressional
Budget Act of 1974.
RURAL UTILITIES ASSISTANCE PROGRAM
(INCLUDING TRANSFERS OF FUNDS)
For the cost of direct loans, loan guarantees, and
grants, as authorized by 7 U.S.C. 1926, 1928, and 1932,
except for sections 381E, 381H, and 381N of the Consoli-
dated Farm and Rural Development Act, $577,242,000,
to remain available until expended, for direct loans, loan
guarantees, and grants for rural water and waste disposal,
and solid waste management grants of the Rural Utilities
Service: Provided, That the cost of direct loans and loan
guarantees shall be as defined in section 502 of the Con-
gressional Budget Act of 1974, as amended: Provided fur-
ther, That the amounts appropriated shall be transferred
to loan program and grant accounts as determined by the
Secretary: Provided further, That through June 30, 1998,
HR 2160 RH
of the total amount appropriated, $18,700,000 shall be
available for the costs of direct loans, loan guarantees, and
grants to be made available for empowerment zones and
enterprise communities, as authorized by Public Law 103–
66: Provided further, That of the total amount appro-
priated, not to exceed $18,700,000 shall be for water and
waste disposal systems to benefit the Colonias along the
United States/Mexico border, including grants pursuant to
section 306C of the Consolidated Farm and Rural Devel-
opment Act, as amended: Provided further, That of the
total amount appropriated, not to exceed $5,200,000 shall
be available for contracting with qualified national organi-
zations for a circuit rider program to provide technical as-
sistance for rural water systems: Provided further, That
an amount not less than that available in fiscal year 1997
be set aside and made available for ongoing technical as-
sistance under sections 306(a)(14) (7 U.S.C. 1926) and
310(B)(b) of the Consolidated Farm and Rural Develop-
ment Act (7 U.S.C. 1932): Provided further, That of the
total amount appropriated, not to exceed $8,750,000 shall
be for water and waste disposal systems pursuant to sec-
tion 757 of Public Law 104–127.
SALARIES AND EXPENSES
For necessary expenses of the Rural Utilities Service,
including administering the programs authorized by the
Rural Electrification Act of 1936, as amended, and the
HR 2160 RH
Consolidated Farm and Rural Development Act, as
amended, and for cooperative agreements, $33,000,000:
Provided, That this appropriation shall be available for
employment pursuant to the second sentence of section
706(a) of the Organic Act of 1944, and not to exceed
$105,000 may be used for employment under 5 U.S.C.
3109.
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 Consumer Service, $454,000.
CHILD NUTRITION PROGRAMS
(INCLUDING TRANSFERS 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; $7,766,966,000, to
remain available through September 30, 1999 of which
$2,548,555,000 
is 
hereby 
appropriated 
and
$5,218,411,000 shall be derived by transfer from funds
available under section 32 of the Act of August 24, 1935
HR 2160 RH
(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 $4,124,000 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 sup-
plemental nutrition program as authorized by section 17
of the Child Nutrition Act of 1966 (42 U.S.C. 1786),
$3,924,000,000, to remain available through September
30, 1999: Provided, That none of the funds made available
under this heading shall be used for studies and evalua-
tions: Provided further, That up to $12,000,000 may be
used to carry out the farmers’ market nutrition program
from any funds not needed to maintain current caseload
levels: Provided further, That notwithstanding sections 17
(g), (h) and (i) of such Act, the Secretary shall adjust
fiscal year 1998 State allocations to reflect food funds
available to the State from fiscal year 1997 under section
17(i)(3)(A)(ii) and 17(i)(3)(D): Provided further, That the
Secretary shall allocate funds recovered from fiscal year
1997 first to States to maintain stability funding levels,
as defined by regulations promulgated under section
17(g), and then to give first priority for the allocation of
HR 2160 RH
any remaining funds to States whose funding is less than
their fair share of funds, as defined by regulations promul-
gated under section 17(g): 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 require-
ments specified in section 17 of the Child Nutrition Act
of 1966: Provided further, That State agencies required
to procure infant formula using a competitive bidding sys-
tem may use funds appropriated by this Act to purchase
infant formula under a cost containment contract entered
into after September 30, 1996 only if the contract was
awarded to the bidder offering the lowest net price, as de-
fined by section 17(b)(20) of the Child Nutrition Act of
1966, unless the State agency demonstrates to the satis-
faction of the Secretary that the weighted average retail
price for different brands of infant formula in the State
does not vary by more than five percent.
FOOD STAMP PROGRAM
For necessary expenses to carry out the Food Stamp
Act (7 U.S.C. 2011 et seq.), $25,140,479,000, to remain
available through September 30, 1998, in accordance with
section 18(a) of the Food Stamp Act: Provided, That
$100,000,000 of the foregoing amount shall be placed in
reserve for use only in such amounts and at such times
HR 2160 RH
as may become necessary to carry out program operations:
Provided further, That none of the funds made available
under this heading shall be used for studies and evalua-
tions: Provided further, That funds provided herein shall
be expended in accordance with section 16 of the Food
Stamp Act: Provided further, That this appropriation shall
be subject to any work registration or workfare require-
ments as may be required by law: Provided further, That
$1,204,000,000 of the foregoing amount shall be available
for nutrition assistance for Puerto Rico as authorized by
7 U.S.C. 2028: Provided further, That $100,000,000 of
the foregoing amount shall be available to carry out the
Emergency Food Assistance Program as authorized by
section 27 of the Food Stamp Act.
COMMODITY ASSISTANCE PROGRAM
For necessary expenses to carry out the commodity
supplemental food program as authorized by section 4(a)
of the Agriculture and Consumer Protection Act of 1973
(7 U.S.C. 612c (note)) and provide administrative ex-
penses pursuant to section 204 of the Emergency Food
Assistance Act of 1983, $141,000,000, to remain available
through September 30, 1999: Provided, That none of
these funds shall be available to reimburse the Commodity
Credit Corporation for commodities donated to the pro-
gram.
HR 2160 RH
FOOD DONATIONS PROGRAMS FOR SELECTED GROUPS
For necessary expenses to carry out section 4(a) of
the Agriculture and Consumer Protection Act of 1973 (7
U.S.C. 612c (note)), and section 311 of the Older Ameri-
cans Act of 1965, as amended (42 U.S.C. 3030a),
$141,165,000, to remain available through September 30,
1999.
FOOD PROGRAM ADMINISTRATION
For necessary administrative expenses of the domes-
tic food programs funded under this Act, $104,128,000,
of which $5,000,000 shall be available only for simplifying
procedures, reducing overhead costs, tightening regula-
tions, improving food stamp coupon handling, and assist-
ance in the prevention, identification, and prosecution of
fraud and other violations of law: Provided, That this ap-
propriation shall be available for employment pursuant to
the second sentence of section 706(a) of the Organic Act
of 1944 (7 U.S.C. 2225), and not to exceed $150,000 shall
be available for employment under 5 U.S.C. 3109.
HR 2160 RH
TITLE V
FOREIGN ASSISTANCE AND RELATED
PROGRAMS
FOREIGN AGRICULTURAL SERVICE AND GENERAL SALES
MANAGER
(INCLUDING TRANSFERS OF FUNDS)
For necessary expenses of the Foreign Agricultural
Service, including carrying out title VI of the Agricultural
Act of 1954, as amended (7 U.S.C. 1761–1768), market
development activities abroad, and for enabling the Sec-
retary to coordinate and integrate activities of the Depart-
ment in connection with foreign agricultural work, includ-
ing not to exceed $128,000 for representation allowances
and for expenses pursuant to section 8 of the Act approved
August 3, 1956 (7 U.S.C. 1766), $135,561,000, of which
$3,231,000 may be transferred from the Export Loan
Program account in this Act, and $1,035,000 may be
transferred from the Public Law 480 program account in
this Act: Provided, That the Service may utilize advances
of funds, or reimburse this appropriation for expenditures
made on behalf of Federal agencies, public and private or-
ganizations and institutions under agreements executed
pursuant to the agricultural food production assistance
programs (7 U.S.C. 1736) and the foreign assistance pro-
HR 2160 RH
grams of the International Development Cooperation Ad-
ministration (22 U.S.C. 2392).
None of the funds in the foregoing paragraph shall
be available to promote the sale or export of tobacco or
tobacco products.
PUBLIC LAW 480 PROGRAM AND GRANT ACCOUNTS
(INCLUDING TRANSFERS OF FUNDS)
For expenses during the current fiscal year, not oth-
erwise recoverable, and unrecovered prior years’ costs, in-
cluding interest thereon, under the Agricultural Trade De-
velopment and Assistance Act of 1954, as amended (7
U.S.C. 1691, 1701–1715, 1721–1726, 1727–1727f,
1731–1736g), as follows: (1) $225,798,000 for Public
Law 480 title I credit, including Food for Progress pro-
grams; (2) $12,250,000 is hereby appropriated for ocean
freight differential costs for the shipment of agricultural
commodities pursuant to title I of said Act and the Food
for Progress Act of 1985, as amended; (3) $837,000,000
is hereby appropriated for commodities supplied in connec-
tion with dispositions abroad pursuant to title II of said
Act; and (4) $30,000,000 is hereby appropriated for com-
modities supplied in connection with dispositions abroad
pursuant to title III of said Act: Provided, That not to
exceed 15 percent of the funds made available to carry
out any title of said Act may be used to carry out any
HR 2160 RH
other title of said Act: Provided further, That such sums
shall remain available until expended (7 U.S.C. 2209b).
For the cost, as defined in section 502 of the Con-
gressional Budget Act of 1974, of direct credit agreements
as authorized by the Agricultural Trade Development and
Assistance Act of 1954, as amended, and the Food for
Progress Act of 1985, as amended, including the cost of
modifying 
credit 
agreements 
under 
said 
Act,
$175,738,000.
In addition, for administrative expenses to carry out
the Public Law 480 title I credit program, and the Food
for Progress Act of 1985, as amended, to the extent funds
appropriated for Public Law 480 are utilized, $1,780,000.
COMMODITY CREDIT CORPORATION EXPORT LOANS
PROGRAM ACCOUNT
(INCLUDING TRANSFERS OF FUNDS)
For administrative expenses to carry out the Com-
modity Credit Corporation’s export guarantee program,
GSM 102 and GSM 103, $3,820,000; to cover common
overhead expenses as permitted by section 11 of the Com-
modity Credit Corporation Charter Act and in conformity
with the Federal Credit Reform Act of 1990, of which not
to exceed $3,231,000 may be transferred to and merged
with the appropriation for the salaries and expenses of the
Foreign Agricultural Service, and of which not to exceed
HR 2160 RH
$589,000 may be transferred to and merged with the ap-
propriation for the salaries and expenses of the Farm
Service Agency.
EXPORT CREDIT
The Commodity Credit Corporation shall make avail-
able not less than $5,500,000,000 in credit guarantees
under its export credit guarantee program extended to fi-
nance the export sales of United States agricultural com-
modities and the products thereof, as authorized by sec-
tion 202 (a) and (b) of the Agricultural Trade Act of 1978
(7 U.S.C. 5641).
EMERGING-MARKETS EXPORT CREDIT
The Commodity Credit Corporation shall make avail-
able not less than $200,000,000 in credit guarantees
under its export guarantee program for credit expended
to finance the export sales of United States agricultural
commodities and the products thereof to emerging mar-
kets, as authorized by section 1542 of Public Law 101–
624 (7 U.S.C. 5622 note).