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‘‘(ii) that serve racially and ethnically 
diverse populations. 
‘‘(C) MATCHING REQUIREMENT.— 
‘‘(i) IN GENERAL.—As a condition of 
any grant made to a qualified organization 
under this paragraph, the Secretary shall 
require the qualified organization to match 
not less than 25 percent of the total 
amount of the grant. 
‘‘(ii) SOURCES.—In addition to cash 
from non-Federal sources, a matching 
share provided by the qualified organiza-
tion may include indirect costs or in-kind 
contributions funded under non-Federal 
programs. 
‘‘(4) RURAL MICROLOAN AND TECHNICAL AS-
SISTANCE PROGRAM.— 
‘‘(A) ESTABLISHMENT.—In carrying out 
the program, the Secretary may carry out a 
rural microloan program. 
‘‘(B) PURPOSE.—The purpose of the rural 
microloan program shall be to provide technical 
and financial assistance through qualified orga-
nizations to sole proprietorships and small busi-
nesses located in rural areas with a particular
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focus on businesses with 10 or fewer full-time 
equivalent employees. 
‘‘(C) AUTHORITY OF SECRETARY.—In car-
rying out the rural microloan program, the Sec-
retary may— 
‘‘(i) make loans to qualified organiza-
tions for the purpose of making short- 
term, fixed interest rate microloans to 
startup, newly established, and growing 
rural microbusiness concerns; and 
‘‘(ii) in conjunction with the loans, 
provide grants in accordance with subpara-
graph (E) to the organizations for the pur-
pose of providing intensive marketing, 
management, and technical assistance to 
small business concerns that are borrowers 
under this paragraph. 
‘‘(D) LOAN DURATION; INTEREST RATES; 
CONDITIONS.— 
‘‘(i) LOAN DURATION.—A loan made 
by the Secretary under this paragraph 
shall be for a term of 20 years. 
‘‘(ii) APPLICABLE INTEREST RATES.— 
A loan made by the Secretary under this 
paragraph to a qualified organization shall
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•HR 2419 EH1S 
bear an annual interest rate of at least 1 
percent. 
‘‘(iii) DEFERRAL
OF
INTEREST
AND 
PRINCIPAL.—The Secretary may permit 
the deferral of payments, for principal and 
interest, on a loan made under this para-
graph for a period of not more than 2 
years, beginning on the date the loan is 
made. 
‘‘(E) GRANT AMOUNTS.— 
‘‘(i) IN GENERAL.—Except as other-
wise provided in this section, each qualified 
organization that receives a loan under this 
paragraph shall be eligible to receive a 
grant to provide marketing, management, 
and technical assistance to small business 
concerns that are borrowers or potential 
borrowers under this subsection. 
‘‘(ii) MAXIMUM AMOUNT FOR MICRO-
ENTERPRISE
DEVELOPMENT
ORGANIZA-
TIONS.—Each microenterprise development 
organization that receives a loan under this 
paragraph shall receive an annual grant in 
an amount equal to not more than 25 per-
cent of the total outstanding balance of
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loans made to the microenterprise develop-
ment organization under this paragraph, 
as of the date the grant is made. 
‘‘(iii) MATCHING REQUIREMENT.— 
‘‘(I) IN GENERAL.—As a condi-
tion of any grant made to a qualified 
organization under this subparagraph, 
the Secretary shall require the quali-
fied organization to match not less 
than 15 percent of the total amount 
of the grant. 
‘‘(II) SOURCES.—In addition to 
cash from non-Federal sources, a 
matching share provided by the quali-
fied organization may include indirect 
costs or in-kind contributions funded 
under non-Federal programs. 
‘‘(c) ADMINISTRATIVE EXPENSES.—Not more than 
10 percent of assistance received by a qualified organiza-
tion for a fiscal year under this section may be used to 
pay administrative expenses. 
‘‘(d) FURNISHING THE SECRETARY WITH INFORMA-
TION.—A qualified organization that receives a grant 
under subsection (b)(3) or loan under subsection (b)(4) 
shall furnish the Secretary by December 1 such informa-
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tion as the Secretary may require to ensure that assistance 
provided under the grant or loan is expended for the pur-
poses for which the grant or loan is made. 
‘‘(e) AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.—There 
are authorized to be appropriated to the Secretary to carry 
out this section not more than $20,000,000 for each of 
the fiscal years 2008 through 2012.’’. 
SEC. 6014. CRITERIA TO BE APPLIED IN CONSIDERING AP-
PLICATIONS 
FOR 
RURAL 
DEVELOPMENT 
PROJECTS. 
Subtitle D of the Consolidated Farm and Rural De-
velopment Act (7 U.S.C. 1981–2008r), as amended by 
sections 5025, 6012, and 6013 of this Act, is amended 
by inserting after section 367 the following: 
‘‘SEC. 368. CRITERIA TO BE APPLIED IN CONSIDERING AP-
PLICATIONS 
FOR 
RURAL 
DEVELOPMENT 
PROJECTS. 
‘‘(a) IN GENERAL.—The Secretary shall review the 
income demographics, population, seasonal increases, and 
other factors as determined by the Secretary, of eligible 
communities for each program authorized or modified by, 
or funded pursuant to, an amendment made by title VI 
of the Farm, Nutrition, and Bioenergy Act of 2007 or sec-
tion 306, 306A, 306C, 306D, 306E, 310(c), 310(e), 
310B(b), 310B(c), 310B(e), or 379B, or subtitle F, G,
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H, or I of this Act, and which proposes to serve a rural 
area (as defined by the applicable law). 
‘‘(b) REGULATIONS.—The Secretary shall issue regu-
lations to establish the applicable limitations that a rural 
area cannot exceed in order to remain eligible for a pro-
gram referred to in subsection (a).’’. 
SEC. 6015. NATIONAL SHEEP INDUSTRY IMPROVEMENT 
CENTER. 
(a) FUNDING.—Section 375(e)(6) of the Consolidated 
Farm and Rural Development Act (7 U.S.C. 2008j(e)(6)) 
is amended by striking paragraphs (B) and (C) and insert-
ing the following: 
‘‘(B) 
AUTHORIZATION
OF
APPROPRIA-
TIONS.—There are authorized to be appro-
priated to the Secretary to carry out this sec-
tion $10,000,000 for each of the fiscal years 
2008 through 2012.’’. 
(b) ELIMINATION OF REQUIREMENT TO PRIVATIZE 
REVOLVING FUND.— Section 375 of such Act (7 U.S.C. 
2008j) is amended by striking subsection (j). 
SEC. 6016. NATIONAL RURAL DEVELOPMENT PARTNER-
SHIP. 
Section 378(g)(1) of the Consolidated Farm and 
Rural Development Act (7 U.S.C. 2008m(g)(1)) is amend-
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ed by striking ‘‘2003 through 2007’’ and inserting ‘‘2008 
through 2012’’. 
SEC. 6017. HISTORIC BARN PRESERVATION. 
(a) GRANT PRIORITY.—Section 379A(c) of the Con-
solidated Farm and Rural Development Act (7 U.S.C. 
2008o(c)) is amended by redesignating paragraphs (3) 
and (4) as paragraphs (4) and (5) and inserting after 
paragraph (2) the following: 
‘‘(3) PRIORITY.—In making grants under this 
subsection, the Secretary shall give the highest pri-
ority to funding projects described in paragraph 
(2)(C).’’. 
(b) LIMITATIONS
ON AUTHORIZATION
OF APPRO-
PRIATIONS.—Section 379A(c)(5) of such Act (7 U.S.C. 
2008o(c)(5)), as so redesignated by subsection (a) of this 
section, is amended by striking ‘‘2002 through 2007’’ and 
inserting ‘‘2008 through 2012’’. 
SEC. 6018. GRANTS FOR NOAA WEATHER RADIO TRANSMIT-
TERS. 
Section 379B(d) of the Consolidated Farm and Rural 
Development Act (7 U.S.C. 2008p(d)) is amended by 
striking ‘‘2002 through 2007’’ and inserting ‘‘2008 
through 2012’’.
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•HR 2419 EH1S 
SEC. 6019. DELTA REGIONAL AUTHORITY. 
(a) AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.—Section 
382M(a) of the Consolidated Farm and Rural Develop-
ment Act (7 U.S.C. 2009aa–12(a)) is amended by striking 
‘‘2001 through 2007’’ and inserting ‘‘2008 through 
2012’’. 
(b) TERMINATION OF AUTHORITY.—Section 382N of 
such Act (7 U.S.C. 2009aa–13) is amended by striking 
‘‘2007’’ and inserting ‘‘2012’’. 
SEC. 6020. NORTHERN GREAT PLAINS REGIONAL AUTHOR-
ITY. 
(a) FEDERAL
SHARE
OF
ADMINISTRATIVE
EX-
PENSES.—Section 383B(g)(1) of the Consolidated Farm 
and Rural Development Act (7 U.S.C. 2009bb–1(g)(1)) 
is amended— 
(1) in subparagraph (A), by striking ‘‘2002’’ 
and inserting ‘‘2007’’; 
(2) in subparagraph (B), by striking ‘‘2003’’ 
and inserting ‘‘2008’’; and 
(3) in subparagraph (C), by striking ‘‘2004’’ 
and inserting ‘‘2009’’. 
(b) 
TECHNICAL
AMENDMENT.—Section 
383B(d)(6)(A) of such Act (7 U.S.C. 2009bb–1(d)(6)(A)) 
is amended by inserting ‘‘and resource conservation’’ after 
‘‘development’’.
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•HR 2419 EH1S 
(c) ELIMINATION OF PRIORITIZATION RANKING OF 
ACTIVITIES TO BE FUNDED.—Section 383C(b)(2) of such 
Act (7 U.S.C. 2009bb–2(b)(2)) is amended by striking 
‘‘activities in the following order of priority’’ and inserting 
‘‘following activities’’. 
(d) ELIMINATION OF ISOLATED AREA OF DISTRESS 
DESIGNATION.— 
(1) IN GENERAL.—Section 383F(a) of such Act 
(7 U.S.C. 2009bb–5(a)) is amended— 
(A) by adding ‘‘and’’ at the end of para-
graph (1); 
(B) by striking ‘‘; and’’ at the end of para-
graph (2) and inserting a period; and 
(C) by striking paragraph (3). 
(2) 
CONFORMING
AMENDMENTS.—Section 
383F(b) of such Act (7 U.S.C. 2009bb–5(b)) is 
amended— 
(A) in paragraph (1), by striking ‘‘and iso-
lated areas of distress’’; and 
(B) in paragraph (2), by striking ‘‘or iso-
lated areas of distress’’. 
(e) REDUCTION OF MINIMUM FUNDS ALLOCATION 
FOR DISTRESSED COUNTIES.—Section 383F(b)(1) of 
such Act (7 U.S.C. 2009bb–5(b)(1)) is amended by strik-
ing ‘‘75’’ and inserting ‘‘50’’.
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•HR 2419 EH1S 
(f) ELIMINATION OF PROHIBITION ON PROVIDING 
FUNDS TO NONDISTRESSED COUNTIES.—Section 383F of 
such Act (7 U.S.C. 2009bb–5) is amended by striking sub-
section (c) and redesignating subsection (d) as subsection 
(c). 
(g) INCLUSION OF RENEWABLE ENERGY AMONG OB-
JECTS
OF
MINIMUM
FUNDS
ALLOCATION.—Section 
383F(c) of such Act (7 U.S.C. 2009bb–5(c)), as so redes-
ignated by subsection (a) of this section, is amended— 
(1) in the subsection heading, by inserting ‘‘RE-
NEWABLE
ENERGY,’’ 
after 
‘‘TELECOMMUNI-
CATION,’’; and 
(2) by inserting ‘‘renewable energy,’’ after 
‘‘telecommunication’’. 
(h) AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.—Section 
383M(a) of such Act (7 U.S.C. 2009bb–12(a)) is amended 
by striking ‘‘2002 through 2007’’ and inserting ‘‘2008 
through 2012’’. 
(i) TERMINATION OF AUTHORITY.—Section 383N of 
such Act (7 U.S.C. 2009bb–13) is amended by striking 
‘‘2007’’ and inserting ‘‘2012’’. 
SEC. 6021. RURAL STRATEGIC INVESTMENT PROGRAM. 
(a) LIMITATIONS
ON AUTHORIZATION
OF APPRO-
PRIATIONS.—Section 385E of the Consolidated Farm and
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•HR 2419 EH1S 
Rural Development Act (7 U.S.C. 2009dd–4) is amended 
to read as follows: 
‘‘SEC. 385E. LIMITATIONS ON AUTHORIZATION OF APPRO-
PRIATIONS. 
‘‘There are authorized to be appropriated to the Sec-
retary to carry out this subtitle not more than 
$25,000,000 for each of the fiscal years 2008 through 
2012.’’. 
(b) PRESERVATION
AND PROMOTION
OF RURAL 
HERITAGE.— 
(1) DEFINITION.—Section 385B of such Act (7 
U.S.C. 2009dd–1) is amended by adding at the end 
the following: 
‘‘(12) RURAL HERITAGE.—The term ‘rural her-
itage’ means historic sites, structures, and districts 
which may include rural downtown areas and main 
streets, neighborhoods, farmsteads, scenic and his-
toric trails, and heritage areas and historic land-
scapes.’’. 
(2) RURAL STRATEGIC INVESTMENT PLANNING 
GRANTS.—Section 385F(b) of such Act (7 U.S.C. 
2009dd–5(b)) is amended— 
(A) by striking ‘‘and’’ at the end of para-
graph (6); and
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•HR 2419 EH1S 
(B) by redesignating paragraph (7) as 
paragraph (8) and inserting after paragraph 
(6) the following: 
‘‘(7) preservation and promotion of rural herit-
age; and’’. 
(3) INNOVATION GRANTS.—Section 385G(d) of 
such Act (7 U.S.C. 2009dd–66–(d)) is amended— 
(A) by striking ‘‘and’’ at the end of para-
graph (6); and 
(B) by redesignating paragraph (7) as 
paragraph (8) and inserting after paragraph 
(6) the following: 
‘‘(7) demonstrate a plan to protect and promote 
rural heritage; and’’. 
SEC. 6022. EXPANSION OF 911 ACCESS. 
Section 315(b) of the Rural Electrification Act of 
1936 (7 U.S.C. 904e(b)) is amended by striking ‘‘2002 
through 2007’’ and inserting ‘‘2008 through 2012’’. 
SEC. 6023. ACCESS TO BROADBAND TELECOMMUNICATIONS 
SERVICES IN RURAL AREAS. 
(a) DEFINITIONS.—Section 601(b) of the Rural Elec-
trification Act of 1936 (7 U.S.C. 950bb(b)) is amended 
by striking paragraph (2) and inserting the following:
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•HR 2419 EH1S 
‘‘(2) ELIGIBLE RURAL COMMUNITY.—The term 
‘eligible rural community’ means any area of the 
United States that is not— 
‘‘(A) included within the boundaries of any 
city, town, borough, or village, whether incor-
porated or unincorporated, with a population of 
more than 20,000 inhabitants; or 
‘‘(B) the urbanized area contiguous and 
adjacent to such a city or town.’’. 
(b) PRIORITIZATION OF APPLICATIONS.— 
(1) DEFINITION.—Section 601(b) of such Act 
(7 U.S.C. 950bb(b)), as amended by subsection (a) 
of this section, is amended by adding at the end the 
following: 
‘‘(3) INCUMBENT
SERVICE
PROVIDER.—The 
term ‘incumbent service provider’ means, with re-
spect to an application submitted pursuant to this 
section, an entity that is providing broadband service 
to at least 5 percent of the households in the service 
area proposed in the application.’’. 
(2) PRIORITY BASED ON NUMBER OF INCUM-
BENT SERVICE PROVIDERS.—Section 601(c) of such 
Act (7 U.S.C. 950bb(c)) is amended by adding at 
the end the following:
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•HR 2419 EH1S 
‘‘(3) APPLICATIONS
PRIORITIZED
BASED
ON 
NUMBER OF INCUMBENT SERVICE PROVIDERS.— 
‘‘(A) IN GENERAL.—In making or guaran-
teeing loans under paragraph (1), the Secretary 
shall give priority, in the following order, to ap-
plications from eligible rural communities that 
have— 
‘‘(i) no incumbent service provider; 
‘‘(ii) 1 incumbent service provider; or 
‘‘(iii) 2 incumbent service providers 
who, together, serve not more than 25 per-
cent of the households in the service area 
proposed in the application. 
‘‘(B) PROHIBITIONS.—In carrying out this 
section, the Secretary may not— 
‘‘(i) make a loan to an eligible com-
munity in which there are 3 or more in-
cumbent service providers, unless— 
‘‘(I) the loan is to an incumbent 
service provider of the community; 
‘‘(II) the other providers in that 
community are notified of the applica-
tion before approval by the Secretary, 
and have sufficient time to comment 
on the application; and
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•HR 2419 EH1S 
‘‘(III) the application includes 
substantially increasing— 
‘‘(aa) 
the 
quality 
of 
broadband service in the commu-
nity; and 
‘‘(bb) 
the 
provision 
of 
broadband service to unserved 
households inside and outside the 
community; or 
‘‘(ii) make a loan for new construction 
to any community in which more than 75 
percent of the households may obtain af-
fordable broadband service, on request, 
from at least 1 incumbent service pro-
vider.’’. 
(c) PAPERWORK REDUCTION.—Section 601(c) of 
such Act (7 U.S.C. 950bb(c)), as amended by subsection 
(b)(2) of this section, is amended by adding at the end 
the following: 
‘‘(4) PAPERWORK REDUCTION.—The Secretary 
shall take steps to reduce the cost and paperwork 
associated with applying for a loan or loan guar-
antee under this section by first-time applicants, 
particularly those who are smaller and start-up 
Internet providers, including by providing for a new
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•HR 2419 EH1S 
application which shall maintain the ability of the 
Secretary to make an analysis of the risk associated 
with the loan involved.’’. 
(d) INCREASE
IN MAXIMUM NUMBER
OF SUB-
SCRIBER LINES THAT MAY BE SERVED BY AN ELIGIBLE 
ENTITY.—Section 601(d)(3) of such Act (7 U.S.C. 
950bb(d)(3)) is amended by striking ‘‘2’’ and inserting 
‘‘10’’. 
(e) LIMITATION
ON FUNDS
TO ENTITIES WITH 
MORE THAN 2 PERCENT OF SUBSCRIBER LINES.—Sec-
tion 601(d) of such Act (7 U.S.C. 950bb(d)) is amended 
by adding at the end the following: 
‘‘(4) LIMITATION ON FUNDS TO ENTITIES WITH 
MORE THAN 2 PERCENT OF SUBSCRIBER LINES.— 
Not more than 25 percent of the loans made under 
this section in a single fiscal year may be approved 
for entities that serve more than 2 percent of the 
telephone subscriber lines in the United States.’’. 
(f) LOAN TERM NOT TO EXCEED 35 YEARS.—Sec-
tion 601(g)(2) of such Act (7 U.S.C. 950bb(g)(2)) is 
amended by striking ‘‘not to exceed the useful life of the 
assets constructed, improved, or acquired with the pro-
ceeds of the loan or extension of credit.’’ and inserting 
‘‘of such length, not exceeding 35 years, as the borrower 
may request, so long as the Secretary determines that the
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•HR 2419 EH1S 
loan is adequately secured. In determining the term of a 
loan or loan guarantee, the Secretary shall consider wheth-
er the recipient is or would be serving an area that is not 
receiving broadband services.’’ 
(g) ADEQUACY OF SECURITY.—Section 601 of such 
Act (7 U.S.C. 950bb) is amended by redesignating sub-
sections (h) through (k) as subsections (i) through (l), re-
spectively, and inserting after subsection (g) the following: 
‘‘(h) ADEQUACY OF SECURITY.—The Secretary shall 
ensure that the type, amount, and method of security used 
to secure any loan or loan guarantee provided under this 
section is commensurate to the risk involved with the loan 
or loan guarantee, particularly when the loan or loan guar-
antee is issued to a financially healthy, strong, and stable 
entity. In determining the amount and method of security, 
the Secretary shall consider reducing the security in areas 
that do not have broadband service.’’. 
(h) GENERAL REPORT ON PROGRAM.—Section 601 
of such Act (7 U.S.C. 950bb), as amended by subsection 
(g) of this section, is amended by redesignating sub-
sections (k) and (l) as subsections (l) and (m), respec-
tively, and inserting after subsection (j) the following: 
‘‘(k) GENERAL PROGRAM REPORT.—Not later than 
December 1 of each year, the Secretary shall prepare and 
submit to the Committee on Agriculture of the House of
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•HR 2419 EH1S 
Representatives and the Committee on Agriculture, Nutri-
tion, and Forestry of the Senate a report that details for 
the preceding fiscal year— 
‘‘(1) the loans made under this section; 
‘‘(2) the communities served under this section; 
‘‘(3) the speed of the broadband service offered 
by applicants for, and recipients of, loans or loan 
guarantees under this section; 
‘‘(4) the type of services offered by the appli-
cants and recipients; 
‘‘(5) the length of time to approve applications 
submitted pursuant to this section; and 
‘‘(6) the outreach efforts undertaken by the De-
partment of Agriculture to encourage persons in 
areas without broadband service to submit applica-
tions pursuant to this section.’’. 
(i) NATIONAL CENTER FOR RURAL TELECOMMUNI-
CATIONS ASSESSMENT.—Section 601 of such Act (7 
U.S.C. 950bb), as amended by subsections (g) and (h) of 
this section, is amended by redesignating subsections (l) 
and (m) as subsections (m) and (n), respectively, and in-
serting after subsection (k) the following: 
‘‘(l) NATIONAL CENTER FOR RURAL TELECOMMUNI-
CATIONS ASSESSMENT.—
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•HR 2419 EH1S 
‘‘(1) ESTABLISHMENT OF CENTER.—The Sec-
retary shall designate a National Center for Rural 
Telecommunications Assessment (in this subsection 
referred to as the ‘Center’). 
‘‘(2) CRITERIA.—The Secretary shall use the 
following criteria in making the designation: 
‘‘(A) The Center must be an entity with a 
focus on rural policy research and a minimum 
of 5 years experience in rural telecommuni-
cations research and assessment. 
‘‘(B) The Center must be capable of as-
sessing broadband services in rural areas. 
‘‘(C) The Center must have significant ex-
perience with other rural economic development 
centers and organizations in the assessment of 
rural policies and formulation of policy solu-
tions at the local, State, and Federal level. 
‘‘(3) BOARD.—The management of the Center 
shall be vested in a board of directors that is capable 
of oversight of the duties set forth in paragraph (4). 
‘‘(4) DUTIES.—The Center shall— 
‘‘(A) assess the effectiveness of programs 
provided under subsection (d) in increasing 
broadband penetration and purchase in rural 
areas, especially in those rural communities
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•HR 2419 EH1S 
identified by the Secretary as having no service 
before award of a broadband loan or loan guar-
antee under subsection (d); 
‘‘(B) develop assessments of broadband 
availability in rural areas, working with existing 
rural development centers selected by the Cen-
ter; 
‘‘(C) identify policies and initiatives at the 
local, State and Federal level that have in-
creased broadband penetration and purchase in 
rural areas; 
‘‘(D) conduct a national study of rural 
households and businesses focusing on the 
adoption of, barriers to, and utilization of 
broadband services; and 
‘‘(E) provide reports to the public on the 
activities undertaken under this section. 
‘‘(5) REPORTING REQUIREMENTS.—The Center 
shall report by December 1 of each year to the Sec-
retary its activities, the results of its research, and 
any such information the Secretary may request re-
garding the prior fiscal year. In reporting to the 
Secretary the Center shall include the following: 
‘‘(A) Assessments of the programs pro-
vided under subsection (b).
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•HR 2419 EH1S 
‘‘(B) Annual assessments on broadband 
availability in rural areas under consideration 
by the Center. 
‘‘(C) Annual assessments on the effects of 
the policy initiatives identified in paragraph 
(2)(C). 
‘‘(D) Results from the national study of 
rural households and businesses conducted 
under paragraph (4)(D). 
‘‘(6) AUTHORIZATION
OF
APPROPRIATIONS.— 
There are authorized to be appropriated to the Sec-
retary to carry out this subsection not more than 
$1,000,000 for each of the fiscal years 2008 through 
2012.’’. 
(j) FUNDING.—Section 601(m) of such Act (7 U.S.C. 
950bb(l)) as so redesignated by subsections (g) through 
(i) of this section, is amended— 
(1) by striking paragraph (1); 
(2) by redesignating paragraphs (2), (3), and 
(4) as paragraphs (1), (2), and (3), respectively; 
(3) in paragraph (1)(B) (as so redesignated), 
by striking ‘‘2007’’ and inserting ‘‘2012’’; 
(4) in paragraph (2) (as so redesignated), by 
striking ‘‘2003 through 2007’’ and inserting ‘‘2008 
through 2012’’; and
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•HR 2419 EH1S 
(5) in paragraph (3) (as so redesignated), by 
adding at the end the following: 
‘‘(D) ELIGIBLE
TRIBAL
COMMUNITIES.— 
Of the amounts made available under subpara-
graph (A) for a fiscal year, 10 percent shall be 
reserved for entities serving eligible tribal com-
munities. 
‘‘(E) 
UNOBLIGATED
AMOUNTS.—Any 
amounts in the reserve established for eligible 
tribal communities for a fiscal year under sub-
paragraph (D) that are not obligated by June 
30 of the fiscal year shall be available to the 
Secretary to make loans and loan guarantees 
under this section to eligible entities in any 
State, as determined by the Secretary.’’. 
(k) EXTENSION OF AUTHORITY TO ISSUE LOANS.— 
Section 601(n) of such Act (7 U.S.C. 950bb(m)), as so 
redesignated by subsections (f) through (h) of this section, 
is amended by striking ‘‘2007’’ and inserting ‘‘2012’’. 
SEC. 6024. COMMUNITY CONNECT GRANT PROGRAM. 
Title VI of the Rural Electrification Act of 1936 (7 
U.S.C. 950bb) is amended by adding at the end the fol-
lowing:
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•HR 2419 EH1S 
‘‘SEC. 602. COMMUNITY CONNECT GRANT PROGRAM. 
‘‘(a) ESTABLISHMENT.—The Secretary shall estab-
lish a grant program to be known as the ‘Community Con-
nect Grant Program’ to provide financial assistance to eli-
gible applicants to provide broadband transmission service 
that fosters economic growth and delivers enhanced edu-
cational, health care, and public safety services. 
‘‘(b) ELIGIBILITY.—To be eligible for a grant under 
this section, the applicant must— 
‘‘(1) be legally organized as an incorporated 
tribal organization, an Indian tribe, or tribal organi-
zation, as defined in subsections (b) and (c) of sec-
tion 4 of the Indian Self-Determination and Edu-
cation Assistance Act (25 U.S.C. 450b(b) and (c)), 
a State or local unit of government, or other legal 
entity, including a cooperative, private corporation, 
or limited liability company organized on a for-profit 
or not-for-profit basis; 
‘‘(2) have the legal capacity and authority to 
own and operate broadband facilities as proposed in 
its application, to enter into contracts, and to other-
wise comply with applicable Federal statutes and 
regulations; or 
‘‘(3) be in an eligible rural community (as de-
fined in section 601(b)(2) of the Rural Electrifica-
tion Act of 1936).
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•HR 2419 EH1S 
‘‘(c) INELIGIBLE GRANT PURPOSES.—A grant made 
under this section may not be used— 
‘‘(1) 
to 
finance 
the 
duplication 
of 
any 
broadband transmission service provided by another 
entity; or 
‘‘(2) with respect to facilities, to provide local 
exchange telecommunications service to any person 
or entity receiving the service. 
‘‘(d) PRIORITY.—In making grants under this sec-
tion, the Secretary shall give priority to grants that will 
enhance community access to telemedicine and distance 
learning resources. 
‘‘(e) MATCHING CONTRIBUTIONS.— 
‘‘(1) IN GENERAL.—To be eligible to receive a 
grant under subsection (a), a grant applicant shall 
provide a matching contribution of at least 15 per-
cent of the grant amount requested, in funds and in- 
kind contributions in a proportion to be determined 
by the Secretary. 
‘‘(2) LIMITATIONS.— 
‘‘(A) Costs incurred by or on behalf of an 
applicant, for facilities, installed equipment, or 
other services rendered before submission of a 
completed application shall not be considered to
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be for an eligible grant purpose or a matching 
contribution. 
‘‘(B) Any financial assistance from Federal 
sources shall not be considered to be a match-
ing contribution for purposes of this section, 
unless there is a Federal statutory exception 
specifically authorizing the Federal financial as-
sistance to be so considered. 
‘‘(f) AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.—There 
are authorized to be appropriated to the Secretary to carry 
out this section not more than $25,000,000 for each of 
the fiscal years 2008 through 2012.’’. 
SEC. 6025. AGRICULTURE INNOVATION CENTER DEM-
ONSTRATION PROGRAM. 
Section 6402(i) of the Farm Security and Rural In-
vestment Act of 2002 (7 U.S.C. 1621 note; Public Law 
107–171) is amended to read as follows: 
‘‘(i) AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.—There 
are authorized to be appropriated to the Secretary to carry 
out this section $6,000,000 for each of the fiscal years 
2008 through 2012.’’.
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SEC. 6026. RURAL FIREFIGHTERS AND EMERGENCY MED-
ICAL SERVICE ASSISTANCE PROGRAM. 
Section 6405 of the Farm Security and Rural Invest-
ment Act of 2002 (7 U.S.C. 1621 note) is amended to 
read as follows: 
‘‘SEC. 6405. RURAL FIREFIGHTERS AND EMERGENCY MED-
ICAL SERVICE ASSISTANCE PROGRAM. 
‘‘(a) GRANTS.—The Secretary shall award grants to 
eligible entities to— 
‘‘(1) enable the entities to provide for improved 
emergency medical services in rural areas; and 
‘‘(2) pay the cost of training firefighters and 
emergency medical personnel in firefighting, emer-
gency medical practices, and responding to haz-
ardous materials and bioagents in rural areas. 
‘‘(b) ELIGIBILITY.—To be eligible to receive a grant 
under this section, an entity shall— 
‘‘(1) be— 
‘‘(A) a State emergency medical services 
office; 
‘‘(B) a State emergency medical services 
association; 
‘‘(C) a State office of rural health; 
‘‘(D) a local government entity;
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‘‘(E) an Indian tribe (as defined in section 
4 of the Indian Self-Determination and Edu-
cation Assistance Act (25 U.S.C. 450b)); 
‘‘(F) a State or local ambulance provider; 
or 
‘‘(G) any other entity determined appro-
priate by the Secretary; and 
‘‘(2) prepare and submit to the Secretary an 
application at such time, in such manner, and con-
taining such information as the Secretary may re-
quire, that includes— 
‘‘(A) a description of the activities to be 
carried out under the grant; and 
‘‘(B) an assurance that the applicant will 
comply with the matching requirement of sub-
section (e). 
‘‘(c) USE OF FUNDS.—An entity shall use amounts 
received under a grant made under subsection (a) only in 
rural areas to— 
‘‘(1) hire or recruit emergency medical service 
personnel; 
‘‘(2) recruit or retain volunteer emergency med-
ical service personnel; 
‘‘(3) train emergency medical service personnel 
in emergency response, injury prevention, safety
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awareness, and other topics relevant to the delivery 
of emergency medical services; 
‘‘(4) fund training to meet State or Federal 
certification requirements; 
‘‘(5) provide training for firefighters and emer-
gency medical personnel for improvements to the 
training facility, equipment, curricula, and per-
sonnel; 
‘‘(6) develop new ways to educate emergency 
health care providers through the use of technology- 
enhanced educational methods (such as distance 
learning); 
‘‘(7) acquire emergency medical services vehi-
cles, including ambulances; 
‘‘(8) acquire emergency medical services equip-
ment, including cardiac defibrillators; 
‘‘(9) acquire personal protective equipment for 
emergency medical services personnel as required by 
the Occupational Safety and Health Administration; 
and 
‘‘(10) 
educate 
the 
public 
concerning 
cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR), first aid, in-
jury prevention, safety awareness, illness prevention, 
and other related emergency preparedness topics.
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‘‘(d) PREFERENCE.—In awarding grants under this 
section, the Secretary shall give preference to— 
‘‘(1) applications that reflect a collaborative ef-
fort by 2 or more of the entities described in sub-
paragraphs (A) through (G) of subsection (b)(1); 
and 
‘‘(2) applications submitted by entities that in-
tend to use amounts provided under the grant to 
fund activities described in any of paragraphs (1) 
through (5) of subsection (c). 
‘‘(e) MATCHING REQUIREMENT.—The Secretary may 
not make a grant under this section to an entity unless 
the entity agrees that the entity will make available (di-
rectly or through contributions from other public or pri-
vate entities) non-Federal contributions toward the activi-
ties to be carried out under the grant in an amount equal 
to 5 percent of the amount received under the grant. 
‘‘(f) EMERGENCY MEDICAL SERVICES.—In this sec-
tion, the term ‘emergency medical services’— 
‘‘(1) means resources used by a qualified public 
or private nonprofit entity, or by any other entity 
recognized as qualified by the State involved, to de-
liver medical care outside of a medical facility under 
emergency conditions that occur as a result of— 
‘‘(A) the condition of the patient; or
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‘‘(B) a natural disaster or similar situa-
tion; and 
‘‘(2) includes (compensated or volunteer) serv-
ices delivered by an emergency medical services pro-
vider or other provider recognized by the State in-
volved that is licensed or certified by the State as an 
emergency medical technician or the equivalent (as 
determined by the State), a registered nurse, a phy-
sician assistant, or a physician that provides services 
similar to services provided by such an emergency 
medical services provider. 
‘‘(g) AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.— 
‘‘(1) IN GENERAL.—There are authorized to be 
appropriated to the Secretary to carry out this sec-
tion not more than $30,000,000 for each of fiscal 
years 2008 through 2012. 
‘‘(2) ADMINISTRATIVE COSTS.—Not more than 
10 percent of the amount appropriated under para-
graph (1) for a fiscal year may be used for adminis-
trative expenses.’’. 
SEC. 6027. VALUE-ADDED AGRICULTURAL MARKET DEVEL-
OPMENT PROGRAM. 
(a) DEFINITION OF MID-TIER VALUE CHAIN.—Sec-
tion 231(a) of the Agricultural Risk Protection Act of
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2000 (7 U.S.C. 1621 note; Public Law 106–224) is 
amended by adding at the end the following: 
‘‘(3) MID-TIER VALUE CHAIN.—The term ‘mid- 
tier value chain’ means local and regional supply 
networks that link independent producers with busi-
nesses and cooperatives that market value-added ag-
ricultural products in a manner that— 
‘‘(A) targets and strengthens the profit-
ability and competitiveness of small and me-
dium-sized family farms, as defined in regula-
tions pursuant to Section 302 of the Consoli-
dated Farm and Rural Development Act; and 
‘‘(B) obtains agreement from the eligible 
agricultural producer group, farmer or rancher 
cooperative, or majority-controlled producer- 
based business venture engaged in the value 
chain in the method for price determination.’’. 
(b) FUNDING; RESERVATION
OF FUNDS; GRANT 
AWARD CRITERIA.—Section 231(b) of such Act (7 U.S.C. 
1621 note; Public Law 106–224) is amended— 
(1) by striking paragraph (4) and inserting the 
following: 
‘‘(4) FUNDING.—Not later than 30 days after 
the date of the enactment of this paragraph, on Oc-
tober 1, 2008, and on each October 1 thereafter
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through October 1, 2012, of the funds of the Com-
modity Credit Corporation, the Secretary shall make 
available to carry out this subsection $30,000,000, 
to remain available until expended. 
‘‘(5) RESERVATION OF FUNDS FOR PROJECTS 
TO BENEFIT BEGINNING FARMERS AND RANCHERS 
OR
SOCIALLY
DISADVANTAGED
FARMERS
AND 
RANCHERS AND MID-TIER VALUE CHAINS.— 
‘‘(A) IN
GENERAL.—The Secretary shall 
reserve 10 percent of the amounts made avail-
able under paragraph (4) to fund projects that 
benefit beginning farmers and ranchers (as de-
fined in section 343(a)(11) of the Consolidated 
Farm and Rural Development Act) or socially 
disadvantaged farmers and ranchers (as defined 
in section 355(e) of such Act). 
‘‘(B) MID-TIER VALUE CHAINS.—The Sec-
retary shall reserve 10 percent of the amounts 
made available under paragraph (4) to fund ap-
plications of eligible entities described in para-
graph (1) that propose to develop mid-tier value 
chains. 
‘‘(C) 
UNOBLIGATED
AMOUNTS.—Any 
amounts in the reserves established under sub-
paragraphs (A) and (B) that are not obligated
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by June 30 of the fiscal year shall be available 
to the Secretary to make grants under this sec-
tion to eligible entities in any State, as deter-
mined by the Secretary.’’; and 
(2) by adding at the end the following: 
‘‘(6) CRITERIA TO BE APPLIED IN AWARDING 
GRANTS.—In awarding grants under this section, 
the Secretary shall consider an application more fa-
vorably when compared to other applications to the 
extent that the project contributes to increasing op-
portunities for operators of small and medium-size 
farms and ranches structured as family farms (as 
defined in regulations prescribed under section 302 
of the Consolidated Farm and Rural Development 
Act).’’. 
SEC. 6028. ASSISTANCE FOR RURAL PUBLIC TELEVISION 
STATIONS. 
Section 2333 of the Food, Agriculture, Conservation 
and Trade Act of 1990 (7 U.S.C. Sec. 950aaa–2) is 
amended by adding at the end the following: 
‘‘(j) DIGITAL SERVICE TRANSITION ASSISTANCE FOR 
PUBLIC TELEVISION STATIONS.—The Secretary may pro-
vide grants under this section to noncommercial education 
television broadcast stations that serve rural areas for the