cilitate and implement the directives of the
State rural development council; and
‘‘(ii) defray expenses associated with
carrying out subparagraphs (A) through
(G) and subparagraph (J);
‘‘(I) be authorized to solicit funds to sup-
plement and match funds granted under sub-
paragraph (H); and
‘‘(J) be authorized to engage in all other
appropriate activities.
‘‘(4) COMMENTS OR RECOMMENDATIONS.—
‘‘(A) IN GENERAL.—A State rural develop-
ment council may provide comments and rec-
ommendations to an agency with rural respon-
sibilities related to the activities of the State
rural development council within the State.
‘‘(B) AGENCY.—The agency with rural re-
sponsibilities shall provide to the State rural de-
velopment council a written response to the
comments or recommendations.
‘‘(5) ACTIONS OF STATE RURAL DEVELOPMENT
COUNCIL MEMBERS.—When carrying out a program
or activity authorized by a State rural development
council, a member of the Council shall be regarded
as an employee of the Federal Government for pur-
poses of chapter 171 of title 28, United States Code.
‘‘(6) FEDERAL PARTICIPATION IN STATE RURAL
DEVELOPMENT COUNCILS.—
‘‘(A) IN
GENERAL.—Subject to subpara-
graph (B), Federal employees may participate
in a State rural development council.
‘‘(B) CONFLICTS.—A Federal employee
who participates in a State rural development
council shall not participate in the making of
any council decision if the agency represented
by the Federal employee has any financial or
other interest in the outcome of the decision.
‘‘(C) FEDERAL GUIDANCE.—The Attorney
General shall issue guidance to all Federal em-
ployees that participate in State rural develop-
ment councils that describes specific decisions
that—
‘‘(i) would constitute a conflict of in-
terest for the Federal employee; and
‘‘(ii) from which the Federal employee
must recuse himself or herself.
‘‘(e) ADMINISTRATION OF THE PARTNERSHIP.—
‘‘(1) DETAIL OF EMPLOYEES.—In order to pro-
vide experience in intergovernmental collaboration,
with the approval of the head of an agency with
rural responsibilities that elects to participate in the
Partnership, an employee of the agency with rural
responsibilities is encouraged to be detailed to the
Partnership without reimbursement, and such detail
shall be without interruption or loss of civil service
status or privilege.
‘‘(2) ADDITIONAL
SUPPORT.—The Secretary
shall provide for any additional support staff to the
Partnership as the Secretary determines to be nec-
essary to carry out the duties of the Partnership.
‘‘(3) PANEL.—
‘‘(A) IN GENERAL.—A panel consisting of
representatives of the Council and State rural
development councils shall be established to
lead and coordinate the strategic operation,
policies, and practices of the Partnership.
‘‘(B) ANNUAL
REPORTS.—In conjunction
with the Council and State rural development
councils, the panel shall prepare and submit to
Congress an annual report on the activities of
the Partnership.
‘‘(f) FUNDING.—
‘‘(1) AUTHORIZATION
OF
APPROPRIATIONS.—
There are authorized to be appropriated such sums
as are necessary to carry out this section.
‘‘(2) FEDERAL AGENCIES.—
‘‘(A) IN GENERAL.—Notwithstanding any
other provision of law, in order to carry out the
purposes described in subsection (b)(2), the
Partnership shall be eligible to receive grants,
gifts, contributions, or technical assistance
from, or enter into contracts with, any Federal
department or agency, to the extent otherwise
permitted by law.
‘‘(B) ASSISTANCE.—Federal departments
and agencies are encouraged to use funds made
available for programs that target or impact
rural areas to provide assistance to, and enter
into contracts with, the Partnership, as de-
scribed in subparagraph (A).
‘‘(3) CONTRIBUTIONS.—The Partnership may
accept private contributions.
‘‘(g) MATCHING REQUIREMENTS FOR STATE RURAL
DEVELOPMENT COUNCILS.—A State rural development
council shall provide matching funds, or in-kind goods or
services, to support the activities of the State rural devel-
opment council in an amount that is not less than 25 per-
cent of the amount of Federal funds received under the
agreement described in subsection (d)(1).
‘‘(h) TERMINATION.—The authority provided under
this section shall terminate 5 years after the date of enact-
ment of this section.’’.
SEC. 11. ESTABLISHMENT OF NORTHERN NEW YORK TRAV-
EL AND TOURISM RESEARCH CENTER.
The Secretary of Agriculture shall make a grant to
the William C. Merwin Rural Services Institute of the
State University of New York at Potsdam, New York, for
the establishment and operation of a Northern New York
Travel and Tourism Research Center at the institute.
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