H. R. 4101—18
for empowerment zones and enterprise communities by June 30,
1999, they shall remain available for other authorized purposes
under this heading.
RURAL HOUSING ASSISTANCE GRANTS
For grants and contracts for housing for domestic farm labor,
very low-income housing repair, supervisory and technical assist-
ance, compensation for construction defects, and rural housing
preservation made by the Rural Housing Service, as authorized
by 42 U.S.C. 1474, 1479(c), 1486, 1490e, and 1490m, $41,000,000,
to remain available until expended: Provided, That of the total
amount appropriated, $1,200,000 shall be for empowerment zones
and enterprise communities, as authorized by Public Law 103–
66: Provided further, That if such funds are not obligated for
empowerment zones and enterprise communities by June 30, 1999,
they shall remain available for other authorized purposes under
this heading.
SALARIES AND EXPENSES
For necessary expenses of the Rural Housing Service, including
administering the programs authorized by the Consolidated Farm
and Rural Development Act, title V of the Housing Act of 1949,
and cooperative agreements, $60,978,000: Provided, That this
appropriation shall be available for employment pursuant to the
second sentence of section 706(a) of the Organic Act of 1944 (7
U.S.C. 2225), and not to exceed $520,000 may be used for employ-
ment under 5 U.S.C. 3109: Provided further, That the Administrator
may expend not more than $10,000 to provide modest nonmonetary
awards to non-USDA employees.
RURAL BUSINESS-COOPERATIVE SERVICE
RURAL DEVELOPMENT LOAN FUND PROGRAM ACCOUNT
(INCLUDING TRANSFERS OF FUNDS)
For the cost of direct loans, $16,615,000, as authorized 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 further, That these funds are available to subsidize
gross obligations for the principal amount of direct loans of
$33,000,000: Provided further, That through June 30, 1999, of the
total amount appropriated, $3,215,520 shall be available for the
cost of direct loans for empowerment zones and enterprise commu-
nities, as authorized by title XIII of the Omnibus Budget Reconcili-
ation Act of 1993, to subsidize gross obligations for the principal
amount of direct loans, $7,246,000: Provided further, That if such
funds are not obligated for empowerment zones and enterprise
communities by June 30, 1999, they shall remain available for
other authorized purposes under this heading.
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 Business-Cooperative Service, Salaries
and Expenses’’.
H. R. 4101—19
RURAL ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT LOANS PROGRAM ACCOUNT
(INCLUDING TRANSFERS OF FUNDS)
For the principal amount of direct loans, as authorized under
section 313 of the Rural Electrification Act of 1936, for the purpose
of promoting rural economic development and job creation projects,
$15,000,000.
For the cost of direct loans, including the cost of modifying
loans as defined in section 502 of the Congressional Budget Act
of 1974, $3,783,000.
Of the funds derived from interest on the cushion of credit
payments in fiscal year 1999, as authorized by section 313 of
the Rural Electrification Act of 1936, $3,783,000 shall not be obli-
gated and $3,783,000 are rescinded.
RURAL COOPERATIVE DEVELOPMENT GRANTS
For rural cooperative development grants authorized under
section 310B(e) of the Consolidated Farm and Rural Development
Act (7 U.S.C. 1932), $3,300,000, of which $1,300,000 shall be avail-
able for cooperative agreements for the appropriate technology
transfer for rural areas program and $250,000 shall be available
for an agribusiness and cooperative development program.
SALARIES AND EXPENSES
For necessary expenses of the Rural Business-Cooperative Serv-
ice, including administering the programs authorized by the
Consolidated Farm and Rural Development Act; section 1323 of
the Food Security Act of 1985; the Cooperative Marketing Act
of 1926; for activities relating to the marketing aspects of coopera-
tives, including economic research findings, as authorized by the
Agricultural Marketing Act of 1946; for activities with institutions
concerning the development and operation of agricultural coopera-
tives; 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
(7 U.S.C. 2225), and not to exceed $260,000 may be used for employ-
ment under section 3109 of title 5, United States Code.
ALTERNATIVE AGRICULTURAL RESEARCH AND COMMERCIALIZATION
CORPORATION REVOLVING FUND
For necessary expenses to carry out the Alternative Agricultural
Research and Commercialization Act of 1990 (7 U.S.C. 5901–5908),
$3,500,000 is appropriated to the Alternative Agricultural Research
and Commercialization Corporation Revolving Fund.
RURAL UTILITIES SERVICE
RURAL ELECTRIFICATION AND TELECOMMUNICATIONS LOANS PROGRAM
ACCOUNT
(INCLUDING TRANSFERS OF FUNDS)
Insured loans pursuant to the authority of section 305 of the
Rural Electrification Act of 1936 (7 U.S.C. 935) shall be made
H. R. 4101—20
as follows: 5 percent rural electrification loans, $71,500,000; 5 per-
cent rural telecommunications loans, $75,000,000; cost of money
rural telecommunications loans, $300,000,000; municipal rate rural
electric loans, $295,000,000; and loans made pursuant to section
306 of that Act, rural electric, $700,000,000 and rural telecommuni-
cations, $120,000,000, to remain available until expended.
For the cost, as defined in section 502 of the Congressional
Budget Act of 1974, including the cost of modifying loans, of direct
and guaranteed loans authorized by the Rural Electrification Act
of 1936 (7 U.S.C. 935 and 936), as follows: cost of direct loans,
$16,667,000; cost of municipal rate loans, $25,842,000; cost of money
rural telecommunications loans, $810,000: Provided, That notwith-
standing section 305(d)(2) of the Rural Electrification Act of 1936,
borrower interest rates may exceed 7 percent per year.
In addition, for administrative expenses necessary to carry
out the direct and guaranteed loan programs, $29,982,000, which
shall be transferred to and merged with the appropriation for
‘‘Rural Utilities Service, Salaries and Expenses’’.
RURAL TELEPHONE BANK PROGRAM ACCOUNT
(INCLUDING TRANSFERS 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 1999 and within the resources and authority available, gross
obligations for the principal amount of direct loans shall be
$157,509,000.
For the cost, as defined in section 502 of the Congressional
Budget Act of 1974, including the cost of modifying loans, of direct
loans authorized by the Rural Electrification Act of 1936 (7 U.S.C.
935), $4,174,000.
In addition, for administrative expenses necessary to carry
out the loan programs, $3,000,000, which shall be transferred to
and merged with the appropriation for ‘‘Rural Utilities Service,
Salaries and Expenses’’.
DISTANCE LEARNING AND TELEMEDICINE PROGRAM
For the cost of direct loans and grants, as authorized by 7
U.S.C. 950aaa et seq., $12,680,000, 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.
SALARIES AND EXPENSES
For necessary expenses of the Rural Utilities Service, including
administering the programs authorized by the Rural Electrification
Act of 1936, and the Consolidated Farm and Rural Development
Act, 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
H. R. 4101—21
(7 U.S.C. 2225), and not to exceed $105,000 may be used for employ-
ment under section 3109 of title 5, United States Code.
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 Serv-
ice, $554,000.
FOOD AND NUTRITION SERVICE
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, $9,176,897,000, to remain available through September
30, 2000, of which $4,128,747,000 is hereby appropriated and
$5,048,150,000 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 $4,300,000 shall be available for independent verification
of school food service claims: Provided further, That none of the
funds under this heading shall be available unless the value of
bonus commodities provided under section 32 of the Act of August
24, 1935 (49 Stat. 774, ch. 641; 7 U.S.C. 612c), and section 416
of the Agricultural Act of 1949 (7 U.S.C. 1431) is included in
meeting the minimum commodity assistance requirement of section
6(g) of the National School Lunch Act (42 U.S.C. 1755(g)).
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), $3,924,000,000, to remain available
through September 30, 2000: Provided, That none of the funds
made available under this heading shall be used for studies and
evaluations: Provided further, That of the total amount available,
the Secretary shall obligate $10,000,000 for the farmers’ market
nutrition program within 45 days of the enactment of this Act,
and an additional $5,000,000 for the farmers’ market nutrition
program from any funds not needed to maintain current caseload
levels: 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