322 
(iii) by striking paragraph (3) and redesig-
nating paragraphs (4) through (10) as para-
graphs (3) through (9), respectively; and 
(iv) by striking ‘‘permanent’’ each place it 
appears in paragraphs (2) through (9), as so 
redesignated; and 
(B) by striking subsection (a) and redesignating 
subsections (b) and (c) as subsections (a) and (b), 
respectively. 
(2) Section 8.4(a)(1) of such Act (12 U.S.C. 2279aa– 
4) is amended— 
(A) by striking the 3rd sentence; 
(B) by inserting after the 1st sentence the fol-
lowing: ‘‘Voting common stock shall be offered to 
banks, other financial entities, insurance companies, 
and System institutions under such terms and condi-
tions as the Board may adopt. The voting stock 
shall be fairly and broadly offered to ensure that no 
institution or institutions acquire a disproportionate 
amount of the total amount of voting common stock 
outstanding of a class and that capital contributions 
and issuances of voting common stock for the con-
tributions are fairly distributed between entities eli-
gible to hold Class A and Class B stock, as provided 
under this paragraph.’’; 
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(C) by striking ‘‘8.2(b)(2)(A)’’ and inserting 
‘‘8.2(a)(2)(A)’’; and 
(D) by striking ‘‘8.2(b)(2)(B)’’ and inserting 
‘‘8.2(a)(2)(B)’’. 
(uu)(1) Section 8.6 of such Act (12 U.S.C. 2279aa– 
6) is amended by striking subsection (d) and redesignating 
subsection (e) as subsection (d). 
(2)(A) Section 8.0(9)(B)(i) of such Act (12 U.S.C. 
2279aa(9)(B)(i)) is amended by striking ‘‘through (d)’’ 
and inserting ‘‘and (c)’’. 
(B) Section 8.33(b)(2)(A) of such Act (12 U.S.C. 
2279bb–2(b)(2)(A)) is amended by striking ‘‘8.6(e)’’ and 
inserting ‘‘8.6(d)’’. 
(vv) Section 8.32(a) of such Act (12 U.S.C. 2279bb– 
1(a)) is amended by striking ‘‘Not sooner than the expira-
tion of the 3-year period beginning on the date of enact-
ment of the Farm Credit System Reform Act of 1996, 
the’’ and inserting ‘‘The’’. 
(ww) Section 8.35 of such Act (12 U.S.C. 2279bb– 
4) is amended by striking subsection (e). 
(xx) Section 8.38 of such Act (12 U.S.C. 2279bb– 
7) is repealed. 
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SEC. 5502. CONFORMING REPEALS. 
(a) Sections 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 14, and 15 of the Agricul-
tural Marketing Act (12 U.S.C. 1141b, 1141c, 1141d, 
1141e, 1141f, 1141i, and 1141j) are repealed. 
(b) The Act of June 22, 1939, (Chapter 239; 53 Stat. 
853; 12 U.S.C. 1141d–1) is repealed. 
(c) Section 201(e) of the Emergency Relief and Con-
struction Act of 1932 (12 U.S.C. 1148) is repealed. 
(d) Section 2 of the Act of July 14, 1953, (Chapter 
192; 67 Stat. 150; 12 U.S.C. 1148a–4) is repealed. 
(e) Sections 32 through 34 of the Farm Credit Act 
of 1937 (12 U.S.C. 1148b, 1148c, and 1148d) are re-
pealed. 
(f) Sections 1 through 4 of the Act of March 3, 1932, 
(12 U.S.C. 1401 through 1404) are repealed. 
SEC. 5503. FACILITY HEADQUARTERS. 
Section 5.16 of the Farm Credit Act of 1971 (12 
U.S.C. 2251) is amended by striking all that precedes ‘‘to 
the rental of quarters’’ and inserting the following: 
‘‘SEC. 5.16 QUARTERS AND FACILITIES FOR THE FARM 
CREDIT ADMINISTRATION. 
‘‘(a) The Farm Credit Administration shall maintain 
its principal office with the Washington D.C.-Maryland- 
Virginia standard metropolitan statistical area, and such 
other offices within the United States as in its judgment 
are necessary. 
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‘‘(b) As an alternate’’. 
SEC. 5504. SHARING PRIVILEGED AND CONFIDENTIAL IN-
FORMATION. 
Section 5.19 of the Farm Credit Act of 1971 (12 
U.S.C. 2254) is amended by adding at the end the fol-
lowing: 
‘‘(e) A System institution shall not be considered to 
have waived the confidentiality of a privileged communica-
tion with an attorney or accountant if the institution pro-
vides the content of the communication to the Farm Cred-
it Administration pursuant to the supervisory or regu-
latory authorities of the Farm Credit Administration.’’. 
SEC. 5505. SCOPE OF JURISDICTION. 
Part C of title V of the Farm Credit Act of 1971 
(12 U.S.C. 2261–2274) is amended by inserting after sec-
tion 5.31 the following: 
‘‘SEC. 5.31A. SCOPE OF JURISDICTION. 
‘‘(a) For purposes of sections 5.25, 5.26, and 5.33, 
the jurisdiction of the Farm Credit Administration over 
parties, and the authority of the Farm Credit Administra-
tion to initiate actions, shall include enforcement authority 
over institution-affiliated parties. 
‘‘(b) The resignation, termination of employment or 
participation, or separation of an institution-affiliated 
party (including a separation caused by the merger, con-
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solidation, conservatorship, or receivership of a System in-
stitution) shall not affect the jurisdiction and authority 
of the Farm Credit Administration to issue any notice or 
order and proceed under this part against any such party, 
if the notice or order is served before the end of the 6- 
year period beginning on the date the party ceased to be 
such a party with respect to the System institution 
(whether the date occurs before, on, or after the date of 
the enactment of this section).’’. 
SEC. 5506. DEFINITION. 
Section 5.35 of the Farm Credit Act of 1971 (12 
U.S.C. 2271) is amended— 
(1) by striking ‘‘and’’ at the end of paragraph 
(3); and 
(2) by redesignating paragraph (4) as para-
graph (5) and inserting after paragraph (3) the fol-
lowing: 
‘‘(4) the term ‘institution-affiliated party’ 
means— 
‘‘(A) any director, officer, employee, share-
holder, or agent of a System institution; 
‘‘(B) any independent contractor (includ-
ing any attorney, appraiser, or accountant) who 
knowingly or recklessly participates in— 
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‘‘(i) any violation of law (including 
regulations) that is associated with the op-
erations and activities of 1 or more institu-
tions; 
‘‘(ii) any breach of fiduciary duty; or 
‘‘(iii) any unsafe or unsound practice, 
which caused or is likely to cause more 
than a minimal financial loss to, or a sig-
nificant adverse effect on, a System insti-
tution; and 
‘‘(C) any other person, as determined by 
the Farm Credit Administration (by regulation 
or on a case-by-case basis) who participates in 
the conduct of the affairs of a System institu-
tion; and’’. 
SEC. 5507. EXPANSION OF ACREAGE EXCEPTION TO LOAN 
AMOUNT LIMITATION. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—Section 8.8(c)(2) of the Farm 
Credit Act of 1971 (12 U.S.C. 2279aa–8(c)(2)) is amend-
ed by striking ‘‘1,000’’ and inserting ‘‘2,000’’. 
(b) EFFECTIVE DATE.—The amendment made by 
subsection (a) shall take effect 1 year after the date a re-
port submitted in accordance with section 5602 of this Act 
indicates that it is feasible to increase the acreage limita-
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tion in section 8.8(c)(2) of the Farm Credit Act of 1971 
to 2,000 acres. 
SEC. 5508. COMPENSATION OF BANK DIRECTORS. 
Section 4.21 of the Farm Credit Act of 1971 (12 
U.S.C. 2209) is repealed. 
SEC. 5509. PROHIBITION ON USE OF FUNDS. 
Section 5.65 of the Farm Credit Act of 1971 (12 
U.S.C. 2277a–14) is amended by adding at the end the 
following: 
‘‘(e) PROHIBITION ON USES OF FUNDS RELATED TO 
FEDERAL AGRICULTURAL MORTGAGE CORPORATION.— 
No funds from administrative accounts or from the Farm 
Credit System Insurance Fund may be used by the Cor-
poration to provide assistance to the Federal Agricultural 
Mortgage Corporation or to support any activities related 
to the Federal Agricultural Mortgage Corporation.’’. 
Subtitle F—Miscellaneous 
SEC. 5601. STATE AGRICULTURAL MEDIATION PROGRAMS. 
Section 506 of the Agricultural Credit Act of 1987 
(7 U.S.C. 5106) is amended by striking ‘‘2018’’and insert-
ing ‘‘2023’’. 
SEC. 5602. STUDY ON LOAN RISK. 
(a) STUDY.—The Farm Credit Administration shall 
conduct a study that— 
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(1) analyzes and compares the financial risks 
inherent in loans made, held, securitized, or pur-
chased by Farm Credit banks, associations, and the 
Federal Agricultural Mortgage Corporation and how 
such risks are required to be capitalized under stat-
ute and regulations in effect as of the date of the 
enactment of this Act; and 
(2) assesses the feasibility of increasing the 
acreage exception provided in section 8.8(c)(2) of 
the Farm Credit Act of 1971 to 2,000 acres. 
(b) TIMELINE.—The Farm Credit Administration 
shall provide the results of the study required by sub-
section (a) to the Committee on Agriculture of the House 
of Representatives and the Committee on Agriculture, Nu-
trition, and Forestry of the Senate no later than 180 days 
after the date of the enactment of this Act. 
TITLE VI—RURAL INFRASTRUC-
TURE AND ECONOMIC DEVEL-
OPMENT 
Subtitle A—Improving Health 
Outcomes in Rural Communities 
SEC. 6001. PRIORITIZING PROJECTS TO MEET HEALTH CRI-
SES IN RURAL AMERICA. 
(a) TEMPORARY PRIORITIZATION OF RURAL HEALTH 
ASSISTANCE.—Title VI of the Rural Development Act of 
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1972 (7 U.S.C. 2204a–2204b) is amended by adding at 
the end the following: 
‘‘SEC. 
608. 
TEMPORARY 
PRIORITIZATION 
OF 
RURAL 
HEALTH ASSISTANCE. 
‘‘(a) AUTHORITY TO PRIORITIZE CERTAIN RURAL 
HEALTH APPLICATIONS.—The Secretary, after consulta-
tion with such public health officials as may be necessary, 
may announce a temporary reprioritization for certain 
rural development loan and grant applications to assist 
rural communities in responding to a specific health emer-
gency. 
‘‘(b) CONTENT
OF ANNOUNCEMENT.—In the an-
nouncement, the Secretary shall— 
‘‘(1) specify the nature of the emergency affect-
ing the heath of rural Americans; 
‘‘(2) describe the actual and potential effects of 
the emergency on the rural United States; 
‘‘(3) identify the services and treatments which 
can be used to reduce those effects; and 
‘‘(4) publish the specific temporary changes 
needed to assist rural communities in responding to 
the emergency 
‘‘(c) NOTICE.—Not later than 48 hours after making 
or extending an announcement under this section, the Sec-
retary shall submit to the Committee on Agriculture of 
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331 
the House of Representatives and the Committee on Agri-
culture, Nutrition, and Forestry of the Senate, and trans-
mit to the Secretary of Health and Human Services, a 
written notice of the declaration or extension. 
‘‘(d) EXTENSION.—The Secretary may extend an an-
nouncement under subsection (a) if the Secretary deter-
mines that the emergency will continue after the declara-
tion would otherwise expire. 
‘‘(e) EXPIRATION.—An announcement under sub-
section (a) shall expire on the earlier of— 
‘‘(1) the date the Secretary determines that the 
emergency has ended; or 
‘‘(2) the end of the 360-day period beginning 
with the later of— 
‘‘(A) the date the announcement was 
made; or 
‘‘(B) the date the announcement was most 
recently extended.’’. 
(b) DISTANCE LEARNING
AND TELEMEDICINE.— 
Section 2333(c) of the Food, Agriculture, Conservation, 
and Trade Act of 1990 (7 U.S.C. 950aaa–2(c)) is amend-
ed by adding at the end the following: 
‘‘(5) 
PROCEDURE
DURING
TEMPORARY 
REPRIORITIZATIONS.— 
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‘‘(A) IN
GENERAL.—While a temporary 
reprioritization announced under section 608 of 
the Rural Development Act of 1972 is in effect, 
the Secretary shall make available not less than 
10 percent of the amounts made available 
under section 2335A for financial assistance 
under this chapter, for telemedicine services to 
identify and treat individuals affected by the 
emergency, subject to subparagraph (B). 
‘‘(B) EXCEPTION.—In the case of a fiscal 
year for which the Secretary determines that 
there are not sufficient qualified applicants to 
receive financial assistance to reach the 10-per-
cent requirement under subparagraph (A), the 
Secretary may make available less than 10 per-
cent of the amounts made available under sec-
tion 2335A for those services.’’. 
(c) COMMUNITY FACILITIES DIRECT LOANS
AND 
GRANTS.—Section 306(a) of the Consolidated Farm and 
Rural Development Act (7 U.S.C. 1926(a)) is amended 
by adding at the end the following: 
‘‘(27) 
PROCEDURE
DURING
TEMPORARY 
REPRIORITIZATIONS.— 
‘‘(A) SELECTION
PRIORITY.—While a tem-
porary reprioritization announced under section 608 
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333 
of the Rural Development Act of 1972 is in effect, 
in selecting recipients of loans, loan guarantees, or 
grants for the development of essential community 
facilities under this section, the Secretary shall give 
priority to entities eligible for those loans or 
grants— 
‘‘(i) to develop facilities to provide services 
related to reducing the effects of the health 
emergency, including— 
‘‘(I) prevention services; 
‘‘(II) treatment services; 
‘‘(III) recovery services; or 
‘‘(IV) any combination of those serv-
ices; and 
‘‘(ii) that employ staff that have appro-
priate expertise and training in how to identify 
and treat individuals affected by the emergency. 
‘‘(B) USE OF FUNDS.—An eligible entity de-
scribed in subparagraph (A) that receives a loan or 
grant described in that subparagraph may use the 
loan or grant funds for the development of telehealth 
facilities and systems to provide for treatment di-
rectly related to the emergency involved.’’. 
(d) RURAL HEALTH AND SAFETY EDUCATION PRO-
GRAMS.— 
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334 
(1) IN GENERAL.—Section 502(i) of the Rural 
Development Act of 1972 (7 U.S.C. 2662(i)) is 
amended— 
(A) by redesignating paragraph (5) as 
paragraph (6); and 
(B) by inserting after paragraph (4) the 
following: 
‘‘(5) 
PROCEDURE
DURING
TEMPORARY 
REPRIORITIZATIONS.—While 
a 
temporary 
reprioritization announced under section 608 of the 
Rural Development Act of 1972 is in effect, in mak-
ing grants under this subsection, the Secretary shall 
give priority to an applicant that will use the grant 
to address the announced emergency.’’. 
(2) TECHNICAL AMENDMENTS.—Title V of the 
Rural Development Act of 1972 (7 U.S.C. 2661 et 
seq.), as amended by paragraph (1) of this sub-
section, is amended— 
(A) in section 502, in the matter preceding 
subsection (a), by inserting ‘‘(referred to in this 
title as the ‘Secretary’)’’ after ‘‘Agriculture’’; 
and 
(B) by striking ‘‘Secretary of Agriculture’’ 
each place it appears (other than in section 502 
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in the matter preceding subsection (a)) and in-
serting ‘‘Secretary’’. 
SEC. 6002. DISTANCE LEARNING AND TELEMEDICINE. 
(a) AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.—Section 
2335A of the Food, Agriculture, Conservation, and Trade 
Act of 1990 (7 U.S.C. 950aaa–5) is amended by striking 
‘‘$75,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2014 through 2018’’ 
and inserting ‘‘$82,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2019 
through 2023’’. 
(b) CONFORMING AMENDMENT.—Section 1(b) of 
Public Law 102–551 (7 U.S.C. 950aaa note) is amended 
by striking ‘‘2018’’ and inserting ‘‘2023’’. 
SEC. 6003. REAUTHORIZATION OF THE FARM AND RANCH 
STRESS ASSISTANCE NETWORK. 
Section 7522 of the Food, Conservation, and Energy 
Act of 2008 (7 U.S.C. 5936) is amended— 
(1) in subsection (a), by striking ‘‘coordination 
with the Secretary of Health and Human Services, 
shall make competitive grants to support cooperative 
programs between State cooperative extension serv-
ices and nonprofit organizations’’ and inserting 
‘‘consultation with the Secretary of Health and 
Human Services, shall make competitive grants to 
State cooperative extension services and Indian 
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336 
Tribes to support programs with nonprofit organiza-
tions in order’’; 
(2) in subsection (b)— 
(A) in paragraph (1), by inserting ‘‘Inter-
net’’ before ‘‘websites’’; 
(B) by striking paragraph (2) and insert-
ing the following: 
‘‘(2) training for individuals who may assist 
farmers in crisis, including programs and work-
shops;’’; and 
(C) in paragraph (4), by inserting ‘‘, in-
cluding the dissemination of information and 
materials’’ before the semicolon at the end; 
(3) in subsection (c), by striking ‘‘to enable the 
State cooperative extension services’’ and inserting 
‘‘or Indian tribes, as applicable, to’’; 
(4) in subsection (d), by striking ‘‘fiscal years’’ 
and all that follows and inserting ‘‘fiscal years 2018 
through 2023’’; and 
(5) by redesignating subsection (d) as sub-
section (e) and inserting after subsection (c) the fol-
lowing: 
‘‘(d) OVERSIGHT AND EVALUATION.—The Secretary, 
in consultation with the Secretary of Health and Human 
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Services, shall review and evaluate the stress assistance 
programs carried out pursuant to this section. 
‘‘(1) PROGRAM
REVIEW.—Not later than 2 
years after the date on which a grant is first pro-
vided under this section, and annually thereafter, the 
Secretary shall— 
‘‘(A) review the programs funded under a 
grant made under this section to evaluate the 
effectiveness of the services offered through 
such a program, and suggest alternative serv-
ices not offered by such a grant recipient that 
would be appropriate for behavioral health serv-
ices; and 
‘‘(B) submit to the Congress, and make 
available on the public Internet website of the 
Department of Agriculture, a report containing 
the results of the review conducted under sub-
paragraph (A) and a description of the services 
provided through programs funded under such 
a grant. 
‘‘(2) PUBLIC AVAILABILITY.—In making the re-
port under paragraph (1) publicly available, the Sec-
retary shall take such steps as may be necessary to 
ensure that the report does not contain any informa-
tion that would identify any person who received 
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338 
services under a program funded under a grant 
made under this section.’’. 
SEC. 6004. SUPPORTING AGRICULTURAL ASSOCIATION 
HEALTH PLANS. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—The Secretary of Agriculture may 
establish a loan program and a grant program to assist 
in the establishment of agricultural association health 
plans, in order to help bring new health options and lower 
priced health care coverage to rural Americans. 
(b) LOANS.— 
(1) IN GENERAL.—With respect to plan years 
2019 through 2022, the Secretary of Agriculture, in 
consultation with the Secretary of Labor, may make 
not more than 10 loans under this section, for pur-
poses of establishing agricultural association health 
plans, to qualified agricultural associations that have 
not received a loan under this section. 
(2) USE OF FUNDS.—The proceeds of a loan 
made under this section may only be used to finance 
costs associated with establishing and carrying out 
an agricultural association health plan. 
(3) LOAN TERMS.—A loan made under this sec-
tion shall— 
(A) bear interest at an annual rate equiva-
lent to the cost of borrowing to the Department 
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339 
of the Treasury for obligations of comparable 
maturities; 
(B) have a term of such length, not ex-
ceeding 20 years, as the borrower may request; 
(C) be in an amount not to exceed 
$15,000,000; 
(D) require that the borrower submit an-
nual audited financial statements to the Sec-
retary; and 
(E) include any other requirements or doc-
umentation the Secretary deems necessary to 
carry out this section. 
(c) GRANTS.—The Secretary may make grants to ag-
ricultural trade associations or industry associations which 
have been in existence for at least three years prior to 
applying for such a grant to provide for technical assist-
ance in establishing an agricultural association health 
plan. 
(d) AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.— 
(1) IN GENERAL.—There are authorized to be 
appropriated to carry out this section $65,000,000 
for the period of fiscal years 2019 through 2022, to 
be available until expended. 
(2) RESERVATION
OF
FUNDS.—Of the funds 
made available under paragraph (1), not more than 
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15 percent of such funds shall be made available to 
make grants under subsection (c). 
(e) DEFINITIONS.—In this section: 
(1) 
AGRICULTURAL
ASSOCIATION
HEALTH 
PLAN.—The term ‘‘agricultural association health 
plan’’ means a group health plan within the meaning 
of section 733(a)(1) of the Employee Retirement In-
come Security Act of 1974 (42 U.S.C. 1191b)— 
(A) that is sponsored by a qualified agri-
cultural association; and 
(B) with respect to which the Secretary 
has received a letter from the relevant State in-
surance commissioner certifying that such asso-
ciation may offer such plan in such State. 
(2) QUALIFIED AGRICULTURAL ASSOCIATION.— 
The term ‘‘qualified agricultural association’’ means 
an association— 
(A) composed of members that operate a 
farm or ranch or operate an agribusiness; 
(B) that qualifies as an association health 
plan within the meaning of guidance or regula-
tion issued by the Department of Labor; 
(C) that acts directly or indirectly in the 
interest of its members in relation to the plan; 
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341 
(D) that is able to demonstrate an ability 
to implement and manage a group health plan; 
and 
(E) that meets any other criteria the Sec-
retary deems necessary to meet the intent of 
this section. 
Subtitle 
B—Connecting 
Rural 
Americans 
to 
High 
Speed 
Broadband 
SEC. 6101. ESTABLISHING FORWARD-LOOKING BROADBAND 
STANDARDS. 
Section 601 of the Rural Electrification Act of 1936 
(7 U.S.C. 950bb) is amended— 
(1) in subsection (d)(1)(A), by striking clause 
(i) and inserting the following: 
‘‘(i) demonstrate the ability to furnish 
or improve service in order to meet the 
broadband service standards established 
under subsection (e)(1) in all or part of an 
unserved or underserved rural area;’’; 
(2) in subsection (e)— 
(A) by striking paragraphs (1) and (2) and 
inserting the following: 
‘‘(1) IN GENERAL.—Subject to paragraph (2), 
for purposes of this section, the Secretary shall es-
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tablish broadband service standards for rural areas 
which provide for— 
‘‘(A) a minimum acceptable standard of 
service; and 
‘‘(B) projections of minimum acceptable 
standards of service for 5, 10, 15, 20, and 30 
years into the future. 
‘‘(2) ADJUSTMENTS.— 
‘‘(A) IN GENERAL.—At least once every 2 
years, the Secretary shall review, and may ad-
just through notice published in the Federal 
Register, the broadband service standards in ef-
fect under paragraph (1) to encourage the de-
livery of high quality, cost-effective broadband 
service in rural areas. 
‘‘(B) CONSIDERATIONS.—In establishing 
and adjusting the broadband service standards 
in effect under paragraph (1), the Secretary 
shall consider— 
‘‘(i) the broadband service needs of 
rural families and businesses; 
‘‘(ii) broadband service available to 
urban and suburban areas; 
‘‘(iii) future technology needs of rural 
residents; 
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‘‘(iv) advances in broadband tech-
nology; and 
‘‘(v) other relevant factors as deter-
mined by the Secretary.’’; and 
(B) by adding at the end the following: 
‘‘(4) AGREEMENT.—The Secretary shall not 
provide a loan or loan guarantee under this section 
for a project unless the Secretary determines, at the 
time the agreement to provide the loan or loan guar-
antee is entered into, that, at any time while the 
loan or loan guarantee is outstanding, the project 
will be capable of providing broadband service at not 
less than the minimum acceptable standard of serv-
ice established under paragraph (1)(B) for that 
time. 
‘‘(5) SUBSTITUTE
SERVICE
STANDARDS
FOR 
UNIQUE
SERVICE
TERRITORIES.—If an applicant 
shows that it would be cost prohibitive to meet the 
minimum acceptable level of broadband service es-
tablished under paragraph (1)(B) for the entirety of 
a proposed service territory due to the unique char-
acteristics of the proposed service territory, the Sec-
retary and the applicant may agree to utilize sub-
stitute standards for any unserved portion of the 
project. Any substitute service standards should con-
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SEC. 6102. INCENTIVES FOR HARD TO REACH COMMU-
NITIES. 
Title VI of the Rural Electrification Act of 1936 (7 
U.S.C. 950bb) is amended by adding at the end the fol-
lowing: 
‘‘SEC. 604. INCENTIVES FOR HARD TO REACH COMMU-
NITIES. 
‘‘(a) DEFINITIONS.—In this section: 
‘‘(1) ASSOCIATED LOAN.—The term ‘associated 
loan’ means a loan or loan guarantee to finance all 
or part of a project under title I or II or this title 
for which an application has been submitted under 
such title and for which an application has also been 
submitted for a grant under this section. 
‘‘(2) DENSITY.— 
‘‘(A) IN
GENERAL.—The term ‘density’ 
means service points per road mile. 
‘‘(B) METHOD
OF
CALCULATION.—The 
Secretary shall further define, by rule, a meth-
od for calculating service points per road-mile, 
where appropriate by geography, which— 
‘‘(i) divides the total number of serv-
ice points by the total number of road- 
miles in a proposed service territory; 
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‘‘(ii) requires an applicant to count all 
potential service points in a proposed serv-
ice territory; and 
‘‘(iii) includes any other requirements 
the Secretary deems necessary to protect 
the integrity of the program. 
‘‘(3) ELIGIBLE
PROJECT.—The term ‘eligible 
project’ means any project for which the applicant— 
‘‘(A) has submitted an application for an 
associated loan; and 
‘‘(B) does not receive any other broadband 
grant administered by the Rural Utilities Serv-
ice; and 
‘‘(C) proposes to— 
‘‘(i) offer retail broadband service to 
rural households; 
‘‘(ii) serve an area with a density of 
less than 12; 
‘‘(iii) provide service that meets the 
standard that would apply under section 
601(e)(4) if the associated loan had been 
applied for under section 601; 
‘‘(iv) provide service in an area where 
no incumbent provider delivers fixed ter-
restrial broadband service at or above the 
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minimum broadband speed described in 
section 601(e)(1); and 
‘‘(v) provide service in an area where 
no eligible borrower, other than the appli-
cant, has outstanding Rural Utilities Serv-
ice telecommunications debt or is subject 
to a current Rural Utilities Service tele-
communications grant agreement. 
‘‘(4) SERVICE POINT.—The term ‘service point’ 
means a home, business, or institution in a proposed 
service area. 
‘‘(5) ROAD-MILE.—The term ‘road-mile’ means 
a mile of road in a proposed service area. 
‘‘(b) ESTABLISHMENT OF GRANT PROGRAM.—The 
Secretary shall establish a competitive grant program to 
provide applicants funds to carry out eligible projects for 
the purposes of construction, improvement, or acquisition 
of facilities for the provision of broadband service in rural 
areas. 
‘‘(c) APPLICATIONS.—The Secretary shall establish 
an application process for grants under this section that— 
‘‘(1) has 1 application window per year; 
‘‘(2) permits a single application for the grant 
and the associated loan; and 
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‘‘(3) provides a single decision to award the 
grant and the associated loan. 
‘‘(d) PRIORITY.—In making grants under this sec-
tion, the Secretary shall prioritize applications in which 
the applicant proposes to— 
‘‘(1) provide the highest quality of service as 
measured by— 
‘‘(A) network speed; 
‘‘(B) network latency; and 
‘‘(C) data allowances; 
‘‘(2) serve the greatest number of service 
points; and 
‘‘(3) use the greatest proportion of non-Federal 
dollars. 
‘‘(e) AMOUNT.—The Secretary shall make each grant 
under this section in an amount that is— 
‘‘(1) not greater than 75 percent of the total 
project cost with respect to an area with a density 
of less than 4; 
‘‘(2) not greater than 50 percent of the total 
project cost with respect to an area with a density 
of 4 or more and not more than 9; and 
‘‘(3) not greater than 25 percent of the total 
project cost with respect to an area with a density 
of more than 9 and not more than 12. 
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‘‘(f) TERMS AND CONDITIONS.—With respect to a 
grant provided under this section, the Secretary shall re-
quire that— 
‘‘(1) the associated loan is secured by the assets 
purchased with funding from the grant and from the 
loan; 
‘‘(2) the agreement in which the terms of the 
grant are established is for a period equal to the du-
ration of the associated loan; and 
‘‘(3) at any time at which the associated loan 
is outstanding, the broadband service provided by 
the project will meet the lower of the standards that 
would apply under section 601(g)(4) if the associ-
ated loan had been made under section 601. 
‘‘(g) PAYMENT ASSISTANCE FOR CERTAIN APPLI-
CANTS UNDER THIS TITLE.— 
‘‘(1) IN GENERAL.—As part of the grant pro-
gram under this section, the Secretary, at the sole 
discretion of the Secretary, may provide to appli-
cants who are eligible borrowers under this title and 
not eligible borrowers under title I or II all or a por-
tion of the grant funds in the form of payment as-
sistance. 
‘‘(2) PAYMENT
ASSISTANCE.—The Secretary 
may provide payment assistance under paragraph 
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(1) by reducing a borrower’s interest rate or periodic 
principal payments or both. 
‘‘(3) AGREEMENT ON MILESTONES AND OBJEC-
TIVES.—With respect to payment assistance pro-
vided under paragraph (1), before entering into the 
agreement for the grant and associated loan under 
which the payment assistance will be provided, the 
applicant and the Secretary shall agree to milestones 
and objectives of the project. 
‘‘(4) CONDITION.—The Secretary shall condi-
tion any payment assistance provided under para-
graph (1) on— 
‘‘(A) the applicant fulfilling the terms and 
conditions of the grant agreement under which 
the payment assistance will be provided; and 
‘‘(B) completion of the milestones and ob-
jectives agreed to under paragraph (3). 
‘‘(5) AMENDMENT OF MILESTONES AND OBJEC-
TIVES.—The Secretary and the applicant may jointly 
agree to amend the milestones and objectives agreed 
to under paragraph (3). 
‘‘(h) EXISTING PROJECTS.—The Secretary may not 
provide a grant under this section to an applicant for a 
project that was commenced before the date of the enact-
ment of this section. 
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‘‘(i) AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.—There 
are authorized to be appropriated to carry out this section 
$350,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2019 to 2023.’’. 
SEC. 6103. REQUIRING GUARANTEED BROADBAND LEND-
ING. 
Section 601(c)(1) of the Rural Electrification Act of 
1936 (7 U.S.C. 950bb(c)(1)) is amended by striking ‘‘shall 
make or guarantee loans’’ and inserting ‘‘shall make loans 
and shall guarantee loans’’. 
SEC. 6104. SMART UTILITY AUTHORITY FOR BROADBAND. 
(a) Section 331 of the Consolidated Farm and Rural 
Development Act (7 U.S.C. 1981) is amended by adding 
at the end the following: 
‘‘(e)(1) Except as provided in paragraph (2), the Sec-
retary may allow a recipient of a grant, loan, or loan guar-
antee provided by the Office of Rural Development under 
this title to use not more than 10 percent of the amount 
so provided— 
‘‘(A) for any activity for which assistance may 
be provided under section 601 of the Rural Elec-
trification Act of 1936; or 
‘‘(B) to construct other broadband infrastruc-
ture. 
‘‘(2) Paragraph (1) of this subsection shall not apply 
to a recipient who is seeking to provide retail broadband 
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service in any area where retail broadband service is avail-
able at the minimum broadband speeds, as defined under 
section 601(e) of the Rural Electrification Act of 1936.’’. 
(b) Title I of the Rural Electrification Act of 1936 
(7 U.S.C. 901–918a) is amended by inserting after section 
7 the following: 
‘‘SEC. 8. LIMITATIONS ON USE OF ASSISTANCE. 
‘‘(a) Subject to subsections (b) and (c) of this section, 
the Secretary may allow a recipient of a grant, loan, or 
loan guarantee under this title to set aside not more than 
10 percent of the amount so received to provide retail 
broadband service. 
‘‘(b) A recipient who sets aside funds under sub-
section (a) of this section may use the funds only in an 
area that is not being provided with the minimum accept-
able level of broadband service established under section 
601(e), unless the recipient meets the requirements of sec-
tion 601(d). 
‘‘(c) Nothing in this section shall be construed to 
limit the ability of any borrower to finance or deploy serv-
ices authorized under this title.’’. 
SEC. 6105. MODIFICATIONS TO THE RURAL GIGABIT PRO-
GRAM. 
Section 603 of the Rural Electrification Act of 1936 
(7 U.S.C. 950bb–2) is amended— 
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(1) in the section heading, by striking ‘‘RURAL 
GIGABIT NETWORK PILOT’’ and inserting ‘‘INNO-
VATIVE BROADBAND ADVANCEMENT’’; 
(2) in subsection (d), by striking ‘‘2014 through 
2018’’ and inserting ‘‘2019 through 2023’’; 
(3) by redesignating subsection (d) as sub-
section (e); and 
(4) by striking subsections (a) through (c) and 
inserting the following: 
‘‘(a) IN GENERAL.—The Secretary shall establish a 
program to be known as the ‘Innovative Broadband Ad-
vancement Program’, under which the Secretary may pro-
vide a grant, a loan, or both to an eligible entity for the 
purpose of demonstrating innovative broadband tech-
nologies or methods of broadband deployment that signifi-
cantly decrease the cost of broadband deployment, and 
provide substantially faster broadband speeds than are 
available, in a rural area. 
‘‘(b) RURAL AREA.—In this section, the term ‘rural 
area’ has the meaning provided in section 601(b)(3). 
‘‘(c) ELIGIBILITY.—To be eligible to obtain assist-
ance under this section for a project, an entity shall— 
‘‘(1) submit to the Secretary an application— 
‘‘(A) that describes a project designed to 
decrease the cost of broadband deployment, and 
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substantially increase broadband speed to not 
less than the 20-year broadband speed estab-
lished by the Rural Utilities Service under this 
title, in a rural area to be served by the project; 
and 
‘‘(B) at such time, in such manner, and 
containing such other information as the Sec-
retary may require; 
‘‘(2) demonstrate that the entity is able to 
carry out the project; and 
‘‘(3) agree to complete the project build-out 
within 5 years after the date the assistance is first 
provided for the project. 
‘‘(d) 
PRIORITIZATION.—In 
awarding 
assistance 
under this section, the Secretary shall give priority to pro-
posals for projects that— 
‘‘(1) involve partnerships between or among 
multiple entities; 
‘‘(2) would provide broadband service to the 
greatest number of rural residents at or above the 
minimum broadband speed referred to in subsection 
(c)(1)(A); and 
‘‘(3) the Secretary determines could be rep-
licated in rural areas described in paragraph (2).’’. 
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SEC. 6106. UNIFIED BROADBAND REPORTING REQUIRE-
MENTS. 
Section 601 of the Rural Electrification Act of 1936 
(7 U.S.C. 950bb) is amended— 
(1) in subsection (j)— 
(A) in the matter preceding paragraph (1), 
by striking ‘‘Not later than’’ and all that fol-
lows through ‘‘section’’ and insert ‘‘Each year, 
the Secretary shall submit to the Congress a re-
port that describes the extent of participation in 
the broadband loan, loan guarantee, and grant 
programs administered by the Secretary’’; 
(B) in paragraph (1), by striking ‘‘loans 
applied for and provided under this section’’ 
and inserting ‘‘loans, loan guarantees, and 
grants applied for and provided under the pro-
grams’’; 
(C) in paragraph (2)— 
(i) in subparagraph (A), by striking 
‘‘loan’’; and 
(ii) in subparagraph (B), by striking 
‘‘loans and loan guarantees provided under 
this section’’ and inserting ‘‘loans, loan 
guarantees, and grants provided under the 
programs’’; 
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(D) in paragraph (3), by striking ‘‘loan ap-
plication under this section’’ and inserting ‘‘ap-
plication under the programs’’; 
(E) in each of paragraphs (4) and (6), by 
striking ‘‘this section’’ and inserting ‘‘the pro-
grams’’; and 
(F) in paragraph (5)— 
(i) by striking ‘‘service’’ and inserting 
‘‘technology’’; and 
(ii) by striking ‘‘(b)(1)’’ and inserting 
‘‘(e)(1)’’; and 
(2) in subsection (k)(2), in each of subpara-
graphs (A)(i) and (C), by striking ‘‘loans’’ and in-
serting ‘‘grants, loans,’’. 
SEC. 6107. IMPROVING ACCESS BY PROVIDING CERTAINTY 
TO BROADBAND BORROWERS. 
(a) TELEPHONE LOAN PROGRAM.—Title II of the 
Rural Electrification Act of 1936 (7 U.S.C. 922–928) is 
amended by adding at the end the following: 
‘‘SEC. 208. AUTHORITY TO OBLIGATE, BUT NOT DISBURSE, 
FUNDS BEFORE THE COMPLETION OF RE-
VIEWS. 
‘‘(a) IN GENERAL.—The Secretary may obligate, but 
shall not disburse, funds under this title for a project be-
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fore the completion of any otherwise required environ-
mental, historical, or other review of the project. 
‘‘(b) AUTHORITY TO DEOBLIGATE FUNDS.—The 
Secretary may deobligate funds under this title for a 
project if any such review will not be completed within 
a reasonable period of time.’’. 
(b) RURAL BROADBAND PROGRAM.—Section 601(d) 
of the Rural Electrification Act of 1936 (7 U.S.C. 
950bb(d)) is amended by adding at the end the following: 
‘‘(11) AUTHORITY TO OBLIGATE, BUT NOT DIS-
BURSE, FUNDS BEFORE COMPLETION OF REVIEWS; 
AUTHORITY TO DEOBLIGATE FUNDS.—The Secretary 
may obligate, but shall not disburse, funds under 
this section for a project before the completion of 
any otherwise required environmental, historical, or 
other review of the project. The Secretary may 
deobligate funds under this section for a project if 
any such review will not be completed within a rea-
sonable period of time.’’. 
SEC. 6108. SIMPLIFIED APPLICATION WINDOW. 
Section 601(c)(2)(A) of the Rural Electrification Act 
of 1936 (7 U.S.C. 950bb(c)(2)(A)) is amended by striking 
‘‘not less than 2 evaluation periods’’ and inserting ‘‘1 eval-
uation period’’. 
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358 
SEC. 6109. ELIMINATION OF REQUIREMENT TO GIVE PRI-
ORITY TO CERTAIN APPLICANTS. 
Section 601(c)(2) of the Rural Electrification Act of 
1936 (7 U.S.C. 950bb(c)(2)) is amended— 
(1) by adding ‘‘and’’ at the end of subpara-
graph (B); 
(2) by striking ‘‘; and’’ at the end of subpara-
graph (C) and inserting a period; and 
(3) by striking subparagraph (D). 
SEC. 6110. MODIFICATION OF BUILDOUT REQUIREMENT. 
Section 601(d)(1)(A)(iii) of the Rural Electrification 
Act of 1936 (7 U.S.C. 950bb(d)(1)(A)(iii)) is amended— 
(1) by striking ‘‘service’’ and inserting ‘‘infra-
structure’’; and 
(2) by striking ‘‘3’’ and inserting ‘‘5’’. 
SEC. 6111. IMPROVING BORROWER REFINANCING OPTIONS. 
(a) REFINANCING OF BROADBAND LOANS.—Section 
201 of the Rural Electrification Act of 1936 (7 U.S.C. 
922) is amended by inserting ‘‘including indebtedness on 
a loan made under section 601’’ after ‘‘furnishing tele-
phone service in rural areas’’. 
(b) REFINANCING
OF
OTHER
LOANS.—Section 
601(i) of such Act (7 U.S.C. 950bb(i)) is amended by in-
serting ‘‘, or on any other loan if the purpose for which 
such other loan was made is a telecommunications purpose 
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for which assistance may be provided under this Act,’’ be-
fore ‘‘if the use of’’. 
SEC. 6112. ELIMINATION OF UNNECESSARY REPORTING RE-
QUIREMENTS. 
Section 601(d)(8)(A)(ii) of the Rural Electrification 
Act of 1936 (7 U.S.C. 950bb(d)(8)(A)(ii)) is amended— 
(1) in subclause (I), by striking ‘‘and location’’; 
and 
(2) in subclause (IV), by striking ‘‘any changes 
in broadband service adoption rates, including’’. 
SEC. 6113. ACCESS TO BROADBAND TELECOMMUNICATIONS 
SERVICES IN RURAL AREAS. 
Section 601 of the Rural Electrification Act of 1936 
(7 U.S.C. 950bb) is amended— 
(1) in subsection (k), by striking paragraph (1) 
and inserting the following: 
‘‘(1) LIMITATIONS ON AUTHORIZATION OF AP-
PROPRIATIONS.—For loans and loan guarantees 
under this section, there is authorized to be appro-
priated to the Secretary $150,000,000 for each of 
fiscal years 2019 through 2023, to remain available 
until expended.’’; and 
(2) in subsection (l), by striking ‘‘2018’’ and in-
serting ‘‘2023’’. 
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360 
SEC. 6114. EFFECTIVE DATE. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—The amendments made by this 
subtitle shall not take effect until the Secretary of Agri-
culture has issued final regulations to implement the 
amendments. 
(b) DEADLINE FOR ISSUING REGULATIONS.—Within 
90 days after the date of the enactment of this Act, the 
Secretary of Agriculture shall prescribe final regulations 
to implement the amendments made by sections 6101 and 
6102. 
Subtitle C—Consolidated Farm and 
Rural Development Act 
SEC. 6201. STRENGTHENING REGIONAL ECONOMIC DEVEL-
OPMENT INCENTIVES. 
Section 379H of the Consolidated Farm and Rural 
Development Act (7 U.S.C. 2008v) is amended to read 
as follows: 
‘‘SEC. 379H. STRATEGIC ECONOMIC AND COMMUNITY DE-
VELOPMENT. 
‘‘(a) IN GENERAL.—In the case of any program as 
determined by the Secretary, the Secretary shall give pri-
ority to an application for a project that, as determined 
and approved by the Secretary— 
‘‘(1) meets the applicable eligibility require-
ments of this title or other applicable authorizing 
law; 
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‘‘(2) will be carried out in a rural area; and 
‘‘(3) supports the implementation of a strategic 
community investment plan described in subsection 
(d) on a multisectoral and multijurisdictional basis. 
‘‘(b) RESERVE.— 
‘‘(1) IN GENERAL.—Subject to paragraph (2), 
the Secretary shall reserve a portion of the funds 
made available for a fiscal year for programs as de-
termined by the Secretary, for projects that support 
the implementation of a strategic community invest-
ment plan described in subsection (d) on a multisec-
toral and multijurisdictional basis. 
‘‘(2) PERIOD.—The reservation of funds de-
scribed in paragraph (1) may only extend through a 
date of the fiscal year in which the funds were first 
made available, as determined by the Secretary. 
‘‘(c) APPROVED APPLICATIONS.— 
‘‘(1) IN
GENERAL.—Any applicant who sub-
mitted a funding application that was approved be-
fore the date of enactment of this section may 
amend the application to qualify for the funds re-
served under subsection (b). 
‘‘(2) RURAL UTILITES.—Any rural development 
application authorized under section 306(a)(2), 
306(a)(14), 306(a)(24), 306A, or 310B(b) and ap-
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proved by the Secretary before the date of enact-
ment of this section shall be eligible for the funds 
reserved under subsection (b) on the same basis as 
the applications submitted under this section, until 
September 30, 2019. 
‘‘(d) STRATEGIC COMMUNITY INVESTMENT PLANS.— 
‘‘(1) IN GENERAL.—The Secretary shall provide 
assistance to rural communities for developing stra-
tegic community investment plans. 
‘‘(2) PLANS.—A strategic community invest-
ment plan described in paragraph (1) shall include— 
‘‘(A) a variety of activities designed to fa-
cilitate a rural community’s vision for its fu-
ture; 
‘‘(B) participation by multiple stake-
holders, including local and regional partners; 
‘‘(C) leverage of applicable regional re-
sources; 
‘‘(D) investment from strategic partners, 
such as— 
‘‘(i) private organizations; 
‘‘(ii) cooperatives; 
‘‘(iii) other government entities; 
‘‘(iv) tribes; and 
‘‘(v) philanthropic organizations; 
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‘‘(E) clear objectives with the ability to es-
tablish measurable performance metrics; 
‘‘(F) action steps for implementation; and 
‘‘(G) any other elements necessary to en-
sure that the plan results in a comprehensive 
and strategic approach to rural economic devel-
opment, as determined by the Secretary. 
‘‘(3) COORDINATION.—The Secretary shall co-
ordinate with tribes and local, State, regional, and 
Federal partners to develop strategic community in-
vestment plans under this subsection. 
‘‘(4) LIMITATIONS ON AUTHORIZATION OF AP-
PROPRIATIONS.— 
‘‘(A) IN GENERAL.—There is authorized to 
be appropriated $5,000,000 for fiscal years 
2018 through 2023 to carry out this subsection. 
‘‘(B) AVAILABILITY.—The amounts made 
available to carry out this subsection are au-
thorized to remain available until expended.’’. 
SEC. 6202. EXPANDING ACCESS TO CREDIT FOR RURAL 
COMMUNITIES. 
(a) CERTAIN PROGRAMS UNDER
THE CONSOLI-
DATED FARM AND RURAL DEVELOPMENT ACT.—Section 
343(a)(13) of the Consolidated Farm and Rural Develop-
ment Act (7 U.S.C. 1991(a)(13)) is amended— 
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(1) in subparagraph (B)— 
(A) in the heading, by striking ‘‘AND 
GUARANTEED’’; and 
(B) in the text— 
(i) by striking ‘‘and guaranteed’’; and 
(ii) by striking ‘‘(1), (2), and (24)’’ 
and inserting ‘‘(1) and (2)’’; and 
(2) in subparagraph (C)— 
(A) by striking ‘‘and guaranteed’’; and 
(B) by striking ‘‘(21), and (24)’’ and in-
serting ‘‘and (21)’’. 
(b) 
RURAL
BROADBAND
PROGRAM.—Section 
601(b)(3)(A)(ii) of the Rural Electrification Act of 1936 
(7 U.S.C. 950bb(b)(3)(A)(ii)) is amended by inserting ‘‘in 
the case of a direct loan,’’ before ‘‘a city’’. 
SEC. 6203. PROVIDING FOR ADDITIONAL FEES FOR GUAR-
ANTEED LOANS. 
(a) CERTAIN PROGRAMS UNDER
THE CONSOLI-
DATED FARM AND RURAL DEVELOPMENT ACT.—Section 
333 of the Consolidated Farm and Rural Development Act 
(7 U.S.C. 1983) is amended— 
(1) by striking ‘‘and’’ at the end of paragraph 
(5); 
(2) by striking the period at the end of para-
graph (6) and inserting ‘‘; and’’; and 
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SEC. 6204. WATER, WASTE DISPOSAL, AND WASTEWATER 
FACILITY GRANTS. 
Section 306(a)(2)(B) of the Consolidated Farm and 
Rural Development Act (7 U.S.C. 1926(a)(2)(B)) is 
amended— 
(1) in clause (iii), by striking ‘‘$100,000’’ each 
place it appears and inserting ‘‘$200,000’’; and 
(2) in clause (vii), by striking ‘‘$30,000,000 for 
each of fiscal years 2008 through 2018’’ and insert-
ing ‘‘$15,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2019 
through 2023’’. 
SEC. 6205. RURAL WATER AND WASTEWATER TECHNICAL 
ASSISTANCE AND TRAINING PROGRAMS. 
(a) Section 306(a)(14)(A) of the Consolidated Farm 
and Rural Development Act (7 U.S.C. 1926(a)(14)(A)) is 
amended— 
(1) by striking ‘‘and’’ at the end of clause (ii); 
(2) by striking the period at the end of clause 
(iii) and inserting ‘‘; and’’; and 
(3) by adding at the end the following: 
‘‘(iv) identify options to enhance long 
term sustainability of rural water and 
waste systems to include operational prac-
tices, revenue enhancements, policy revi-
sions, partnerships, consolidation, regional-
ization, or contract services.’’. 
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(b) Section 306(a)(14)(C) of such Act (7 U.S.C. 
1926(a)(14)(C)) is amended by striking ‘‘1 nor more than 
3’’ and inserting ‘‘3 nor more than 5’’. 
SEC. 6206. RURAL WATER AND WASTEWATER CIRCUIT 
RIDER PROGRAM. 
Section 306(a)(22)(B) of the Consolidated Farm and 
Rural Development Act (7 U.S.C. 1926(a)(22)(B)) is 
amended by striking ‘‘$20,000,000 for fiscal year 2014’’ 
and inserting ‘‘$25,000,000 for fiscal year 2018’’. 
SEC. 6207. TRIBAL COLLEGE AND UNIVERSITY ESSENTIAL 
COMMUNITY FACILITIES. 
Section 306(a)(25)(C) of the Consolidated Farm and 
Rural Development Act (7 U.S.C. 1926(a)(25)(C)) is 
amended by striking ‘‘$10,000,000 for each of fiscal years 
2008 through 2018’’ and inserting ‘‘$5,000,000 for each 
of fiscal years 2019 through 2023’’. 
SEC. 
6208. 
EMERGENCY 
AND 
IMMINENT 
COMMUNITY 
WATER ASSISTANCE GRANT PROGRAM. 
Section 306A(i) of the Consolidated Farm and Rural 
Development Act (7 U.S.C. 1926a(i)) is amended— 
(1) in paragraph (1), by striking subparagraph 
(B) and inserting the following: 
‘‘(B) RELEASE.— 
‘‘(i) IN
GENERAL.—Except as pro-
vided in clause (ii), funds reserved under 
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368 
subparagraph (A) for a fiscal year shall be 
reserved only until July 1 of the fiscal 
year. 
‘‘(ii) EXCEPTION.—In response to an 
eligible community where the drinking 
water supplies are inadequate due to a nat-
ural disaster, as determined by the Sec-
retary, including drought or severe weath-
er, the Secretary may provide potable 
water under this section for an additional 
period not to exceed 120 days beyond the 
established 
period 
otherwise 
provided 
under this section, in order to protect pub-
lic health.’’; and 
(2) in paragraph (2), by striking ‘‘$35,000,000 
for each of fiscal years 2008 through 2018’’ and in-
serting ‘‘$27,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2019 
through 2023’’. 
SEC. 6209. WATER SYSTEMS FOR RURAL AND NATIVE VIL-
LAGES IN ALASKA. 
Section 306D(d)(1) of the Consolidated Farm and 
Rural Development Act (7 U.S.C. 1926d(d)(1)) is amend-
ed by striking ‘‘2018’’ and inserting ‘‘2023’’. 
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369 
SEC. 6210. HOUSEHOLD WATER WELL SYSTEMS. 
Section 306E(d) of the Consolidated Farm and Rural 
Development Act (7 U.S.C. 1926e(d)) is amended by 
striking ‘‘2018’’ and inserting ‘‘2023’’. 
SEC. 6211. SOLID WASTE MANAGEMENT GRANTS. 
Section 310B(b)(2) of the Consolidated Farm and 
Rural Development Act (7 U.S.C. 1932(b)(2)) is amended 
by striking ‘‘2018’’ and inserting ‘‘2023’’. 
SEC. 6212. RURAL BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT GRANTS. 
Section 310B(c)(4)(A) of the Consolidated Farm and 
Rural Development Act (7 U.S.C. 1932(c)(4)(A)) is 
amended by striking ‘‘2018’’ and inserting ‘‘2023’’. 
SEC. 6213. RURAL COOPERATIVE DEVELOPMENT GRANTS. 
Section 310B(e)(13) of the Consolidated Farm and 
Rural Development Act (7 U.S.C. 1932(e)(13)) is amend-
ed by striking ‘‘2018’’ and inserting ‘‘2023’’. 
SEC. 6214. LOCALLY OR REGIONALLY PRODUCED AGRICUL-
TURAL FOOD PRODUCTS. 
Section 310B(g)(9)(B)(iv)(I) of the Consolidated 
Farm 
and 
Rural 
Development 
Act 
(7 
U.S.C. 
1932(g)(9)(B)(iv)(I)) is amended by striking ‘‘2018’’ and 
inserting ‘‘2023’’. 
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370 
SEC. 6215. APPROPRIATE TECHNOLOGY TRANSFER FOR 
RURAL AREAS PROGRAM. 
Section 310B(i)(4) of the Consolidated Farm and 
Rural Development Act (7 U.S.C. 1932(i)(4)) is amended 
by striking ‘‘2018’’ and inserting ‘‘2023’’. 
SEC. 6216. RURAL ECONOMIC AREA PARTNERSHIP ZONES. 
Section 310B(j) of the Consolidated Farm and Rural 
Development Act (7 U.S.C. 1932(j)) is amended by strik-
ing ‘‘2018’’ and inserting ‘‘2023’’. 
SEC. 6217. INTERMEDIARY RELENDING PROGRAM. 
Section 310H(e) of the Consolidated Farm and Rural 
Development Act (7 U.S.C. 1936b(e)) is amended by 
striking ‘‘$25,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2014 
through 2018’’ and inserting ‘‘$10,000,000 for each of fis-
cal years 2019 through 2023’’. 
SEC. 6218. EXCLUSION OF PRISON POPULATIONS FROM 
DEFINITION OF RURAL AREA. 
Section 343(a)(13) of the Consolidated Farm and 
Rural Development Act (7 U.S.C. 1991(a)(13) is amend-
ed— 
(1) in subparagraph (A), by striking ‘‘(G)’’ and 
inserting ‘‘(H)’’; and 
(2) by adding at the end the following: 
‘‘(H) EXCLUSION OF PRISON POPULATIONS.— 
Incarcerated prison populations shall not be included 
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371 
in determining whether an area is ‘rural’ or a ‘rural 
area’.’’. 
SEC. 6219. NATIONAL RURAL DEVELOPMENT PARTNER-
SHIP. 
Section 378 of the Consolidated Farm and Rural De-
velopment Act (7 U.S.C. 2008m) is amended— 
(1) in subsection (g)(1), by striking ‘‘2018’’ 
and inserting ‘‘2023’’; and 
(2) in subsection (h), by striking ‘‘2018’’ and 
inserting ‘‘2023’’. 
SEC. 6220. 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 ‘‘2018’’ and inserting ‘‘2023’’. 
SEC. 6221. RURAL MICROENTREPRENEUR ASSISTANCE 
PROGRAM. 
Section 379E(d) of the Consolidated Farm and Rural 
Development Act (7 U.S.C. 2008s(d)) is amended to read 
as follows: 
‘‘(d) FUNDING.—There are authorized to be appro-
priated to carry out this section $4,000,000 for each of 
fiscal years 2019 through 2023.’’. 
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372 
SEC. 6222. HEALTH CARE SERVICES. 
Section 379G(e) of the Consolidated Farm and Rural 
Development Act (7 U.S.C. 2008u(e)) is amended by 
striking ‘‘2018’’ and inserting ‘‘2023’’. 
SEC. 6223. 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 
‘‘$30,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2008 through 2018’’ 
and inserting ‘‘$12,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2019 
through 2023’’. 
(b) TERMINATION OF AUTHORITY.—Section 382N of 
such Act (7 U.S.C. 2009aa–13) is amended by striking 
‘‘2018’’ and inserting ‘‘2023’’. 
SEC. 6224. NORTHERN GREAT PLAINS REGIONAL AUTHOR-
ITY. 
(a) AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.—Section 
383N(a) of the Consolidated Farm and Rural Develop-
ment Act (7 U.S.C. 2009bb–12(a)) is amended by striking 
‘‘$30,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2008 through 2018’’ 
and inserting ‘‘$2,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2019 
through 2023’’. 
(b) TERMINATION OF AUTHORITY.—Section 383O of 
such Act (7 U.S.C. 2009bb–13) is amended by striking 
‘‘2018’’ and inserting ‘‘2023’’. 
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373 
SEC. 6225. RURAL BUSINESS INVESTMENT PROGRAM. 
Section 384S of the Consolidated Farm and Rural 
Development Act (7 U.S.C. 2009cc–18) is amended by 
striking ‘‘2018’’ and inserting ‘‘2023’’. 
Subtitle D—Rural Electrification 
Act of 1936 
SEC. 6301. GUARANTEES FOR BONDS AND NOTES ISSUED 
FOR ELECTRIFICATION OR TELEPHONE PUR-
POSES. 
Section 313A(f) of the Rural Electrification Act of 
1936 (7 U.S.C. 940c–1(f)) is amended by striking ‘‘2018’’ 
and inserting ‘‘2023’’. 
SEC. 6302. EXPANSION OF 911 ACCESS. 
Section 315(d) of the Rural Electrification Act of 
1936 (7 U.S.C. 940e(d)) is amended by striking ‘‘2018’’ 
and inserting ‘‘2023’’. 
SEC. 6303. IMPROVEMENTS TO THE GUARANTEED UNDER-
WRITER PROGRAM. 
(a) Section 313A of the Rural Electrification Act of 
1936 (7 U.S.C. 940c-1) is amended— 
(1) by striking subsection (a) and inserting the 
following: 
‘‘(a) GUARANTEES.— 
‘‘(1) IN GENERAL.—Subject to subsection (b), 
the Secretary shall guarantee payments on bonds or 
notes issued by cooperative or other lenders orga-
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nized on a not-for-profit basis, if the proceeds of the 
bonds or notes are used to make utility infrastruc-
ture loans, or refinance bonds or notes issued for 
such purposes, to a borrower that has at any time 
received, or is eligible to receive, a loan under this 
Act. 
‘‘(2) TERMS.—A bond or note guaranteed 
under this section shall— 
‘‘(A) have a term of 35 years; and 
‘‘(B) by agreement between the Secretary 
and the borrower, be repaid by the borrower 
by— 
‘‘(i) periodic installments of principal 
and interest; 
‘‘(ii) periodic installments of interest 
and, at the end of the term of the bond or 
note, by the repayment of the outstanding 
principal; or 
‘‘(iii) a combination of the methods 
for repayment provided under clauses (i) 
and (ii).’’; and 
(2) in subsection (b)— 
(A) in paragraph (1), by striking ‘‘for eli-
gible electrification or telephone purposes con-
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sistent with this Act’’ and inserting ‘‘to bor-
rowers described in subsection (a)’’; and 
(B) in paragraph (3)— 
(i) in subparagraph (A), by striking 
‘‘for electrification or telephone purposes’’ 
and inserting ‘‘to borrowers under this 
Act’’; and 
(ii) in subparagraph (C), by striking 
‘‘for eligible purposes described in sub-
section (a)’’ and inserting ‘‘to borrowers 
described in subsection (a)’’. 
(b)(1) The Secretary shall carry out section 313A of 
the Rural Electrification Act of 1936 (7 U.S.C. 940c-1), 
including the amendments made by this section, under a 
Notice of Solicitation of Applications until all regulations 
necessary to carry out the amendments made by this sec-
tion are fully implemented. 
(2) Paragraph (1) shall take effect on the date of the 
enactment of this Act. 
SEC. 6304. EXTENSION OF THE RURAL ECONOMIC DEVEL-
OPMENT LOAN AND GRANT PROGRAM. 
(a) Section 12(b)(3)(D) of such Act (7 U.S.C. 
912(b)(3)(D)) is amended by striking ‘‘313(b)(2)(A)’’ and 
inserting ‘‘313(b)(2)’’. 
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376 
(b) Section 313(b)(2) of such Act (7 U.S.C. 
940c(b)(2)) is amended— 
(1) by striking all that precedes ‘‘shall main-
tain’’ and inserting the following: 
‘‘(2) RURAL
ECONOMIC
DEVELOPMENT
SUB-
ACCOUNT.—The Secretary’’; and 
(2) by striking subparagraphs (B) through (E). 
(c) Title III of such Act (7 U.S.C. 931–940h) is 
amended by inserting after section 313A the following: 
‘‘SEC. 313B. RURAL DEVELOPMENT LOANS AND GRANTS. 
‘‘(a) IN GENERAL.—The Secretary shall provide 
grants or zero interest loans to borrowers under this Act 
for the purpose of promoting rural economic development 
and job creation projects, including funding for project 
feasibility studies, start-up costs, incubator projects, and 
other reasonable expenses for the purpose of fostering 
rural development. 
‘‘(b) REPAYMENTS.—In the case of zero interest 
loans, the Secretary shall establish such reasonable repay-
ment terms as will encourage borrower participation. 
‘‘(c) PROCEEDS.—All proceeds from the repayment 
of such loans made under this section shall be returned 
to the subaccount that the Secretary shall maintain in ac-
cordance with sections 313(b)(2) and 313B(f). 
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377 
‘‘(d) NUMBER OF GRANTS.—Loans and grants re-
quired under this section shall be made during each fiscal 
year to the full extent of the amounts made available 
under subsection (e). 
‘‘(e) FUNDING.— 
‘‘(1) DISCRETIONARY FUNDING.—In addition to 
other funds that are available to carry out this sec-
tion, there is authorized to be appropriated not more 
than $10,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2019 
through 2023 to carry out this section, to remain 
available until expended. 
‘‘(2) OTHER FUNDS.—In addition to the funds 
described in paragraph (1), the Secretary shall use 
to provide grants and loans under this section— 
‘‘(A) the interest differential sums credited 
to the subaccount described in subsection (c); 
and 
‘‘(B) subject to section 313A(e)(2), the 
fees described in subsection (c)(4) of such sec-
tion. 
‘‘(f) MAINTENANCE
OF ACCOUNT.—The Secretary 
shall maintain the subaccount described in section 
313(b)(2), as in effect in fiscal year 2017, for purposes 
of carrying out this section.’’. 
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378 
(d) Section 313A of the Rural Electrification Act of 
1936 (7 U.S.C. 940c-1) is amended— 
(1) in subsection (c)(4)— 
(A) in subparagraph (A), by striking 
‘‘maintained under section 313(b)(2)(A)’’ and 
inserting ‘‘that shall be maintained as required 
by sections 313(b)(2) and 313B(f)’’; and 
(B) in subparagraph (B), by striking 
‘‘313(b)(2)(A)’’ and inserting ‘‘313(b)(2)’’; and 
(2) in subsection (e)(2), by striking ‘‘ main-
tained under section 313(b)(2)(A)’’ and inserting 
‘‘required to be maintained by sections 313(b)(2) 
and 313B(f)’’. 
(e)(1) Subject to section 313B(e) of the Rural Elec-
trification Act of 1936 (as added by this section), the Sec-
retary of Agriculture shall carry out the loan and grant 
program required under such section in the same manner 
as the loan and grant program under section 313(b)(2) 
of such Act is carried out on the day before the date of 
the enactment of this Act, until such time as any regula-
tions necessary to carry out the amendments made by this 
section are fully implemented. 
(2) Paragraph (1) shall take effect on the date of the 
enactment of this Act. 
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379 
Subtitle E—Farm Security and 
Rural Investment Act of 2002 
SEC. 6401. RURAL ENERGY SAVINGS PROGRAM. 
Section 6407 of the Farm Security and Rural Invest-
ment Act of 2002 (7 U.S.C. 8107a) is amended— 
(1) in subsection (c)— 
(A) 
by 
redesignating 
paragraphs 
(4) 
through (7) as paragraphs (5) through (8), re-
spectively; 
(B) by inserting after paragraph (3) the 
following: 
‘‘(4) ELIGIBILITY
FOR
OTHER
LOANS.—The 
Secretary shall not include any debt incurred under 
this section in the calculation of a borrower’s debt- 
equity ratio for purposes of eligibility for loans made 
pursuant to the Rural Electrification Act of 1936 (7 
U.S.C. 901 et. seq.).’’; and 
(C) by adding at the end the following: 
‘‘(9) ACCOUNTING.—The Secretary shall take 
appropriate steps to streamline the accounting re-
quirements imposed on borrowers under this section 
while maintaining adequate assurances of repayment 
of the loan.’’; 
(2) in subsection (d)(1)(A), by striking ‘‘3 per-
cent’’ and inserting ‘‘5 percent’’; 
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380 
(3) by redesignating subsection (h) as sub-
section (i); 
(4) by inserting after subsection (g) the fol-
lowing: 
‘‘(h) REPORT TO CONGRESS.—Not later than 120 
days after the end of each fiscal year, the Secretary shall 
submit to the Committees on Agriculture and Appropria-
tions of the House of Representatives and the Committees 
on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry and Appropria-
tions of the Senate a report that describes— 
‘‘(1) the number of applications received under 
this section in such fiscal year; 
‘‘(2) the number of loans made to eligible enti-
ties under this section in such fiscal year; and 
‘‘(3) the recipients of such loans.’’; and 
(5) in subsection (i), as so redesignated, by 
striking ‘‘2018’’ and inserting ‘‘2023’’. 
SEC. 6402. BIOBASED MARKETS PROGRAM. 
Section 9002 of the Farm Security and Rural Invest-
ment Act of 2002 (7 U.S.C. 8102) is amended— 
(1) by amending subsection (i) to read as fol-
lows: 
‘‘(i) AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.—There is 
authorized to be appropriated to carry out this section 
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381 
$2,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2014 through 2023.’’; 
and 
(2) by adding at the end the following: 
‘‘(k) WOOD
AND WOOD-BASED PRODUCTS.—Not-
withstanding any other provision of law, a Federal agency 
may not place limitations on the procurement of wood and 
wood-based products that are more limiting than those in 
this section.’’. 
SEC. 6403. BIOREFINERY, RENEWABLE, CHEMICAL, AND 
BIOBASED PRODUCT MANUFACTURING AS-
SISTANCE. 
Section 9003 of the Farm Security and Rural Invest-
ment Act of 2002 (7 U.S.C. 8103) is amended— 
(1) in subsection (b)(3)(A), by striking ‘‘and’’ 
at the end and inserting ‘‘or’’; and 
(2) by amending subsection (g) to read as fol-
lows: 
‘‘(g) AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.—There 
is authorized to be appropriated to carry out this section 
$75,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2014 through 2023.’’. 
SEC. 6404. REPOWERING ASSISTANCE PROGRAM. 
Section 9004(d) of the Farm Security and Rural In-
vestment Act of 2002 (7 U.S.C. 8104(d)) is amended to 
read as follows: 
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382 
‘‘(d) AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.—There 
is authorized to be appropriated to carry out this section 
$10,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2014 through 2023.’’. 
SEC. 
6405. 
BIOENERGY 
PROGRAM 
FOR 
ADVANCED 
BIOFUELS. 
Section 9005 of the Farm Security and Rural Invest-
ment Act of 2002 (7 U.S.C. 8105) is amended— 
(1) in subsection (e)— 
(A) by striking ‘‘The Secretary may’’ and 
inserting the following new paragraph: 
‘‘(1) AMOUNT.—The Secretary shall’’; and 
(B) by adding at the end the following new 
paragraph: 
‘‘(2) FEEDSTOCK.—The total amount of pay-
ments made in a fiscal year under this section to one 
or more eligible producers for the production of ad-
vanced biofuels derived from a single eligible com-
modity shall not exceed one-third of the total 
amount of funds made available under subsection 
(g).’’; and 
(2) in subsection (g)— 
(A) by striking paragraphs (1) and (2) and 
inserting the following new paragraph: 
‘‘(1) AUTHORIZATION
OF
APPROPRIATIONS.— 
There is authorized to be appropriated to carry out 
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this section $50,000,000 for each of fiscal years 
2019 through 2023.’’; and 
(B) by redesignating paragraph (3) as 
paragraph (2). 
SEC. 6406. BIODIESEL FUEL EDUCATION PROGRAM. 
Section 9006(d) of the Farm Security and Rural In-
vestment Act of 2002 (7 U.S.C. 8106(d)) is amended to 
read as follows: 
‘‘(d) AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.—There 
is authorized to be appropriated to carry out this section 
$2,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2019 through 2023.’’. 
SEC. 6407. RURAL ENERGY FOR AMERICA PROGRAM. 
Section 9007(g) of the Farm Security and Rural In-
vestment Act of 2002 (7 U.S.C. 8107(g)) is amended— 
(1) in paragraph (1)(E), by striking ‘‘for fiscal 
year 2014 and each fiscal year thereafter’’ and in-
serting ‘‘for each of the fiscal years 2014 through 
2018’’; and 
(2) in paragraph (3), by striking ‘‘2018’’ and 
inserting ‘‘2023’’. 
SEC. 6408. RURAL ENERGY SELF-SUFFICIENCY INITIATIVE. 
Section 9009 of the Farm Security and Rural Invest-
ment Act of 2002 (7 U.S.C. 8109) is repealed. 
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SEC. 6409. FEEDSTOCK FLEXIBILITY. 
Section 9010(b) of the Farm Security and Rural In-
vestment Act of 2002 (7 U.S.C. 8110(b)) is amended— 
(1) in paragraph (1)(A), by striking ‘‘2018’’ 
and inserting ‘‘2023’’; and 
(2) in paragraph (2)(A), by striking ‘‘2018’’ 
and inserting ‘‘2023’’. 
SEC. 6410. BIOMASS CROP ASSISTANCE PROGRAM. 
Section 9011(f) of the Farm Security and Rural In-
vestment Act of 2002 (7 U.S.C. 8111(f)) is amended by 
striking paragraph (1) and inserting the following new 
paragraph: 
‘‘(1) AUTHORIZATION
OF
APPROPRIATIONS.— 
There is authorized to be appropriated to carry out 
this section $25,000,000 for each of fiscal years 
2019 through 2023.’’. 
Subtitle F—Miscellaneous 
SEC. 6501. VALUE-ADDED AGRICULTURAL PRODUCT MAR-
KET DEVELOPMENT GRANTS. 
Section 231(b)(7) of the Agricultural Risk Protection 
Act of 2000 (7 U.S.C. 1632a(b)(7)) is amended— 
(1) 
in 
subparagraph 
(B), 
by 
striking 
‘‘$40,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2008 through 
2018’’ and inserting ‘‘$50,000,000 for each of fiscal 
years 2019 through 2023’’; and 
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(2) by striking subparagraph (A) and redesig-
nating subparagraphs (B) and (C) as subparagraphs 
(A) and (B), respectively. 
SEC. 6502. AGRICULTURE INNOVATION CENTER DEM-
ONSTRATION PROGRAM. 
Section 6402(i) of the Farm Security and Rural In-
vestment Act of 2002 (7 U.S.C. 1632b(i)) is amended by 
striking ‘‘2018’’ and inserting ‘‘2023’’. 
SEC. 6503. REGIONAL ECONOMIC AND INFRASTRUCTURE 
DEVELOPMENT COMMISSIONS. 
Section 15751(a) of title 40, United States Code, is 
amended by striking ‘‘2018’’ and inserting ‘‘2023’’. 
SEC. 6504. DEFINITION OF RURAL AREA FOR PURPOSES OF 
THE HOUSING ACT OF 1949. 
The second sentence of section 520 of the Housing 
Act of 1949 (42 U.S.C. 1490) is amended— 
(1) by striking ‘‘or 2010 decennial census’’ and 
inserting ‘‘2010, or 2020 decennial census’’; 
(2) by striking ‘‘December 31, 2010,’’ and in-
serting ‘‘December 31, 2020’’ ; and 
(3) by striking ‘‘year 2020’’ and inserting ‘‘year 
2030’’. 
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