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graph during the 2-year period beginning
on the date on which the loan is made.
‘‘(E) 
TECHNICAL
ASSISTANCE
GRANT
AMOUNTS.—
‘‘(i) IN GENERAL.—Except as otherwise
provided in this section, each microenter-
prise development organization that receives
a direct loan under this paragraph shall be
eligible to receive a technical assistance
grant to provide marketing, management,
and technical assistance to rural micro-
enterprises that are borrowers or potential
borrowers under this subsection.
‘‘(ii) MAXIMUM AMOUNT OF TECHNICAL
ASSISTANCE GRANT FOR MICROENTERPRISE
DEVELOPMENT
ORGANIZATIONS.—Each
microenterprise development organization
that receives a direct loan under this para-
graph shall receive an annual technical as-
sistance grant in an amount equal to not
more than 25 percent of the total out-
standing balance of microloans made by the
microenterprise development organization
under this paragraph, as of the date of pro-
vision of the technical assistance grant.
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‘‘(iii) MATCHING REQUIREMENT.—
‘‘(I) IN
GENERAL.—As a condi-
tion of any grant made to a micro-
enterprise development organization
under this subparagraph, the Secretary
shall require the microenterprise devel-
opment organization to match not less
than 15 percent of the total amount of
the grant.
‘‘(II) FORM
OF
NON-FEDERAL
SHARE.—The non-Federal share of the
cost of a project described in subclause
(I) may be provided—
‘‘(aa) in cash; or
‘‘(bb) as indirect costs or in-
kind contributions.
‘‘(c) ADMINISTRATIVE EXPENSES.—Not more than 10
percent of a grant received by a microenterprise develop-
ment organization for a fiscal year under this section may
be used to pay administrative expenses.
‘‘(d) FUNDING.—
‘‘(1) MANDATORY FUNDING.—
‘‘(A) IN
GENERAL.—Of the funds of the
Commodity Credit Corporation, the Secretary
shall use to carry out this section $40,000,000
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for fiscal year 2008, to remain available until
expended.
‘‘(B) ALLOCATION
OF
FUNDS.—Of the
amount made available by subparagraph (A) for
fiscal year 2008—
‘‘(i) not less than $25,000,000 shall be
available for use in carrying out subsection
(b)(3); and
‘‘(ii) not less than $15,000,000 shall be
available for use in carrying out subsection
(b)(4), of which not more than $7,000,000
shall be used for the cost of direct loans.
‘‘(2) AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.—In
addition to amounts made available under paragraph
(1), there are authorized to be appropriated such
sums as are necessary to carry out this section for
each of fiscal years 2009 through 2012.’’.
SEC. 6023. ARTISANAL CHEESE CENTERS.
Subtitle D of the Consolidated Farm and Rural Devel-
opment Act is amended by inserting after section 366 (as
added by section 6022) the following:
‘‘SEC. 367. ARTISANAL CHEESE CENTERS.
‘‘(a) IN GENERAL.—The Secretary shall establish
artisanal cheese centers to provide educational and tech-
nical assistance relating to the manufacture and marketing
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of artisanal cheese by small- and medium-sized producers
and businesses.
‘‘(b) AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.—There is
authorized to be appropriated such sums as are necessary
to carry out this section for each of fiscal years 2008
through 2012.’’.
SEC. 6024. NATIONAL RURAL DEVELOPMENT PARTNERSHIP.
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 ‘‘2007’’ and
inserting ‘‘2012’’; and
(2) in subsection (h), by striking ‘‘the date that
is 5 years after the date of enactment of this section’’
and inserting ‘‘September 30, 2012’’.
SEC. 6025. HISTORIC BARN PRESERVATION.
Section 379A(c) of the Consolidated Farm and Rural
Development Act (7 U.S.C. 2008o(c)) is amended—
(1) by striking paragraph (2) and inserting the
following:
‘‘(2) ELIGIBLE PROJECTS.—
‘‘(A) IN GENERAL.—A grant under this sub-
section may be made to an eligible applicant for
a project—
‘‘(i) to rehabilitate or repair a historic
barn;
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‘‘(ii) to preserve a historic barn; and
‘‘(iii) to identify, document, survey,
and conduct research on a historic barn or
historic farm structure to develop and
evaluate appropriate techniques or best
practices for protecting historic barns.
‘‘(B) PRIORITY.—The Secretary shall give
the highest funding priority to grants for projects
described in subparagraph (A)(iii).’’; and
(2) in paragraph (4), by striking ‘‘2007’’ and in-
serting ‘‘2012’’.
SEC. 6026. 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 strik-
ing ‘‘2007’’ and inserting ‘‘2012’’.
SEC. 6027. GRANTS TO TRAIN FARM WORKERS IN NEW
TECHNOLOGIES AND TO TRAIN FARM WORK-
ERS IN SPECIALIZED SKILLS NECESSARY FOR
HIGHER VALUE CROPS.
Section 379C(c) of the Consolidated Farm and Rural
Development Act (7 U.S.C. 2008q(c)) is amended by strik-
ing ‘‘2007’’ and inserting ‘‘2012’’.
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SEC. 6028. GRANTS FOR EXPANSION OF EMPLOYMENT OP-
PORTUNITIES FOR INDIVIDUALS WITH DIS-
ABILITIES IN RURAL AREAS.
Subtitle D of the Consolidated Farm and Rural Devel-
opment Act (7 U.S.C. 1981 et seq.) is amended by adding
at the end the following:
‘‘SEC. 379E. GRANTS FOR EXPANSION OF EMPLOYMENT OP-
PORTUNITIES FOR INDIVIDUALS WITH DIS-
ABILITIES IN RURAL AREAS.
‘‘(a) DEFINITIONS.—In this section:
‘‘(1) INDIVIDUAL WITH A DISABILITY.—The term
‘individual with a disability’ means an individual
with a disability (as defined in section 3 of the Amer-
icans with Disabilities Act of 1990 (42 U.S.C.
12102)).
‘‘(2) INDIVIDUALS
WITH
DISABILITIES.—The
term ‘individuals with disabilities’ means more than
1 individual with a disability.
‘‘(b) GRANTS.—The Secretary shall make grants to
nonprofit organizations, or to a consortium of nonprofit or-
ganizations, to expand and enhance employment opportuni-
ties for individuals with disabilities in rural areas.
‘‘(c) ELIGIBILITY.—To be eligible to receive a grant
under this section, a nonprofit organization or consortium
of nonprofit organizations shall have—
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‘‘(1) a significant focus on serving the needs of
individuals with disabilities;
‘‘(2) demonstrated knowledge and expertise in—
‘‘(A) employment of individuals with dis-
abilities; and
‘‘(B) advising private entities on accessi-
bility issues involving individuals with disabil-
ities;
‘‘(3) expertise in removing barriers to employ-
ment for individuals with disabilities, including ac-
cess to transportation, assistive technology, and other
accommodations;
‘‘(4) existing relationships with national organi-
zations focused primarily on the needs of rural areas;
‘‘(5) affiliates in a majority of the States; and
‘‘(6) a close working relationship with the De-
partment of Agriculture.
‘‘(d) USES.—A grant received under this section may
be used only to expand or enhance—
‘‘(1) employment opportunities for individuals
with disabilities in rural areas by developing na-
tional technical assistance and education resources to
assist small businesses in a rural area to recruit, hire,
accommodate, and employ individuals with disabil-
ities; and
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‘‘(2) self-employment and entrepreneurship op-
portunities for individuals with disabilities in a
rural area.
‘‘(e) AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.—There is
authorized to be appropriated to carry out this section
$2,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2008 through 2012.’’.
SEC. 6029. DELTA REGIONAL AUTHORITY.
(a) HEALTH CARE SERVICES.—Section 382C of the
Consolidated Farm and Rural Development Act (7 U.S.C.
2009aa–2) is amended by adding at the end the following:
‘‘(c) HEALTH CARE SERVICES.—
‘‘(1) IN GENERAL.—Subject to the availability of
appropriated funds, the Secretary may award a grant
to the Delta Health Alliance for the development of
health care services, health education programs, and
health care job training programs fields, and for the
development and expansion of public health-related
facilities, in the Mississippi Delta region to address
longstanding and unmet health needs in the Mis-
sissippi Delta region.
‘‘(2) USE.—As a condition of the receipt of the
grant, the Delta Health Alliance shall use the grant
to fund projects and activities described in paragraph
(1), based on input solicited from local governments,
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public health care providers, and other entities in the
Mississippi Delta region.
‘‘(3) FEDERAL
INTEREST
IN
PROPERTY.—Not-
withstanding any other provision of law, with respect
to the use of grant funds provided under this sub-
section for a project involving the construction or
major alteration of property, the Federal interest in
the property shall terminate on the earlier of—
‘‘(A) the date that is 1 year after the date
of the completion of the project; or
‘‘(B) the date on which the Federal Govern-
ment is compensated for the proportionate inter-
est of the Federal Government in the property, if
the use of the property changes or the property
is transferred or sold.’’.
(b) AUTHORIZATION
OF APPROPRIATIONS.—Section
382M(a) of the Consolidated Farm and Rural Development
Act (7 U.S.C. 2009aa–12(a)) is amended by striking
‘‘2007’’ and inserting ‘‘2012’’.
(c) TERMINATION OF AUTHORITY.—Section 382N of
the Consolidated Farm and Rural Development Act (7
U.S.C. 2009aa–13) is amended by striking ‘‘2007’’ and in-
serting ‘‘2012’’.
(d) DELTA REGION AGRICULTURAL ECONOMIC DEVEL-
OPMENT.—Section 379D(b) of the Consolidated Farm and
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Rural Development Act (7 U.S.C. 2008r(b)) is amended by
striking ‘‘2007’’ and inserting ‘‘2012’’.
SEC. 6030. NORTHERN GREAT PLAINS REGIONAL AUTHOR-
ITY.
(a) ESTABLISHMENT.—Section 383B of the Consoli-
dated Farm and Rural Development Act (7 U.S.C. 2009bb–
1) is amended—
(1) in subsection (a), by adding at the end the
following:
‘‘(4) FAILURE TO CONFIRM.—
‘‘(A) FEDERAL MEMBER.—Notwithstanding
any other provision of this section, if a Federal
member described in paragraph (2)(A) has not
been confirmed by the Senate by not later than
180 days after the date of enactment of this
paragraph, the Authority may organize and op-
erate without the Federal member.
‘‘(B) 
INDIAN
CHAIRPERSON.—Notwith-
standing any other provision of this section, if a
chairperson of an Indian Tribe described in
paragraph (2)(C) has not been confirmed by the
Senate by not later than 180 days after the date
of enactment of this paragraph, the leaders of the
Indian tribes in the region may select that mem-
ber.’’;
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(2) in subsection (d)—
(A) in paragraph (1), by striking ‘‘to estab-
lish priorities and’’ and inserting ‘‘for multistate
cooperation to advance the economic and social
well-being of the region and to’’
(B) in paragraph (3), by striking ‘‘local de-
velopment districts,’’ and inserting ‘‘regional
and local development districts or organizations,
regional boards established under subtitle I,’’;
(C) in paragraph (4), by striking ‘‘coopera-
tion;’’ and inserting ‘‘cooperation for—
‘‘(i) renewable energy development and
transmission;
‘‘(ii) transportation planning and eco-
nomic development;
‘‘(iii) information technology;
‘‘(iv) movement of freight and individ-
uals within the region;
‘‘(v) federally-funded research at insti-
tutions of higher education; and
‘‘(vi) conservation land management;’’;
(D) by striking paragraph (6) and insert-
ing the following:
‘‘(6) enhance the capacity of, and provide sup-
port for, multistate development and research organi-
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zations, local development organizations and districts,
and resource conservation districts in the region;’’;
and
(E) in paragraph (7), by inserting ‘‘renew-
able energy,’’ after ‘‘commercial,’’.
(3) in subsection (f)(2), by striking ‘‘the Federal
cochairperson’’ and inserting ‘‘a cochairperson’’;
(4) in subsection (g)(1), by striking subpara-
graphs (A) through (C) and inserting the following:
‘‘(A) for each of fiscal years 2008 and 2009,
100 percent;
‘‘(B) for fiscal year 2010, 75 percent; and
‘‘(C) for fiscal year 2011 and each fiscal
year thereafter, 50 percent.’’.
(b) INTERSTATE COOPERATION FOR ECONOMIC OP-
PORTUNITY AND EFFICIENCY.—
(1) IN GENERAL.—Subtitle G of the Consolidated
Farm and Rural Development Act is amended—
(A) by redesignating sections 383C through
383N (7 U.S.C. 2009bb–2 through 2009bb–13) as
sections 383D through 383O, respectively; and
(B) by inserting after section 383B (7
U.S.C. 2009bb–1) the following:
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‘‘SEC. 383C. INTERSTATE COOPERATION FOR ECONOMIC OP-
PORTUNITY AND EFFICIENCY.
‘‘(a) IN GENERAL.—The Authority shall provide as-
sistance to States in developing regional plans to address
multistate economic issues, including plans—
‘‘(1) to develop a regional transmission system
for movement of renewable energy to markets outside
the region,
‘‘(2) to assist in the harmonization of transpor-
tation policies and regulations that impact the inter-
state movement of goods and individuals, including
the establishment of a Northern Great Plains Re-
gional Transportation Working Group;
‘‘(3) to encourage and support interstate collabo-
ration on federally-funded research that is in the na-
tional interest; and
‘‘(4) to establish a Regional Working Group on
Agriculture Development and Transportation.
‘‘(b) ECONOMIC ISSUES.—The multistate economic
issues referred to in subsection (a) shall include—
‘‘(1) renewable energy development and trans-
mission;
‘‘(2) transportation planning and economic de-
velopment;
‘‘(3) information technology;