264 
of the other entities, is owned, directly or indi-
rectly, by qualified operators of the farm ac-
quired, improved, or supported with funds 
under this subtitle.’’; and 
(2) by striking all that precedes ‘‘shall make 
and insure’’ and inserting the following: 
‘‘SEC. 321. ELIGIBILITY FOR LOANS. 
‘‘(a) IN GENERAL.— 
‘‘(1) ELIGIBILITY
REQUIREMENTS.—The Sec-
retary’’. 
Subtitle D—Administrative 
Provisions 
SEC. 5401. BEGINNING FARMER AND RANCHER INDIVIDUAL 
DEVELOPMENT ACCOUNTS PILOT PROGRAM. 
Section 333B(h) of the Consolidated Farm and Rural 
Development Act (7 U.S.C. 1983b(h)) is amended by 
striking ‘‘2023’’ and inserting ‘‘2031’’. 
SEC. 5402. LOAN AUTHORIZATION LEVELS. 
Section 346(b)(1) of the Consolidated Farm and 
Rural Development Act (7 U.S.C. 1994(b)(1)) is amended 
in the matter preceding subparagraph (A) by striking 
‘‘2023’’ and inserting ‘‘2031’’. 
SEC. 5403. LOAN FUND SET-ASIDES. 
Section 346(b)(2)(A)(ii)(III) of the Consolidated 
Farm 
and 
Rural 
Development 
Act 
(7 
U.S.C. 
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265 
1994(b)(2)(A)(ii)(III)) is amended by striking ‘‘2023’’ 
and inserting ‘‘2031’’. 
SEC. 5404. USE OF ADDITIONAL FUNDS FOR DIRECT OPER-
ATING MICROLOANS UNDER CERTAIN CONDI-
TIONS. 
Section 346(b)(5)(C) of the Consolidated Farm and 
Rural Development Act (7 U.S.C. 1994(b)(5)(C)) is 
amended by striking ‘‘2023’’ and inserting ‘‘2031’’. 
Subtitle E—Miscellaneous 
SEC. 5501. EXTENSION OF CREDIT TO BUSINESSES PRO-
VIDING SERVICES TO PRODUCERS OR HAR-
VESTERS OF AQUATIC PRODUCTS. 
(a) ELIGIBILITY FOR CREDIT AND FINANCIAL SERV-
ICES.—Section 1.9 of the Farm Credit Act of 1971 (12 
U.S.C. 2017) is amended— 
(1) in paragraph (2), by striking ‘‘or’’ at the 
end; 
(2) by redesignating paragraph (3) as para-
graph (4); and 
(3) by inserting after paragraph (2) the fol-
lowing: 
‘‘(3) persons furnishing to producers or har-
vesters of aquatic products services directly related 
to their operating needs; or’’. 
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266 
(b) PURPOSES FOR EXTENSIONS OF CREDIT.—Sec-
tion 1.11(c)(1) of such Act (12 U.S.C. 2019(c)(1)) is 
amended by inserting ‘‘and to persons furnishing services 
directly related to the operating needs of producers or har-
vesters of aquatic products’’ after ‘‘needs’’. 
(c) PRODUCTION CREDIT ASSOCIATIONS.—Section 
2.4(a) of such Act (12 U.S.C. 2075(a)) is amended— 
(1) in paragraph (2), by striking ‘‘and’’ at the 
end; 
(2) in paragraph (3), by striking the period at 
the end and inserting ‘‘; and’’; and 
(3) by adding at the end the following: 
‘‘(4) persons furnishing to producers or har-
vesters of aquatic products services directly related 
to their operating needs.’’. 
SEC. 5502. EXPORT FINANCE AUTHORITY. 
Section 3.7(b)(2)(A)(i) of the Farm Credit Act of 
1971 (12 U.S.C. 2128(b)(2)(A)(i)) is amended— 
(1) by striking ‘‘50 percent of the bank’s cap-
ital’’ and inserting ‘‘15 percent of the total assets of 
the bank’’; and 
(2) by striking ‘‘an amount equal to 50 percent 
of the bank’s capital’’ and inserting ‘‘15 percent of 
the total assets of the bank’’. 
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267 
SEC. 5503. SUPPORT FOR RURAL WATER AND WASTE SYS-
TEMS. 
Section 3.7(f) of the Farm Credit Act of 1971 (12 
U.S.C. 2128(f)) is amended— 
(1) by redesignating paragraphs (1) and (2) as 
subparagraphs (A) and (B); 
(2) by striking ‘‘The banks’’ and inserting ‘‘(1) 
The banks’’; 
(3) striking ‘‘For purposes’’ and inserting ‘‘(3) 
For purposes’’; 
(4) in subparagraph (B) (as so redesignated), 
by inserting ‘‘, or in the case of such loans, commit-
ments, and assistance that are guaranteed, the term 
‘rural area’ means an area described in section 
343(a)(13)(A) of the Consolidated Farm and Rural 
Development Act (7 U.S.C. 1991(a)(13)(A))’’ before 
the period at the end; and 
(5) by inserting after paragraph (1) (as so re-
designated) the following: 
‘‘(2) Notwithstanding paragraph (1), a bank for 
cooperatives may make and participate in loans and 
commitments and provide technical and other finan-
cial assistance to cooperatives and any other public 
or private entity (except for the Federal Govern-
ment) for the purpose of installing, maintaining, ex-
panding, improving, or operating facilities in a rural 
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268 
area for the processing or disposal of waste from 
any source, the provision of telecommunication serv-
ices, and producing electricity from any source for 
use or sale by the borrower.’’. 
SEC. 5504. FARM CREDIT SYSTEM REGULATION. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—The Farm Credit Act of 1971 (12 
U.S.C. 2001 et seq.) is amended by inserting after section 
4.20 the following: 
‘‘SEC. 4.21. FARM CREDIT SYSTEM REGULATION. 
‘‘(a) The Farm Credit Administration shall be the 
sole and independent regulator of the Farm Credit System 
with respect to activities subject to this Act. 
‘‘(b) A law enacted or rule promulgated after the date 
of the enactment of this section shall not be held to modify 
or supersede the exclusive authority provided by sub-
section (a), except to the extent that the enacted law does 
so expressly.’’. 
(b) EFFECTIVE DATE.—The amendment made by 
subsection (a) shall take effect on the date of the enact-
ment of this Act. 
SEC. 5505. LOAN GUARANTEES. 
Section 8.0(7)(B) of the Farm Credit Act of 1971 
(12 U.S.C. 2279aa(7)(B)) is amended by inserting ‘‘ or 
section 9007(c)(1) of the Farm Security and Rural Invest-
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269 
ment Act of 2002 (7 U.S.C. 8107(c)(1))’’ before the 1st 
comma. 
SEC. 5506. STANDARDS FOR QUALIFIED LOANS. 
Section 8.8 of the Farm Credit Act of 1971 (12 
U.S.C. 2279aa–8) is amended— 
(1) in subsection (a)(3), by striking ‘‘mortgage 
investors’’ and inserting ‘‘investors in those types of 
loans’’; and 
(2) by striking subsection (c) and inserting the 
following: 
‘‘(c) QUALIFIED LOAN LIMITATION
FOR SINGLE 
BORROWERS.— 
‘‘(1) IN GENERAL.—The Corporation shall not 
treat a loan secured by agricultural real estate as a 
qualified loan when the cumulative principal amount 
of all loans to a single borrower or related borrowers 
exceeds 10 percent of the Corporation’s tier 1 cap-
ital, as defined by the Farm Credit Administration. 
‘‘(2) REGULATOR DETERMINATION.—The Farm 
Credit Administration may issue regulations estab-
lishing a single borrower concentration limit lower 
than the percentage specified in paragraph (1) if the 
Farm Credit Administration determines that such a 
lower limit is necessary for the safe and sound oper-
ation of the Corporation.’’. 
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270 
SEC. 5507. STATE AGRICULTURAL MEDIATION PROGRAMS. 
(a) MATCHING GRANTS TO STATES.—Section 502 of 
the Agricultural Credit Act of 1987 (7 U.S.C. 5102) is 
amended— 
(1) in subsection (b)(2), by striking ‘‘$500,000’’ 
and inserting ‘‘$700,000’’; and 
(2) by adding at the end the following: 
‘‘(e) CARRYOVER OF FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE.—The 
Secretary shall permit a State that receives financial as-
sistance under subsection (a) for a fiscal year to carry over 
not more than 25 percent of the financial assistance that 
is not expended by the end of the fiscal year, for use dur-
ing the next fiscal year without deducting the amount 
from any assistance provided under this Act in subsequent 
fiscal years.’’. 
(b) AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.—Section 
506 of the Agricultural Credit Act of 1987 (7 U.S.C. 
5106) is amended by striking ‘‘2023’’ and inserting 
‘‘2031’’. 
SEC. 5508. TECHNICAL CORRECTIONS. 
(a) ELIMINATION OF OBSOLETE REFERENCES TO 
COUNTY COMMITTEES.— 
(1) Section 333A(a)(2)(B)(vi) of the Consoli-
dated Farm and Rural Development Act (7 U.S.C. 
1983a(a)(2)(B)(vi)) is amended by striking ‘‘by the 
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271 
county committee’’ and inserting ‘‘of the applica-
tion’’. 
(2) Section 336 of such Act (7 U.S.C. 1986) is 
amended— 
(A) by striking the last sentence of sub-
section (b); and 
(B) by striking subsection (c) and redesig-
nating subsection (d) as subsection (c). 
(3) Section 339 of such Act (7 U.S.C. 1989) is 
amended— 
(A) in subsection (c)(4)(A), by striking 
‘‘county committee certification that the bor-
rower of the loan meets the eligibility require-
ments and’’ and inserting ‘‘the borrower meet-
ing’’; and 
(B) in subsection (d)(4)(A), by striking 
‘‘county committee certification that the bor-
rower meets the eligibility requirements or’’ and 
inserting ‘‘the borrower meeting’’. 
(4) Section 359(c)(1) of such Act (7 U.S.C. 
2006a(c)(1)) is amended by striking ‘‘(as determined 
by the appropriate county committee during the de-
termination of eligibility for the loan)’’. 
(b) REVISION
OF LOAN ASSESSMENT REQUIRE-
MENTS.—Section 360(d)(1) of such Act (7 U.S.C. 
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272 
2006b(d)(1)) is amended by striking ‘‘annual review of di-
rect loans, and periodic review (as determined necessary 
by the Secretary) of guaranteed loans’’ and inserting 
‘‘periodic review (as determined by the Secretary) of direct 
and guaranteed loans’’. 
(c) UPDATING OF OUTDATED REFERENCES TO THE 
FARMERS HOME ADMINISTRATION AND THE RURAL DE-
VELOPMENT AGENCY.— 
(1) Section 309(e) of such Act (7 U.S.C. 
1928(e)) is amended by striking ‘‘Farmers Home 
Administration and the Rural Development Adminis-
tration’’ and inserting ‘‘Farm Service Agency and 
Rural Development’’. 
(2) Section 331(b)(4) of such Act (7 U.S.C. 
1981(b)(4)) is amended by striking ‘‘Consolidated’’. 
(3) Section 331(b) of such Act (7 U.S.C. 
1981(b)) is amended in each of paragraphs (5) and 
(7) by striking ‘‘Farmers Home Administration’’ 
each place it appears and inserting ‘‘Farm Service 
Agency and Rural Development’’. 
(4) Section 331(b)(8) of such Act (7 U.S.C. 
1981(b)(8)) is amended by striking ‘‘Rural Develop-
ment Administration or by the Farmers Home Ad-
ministration’’ and inserting ‘‘Farm Service Agency 
and Rural Development’’. 
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273 
(5) Section 331A(a) of such Act (7 U.S.C. 
1981a(a)) is amended by striking ‘‘Farmers Home 
Administration or by the Rural Development Admin-
istration’’ and inserting ‘‘Farm Service Agency or by 
Rural Development’’. 
(6) Section 335(a) of such Act (7 U.S.C. 
1985(a)) is amended by striking ‘‘Farmers Home 
Administration or the Rural Development Adminis-
tration’’ and inserting ‘‘Farm Service Agency or 
Rural Development’’. 
(7) Section 335(f)(1) of such Act (7 U.S.C. 
1985(f)(1)) is amended— 
(A) by striking ‘‘Agricultural Stabilization 
and Conservation Service payments’’ and insert-
ing ‘‘Farm Service Agency farm program’’; 
(B) by striking ‘‘Farmers Home Adminis-
tration liens’’ and inserting ‘‘liens for a farmer 
program loan’’; and 
(C) by striking ‘‘Farmers Home Adminis-
tration farmer’’ and inserting ‘‘Farm Service 
Agency farmer’’. 
(8) Section 338(a) of such Act (7 U.S.C. 
1988(a)) is amended by striking ‘‘Farmers Home 
Administration or the Rural Development Adminis-
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274 
tration’’ and inserting ‘‘Farm Service Agency and 
Rural Development’’. 
(9) Section 347 of such Act (7 U.S.C. 1995) is 
amended by striking ‘‘Farmers Home Administra-
tion’’ and inserting ‘‘Farm Service Agency and 
Rural Development’’. 
(10) Section 356 of such Act (7 U.S.C. 2004) 
is amended— 
(A) by striking ‘‘Farmers Home Adminis-
tration may’’ and inserting ‘‘Farm Service 
Agency and Rural Development may’’; and 
(B) by striking ‘‘the inventory of the 
Farmers Home Administration’’ and inserting 
‘‘inventory’’. 
(11) Section 370(a) of such Act (7 U.S.C. 
2008e(a)) is amended by striking ‘‘the Rural Devel-
opment Administration, the Farmers Home Admin-
istration, the Rural Electrification Administration’’ 
and inserting ‘‘Rural Development, the Farm Serv-
ice Agency, the Rural Utilities Service’’. 
(12) Each of the following provisions of such 
Act is amended by striking ‘‘Farmers Home Admin-
istration’’ each place it appears and inserting ‘‘Farm 
Service Agency’’: 
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(A) 
Section 
309(g)(1) 
(7 
U.S.C. 
1929(g)(1)). 
(B) Section 331A(a) (7 U.S.C. 1981a(a)). 
(C) Section 333A(a)(2)(B) (7 U.S.C. 
1983a(a)(2)(B)). 
(D) 
Section 
333A(e)(1) 
(7 
U.S.C. 
1983a(e)(1)). 
(E) Section 335(d) (7 U.S.C. 1985(d)). 
(F) Section 353A (7 U.S.C. 2001a). 
(G) 
Section 
349(e)(1)(B) 
(7 
U.S.C. 
1997(e)(1)(B)). 
(H) Section 361 (7 U.S.C. 2006c). 
(d) Section 335(c)(1) of such Act (7 U.S.C. 
1985(c)(1)) is amended— 
(1) in subparagraph (A), by striking ‘‘15’’ and 
inserting ‘‘60’’; 
(2) in subparagraph (B)(i)— 
(A) by striking ‘‘135’’ and inserting 
‘‘180’’; and 
(B) by inserting ‘‘suitable for farming and 
ranching, as determined by the Secretary’’ be-
fore the comma; and 
(3) in subparagraph (C), by striking ‘‘not later 
than 135 days after acquiring the real property, the 
Secretary shall, not later than 30 days after the 
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276 
135-day period,’’ and inserting ‘‘or if the property is 
not suitable for farming and ranching as determined 
by the Secretary, not later than 60 days after the 
180-day period, the Secretary shall’’. 
(e) CORRECTION OF INFEASIBLE INVENTORY PROP-
ERTY DISPOSITION FRAMEWORK.— 
(1) Section 331(b)(1) of such Act (7 U.S.C. 
1981(b)(1)) is amended by striking ‘‘, and until Jan-
uary’’ and all that follows through ‘‘fit)’’. 
(2) Section 335(f) of such Act (7 U.S.C. 
1985(f)) is amended— 
(A) by striking paragraphs (3) through (5) 
and redesignating paragraph (6) as paragraph 
(3); and 
(B) by striking paragraph (7) and insert-
ing the following: 
‘‘(4) The Secretary shall issue regulations consistent 
with this section that ensures the release of funds to each 
borrower.’’. 
(f) REPLACEMENT OF REFERENCES TO DISTRICT 
OFFICE WITH REFERENCES TO DISTRICT DIRECTOR.— 
Section 
333A(a)(2)(B) 
of 
such 
Act 
(7 
U.S.C. 
1983a(a)(2)(B)) is amended by striking ‘‘district office’’ 
each place it appears and inserting ‘‘District Director’’. 
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277 
(g) CORRECTION
OF OBSOLETE REFERENCE
TO 
FORMER TRUST TERRITORIES.—Section 343(a)(6) of 
such Act (7 U.S.C. 1991(a)(6)) is amended by striking 
‘‘the Trust Territory of the Pacific Islands’’ and inserting 
‘‘the Federated States of Micronesia, the Republic of 
Palau, and the Republic of the Marshall Islands’’. 
(h) REVISION OF FARMER PROGRAM LOAN DEFINI-
TION.—Section 343(a)(10) of such Act (7 U.S.C. 
1991(a)(10)) is amended by inserting ‘‘before June 18, 
2008, conservation loan (CL) under section 304 on or 
after June 18, 2008,’’ before ‘‘emergency loan (EM)’’. 
(i) ELIMINATION
OF
INCONSISTENCY
BETWEEN 
RULES APPLICABLE TO BEGINNING FARMERS.—Section 
343(a)(11)(C) of such Act (7 U.S.C. 1991(a)(11)(C)) is 
amended by striking ‘‘related to one another by blood or 
marriage’’ and inserting ‘‘qualified beginning farmers’’. 
(j) 
UPDATING
OF
PROVISIONS
TO
REFLECT 
REPURPOSING OF CONSERVATION LOAN PROVISIONS.— 
(1) Section 303(a) of such Act (7 U.S.C. 
1923(a)) is amended in each of paragraphs (1)(D) 
and (2)(D) by striking ‘‘described in section 304’’. 
(2) Section 310D of such Act (7 U.S.C. 1934) 
is amended by striking ‘‘, or paragraphs (1) through 
(5) of section 304(a),’’ and inserting ‘‘section 
304(a)’’. 
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278 
(k) UPDATING OF NOTICE PROVISION REQUIREMENT 
AND
LIFETIME
DEBT
FORGIVENESS
LIMIT.—Section 
353(i)(1) of such Act (7 U.S.C. 2001(i)(1)) is amended 
by striking ‘‘registered or certified mail’’ and inserting 
‘‘any method that provides documentation of delivery’’. 
(l) UPDATING OF OBSOLETE REFERENCE TO THE 
SOIL CONSERVATION SERVICE.—Section 306(a)(13) of 
such Act (7 U.S.C. 1926(a)(13)) is amended by striking 
‘‘Soil Conservation Service’’ and inserting ‘‘Natural Re-
sources Conservation Service’’. 
(m) CLARIFICATION OF INTEREST RATE REQUIRE-
MENTS.— 
(1) Section 307(a)(3)(B) of such Act (7 U.S.C. 
1927(a)(3)(B)) is amended by striking ‘‘not be—’’ 
and all that follows and inserting ‘‘be equal to the 
interest rate for direct farm ownership loans under 
this subtitle, not to exceed 5 percent per year.’’. 
(2) Section 316(a)(2) of such Act (7 U.S.C. 
1946(a)(2)) is amended by striking ‘‘not be—’’ and 
all that follows and inserting ‘‘be equal to the inter-
est rate for direct farm ownership loans under this 
subtitle, not to exceed 5 percent per year.’’. 
(n) CORRECTION OF HEADING.—Section 309(h)(6) 
of such Act (7 U.S.C. 1929(h)(6)) is amended in the para-
graph heading by striking ‘‘BEGINNING FARMER LOANS’’ 
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279 
and inserting ‘‘DOWN PAYMENT LOAN PROGRAM PARTICI-
PANT’’. 
(o) ELIMINATION
OF
SUPERFLUOUS
RESTRIC-
TIONS.—Section 312 of such Act (7 U.S.C. 1942) is 
amended by striking subsection (d) and redesignating sub-
section (e) as subsection (d). 
(p) ELIMINATION OF CONFUSING REFERENCES TO 
LOAN GUARANTEES.—Section 319 of such Act (7 U.S.C. 
1949) is amended— 
(1) in the section heading, by striking ‘‘OR 
GUARANTEES’’; and 
(2) by striking ‘‘or with respect to whom there 
is an outstanding guarantee under this subtitle’’. 
(q) ELIMINATION
OF OBSOLETE REPORTING RE-
QUIREMENTS.—Section 346 of such Act (7 U.S.C. 1994) 
is amended by striking subsections (c) and (d). 
(r) CORRECTION
OF OBSOLETE APPEALS PROVI-
SIONS.— 
(1) Section 352(c)(3) of such Act (7 U.S.C. 
2000(c)(3)) is amended by striking ‘‘section 333B’’ 
and inserting ‘‘subtitle H of title II of Federal Crop 
Insurance Reform and Department of Agriculture 
Reorganization Act of 1994’’. 
(2) Section 353 of such Act (7 U.S.C. 2001) is 
amended— 
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280 
(A) in subsection (h), by striking ‘‘under 
section 333B’’; and 
(B) in subsection (j)— 
(i) by striking ‘‘filed with the appeals 
division under section 333B’’ and inserting 
‘‘to the National Appeals Division’’; 
(ii) by striking ‘‘appeals division 
shall’’ and inserting ‘‘Secretary shall’’; and 
(iii) by striking ‘‘county supervisor’’ 
and inserting ‘‘Secretary’’. 
(s) ELIMINATION OF UNNECESSARY CONSTRAINT ON 
PILOT PROJECTS.—Section 333D(a) of such Act (7 
U.S.C. 1983d(a)) is amended by striking ‘‘that are con-
sistent with subtitle A through this subtitle’’. 
(t) CORRECTION
OF
HEADING.—The paragraph 
heading in section 8.8(a)(3) of the Farm Credit Act of 
1971 (12 U.S.C. 2279aa–8(a)(3)) is amended by striking 
‘‘MORTGAGE LOANS’’ and inserting ‘‘LOAN QUALITY’’. 
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281 
TITLE VI—RURAL 
DEVELOPMENT 
Subtitle A—Improving Health 
Outcomes in Rural America 
SEC. 6101. PRIORITIZATIONS FOR DISTANCE LEARNING 
AND TELEMEDICINE AND COMMUNITY FA-
CILITIES PROGRAM. 
Section 6101(a) of the Agriculture Improvement Act 
of 2018 (132 Stat. 4726; Public Law 115–334) is amend-
ed— 
(1) in paragraph (1)— 
(A) in the matter preceding subparagraph 
(A), by striking ‘‘2025’’ and inserting ‘‘2027’’; 
(B) in subparagraph (A)— 
(i) in clause (i)— 
(I) in the heading, by striking 
‘‘SUBSTANCE
USE
DISORDER
SET- 
ASIDE’’ and inserting ‘‘SET-ASIDE’’; 
and 
(II) 
by 
inserting 
‘‘, 
mental 
health, behavioral health, or maternal 
health’’ before ‘‘treatment’’; and 
(ii) in clause (ii), by inserting ‘‘mental 
health, behavioral health, maternal health, 
or’’ before ‘‘substance’’; 
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282 
(C) in subparagraph (B)— 
(i) in clause (i)— 
(I) in the heading, by striking 
‘‘SUBSTANCE USE DISORDER SELEC-
TION’’ and inserting ‘‘SELECTION’’; 
(II) in subclause (I), by inserting 
‘‘mental health, behavioral health, ma-
ternal health, or’’ before ‘‘substance’’; 
and 
(III) in subclause (II), by insert-
ing ‘‘mental health concerns, behav-
ioral health concerns, maternal health 
concerns, or’’ before ‘‘substance’’; and 
(ii) in clause (ii), by inserting ‘‘, be-
havioral health treatment, mental health 
treatment, or maternal health, respec-
tively’’ before the period; and 
(D) in subparagraph (C), by inserting ‘‘be-
havioral health, mental health, maternal health, 
or’’ before ‘‘substance’’; and 
(2) in paragraph (2), by striking ‘‘2025’’ and 
inserting ‘‘2027’’. 
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SEC. 
6102. 
DISTANCE 
LEARNING 
AND 
TELEMEDICINE 
LOANS AND GRANTS. 
Section 2335A of the Food, Agriculture, Conserva-
tion, and Trade Act of 1990 (7 U.S.C. 950aaa–5) is 
amended by striking ‘‘$82,000,000 for each of fiscal years 
2019 through 2023’’ and inserting ‘‘$82,000,000 for each 
of fiscal years 2027 through 2031, to remain available for 
2 fiscal years after the fiscal year for which appropriated’’. 
Subtitle 
B—Connecting 
Rural 
Americans 
to 
High 
Speed 
Broadband 
SEC. 6201. RURAL BROADBAND PROGRAM LOANS AND 
GRANTS. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—Section 601 of the Rural Elec-
trification Act of 1936 (7 U.S.C. 950bb) is amended— 
(1) in the section heading, by striking ‘‘AC-
CESS TO BROADBAND TELECOMMUNICATIONS 
SERVICES IN RURAL AREAS’’ and inserting ‘‘RE-
CONNECT RURAL BROADBAND PROGRAM’’; 
(2) in subsection (a), by striking ‘‘The purpose’’ 
and all that follows through ‘‘provide funds for’’ and 
inserting ‘‘The Secretary shall establish a program, 
which shall be known as the ‘ReConnect Rural 
Broadband Program’, to provide grants, loans, and 
loan guarantees to finance’’; 
(3) in subsection (c)— 
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(A) by striking paragraph (1) and insert-
ing the following: 
‘‘(1) IN GENERAL.—The Secretary shall make 
grants, loans, and loan guarantees to eligible entities 
described in subsection (d) for the purpose of financ-
ing the construction, improvement, or acquisition of 
facilities and equipment necessary for delivering 
broadband service in rural areas.’’; 
(B) in paragraph (2), by striking subpara-
graphs (A) and (B) and inserting the following: 
‘‘(A) IN
GENERAL.—In making grants, 
making loans, and guaranteeing loans under 
paragraph (1), the Secretary shall give the 
highest priority to applications for projects to 
provide broadband service to unserved rural 
communities that do not have any residential 
broadband service of at least— 
‘‘(i) a 25–Mbps downstream trans-
mission capacity; and 
‘‘(ii) a 3–Mbps upstream transmission 
capacity. 
‘‘(B) OTHER.—After giving priority to the 
applications described in subparagraph (A), the 
Secretary shall then give priority to applica-
tions— 
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‘‘(i) for projects to provide broadband 
service to rural communities— 
‘‘(I) with a population of less 
than 10,000 inhabitants; or 
‘‘(II) in geographically under-
served and distressed areas, includ-
ing— 
‘‘(aa) a socially vulnerable 
community (as determined by the 
Secretary); 
‘‘(bb) a persistent poverty 
county (as determined by the 
Secretary); or 
‘‘(cc) in an economically dis-
tressed area (as determined by 
the Secretary); 
‘‘(ii) that were developed with the par-
ticipation of, and will receive a substantial 
portion of the funding or in-kind assistance 
for the project from, 2 or more stake-
holders, including— 
‘‘(I) State, local, and tribal gov-
ernments; 
‘‘(II) nonprofit institutions; 
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‘‘(III) community anchor institu-
tions, such as— 
‘‘(aa) public libraries; 
‘‘(bb) 
elementary 
schools 
and secondary schools (as defined 
in section 8101 of the Elemen-
tary and Secondary Education 
Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 7801)); 
‘‘(cc) institutions of higher 
education (including 1862 Land- 
Grant Institutions, 1890 Land- 
Grant Institutions, 1994 Land- 
Grant 
Institutions, 
Hispanic- 
Serving Institutions, and Histori-
cally Black Colleges and Univer-
sities); 
‘‘(dd) health care facilities; 
and 
‘‘(ee) facilities essential for 
local or regional commerce or for 
the movement of goods; 
‘‘(IV) private entities; 
‘‘(V) philanthropic organizations; 
and 
‘‘(VI) cooperatives; or 
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‘‘(iii) that are submitted by an eligible 
entity or is owned by an entity that has 
provided broadband service or other utility 
service for at least 5 years in rural areas 
in the State in which the project would be 
carried out.’’; 
(C) in paragraph (3)— 
(i) in subparagraph (B)— 
(I) by striking ‘‘and’’ at the end 
of clause (i); 
(II) by striking the period at the 
end of clause (ii) and inserting ‘‘; 
and’’; and 
(III) by adding at the end the 
following: 
‘‘(iii) shall be subject to a grant 
agreement of not less than 10 years.’’; 
(ii) by striking subparagraphs (C) and 
(D) and inserting the following: 
‘‘(C) APPLICATIONS.— 
‘‘(i) GRANT-ONLY
APPLICATIONS.— 
The Secretary shall establish an applica-
tion process that permits an application for 
a grant-only award. 
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‘‘(ii) COMBINED APPLICATIONS.—The 
Secretary shall establish an application 
process that— 
‘‘(I) permits a single application 
for a grant and a loan under title I or 
II, or this title, that is associated with 
the grant; and 
‘‘(II) provides a single decision to 
award the grant and the loan.’’; 
(iii) by redesignating subparagraph 
(E) as subparagraph (D); and 
(iv) by striking subparagraph (F); and 
(D) by striking paragraph (4) and insert-
ing the following: 
‘‘(4) FEES.— 
‘‘(A) INITIAL GUARANTEE FEE.—The Sec-
retary may assess an initial guarantee fee for 
any insured or guaranteed loan issued or modi-
fied under this section in an amount that does 
not exceed 3 percent of the guaranteed prin-
cipal portion of the loan. 
‘‘(B) PERIODIC
RETENTION
FEE.—The 
Secretary may assess a periodic retention fee 
for any insured or guaranteed loan or modified 
under this section in an amount that does not 
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exceed 0.75 percent of the outstanding principal 
of the guarantee loan. 
‘‘(C) DISCLOSURE.—In altering any fee 
charged for any insured or guaranteed loan 
issued or modified under this section, the Sec-
retary, not less than 30 days in advance of any 
fee change, shall provide a public disclosure, of 
the financial data, economic and behavioral as-
sumptions, calculations, and other factors used 
to determine the new fee rates.’’; 
(4) in subsection (d)— 
(A) in paragraph (1)— 
(i) in subparagraph (A)— 
(I) in clause (i), by adding ‘‘and’’ 
at the end; and 
(II) by striking ‘‘require; and’’ 
and all that follows through ‘‘agree’’ 
and insert ‘‘require, and agree’’; 
(ii) by redesignating subparagraph 
(B) as subparagraph (E) and inserting 
after subparagraph (A) the following: 
‘‘(B) INCLUSIONS.—An entity eligible to 
obtain assistance under subsection (c) may in-
clude— 
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‘‘(i) a State or local government, in-
cluding any agency, subdivision, instru-
mentality, or political subdivision of a 
State or local government; 
‘‘(ii) a territory or possession of the 
United States; 
‘‘(iii) an Indian Tribe (as defined in 
section 4 of the Indian Self-Determination 
and Education Assistance Act (25 U.S.C. 
5304)); 
‘‘(iv) a cooperative or mutual organi-
zation; 
‘‘(v) an organization of 2 or more in-
corporated areas that have established an 
intermunicipal legal agreement for the pur-
poses of delivering communication services 
to residents; 
‘‘(vi) a corporation; or 
‘‘(vii) a limited liability company or 
limited liability partnership. 
‘‘(C) INELIGIBLE
ENTITIES.—An indi-
vidual or legal general partnership that is 
formed with individuals shall not be eligible to 
obtain a grant, loan, or grant and loan com-
bination under subsection (c). 
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‘‘(D) AFFILIATED OWNED AND OPERATED 
NETWORKS.—Under this subsection, the Sec-
retary may fund the construction of networks 
owned and operated by an affiliate of an eligible 
entity receiving the grant, loan, or loan guar-
antee, if the eligible entity, the affiliate, or 
both, as determined necessary by the Secretary, 
furnishes adequate security for the grant, loan, 
or loan guarantee.’’; and 
(iii) in subparagraph (E) (as so redes-
ignated by clause (ii) of this subpara-
graph), by inserting ‘‘, directly or in con-
junction with any combination of affili-
ates,’’ before ‘‘may not’’; 
(B) in paragraph (2)— 
(i) in subparagraph (A)— 
(I) by striking ‘‘subparagraphs 
(B) and (C)’’ and inserting ‘‘subpara-
graph (B)’’; 
(II) by striking ‘‘is submitted—’’ 
and all that follows through ‘‘(i) not 
less than 50’’ and inserting ‘‘is sub-
mitted not less than 75’’ ; and 
(III) by striking ‘‘(e); and’’ and 
all that follows and inserting ‘‘(e).’’; 
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(ii) in subparagraph (B), by striking 
‘‘(A)(i)’’ and inserting ‘‘(A)’’; and 
(iii) by striking subparagraph (C); 
and 
(C) by striking paragraphs (4) and (5); 
(5) in subsection (e)— 
(A) in paragraph (1)— 
(i) by striking ‘‘Subject to paragraph 
(2), for’’ and inserting ‘‘For’’; 
(ii) in subparagraph (A), by striking 
‘‘25’’ and inserting ‘‘50’’; and 
(iii) in subparagraph (B), by striking 
‘‘3’’ and inserting ‘‘25’’; 
(B) by striking paragraph (2) and insert-
ing the following: 
‘‘(2) ADJUSTMENTS.—The Secretary may ad-
just, through a 30-day public notice and comment 
period published in the Federal Register, an increase 
in the minimum level of broadband service under 
paragraph (1) of no more than 50 percent from the 
preceding year, if less than 95 percent of the funds 
of the program are obligated in the preceding 2 
funding rounds.’’; and 
(C) in paragraph (4)— 
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(i) in the paragraph heading, by strik-
ing ‘‘BUILDOUT’’ and inserting ‘‘PROJECT 
AGREEMENT’’; and 
(ii) by striking subparagraphs (B) 
through (D) and inserting the following: 
‘‘(B) BROADBAND BUILDOUT STANDARDS 
DEFINED.—A project must meet the following 
applicable broadband standard in order to be 
considered for assistance; 
‘‘(i) A project with an award term of 
less than 8 years must provide service at 
2 times the minimum broadband speed es-
tablished in subsection (e)(1). 
‘‘(ii) A project with an award term of 
at least 8 years and less than 14 years 
must provide service at 5 times the min-
imum broadband speed established in sub-
section (e)(1). 
‘‘(iii) A project with an award term of 
14 or more years must provide service at 
10 times the minimum broadband speed 
established in subsection (e)(1). 
‘‘(C) NETWORK
UPGRADE
PLANNING.— 
The Secretary may prioritize an applicant seek-
ing to meet the broadband buildout standards 
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under clause (i) or (ii) of subparagraph (B) if 
the applicant submits information regarding the 
potential for the physical infrastructure of the 
network to be upgraded to meet the broadband 
buildout standards under subparagraph (B)(iii) 
at the time of the application, assuming reason-
able progress in relevant networking tech-
nologies.’’; 
(6) by striking subsection (j) and inserting the 
following: 
‘‘(j) AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.—There 
is authorized to be appropriated to the Secretary to carry 
out this section $350,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2027 
through 2031, to remain available until expended.’’; and 
(7) in subsection (k), by striking ‘‘2023’’ and 
inserting ‘‘2031’’. 
(b) REGULATIONS.—Not later than 270 days after 
the date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary shall 
promulgate rules to carry out the amendments made by 
subsection (a) of this section, and complete the biennial 
review process required by section 601(e)(2) of the Rural 
Electrification Act of 1936. 
(c) SUNSET.—The authorities provided by section 
779 of the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2018 (Public 
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Law 115–141) shall have no force or effect beginning 270 
days after the date of the enactment of this Act. 
(d) TRANSITION RULES.— 
(1) AVAILABILITY OF FUNDS FOR ADMINISTRA-
TIVE COSTS.—Not more than 1 percent of the unob-
ligated balances of amounts made available, as of 
the date that is 270 days after the date of the enact-
ment of this Act, to carry out the pilot program de-
scribed in section 779 of the Consolidated Appro-
priations Act, 2018 (Public Law 115–141) may be 
used for the costs of transitioning from the pilot 
program to the program under section 601 of the 
Rural Electrification Act of 1936, as amended by 
this Act. 
(2) CONSOLIDATION OF FUNDS.— 
(A) IN
GENERAL.—The unobligated bal-
ances of all amounts made available on or be-
fore June 30, 2025, to carry out the pilot pro-
gram described in section 779 of the Consoli-
dated Appropriations Act, 2018 (Public Law 
115–141) that are in excess of the amount de-
scribed in subparagraph (B) of this paragraph 
are hereby transferred to and merged with 
amounts made available to carry out the pro-
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gram authorized under section 601 of the Rural 
Electrification Act of 1936. 
(B) UNFUNDED APPROVALS.—The amount 
described in this subparagraph is the amount 
required to fully fund each project approved as 
of the date that is 270 days after the date of 
the enactment of this Act, under the pilot pro-
gram described in such section 779 for which 
amounts were not obligated or partially obli-
gated as of such date. 
SEC. 6202. EXPANSION OF MIDDLE MILE INFRASTRUCTURE 
INTO RURAL AREAS. 
Section 602(g) of the Rural Electrification Act of 
1936 (7 U.S.C. 950bb-1(g)) is amended by striking ‘‘2018 
through 2023’’ and inserting ‘‘2027 through 2031’’. 
SEC. 6203. INNOVATIVE BROADBAND ADVANCEMENT PRO-
GRAM. 
Section 603 of the Rural Electrification Act of 1936 
(7 U.S.C. 950bb-2) is amended to read as follows: 
‘‘SEC. 603. INNOVATIVE BROADBAND ADVANCEMENT PRO-
GRAM. 
‘‘(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 
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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) TERRESTRIAL BROADBAND DEMONSTRATION 
PROJECTS.— 
‘‘(1) IN GENERAL.—The Secretary shall provide 
grants or loans to eligible entities for the purpose of 
deploying innovative broadband technologies to 
qualified consumers who subscribe to terrestrial 
broadband service in rural areas. 
‘‘(2) ELIGIBILITY.—To be eligible to obtain as-
sistance under this subsection for a project, an enti-
ty shall— 
‘‘(A) submit to the Secretary an applica-
tion— 
‘‘(i) 
that 
describes 
a 
terrestrial 
broadband demonstration project designed 
to decrease the cost of broadband deploy-
ment, and substantially increase broadband 
speed to not less than the maximum 
broadband project agreement requirements 
established under section 601(e)(4), to 
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qualified consumers in a rural area to be 
served by the project; and 
‘‘(ii) at such time, in such manner, 
and containing such other information as 
the Secretary may require; 
‘‘(B) demonstrate that the entity is able to 
carry out the project; and 
‘‘(C) agree to complete the project build- 
out within 5 years after the date the assistance 
is first provided for the project. 
‘‘(3) PRIORITIZATION.—In awarding assistance 
under this subsection, the Secretary shall give pri-
ority to proposals for projects that— 
‘‘(A) involve partnerships between or 
among multiple entities; 
‘‘(B) would provide broadband service to 
the greatest number of rural entities at or 
above the broadband requirements referred to 
in paragraph (2)(A)(i); 
‘‘(C) the Secretary determines could be 
replicated in rural areas described in paragraph 
(2); and 
‘‘(D) are located in States and territories 
selected by the Secretary to be diverse on the 
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basis of geography, topography, and demo-
graphics. 
‘‘(4) QUALIFIED
CONSUMER.—In this sub-
section, the term ‘qualified consumer’ means— 
‘‘(A) an individual or member of a house-
hold who lives in a rural area; 
‘‘(B) a rural small business; or 
‘‘(C) an essential community facility, as 
defined pursuant to section 306(a) of the Con-
solidated Farm and Rural Development Act (7 
U.S.C. 1926(a)). 
‘‘(5) RURAL
AREA.—In this subsection, the 
term ‘rural area’ has the meaning provided in sec-
tion 601(b)(3). 
‘‘(c) 
SATELLITE
BROADBAND
DEMONSTRATION 
PROJECTS.— 
‘‘(1) PURPOSE.—The purpose of this subsection 
is to reduce or eliminate the costs to access satellite 
broadband service for remote subscribers. 
‘‘(2) DEFINITIONS.—In this subsection: 
‘‘(A) ELIGIBLE ENTITY.—The term ‘eligi-
ble entity’ means a broadband service provider 
that provides Internet access directly to quali-
fied consumers in remote areas via satellite 
technology. 
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‘‘(B) QUALIFIED
CONSUMER.—The term 
‘qualified consumer’ means a consumer served 
by an eligible entity that receives a grant under 
paragraph (3), who is— 
‘‘(i) an individual or a member of a 
household at or below the poverty line (as 
defined in section 673(2) of the Omnibus 
Budget Reconciliation Act of 1981, includ-
ing any revision required by such section, 
applicable to a family of the size involved); 
or 
‘‘(ii) an essential community facility, 
as defined pursuant to section 306(a) of 
the Consolidated Farm and Rural Develop-
ment Act (7 U.S.C. 1926(a)). 
‘‘(C) 
SATELLITE
BROADBAND
EQUIP-
MENT.—The term ‘satellite broadband equip-
ment’ means user terminals, wi-fi routers, 
power supplies, mounts, and any other equip-
ment necessary to connect a qualified consumer 
to satellite broadband service. 
‘‘(D) SECRETARY.—The term ‘Secretary’ 
means the Secretary of Agriculture, acting 
through the Administrator of the Rural Utilities 
Service. 
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‘‘(E) REMOTE.—The term ‘remote’ means 
a region classified within level 3 or level 4 of 
the frontier and remote zip code areas pub-
lished by the Economic Research Service of the 
Department of Agriculture. 
‘‘(3) GRANTS TO ELIGIBLE ENTITIES.— 
‘‘(A) IN GENERAL.—Subject to paragraph 
(B), the Secretary shall make grants to eligible 
entities for the purpose of reducing or elimi-
nating the cost associated with the purchase or 
installation, or both, of satellite broadband 
equipment to qualified consumers to subscribe 
to satellite broadband service in remote areas. 
‘‘(B) REQUIREMENTS.—As a condition of 
receiving a grant under this subsection, an eli-
gible entity shall— 
‘‘(i) provide retail broadband service 
delivered via satellite technology to quali-
fied consumers, that— 
‘‘(I) enables a qualified consumer 
to the service to originate and receive 
high-quality voice, data, graphics, 
video; and 
‘‘(II) has a latency which does 
not exceed 250 milliseconds; 
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‘‘(ii) submit to the Secretary an appli-
cation at such time, in such manner, and 
containing such other information as the 
Secretary may require; 
‘‘(iii) agree to reduce or eliminate the 
cost associated with the purchase, installa-
tion, or both, of satellite broadband equip-
ment for qualified consumers; and 
‘‘(iv) agree to provide qualified con-
sumers with the reduction or elimination of 
that cost within 1 year of the assistance 
being obligated to the eligible entity. 
‘‘(C) ELIGIBILITY MAP OF QUALIFIED CON-
SUMERS.—Within 1 year after the date of the 
enactment of this Act, and annually thereafter, 
the Secretary shall publish a map of the remote 
areas of qualified consumers that do not have 
access to terrestrial broadband service of at 
least— 
‘‘(i) a 25–Mbps downstream trans-
mission capacity; and 
‘‘(ii) a 3–Mbps upstream transmission 
capacity. 
‘‘(d) REPORT.—Within 1 year after the date of the 
enactment of this section, and annually thereafter, the 
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Secretary shall submit a comprehensive report to the Com-
mittee on Agriculture of the House of Representatives and 
the Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry of 
the Senate that shall provide the outcomes, effectiveness, 
and impact of the Innovative Broadband Advancement 
Program, including— 
‘‘(1) an assessment of the broadband infra-
structure funded, including the scope, scale, nature 
and geographic locations of each award; 
‘‘(2) the broadband access and speeds achieved, 
including the download and upload speeds, latency, 
and overall network reliability; 
‘‘(3) any technical or logistical challenges en-
countered by the eligible entities; and 
‘‘(4) any recommendations for future innovative 
broadband deployment initiatives in rural areas. 
‘‘(e) AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.—There 
is authorized to be appropriated to carry out this section 
$10,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2027 through 2031.’’. 
SEC. 6204. COMMUNITY CONNECT GRANTS. 
Section 604 of the Rural Electrification Act of 1936 
(7 U.S.C. 950bb-3) is amended— 
(1) in subsection (a)(2)— 
(A) in subparagraph (A), by striking ‘‘10’’ 
and inserting ‘‘25’’; and 
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(B) in subparagraph (B), by striking ‘‘1’’ 
and inserting ‘‘3’’; 
(2) in subsection (c)— 
(A) in paragraph (1), by striking ‘‘and’’ at 
the end; 
(B) in paragraph (2), by striking the pe-
riod at the end and inserting ‘‘; and’’; and 
(C) by adding at the end the following: 
‘‘(3) provides broadband speeds not less than 
the broadband project agreement requirements es-
tablished under section 601(e)(4)(B)(ii) to the eligi-
ble entity within the proposed eligible service area.’’; 
and 
(3) in subsection (g), by striking ‘‘2019 through 
2023’’ and inserting ‘‘2027 through 2031’’. 
SEC. 6205. RATE REGULATION. 
Title VI of the Rural Electrification Act of 1936 (7 
U.S.C. 950bb–950bb-5) is amended by adding at the end 
the following: 
‘‘SEC. 607. RATE REGULATION. 
‘‘Nothing in this title authorizes the Secretary to reg-
ulate rates charged for broadband service.’’. 
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SEC. 6206. PUBLIC NOTICE, ASSESSMENTS, TECHNICAL AS-
SISTANCE, AND REPORTING REQUIREMENTS. 
Section 701 of the Rural Electrification Act of 1936 
(7 U.S.C. 950cc) is amended— 
(1) in the section heading, by inserting ‘‘TECH-
NICAL ASSISTANCE,’’ before ‘‘AND’’; 
(2) in subsection (a)(1)(B)(i), by inserting ‘‘, 
including a complete shapefile map’’ before the semi-
colon; 
(3) in subsection (b)— 
(A) in paragraph (1)— 
(i) in subparagraph (A), by striking 
‘‘and’’ at the end; 
(ii) by redesignating subparagraph 
(B) as subparagraph (C) and inserting 
after subparagraph (A) the following: 
‘‘(B) validate the information submitted by 
service providers under subparagraph (A) 
through procedures established by the Sec-
retary, which shall include an agency deter-
mination provided to the submitter, an oppor-
tunity of the submitter to respond, and a final 
non-appealable determination of the Secretary; 
and’’; and 
(iii) in subparagraph (C) (as so redes-
ignated by clause (ii) of this subpara-
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graph), by striking ‘‘paragraph (1)’’ and 
inserting ‘‘subparagraph (A)’’; and 
(B) in paragraph (2), by striking all that 
precedes subparagraph (B) and inserting the 
following: 
‘‘(2) ASSESSMENT OF ELIGIBILITY.—In making 
any determination to award a loan, loan guarantee, 
or grant for any retail broadband project provided 
assistance or for which assistance is sought that is 
administered by the Secretary, the Secretary shall 
confirm that each unserved rural community identi-
fied in the application is eligible for funding by— 
‘‘(A) utilizing the map created by the Fed-
eral Communications Commission under section 
802(c)(1)(A) of the Communications Act of 
1934 and the Deployment Locations Map estab-
lished under section 60104(b) of the Infrastruc-
ture Investment and Jobs Act (47 U.S.C. 
1704(b));’’; and 
(4) by striking subsection (e) and inserting the 
following: 
‘‘(e) BROADBAND TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE PRO-
GRAM.— 
‘‘(1) IN GENERAL.—The Secretary shall make 
grants to private, nonprofit, or public organizations 
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to provide or receive eligible entities broadband tech-
nical assistance and training to expand access to 
broadband service in rural communities through the 
broadband programs of the Department of Agri-
culture including— 
‘‘(A) preparing applications for grants, 
loans and loan guarantees under this section; 
‘‘(B) identifying resources to finance 
broadband facilities from public and private 
sources, including other Federal agencies; 
‘‘(C) preparing feasibility studies, financial 
forecasts, market surveys, environmental stud-
ies, and technical design information to support 
broadband services; 
‘‘(D) preparing reports and surveys nec-
essary to support the need for broadband serv-
ices, the price range, and request financial as-
sistance; 
‘‘(E) analyzing and improving operations 
related to the management, including financial 
management, of broadband facilities and to the 
efficiency of the entity; 
‘‘(F) collecting broadband infrastructure 
data; or 
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‘‘(G) assisting with other areas of need 
identified by the Secretary. 
‘‘(2) ELIGIBLE ENTITIES.—To be eligible to ob-
tain assistance under this subsection, an entity shall 
be— 
‘‘(A) a federally recognized tribe or tribal 
entity; 
‘‘(B) a State or local government, includ-
ing any agency, subdivision, instrumentality, or 
political subdivision thereof; 
‘‘(C) a territory or possession of the 
United States; 
‘‘(D) an institution of higher education (in-
cluding a 1862 Land-Grant Institution, 1890 
Land-Grant Institution, 1994 Land-Grant In-
stitution, Hispanic-Serving Institution, or His-
torically Black College or University); 
‘‘(E) a nonprofit organization described in 
section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code 
of 1986; 
‘‘(F) a cooperative or mutual organization; 
‘‘(G) a corporation; or 
‘‘(H) a limited liability company or limited 
liability partnership. 
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‘‘(3) SELECTION PRIORITY.—In selecting recipi-
ents of grants under this paragraph, the Secretary 
shall give priority to organizations that have experi-
ence in providing technical assistance and training 
to rural entities. 
‘‘(4) NATIONAL APPLICATIONS.—The Secretary 
shall allow applications for grants under this para-
graph from qualified organizations for the sole pur-
pose of providing on-site community technical assist-
ance and training on a national or multi-State re-
gional basis. 
‘‘(f) ASSISTANCE
FOR
COMMUNITY
BROADBAND 
MAPPING.— 
‘‘(1) IN GENERAL.—The Secretary may make 
grants to eligible entities for the purpose of col-
lecting broadband service data to assist the Sec-
retary in— 
‘‘(A) 
establishing 
the 
availability 
of 
broadband service or middle mile infrastructure 
in a rural area; 
‘‘(B) determining the eligibility of a com-
munity for assistance under any broadband pro-
gram administered by the Secretary; 
‘‘(C) undertaking a service area assess-
ment under this section; or 
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‘‘(D) collecting information to submit a 
challenge to the National Broadband Map cre-
ated by the Federal Communications Commis-
sion pursuant to section 802(c)(1) of the Com-
munications Act of 1934 (47 U.S.C. 642(c)(1)). 
‘‘(2) APPLICATION.—To apply for a grant 
under this section, an entity shall submit an applica-
tion which identifies— 
‘‘(A) the data collection area; 
‘‘(B) the purpose of the data collection; 
‘‘(C) the types of broadband service data 
to be collected; 
‘‘(D) the survey and data collection meth-
ods utilized; and 
‘‘(E) any other information the Secretary 
determines necessary to promote the integrity 
of broadband service collected under this sec-
tion. 
‘‘(3) LIMITATION
OF
GRANT
AMOUNT.—The 
amount of a grant made available under this sub-
section shall not exceed $50,000. 
‘‘(4) BROADBAND SERVICE DATA USAGE.—The 
Secretary shall ensure that any broadband service 
data collected under this section is— 
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‘‘(A) measured or assessed in accordance 
with such standards as are established by the 
Federal Communications Commission pursuant 
to section 802(a)(1)(A) of the Communications 
Act of 1934 (47 U.S.C. 642(a)(1)(A)); 
‘‘(B) accurate and verifiable in accordance 
with such standards as are established by the 
Federal Communications Commission pursuant 
to section 802(a)(1)(A) of the Communications 
Act of 1934 (47 U.S.C. 642(a)(1)(A)); 
‘‘(C) included in any broadband maps or 
data sets maintained by the Secretary; and 
‘‘(D) made available to the Chair of the 
Federal Communications Commission and the 
Administrator of the National Telecommuni-
cations and Information Administration for in-
clusion in any broadband maps or data sets ei-
ther may maintain. 
‘‘(5) DEFINITIONS.—In this subsection: 
‘‘(A) BROADBAND
SERVICE.—The term 
‘broadband service’ has the same meaning given 
the term in section 601. 
‘‘(B) BROADBAND SERVICE DATA.— 
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‘‘(i) 
IN
GENERAL.—The 
term 
‘broadband service data’ means informa-
tion related to— 
‘‘(I) the location and type of 
broadband service; 
‘‘(II) the location and type of 
broadband infrastructure; 
‘‘(III) the advertised, maximum, 
and average speed of broadband serv-
ice; 
‘‘(IV) the average price of the 
most subscribed tier of broadband 
service; 
‘‘(V) the speed tiers of broadband 
service available in the area; or 
‘‘(VI) any additional metric the 
Secretary deems appropriate. 
‘‘(ii) 
FURTHER
DEFINITION.—The 
Secretary shall further define the term 
‘broadband service area’ to ensure that 
data is measured and collected in a man-
ner consistent with the reporting require-
ments 
under 
this 
section, 
and 
any 
broadband coordination or data-sharing ob-
ligations. 
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‘‘(C) ELIGIBLE ENTITY.—The term ‘eligi-
ble entity’ means— 
‘‘(i) a unit of local government in a 
rural area; 
‘‘(ii) a tribal government or unit of 
tribal government; 
‘‘(iii) an economic development or 
other community organization; 
‘‘(iv) an eligible entity under title I or 
II that serves persons in rural areas; 
‘‘(v) an internet service provider that 
has not more than 100,000 subscribers; or 
‘‘(vi) any other entity eligible under a 
title VI program that is not an internet 
service provider. 
‘‘(D) MIDDLE
MILE
INFRASTRUCTURE.— 
The term ‘middle mile infrastructure’ has the 
meaning given the term in section 602. 
‘‘(E) RURAL AREA.—The term ‘rural area’ 
has the meaning given the term in section 601. 
‘‘(6) LIMITATION ON AMOUNT MADE AVAILABLE 
FOR GRANTS.—The Secretary may not expend more 
than 1 percent of the amounts made available under 
subsection (g) for each of fiscal years 2027 through 
2031 to carry out this subsection. 
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‘‘(g) LIMITATIONS ON RESERVATION OF FUNDS.— 
Not less than 3 but not more than 5 percent of the 
amounts appropriated to the program to carry out title 
VI shall be set aside to be used for— 
‘‘(1) conducting oversight under such title; 
‘‘(2) implementing accountability measures and 
related activities authorized under such title; or 
‘‘(3) carrying out this section.’’. 
SEC. 6207. LIMITATION ON OVERBUILDING. 
Title VI of the Rural Electrification Act of 1936 (7 
U.S.C. 950bb et seq.) is amended by adding at the end 
the following: 
‘‘SEC. 608. LIMITATION ON OVERBUILDING. 
‘‘Any area in a proposed service area under this title 
shall not be considered unserved if an applicant in another 
Federal or State broadband program has received an obli-
gation of funding to offer retail broadband service in the 
area not more than 5 years from the date of the obligation 
of funds, at a speed of at least 100 Mbps download and 
20 Mbps upload.’’. 
Subtitle C—Miscellaneous 
SEC. 6301. 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 (b)— 
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(A) in paragraph (1)— 
(i) in subparagraph (A), by inserting 
‘‘, if the entity continues to serve rural 
areas (as defined in section 343(a)(13)(A) 
of the Consolidated Farm and Rural De-
velopment Act (7 U.S.C. 1991(a)(13)(A))’’ 
before the semicolon; 
(ii) in subparagraph (B), by striking 
‘‘or’’ at the end; and 
(iii) by redesignating subparagraph 
(C) as subparagraph (E) and inserting 
after subparagraph (B) the following: 
‘‘(C) any Indian Tribe (as defined in sec-
tion 4 of the Indian Self-Determination and 
Education Assistance Act (25 U.S.C. 5304)); 
‘‘(D) any public, quasi-public, or nonprofit 
entity that uses innovative financing techniques 
and market development tools to accelerate the 
deployment of energy efficiency technology; or’’; 
(B) by striking paragraph (2) and insert-
ing the following: 
‘‘(2) ENERGY
EFFICIENCY
MEASURES.—The 
term ‘energy efficiency measures’ means, with re-
spect to any property service by an eligible entity— 
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‘‘(A) a structural improvement or invest-
ment in a cost-effective, commercial technology 
to increase energy efficiency (including cost-ef-
fective on-or off-grid renewable energy or en-
ergy storage system); and 
‘‘(B) the replacement of a manufactured 
housing unit or large appliance with a substan-
tially similar manufacturing housing unit or ap-
pliance, respectively, if that replacement is a 
cost-effective option with respect to energy sav-
ings.’’; 
(2) in subsection (c)— 
(A) in the subsection heading, by inserting 
‘‘AND GRANTS’’ before ‘‘TO’’; 
(B) by striking paragraph (1) and insert-
ing the following: 
‘‘(1) IN GENERAL.—Subject to this subsection, 
the Secretary shall provide— 
‘‘(A) loans to eligible entities that agree to 
use the loan funds to make loans under sub-
section (d) to qualified consumers for the pur-
pose of implementing energy efficiency meas-
ures; and 
‘‘(B) at the election of any eligible entity 
that receives a loan under subparagraph (A) of 
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this paragraph, a grant in accordance with 
paragraph (11).’’; 
(C) 
by 
redesignating 
paragraphs 
(2) 
through (9) as paragraphs (3) through (10), re-
spectively, and inserting after paragraph (1) the 
following: 
‘‘(2) PRIORITIZATION.—The Secretary shall 
give priority to applications from eligible entities 
serving at least 80 percent of their ratepayers resid-
ing 
in 
rural 
areas, 
as 
defined 
in 
section 
343(a)(13)(A) of the Consolidated Farm and Rural 
Development Act (7 U.S.C. 1991(a)(13)(A)).’’; 
(D) in paragraph (3) (as so redesignated 
by subparagraph (C) of this paragraph)— 
(i) in the paragraph heading, by in-
serting ‘‘FOR
LOANS’’ before the period; 
and 
(ii) in subparagraph (A)(i), by strik-
ing ‘‘that is’’; 
(E) by striking paragraph (6) (as so redes-
ignated by subparagraph (C) of this paragraph) 
and inserting the following: 
‘‘(6) REPAYMENT.— 
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‘‘(A) IN
GENERAL.—Subject to subpara-
graph (B) of this paragraph, with respect to a 
loan under paragraph (1)(A)— 
‘‘(i) the term shall not exceed 20 
years from the date on which the loan is 
closed; and 
‘‘(ii) except as provided in paragraph 
(8), the repayment of each advance shall 
be amortized for a period not to exceed 10 
years. 
‘‘(B) EXTENSIONS.—The Secretary may 
extend the term of a loan under subparagraph 
(A)(i), or the deadline for repayment of an ad-
vance under subparagraph (A)(ii), as the Sec-
retary determines appropriate.’’; 
(F) in paragraph (8) (as so redesignated 
by subparagraph (C) of this paragraph)— 
(i) in subparagraph (B), by striking 
‘‘(1)’’ and inserting ‘‘(1)(A)’’; and 
(ii) in subparagraph (C), by striking 
‘‘Repayment’’ and inserting ‘‘Subject to an 
applicable 
extension 
under 
paragraph 
(6)(B), repayment’’; 
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(G) by striking paragraph (9) (as so redes-
ignated by subparagraph (C) of this paragraph) 
and inserting the following: 
‘‘(9) LIMITATIONS.— 
‘‘(A) SPECIAL ADVANCES.—All special ad-
vances shall be made under a loan described in 
paragraph (1) during the first 10 years of the 
term of the loan. 
‘‘(B) REPLACEMENT
OF
MANUFACTURED 
HOUSING UNITS OR LARGE APPLIANCES.—Not 
more than 10 percent of the total annual 
amount of budget authority for loans described 
in paragraph (1) may be used for the replace-
ment of manufactured housing units or large 
appliances.’’; and 
(H) by adding at the end the following: 
‘‘(11) GRANTS.— 
‘‘(A) IN GENERAL.—At the election of an 
eligible entity that receives a loan under this 
subsection, the Secretary may provide to the eli-
gible entity a grant to pay for a portion of the 
costs incurred in— 
‘‘(i) making repairs to the property of 
a qualified consumer that facilitates the 
energy efficiency measures for the property 
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financed through a loan provided to the 
qualified consumer under subsection (d); or 
‘‘(ii) providing technical assistance, 
outreach, and training. 
‘‘(B) AMOUNT.— 
‘‘(i) IN
GENERAL.—Except as pro-
vided in clause (ii), the amount of a grant 
provided to an eligible entity under this 
paragraph shall be equal to not more than 
5 percent of the amount of the loan pro-
vided to the eligible entity under this sub-
section. 
‘‘(ii) PERSISTENT
POVERTY
COUN-
TIES.—The amount of a grant provided 
under this paragraph to an eligible entity 
that will use the grant to make loans 
under subsection (d) to qualified con-
sumers located in a persistent poverty 
county (as determined by the Secretary) 
shall be equal to 10 percent of the amount 
of the loan provided to the eligible entity 
under this subsection.’’; 
(3) in subsection (d)— 
(A) in paragraph (1)— 
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(i) in the matter preceding subpara-
graph (A), by inserting ‘‘or grant’’ before 
‘‘funds’’; and 
(ii) by striking subparagraphs (B) and 
(C) and inserting the following: 
‘‘(B)(i) may have a term and amortization 
schedule the length of which is the useful life 
of the energy efficiency measures implemented 
using the loan, if the loan term does not exceed 
20 years; and 
‘‘(ii) shall finance energy efficiency meas-
ures for the purpose of decreasing energy usage 
or costs of the qualified consumer by an 
amount that ensures, to the maximum extent 
practicable, that the applicable loan term de-
scribed in clause (i) will not pose an undue fi-
nancial burden on the qualified consumer, as 
determined by the eligible entity; 
‘‘(C) shall not be used to fund purchases 
of, or modifications to, personal property unless 
the personal property— 
‘‘(i) is a manufactured housing unit or 
large appliance described in subsection 
(b)(2)(B); or 
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‘‘(ii) is or becomes attached to real 
property as a fixture;’’; and 
(B) by adding at the end the following: 
‘‘(3) CLARIFICATION
OF
ELIGIBILITY.—Not-
withstanding any other provision of law (including 
regulations), an eligible entity may make a loan 
under this subsection to any qualified consumer lo-
cated within the service territory of the eligible enti-
ty, regardless of whether the qualified consumer is 
located in a rural area.’’; 
(4) in subsection (e)— 
(A) in the subsection heading, by inserting 
‘‘OUTREACH,’’ before ‘‘AND TECHNICAL ASSIST-
ANCE’’; 
(B) in paragraph (1)— 
(i) in subparagraph (A), by striking 
‘‘and technical assistance of the program’’ 
and inserting ‘‘outreach, and technical as-
sistance relating to the program under this 
section’’; and 
(ii) in subparagraph (B)(ii), by insert-
ing ‘‘, outreach,’’ before ‘‘and training’’; 
and 
(C) by adding at the end the following: 
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‘‘(3) FUNDING.—Not less than 3 but not more 
than 5 percent of amounts appropriated under sub-
section (i) may be used to provide outreach, train-
ing, and technical assistance under this subsection.’’; 
and 
(5) in subsection (i), by striking ‘‘2014 through 
2023’’ and inserting ‘‘2027 through 2031’’. 
SEC. 6302. PROMOTING PRECISION AGRICULTURE. 
(a) DEFINITIONS.—In this section: 
(1) ADVANCED
WIRELESS
COMMUNICATIONS 
TECHNOLOGY.—The term ‘‘advanced wireless com-
munications technology’’ means advanced technology 
that contributes to mobile (5G or beyond) networks, 
next-generation Wi-Fi networks, or other future net-
works using other technologies, regardless of wheth-
er the network is operating on an exclusive licensed, 
shared licensed, or unlicensed frequency band. 
(2) ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE.—The term ‘‘ar-
tificial intelligence’’ has the meaning given the term 
in section 238(g) of the John S. McCain National 
Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2019 
(Public Law 115–232; 10 U.S.C. note prec. 4061). 
(3) FOREIGN ADVERSARY.—The term ‘‘foreign 
adversary’’ means any foreign government or foreign 
nongovernment person engaged in a long-term pat-
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tern or serious instances of conduct significantly ad-
verse to the national security of the United States, 
or security and safety of United States persons. 
(4) PRECISION AGRICULTURE; PRECISION AGRI-
CULTURE TECHNOLOGY.—The terms ‘‘precision agri-
culture’’ and ‘‘precision agriculture technology’’ have 
the meanings given the terms in section 1201 of the 
Food Security Act of 1985. 
(5) TRUSTED.—The term ‘‘trusted’’ means, 
with respect to a provider of advanced communica-
tions service or a supplier of communications equip-
ment or service, that the Secretary has determined 
that the provider or supplier is not owned by, con-
trolled by, or subject to the influence of, a foreign 
adversary. 
(6) VOLUNTARY
CONSENSUS
STANDARDS
DE-
VELOPMENT ORGANIZATION.—The term ‘‘voluntary 
consensus 
standards 
development 
organization’’ 
means an organization that develops standards in a 
process that meets the principles for the develop-
ment of voluntary consensus standards (as defined 
in the document of the Office of Management and 
Budget entitled ‘‘Federal Participation in the Devel-
opment and Use of Voluntary Consensus Standards 
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and in Conformity Assessment Activities’’ (OMB 
Circular A–119)). 
(b) PURPOSES.—The purposes of this section are— 
(1) to enhance the participation of precision ag-
riculture in the United States; and 
(2) to promote United States leadership in vol-
untary consensus standards development organiza-
tions that set standards for precision agriculture. 
(c) INTERCONNECTIVITY STANDARDS
FOR PRECI-
SION AGRICULTURE.— 
(1) IN GENERAL.—Not later than 2 years after 
the date of enactment of this Act, the Secretary, in 
consultation with the Director of the National Insti-
tute of Standards and Technology and the Federal 
Communications Commission, shall— 
(A) develop voluntary, consensus-based, 
private sector-led interconnectivity standards, 
guidelines, and best practices for precision agri-
culture that will promote economies of scale and 
ease the burden of the adoption of precision ag-
riculture; and 
(B) in carrying out subparagraph (A)— 
(i) coordinate with relevant public and 
trusted private sector stakeholders and 
other relevant industry organizations, in-
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cluding voluntary consensus standards de-
velopment organizations; and 
(ii) consult with sector-specific agen-
cies, other appropriate agencies, and State 
and local governments. 
(2) CONSIDERATIONS.—The Secretary, in car-
rying out paragraph (1), shall, in consultation with 
the Federal Communications Commission and the 
Director of the National Institute of Standards and 
Technology, consider— 
(A) the evolving demands of precision agri-
culture; 
(B) the connectivity needs of precision ag-
riculture technology; 
(C) the cybersecurity challenges facing pre-
cision 
agriculture, 
including 
cybersecurity 
threats for agriculture producers and agri-
culture supply chains; 
(D) the impact of advanced wireless com-
munications technology on precision agriculture; 
and 
(E) the impact of artificial intelligence on 
precision agriculture. 
(d) GAO ASSESSMENT OF PRECISION AGRICULTURE 
STANDARDS.— 
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(1) STUDY.—Not later than 1 year after the 
Secretary develops standards under subsection (c), 
and every 2 years thereafter for the following 8 
years, the Comptroller General of the United States 
shall conduct a study that assesses those standards, 
including the extent to which those standards, as ap-
plicable— 
(A) are voluntary; 
(B) were developed in coordination with 
relevant industry organizations, including vol-
untary consensus standards development orga-
nizations; and 
(C) have successfully encouraged the adop-
tion of precision agriculture. 
(2) REPORT.—The Comptroller General of the 
United States shall submit to the Committee on 
Commerce, Science, and Transportation of the Sen-
ate, the Committee on Science, Space, and Tech-
nology of the House of Representatives, the Com-
mittee on Agriculture of the House of Representa-
tives, and the Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, 
and Forestry of the Senate a report that summa-
rizes the findings of each study conducted under 
paragraph (1). 
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SEC. 6303. FOOD SUPPLY CHAIN GUARANTEED LOANS. 
Section 310B of the Consolidated Farm and Rural 
Development Act (7 U.S.C. 1932) is amended by inserting 
after subsection (e) the following: 
‘‘(f) FOOD SUPPLY CHAIN CAPACITY AND RESIL-
IENCE GUARANTEED LOANS.— 
‘‘(1) DEFINITION
OF
FOOD
SUPPLY
CHAIN 
GUARANTEED LOAN.—In this subsection, the term 
‘food supply chain guaranteed loan’ means a busi-
ness and industry guaranteed loan that is made or 
guaranteed by the Secretary under subsection 
(a)(2)(A), including a guarantee described in sub-
section (a)(3). 
‘‘(2) PURPOSE.—A food supply chain guaran-
teed loan may be made for the purpose of financing 
new investments in the start-up or expansion of 
projects in the United States that will increase the 
capacity of the food supply chain in the United 
States to aggregate, process, manufacture, store, 
transport, wholesale, or distribute food, agricultural 
products, or agricultural inputs. 
‘‘(3) LIMITATIONS.—The maximum amount of 
a food supply chain guaranteed loan shall not exceed 
$40,000,000. 
‘‘(4) 
LOAN
GUARANTEES
IN
NONRURAL 
AREAS.—The Secretary may guarantee a food supply 
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chain guaranteed loan to an eligible entity for a fa-
cility that is not located in a rural area if— 
‘‘(A) the primary purpose of the loan guar-
antee is for a facility to aggregate, process, 
manufacture, store, transport, wholesale, or dis-
tribute food agricultural products, or agricul-
tural inputs for agricultural producers or proc-
essors that are located within 80 miles of the 
facility; 
‘‘(B) the applicant demonstrates to the 
Secretary that the primary benefit of the loan 
guarantee will be to provide employment for 
residents of a rural area; and 
‘‘(C) the total principal amount of food 
supply chain guaranteed loans guaranteed for a 
fiscal year under this paragraph does not ex-
ceed 10 percent of the total principal amount of 
food supply chain guaranteed loans made for 
the fiscal year under subsection (a)(2)(A). 
‘‘(5) QUARTERLY
REPORTS
TO
CONGRESS.— 
Within 30 days after the end of each calendar quar-
ter, the Secretary shall submit to the Committee on 
Agriculture of the House of Representatives and the 
Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry 
of the Senate a report that contains— 
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‘‘(A) an evaluation of the outcomes 
achieved through use of the assistance, and the 
ability of the recipient of the assistance to meet 
performance goals; 
‘‘(B) an evaluation of the compliance of 
the recipient with the terms and conditions of 
the assistance; 
‘‘(C) a determination as to whether the re-
cipient maintains adequate financial capacity to 
carry out the activities for which the assistance 
is provided; 
and 
‘‘(D) any recommendations of the Sec-
retary regarding the implementation of this 
subsection. 
‘‘(6) RESERVATION OF FUNDS.— 
‘‘(A) IN
GENERAL.—For each of fiscal 
years 2025 through 2029, the Secretary shall 
reserve not more than 5 percent of the funds 
made available to carry out subsection (a) to 
carry out this subsection. 
‘‘(B) AVAILABILITY OF FUNDS.—Funds re-
served under subparagraph (A) for a fiscal year 
shall be reserved until April 1 of the fiscal 
year.’’. 
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SEC. 6304. NEW, MOBILE, AND EXPANDED MEAT PROC-
ESSING AND RENDERING GRANTS. 
(a) DEFINITIONS.—In this section: 
(1) ELIGIBLE ENTITY.—The term ‘‘eligible enti-
ty’’ means— 
(A) a public, private, or cooperative organi-
zation organized on a for-profit or nonprofit 
basis, including a small establishment and very 
small establishment; 
(B) an Indian Tribe (as defined in section 
4 of the Indian Self-Determination and Edu-
cation Assistance Act (25 U.S.C. 5304)); 
(C) a land-grant college or university (as 
defined in section 1404 of the National Agricul-
tural Research, Extension, and Teaching Policy 
Act of 1977 (7 U.S.C. 3103)); 
(D) a non-land-grant college of agriculture 
(as defined in that section); and 
(E) a State department of agriculture or 
other applicable State office with authority over 
meat and poultry processing and rendering. 
(2) SMALL ESTABLISHMENT; VERY SMALL ES-
TABLISHMENT.—The terms ‘‘small establishment’’ 
and ‘‘very small establishment’’ have the meanings 
given the terms ‘‘smaller establishment’’ and ‘‘very 
small establishment’’, respectively, in the final rule 
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entitled ‘‘Pathogen Reduction; Hazard Analysis and 
Critical Control Point (HACCP) Systems’’ (61 Fed. 
Reg. 38806 (July 25, 1996)) (or successor regula-
tions). 
(b) PURPOSES.—The purposes of this section are— 
(1) to create more resilient local and regional 
food systems; 
(2) to expand, diversify, and increase resilience 
in meat and poultry processing and rendering activi-
ties; 
(3) to increase farmer and rancher access to 
animal slaughter options; 
(4) to improve compliance of processors with 
livestock and poultry processing statutes (including 
regulations), including the Federal Meat Inspection 
Act (21 U.S.C. 601 et seq.) and the Poultry Prod-
ucts Inspection Act (21 U.S.C. 451 et seq.); 
(5) to reduce barriers to entry for new meat 
and poultry processors and renderers; 
(6) to establish new, or update, expand, or oth-
erwise improve existing, meat and poultry processing 
and rendering facilities; and 
(7) to support the processing and slaughtering 
of niche production methods such as halal, kosher, 
and other specific cultural methods. 
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(c) GRANTS.— 
(1) IN GENERAL.—The Secretary shall award 
grants to eligible entities to use in accordance with 
subsection (d). 
(2) 
MAXIMUM
AMOUNT.—The 
maximum 
amount of a grant awarded under paragraph (1) 
shall not exceed $500,000. 
(3) DURATION.—The term of a grant awarded 
under paragraph (1) shall not exceed 3 years. 
(4) PRIORITY.—In awarding grants under para-
graph (1), the Secretary shall give priority to small 
establishments and very small establishments. 
(d) USE OF FUNDS.—An eligible entity receiving a 
grant under this section shall use the grant to carry out 
activities in support of the purposes described in sub-
section (b), including activities— 
(1) to identify and analyze business opportuni-
ties, including feasibility studies required for credit 
worthiness; 
(2) to achieve compliance with applicable Fed-
eral, State, or local regulations; 
(3) to conduct regional, community, and local 
economic development planning and coordination 
and leadership development; 
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(4) to incentivize new, innovative, or mobile en-
terprises for increasing or improving local and re-
gional meat or poultry processing and rendering; 
(5) to implement humane handling infrastruc-
ture, including holding space for livestock prior to 
slaughter, shade structures, and structures and 
equipment for humane slaughter; 
(6) to develop a feasibility study or business 
plan for, or carry out any other activity associated 
with, establishing or expanding a small meat or 
poultry slaughter, processing, or rendering facility; 
(7) to purchase equipment that enables the fur-
ther use or value-added sale of coproducts or by-
products; and 
(8) to purchase cold storage and related equip-
ment. 
(e) FEDERAL SHARE.—The Federal share of the ac-
tivities carried out using a grant awarded under this sec-
tion shall not exceed— 
(1) 90 percent in the case of a grant in the 
amount of $100,000 or less; or 
(2) 75 percent in the case of a grant in an 
amount greater than $100,000. 
(f) QUARTERLY REPORTS TO CONGRESS.—Within 30 
days after the end of each calendar quarter, the Secretary 
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shall submit to the Committee on Agriculture of the House 
of Representatives and the Committee on Agriculture, Nu-
trition, and Forestry of the Senate a report that con-
tains— 
(1) an evaluation of the outcomes achieved 
through use of the grant, and the ability of the 
grantee to meet performance goals; 
(2) an evaluation of the compliance of the 
grantee with the terms and conditions of the grant; 
(3) a determination as to whether the grant re-
cipient maintains adequate financial capacity to 
carry out the activities for which the grant is pro-
vided; 
and 
(4) any recommendations of the Secretary re-
garding the implementation of this section. 
(g) AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.—There is 
authorized to be appropriated to the Secretary to carry 
out this section $3,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2027 
through 2031. 
SEC. 6305. EXPANDING CHILDCARE IN RURAL AMERICA INI-
TIATIVE. 
(a) DEFINITIONS.—In this section: 
(1) CHILDCARE.— 
(A) IN GENERAL.—The term ‘‘childcare’’ 
means any program that— 
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(i) provides quality care and early 
education for children who have not yet en-
tered first grade; and 
(ii) is operated by— 
(I) an eligible childcare provider 
described in section 658P(6)(A) of the 
Child Care and Development Block 
Grant Act of 1990 (42 U.S.C. 
9858n(6)(A)); or 
(II) a childcare provider that, on 
the date of enactment of this Act— 
(aa) is licensed, regulated, 
or registered in the State, terri-
tory, or Indian Tribe in which 
the provider is located; and 
(bb) meets applicable State, 
Tribal, 
territorial, 
and 
local 
health and safety requirements. 
(B) INCLUSIONS.—The term ‘‘childcare’’ 
includes— 
(i) a school-based program described 
in subparagraph (A); 
(ii) a facility used for a program de-
scribed in subparagraph (A); and 
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(iii) a service provided under a pro-
gram described in subparagraph (A). 
(2) INITIATIVE.—The term ‘‘Initiative’’ means 
the Expanding Childcare in Rural America Initiative 
established under subsection (b). 
(3) RURAL AREA.—The term ‘‘rural area’’ has 
the meaning given the term in section 343(a)(13)(A) 
of the Consolidated Farm and Rural Development 
Act. 
(b) ESTABLISHMENT.—The Secretary shall establish 
an initiative, to be known as the ‘‘Expanding Childcare 
in Rural America Initiative’’, under which the Secretary 
shall provide, for each of fiscal years 2027 through 2029, 
priority in accordance with subsection (c) to address the 
availability, quality, and cost of childcare in rural areas. 
(c) CHILDCARE PRIORITIES.— 
(1) IN GENERAL.—Notwithstanding any other 
provision of law, in selecting recipients of loans and 
grants under a program described in paragraph (2), 
the Secretary shall give priority to any qualified ap-
plicant that proposes to use the loan or grant to ad-
dress the availability, quality, or cost of childcare. 
(2) DESCRIPTION
OF
PROGRAMS.—The pro-
grams referred to in paragraph (1) are the following: 
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(A) The essential community facilities loan 
and grant programs authorized under section 
306(a) of the Consolidated Farm and Rural 
Development Act (7 U.S.C. 1926(a)). 
(B) The business and industry direct and 
guaranteed loan program authorized under sec-
tion 310B(g) of that Act (7 U.S.C. 1932(g)). 
(C) The rural microentrepreneur assistance 
program authorized under section 379E of that 
Act (7 U.S.C. 2008s). 
(D) The intermediary relending program 
authorized under the Food Security Act of 
1985 (7 U.S.C. 1936b). 
(d) REQUIREMENTS.—In providing funding in ac-
cordance with the Initiative, the Secretary shall ensure a 
balanced geographical distribution of the benefits under 
the Initiative. 
(e) EVALUATION; REPORT.— 
(1) EVALUATION.—Not later than 3 years after 
the date of enactment of this Act, the Secretary 
shall conduct a comprehensive quantitative and qual-
itative evaluation of the projects carried out using 
assistance provided under the Initiative, including— 
(A) a description of— 
(i) the types of projects carried out; 
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(ii) the communities in which the 
projects are carried out; 
(iii) the organizations and entities 
participating in the projects; and 
(iv) the types of partnerships devel-
oped to carry out the projects; and 
(B) the economic and social impacts of the 
investments in the projects. 
(2) REPORT.—Not later than 4 years after the 
date of enactment of this Act, the Secretary shall 
submit to the Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, 
and Forestry of the Senate and the Committee on 
Agriculture of the House of Representatives a report 
describing the evaluation conducted under paragraph 
(1), including a thorough analysis of the outcomes of 
the evaluation. 
SEC. 6306. TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE FOR GEOGRAPHICALLY 
UNDERSERVED AND DISTRESSED AREAS. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—Within 1 year after the date of 
the enactment of this section, the Secretary shall directly, 
or through cooperative agreements, provide technical as-
sistance and strengthen local capacity to improve access 
to rural development programs administered by the Sec-
retary for local partners (including local governments, co-
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operatives, businesses, and community anchor institu-
tions) in geographically underserved and distressed areas. 
(b) REPORTS.—Beginning 1 year after the date of 
the enactment of this section, the Secretary shall annually 
publish, make available to the public, and submit to the 
Committee on Agriculture of the House of Representatives 
and the Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and For-
estry of the Senate a report on how the provision of tech-
nical assistance under subsection (a) has affected geo-
graphically underserved and distressed areas in the year 
covered by the report. 
(c) DEFINITIONS.—In this section: 
(1) GEOGRAPHICALLY UNDERSERVED AND DIS-
TRESSED AREA.—The term ‘‘geographically under-
served and distressed area’’ means a rural area (as 
defined in section 343(a)(13)(A) of the Consolidated 
Farm and Rural Development Act (7 U.S.C. 
1991(a)(13)(A)))— 
(A) in a socially vulnerable community (as 
determined by the Secretary); 
(B) in a persistent poverty county (as de-
termined by the Secretary); 
(C) in an economically distressed area (as 
determined by the Secretary); or 
(D) in a colonia. 
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(2) COMMUNITY
ANCHOR
INSTITUTION.—The 
term ‘‘community anchor institution’’ means— 
(A) a public library; 
(B) an elementary or secondary school; 
(C) an institution of higher education; 
(D) a health care facility; or 
(E) any other nonprofit or governmental 
community support organization. 
SEC. 6307. ESTABLISHMENT OF THE RURAL DEVELOPMENT 
INNOVATION CENTER. 
Subtitle D of the Consolidated Farm and Rural De-
velopment Act (7 U.S.C. 1981- 2008w) is amended by 
adding at the end the following: 
‘‘SEC. 379J. RURAL DEVELOPMENT INNOVATION CENTER. 
‘‘(a) DEFINITION OF RURAL DEVELOPMENT MISSION 
AREAS.—In this section, the term ‘Rural Development 
Mission Areas’ means the agencies under the Rural Devel-
opment Agency at the Department of Agriculture, includ-
ing the Rural Utilities Service, Rural Business-Coopera-
tive Service, and the Rural Housing Service. 
‘‘(b) ESTABLISHMENT.—There is hereby established 
within the Rural Development Mission Areas a Rural De-
velopment Innovation Center (the ‘Innovation Center’) to 
promote and facilitate innovation in the administration 
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and implementation of rural development programs and 
initiatives. 
‘‘(c) FUNCTIONS.—The Innovation Center shall— 
‘‘(1) review all processes for Rural Development 
Mission Area programs to identify inefficiencies, 
redundancies, and barriers to access, including— 
‘‘(A) unnecessary delays in loan and grant 
applications processing and approvals; 
‘‘(B) high application costs; and 
‘‘(C) deficiencies in technical assistance for 
programs; 
‘‘(2) establish and maintain an ongoing public 
process for public and private stakeholders to pro-
vide perspectives on the challenges faced when ap-
plying for, utilizing, or participating in Rural Devel-
opment Mission Area programs; 
‘‘(3) identify and assess any innovative strate-
gies and collaborative models to enhance the effi-
ciency and effectiveness of rural development pro-
grams and initiatives; 
‘‘(4) foster and maintain partnerships with pub-
lic and private stakeholders to leverage expertise and 
resources for the Rural Development Mission Areas; 
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‘‘(5) promote cross-agency collaborations and 
identify best practices in rural economic develop-
ment; 
‘‘(6) identify and implement technological solu-
tions and software applications to improve the effec-
tiveness and efficiency of Rural Development Mis-
sion Area programs, including enhancing data man-
agement systems; 
‘‘(7) conduct research, analysis, and evaluation 
to modernize, simplify, and improve Rural Develop-
ment Mission Area programs, and ensure that the 
programs are accessible, transparent, and user- 
friendly; and 
‘‘(8) disseminate information, guidance, and 
training materials to Rural Development Mission 
Area personnel and stakeholders on innovative rural 
development practices and opportunities. 
‘‘(d) MODERNIZATION PLAN.—The Innovation Cen-
ter shall develop, and periodically update, a modernization 
plan to facilitate innovation in administering and imple-
menting rural development programs and initiatives 
that— 
‘‘(1) outlines strategies aimed at harnessing the 
potential of emerging technologies for program deliv-
ery and overall service; 
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‘‘(2) enhances program efficiencies by identi-
fying and implementing measures to streamline pro-
gram 
and 
administrative 
processes, 
reduce 
redundancies, and optimize resource allocation; 
‘‘(3) expands the availability and accessibility of 
digital services, leveraging digital platforms and 
tools to broaden the reach of the programs and im-
prove the overall user experience for rural stake-
holders; 
‘‘(4) integrates data-driven solutions to optimize 
program delivery and maximize impact and effective-
ness of the efforts in rural development; and 
‘‘(5) establishes periodic milestones and goals to 
track the progress of the modernization plan. 
‘‘(e) REPORT.—The Secretary shall submit an annual 
report to the Committee on Agriculture of the House of 
Representatives and the Committee on Agriculture, Nutri-
tion, and Forestry of the Senate on— 
‘‘(1) the activities and accomplishments of the 
Innovation Center, including progress in advancing 
rural development innovation and the outcome 
achieved; 
‘‘(2) a comprehensive working plan designed to 
actively engage public and private stakeholders, as 
described in subsection (c)(2); and 
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‘‘(3) the progress on the modernization plan de-
scribed in subsection (d).’’. 
SEC. 6308. RURAL HEALTH LIAISON REPORT. 
Section 236 of the Department of Agriculture Reor-
ganization Act of 1994 (7 U.S.C. 6946) is amended— 
(1) in subsection (b)— 
(A) in paragraph (8), by striking ‘‘and’’ at 
the end; 
(B) in paragraph (9), by striking the pe-
riod and inserting ‘‘; and’’; and 
(C) by adding at the end the following: 
‘‘(10) coordinate with the National Institute of 
Food and Agriculture in implementation of the 
Farm and Ranch Stress Assistance Network pro-
vided for in section 7522 of the Food, Conservation, 
and Energy Act of 2008 (7 U.S.C. 5936).’’; and 
(2) by adding at the end the following: 
‘‘(c) REPORT.—The Rural Health Liaison shall sub-
mit an annual report to the Committee on Agriculture of 
the House of Representatives and the Committee on Agri-
culture, Nutrition, and Forestry of the Senate outlining 
the activities conducted under subsection (b).’’. 
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Subtitle 
D—Additional 
Amend-
ments to the Consolidated Farm 
and Rural Development Act 
SEC. 6401. WATER, WASTE DISPOSAL, AND WASTEWATER 
FACILITY GRANTS. 
Section 306(a)(2)(B)(vii) of the Consolidated Farm 
and Rural Development Act (7 U.S.C. 1926(a)(2)(B)(vii)) 
is amended by striking ‘‘2019 through 2023’’ and insert-
ing ‘‘2027 through 2031’’. 
SEC. 6402. RURAL WATER AND WASTEWATER CIRCUIT 
RIDER PROGRAM. 
Section 306(a)(22) of the Consolidated Farm and 
Rural Development Act (7 U.S.C. 1926(a)(22)) is amend-
ed to read as follows: 
‘‘(22) RURAL WATER AND WASTEWATER CIR-
CUIT RIDER PROGRAM.— 
‘‘(A) ESTABLISHMENT.—The Secretary, 
through the Rural Utilities Service, shall con-
tinue a national rural water and wastewater cir-
cuit rider program that is consistent with the 
activities and results of the program conducted 
before the date of enactment of this Act, and 
with this section, as determined by the Sec-
retary. 
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‘‘(B) PURPOSE.—The Rural Water and 
Wastewater Circuit Rider Program shall pro-
vide a network of expert rural water Circuit 
Riders located in all 50 States, including 
United States territories and Freely Associated 
States, which work one-on-one with eligible 
rural water and wastewater systems in major 
assistance categories described in subparagraph 
(D). The program is intended to help rural 
water systems operate effectively and efficiently 
and achieve long-term sustainability and com-
pliance with certain Federal laws and require-
ments, including the Safe Water Drinking Act 
(42 U.S.C. 300f et seq.) and the Clean Water 
Act (33 U.S.C. 1251 et seq.). 
‘‘(C) ELIGIBLE ENTITIES.—In selecting re-
cipients of grants, contracts, and cooperative 
agreements to be made available for activities 
listed under subparagraph (D), the Secretary 
shall select nonprofit organizations that have 
demonstrated experience providing technical as-
sistance and disaster and recovery assistance 
for water and wastewater utilities nationwide. 
Awardees shall rely on personnel that possess 
active water and wastewater operators’ licenses 
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or overall knowledge of water utilities necessary 
to carry out eligible activities under subpara-
graph (D). 
‘‘(D) ELIGIBLE USES OF FUNDS.—An eli-
gible entity shall use funds under the Rural 
Water and Wastewater Circuit Rider program 
for a rural water, wastewater, or wastewater 
disposal facility for— 
‘‘(i) technical assistance, including— 
‘‘(I) Board training; 
‘‘(II) managerial and financial 
operations with the effort to enhance 
the long-term sustainability of rural 
water and wastewater systems, includ-
ing partnerships, consolidation, and 
regionalization; 
‘‘(III) physical operation and 
maintenance 
of 
rural 
water 
and 
wastewater infrastructure; 
‘‘(IV) water treatment; 
‘‘(V) regulatory compliance; 
‘‘(VI) facility security; 
‘‘(VII) loan application and re-
porting; 
‘‘(VIII) cybersecurity; 
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‘‘(IX) implementation of cyberse-
curity plans, procedures, and tech-
nologies 
to 
protect 
against 
cyberthreats; or 
‘‘(X) other areas the Secretary 
deems appropriate; 
‘‘(ii) disaster and recovery assistance 
including— 
‘‘(I) direct on-site personnel and 
equipment to eligible utilities; 
‘‘(II) coordinating in statewide 
emergency response networks; 
‘‘(III) facilitating the develop-
ment of action plans between utilities, 
local governments, the Federal Emer-
gency Management Agency and the 
State emergency management agen-
cies; 
‘‘(IV) resiliency and mitigation 
planning; 
‘‘(V) GIS mapping; 
‘‘(VI) updating vulnerability as-
sessments, preparation of emergency 
response plans, communication proto-
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cols, hazard recognition and evalua-
tion skills; 
‘‘(VII) 
conducting 
preliminary 
damage assessments of critical infra-
structure; 
‘‘(VIII) addressing outstanding 
deficiencies 
focused 
on 
resolving 
health-based regulatory, operational, 
financial, and managerial deficiencies 
that impact the sustainability of the 
affected utilities; 
‘‘(IX) application and reporting 
assistance for Federal and State re-
quirements including Federal Emer-
gency Management Agency and insur-
ance recovery claims; 
‘‘(X) providing for disaster readi-
ness, support, and response activities 
targeted to disadvantaged commu-
nities that lack the financial resources 
and human capital necessary to ade-
quately address significant health, 
safety, or sanitary concerns; and 
‘‘(XI) other areas the Secretary 
deems appropriate. 
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‘‘(iii) ADDITIONAL USES.—In response 
to activities under subparagraph (B) re-
lated to natural disasters and emergencies, 
not more than 5 percent of each award 
may be used to purchase or reimburse the 
rental costs of appropriate emergency 
equipment, as determined by the Sec-
retary. 
‘‘(E) ELIGIBLE PROJECT AREAS.—To re-
ceive assistance under the Rural Water and 
Wastewater Circuit Rider Program and carry 
out activities, an eligible entity must serve— 
‘‘(i) an area with a population of— 
‘‘(I) 10,000 or fewer inhabitants 
for technical assistance under sub-
paragraph (D)(i); or 
‘‘(II) 50,000 or fewer inhabitants 
for disaster and recovery assistance 
under subparagraph (D)(ii); and 
‘‘(ii) a public body, non-profit cor-
poration, or Indian tribe with legal author-
ity to own and operate the water facility. 
‘‘(F) 
AUTHORIZATION
OF
APPROPRIA-
TIONS.—There is authorized to be appropriated 
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to carry out this paragraph $25,000,000 for fis-
cal year 2027 through fiscal year 2031.’’. 
SEC. 6403. ZERO AND LOW INTEREST LOANS FOR DIS-
TRESSED WATER SYSTEMS. 
Section 306(a) of the Consolidated Farm and Rural 
Development Act (7 U.S.C. 1926(a)) is amended by in-
serting after paragraph (22) the following: 
‘‘(23) ASSISTANCE
FOR
DISTRESSED
WATER 
SYSTEMS.— 
‘‘(A) To promote the long-term sustain-
ability and financial viability of eligible rural 
community waste disposal and water facilities 
as described in subparagraph (B), for any enti-
ty described in subparagraph (C), the Secretary 
may— 
‘‘(i) make a zero percent interest loan 
or a 1 percent interest loan pursuant to 
paragraph (1); 
‘‘(ii) forgive the principal or interest, 
or modify any term or condition of a new 
or existing loan made pursuant to para-
graph (1); 
‘‘(iii) refinance all or part of any 
other loan made for an eligible purpose 
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under paragraph (1) of this subsection or 
section 306C; or 
‘‘(iv) waive any fee required to insure 
or guarantee a loan pursuant to paragraph 
(1) or (24). 
‘‘(B) To promote the long-term sustain-
ability and financial viability of the services pro-
vided by eligible entities, the Secretary shall— 
‘‘(i) provide assistance to an eligible 
entity for the purpose of— 
‘‘(I) ensuring the entity has nec-
essary resources to maintain public 
health, safety, or order; 
‘‘(II) addressing financial hard-
ships of the eligible entity, its cus-
tomers, and the community it serves; 
‘‘(III) improving the financial 
stability of the eligible entity, includ-
ing changes to— 
‘‘(aa) operational practices; 
‘‘(bb) 
revenue 
enhance-
ments; 
‘‘(cc) policy revisions; and 
‘‘(dd) contract services; and 
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‘‘(IV) supporting a partnership, 
regionalization, or consolidation of the 
entity with another water system; and 
‘‘(ii) require an applicant to— 
‘‘(I) receive financial planning as-
sistance and prepare a long-term fi-
nancial plan; or 
‘‘(II) partner, regionalize, or con-
solidate with another water system. 
‘‘(C) An entity shall be eligible for assist-
ance under this paragraph if the entity— 
‘‘(i) is a rural water, wastewater, or 
wastewater disposal system with respect to 
which assistance may be provided under a 
water or wastewater, or waste disposal pro-
gram under this subsection or section 
306A, 306C, or 306D, and 
‘‘(ii) is— 
‘‘(I) located in a socially dis-
advantaged community, a persistent 
poverty county, colonia, or distressed 
tribal area, as determined by the Sec-
retary; or 
‘‘(II) facing an economic hard-
ship as defined by the Secretary. 
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‘‘(D) An entity eligible under paragraph 
(1) or (2) of subsection (a) may designate a 
water and wastewater utility provider to apply 
for a loan under this paragraph and carry out 
the loan application on behalf of the eligible en-
tity. 
‘‘(E)(i) The Secretary shall evaluate such a 
loan application on the basis of the needs of the 
eligible entity and the beneficiaries of the eligi-
ble entity rather than the needs of the applicant 
water and wastewater utility provider. 
‘‘(ii) A water and wastewater utility pro-
vider to whom a loan is made under this para-
graph on the basis of an application submitted 
on behalf of an eligible entity may use the loan 
only for the benefit of the residents of the eligi-
ble area for which the loan is provided.’’. 
SEC. 6404. 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 ‘‘2008 through 2023’’ and inserting 
‘‘2027 through 2031’’. 
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SEC. 
6405. 
EMERGENCY 
AND 
IMMINENT 
COMMUNITY 
WATER ASSISTANCE GRANT PROGRAM. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—Section 306A(i)(2) of the Consoli-
dated Farm and Rural Development Act (7 U.S.C. 
1926a(i)(2)) is amended by striking ‘‘2019 through 2023’’ 
and inserting ‘‘2027 through 2031’’. 
SEC. 6406. 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 ‘‘2008 through 2023’’ and inserting ‘‘2027 
through 2031’’. 
SEC. 6407. RURAL DECENTRALIZED WATER SYSTEMS. 
Section 306E of the Consolidated Farm and Rural 
Development Act (7 U.S.C. 1926e) is amended to read 
as follows: 
‘‘SEC. 306E. RURAL DECENTRALIZED WATER SYSTEMS. 
‘‘(a) DEFINITIONS.—In this section: 
‘‘(1) ELIGIBLE INDIVIDUAL.—The term ‘eligible 
individual’ means an individual who is a member of 
a household the members of which have a combined 
income (for the most recent 12-month period for 
which the information is available) that is not more 
than 80 percent of the median nonmetropolitan 
household income for the State or territory in which 
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the individual resides, according to the most recent 
decennial census of the United States. 
‘‘(2) ELIGIBLE GRANT RECIPIENT.—The term 
‘eligible grant recipient’ means a private nonprofit 
organization that uses a grant provided under this 
section for the purposes described in subsection 
(b)(1). 
‘‘(3) QUALIFIED WATER QUALITY TESTING.— 
The term ‘qualified water quality testing’ means a 
baseline analysis of the bacterial and chemical char-
acteristics of concern from a drinking water sample 
collected at the point of consumption and tested by 
a laboratory certified to conduct water quality test-
ing that is provided to— 
‘‘(A) the Secretary; and 
‘‘(B) the eligible grant recipient receiving a 
grant under this section and any eligible indi-
vidual served by the eligible grant recipient. 
‘‘(b) GRANTS.— 
‘‘(1) IN GENERAL.—The Secretary may make 
grants to an eligible grant recipient for the purpose 
of— 
‘‘(A) providing loans and subgrants to eli-
gible individuals for— 
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‘‘(i) the construction, refurbishing, 
and servicing of individual household water 
well systems and individually owned house-
hold decentralized wastewater systems in 
rural areas that are or will be owned by 
the eligible individuals; or 
‘‘(ii) in the event of ground well water 
contamination, the installation or replace-
ment of water treatment, where needed as 
determined by a qualified water quality 
test or other third party documentation to 
the satisfaction of the Secretary; 
‘‘(B) performing qualified water quality 
testing of individual household water well sys-
tems and individually utilized household decen-
tralized wastewater systems in rural areas that 
are or will be utilized by the eligible individuals; 
or 
‘‘(C) providing technical assistance to eligi-
ble individuals for— 
‘‘(i) the installation or replacement of 
individual household water well systems 
and individually owned household decen-
tralized wastewater systems in rural areas 
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that are or will be owned by the eligible in-
dividuals; 
‘‘(ii) interpreting qualified water qual-
ity tests; or 
‘‘(iii) addressing ground well water 
contamination. 
‘‘(2) TERMS AND AMOUNTS FOR LOANS AND 
SUBGRANTS.— 
‘‘(A) TERMS
OF
LOANS.—A loan made 
with grant funds under this section— 
‘‘(i) shall have an interest rate of 1 
percent; and 
‘‘(ii) shall have a term not to exceed 
20 years. 
‘‘(B) AMOUNTS.—A loan or subgrant made 
with grant funds under this section shall not 
exceed $20,000 for each water well system or 
decentralized wastewater system described in 
paragraph (1). 
‘‘(3) ADMINISTRATIVE EXPENSES.—A recipient 
of a grant made under this section may use grant 
funds to pay administrative expenses associated with 
providing the assistance described in paragraph (1), 
as determined by the Secretary. 
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‘‘(4) WATER TREATMENT STANDARDS.—Water 
treatment provided under this section shall— 
‘‘(A) incorporate components that are 
third-party certified as compliant with relevant 
consensus-based standards for drinking water 
treatment units or systems, as determined by 
the Secretary; and 
‘‘(B) be installed, according to the instruc-
tions of the manufacturer, by a qualified, cer-
tified, or licensed water treatment professional, 
including a professional credentialed through a 
manufacturer or third-party. 
‘‘(c) PRIORITY IN AWARDING GRANTS.—In awarding 
grants under this section, the Secretary shall give priority 
to an applicant that has substantial expertise and experi-
ence in promoting the safe and effective use of individually 
owned household water well systems, individually owned 
household decentralized wastewater systems, and ground 
water. 
‘‘(d) LIMITATION.—An eligible grant recipient cannot 
use more than 10 percent of a grant awarded under this 
section for the activities described under subparagraphs 
(B) and (C) of subsection (b)(1). 
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‘‘(e) AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.—There 
is authorized to be appropriated to carry out this section 
$20,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2027 through 2031.’’. 
SEC. 6408. ASSISTANCE TO RURAL ENTITIES. 
Section 310B(a) of the Consolidated Farm and Rural 
Development Act (7 U.S.C. 1932(a)) is amended— 
(1) in paragraph (1), by adding at the end the 
following: 
‘‘(C) PRECISION AGRICULTURE; PRECISION 
AGRICULTURE TECHNOLOGY.—The terms ‘pre-
cision agriculture’ and ‘precision agriculture 
technology’ have the meanings given those 
terms in section 1201 of the Food Security Act 
of 1985.’’; and 
(2) in paragraph (2)— 
(A) by striking ‘‘and’’ at the end of sub-
paragraph (C); 
(B) by striking the period at the end of 
subparagraph (D) and inserting ‘‘; and’’; and 
(C) by adding at the end the following: 
‘‘(E) expanding the adoption of precision 
agriculture practices, including by financing the 
acquisition of precision agriculture technology, 
in order to promote best practices, reduce costs, 
and improve the environment.’’. 
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SEC. 6409. SOLID WASTE MANAGEMENT GRANTS. 
Section 310B(b) of the Consolidated Farm and Rural 
Development Act (7 U.S.C. 1932(b)) is amended— 
(1) in paragraph (1), by striking ‘‘governments 
and related agencies’’ and inserting ‘‘governments, 
related agencies, and Indian tribes’’; and 
(2) in paragraph (2), by striking ‘‘2014 
through 2023’’ and inserting ‘‘2027 through 2031’’. 
SEC. 6410. 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 ‘‘2014 through 2023’’ and inserting 
‘‘2027 through 2031’’. 
SEC. 6411. RURAL COOPERATIVE DEVELOPMENT GRANTS. 
Section 310B(e) of the Consolidated Farm and Rural 
Development Act (7 U.S.C. 1932(e)) is amended— 
(1) in paragraph (1), by adding at the end the 
following: 
‘‘(C) COOPERATIVE
DEVELOPMENT.—The 
term ‘cooperative development’ means activities 
including education, training, and technical as-
sistance, to support the start-up, expansion, or 
ongoing sustainability of new and existing co-
operatives.’’; 
(2) in paragraph (5)— 
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(A) in subparagraph (D), by striking ‘‘un-
derserved and economically distressed areas in 
rural areas of the United States’’ and inserting 
‘‘socially vulnerable, underserved, or distressed 
communities’’; and 
(B) in subparagraph (F)— 
(i) by inserting ‘‘at least’’ before ‘‘a 
25 percent’’; and 
(ii) by inserting ‘‘, and all applications 
that satisfy this subparagraph shall be 
given the same priority for the scoring cri-
terion based on satisfying this subpara-
graph’’ before the period; 
(3) in paragraph (6), by striking subparagraph 
(B) and inserting the following: 
‘‘(B) AWARD RENEWALS FOR QUALIFIED 
NON-PROFIT
INSTITUTIONS.—The 
Secretary 
shall award a grant under this subsection to a 
non-profit institution on the same terms and for 
the establishment or operation of the same cen-
ter or centers for cooperative development for 
which the non-profit institution was awarded a 
grant in the current fiscal year, if the non-prof-
it institution— 
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‘‘(i) is a recipient of an award under 
this subsection; 
‘‘(ii) requests a renewal under this 
subparagraph; 
‘‘(iii) has submitted a complete appli-
cation under this subsection in the pre-
ceding 2 fiscal years; and 
‘‘(iv) has operated the center or cen-
ters for cooperative development in a man-
ner which successfully meets the param-
eters described in paragraph (5), as deter-
mined by the Secretary.’’; 
(4) in paragraph (10), by adding at the end the 
following: ‘‘The Secretary shall analyze the data re-
sulting from the research, and include the data and 
the analysis in the annual report submitted by the 
interagency working group under paragraph (12).’’; 
(5) in paragraph (12), by adding at the end the 
following: ‘‘Not later than 180 days after the date 
of the enactment of this sentence and annually 
thereafter, the interagency working group shall sub-
mit to the Congress a report describing the activities 
carried out by the working group.’’; and 
(6) in paragraph (13), by striking ‘‘2014 
through 2023’’ and inserting ‘‘2027 through 2031’’. 
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SEC. 6412. LENDER FEES IN GUARANTEED LOAN PRO-
GRAMS. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—Section 333 of such Act (7 U.S.C. 
1983) is amended— 
(1) by inserting ‘‘(A) IN GENERAL.—’’ before 
‘‘In connection’’; 
(2) in paragraph (5), by adding ‘‘and’’ at the 
end; 
(3) in paragraph (6)(E), by striking ‘‘; and’’ 
and inserting a period; 
(4) by striking paragraph (7); and 
(5) by adding at the end the following: 
‘‘(b) FEES.— 
‘‘(1) INITIAL GUARANTEE FEE.—The Secretary 
may assess an initial guarantee fee for any insured 
or guaranteed loan issued or modified under section 
306(a) in an amount that does not exceed 3 percent 
of the guaranteed principal portion of the loan. 
‘‘(2) PERIODIC
RETENTION
FEE.—The Sec-
retary may assess a periodic retention fee for any in-
sured or guaranteed loan or modified under section 
306(a) in an amount that does not exceed 0.75 per-
cent of the outstanding principal of the guaranteed 
loan. 
‘‘(3) DISCLOSURE.—In altering any fee charged 
for any insured or guaranteed loan issued or modi-
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fied under section 306(a), the Secretary, not less 
than 30 days in advance of any fee change, shall 
provide a public disclosure, of the financial data, 
economic and behavioral assumptions, calculations, 
and other factors used to determine the new fee 
rates.’’. 
(b) CONFORMING AMENDMENT.—Section 310B(g)(5) 
of such Act (7 U.S.C. 1932(g)(5)) is amended to read as 
follows: 
‘‘(5) FEES.— 
‘‘(A) INITIAL GUARANTEE FEE.—The Sec-
retary may assess an initial guarantee fee for 
any guaranteed business and industry loan in 
an amount that does not exceed 3 percent of 
the guaranteed principal portion of the loan. 
‘‘(B) PERIODIC
RETENTION
FEE.—The 
Secretary may assess a periodic retention fee 
for any guaranteed business and industry loan 
in an amount that does not exceed 0.75 percent 
of the outstanding principal of the guaranteed 
loan. 
‘‘(C) DISCLOSURE.—In altering any fee 
charged for any guaranteed business and indus-
try loan, the Secretary, not less than 30 days 
in advance of any fee change, shall provide a 
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public disclosure, of the financial data, eco-
nomic and behavioral assumptions, calculations, 
and other factors used to determine the new fee 
rates.’’. 
SEC. 6413. 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 ‘‘2008 
through 2023’’ and inserting ‘‘2027 through 2031’’. 
SEC. 6414. APPROPRIATE TECHNOLOGY TRANSFER FOR 
RURAL AREAS PROGRAM. 
Section 310B(i) of the Consolidated Farm and Rural 
Development Act (7 U.S.C. 1932(i)) is amended— 
(1) in paragraph (2)— 
(A) by striking ‘‘and’’ at the end of sub-
paragraph (C); 
(B) by striking the period at the end of 
subparagraph (D) and inserting ‘‘; and’’; and 
(C) by adding at the end the following: 
‘‘(E) provides training opportunities and 
resources for veterans (as defined in section 
101(2) of title 38, United States Code) who ac-
tively are or are seeking to become agricultural 
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producers, which shall be known as the ‘Armed 
to Farm Initiative’.’’; and 
(2) in paragraph (4), by striking ‘‘2008 
through 2023.’’ and inserting the following: ‘‘2027 
through 2031, of which— 
‘‘(A) $3,500,000 shall be made available 
for each fiscal year for activities described in 
subparagraphs (A) through (D) of paragraph 
(2); and 
‘‘(B) $1,500,000 shall be available for each 
fiscal year for activities described in paragraph 
(2)(E).’’. 
SEC. 6415. 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 ‘‘2023’’ and inserting ‘‘2031’’. 
SEC. 6416. INTERMEDIARY RELENDING PROGRAM. 
Section 310H(i) of the Consolidated Farm and Rural 
Development Act (7 U.S.C. 1936b(i)) is amended by strik-
ing ‘‘2014 through 2023’’ and inserting ‘‘2027 through 
2031’’. 
SEC. 6417. RURAL HEALTH CARE FACILITY ASSISTANCE. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—Section 342 of the Consolidated 
Farm and Rural Development Act (7 U.S.C. 1990a) is 
amended— 
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(1) by striking ‘‘Assistance’’ and inserting the 
following: 
‘‘(a) REFINANCING
OF CERTAIN RURAL HEALTH 
CARE FACILITY DEBT.— 
‘‘(1) IN GENERAL.—Assistance’’; 
(2) by striking ‘‘rural hospital’’ and inserting 
‘‘an eligible health care facility’’; 
(3) by striking ‘‘a community’’ and inserting 
‘‘an area’’; 
(4) by striking ‘‘hospital,’’ and inserting ‘‘eligi-
ble health care facility,’’; and 
(5) by adding at the end the following: 
‘‘(2) REQUIREMENTS.—To promote the long- 
term sustainability and financial viability of an eligi-
ble health care facility, the Secretary shall— 
‘‘(A) provide assistance to an eligible 
health care facility for the purpose of— 
‘‘(i) ensuring the facility has nec-
essary resources to maintain public health, 
safety, or order; 
‘‘(ii) addressing financial hardships of 
the facility, its patients, and the area it 
serves; and 
‘‘(iii) identifying the financial stability 
of the facility, including— 
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‘‘(I) operational practices; 
‘‘(II) revenue enhancements; 
‘‘(III) policy revisions; 
‘‘(IV) partnerships, regionaliza-
tion, or consolidation of rural health 
systems; and 
‘‘(V) contract services; and 
‘‘(B) require an applicant to— 
‘‘(i) receive financial planning assist-
ance; and 
‘‘(ii) prepare a long-term financial 
plan. 
‘‘(3) WAIVER.—In the case of an application 
for refinancing pursuant to this section, the Sec-
retary may waive the requirement of section 
302(a)(1)(D) if the eligible health care facility is in-
solvent. 
‘‘(b) RURAL HEALTH CARE FACILITY TECHNICAL 
ASSISTANCE PROGRAM.— 
‘‘(1) IN GENERAL.—In lieu of any other author-
ity under which the Secretary may provide technical 
assistance to any eligible health care facility, the 
Secretary shall establish, and maintain, directly or 
by grant, contract, or cooperative agreement, a 
Rural Health Care Facility Technical Assistance 
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Program (in this section referred to as the ‘Pro-
gram’) to provide technical assistance and training, 
tailored to the capacity and needs of each eligible 
health care facility, to help eligible health care facili-
ties in rural areas— 
‘‘(A) identify development needs for main-
taining essential health care services, and sup-
port action plans for operational and quality 
improvement projects to meet the development 
needs; 
‘‘(B) better manage their financial and 
business strategies, including providing finan-
cial planning assistance and preparing long- 
term financial plans; and 
‘‘(C) identify, and apply for assistance 
from, loan and grant programs of the Depart-
ment of Agriculture for which the facilities are 
eligible. 
‘‘(2) GOALS.—The goals of the Program shall 
be to— 
‘‘(A) improve the long-term financial posi-
tion and operational efficiency of the eligible 
health care facilities; 
‘‘(B) prevent the closure of eligible health 
care facilities; 
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‘‘(C) strengthen the delivery of health care 
in rural areas; 
‘‘(D) help eligible health care facilities bet-
ter access and compete for loans and grants 
from programs administered by the Department 
of Agriculture; and 
‘‘(E) continue the activities of the Rural 
Hospital Technical Assistance Program in ef-
fect as of the date of the enactment of this sub-
section. 
‘‘(3) PROGRAM PARTICIPATION.— 
‘‘(A) IN
GENERAL.—The Secretary shall 
engage in outreach and engagement strategies 
to encourage eligible health care facilities to 
participate in the Program. 
‘‘(B) ELIGIBLE
HEALTH
CARE
FACILITY 
SELECTION.—In selecting eligible health care 
facilities to participate in the Program, the Sec-
retary shall give priority to borrowers and 
grantees of the Rural Housing Service, Rural 
Business-Cooperative Service, and Rural Utili-
ties Service. The Secretary may also consider— 
‘‘(i) the age and physical state of the 
health care facility involved; 
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‘‘(ii) the financial vulnerability of the 
eligible health care facility, and the ability 
of the eligible health care facility to meet 
debt obligations; 
‘‘(iii) the electronic health record im-
plementation needs of the health care facil-
ity; 
‘‘(iv) whether the eligible health care 
facility is located in a health professional 
shortage area or a medically underserved 
area; 
‘‘(v) whether the eligible health care 
facility serves a medically underserved pop-
ulation; and 
‘‘(vi) such other criteria and priorities 
as are determined by the Secretary of Ag-
riculture. 
‘‘(C) REPORTING
REQUIREMENTS.—Not 
later than 1 year after the date of the enact-
ment of this section, and annually thereafter, 
the Secretary shall submit to the Committee on 
Agriculture of the House of Representatives 
and the Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, 
and Forestry of the Senate a written report de-
scribing the progress and results of the pro-
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gram conducted under this section, which 
should include— 
‘‘(i) a brief description of each project 
to provide technical assistance to an eligi-
ble health care facility under this section, 
including— 
‘‘(I) the name and location of the 
facility; 
‘‘(II) a description of the assist-
ance provided; 
‘‘(III) a description of the out-
comes for completed projects; 
‘‘(IV) the cost of the technical 
assistance; and 
‘‘(V) any other information the 
Secretary deems appropriate; 
‘‘(ii) a summary of the technical as-
sistance projects completed; 
‘‘(iii) a summary of the outcomes of 
the technical assistance projects; 
‘‘(iv) an assessment of the effective-
ness of the Program; and 
‘‘(v) recommendations for improving 
the Program. 
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‘‘(D) LIMITATIONS ON AUTHORIZATION OF 
APPROPRIATIONS.—To carry out this section, 
there are authorized to be appropriated to the 
Secretary not more than $2,000,000 for each of 
fiscal years 2027 through 2031. 
‘‘(c) DEFINITIONS.—In this section: 
‘‘(1) RURAL AREA.—The term ‘rural area’ has 
the meaning given the term in section 343(a)(13)(A) 
of the Consolidated Farm and Rural Development 
Act (7 U.S.C. 1991(a)(13)(A)). 
‘‘(2) DEVELOPMENT NEEDS.—The term ‘devel-
opment needs’ includes— 
‘‘(A) constructing, expanding, renovating 
or otherwise modernizing health care facilities; 
‘‘(B) increasing telehealth capabilities; 
‘‘(C) acquiring or upgrading health care 
information systems such as electronic health 
records; 
‘‘(D) providing financial planning assist-
ance and preparing long-term financial plan; 
and 
‘‘(E) such other needs as the Secretary 
deems critical to maintaining health care serv-
ices in the community in which an eligible 
health care facility is located. 
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‘‘(3) ELIGIBLE HEALTH CARE FACILITY.—The 
term ‘eligible health care facility’ means a facility 
that is located in a rural area and is— 
‘‘(A) a hospital (as defined in section 
1861(e) of the Social Security Act; 
‘‘(B) a psychiatric hospital (as defined in 
section 1861(f) of such Act); 
‘‘(C) a long-term care hospital (as defined 
in section 1861(ccc) of such Act); 
‘‘(D) a critical access hospital (as defined 
in section 1861(mm)(1) of such Act); 
‘‘(E) a rural health clinic (as defined in 
section 1861(aa)(2) of such Act); 
‘‘(F) a religious nonmedical health care in-
stitution (as defined in section 1861(ss)(1) of 
such Act); 
‘‘(G) a sole community hospital (as defined 
in section 1886(d)(5)(C)(iii) of such Act); 
‘‘(H) a rural emergency hospital (as de-
fined in section 1861(kkk)(2) of such Act); 
‘‘(I) a home health agency (as defined in 
section 1861(o) of such Act); or 
‘‘(J) a community health center (as de-
fined in section 330 of the Public Health Serv-
ice Act). 
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‘‘(4) 
HEALTH
PROFESSIONAL
SHORTAGE 
AREA.—The term ‘health professional shortage area’ 
has the meaning given the term in section 
332(a)(1)(A) of the Public Health Service Act. 
‘‘(5) MEDICALLY
UNDERSERVED
AREA.—The 
term ‘medically underserved area’ has the meaning 
given the term in section 330I(a)(5) of the Public 
Health Service Act. 
‘‘(6) 
MEDICALLY
UNDERSERVED
POPU-
LATION.—The term ‘medically underserved popu-
lation’ has the meaning given the term in section 
330(b)(3) of the Public Health Service Act.’’. 
(b) EFFECTIVE DATE.—The amendments made by 
subsection (a) shall take effect on the completion of a rule-
making carrying out such amendments. 
SEC. 6418. ELIMINATION OF PROHIBITION ON USE OF LOAN 
FOR CERTAIN PURPOSES. 
Section 363 of the Consolidated Farm and Rural De-
velopment Act (7 U.S.C. 2006e) is amended to read as 
follows: 
‘‘SEC. 363. PROHIBITION ON USE OF LOAN OR GRANT FOR 
CERTAIN PURPOSES. 
‘‘(a) IN GENERAL.—The Secretary shall not approve 
any loan or grant under this title to drain, dredge, fill, 
or level, or otherwise manipulate a wetland (as defined in 
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section 1201(a)(16) of the Food Security Act of 1985 (16 
U.S.C. 3801(a)(16))), or to engage in any activity that 
results in impairing or reducing the flow, circulation, or 
reach of water, except in the case of activity related to 
the maintenance of previously converted wetlands, or in 
the case of such activity that commenced before November 
29, 1990. 
‘‘(b) EXCLUSIONS.— 
‘‘(1) UTILITIES LINES.—This section shall not 
apply to a loan made or guaranteed under this title 
for a utility line. 
‘‘(2) PERMITTED ACTIVITIES AND PROJECTS.— 
This section shall not apply to a rural development 
loan made or guaranteed under section 306 or 306C 
of this Act for an activity or project for which the 
applicant or borrower has obtained or is required to 
obtain a permit from the Secretary of the Army, act-
ing through the Chief of Engineers, under section 10 
of the Act of March 3, 1899 (33 U.S.C. 403; 30 
Stat. 1151, chapter 425), or section 404 of the Fed-
eral Water Pollution Control Act (33 U.S.C. 
1344).’’. 
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SEC. 6419. RURAL BUSINESS-COOPERATIVE SERVICE PRO-
GRAMS TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE AND TRAIN-
ING. 
Section 368(d)(1) of the Consolidated Farm and 
Rural Development Act (7 U.S.C. 2008c(d)(1)) is amend-
ed by striking ‘‘2019 through 2023’’ and inserting ‘‘2027 
through 2031’’. 
SEC. 6420. 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 ‘‘2008 
through 2023’’ and inserting ‘‘2027 through 2031’’; 
and 
(2) in subsection (h), by striking ‘‘2023’’ and 
inserting ‘‘2031’’. 
SEC. 6421. 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 ‘‘2014 through 2023’’ and inserting ‘‘2027 
through 2031’’. 
SEC. 6422. RURAL MICROENTREPRENEUR ASSISTANCE 
PROGRAM. 
Section 379E of the Consolidated Farm and Rural 
Development Act (7 U.S.C. 2008s) is amended— 
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(1) in subsection (a)(4), by striking ‘‘$50,000’’ 
and inserting ‘‘$75,000’’; 
(2) in subsection (c)(1)(A), by striking ‘‘shall 
not exceed 75 percent’’ and inserting ‘‘may be up to 
100 percent, and a loan under this section for a 
project may be used to cover not more than 50 per-
cent of any renovation, construction, or related costs 
of real estate improvements under the project’’; and 
(3) in subsection (d), by striking ‘‘2019 through 
2023’’ and inserting ‘‘2027 through 2031’’. 
SEC. 6423. HEALTH CARE SERVICES. 
Section 379G(e) of the Consolidated Farm and Rural 
Development Act (7 U.S.C. 2008u(e)) is amended by 
striking ‘‘2008 through 2023’’ and inserting ‘‘2027 
through 2031’’. 
SEC. 6424. STRATEGIC ECONOMIC AND COMMUNITY DEVEL-
OPMENT. 
Section 379H(d)(4) of the Consolidated Farm and 
Rural Development Act (7 U.S.C. 2008v(d)(4)) is amend-
ed by striking ‘‘2019 through 2023’’ and inserting ‘‘2027 
through 2031’’. 
SEC. 6425. RURAL INNOVATION STRONGER ECONOMY 
GRANT PROGRAM. 
Section 379I of the Consolidated Farm and Rural 
Development Act (7 U.S.C. 2008w) is amended— 
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(1) in subsection (a)— 
(A) in paragraph (1)(A)— 
(i) in clause (iii)— 
(I) by striking subclause (I) and 
inserting the following: 
‘‘(I) an institution of higher edu-
cation (as defined in section 101, and 
subparagraphs (A) and (B) of section 
102(a)(1), of the Higher Education 
Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 1001, 
1002(a)(1)));’’; 
(II) by redesignating subclauses 
(II) and (III) as subclauses (III) and 
(IV), respectively, and inserting after 
subclause (I) the following: 
‘‘(II) an area career and tech-
nical education school (as defined in 
section 3 of the Carl D. Perkins Ca-
reer and Technical Education Act of 
2006 (20 U.S.C. 2302);’’; and 
(III) in subclause (IV) (as so re-
designated by subclause (II) of this 
clause), by striking ‘‘and’’; 
(ii) in clause (iv)— 
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(I) by striking subclause (IV) 
and inserting the following: 
‘‘(IV) an institution of higher 
education (as defined in section 101, 
and subparagraphs (A) and (B) of 
section 102(a)(1), of the Higher Edu-
cation Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 1001, 
1002(a)(1)));’’; and 
(II) by redesignating subclause 
(V) as subclause (VI) and inserting 
after subclause (IV) the following: 
‘‘(V) an area career and technical 
education school (as defined in section 
3 of the Carl D. Perkins Career and 
Technical Education Act of 2006 (20 
U.S.C. 2302); or’’; and 
(iii) by adding at the end the fol-
lowing: 
‘‘(v) in the case of a career pathway 
program, includes 1 or more members of 
the local workforce development board es-
tablished under section 107 of the Work-
force Innovation and Opportunity Act and 
serving the region to ensure the program is 
integrated with the activities carried out by 
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383 
the local workforce development board; 
and’’; and 
(B) by adding at the end the following: 
‘‘(6) CAREER
PATHWAY.—The term ‘career 
pathway’ has the meaning given the term in section 
3(7) of the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity 
Act (29 U.S.C. 3102(7)). 
‘‘(7) INDUSTRY
OR
SECTOR
PARTNERSHIP.— 
The term ‘industry or sector partnership’ has the 
meaning given the term in section 3 of the Work-
force Innovation and Opportunity Act (29 U.S.C. 
3102).’’; 
(2) in subsection (b)— 
(A) in paragraph (1)— 
(i) in the matter preceding subpara-
graph (A), by inserting ‘‘or carry out ca-
reer pathway training programs or indus-
try or sector partnerships aligned with in-
dustry sectors in rural communities’’ be-
fore ‘‘, including’’; 
(ii) in subparagraph (A), by striking 
‘‘and’’ after the semicolon; 
(iii) in subparagraph (B), by striking 
the period and inserting a semicolon; and 
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(iv) by adding at the end the fol-
lowing: 
‘‘(C) address workforce challenges, includ-
ing worker displacement, faced by specific in-
dustry sectors in rural communities; and 
‘‘(D) promote targeted skills development 
and training initiatives to stimulate innovation 
and enhance economic development in rural re-
gions.’’; 
(B) in paragraph (3)— 
(i) in subparagraph (A)— 
(I) in clause (i), by inserting ‘‘, 
career pathway programs, or industry 
or sector partnerships’’ before the 
semicolon; and 
(II) in clause (ii)— 
(aa) by inserting ‘‘, career 
pathway programs, or industry or 
sector partnerships’’ before ‘‘to 
provide’’; and 
(bb) by inserting ‘‘leadership 
development,’’ 
before 
‘‘cus-
tomized training’’; 
(ii) in subparagraph (F), by striking 
the period and inserting ‘‘; and’’; and 
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(iii) by adding at the end the fol-
lowing: 
‘‘(G) the ability of the eligible entity to 
carry out activities to address the issues of 
worker displacement, an aging workforce, and 
youth migration.’’; and 
(C) by striking paragraph (5) and insert-
ing the following: 
‘‘(5) GEOGRAPHIC
DISTRIBUTION.—The Sec-
retary shall ensure regional diversity of recipients of 
grants or participants in providing grants under 
paragraph (1) for jobs accelerators, career pathway 
programs, and related programming.’’; 
(3) in subsection (d)(1)— 
(A) in subparagraph (B)(xi), by striking 
the period and inserting ‘‘; and’’; and 
(B) by adding at the end the following: 
‘‘(C) to support career pathway programs 
or industry or sector partnerships to be carried 
out within industries in rural communities, in-
cluding— 
‘‘(i) telecommunications or broadband 
services; 
‘‘(ii) water, waste water, or disposal 
services; 
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‘‘(iii) electric supply services; 
‘‘(iv) forestry and logging operations; 
‘‘(v) conservation practices and man-
agement; 
‘‘(vi) health care and child care; 
‘‘(vii) manufacturing; 
‘‘(viii) agribusiness related to produc-
tion, processing, and distribution; 
‘‘(ix) veterinarian services; and 
‘‘(x) any other sectors identified by 
the local workforce development board 
serving the region to be an in-demand in-
dustry sector or occupation, as defined in 
section 3 of the Workforce Innovation and 
Opportunity Act.’’; 
(4) in subsection (e)— 
(A) in paragraph (1), by striking ‘‘and’’; 
(B) in paragraph (2)(B)— 
(i) in clause (xvii), by striking ‘‘or’’; 
(ii) by redesignating clause (xviii) as 
clause (xix) and inserting after clause 
(xvii) the following: 
‘‘(xviii) the number of individuals who 
have completed skills development, recog-
nized postsecondary credentials, or gained 
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specialized education through career path-
ways programs or industry or sector part-
nerships; or’’; and 
(iii) in clause (xix) (as so redesignated 
by subparagraph (B) of this paragraph), 
by striking the period and inserting ‘‘; 
and’’; and 
(C) by adding at the end the following: 
‘‘(3) in the case of a career pathway program 
or industry or sector partnership, report to the Sec-
retary the employment and earnings outcomes for 
individuals who participate in the program on the in-
dicators described in subclauses (I) through (III) of 
section 116(b)(2)(A)(i) of the Workforce Innovation 
and Opportunity Act.’’; and 
(5) in subsection (f), by striking ‘‘2019 through 
2023’’ and inserting ‘‘2027 through 2031’’. 
SEC. 6426. LIMITATION ON RURAL BUSINESS INVESTMENT 
COMPANIES CONTROLLED BY FARM CREDIT 
SYSTEM INSTITUTIONS. 
Section 384J(c) of the Consolidated Farm and Rural 
Development Act (7 U.S.C. 2009cc-9(c)) is amended by 
striking ‘‘50’’ and inserting ‘‘75’’. 
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SEC. 6427. RURAL BUSINESS INVESTMENT PROGRAM. 
Section 384S of the Consolidated Farm and Rural 
Development Act (7 U.S.C. 2009cc–18) is amended by 
striking ‘‘2014 through 2023’’ and inserting ‘‘2027 
through 2031’’. 
SEC. 6428. TECHNICAL CORRECTIONS. 
Each of the following provisions of the Consolidated 
Farm and Rural Development Act are amended by strik-
ing ‘‘urbanized’’ and inserting ‘‘urban’’: 
(1) 
Section 
343(a)(13)(A)(ii) 
(7 
U.S.C. 
1991(a)(13)(A)(ii)). 
(2) Section 343(a)(13)(D)(i)(I) (7 U.S.C. 
1991(a)(13)(D)(i)(I)), in the matter preceding item 
(aa). 
(3) Section 343(a)(13)(D)(i)(I)(bb) (7 U.S.C. 
1991(a)(13)(D)(i)(I)(bb)). 
(4) Section 343(a)(13)(D)(i)(II) (7 U.S.C. 
1991(a)(13)(D)(i)(II)). 
(5) 
Section 
343(a)(13)(E) 
(7 
U.S.C. 
1991(a)(13)(E)). 
(6) Section 343(a)(13)(F)(i)(II) (7 U.S.C. 
1991(a)(13)(F)(i)(II)). 
(7) Section 384I(c)(4)(C) (7 U.S.C. 2009cc– 
8(c)(4)(C)). 
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SEC. 6429. RURAL WATER AND WASTEWATER TECHNICAL 
ASSISTANCE AND TRAINING PROGRAMS. 
Section 306(a)(14) of the Consolidated Farm and 
Rural Development Act (7 U.S.C. 1926(a)(14)) is amend-
ed— 
(1) in subparagraph (A)— 
(A) by striking ‘‘technical assistance and 
training to—’’ and inserting ‘‘for—’’; 
(B) in clause (v), by striking the period 
and inserting ‘‘; or’’; and 
(C) by redesignating clauses (i) through 
(v) as subclauses (I) through (V), respectively, 
and moving each such provision 2 ems to the 
right; and 
(D) by inserting before the matter so re-
designated the following: 
‘‘(i) technical assistance and training 
to—’’; and 
(E) by adding after and below the end the 
following: 
‘‘(ii) disaster and recovery assist-
ance.’’; and 
(2) in subparagraph (B), by inserting ‘‘or dis-
aster and recovery assistance’’ before ‘‘described’’. 
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Subtitle 
E—Additional 
Amend-
ments to the Rural Electrifica-
tion Act of 1936 
SEC. 6501. GUARANTEES FOR BONDS AND NOTES ISSUED 
FOR UTILITY INFRASTRUCTURE PURPOSES. 
Section 313A(f) of the Rural Electrification Act of 
1936 (7 U.S.C. 940c–1(f)) is amended by striking ‘‘2023’’ 
and inserting ‘‘2031’’. 
SEC. 6502. EXTENSION OF THE RURAL ECONOMIC DEVEL-
OPMENT LOAN AND GRANT PROGRAM. 
Section 313B of the Rural Electrification Act of 1936 
(7 U.S.C. 940c–2) is amended— 
(1) by striking subsection (b) and inserting the 
following: 
‘‘(b) REPAYMENTS.— 
‘‘(1) IN GENERAL.—In the case of zero interest 
loans, the Secretary shall establish such reasonable 
repayment terms as will encourage borrower partici-
pation. 
‘‘(2) LETTERS
OF
CREDIT.—The Secretary 
shall not require a letter of credit or other similar 
guarantee from a recipient of a zero-interest loan 
under this section if the borrower assigns the Sec-
retary a security interest in any collateral provided 
to secure a loan made with funds loaned under this 
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section, or makes other similar arrangements to the 
satisfaction of the Secretary.’’; and 
(2) in subsection (e)(1), by striking ‘‘2019 
through 2023’’ and inserting ‘‘2027 through 2031’’. 
SEC. 6503. EXPANSION OF 911 ACCESS. 
Section 315(d) of the Rural Electrification Act of 
1936 (7 U.S.C. 940e(d)) is amended by striking ‘‘2008 
through 2023’’ and inserting ‘‘2027 through 2031’’. 
TITLE VII—RESEARCH, EXTEN-
SION, 
AND 
RELATED 
MAT-
TERS 
Subtitle A—National Agricultural 
Research, Extension, and Teach-
ing Policy Act of 1977 
SEC. 7101. NATIONAL AGRICULTURAL RESEARCH, EXTEN-
SION, EDUCATION, AND ECONOMICS ADVI-
SORY BOARD. 
Section 1408 of the National Agricultural Research, 
Extension, and Teaching Policy Act of 1977 (7 U.S.C. 
3123) is amended— 
(1) in subsection (b)— 
(A) in paragraph (1), by striking ‘‘15’’ and 
inserting ‘‘16’’; 
(B) in paragraph (3), by adding at the end 
the following: 
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‘‘(E) 1 member representing the industry, 
consumer, or rural interests of insular areas.’’; 
and 
(C) in paragraph (5), by striking ‘‘7’’ and 
inserting ‘‘3’’; and 
(2) in subsection (h), by striking ‘‘2023’’ and 
inserting ‘‘2031’’. 
SEC. 7102. SPECIALTY CROP COMMITTEE. 
Section 1408A of the National Agricultural Research, 
Extension, and Teaching Policy Act of 1977 (7 U.S.C. 
3123a) is amended— 
(1) in subsection (a)— 
(A) in paragraph (1), by striking ‘‘Not 
later than’’ and all that follows through ‘‘initial 
members of’’ and inserting ‘‘The Secretary shall 
continue to implement, and appoint the mem-
bers of’’; and 
(B) in paragraph (2)— 
(i) in subparagraph (C), by adding a 
period at the end; and 
(ii) in subparagraph (D), by striking 
‘‘2023’’ and inserting ‘‘2031’’; and 
(2) in subsection (b)(2), by striking ‘‘executive 
committee’’ and inserting ‘‘Secretary’’. 
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393 
SEC. 7103. VETERINARY MEDICINE LOAN REPAYMENT. 
Section 1415A of the National Agricultural Research, 
Extension, and Teaching Policy Act of 1977 (7 U.S.C. 
3151a) is amended— 
(1) by amending subsection (b) to read as fol-
lows: 
‘‘(b) DETERMINATION OF VETERINARIAN SHORTAGE 
SITUATIONS.—In determining ‘veterinarian shortage situ-
ations’, the Secretary— 
‘‘(1) may consider— 
‘‘(A) geographical areas that the Secretary 
determines have a shortage of veterinarians; 
‘‘(B) areas of veterinary practice that the 
Secretary determines have a shortage of veteri-
narians, such as food animal medicine, public 
health, epidemiology, and food safety; and 
‘‘(C) areas described in subparagraphs (A) 
and (B) identified by appropriate State agen-
cies; and 
‘‘(2) shall— 
‘‘(A) develop quantitative mechanisms for 
predicting the emergence of new veterinarian 
shortage situations in the short-term and long- 
term; and 
‘‘(B) make available to State agencies de-
scribed in paragraph (1)(C) the quantitative 
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mechanisms developed under subparagraph 
(A).’’; and 
(2) in subsection (c), by adding at the end the 
following: 
‘‘(9) ELIGIBILITY.—The Secretary shall not 
make a veterinarian ineligible for the program under 
this section based on a veterinarian’s participation in 
a comparable Federal, State, or local program. 
‘‘(10) APPLICATION PROCESS.—Not later than 
1 year after the date of the enactment of the Farm, 
Food, and National Security Act of 2026, the Sec-
retary shall establish streamlined application proce-
dures and guidelines for entering into agreements 
with veterinarians under this section.’’. 
SEC. 7104. VETERINARY SERVICES GRANT PROGRAM. 
Section 1415B of the National Agricultural Research, 
Extension, and Teaching Policy Act of 1977 (7 U.S.C. 
3151b) is amended— 
(1) in subsection (a)— 
(A) in paragraph (1)(A)(i), by striking ‘‘, 
as defined in’’ and all that follows through 
‘‘1991(a))’’; and 
(B) by adding at the end the following: 
‘‘(3) RURAL AREA.—The term ‘‘rural area’’ has 
the meaning given such term in section 343(a) of 
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the Consolidated Farm and Rural Development Act 
(7 U.S.C. 1991(a)).’’; 
(2) in subsection (b)(2)— 
(A) by redesignating subparagraphs (B) 
and (C) as subparagraphs (C) and (D), respec-
tively; and 
(B) by inserting after subparagraph (A) 
the following: 
‘‘(B) expand, retain, or attract additional 
veterinary practices in rural areas;’’; 
(3) in subsection (c), by adding at the end the 
following: 
‘‘(5) APPLICATION PROCESS.—Not later than 1 
year after the date of enactment of the Farm, Food, 
and National Security Act of 2026 the Secretary 
shall establish a streamlined application process.’’; 
and 
(4) in subsection (d)— 
(A) in the subsection heading, by striking 
‘‘TO RELIEVE VETERINARIAN SHORTAGE SITU-
ATIONS
AND
SUPPORT
VETERINARY
SERV-
ICES’’; and 
(B) in paragraph (1)— 
(i) in the matter preceding subpara-
graph (A), by striking ‘‘situations and sup-
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port’’ and inserting ‘‘situations, to expand, 
retain, or attract additional veterinary 
practices in rural areas, and to support’’; 
and 
(ii) by adding at the end the fol-
lowing: 
‘‘(G) To cover expenses associated with 
starting a new veterinary practice or attracting 
new veterinarians to existing practices, includ-
ing— 
‘‘(i) relocation expenses; 
‘‘(ii) the purchase of necessary start-
up equipment; and 
‘‘(iii) housing or living stipends for 
veterinary students, veterinary interns, 
externs, fellows, and residents, and veteri-
nary technician students.’’. 
SEC. 7105. GRANTS AND FELLOWSHIPS FOR FOOD AND AG-
RICULTURE SCIENCES EDUCATION. 
Section 1417(m)(2) of the National Agricultural Re-
search, Extension, and Teaching Policy Act of 1977 (7 
U.S.C. 3152(m)(2)) is amended by striking ‘‘2023’’ and 
inserting ‘‘2031’’. 
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397 
SEC. 7106. AGRICULTURAL AND FOOD POLICY RESEARCH 
CENTERS. 
Section 1419A(e) of the National Agricultural Re-
search, Extension, and Teaching Policy Act of 1977 (7 
U.S.C. 3155(e)) is amended by striking ‘‘2023’’ and in-
serting ‘‘2031’’. 
SEC. 7107. EDUCATION GRANTS TO ALASKA NATIVE SERV-
ING INSTITUTIONS AND NATIVE HAWAIIAN 
SERVING INSTITUTIONS. 
Section 1419B of the National Agricultural Research, 
Extension, and Teaching Policy Act of 1977 (7 U.S.C. 
3156) is amended— 
(1) in subsection (a)— 
(A) in paragraph (1), by adding at the end 
the following: ‘‘The term of such grants may be 
for a period of more than 1 year, but not more 
than 5 years.’’; and 
(B) in paragraph (3), by striking ‘‘2023’’ 
and inserting ‘‘2031’’; and 
(2) in subsection (b)— 
(A) in paragraph (1), by adding at the end 
the following: ‘‘The term of such grants may be 
for a period of more than 1 year, but not more 
than 5 years.’’; and 
(B) in paragraph (3), by striking ‘‘2023’’ 
and inserting ‘‘2031’’. 
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398 
SEC. 7108. NUTRITION EDUCATION PROGRAM. 
Section 1425(g) of the National Agricultural Re-
search, Extension, and Teaching Policy Act of 1977 (7 
U.S.C. 3175(g)) is amended by striking ‘‘2023’’ and in-
serting ‘‘2031’’. 
SEC. 7109. CONTINUING ANIMAL HEALTH AND DISEASE RE-
SEARCH PROGRAMS. 
Section 1433 of the National Agricultural Research, 
Extension, and Teaching Policy Act of 1977 (7 U.S.C. 
3195) is amended— 
(1) in subsection (a), by adding at the end the 
following: 
‘‘(4) CARRYOVER.—The balance of any annual 
funds provided to an eligible institution for a fiscal 
year under this subsection that remains unexpended 
at the end of that fiscal year may be carried over 
for use during the following fiscal year.’’; and 
(2) in subsection (c)(1), by striking ‘‘2023’’ and 
inserting ‘‘2031’’. 
SEC. 7110. EXTENSION AND AGRICULTURAL RESEARCH AT 
1890 
LAND-GRANT 
COLLEGES, 
INCLUDING 
TUSKEGEE UNIVERSITY. 
(a) EXTENSION.—Section 1444(a)(2) of the National 
Agricultural Research, Extension, and Teaching Policy 
Act of 1977 (7 U.S.C. 3221(a)(2)) is amended by striking 
‘‘20 percent’’ and inserting ‘‘40 percent’’. 
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400 
U.S.C. 3222b(b)) is amended by striking ‘‘2023’’ and in-
serting ‘‘2031’’. 
SEC. 7113. GRANTS TO UPGRADE AGRICULTURE AND FOOD 
SCIENCES FACILITIES AND EQUIPMENT AND 
SUPPORT TROPICAL AND SUBTROPICAL AG-
RICULTURAL RESEARCH AT INSULAR AREA 
LAND-GRANT COLLEGES AND UNIVERSITIES. 
Section 1447B(d) of the National Agricultural Re-
search, Extension, and Teaching Policy Act of 1977 (7 
U.S.C. 3222b–2(d)) is amended by striking ‘‘2023’’ and 
inserting ‘‘2031’’. 
SEC. 7114. MATCHING FUNDS REQUIREMENT FOR RE-
SEARCH AND EXTENSION ACTIVITIES AT ELI-
GIBLE INSTITUTIONS. 
Section 1449 of the National Agricultural Research, 
Extension, and Teaching Policy Act of 1977 (7 U.S.C. 
3222d) is amended— 
(1) in subsection (b)— 
(A) by striking ‘‘Not later than September 
30, 1999’’ and inserting ‘‘Beginning on Sep-
tember 30, 2026, and not later than September 
30 of each fiscal year thereafter’’; and 
(B) by striking ‘‘fiscal year 1999’’ and in-
serting ‘‘the fiscal year ending on that Sep-
tember 30’’; and 
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(2) by amending subsection (c) to read as fol-
lows: 
‘‘(c) STATE MATCHING FUNDS REQUIREMENT.— 
Notwithstanding any other provision of this subtitle, for 
each fiscal year, a State shall provide to each eligible insti-
tution located in the State matching funds from non-Fed-
eral sources in an amount equal to the amounts provided 
to the eligible institution under sections 1444 and 1445 
for the purposes described in subsection (b)(1).’’. 
SEC. 7115. NEW BEGINNING FOR TRIBAL STUDENTS. 
Section 1450 of the National Agricultural Research, 
Extension, and Teaching Policy Act of 1977 (7 U.S.C. 
3222e) is amended— 
(1) in subsection (b), by striking paragraph (5); 
and 
(2) in subsection (d), by striking ‘‘2023’’ and 
inserting ‘‘2031’’. 
SEC. 7116. EDUCATION GRANTS PROGRAMS FOR HISPANIC- 
SERVING INSTITUTIONS. 
Section 1455(c) of the National Agricultural Re-
search, Extension, and Teaching Policy Act of 1977 (7 
U.S.C. 3241(c)) is amended by striking ‘‘2023’’ and in-
serting ‘‘2031’’. 
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SEC. 7117. BINATIONAL AGRICULTURAL RESEARCH AND 
DEVELOPMENT. 
Section 1458(e) of the National Agricultural Re-
search, Extension, and Teaching Policy Act of 1977 (7 
U.S.C. 3291(e)) is amended— 
(1) in paragraph (1), by striking ‘‘entered into’’ 
and inserting ‘‘, as entered into in 1977,’’; 
(2) in paragraph (2), by striking ‘‘United 
States and Israel’’ and inserting ‘‘United States, 
Israel, or other signatories of the Abraham Accords 
Declaration’’; and 
(3) by adding at the end the following: 
‘‘(3) BARD FUND ACCELERATOR.—The BARD 
Fund shall establish an accelerator program that 
supports mid-stage research, as determined by the 
technology readiness level, in priority areas estab-
lished by the BARD Fund that— 
‘‘(A) fast-tracks cooperative research be-
tween scientists participating in activities de-
scribed in paragraph (2); 
‘‘(B) accelerates the successful develop-
ment of agricultural research through resources 
and services developed or orchestrated by the 
BARD Fund; 
‘‘(C) provides management guidance, tech-
nical assistance, and consulting to scientists 
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participating in activities described in para-
graph (2); or 
‘‘(D) advances cooperative agricultural re-
search projects of mutual interest to the United 
States, Israel, or other signatories of the Abra-
ham Accords Declaration.’’. 
SEC. 7118. GRANTS AND PARTNERSHIPS FOR INTER-
NATIONAL AGRICULTURAL RESEARCH, EX-
TENSION, AND EDUCATION. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—Section 1458A of the National 
Agricultural Research, Extension, and Teaching Policy 
Act of 1977 (7 U.S.C. 3292) is amended— 
(1) by amending the section heading to read as 
follows ‘‘GRANTS
AND
PARTNERSHIPS
FOR 
INTERNATIONAL
AGRICULTURAL
RESEARCH, 
EXTENSION, AND EDUCATION’’; 
(2) by striking subsections (a) and (b) and in-
serting the following: 
‘‘(a) DEFINITIONS.—In this section: 
‘‘(1) DEVELOPING COUNTRY.—The term ‘devel-
oping country’ means a country that meets such cri-
teria as determined by the Secretary, established 
using a gross national income per capita test se-
lected by the Secretary. 
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‘‘(2) ELIGIBLE INSTITUTION.—The term ‘eligi-
ble institution’ means— 
‘‘(A) a land-grant colleges or university; 
‘‘(B) a non-land-grant college of agri-
culture; 
‘‘(C) a Hispanic-serving agricultural col-
lege or university; and 
‘‘(D) a cooperating forestry school. 
‘‘(3) INTERNATIONAL PARTNER INSTITUTION.— 
The term ‘international partner institution’ means a 
higher education institution in a developing country 
that is performing, or desiring to perform, activities 
similar to agricultural research, extension, and edu-
cation activities carried out through eligible institu-
tions in the United States. 
‘‘(b) GRANTS AND PARTNERSHIPS.— 
‘‘(1) GRANTS.—The Secretary may make com-
petitive grants to eligible institutions in order to 
strengthen United States economic competitiveness 
and to promote international market development 
through— 
‘‘(A) enhancing the international content 
of the curricula in colleges and universities so 
as to ensure that United States students ac-
quire an understanding of the international di-
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mensions and trade implications of their stud-
ies; 
‘‘(B) ensuring that United States sci-
entists, extension agents, and educators in-
volved in agricultural research and development 
activities outside of the United States have the 
opportunity to convey the implications of their 
activities and findings to their peers and stu-
dents in the United States and to the users of 
agricultural research, extension, and teaching; 
‘‘(C) enhancing the capabilities of colleges 
and universities to do collaborative research 
with other countries, in cooperation with other 
Federal agencies, on issues relevant to United 
States agricultural competitiveness; 
‘‘(D) enhancing the capabilities of colleges 
and universities to provide cooperative extension 
education to promote the application of new 
technology developed in foreign countries to 
United States agriculture; and 
‘‘(E) enhancing the capability of United 
States colleges and universities, in cooperation 
with other Federal agencies, to provide leader-
ship and educational programs that will assist 
United States natural resources and food pro-
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duction, processing, and distribution businesses 
and industries to compete internationally, in-
cluding through the use of product market iden-
tification, international policies limiting or en-
hancing market production, the development of 
new or enhancement of existing markets, and 
production efficiencies. 
‘‘(2) PARTNERSHIPS.—The Secretary may pro-
mote cooperation and coordination between eligible 
institutions and international partner institutions 
through— 
‘‘(A) improving extension by— 
‘‘(i) encouraging the exchange of re-
search materials and results between eligi-
ble institutions and international partner 
institutions; 
‘‘(ii) facilitating the broad dissemina-
tion of agricultural research through exten-
sion; 
‘‘(iii) assisting with efforts to plan 
and initiate extension services in devel-
oping countries; and 
‘‘(iv) developing self-sustaining re-
gional agricultural markets and promoting 
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the application of new agricultural tech-
nologies and techniques; 
‘‘(B) improving agricultural research by— 
‘‘(i) in partnership with international 
partner institutions, encouraging research 
that addresses problems affecting food pro-
duction and security, human nutrition, ag-
riculture, forestry, livestock, and fisheries, 
including local challenges; and 
‘‘(ii) supporting and strengthening na-
tional agricultural research systems in de-
veloping countries; 
‘‘(C) supporting the participation of eligi-
ble institutions in programs of international or-
ganizations, such as the United Nations, the 
World Bank, regional development banks, and 
international agricultural research centers; 
‘‘(D) improving agricultural teaching and 
education by— 
‘‘(i) in partnership with international 
partner institutions, supporting education 
and teaching relating to food and agricul-
tural sciences, including technical assist-
ance, degree training, research collabora-
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tions, classroom instruction, workforce 
training, and education programs; and 
‘‘(ii) assisting with efforts to increase 
student capacity, including to encourage 
equitable access for women and other un-
derserved populations, at international 
partner institutions by promoting partner-
ships with, and improving the capacity of, 
eligible institutions; 
‘‘(E) assisting eligible institutions in 
strengthening their capacity for food, agricul-
tural, and related research, extension, and 
teaching programs relevant to agricultural de-
velopment activities in developing countries to 
promote the application of new technology to 
improve education delivery; 
‘‘(F) providing support for the internation-
alization of resident instruction programs of eli-
gible institutions; 
‘‘(G) establishing a program, to be coordi-
nated by the Director of the National Institute 
of Food and Agriculture and the Administrator 
of the Foreign Agricultural Service, to place in-
terns from eligible institutions in, or in service 
to benefit, developing countries; and 
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‘‘(H) establishing a program to provide fel-
lowships to students at eligible institutions to 
study at foreign agricultural colleges and uni-
versities.’’; 
(3) in subsection (c), in the matter preceding 
paragraph (1), by striking ‘‘covered Institutions’’ 
and inserting ‘‘eligible institutions’’; and 
(4) in subsection (d), by striking ‘‘2023’’ and 
inserting ‘‘2031’’. 
(b) CONFORMING AMENDMENT.—Section 1459A of 
the National Agricultural Research, Extension, and 
Teaching Policy Act of 1977 (7 U.S.C. 3292b) is repealed. 
SEC. 7119. RESEARCH EQUIPMENT GRANTS. 
Section 1462A(e) of the National Agricultural Re-
search, Extension, and Teaching Policy Act of 1977 (7 
U.S.C. 3310a(e)) is amended by striking ‘‘2023’’ and in-
serting ‘‘2031’’. 
SEC. 7120. UNIVERSITY RESEARCH. 
Section 1463 of the National Agricultural Research, 
Extension, and Teaching Policy Act of 1977 (7 U.S.C. 
3311) is amended by striking ‘‘2023’’ each place it ap-
pears in subsections (a) and (b) and inserting ‘‘2031’’. 
SEC. 7121. EXTENSION SERVICE. 
Section 1464 of the National Agricultural Research, 
Extension, and Teaching Policy Act of 1977 (7 U.S.C. 
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3312) is amended by striking ‘‘2023’’ and inserting 
‘‘2031’’. 
SEC. 7122. SUPPLEMENTAL AND ALTERNATIVE CROPS. 
Section 1473D of the National Agricultural Re-
search, Extension, and Teaching Policy Act of 1977 (7 
U.S.C. 3319d) is amended— 
(1) in subsection (a), by striking ‘‘2023’’ and 
inserting ‘‘2031’’; 
(2) in subsection (c)(3)— 
(A) in subparagraph (E), by striking 
‘‘and’’ at the end; 
(B) by redesignating subparagraph (F) as 
subparagraph (G); and 
(C) by inserting after subparagraph (E) 
the following: 
‘‘(F) to examine potential benefits and opportu-
nities for supplemental and alternative crops (includ-
ing winter-planted rapeseed and winter-planted 
canola crops); and’’; and 
(3) in subsection (e)(3), by striking ‘‘2023’’ and 
inserting ‘‘2031’’. 
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SEC. 7123. GRANTS FOR COMMUNITY COLLEGE AGRI-
CULTURE AND NATURAL RESOURCES PRO-
GRAMS. 
Section 1473E of the National Agricultural Research, 
Extension, and Teaching Policy Act of 1977 (7 U.S.C. 
3319e) is amended— 
(1) by amending the section heading to read as 
follows: ‘‘GRANTS
FOR
COMMUNITY
COLLEGE 
AGRICULTURE
AND
NATURAL
RESOURCES 
PROGRAMS’’; 
(2) by redesignating subsection (d) as sub-
section (e); 
(3) by striking subsections (a) through (c) and 
inserting the following: 
‘‘(a) DEFINITIONS.—In this section: 
‘‘(1) ELIGIBLE ENTITY.—The term ‘eligible en-
tity’ means— 
‘‘(A) a junior or community college (as de-
fined in section 312 of the Higher Education 
Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 1058)) supporting agri-
culture advancement; 
‘‘(B) a consortium or alliance of 2-year 
public colleges supporting agriculture advance-
ment; or 
‘‘(C) an area career and technical edu-
cation school (as defined in section 3 of the 
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Carl D. Perkins Career and Technical Edu-
cation Act of 2006 (20 U.S.C. 2302)) that of-
fers a program of study in agriculture. 
‘‘(2) 
WORK-BASED
LEARNING.—The 
term 
‘work-based learning’ has the meaning given such 
term in section 3 of the Carl D. Perkins Career and 
Technical Education Act of 2006 (20 U.S.C. 2302). 
‘‘(b) COMPETITIVE GRANTS.—The Secretary shall 
make competitive grants to eligible entities to conduct 
workforce training, education, research, and outreach ac-
tivities relating to food and agricultural sciences. 
‘‘(c) PRIORITY.—In making grants under subsection 
(b), the Secretary shall give priority to an eligible entity 
coordinating with a local agriculture industry operator to 
provide work-based learning, experiential training, and 
other opportunities for students. 
‘‘(d) USE OF FUNDS.—An eligible entity that receives 
a grant under subsection (b) may use the funds made 
available through the grant— 
‘‘(1) to offer educational programming on agri-
cultural industry jobs, including farm business man-
agement-related subjects, such as accounting, para-
legal studies, and finance; 
‘‘(2) to develop apprenticeships and other work- 
based learning opportunities; and 
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‘‘(3) other services that would increase work-
force training, education, research, and outreach ac-
tivities relating to food and agricultural sciences, as 
determined by the Secretary.’’; and 
(4) in subsection (e), as so redesignated, by 
striking ‘‘2023’’ and inserting ‘‘2031’’. 
SEC. 7124. CAPACITY BUILDING GRANTS FOR NLGCA INSTI-
TUTIONS. 
Section 1473F(b) of the National Agricultural Re-
search, Extension, and Teaching Policy Act of 1977 (7 
U.S.C. 3319i(b)) is amended by striking ‘‘2023’’ and in-
serting ‘‘2031’’. 
SEC. 7125. AGRICULTURE ADVANCED RESEARCH AND DE-
VELOPMENT AUTHORITY. 
Section 1473H of the National Agricultural Re-
search, Extension, and Teaching Policy Act of 1977 (7 
U.S.C. 3319k) is amended— 
(1) in subsection (a)— 
(A) in paragraph (2)— 
(i) by inserting ‘‘, including precision 
agriculture,’’ after ‘‘equipment’’; and 
(ii) by striking ‘‘relating to the re-
search and development of qualified prod-
ucts and projects’’; 
(B) in paragraph (5)— 
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(i) in the paragraph heading, by strik-
ing ‘‘PERSON’’ and inserting ‘‘ELIGIBLE 
ENTITY’’; 
(ii) in the matter preceding subpara-
graph (A), by striking ‘‘person’’ and in-
serting ‘‘eligible entity’’; 
(iii) by striking subparagraph (E); 
and 
(iv) by redesignating subparagraphs 
(F) through (H) as subparagraphs (E) 
through (G), respectively; 
(C) in paragraph (6)— 
(i) in subparagraph (B)(iii), by strik-
ing ‘‘and’’ at the end; 
(ii) in subparagraph (C)(ii), by strik-
ing the period at the end and inserting ‘‘; 
or’’; and 
(iii) by adding at the end the fol-
lowing: 
‘‘(D) any other product or project, as de-
termined by the Secretary.’’; and 
(D) in paragraph (7), by striking ‘‘that is 
developed to assist in the discovery, develop-
ment, or manufacture of a qualified product or 
project’’; 
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(2) in subsection (b)— 
(A) in paragraph (2), by amending sub-
paragraph (B) to read as follows: 
‘‘(B) to overcome the long-term and high- 
risk technological barriers in the development of 
agricultural technologies, research tools, and 
qualified products and projects that enhance ex-
port competitiveness, environmental sustain-
ability, water conservation, and resilience to ex-
treme weather, drought, infectious diseases, 
plant and animal pathogens, and plant and ani-
mal pests;’’; 
(B) in paragraph (4)— 
(i) in subparagraph (C), by striking 
‘‘persons’’ and inserting ‘‘eligible entities’’; 
and 
(ii) in subparagraph (G), by striking 
‘‘persons’’ and inserting ‘‘eligible entities’’; 
and 
(C) in paragraph (7)(A)— 
(i) by striking ‘‘a person’’ and insert-
ing ‘‘an eligible entity’’; and 
(ii) by striking ‘‘the person’’ and in-
serting ‘‘the eligible entity’’; 
(3) in subsection (c)— 
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(A) in paragraph (2), by striking ‘‘per-
sons’’ and inserting ‘‘eligible entities’’; and 
(B) by adding at the end the following: 
‘‘(4) USE OF STRATEGIC PLAN.—The Secretary 
shall use the strategic plan developed under para-
graph (1) to inform the administration of AGARDA 
under this section.’’; 
(4) in subsection (d)(3), by striking ‘‘2023’’ 
and inserting ‘‘2031’’; and 
(5) in subsection (e)— 
(A) in paragraph (1), by striking ‘‘5 
years’’ and inserting ‘‘13 years’’; and 
(B) in paragraph (2)(B), by striking ‘‘5- 
year’’ and inserting ‘‘13-year’’. 
SEC. 7126. AQUACULTURE ASSISTANCE PROGRAMS. 
Section 1477(a)(2) of the National Agricultural Re-
search, Extension, and Teaching Policy Act of 1977 (7 
U.S.C. 3324(a)(2)) is amended by striking ‘‘2023’’ and 
insert ‘‘2031’’. 
SEC. 7127. SPECIAL AUTHORIZATION FOR BIOSECURITY 
PLANNING AND RESPONSE. 
Section 1484(a)(3) of the National Agricultural Re-
search, Extension, and Teaching Policy Act of 1977 (7 
U.S.C. 3351(a)(3)) is amended by striking ‘‘2023’’ and 
inserting ‘‘2031’’. 
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417 
SEC. 7128. AGRICULTURE AND FOOD PROTECTION GRANT 
PROGRAM. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—Section 1485 of the National Ag-
ricultural Research, Extension, and Teaching Policy Act 
of 1977 (7 U.S.C. 3352) is amended— 
(1) by amending the section heading to read as 
follows: ‘‘AGRICULTURE
AND
FOOD
PROTEC-
TION GRANT PROGRAM’’; 
(2) by striking subsections (a), (b), (c), (d), (e), 
and (f) and inserting the following: 
‘‘(a) IN GENERAL.—The Secretary shall establish a 
competitive grant program under which the Secretary will 
award grants to eligible entities to support research, ex-
tension, and education activities that improve the capa-
bility of the United States to protect the food and agricul-
tural system from any chemical, biological, cybersecurity, 
or bioterrorism attack. 
‘‘(b) USE OF FUNDS.—Grants made under this sec-
tion shall be used to— 
‘‘(1) encourage basic and applied research and 
development of agricultural countermeasures; 
‘‘(2) promote the development and expansion of 
teaching programs in agriculture, veterinary medi-
cine, and other disciplines closely allied to the food 
and agriculture system to increase the number of 
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trained individuals with an expertise in agricultural 
biosecurity and cybersecurity; 
‘‘(3) expand or upgrade facilities to meet bio-
safety and biosecurity requirements necessary to 
protect facility staff, members of the public, and the 
food supply while carrying out agricultural biosecu-
rity research; 
‘‘(4) costs associated with the acquisition of 
equipment and other capital costs related to expan-
sion of food, agriculture, and veterinary medicine 
teaching programs in agricultural biosecurity and cy-
bersecurity; or 
‘‘(5) otherwise improve the capacity of the 
United States to respond in a timely manner to 
emerging or existing threats. 
‘‘(c) ELIGIBLE ENTITIES.—Entities eligible to receive 
a grant under this section include— 
‘‘(1) State agricultural experiment stations; 
‘‘(2) State departments of agriculture; 
‘‘(3) colleges and universities; 
‘‘(4) university research foundations; 
‘‘(5) other research institutions and organiza-
tions; 
‘‘(6) Federal agencies; 
‘‘(7) national laboratories; or 
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‘‘(8) any group consisting of 2 or more of the 
entities described in paragraphs (1) through (7).’’; 
(3) by redesignating subsection (g) as sub-
section (d); and 
(4) in subsection (d), as so redesignated, by 
striking ‘‘for each fiscal year.’’ and inserting ‘‘for 
each of fiscal years 2027 through 2031.’’. 
(b) CONFORMING AMENDMENTS.— 
(1) Section 14112 of the Food, Conservation, 
and Energy Act of 2008 (7 U.S.C. 8912) is re-
pealed. 
(2) Section 14113 of the Food, Conservation, 
and Energy Act of 2008 (7 U.S.C. 8913) is re-
pealed. 
(3) Section 14121 of the Food, Conservation, 
and Energy Act of 2008 (7 U.S.C. 8921) is re-
pealed. 
(4) Section 14122 of the Food, Conservation, 
and Energy Act of 2008 (7 U.S.C. 8922) is re-
pealed. 
SEC. 7129. DISTANCE EDUCATION GRANTS FOR INSULAR 
AREAS. 
Section 1490(f)(2) of the National Agricultural Re-
search, Extension, and Teaching Policy Act of 1977 (7 
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U.S.C. 3362(f)(2)) is amended by striking ‘‘2023’’ and in-
serting ‘‘2031’’. 
SEC. 7130. RESIDENT INSTRUCTION GRANTS FOR INSULAR 
AREAS. 
Section 1491(c)(2) of the National Agricultural Re-
search, Extension, and Teaching Policy Act of 1977 (7 
U.S.C. 3363(c)(2)) is amended by striking ‘‘2023’’ and 
inserting ‘‘2031’’. 
SEC. 7131. REPEALS. 
(a) Section 1410 of the National Agricultural Re-
search, Extension, and Teaching Policy Act of 1977 ((7 
U.S.C. 3125) is repealed. 
(b) Section 1419C of the National Agricultural Re-
search, Extension, and Teaching Policy Act of 1977 (7 
U.S.C. 3158) is repealed. 
(c) Section 1447A of the National Agricultural Re-
search, Extension, and Teaching Policy Act of 1977 (7 
U.S.C. 3222b–1) is repealed. 
(d) Subtitle M of the National Agricultural Research, 
Extension, and Teaching Policy Act of 1977 (7 U.S.C. 
3331 et seq.) is repealed. 
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Subtitle B—Food, Agriculture, Con-
servation, and Trade Act of 1990 
SEC. 7201. SUSTAINABLE AGRICULTURE RESEARCH AND 
EDUCATION. 
Subtitle B of title XVI of the Food, Agriculture, Con-
servation, and Trade Act of 1990 (7 U.S.C. 5801 et seq.) 
is amended by striking ‘‘2023’’ each place it appears in 
sections 1624 (7 U.S.C. 5814), 1627(d) (7 U.S.C. 
5821(d)), 1628(f)(2) (7 U.S.C. 5831(f)(2)), and 1629(i) 
(7 U.S.C. 5832(i)), and inserting ‘‘2031’’. 
SEC. 7202. NATIONAL GENETICS RESOURCES PROGRAM. 
Section 1635(b)(2) of the Food, Agriculture, Con-
servation, and Trade Act of 1990 (7 U.S.C. 5844(b)(2)) 
is amended by striking ‘‘2023’’ and inserting ‘‘2031’’. 
SEC. 7203. AGRICULTURAL GENOME TO PHENOME INITIA-
TIVE. 
Section 1671(g) of the Food, Agriculture, Conserva-
tion, and Trade Act of 1990 (7 U.S.C. 5924(g)) is amend-
ed by striking ‘‘2023’’ and inserting ‘‘2031’’. 
SEC. 7204. HIGH-PRIORITY RESEARCH AND EXTENSION INI-
TIATIVES. 
Section 1672 of the Food, Agriculture, Conservation, 
and Trade Act of 1990 (7 U.S.C. 5925) is amended— 
(1) in subsection (d)— 
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(A) by striking paragraphs (5), (6), (9), 
(10), (11), (13), and (18); 
(B) by redesignating paragraphs (7), (8), 
(12), (14), (15), (16), (17), (19), and (20) as 
paragraphs (5), (6), (7), (8), (9), (10), (11), 
(12), and (13); 
(C) in paragraph (11), as so redesignated, 
by inserting ‘‘and harmful algal blooms’’ after 
‘‘macro-algae systems’’; and 
(D) by adding at the end the following: 
‘‘(14) FERTILIZER
AND
NUTRIENT
MANAGE-
MENT INITIATIVE.—Research and extension grants 
may be made under this section for the purposes of 
carrying out research to improve fertilizer use effi-
ciency in crops and examining nutrient management 
based on the source, rate, timing, and placement of 
crop nutrients. 
‘‘(15) TROPICAL PLANT HEALTH INITIATIVE.— 
Research and extension grants may be made under 
this section for the purposes of— 
‘‘(A) developing and disseminating science- 
based tools and treatments to combat plant 
pests and noxious weeds (as those terms are de-
fined in section 403 of the Plant Protection Act 
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(7 U.S.C. 7702)) that impact tropical plants, 
including— 
‘‘(i) coffee plants; 
‘‘(ii) macadamia trees; 
‘‘(iii) cacao trees; 
‘‘(iv) plantains and bananas; 
‘‘(v) mangos; 
‘‘(vi) tropical floriculture and nursery 
crops; and 
‘‘(vii) any other tropical plant as de-
termined by the Secretary; 
‘‘(B) establishing an areawide integrated 
pest management program in areas affected by, 
or areas at risk of being affected by, plant pests 
or noxious weeds; 
‘‘(C) surveying and collecting data on trop-
ical plant production and health; 
‘‘(D) investigating tropical plant biology, 
immunology, 
ecology, 
genomics, 
and 
bioinformatics; and 
‘‘(E) conducting research on various fac-
tors that may contribute to, or be associated 
with, tropical plant immune systems and other 
serious threats to tropical plants. 
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‘‘(16) BIOCHAR RESEARCH.—Research and ex-
tension grants may be made under this section for 
the purpose of testing the full range of biochar types 
across soil types, soil health and soil management 
conditions, application methods, and climatic and 
agronomic regions, including through the establish-
ment of a national biochar research network, to— 
‘‘(A) assess the soil carbon sequestration 
potential of various biochars and management 
systems integrating biochar use; 
‘‘(B) understand how to use biochar pro-
ductively to contribute to climate mitigation, 
crop production, resilience to extreme weather 
events, ecosystem and soil health, natural re-
source conservation, and farm profitability; and 
‘‘(C) deliver science-based, region-specific, 
cost-effective, and practical information to 
farmers, ranchers, foresters, land reclamation 
managers, urban land managers, and other land 
and natural resource managers and businesses 
on sustainable biochar production and applica-
tion. 
‘‘(17) 
WILDFIRE
SMOKE
EXPOSURE
RE-
SEARCH.—Research and extension grants may be 
made under this section for the purposes of studying 
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the impact of wildfire smoke exposure on specialty 
crops, including wine grapes, hops, stone fruit, and 
apples, by— 
‘‘(A) conducting research— 
‘‘(i) to identify the compounds respon-
sible for smoke exposure; and 
‘‘(ii) to establish standard methodolo-
gies for sampling and testing smoke-ex-
posed specialty crops and smoke-affected 
products, including fast and inexpensive 
screening methods; 
‘‘(B) establishing a reliable database of 
background levels of smoke exposure com-
pounds that occur naturally in specialty crops; 
‘‘(C) developing risk assessment tools or 
mitigation methods to reduce or eliminate 
smoke exposure; and 
‘‘(D) studying compounds that can act as 
a barrier between specialty crops and smoke 
compounds. 
‘‘(18) INVASIVE SPECIES RESEARCH.—Research 
and extension grants may be made under this sec-
tion for the purposes of developing and dissemi-
nating science-based tools and treatments to manage 
or eradicate (including through methods of biocon-
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trol and sterile insect techniques) invasive species of 
plants and animals, such as the spotted lanternfly 
(Lycorma delicatula), navel orangeworm (Amyelois 
transitella), and spotted wing drosophila (Drosophila 
suzukii). 
‘‘(19) 
MICROPLASTICS
AND
PER- 
AND 
POLYFLUOROALKYL SUBSTANCES ON FARMLAND.— 
Research and extension grants may be made under 
this section for the purposes of carrying out or en-
hancing research on the agricultural impacts of 
microplastics and per- and polyfluoroalkyl sub-
stances, including structural firefighting foam, in 
land-applied biosolids or compost on farmland, in-
cluding by— 
‘‘(A) conducting surveys and collecting 
data on concentration, particle size, and chem-
ical composition of such substances in land-ap-
plied biosolids on farmland; 
‘‘(B) the development or analysis of tech-
niques, including wastewater treatment and 
composting, to filter out or biodegrade such 
substances from biosolids intended to be used 
for agricultural purposes; 
‘‘(C) conducting an analysis of the impact 
on agricultural crops and soil health of such 
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substances in land-applied biosolids on farm-
land, including the uptake of such substances 
by various crops or livestock; 
‘‘(D) conducting research to better under-
stand how wastewater processing impacts such 
substances; 
‘‘(E) conducting research to better under-
stand the fate, residence time, and transport of 
such substances on farmland; and 
‘‘(F) conducting research on how to reme-
diate soil and water systems contaminated with 
such substances. 
‘‘(20) 
AGRICULTURAL
BYPRODUCTS
RE-
SEARCH.—Research and extension grants may be 
made under this section for the purposes of con-
verting agricultural byproducts or forest residuals 
into valuable materials and products, including inno-
vations in production processes for easily deployable 
refining facilities, developing alternatives to agricul-
tural burning, and fostering energy production 
through recycling animal byproducts, wet waste, and 
plant-based waste. 
‘‘(21) SOIL HEALTH RESEARCH.—Research and 
extension grants may be made under this section for 
the purposes of— 
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‘‘(A) developing management practices 
that improve soil health, including establishing 
tools that aid soil preservation or improve com-
position of soil organic compounds that are ben-
eficial to soil quality and the environment; and 
‘‘(B) disseminating such practices through 
methods such as innovative coursework and 
work-based learning. 
‘‘(22) WHITE OAK RESEARCH.—Research and 
extension grants may be made under this section for 
the purposes of white oak research, including con-
ducting research on— 
‘‘(A) white oak genes with resistance and 
stress tolerance; 
‘‘(B) white oak trees that exhibit vigor for 
the purpose of increasing survival and growth; 
‘‘(C) establishing a diverse white oak seed 
bank capable of responding to stressors; 
‘‘(D) providing a sustainable supply of 
white oak seedlings and genetic resources; 
‘‘(E) reforestation of white oak through 
natural and artificial regeneration; and 
‘‘(F) the best methods for reforesting 
abandoned mine land sites. 
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‘‘(23) ALTERNATIVE
GROWING
MEDIA
RE-
SEARCH.—Research and extension grants may be 
made under this section for the purposes of devel-
oping and enhancing research on the characteriza-
tion, utilization, and evaluation of alternative grow-
ing media, including science-based techniques that 
maximize functions in the growth of plants and har-
vest yields. 
‘‘(24) RANGELAND RESEARCH.—Research and 
extension grants may be made under this section for 
the purposes of carrying out or enhancing research 
on the development of forage production and im-
proved grazing and range management, including 
the adoption of virtual fencing technology that si-
multaneously enhance wildlife habitat, protect water-
sheds, and reduce hazards of erosion and flooding. 
‘‘(25) SPECIALTY
CROP
MECHANIZATION
AND 
AUTOMATION
RESEARCH.—Research and extension 
grants may be made under this section for the pur-
pose of developing and evaluating mechanization and 
automation technologies for specialty crops.’’; 
(2) in subsection (e)(5), by striking ‘‘2023’’ and 
inserting ‘‘2031’’; 
(3) in subsection (f)(5), by striking ‘‘2023’’ and 
inserting ‘‘2031’’; 
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(4) in subsection (g)— 
(A) in paragraph (1)(B), by striking 
‘‘2023’’ and inserting ‘‘2031’’; 
(B) in paragraph (2)(B), by striking 
‘‘2023’’ and inserting ‘‘2031’’; and 
(C) in paragraph (3), by striking ‘‘2023’’ 
and inserting ‘‘2031’’; 
(5) by redesignating subsection (h) as sub-
section (i); 
(6) by inserting after subsection (g) the fol-
lowing: 
‘‘(h) REPORT.—Not later than February 1, 2028, 
and not less frequently than once every other year there-
after, the Secretary shall submit to the Committee on Ag-
riculture of the House of Representatives and the Com-
mittee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry of the Sen-
ate a report describing how the Department carried out 
research and extension activities specified in subsections 
(d) through (f) for the previous two fiscal years, including 
the amount of funding allocated to each high-priority re-
search and extension initiative, through— 
‘‘(1) amounts made available under appropria-
tions Acts to the Agricultural Research Service; 
‘‘(2) amounts made available to the National 
Institute of Food and Agriculture under capacity 
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431 
and infrastructure programs (as defined in section 
251 of the Department of Agriculture Reorganiza-
tion Act of 1994 (7 U.S.C. 6971)); 
‘‘(3) amounts made available to the National 
Institute of Food and Agriculture under competitive 
programs (as defined in such section); and 
‘‘(4) amounts made available through other 
agencies within the Department.’’; and 
(7) in subsection (i) (as redesignated by para-
graph (4)), by striking ‘‘2023’’ and inserting 
‘‘2031’’. 
SEC. 7205. ORGANIC AGRICULTURE RESEARCH AND EXTEN-
SION INITIATIVE. 
Section 1672B of the Food, Agriculture, Conserva-
tion, and Trade Act of 1990 (7 U.S.C. 5925b) is amend-
ed— 
(1) in subsection (a), in the matter preceding 
paragraph (1), by striking ‘‘2023’’ and inserting 
‘‘2031’’; 
(2) by striking subsection (e); 
(3) by redesignating subsection (f) as sub-
section (e); and 
(4) in subsection (e), as so redesignated— 
(A) in paragraph (2), by striking ‘‘2023’’ 
and inserting ‘‘2031’’; and 
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(B) by striking paragraph (3). 
SEC. 7206. FARM BUSINESS MANAGEMENT. 
Section 1672D(d)(2) of the Food, Agriculture, Con-
servation, and Trade Act of 1990 (7 U.S.C. 5925f(d)(2)) 
is amended by striking ‘‘2023’’ and inserting ‘‘2031’’. 
SEC. 7207. URBAN, INDOOR, AND OTHER EMERGING AGRI-
CULTURAL PRODUCTION RESEARCH, EDU-
CATION, AND EXTENSION INITIATIVE. 
Section 1672E(a) of the Food, Agriculture, Con-
servation, and Trade Act of 1990 (7 U.S.C. 5925g(a))— 
(1) in the matter preceding paragraph (1)— 
(A) by striking ‘‘the Urban Agriculture 
and Innovative Production Advisory Committee 
established under section 222(b) of the Depart-
ment of Agriculture Reorganization Act of 
1994’’ and inserting ‘‘the Urban Agriculture 
and Innovative Production Advisory Committee 
and the Office of Urban Agriculture and Inno-
vative Production established under section 222 
of the Department of Agriculture Reorganiza-
tion Act of 1994 (7 U.S.C. 6923)’’; and 
(B) by striking ‘‘emerging agricultural pro-
duction’’ and inserting ‘‘emerging agricultural 
production practices (as described in subsection 
(a)(3) of such section)’’; 
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(2) in paragraph (3), by striking ‘‘emerging ag-
ricultural production’’ and inserting ‘‘emerging agri-
cultural production practices’’; 
(3) in paragraph (7), by striking ‘‘or’’ at the 
end; 
(4) in paragraph (8), by striking the period at 
the end and inserting a semicolon; and 
(5) by adding at the end the following: 
‘‘(9) managing waste streams to improve the 
environmental footprint; or 
‘‘(10) advising land-grant colleges and univer-
sities (as defined in section 1404 of the National Ag-
ricultural Research, Extension, and Teaching Policy 
Act of 1977 (7 U.S.C. 3103)), minority-serving in-
stitutions (as described in section 371(a) of the 
Higher 
Education 
Act 
of 
1965 
(20 
U.S.C. 
1067q(a))), junior or community colleges (as defined 
in section 312(f) of such Act (20 U.S.C. 1058(f))), 
and vocational schools, with respect to career and 
technical education.’’. 
SEC. 7208. CENTERS OF EXCELLENCE. 
Section 1673 of the Food, Agriculture, Conservation, 
and Trade Act of 1990 (7 U.S.C. 5926) is amended— 
(1) by striking subsections (a), (b), and (c) and 
inserting the following: 
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434 
‘‘(a) CENTERS OF EXCELLENCE.— 
‘‘(1) IN
GENERAL.—The Secretary of Agri-
culture shall establish at least one center of excel-
lence for the purpose of carrying out research, ex-
tension, or education activities for each of the areas 
of focus described in paragraph (3). 
‘‘(2) HOST INSTITUTIONS.— 
‘‘(A) IN GENERAL.—Institutions eligible to 
host or co-host a center of excellence estab-
lished under this subsection include— 
‘‘(i) 1862 Institutions, as defined in 
section 2 of the Agricultural Research, Ex-
tension, and Education Reform Act of 
1998 (7 U.S.C. 7601); 
‘‘(ii) 1890 Institutions, as defined in 
section 2 of the Agricultural Research, Ex-
tension, and Education Reform Act of 
1998 (7 U.S.C. 7601); 
‘‘(iii) 1994 Institutions, as defined in 
section 532 of the Equity in Educational 
Land-Grant Status Act of 1994 (7 U.S.C. 
301 note); 
‘‘(iv) non-land-grant colleges of agri-
culture, as defined in section 1404 of the 
National Agricultural Research, Extension, 
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and Teaching Policy Act of 1977 (7 U.S.C. 
3103); 
‘‘(v) Hispanic-serving agricultural col-
leges or universities, as defined in section 
1404 of the National Agricultural Re-
search, Extension, and Teaching Policy 
Act of 1977 (7 U.S.C. 3103); and 
‘‘(vi) accredited schools of veterinary 
medicine. 
‘‘(B) DISTRIBUTION.—To the maximum 
extent practicable, the Secretary shall ensure 
the geographic diversity of institutions selected 
to host or co-host a center of excellence estab-
lished under this subsection. 
‘‘(C) LIMITATION.—An institution may 
host or co-host only one center of excellence 
under this subsection at a time. 
‘‘(D) DUTIES.—The institution or institu-
tions selected to host or co-host a center of ex-
cellence established under this subsection shall 
partner with the Agricultural Research Service, 
other Federal agencies, State governments, 
other institutions of higher education (as de-
fined in section 101 of the Higher Education 
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Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 1001)), agricultural in-
dustry groups, or other relevant entities to— 
‘‘(i) reduce duplicative efforts and 
focus on filling gaps across research, ex-
tension, or education activities by enhanc-
ing coordination and improving cost-effec-
tiveness; 
‘‘(ii) leverage available resources by 
using public-private partnerships; 
‘‘(iii) implement training and edu-
cational initiatives to increase awareness 
and effectively disseminate solutions to tar-
get audiences through extension activities; 
‘‘(iv) increase the economic returns to 
rural communities by identifying, attract-
ing, and directing funds to high-priority 
agricultural issues; 
‘‘(v) rapidly respond to emerging 
issues that threaten any sector of the 
United States agricultural industry; 
‘‘(vi) focus on workforce development 
for employers to recruit and retain high- 
quality employees in rural areas; and 
‘‘(vii) engage in assistance for admin-
istrative management and education re-
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garding potentially valuable intellectual 
property derived from federally-supported 
research, extension, or education activities. 
‘‘(3) AREAS OF FOCUS.— 
‘‘(A) AQUACULTURE.—A center of excel-
lence established under this subsection may en-
gage in research, extension, or education activi-
ties focused on developing and applying aqua-
culture methods, including through the propa-
gation and rearing of economically and eco-
logically valuable aquatic and marine species. 
‘‘(B) BEGINNING
FARMERS
AND
RANCH-
ERS.—A center of excellence established under 
this subsection may engage in research, exten-
sion or education activities focused on training 
beginning farmers and ranchers, including farm 
and agribusiness management, mentoring and 
technical assistance, and access to capital. 
‘‘(C) 
BIOSECURITY
AND
CYBERSECU-
RITY.—A center of excellence established under 
this subsection may engage in research, exten-
sion, or education activities focused on agricul-
tural biosecurity and cybersecurity efforts to de-
fend the United States food supply from any at-
tacks. 
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‘‘(D) BIOSYSTEMS
AND
AGRICULTURAL 
ENGINEERING.—A center of excellence estab-
lished under this subsection may engage in re-
search, extension, or education activities fo-
cused on biosystems and agricultural engineer-
ing, including precision agriculture technologies 
and mechanization and automation technologies 
for specialty crops. 
‘‘(E) BIOTECHNOLOGY.—A center of excel-
lence established under this subsection may en-
gage in research, extension, or education activi-
ties focused on development of animal and plant 
biotechnologies that will increase agricultural 
productivity. 
‘‘(F) CROP
PRODUCTION, 
PROTECTION, 
AND RESILIENCE.—A center of excellence estab-
lished under this subsection may engage in re-
search, extension, or education activities fo-
cused on crop production and protection, in-
cluding the development, manufacture, and use 
of fertilizer, crop protection tools, and adju-
vants in increasing productivity and protecting 
crops from damaging pests and diseases. 
‘‘(G) DIGITAL AGRICULTURE.—A center of 
excellence established under this subsection may 
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engage in research, extension, or education ac-
tivities focused on developing, evaluating, and 
deploying digital agriculture, including artificial 
intelligence and remote sensing systems. 
‘‘(H) FARM
BUSINESS
AND
FINANCIAL 
MANAGEMENT.—A center of excellence estab-
lished under this subsection may engage in re-
search, extension, or education activities fo-
cused on farm business and financial manage-
ment activities, including marketing plans, pro-
duction diversification, and cash forward con-
tracting. 
‘‘(I) FOOD QUALITY.—A center of excel-
lence established under this subsection may en-
gage in research, extension, or education activi-
ties focused on improving food quality, includ-
ing research on the uptake of per- and 
polyfluoroalkyl substances in food, the presence 
of microplastics in biosolids, and the efficacy 
and feasibility of reducing levels of inorganic 
arsenic, lead, cadmium, or mercury in food. 
‘‘(J) FOREIGN ANIMAL DISEASE.—A center 
of excellence established under this subsection 
may engage in research, extension, or education 
activities focused on foreign animal diseases, in-
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