H. R. 1976—18
of its technicians in formulating and carrying out the agricultural
conservation program in the participating counties, and shall not
be utilized by the Natural Resources Conservation Service for any
purpose other than technical and other assistance in such counties,
and in addition, on the recommendation of such county committee
and approval of the State committee, not to exceed 1 percent may
be made available to any other Federal, State, or local public
agency for the same purpose and under the same conditions: Pro-
vided further, That not to exceed $11,000,000 of the amount appro-
priated shall be used for water quality payments and practices
in the same manner as permitted under the program for water
quality authorized in chapter 2 of subtitle D of title XII of the
Food Security Act of 1985, as amended (16 U.S.C. 3838 et seq.).
CONSERVATION RESERVE PROGRAM
(INCLUDING TRANSFERS OF FUNDS)
For necessary expenses to carry out the conservation reserve
program pursuant to the Food Security Act of 1985 (16 U.S.C.
3831–3845), $1,781,785,000, to remain available until expended,
to be used for Commodity Credit Corporation expenditures for cost-
share assistance for the establishment of conservation practices
provided for in approved conservation reserve program contracts,
for annual rental payments provided in such contracts, and for
technical assistance.
TITLE III
RURAL ECONOMIC AND COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT
PROGRAMS
OFFICE OF THE UNDER SECRETARY FOR RURAL ECONOMIC AND
COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT
For necessary salaries and expenses of the Office of the Under
Secretary for Rural Economic and Community Development to
administer programs under the laws enacted by the Congress for
the Rural Housing and Community Development Service, Rural
Business and Cooperative Development Service, and the Rural Utili-
ties Service of the Department of Agriculture, $568,000.
RURAL HOUSING AND COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT SERVICE
SALARIES AND EXPENSES
For necessary expenses of the Rural Housing and Community
Development Service, including administering the programs author-
ized by the Consolidated Farm and Rural Development Act, as
amended, title V of the Housing Act of 1949, as amended, and
cooperative agreements, $46,583,000: Provided, That this appropria-
tion shall be available for employment pursuant to the second
sentence of 706(a) of the Organic Act of 1944, and not to exceed
$500,000 may be used for employment under 5 U.S.C. 3109.
H. R. 1976—19
RURAL HOUSING INSURANCE FUND PROGRAM ACCOUNT
(INCLUDING TRANSFERS OF FUNDS)
For gross obligations for the principal amount of direct and
guaranteed loans as authorized by title V of the Housing Act of
1949, as amended, to be available from funds in the rural housing
insurance fund, as follows: $2,700,000,000 for loans to section 502
borrowers, as determined by the Secretary, of which $1,700,000,000
shall be for unsubsidized guaranteed loans; $35,000,000 for section
504 housing repair loans; $15,000,000 for section 514 farm labor
housing; $150,000,000 for section 515 rental housing; $600,000 for
site loans: Provided, That notwithstanding section 520 of the Hous-
ing Act of 1949, the Secretary of Agriculture may make loans
under section 502 of such Act for properties in the Pine View
West Subdivision, located in Gibsonville, North Carolina, in the
same manner as provided under such section for properties in
rural areas.
For the cost of direct and guaranteed loans, including the
cost of modifying loans, as defined in section 502 of the Congres-
sional Budget Act of 1974, as follows: section 502 loans,
$148,723,000, of which $2,890,000 shall be for unsubsidized guaran-
teed loans; section 504 housing repair loans, $14,193,000; section
514 farm labor housing, $8,629,000; section 515 rental housing,
$82,035,000: Provided, That no funds for new construction may
be available for fiscal year 1996 until the program is authorized.
In addition, for the cost (as defined in section 502 of the
Congressional Budget Act of 1974) of guaranteed loans under a
demonstration program of loan guarantees for multifamily rental
housing in rural areas, $1,000,000, to be derived from the amount
made available under this heading for the cost of low-income section
515 loans and to become available for obligation only upon the
enactment of authorizing legislation.
In addition, for administrative expenses necessary to carry
out the direct and guaranteed loan programs, $385,889,000, of
which $372,897,000 shall be transferred to and merged with the
appropriation for ‘‘Rural Housing and Community Development
Service, Salaries and Expenses’’.
RENTAL ASSISTANCE PROGRAM
For rental assistance agreements entered into or renewed
pursuant to the authority under section 521(a)(2) or agreements
entered into in lieu of forgiveness or payments for eligible house-
holds as authorized by section 502(c)(5)(D) of the Housing Act
of 1949, as amended, $540,900,000; and in addition such sums
as may be necessary, as authorized by section 521(c) of the Act,
to liquidate debt incurred prior to fiscal year 1992 to carry out
the rental assistance program under section 521(a)(2) of the Act:
Provided, That of this amount not more than $5,900,000 shall
be available for debt forgiveness or payments for eligible households
as authorized by section 502(c)(5)(D) of the Act, and not to exceed
$10,000 per project for advances to nonprofit organizations or public
agencies to cover direct costs (other than purchase price) incurred
in purchasing projects pursuant to section 502(c)(5)(C) of the Act:
Provided further, That agreements entered into or renewed during
fiscal year 1996 shall be funded for a five-year period, although
H. R. 1976—20
the life of any such agreement may be extended to fully utilize
amounts obligated.
SELF-HELP HOUSING LAND DEVELOPMENT FUND
For the principal amount of direct loans, as authorized by
section 523(b)(1)(B) of the Housing Act of 1949, as amended (42
U.S.C. 1490c), $603,000.
For the cost of direct loans, including the cost of modifying
loans, as defined in section 502 of the Congressional Budget Act
of 1974, $31,000.
COMMUNITY FACILITY LOANS PROGRAM ACCOUNT
(INCLUDING TRANSFERS OF FUNDS)
For the cost of direct loans, $34,880,000, and for the cost
of guaranteed loans, $3,555,000, as authorized by 7 U.S.C. 1928
and 86 Stat. 661–664, as amended: Provided, That such costs,
including the cost of modifying such loans, shall be as defined
in section 502 of the Congressional Budget Act of 1974: Provided
further, That such sums shall remain available until expended
for the disbursement of loans obligated in fiscal year 1996: Provided
further, That these funds are available to subsidize gross obligations
for the principal amount of direct loans not to exceed $200,000,000
and total loan principal, any part of which is to be guaranteed,
not to exceed $75,000,000: Provided further, That of the amounts
available for the cost of direct loans not to exceed $1,208,000,
to subsidize gross obligations for the principal amount not to exceed
$6,930,000, shall be available for empowerment zones and enter-
prise communities, as authorized by Public Law 103–66: Provided
further, That if such funds are not obligated for empowerment
zones and enterprise communities by June 30, 1996, they remain
available for other authorized purposes under this head.
In addition, for administrative expenses to carry out the direct
and guaranteed loan programs, $8,836,000, of which $8,731,000
shall be transferred to and merged with the appropriation for
‘‘Salaries and Expenses’’.
VERY LOW-INCOME HOUSING REPAIR GRANTS
For grants to the very low-income elderly for essential repairs
to dwellings pursuant to section 504 of the Housing Act of 1949,
as amended, $24,900,000, to remain available until expended.
RURAL HOUSING FOR DOMESTIC FARM LABOR
For financial assistance to eligible nonprofit organizations for
housing for domestic farm labor, pursuant to section 516 of the
Housing Act of 1949, as amended (42 U.S.C. 1486), $10,000,000,
to remain available until expended.
MUTUAL AND SELF-HELP HOUSING GRANTS
For grants and contracts pursuant to section 523(b)(1)(A) of
the Housing Act of 1949 (42 U.S.C. 1490c), $12,650,000, to remain
available until expended (7 U.S.C. 2209b).
H. R. 1976—21
RURAL COMMUNITY FIRE PROTECTION GRANTS
For grants pursuant to section 7 of the Cooperative Forestry
Assistance Act of 1978 (Public Law 95–313), $2,000,000 to fund
up to 50 percent of the cost of organizing, training, and equipping
rural volunteer fire departments.
COMPENSATION FOR CONSTRUCTION DEFECTS
For compensation for construction defects as authorized by
section 509(c) of the Housing Act of 1949, as amended, $495,000,
to remain available until expended.
RURAL HOUSING PRESERVATION GRANTS
For grants for rural housing preservation as authorized by
section 552 of the Housing and Urban-Rural Recovery Act of 1983
(Public Law 98–181), $11,000,000.
RURAL BUSINESS AND COOPERATIVE DEVELOPMENT SERVICE
SALARIES AND EXPENSES
For necessary expenses of the Rural Business and Cooperative
Development Service, including administering the programs author-
ized by the Consolidated Farm and Rural Development Act, as
amended; section 1323 of the Food Security Act of 1985; the
Cooperative Marketing Act of 1926; for activities relating to the
marketing aspects of cooperatives, including economic research find-
ings, as authorized by the Agricultural Marketing Act of 1946;
for activities with institutions concerning the development and oper-
ation of agricultural cooperatives; and cooperative agreements;
$9,013,000: Provided, That this appropriation shall be available
for employment pursuant to the second sentence of 706(a) of the
Organic Act of 1944, and not to exceed $250,000 may be used
for employment under 5 U.S.C. 3109.
RURAL BUSINESS AND INDUSTRY LOANS PROGRAM ACCOUNT
(INCLUDING TRANSFERS OF FUNDS)
For the cost of guaranteed loans, $6,437,000, as authorized
by 7 U.S.C. 1928 and 86 Stat. 661–664, as amended: Provided,
That such costs, including the cost of modifying such loans, shall
be as defined in section 502 of the Congressional Budget Act of
1974: Provided further, That such sums shall remain available
until expended for the disbursement of loans obligated in fiscal
year 1996: Provided further, That these funds are available to
subsidize gross obligations for the principal amount of guaranteed
loans of $500,000,000: Provided further, That of the amounts avail-
able for the cost of guaranteed loans including the cost of modifying
loans, $148,000, to subsidize gross obligations for the loan principal,
any part of which is guaranteed, not to exceed $10,842,000, shall
be available for empowerment zones and enterprise communities,
as authorized by Public Law 103–66: Provided further, That if
such funds are not obligated for empowerment zones and enterprise
communities by June 30, 1996, they remain available for other
authorized activities under this head.
H. R. 1976—22
In addition, for administrative expenses to carry out the direct
and guaranteed loan programs, $14,868,000, of which $14,747,000
shall be transferred to and merged with the appropriation for
‘‘Salaries and Expenses’’.
RURAL DEVELOPMENT LOAN FUND PROGRAM ACCOUNT
For the cost of direct loans, $22,395,000, as authorized by
the Rural Development Loan Fund (42 U.S.C. 9812(a)): Provided,
That such costs, including the cost of modifying such loans, shall
be as defined in section 502 of the Congressional Budget Act of
1974: Provided further, That these funds are available to subsidize
gross obligations for the principal amount of direct loans of
$37,544,000: Provided further, That through June 30, 1996, of these
amounts, $4,322,000 shall be available for the cost of direct loans,
for empowerment zones and enterprise communities, as authorized
by title XIII of the Omnibus Budget Reconcilation Act of 1993,
to subsidize gross obligations for the principal amount of direct
loans, $7,246,000.
In addition, for administrative expenses necessary to carry
out the direct loan programs, $1,476,000, of which $1,470,000 shall
be transferred to and merged with the appropriation for ‘‘Salaries
and Expenses’’.
RURAL ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT LOANS PROGRAM ACCOUNT
(INCLUDING TRANSFERS OF FUNDS)
For the principal amount of direct loans, as authorized under
section 313 of the Rural Electrification Act, for the purpose of
promoting rural economic development and job creation projects,
$12,865,000.
For the cost of direct loans, including the cost of modifying
loans as defined in section 502 of the Congressional Budget Act
of 1974, $3,729,000.
In addition, for administrative expenses necessary to carry
out the direct loan program, $654,000, which shall be transferred
to and merged with the appropriation for ‘‘Salaries and Expenses’’.
ALTERNATIVE AGRICULTURAL RESEARCH AND COMMERCIALIZATION
REVOLVING FUND
For necessary expenses to carry out the Alternative Agricultural
Research and Commercialization Act of 1990 (7 U.S.C. 5901–5908),
$6,500,000 is appropriated to the alternative agricultural research
and commercialization revolving fund.
RURAL BUSINESS ENTERPRISE GRANTS
For grants authorized under section 310B(c) and 310B(j) (7
U.S.C. 1932) of the Consolidated Farm and Rural Development
Act to any qualified public or private nonprofit organization,
$45,000,000, of which $8,381,000 shall be available through June
30, 1996, for assistance to empowerment zones and enterprise
communities, as authorized by title XIII of the Omnibus Budget
Reconciliation Act of 1993, after which any funds not obligated
shall remain available for other authorized purposes under this
head: Provided, That $500,000 shall be available for grants to
qualified nonprofit organizations to provide technical assistance
H. R. 1976—23
and training for rural communities needing improved passenger
transportation systems or facilities in order to promote economic
development.
RURAL TECHNOLOGY AND COOPERATIVE DEVELOPMENT GRANTS
For grants pursuant to section 310(f) of the Consolidated Farm
and Rural Development Act, as amended (7 U.S.C. 1932),
$2,300,000, of which up to $1,300,000 may be available for the
appropriate technology transfer for rural areas program.
RURAL UTILITIES SERVICE
RURAL ELECTRIFICATION AND TELEPHONE LOANS PROGRAM ACCOUNT
(INCLUDING TRANSFERS OF FUNDS)
Insured loans pursuant to the authority of section 305 of the
Rural Electrification Act of 1936, as amended (7 U.S.C. 935), shall
be made as follows: 5 percent rural electrification loans,
$90,000,000; 5 percent rural telephone loans, $70,000,000; cost of
money rural telephone loans, $300,000,000; municipal rate rural
electric loans, $525,000,000; and loans made pursuant to section
306 of that Act, $420,000,000, to remain available until expended.
For the cost, as defined in section 502 of the Congressional
Budget Act of 1974, including the cost of modifying loans, of direct
and guaranteed loans authorized by the Rural Electrification Act
of 1936, as amended (7 U.S.C. 935), as follows: cost of direct loans,
$35,126,000; cost of municipal rate loans, $56,858,000; cost of money
rural telephone loans, $60,000; cost of loans guaranteed pursuant
to section 306, $2,520,000: Provided, That notwithstanding section
305(d)(2) of the Rural Electrification Act of 1936, borrower interest
rates may exceed 7 percent per year.
In addition, for administrative expenses necessary to carry
out the direct and guaranteed loan programs, $29,982,000, which
shall be transferred to and merged with the appropriation for
‘‘Salaries and Expenses’’.
RURAL TELEPHONE BANK PROGRAM ACCOUNT
The Rural Telephone Bank is hereby authorized to make such
expenditures, within the limits of funds available to such corpora-
tion in accord with law, and to make such contracts and commit-
ments without regard to fiscal year limitations as provided by
section 104 of the Government Corporation Control Act, as
amended, as may be necessary in carrying out its authorized pro-
grams for the current fiscal year. During fiscal year 1996 and
within the resources and authority available, gross obligations for
the principal amount of direct loans shall be $175,000,000.
For the cost, as defined in section 502 of the Congressional
Budget Act of 1974, including the cost of modifying loans, of direct
loans authorized by the Rural Electrification Act of 1936, as
amended (7 U.S.C. 935), $5,023,000.
In addition, for administrative expenses necessary to carry
out the loan programs, $3,541,000.
H. R. 1976—24
DISTANCE LEARNING AND MEDICAL LINK GRANTS
For necessary expenses to carry into effect the programs author-
ized in sections 2331–2335 of Public Law 101–624, $7,500,000,
to remain available until expended.
RURAL UTILITIES ASSISTANCE PROGRAM
(INCLUDING TRANSFERS OF FUNDS)
For the cost of direct loans, loan guarantees, and grants, as
authorized by 7 U.S.C. 1926, 1928, and 1932, $487,868,000, to
remain available until expended, to be available for loans and
grants for rural water and waste disposal and solid waste manage-
ment grants: Provided, That the costs of direct loans and loan
guarantees, including the cost of modifying such loans, shall be
as defined in section 502 of the Congressional Budget Act of 1974:
Provided further, That of the total amount appropriated, not to
exceed $4,500,000 shall be available for contracting with the
National Rural Water Association or equally qualified national
organizations for a circuit rider program to provide technical assist-
ance for rural water systems: Provided further, That of the total
amount appropriated, not to exceed $18,700,000 shall be available
for water and waste disposal systems to benefit the Colonias along
the United States/Mexico border, including grants pursuant to sec-
tion 306C: Provided further, That of the total amount appropriated,
$18,688,000 shall be for empowerment zones and enterprise commu-
nities, as authorized by Public Law 103–66: Provided further, That
if such funds are not obligated for empowerment zones and enter-
prise communities by June 30, 1996, they shall remain available
for other authorized purposes under this head.
In addition, for administrative expenses necessary to carry
out direct loans, loan guarantees, and grants, $12,740,000, of which
$12,623,000 shall be transferred to and merged with ‘‘Rural Utilities
Service, Salaries and Expenses’’.
SALARIES AND EXPENSES
For necessary expenses of the Rural Utilities Service, including
administering the programs authorized by the Rural Electrification
Act of 1936, as amended, and the Consolidated Farm and Rural
Development Act, as amended, $18,449,000, of which $7,000 shall
be available for financial credit reports: Provided, That this appro-
priation shall be available for employment pursuant to the second
sentence of 706(a) of the Organic Act of 1944, and not to exceed
$103,000 may be used for employment under 5 U.S.C. 3109.
TITLE IV
DOMESTIC FOOD PROGRAMS
OFFICE OF THE UNDER SECRETARY FOR FOOD, NUTRITION AND
CONSUMER SERVICES
For necessary salaries and expenses of the Office of the Under
Secretary for Food, Nutrition and Consumer Services to administer
the laws enacted by the Congress for the Food and Consumer
Service, $440,000.
H. R. 1976—25
FOOD AND CONSUMER SERVICE
CHILD NUTRITION PROGRAMS
(INCLUDING TRANSFERS OF FUNDS)
For necessary expenses to carry out the National School Lunch
Act (42 U.S.C. 1751–1769b), and the applicable provisions other
than section 21 of the National School Lunch Act and sections
17 and 19 of the Child Nutrition Act of 1966 (42 U.S.C. 1772–
1785, and 1789); $7,946,024,000, to remain available through
September 30, 1997, of which $2,348,166,000 is hereby appropriated
and $5,597,858,000 shall be derived by transfer from funds available
under section 32 of the Act of August 24, 1935 (7 U.S.C. 612c):
Provided, That up to $3,964,000 shall be available for independent
verification of school food service claims.
SPECIAL SUPPLEMENTAL NUTRITION PROGRAM FOR WOMEN, INFANTS,
AND CHILDREN (WIC)
(INCLUDING TRANSFERS OF FUNDS)
For necessary expenses to carry out the special supplemental
nutrition program as authorized by section 17 of the Child Nutrition
Act of 1966 (42 U.S.C. 1786), $3,729,807,000, to remain available
through September 30, 1997: Provided, That for fiscal year 1996,
$20,000,000 that would otherwise be available to States for nutrition
services and administration shall be made available for food bene-
fits: Provided further, That $4,000,000 from unobligated balances
for supervisory and technical assistance grants may be transferred
to and merged with this account: Provided further, That up to
$6,750,000 may be used to carry out the farmers’ market nutrition
program from any funds not needed to maintain current caseload
levels: Provided further, That none of the funds in this Act shall
be available to pay administrative expenses of WIC clinics except
those that have an announced policy of prohibiting smoking within
the space used to carry out the program: Provided further, That
once the amount for fiscal year 1995 carryover funds has been
determined by the Secretary, any funds in excess of $100,000,000
may be transferred by the Secretary of Agriculture to the Rural
Utilities Assistance Program and shall remain available until
expended: Provided further, That none of the funds provided in
this account shall be available for the purchase of infant formula
except in accordance with the cost containment and competitive
bidding requirements specified in section 17 of the Child Nutrition
Act of 1966 (42 U.S.C. 1786).
FOOD STAMP PROGRAM
For necessary expenses to carry out the Food Stamp Act (7
U.S.C. 2011–2029), $27,597,828,000: Provided, That funds provided
herein shall remain available through September 30, 1996, in
accordance with section 18(a) of the Food Stamp Act: Provided
further, That $500,000,000 of the foregoing amount shall be placed
in reserve for use only in such amounts and at such times as
may become necessary to carry out program operations: Provided
further, That funds provided herein shall be expended in accordance
with section 16 of the Food Stamp Act: Provided further, That
this appropriation shall be subject to any work registration or
H. R. 1976—26
workfare requirements as may be required by law: Provided further,
That $1,143,000,000 of the foregoing amount shall be available
for nutrition assistance for Puerto Rico as authorized by 7 U.S.C.
2028.
COMMODITY ASSISTANCE PROGRAM
For necessary expenses to carry out the commodity supple-
mental food program as authorized by section 4(a) of the Agriculture
and Consumer Protection Act of 1973 (7 U.S.C. 612c(note)), the
Emergency Food Assistance Act of 1983, as amended, and section
110 of the Hunger Prevention Act of 1988, $166,000,000, to remain
available through September 30, 1997: Provided, That none of these
funds shall be available to reimburse the Commodity Credit Cor-
poration for commodities donated to the program: Provided further,
That none of the funds in this Act or any other Act may be
used for demonstration projects in the emergency food assistance
program.
FOOD DONATIONS PROGRAMS FOR SELECTED GROUPS
For necessary expenses to carry out section 4(a) of the Agri-
culture and Consumer Protection Act of 1973 (7 U.S.C. 612c (note)),
section 4(b) of the Food Stamp Act (7 U.S.C. 2013(b)), and section
311 of the Older Americans Act of 1965, as amended (42 U.S.C.
3030a), $215,000,000, to remain available through September 30,
1997: Provided, That hereafter notwithstanding any other provision
of law, for meals provided pursuant to the Older Americans Act
of 1965, a maximum rate of reimbursement to States will be estab-
lished by the Secretary, subject to reduction if obligations would
exceed the amount of available funds, with any unobligated funds
to remain available only for obligation in the fiscal year beginning
October 1, 1996.
FOOD PROGRAM ADMINISTRATION
For necessary administrative expenses of the domestic food
programs funded under this Act, $107,769,000, of which $5,000,000
shall be available only for simplifying procedures, reducing overhead
costs, tightening regulations, improving food stamp coupon han-
dling, and assistance in the prevention, identification, and prosecu-
tion of fraud and other violations of law: Provided, That this appro-
priation shall be available for employment pursuant to the second
sentence of section 706(a) of the Organic Act of 1944 (7 U.S.C.
2225), and not to exceed $150,000 shall be available for employment
under 5 U.S.C. 3109.
TITLE V
FOREIGN ASSISTANCE AND RELATED PROGRAMS
FOREIGN AGRICULTURAL SERVICE
(INCLUDING TRANSFERS OF FUNDS)
For necessary expenses of the Foreign Agricultural Service,
including carrying out title VI of the Agricultural Act of 1954,
as amended (7 U.S.C. 1761–1768), market development activities
abroad, and for enabling the Secretary to coordinate and integrate