7 U.S.C. § 1929a (AGRICULTURE)
§ 1929a. Rural Development Insurance Fund
(a) Creation; revolving fund; rural development loans
There is hereby created the Rural Development Insurance Fund (hereinafter in this section referred to as the “Insurance Fund”) which shall be used by the Secretary as a revolving fund for the discharge of the obligations of the Secretary under contracts guaranteeing or insuring rural development loans. For the purpose of this section “rural development loans” shall be those provided for by sections 1926(a)(1) and 1932 of this title, except loans (other than for water systems and waste disposal facilities) of a type authorized by section 1926(a)(1) of this title prior to its amendment by the Rural Development Act of 1972.
(b) Transfer of assets and liabilities
The assets and liabilities of the Agricultural Credit Insurance Fund referred to in section 1929(a) of this title applicable to loans for water systems and waste disposal facilities under section 1926(a)(1) of this title are hereby transferred to the Insurance Fund. Such assets (including the proceeds thereof) and liabilities and rural development loans guaranteed or insured pursuant to this chapter shall be subject to the provisions of this section.
(c) Credits in the Treasury; investments; notes, purchasing authority of the Secretary
Moneys in the Insurance Fund not needed for current operations shall be deposited in the Treasury of the United States to the credit of the Insurance Fund or invested in direct obligations of the United States or obligations guaranteed by the United States. The Secretary may purchase with money in the Insurance Fund any notes issued by the Secretary to the Secretary of the Treasury for the purpose of obtaining money for the Insurance Fund.
(d) Notes, issuing authority of the Secretary; use of funds; terms and conditions, form, denominations, maturities, and interest rate of notes; notes, purchasing authority of the Secretary of the Treasury; public debt transactions
The Secretary is authorized to make and issue notes to the Secretary of the Treasury for the purpose of obtaining funds necessary for discharging obligations under this section and for making loans, advances, and authorized expenditures out of the Insurance Fund. Such notes shall be in such form and denominations and have such maturities and be subject to such terms and conditions as may be prescribed by the Secretary with the approval of the Secretary of the Treasury. Such notes shall bear interest at a rate fixed by the Secretary of the Treasury, taking into consideration the current average market yield of outstanding marketable obligations of the United States having maturities comparable to the average maturities of rural development loans made, guaranteed, or insured under this chapter. The Secretary of the Treasury is authorized and directed to purchase any notes of the Secretary issued hereunder, and, for that purpose, the Secretary of the Treasury is authorized to use as a public debt transaction the proceeds from the sale of any securities issued under chapter 31 of title 31, and the purposes for which such securities may be issued under such chapter are extended to include the purchase of notes issued by the Secretary hereunder. All redemptions, purchases, and sales by the Secretary of the Treasury of such notes shall be treated as public debt transactions of the United States.
(e) Notes and security as part of Insurance Fund; collection and sale of notes and other obligations; deposit of net proceeds in Insurance Fund
Notes and security acquired by the Secretary in connection with rural development loans made, guaranteed, or insured under this chapter or transferred by subsection (b) of this section shall become a part of the Insurance Fund. Notes and other obligations may be held in the Insurance Fund and collected in accordance with their terms or may be sold by the Secretary with or without agreements for insurance thereof at the balance due thereon, or on such other basis as the Secretary may determine from time to time, including sale on a nonrecourse basis. The Secretary and any subsequent purchaser of such notes and other obligations sold by the Secretary on a nonrecourse basis shall be relieved of any responsibilities that might have been imposed had the borrower remained indebted to the Secretary. All net proceeds from such collections, including sales of notes or property, shall be deposited in and become a part of the Insurance Fund.
(f) Deposit of loan service charges in Insurance Fund
The Secretary shall deposit in the Insurance Fund any charges collected for loan services provided by the Secretary as well as charges assessed for losses and costs of administration in connection with making, guaranteeing, or insuring rural development loans under this chapter.
(g) Use of Insurance Fund
The Secretary may utilize the Insurance Fund—
(1) to pay amounts to which the holder of insured notes is entitled on loans heretofore or hereafter insured accruing between the date of any payments by the borrower and the date of transmittal of any such payments to the holder. In the discretion of the Secretary, payments other than final payments need not be remitted to the holder until due or until the next agreed annual or semiannual remittance date;
(2) to pay to the holder of insured notes any deferred or defaulted installment, or upon assignment of the note to the Secretary at the Secretary’s request, the entire balance due on the loan;
(3) to purchase notes in accordance with contracts of insurance heretofore or hereafter entered into by the Secretary;
(4) to make payments in compliance with the Secretary’s obligations under contracts of guarantee entered into by him;
(5) to pay taxes, insurance, prior liens, expenses necessary to make fiscal adjustments in connection with the application and transmittal of collections or necessary to obtain credit reports on applicants or borrowers, expenses for necessary services, including construction inspections, commercial appraisals, loan servicing, consulting business advisory or other commercial and technical services, and other program services, and other expenses and advances authorized in section 1985(a) of this title in connection with insured loans. Such items may be paid in connection with guaranteed loans after or in connection with acquisition by the Secretary of such loans or security therefor after default, to an extent determined by the Secretary to be necessary to protect the interest of the Government, or in connection with grants and any other activity authorized in this chapter;
(6) to pay the difference between interest payments by borrowers and interest to which holders of insured notes are entitled under contracts of insurance heretofore or hereafter entered into by the Secretary; and
(7) to pay the Secretary’s costs of administration necessary to insure loans under the programs referred to in subsection (a) of this section, make grants under sections 1926(a) and 1932 of this title, service, and otherwise carry out such programs, including costs of the Secretary incidental to guaranteeing rural development loans under this chapter, either directly from the Insurance Fund or by transfers from the Fund to, and merger with, any appropriations for administrative expenses.
(h) Gross income; interest or other income on insured loans
When any loan is sold out of the Insurance Fund as an insured loan, the interest or other income thereon paid to an insured holder shall be included in gross income for purposes of chapter 1 of title 26.
(Pub. L. 87–128, title III, § 309A, as added Pub. L. 92–419, title I, § 116, Aug. 30, 1972, 86 Stat. 661; amended Pub. L. 95–113, title XV, § 1510(b), Sept. 29, 1977, 91 Stat. 1022; Pub. L. 95–334, title I, §§ 107(b), 110, Aug. 4, 1978, 92 Stat. 422, 424; Pub. L. 99–500, title III, § 381(b), Oct. 18, 1986, 100 Stat. 1783–369, and Pub. L. 99–591, title III, § 381(b), Oct. 30, 1986, 100 Stat. 3341–372; Pub. L. 99–509, title I, § 1001(b), Oct. 21, 1986, 100 Stat. 1874; Pub. L. 99–514, § 2, Oct. 22, 1986, 100 Stat. 2095; Pub. L. 104–127, title VI, § 661(c), title VII, §§ 741(b), 745, Apr. 4, 1996, 110 Stat. 1106, 1124, 1125.)
heading: References in Text
text: For statutory changes to section 1926(a)(1) of this title by the Rural Development Act of 1972, referred to in subsec. (a), see 1972 Amendment note for section 104 of Pub. L. 92–419, set out under section 1926 of this title. For complete classification of the Rural Development Act of 1972 to the Code, see Short Title of 1972 Amendment note set out under section 1921 of this title and Tables.
For definition of “this chapter”, referred to in subsecs. (b), (d), (e), (f), and (g)(5), (7), see note set out under section 1921 of this title.
heading: Codification
text: Pub. L. 99–591 is a corrected version of Pub. L. 99–500.
In subsec. (d), “chapter 31 of title 31” and “such chapter” substituted for “the Second Liberty Bond Act, as amended” and “such Act, as amended,” respectively, on authority of Pub. L. 97–258, § 4(b), Sept. 13, 1982, 96 Stat. 1067, the first section of which enacted Title 31, Money and Finance.
heading: Amendments
text: 1996—Subsec. (a). Pub. L. 104–127, § 741(b), struck out “, 1926(a)(14),” after “1926(a)(1)”.
Pub. L. 104–127, § 661(c)(1), substituted “1926(a)(1), 1926(a)(14), and 1932 of this title” for “1924(b), 1926(a)(1), 1926(a)(14), 1932, and 1942(b) of this title”.
Subsec. (b). Pub. L. 104–127, § 661(c)(2), which directed amendment of first sentence of subsec. (b) by striking “and section 1928 of this title”, was executed by striking that language in second sentence after “provisions of this section” to reflect the probable intent of Congress.
Subsec. (g). Pub. L. 104–127, § 745, redesignated pars. (2) to (8) as (1) to (7), respectively, and struck out former par. (1) which read as follows: “to make rural development loans which could be insured under this chapter whenever he has a reasonable assurance that they can be sold without undue delay, and he may sell and insure such loans;”.
1986—Subsec. (e). Pub. L. 99–500, Pub. L. 99–509, and Pub. L. 99–591 amended second sentence of subsec. (e) identically, substituting “Notes and other obligations” for “Notes” and substituting “, including sale on a nonrecourse basis. The Secretary and any subsequent purchaser of such notes or other obligations sold by the Secretary on a nonrecourse basis shall be relieved of any responsibilities that might have been imposed had the borrower remained indebted to the Secretary.” for period at end.
Subsec. (h). Pub. L. 99–514 substituted “Internal Revenue Code of 1986” for “Internal Revenue Code of 1954”, which for purposes of codification was translated as “title 26” thus requiring no change in text.
1978—Subsec. (a). Pub. L. 95–334, § 107(b), inserted reference to section 1926(a)(14) of this title.
Subsec. (g)(8). Pub. L. 95–334, § 110, substituted provisions relating to payment of costs of administration necessary to insure loans under subsec. (a) of this section, make grants under sections 1926(a) and 1932 of this title, and otherwise carry out such programs for provisions relating to payment of costs of administration of the rural loan development program.
1977—Subsec. (g)(3). Pub. L. 95–113 substituted “any deferred or defaulted installment” for “any defaulted installment”.
heading: Effective Date of 1977 Amendment
text: Amendment by Pub. L. 95–113 effective Oct. 1, 1977, see section 1901 of Pub. L. 95–113, set out as a note under section 1307 of this title.
heading: Disaster Assistance for Rural Business Enterprises
text: Pub. L. 101–82, title IV, § 401, Aug. 14, 1989, 103 Stat. 583, as amended by Pub. L. 101–220, § 9(d), Dec. 12, 1989, 103 Stat. 1882, provided that:
“(a) Loan Guarantees.—
The Secretary of Agriculture shall guarantee loans made in rural areas to—
“(1) public, private, or cooperative organizations, to Indian tribes on Federal and State reservations or other federally recognized Indian tribal groups, or to any other business entities to assist such organizations, tribes, or entities in alleviating the distress caused to such organizations, tribes, or entities, directly or indirectly, by the drought, freeze, storm, excessive moisture, earthquake, or related condition in 1988 or 1989; and
“(2) such organizations, tribes, or entities that refinance or restructure debt as a result of losses incurred, directly or indirectly, because of such natural disasters in 1988 or 1989.
“(b) Eligible Loans.—
“(1) In general.—
Loans guaranteed under this section shall be loans made by any Federal or State chartered bank, savings and loan association, cooperative lending agency, insurance company, or other legally organized lending agency.
“(2) Production agriculture.—
No application for a loan guarantee under this section shall be denied on the basis that such organization, tribe, or entity engages in whole or in part in production agriculture.
“(c) Loan Guarantee Limits.—
“(1) Percentage of principal and interest.—
No guarantee under this section shall exceed 90 percent of the principal and interest amount of the loan or $2,500,000, whichever is the lesser amount.
“(2) Total amount.—
The total amount of loan guarantee under this section shall not exceed $300,000,000.
“(d) Use of the Rural Development Insurance Fund.—
The Secretary shall use the Rural Development Insurance Fund established under section 309A of the Consolidated Farm and Rural Development Act (7 U.S.C. 1929a) for the purposes of discharging the obligations of the Secretary under this section.”
Similar provisions were contained in the following prior act:
Pub. L. 100–387, title III, § 331, Aug. 11, 1988, 102 Stat. 951.
heading: Sale of Rural Development Notes and Other Obligations
text: Pub. L. 99–509, title I, § 1001, Oct. 21, 1986, 100 Stat. 1874, as amended by Pub. L. 100–233, title VIII, § 803, Jan. 6, 1988, 101 Stat. 1714; Pub. L. 101–220, § 12, Dec. 12, 1989, 103 Stat. 1883, provided that:
“(a) Sales Required.—
The Secretary of Agriculture, under such terms as the Secretary may prescribe, shall sell notes and other obligations held in the Rural Development Insurance Fund established under section 309A of the Consolidated Farm and Rural Development Act [7 U.S.C. 1929a] in such amounts as to realize net proceeds to the Government of not less than—
“(1) $1,000,000,000 from such sales during fiscal year 1987,
“(2) $552,000,000 from such sales during fiscal year 1988, and
“(3) $547,000,000 from such sales during fiscal year 1989.
“(b) [Amended subsec. (e) of this section]
“(c) Contract Provisions.—
Consistent with section 309A(e) of the Consolidated Farm and Rural Development Act [7 U.S.C. 1929a(e)], as amended by subsection (b), any sale of notes or other obligations, as described in subsection (a), shall not alter the terms specified in the note or other obligation, except that, on sale, a note or other obligation shall not be subject to the provisions of section 333(c) of the Consolidated Farm and Rural Development Act [7 U.S.C. 1983(c)].
“(d) Eligibility to Purchase Notes.—
Notwithstanding any other provision of law, each institution of the Farm Credit System shall be eligible to purchase notes and other obligations held in the Rural Development Insurance Fund and to service (including the extension of additional credit and all other actions necessary to preserve, conserve, or protect the institution’s interest in the purchased notes or other obligations), collect, and dispose of such notes and other obligations, subject only to such terms and conditions as may be agreed to by the Secretary of Agriculture and the purchasing institution and as may be approved by the Farm Credit Administration.
“(e) Loan Servicing.—
Prior to selling any note or other obligation, as described in subsection (a), the Secretary of Agriculture shall require persons offering to purchase the note or other obligation to demonstrate—
“(1) an ability or resources to provide such servicing, with respect to the loans represented by the note or other obligation, that the Secretary deems necessary to ensure the continued performance on the loan; and
“(2) the ability to generate capital to provide the borrowers of the loans such additional credit as may be necessary in proper servicing of the loans.
“(f) Right of First Refusal.—
“(1) In general.—
Before conducting a sale of a portfolio of notes or other obligations under this section, the Secretary of Agriculture shall—
“(A) determine whether the issuer of any unsold note or other obligation desires to purchase the note or other obligation; and
“(B) if so, hold open for 30 days, an offer to sell the note or other obligation to the issuer at a price to be determined under paragraph (2).
“(2) Determination of offering price.—
“(A) Authority.—
The Secretary of Agriculture shall determine, in accordance with subparagraph (B), the price at which a note or other obligation shall be offered for sale under this subsection.
“(B) Price.—
Such price shall be determined by discounting the payment stream of such note or other obligation at the yield on the then most recent sale of the portfolio, adjusted for changes in market interest rates, servicing and sales expenses, and the maturity and interest rate of such note.
“(3) Prohibitions.—
“(A) Purchase of obligation not tied to purchase of other obligations.—
The Secretary of Agriculture shall not require the issuer of any unsold note or other obligation to be offered for sale under this subsection to purchase any other such note or other obligation as a condition of the sale of any such note or other obligation to the issuer.
“(B) Offer to be made without regard to financing.—
The Secretary shall offer notes or other obligations for sale to the issuers thereof under this subsection without regard to the manner in which such issuers intend to finance the purchase of such notes or other obligations. However, the price of sale to any issuer using tax exempt financing shall be determined using a yield reflective of the Schedule of Certified Interest Rates as published monthly by the Secretary of the Treasury.
“(g) Applicability of Prohibition on Curtailment or Limitation of Service.—
Section 306(b) of the Consolidated Farm and Rural Development Act (7 U.S.C. 1926(b)) shall be applicable to all notes or other obligations sold or intended to be sold under this section.
“(h)
(1) Notwithstanding the provisions of section 633 of the Rural Development, Agriculture, and Related Agencies Appropriations Act, 1989 (Public Law 100–460) [title VI, Oct. 1, 1988, 102 Stat. 2263], the Secretary of Agriculture shall offer to the issuer of any unsold note or other obligation described in paragraph (2)(A) for which such issuer made the good faith deposit described in paragraph (2)(A) the opportunity to purchase such note or other obligation consistent with the provisions of this subsection and subsections (f)(2) and (f)(3).
“(2) The provisions of this subsection shall apply only to those issuers who:
“(A) on or before March 9, 1989, made a good faith deposit under this section for fiscal year 1989 with the Secretary to purchase a note or other obligation held in the Rural Development Insurance Fund; and
“(B) otherwise meet all eligibility criteria, as such criteria existed immediately prior to May 9, 1989, at the time the purchase occurs under this subsection.
“(3) The opportunity to purchase any such note or other obligation shall be held open, under the policies and procedures in effect under subsections (f)(2) and (f)(3) immediately prior to May 9, 1989, for 150 days after the date of enactment of this subsection [Dec. 12, 1989]. The Secretary shall not require any further good faith deposit from issuers who qualify under this subsection. The Secretary shall notify eligible issuers of the opportunity afforded under this subsection within 30 days after the date of enactment of this subsection and may require such issuers to express an intention to purchase their note or other obligation by a date certain.”
Pub. L. 99–500, title III, § 381, Oct. 18, 1986, 100 Stat. 1783–369, and Pub. L. 99–591, title III, § 381, Oct. 30, 1986, 100 Stat. 3341–372, provided that:
“(a) In General.—
The Secretary of Agriculture shall, under such terms as the Secretary may prescribe, sell notes and other obligations held in the Rural Development Insurance Fund established under section 309A of the Consolidated Farm and Rural Development Act (7 U.S.C. 1929a) in such amounts as to realize net proceeds of not less than—
“(1) $25,000,000 from such sales during fiscal year 1987;
“(2) $36,000,000 from such sales during fiscal year 1988; and
“(3) $37,000,000 from such sales during fiscal year 1989.
“(b) [Amended subsec. (e) of this section]
“(c) Farm Credit System Institutions.—
Notwithstanding any other provision of law, institutions of the Farm Credit System operating under the Farm Credit Act of 1971 (12 U.S.C. 2001) shall be eligible to purchase notes and other obligations held in the Rural Development Insurance Fund and to service (including the extension of additional credit and all other actions necessary to preserve, conserve, or protect the institutions’ interests in such notes and other obligations), collect, and dispose of such notes and other obligations, subject only to such terms and conditions as may be agreed to by the Secretary of Agriculture and such purchasing institutions and as are approved by the Farm Credit Administration.”