I 118th CONGRESS 2d Session H. R. 9019 IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES July 11, 2024 Mr. Ruiz introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Agriculture , and in addition to the Committee on Financial Services , for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned A BILL To establish a uniform definition of rural area for all rural development programs administered by the Department of Agriculture.

1. Short title This Act may be cited as the Rural Area Population Act . 2. Uniform definition of rural area for USDA rural development programs (a) In general Section 343(a)(13) of the Consolidated Farm and Rural Development Act ( 7 U.S.C. 1991(a)(13) ) is amended— (1) in subparagraph (A)(ii), by striking urbanized and insert urban ; (2) by striking subparagraphs (B) and (C); (3) in subparagraph (D)— (A) by striking (F) each place it appears and inserting (D) ; and (B) in clause (i), by striking urbanized each place it appears and inserting urban ; (4) in subparagraph (E), by striking urbanized and inserting urban ; (5) in subparagraph (F)— (A) in clause (i)(II), by striking urbanized and inserting urban ; and (B) in clause (ii), by striking consider— and all that follows and inserting consider an area described in clause (i)(I) not to be a rural area for purposes of subparagraph (A). ; and (6) by redesignating subparagraphs (D) through (I) as subparagraphs (B) through (G), respectively. (b) Conforming amendments to the Rural Electrification Act of 1936 (1) Section 13(3) of the Rural Electrification Act of 1936 ( 7 U.S.C. 913(3) ) is amended— (A) in subparagraph (A), by striking (C) each place it appears and inserting (A) ; and (B) in subparagraph (B), by striking loan and inserting loan, or has had a loan, before made under . (2) Section 203(b) of such Act ( 7 U.S.C. 924(b) ) is amended to read as follows: (b) In this title, the term rural area shall have the meaning given the term in 343(a)(13)(A) of the Consolidated Farm and Rural Development Act ( 7 U.S.C. 1991(a)(13)(A) ). . (3) Section 601(b)(3) of such Act ( 7 U.S.C. 950bb(b)(3) ) is amended to read as follows: (3) Rural area The term rural area shall have the meaning given the term in 343(a)(13)(A) of the Consolidated Farm and Rural Development Act ( 7 U.S.C. 1991(a)(13)(A) ). . (4) Section 604(a)(4) of such Act ( 7 U.S.C. 950bb–3(a)(4) ) is amended to read as follows: (4) Rural area The term rural area shall have the meaning given the term in 343(a)(13)(A) of the Consolidated Farm and Rural Development Act ( 7 U.S.C. 1991(a)(13)(A) ). . (c) Housing provisions Section 520 of the Housing Act of 1949 ( 42 U.S.C. 1490 ) is amended— (1) by striking the first sentence and inserting the following: (a) In general .—As used in this title, the term rural area shall have the meaning given the term in 343(a)(13)(A) of the Consolidated Farm and Rural Development Act ( 7 U.S.C. 1991(a)(13)(A) ). ; (2) by striking For purposes of this title and inserting the following: (b) Legacy areas For purposes of this title ; (3) by striking , and the city and all that follows through year 2000 ; and (4) by adding at the end the following: (c) Rural defined As used in this title, the term rural shall have the meaning given the term rural area in subsection (a). . (d) Effective date The amendments made by this Act shall take effect 180 days after the date of the enactment of this Act. (e) Rulemaking The Secretary of Agriculture shall prescribe such rules as are necessary with respect to implementing the amendments made by this Act.