[Congressional Bills 118th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 5359 Introduced in House (IH)]
<DOC>
118th CONGRESS
1st Session
H. R. 5359
To harmonize the population threshold for rural communities under
programs carried out by the Department of Agriculture, and for other
purposes.
_______________________________________________________________________
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
September 8, 2023
Mr. Costa (for himself, Mr. Garamendi, Mr. LaMalfa, Ms. Lofgren, and
Mr. Valadao) introduced the following bill; which was referred to the
Committee on Agriculture, and in addition to the Committees on Energy
and Commerce, Natural Resources, and 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 harmonize the population threshold for rural communities under
programs carried out by the Department of Agriculture, and for other
purposes.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the
United States of America in Congress assembled,
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.
This Act may be cited as the ``Rural Development Modernization
Act''.
SEC. 2. HARMONIZATION OF THE POPULATION THRESHOLD FOR RURAL COMMUNITIES
UNDER DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE PROGRAMS.
(a) Increase in Population Thresholds Under Certain Programs.--
(1) Broadband, telemedicine, and distance learning.--
(A) In general.--Section 601(b)(3)(A)(ii) of the
Rural Electrification Act of 1936 (7 U.S.C.
950bb(b)(3)(A)(ii)) is amended by striking ``20,000
inhabitants'' and inserting ``50,000 inhabitants
(excluding populations described in subparagraphs (F)
and (G) of such section)''.
(B) Ratio for allocation.--Section 601(j)(2)(B) of
such Act (7 U.S.C. 950bb(j)(2)(B)) is amended by
striking ``2,500'' each place it appears and inserting
``10,000''.
(2) Telephone service loans.--Section 203(b) of the Rural
Electrification Act of 1936 (7 U.S.C. 924(b)) is amended by
striking ``5,000 inhabitants'' and inserting ``50,000
inhabitants (excluding populations described in subparagraphs
(F) and (G) of section 343(a)(13) of the Consolidated Farm and
Rural Development Act)''.
(3) Reservation applicable to loan guarantees for water,
wastewater, and essential community facilities loans.--Section
306(a)(24)(D)(ii) of the Consolidated Farm and Rural
Development Act (7 U.S.C. 1926(a)(24)(D)(ii)) is amended by
striking ``20,000'' and inserting ``30,000''.
(4) Emergency and imminent community water assistance
grants.--Section 306A(e) of the Consolidated Farm and Rural
Development Act (7 U.S.C. 1926A(e)) is amended--
(A) in paragraph (1)(A), by striking ``10,000'' and
inserting ``50,000''; and
(B) in paragraph (2), by striking ``3,000'' and
inserting ``10,000''.
(5) Rural housing.--Title V of the Housing Act of 1949 is
amended--
(A) in section 520 (42 U.S.C. 1490)--
(i) in the first sentence--
(I) in clause (1), by striking
``2,500'' and inserting ``10,000'';
(II) in clause (2)--
(aa) by striking ``2,500''
and inserting ``10,000''; and
(bb) by striking ``10,000''
and inserting ``30,000''; and
(III) in clause (iii)--
(aa) by striking ``10,000''
and inserting ``30,000''; and
(bb) by striking ``20,000''
and inserting ``50,000'';
(ii) in the second sentence, by striking
``35,000'' and inserting ``50,000''; and
(iii) by striking the last sentence and
inserting the following: ``In determining
whether an area is `rural' or a `rural area',
the Secretary shall disregard the populations
described in subparagraphs (F) and (G) of
section 343(a)(13) of the Consolidated Farm and
Rural Development Act (7 U.S.C.
1991(a)(13)).''; and
(B) in section 533(d)(3)(C) (42 U.S.C.
1490m(d)(3)(C)), by striking ``10,000'' and inserting
``30,000''.
(b) Elimination of Cap on Military Base Population Exclusion.--
Section 343(a)(13)(I) of the Consolidated Farm and Rural Development
Act (7 U.S.C. 1991(a)(13)(I)) is amended--
(1) in the subparagraph heading, by striking ``Limited
exclusion'' and inserting ``Exclusion''; and
(2) by striking ``The first 1,500'' and inserting
``Populations of''.
(c) Elimination of Lower Population Thresholds Under Water and
Waste, and Community Facilities Programs.--
(1) In general.--Section 343(a)(13) of the Consolidated
Farm and Rural Development Act (7 U.S.C. 1991(a)(13)) is
amended by striking subparagraphs (B) and (C) and redesignating
subparagraphs (D) through (I) as subparagraphs (B) through (G),
respectively.
(2) Conforming amendments.--Section 343(a)(13) of such Act
(7 U.S.C. 1991(a)(13)) is amended--
(A) in subparagraph (A), by striking ``(I)'' and
inserting ``(G)'';
(B) in subparagraph (D)(i), by striking ``(F)''
each place it appears and inserting ``(D)''; and
(C) in subparagraph (F), by striking clause (ii)
and inserting the following:
``(ii) Adjustments.--The Secretary may, by
regulation only, consider an area described in
clause (i)(I) of this subparagraph not to be a
rural area for purposes of subparagraph (A).''.
(d) Exclusion of Incarcerated and Military Base Populations in
Determining Whether Part of an Area Is Rural in Character.--
(1) In general.--Section 343(a)(13)(D)(iii) of the
Consolidated Farm and Rural Development Act (7 U.S.C.
1991(a)(13)(D)(iii)) is amended by redesignating subclauses
(III) through (VII) as subclauses (IV) through (VIII),
respectively, and inserting after subclause (II) the following:
``(III) disregard the populations
described in subparagraphs (F) and (G)
in determining whether part of an area
is rural in character;''.
(2) Conforming amendment.--Section 343(a)(13)(D)(iii)(V) of
such Act (7 U.S.C. 1991(a)(13)(D)(iii)(V)) is amended by
striking ``(IV)'' and inserting ``(V)''.
SEC. 3. HARMONIZATION OF THE POPULATION THRESHOLD FOR RURAL COMMUNITIES
UNDER DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY PROGRAM.
Section 609(a)(5) of the Public Utility Regulatory Policies Act of
1978 (7 U.S.C. 918c(a)(5)) is amended by striking ``10,000
inhabitants'' and inserting ``50,000 inhabitants (excluding populations
described in subparagraphs (F) and (G) of section 343(a)(13) of the
Consolidated Farm and Rural Development Act (7 U.S.C. 1991(a)(13))''.
SEC. 4. HARMONIZATION OF THE POPULATION THRESHOLD FOR RURAL WATER
SUPPLY PROJECTS.
The Reclamation Rural Water Supply Act of 2006 (43 U.S.C. 2401 et
seq.) is amended--
(1) by amending section 102(9)(A) to read as follows:
``(A) In general.--The term ``rural water supply
project'' means a project that is designed to serve a
community or group of communities--
``(i) each of which has a population of not
more than 50,000 inhabitants (excluding
populations described in subparagraphs (F) and
(G) of section 343(a)(13) of the Consolidated
Farm and Rural Development Act (7 U.S.C.
1991(a)(13)); and
``(ii) which may include Indian Tribes and
Tribal organizations, dispersed homesites, or
rural areas with domestic, industrial,
municipal, and residential water.''; and
(2) in section 202(6)--
(A) by redesignating subparagraphs (B) and (C) as
subparagraphs (D) and (E) respectively; and
(B) by inserting after subparagraph (A) the
following:
``(B) a rural water project or rural water supply
project authorized under--
``(i) section 1110 of division FF of the
Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2021 (Public
Law 116-260); or
``(ii) any other Federal statute;
``(C) any project authorized for an Indian Tribe
under part III of subtitle A of title X of the Omnibus
Public Land Management Act of 2009 (Public Law 111-
11);''.
SEC. 5. CLARIFICATIONS REGARDING UNITED STATES TERRITORIES AND FREELY
ASSOCIATED STATES.
(a) Broadband, Telemedicine, and Distance Learning.--
(1) Section 601(c)(3)(D)(ii) of the Rural Electrification
Act of 1936 (7 U.S.C. 950bb(c)(3)(D)(ii)) is amended by
inserting ``, including any such communities in a territory or
possession of the United States'' before the period.
(2) Section 601(d)(4) of such Act (7 U.S.C. 950bb(d)(4)) is
amended--
(A) in the subsection heading, by inserting ``,
territorial,'' before ``and local''; and
(B) in the text, by inserting ``, territorial,''
before ``or local''.
(b) Community Connect Grants.--Section 604(a)(3)(A)(i)(III) of the
Rural Electrification Act of 1936 (7 U.S.C. 950bb-3(a)(3)(A)(i)(III))
is amended by inserting ``or territory of the United States'' before
the semicolon.
(c) Rural Cooperative Development Grants.--Section 310B(e)(1)(B) of
the Consolidated Farm and Rural Development Act (7 U.S.C.
1932(e)(1)(B)) is amended by inserting ``the Commonwealth of the
Northern Mariana Islands,'' before ``and the''.
(d) Consolidated Farm and Rural Development Act.--Each of sections
343(a)(6) and 381A(1) of the Consolidated Farm and Rural Development
Act (7 U.S.C. 1991(a)(6) and 2009(1)) is amended by striking ``Trust
Territory of the Pacific Islands'' and inserting ``the Republic of the
Marshall Islands, the Federated States of Micronesia, or the Republic
of Palau, pursuant to the terms of the applicable Compact of Free
Association with the United States''.
(e) Housing Act of 1949.--Title V of the Housing Act of 1949 (42
U.S.C. 1471 et seq.) is amended--
(1) in section 501 (42 U.S.C. 1471)--
(A) in subsection (a), by striking ``and in the
Territories of Alaska and Hawaii and in the
Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, the Virgin Islands, the
territories and possessions of the United States, and
the Trust Territory of the Pacific Islands'' and
inserting ``, including any territory or other
possession of the United States''; and
(B) in subsection (b)(4), by striking ``the
Northern Mariana Islands, and the Trust Territory of
the Pacific Islands'' and inserting ``and the Northern
Mariana Islands''; and
(2) in section 502(h)(16)(D) (42 U.S.C. 1472(h)(16)(D)), by
striking ``the Trust Territories of the Pacific,''.
SEC. 6. TECHNICAL AND CONFORMING AMENDMENTS.
(a) Section 748 of the Agriculture, Rural Development, Food and
Drug Administration, and Related Agencies Appropriations Act, 2002 (7
U.S.C. 918b) is amended by inserting a comma after ``Service''.
(b) The Rural Electrification Act of 1936 is amended--
(1) in section 305(d)(3)(C) (7 U.S.C. 935(d)(3)(C)), by
striking ``(2)(A)(iii)'' and inserting ``(2)(A)(ii)'';
(2) in section 306A(e) (7 U.S.C. 936a(e)), by striking
``transfered'' and inserting ``transferred'';
(3) in section 601(e)(4)(C)(i) (7 U.S.C.
950bb(e)(4)(C)(i)), by adding ``and'' at the end;
(4) in section 603(c)(1)(A) (7 U.S.C. 950bb-2(c)(1)(A)), by
striking ``maximum'' and inserting ``minimum''; and
(5) in section 701(a) (7 U.S.C. 950cc(a)), by striking the
first comma.
(c) The Consolidated Farm and Rural Development Act is amended--
(1) in section 306(a)(20)(E) (7 U.S.C. 1926(a)(20)(E)), by
striking ``states'' and inserting ``States'';
(2) in section 307(a)(6)(B)(i) (7 U.S.C. 1927(a)(6)(B)(i)),
by striking the comma and inserting a semicolon;
(3) in section 310B(e)(4)(C)(vi) (7 U.S.C.
1932(e)(4)(C)(vi)), by striking ``center'' and inserting
``centers'';
(4) in section 310B(i)(1)(A) (7 U.S.C. 1932(i)(1)(A)), by
inserting ``section'' before ``501(a)'';
(5) in section 310E(d)(4)(C) (7 U.S.C. 1935(d)(4)(C)), by
striking ``; and'' the second place it appears;
(6) in section 310F (7 U.S.C. 1936(e)(2)), in the paragraph
heading, by striking ``Eligiblity'' and inserting
``Eligibility'';
(7) in section 343(a)(11)(C) (7 U.S.C. 1991(a)(11)(C)), by
striking ``operator'' and inserting ``operators'';
(8) in section 373(b)(2)(A)(ii) (7 U.S.C.
2008h(b)(2)(A)(ii)), by striking ``chapters 11, 12, or 13, of
Title'' and inserting ``chapter 11, 12, or 13 of title''; and
(9) in section 381F (7 U.S.C. 2009e(a)), by striking
``Director'' and inserting ``director''.
(d) The Housing Act of 1949 (42 U.S.C. 1471 et seq.) is amended--
(1) in section 501 (42 U.S.C. 1471), by transferring
paragraph (5) of subsection (a) to subsection (b), adding such
paragraph at the end of subsection (b), and redesignating such
paragraph as paragraph (9);
(2) in section 515 (42 U.S.C. 1485)--
(A) in subsection (h)(2)(B), by inserting ``for''
after ``approval requirements''; and
(B) in subsection (r)(1), by striking ``the
Secretary--'' and inserting ``The Secretary--'';
(3) in section 520 (42 U.S.C. 1490), in the first sentence,
by striking ``(except in the cases of Pajaro, in the State of
California, and Guadalupe, in the State of Arizona)'';
(4) in section 536(e) (42 U.S.C. 1490p)--
(A) in paragraph (1), in the matter preceding
subparagraph (A), by inserting ``of'' after ``or (d)'';
and
(B) in paragraph (2), by striking ``any section''
and inserting ``any subsection''; and
(5) in section 538 (42 U.S.C. 1490r)--
(A) in subsection (d)(2), by striking ``low or
moderate income'' and inserting ``low- or moderate-
income''; and
(B) in subsection (t), by striking ``chapter I''
and inserting ``chapter 1''.
(e) The Reclamation Rural Water Supply Act of 2006 (43 U.S.C. 2401
et seq.) is amended--
(1) in section 106(e), by striking ``(1) In General'' and
all that follows through ``After completion'' and insert
``After completion'';
(2) in section 107(e), by striking ``or a grant is made, to
an organization'' and inserting ``or a grant is made to, an
organization''; and
(3) in section 202(2)(A), by striking ``of title 17, Code
of Federal Regulation'' and inserting ``of title 17, Code of
Federal Regulations''.
<all>