II 110th CONGRESS 2d Session S. 3709 IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES November 20, 2008 Mr. Reid (for himself and Mr. Harkin) introduced the following bill; which was read twice and referred to the Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry A BILL To amend the Farm Security and Rural Investment Act of 2002 to expand the Rural Energy for America Program to include schools in rural areas.

1.

Rural Energy for America Program

(a)

In general

Section 9007 of the Farm Security and Rural Investment Act of 2002 (7 U.S.C. 8107) is amended— (1)by striking and rural small businesses each place it appears and inserting , rural small businesses, and rural schools; and (2)in subsection (b)(6) and (c)(3)(A), by striking or rural small business each place it appears and insert , rural small business, or rural school. (b)

Definition of rural school

Section 9007(a) of the Farm Security and Rural Investment Act of 2002 (7 U.S.C. 8107(a) is amended— (1)by redesignating paragraphs (1) and (2) as subparagraphs (A) and (B), respectively, and indenting appropriately; and (2)by striking The Secretary and inserting the following: (1)

Definition of rural school

In this section, the term rural school means a school in a rural area (as defined in section 343(a) of the Consolidated Farm and Rural Development Act (7 U.S.C. 1991(a))). (2)

Establishment

The Secretary . (c)

Mandatory funding

Section 9007(g)(1) of the Farm Security and Rural Investment Act of 2002 (7 U.S.C. 8107(g)(1) is amended— (1)by redesignating subparagraphs (A) through (D) as clauses (i) through (iv), respectively, and indenting appropriately; (2)by striking Of the funds and inserting the following: (A)

In general

Of the funds ; and (3)by adding at the end the following: (B)

Funding for rural schools

In addition to amounts made available under subparagraph (A), of the funds of the Commodity Credit Corporation, the Secretary shall use to provide assistance to rural schools under this section, $20,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2009 through 2013, to remain available until expended. .