[Congressional Bills 111th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[S. 323 Introduced in Senate (IS)]

111th CONGRESS
  1st Session
                                 S. 323

 To provide infrastructure, nutrition, and housing assistance to rural 
                      areas of the United States.


_______________________________________________________________________


                   IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES

                            January 26, 2009

  Mr. Conrad (for himself, Mrs. Lincoln, and Mr. Nelson of Nebraska) 
introduced the following bill; which was read twice and referred to the 
                          Committee on Finance

_______________________________________________________________________

                                 A BILL


 
 To provide infrastructure, nutrition, and housing assistance to rural 
                      areas of the United States.

    Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the 
United States of America in Congress assembled,

SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE; TABLE OF CONTENTS.

    (a) Short Title.--This Act may be cited as the ``Rural 
Revitalization Act of 2009''.
    (b) Table of Contents.--The table of contents for this Act is as 
follows:

Sec. 1. Short title; table of contents.
                        TITLE I--INFRASTRUCTURE

Sec. 101. Tax-exempt financing of certain electric transmission 
                            facilities.
Sec. 102. Clean Energy corridors.
Sec. 103. Rural electrification loan program.
Sec. 104. Loan guarantees for renewable fuel pipelines; refueling 
                            infrastructure corridors.
Sec. 105. Transportation.
Sec. 106. Water projects.
Sec. 107. Rural utilities programs of the Department of Agriculture.
Sec. 108. Rural community facilities programs.
Sec. 109. Rural business enterprise grants.
Sec. 110. Telemedicine and distance learning services in rural areas.
Sec. 111. Rural microentrepreneur assistance program.
Sec. 112. Public works and economic development.
Sec. 113. Extension and expansion of qualified zone academy bonds.
Sec. 114. Energy programs of the Department of Agriculture.
                     TITLE II--NUTRITION ASSISTANCE

Sec. 201. Emergency food assistance program.
Sec. 202. Commodity supplemental food program.
Sec. 203. Emergency food program infrastructure grant program.
Sec. 204. Special supplemental nutrition program for women, infants, 
                            and children.
                        TITLE III--RURAL HOUSING

Sec. 301. Doug Bereuter section 502 single family housing loan 
                            guarantee program.
                         TITLE IV--RURAL HEALTH

Sec. 401. National Health Service Corps programs.
Sec. 402. Improved access to ambulance services.
Sec. 403. Applying rural home health add-on policy for 2009 and 2010.
Sec. 404. Extension of the reclassification of certain hospitals.
                     TITLE V--EMERGENCY DESIGNATION

Sec. 501. Emergency designation.

                        TITLE I--INFRASTRUCTURE

SEC. 101. TAX-EXEMPT FINANCING OF CERTAIN ELECTRIC TRANSMISSION 
              FACILITIES.

    (a) In General.--Subsection (a) of section 142 of the Internal 
Revenue Code of 1986 is amended--
            (1) by striking ``or'' at the end of paragraph (14),
            (2) by striking the period at the end of paragraph (15) and 
        inserting ``, or'', and
            (3) by inserting at the end the following new paragraph:
            ``(16) qualified electric transmission facilities.''.
    (b) Definition.--Section 142 of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 
is amended by inserting at the end the following new subsection:
    ``(n) Qualified Electric Transmission Facilities.--
            ``(1) In general.--For purposes of subsection (a)(16), the 
        term `qualified electric transmission facility' means any 
        electric transmission facility which is owned by--
                    ``(A) a State or political subdivision of a State, 
                or any agency, authority, or instrumentality of any of 
                the foregoing, providing electric service, directly or 
                indirectly to the public, or
                    ``(B) a State or political subdivision of a State 
                expressly authorized under State law to finance and own 
                electric transmission facilities.
            ``(2) Termination.--Subsection (a)(16) shall not apply with 
        respect to any bond issued after December 31, 2010.''.
    (c) Effective Date.--The amendment made by this section shall apply 
to bonds issued after the date of enactment of this Act.

SEC. 102. CLEAN ENERGY CORRIDORS.

    (a) In General.--Section 216 of the Federal Power Act (16 U.S.C. 
824p) is amended--
            (1) in subsection (a)--
                    (A) by striking ``(1) Not later than'' and 
                inserting the following:
            ``(1) In general.--Not later than'';
                    (B) by striking paragraph (2) and inserting the 
                following:
            ``(2) Report and designations.--
                    ``(A) In general.--After considering alternatives 
                and recommendations from interested parties (including 
                an opportunity for comment from affected States), the 
                Secretary shall issue a report, based on the study 
                conducted under paragraph (1), in which the Secretary 
                may designate as a national interest electric 
                transmission corridor any geographical area 
                experiencing electric energy transmission capacity 
                constraints or congestion that adversely affects 
                consumers, including constraints or congestion that--
                            ``(i) increases costs to consumers;
                            ``(ii) limits resource options to serve 
                        load growth; or
                            ``(iii) limits access to sources of clean 
                        energy, such as wind, solar energy, geothermal 
                        energy, and biomass.
                    ``(B) Additional designations.--In addition to the 
                corridor designations made under subparagraph (A), the 
                Secretary may designate additional corridors in 
                accordance with that subparagraph on the application by 
                an interested person, on the condition that the 
                Secretary provides for an opportunity for notice and 
                comment by interested persons and affected States on 
                the application.'';
                    (C) in paragraph (3), the striking ``(3) The 
                Secretary'' and inserting the following:
            ``(3) Consultation.--The Secretary''; and
                    (D) in paragraph (4)--
                            (i) by striking ``(4) In determining'' and 
                        inserting the following:
            ``(4) Basis for determination.--In determining''; and
                            (ii) by striking subparagraphs (A) through 
                        (E) and inserting the following:
                    ``(A) the economic vitality and development of the 
                corridor, or the end markets served by the corridor, 
                may be constrained by lack of adequate or reasonably 
                priced electricity;
                    ``(B)(i) economic growth in the corridor, or the 
                end markets served by the corridor, may be jeopardized 
                by reliance on limited sources of energy; and
                    ``(ii) a diversification of supply is warranted;
                    ``(C) the energy independence of the United States 
                would be served by the designation;
                    ``(D) the designation would be in the interest of 
                national energy policy; and
                    ``(E) the designation would enhance national 
                defense and homeland security.''; and
            (2) by adding at the end the following:
    ``(l) Rates and Recovery of Costs.--
            ``(1) In general.--Not later than 1 year after the date of 
        enactment of this subsection, the Commission shall promulgate 
        regulations providing for the allocation and recovery of costs 
        prudently incurred by public utilities in building and 
        operating facilities authorized under this section for 
        transmission of electric energy generated from clean sources 
        (such as wind, solar energy, geothermal energy, and biomass) 
        and recovered in rates for the transmission of the electric 
        energy subject to the jurisdiction of the Commission.
            ``(2) Applicable provisions.--All rates approved under the 
        regulations promulgated under paragraph (1), including any 
        revisions to the regulations, shall be subject to the 
        requirements under sections 205 and 206 that all rates, 
        charges, terms, and conditions be just and reasonable and not 
        unduly discriminatory or preferential.
            ``(3) Rates in organized markets.--In establishing rates 
        under section 205 or 206 for facilities built under this 
        section by a public utility or transmitting utility and located 
        within or interconnecting with a regional transmission 
        organization, the costs of the facilities shall be allocated to 
        all users of the transmission system within the regional 
        transmission organization.''.
    (b) Study on Transmission Corridors To Maximize Clean and Renewable 
Energy.--
            (1) In general.--The Secretary shall conduct a study to 
        determine what transmission corridors are necessary to allow 
        the United States to maximize the use of clean and renewable 
        energy to meet the electricity needs of the United States.
            (2) Report.--Not later than 1 year after the date of 
        enactment of this Act, the Secretary shall submit to Congress a 
        report that describes the results of the study, including any 
        recommendations.

SEC. 103. RURAL ELECTRIFICATION LOAN PROGRAM.

    (a) In General.--Notwithstanding any other provision of law, not 
later than 30 days after the date of enactment of this Act, out of any 
funds in the Treasury not otherwise appropriated, the Secretary of the 
Treasury shall transfer to the Secretary of Agriculture--
            (1) for the cost of hardship loans made available under 
        subsection (c)(1) and (d)(1) of section 305 of the Rural 
        Electrification Act of 1936 (7 U.S.C. 935) $360,000,000 for 
        fiscal year 2009, to remain available until September 30, 2010; 
        and
            (2) for the cost of loan guarantees to carry out section 
        306 of that Act (7 U.S.C. 936), $15,600,000,000 for fiscal year 
        2009, to remain available until September 30, 2010.
    (b) Receipt and Acceptance.--The Secretary of Agriculture shall be 
entitled to receive, shall accept, and shall use to carry out this 
section the funds transferred under subsection (a), without further 
appropriation.

SEC. 104. LOAN GUARANTEES FOR RENEWABLE FUEL PIPELINES; REFUELING 
              INFRASTRUCTURE CORRIDORS.

    (a) Loan Guarantees for Renewable Fuel Pipelines.--Subtitle C of 
title II of the Energy Independence and Security Act of 2007 (42 U.S.C. 
17051 et seq.) is amended by adding at the end the following:

``SEC. 249. LOAN GUARANTEES FOR RENEWABLE FUEL PIPELINES.

    ``(a) Definitions.--In this section:
            ``(1) Cost.--The term `cost' has the meaning given the term 
        `cost of a loan guarantee' in section 502(5)(C) of the Federal 
        Credit Reform Act of 1990 (2 U.S.C. 661a(5)(C)).
            ``(2) Eligible project.--The term `eligible project' means 
        a project described in subsection (b)(1).
            ``(3) Guarantee.--
                    ``(A) In general.--The term `guarantee' has the 
                meaning given the term `loan guarantee' in section 502 
                of the Federal Credit Reform Act of 1990 (2 U.S.C. 
                661a).
                    ``(B) Inclusion.--The term `guarantee' includes a 
                loan guarantee commitment (as defined in section 502 of 
                the Federal Credit Reform Act of 1990 (2 U.S.C. 661a)).
            ``(4) Renewable fuel.--The term `renewable fuel' means fuel 
        that is produced from renewable biomass and that is used to 
        replace or reduce the quantity of fossil fuel present in a 
        transportation fuel.
            ``(5) Renewable fuel pipeline.--The term `renewable fuel 
        pipeline' means a common carrier pipeline for transporting 
        renewable fuel.
    ``(b) Loan Guarantees.--
            ``(1) In general.--The Secretary shall make guarantees 
        under this section for projects that provide for--
                    ``(A) the construction of new renewable fuel 
                pipelines; or
                    ``(B) the modification of pipelines to transport 
                renewable fuel.
            ``(2) Eligibility.--In determining the eligibility of a 
        project for a guarantee under this section, the Secretary shall 
        consider--
                    ``(A) the volume of renewable fuel to be moved by 
                the renewable fuel pipeline;
                    ``(B) the size of the markets to be served by the 
                renewable fuel pipeline;
                    ``(C) the existence of sufficient storage to 
                facilitate access to the markets served by the 
                renewable fuel pipeline;
                    ``(D) the proximity of the renewable fuel pipeline 
                to renewable fuel production facilities;
                    ``(E) the investment of the entity carrying out the 
                proposed project in terminal infrastructure;
                    ``(F) the experience of the entity carrying out the 
                proposed project in working with renewable fuel;
                    ``(G) the ability of the entity carrying out the 
                proposed project to maintain the quality of the 
                renewable fuel through--
                            ``(i) the terminal system of the entity; 
                        and
                            ``(ii) the dedicated pipeline system;
                    ``(H) the ability of the entity carrying out the 
                proposed project to complete the project in a timely 
                manner; and
                    ``(I) the ability of the entity carrying out the 
                proposed project to secure property rights-of-way in 
                order to move the proposed project forward in a timely 
                manner.
            ``(3) Amount.--Unless otherwise provided by law, a 
        guarantee by the Secretary under this section shall not exceed 
        an amount equal to 90 percent of the eligible project cost of 
        the renewable fuel pipeline that is the subject of the 
        guarantee, as estimated at the time at which the guarantee is 
        issued or subsequently modified while the eligible project is 
        under construction.
            ``(4) Terms and conditions.--Guarantees under this section 
        shall be provided in accordance with section 1702 of the Energy 
        Policy Act of 2005 (42 U.S.C. 16512), except that subsection 
        (c) of that section shall not apply to guarantees made under 
        this section.
            ``(5) Final rule.--Not later than 90 days after the date of 
        enactment of this section, the Secretary shall publish in the 
        Federal Register a final rule directing the Director of the 
        Department of Energy Loan Guarantee Program Office to initiate 
        the loan guarantee program under this section in accordance 
        with this section.
    ``(c) Funding.--
            ``(1) In general.--There are authorized to be appropriated 
        such sums as are necessary to provide $5,000,000,000 in 
        guarantees under this section.
            ``(2) Use of other appropriated funds.--To the extent that 
        the amounts made available under title XVII of the Energy 
        Policy Act of 2005 (42 U.S.C. 16511 et seq.) have not been 
        disbursed to programs under that title, the Secretary may use 
        the amounts to carry out this section.''.
    (b) Refueling Infrastructure Corridors.--
            (1) Number of eligible projects.--Section 244(d)(1) of the 
        Energy Independence and Security Act of 2007 (42 U.S.C. 
        17052(d)(1)) is amended by striking ``10'' and inserting 
        ``20''.
            (2) Report.--Section 244 of the Energy Independence and 
        Security Act of 2007 (42 U.S.C. 17052) is amended--
                    (A) by redesignating subsection (f) as subsection 
                (g); and
                    (B) by inserting after subsection (e) the 
                following:
    ``(f) Report.--Not later than 2 years after the date on which 
grants are awarded under subsection (d), the Secretary shall submit to 
Congress a report on the feasibility and desirability of--
            ``(1) establishing a refueling infrastructure corridor for 
        each highway on the Interstate System (as defined in section 
        101(a) of title 23, United States Code); and
            ``(2) expanding the scope of this section to cover 
        alternative fuels.''.

SEC. 105. TRANSPORTATION.

    (a) In General.--Notwithstanding any other provision of law, not 
later than 30 days after the date of enactment of this Act, out of any 
funds in the Treasury not otherwise appropriated, the Secretary of the 
Treasury shall transfer to the Secretary of Transportation, for 
apportionment among States in accordance with the requirements for 
apportionment for fiscal year 2009 under sections 104 and 105 of title 
23, United States Code, to remain available until September 30, 2010--
            (1) $5,000,000,000 for use in carrying out highway and 
        bridge projects in areas described in subsection (c), with 
        priority given to projects for which funds can be obligated not 
        later than the date that is 120 days after the date of 
        enactment of this Act; and
            (2) $568,000,000 for maintenance and new construction 
        projects relating to Indian reservation roads under section 204 
        of title 23, United States Code.
    (b) Receipt and Acceptance.--The Secretary of Transportation shall 
be entitled to receive, shall accept, and shall use to carry out this 
section the funds transferred under subsection (a), without further 
appropriation.
    (c) Requirement.--Amounts made available under this section may 
only be used for projects that are in rural areas (within the meaning 
given the term in section 343(a)(13)(A) of the Consolidated Farm and 
Rural Development Act (7 U.S.C. 1991(a)(13)(A))).

SEC. 106. WATER PROJECTS.

    (a) In General.--Notwithstanding any other provision of law, not 
later than 30 days after the date of enactment of this Act, out of any 
funds in the Treasury not otherwise appropriated, the Secretary of the 
Treasury shall transfer to the Secretary of the Interior $500,000,000, 
to remain available until September 30, 2010, for use in carrying out 
authorized rural water projects of the Bureau of Reclamation.
    (b) Receipt and Acceptance.--The Secretary of the Interior shall be 
entitled to receive, shall accept, and shall use to carry out this 
section the funds transferred under subsection (a), without further 
appropriation.

SEC. 107. RURAL UTILITIES PROGRAMS OF THE DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE.

    (a) Definitions.--In this section:
            (1) Rural utilities programs.--The term ``rural utilities 
        programs'' means the programs of the Secretary that provide--
                    (A) water or waste disposal grants or direct or 
                guaranteed loans under paragraph (1) or (2) of section 
                306(a) of the Consolidated Farm and Rural Development 
                Act (7 U.S.C. 1926(a));
                    (B) rural water or wastewater technical assistance 
                and training grants under section 306(a)(14) of that 
                Act (7 U.S.C. 1926(a)(14));
                    (C) emergency community water assistance grants 
                under section 306A of that Act (7 U.S.C. 1926a); and
                    (D) solid waste management grants under section 
                310B(b) of that Act (7 U.S.C. 1932(b)).
            (2) Secretary.--The term ``Secretary'' means the Secretary 
        of Agriculture.
    (b) Funding.--
            (1) In general.--Notwithstanding any other provision of law 
        and in addition to any other funds made available, not later 
        than 30 days after the date of enactment of this Act, out of 
        any funds in the Treasury not otherwise appropriated, the 
        Secretary of the Treasury shall transfer to the Secretary for 
        the cost of grants, loans, and loan guarantees to carry out 
        rural utilities programs $2,000,000,000, to remain available 
        until September 30, 2010.
            (2) Receipt and acceptance.--The Secretary shall be 
        entitled to receive, shall accept, and shall use to carry out 
        rural utilities programs the funds transferred under paragraph 
        (1), without further appropriation.

SEC. 108. RURAL COMMUNITY FACILITIES PROGRAMS.

    (a) Community Facility Direct and Guaranteed Loans.--
            (1) In general.--Notwithstanding any other provision of law 
        and in addition to any other funds made available, not later 
        than 30 days after the date of enactment of this Act, out of 
        any funds in the Treasury not otherwise appropriated, the 
        Secretary of the Treasury shall transfer to the Secretary of 
        Agriculture (referred to in this section as the 
        ``Secretary'')--
                    (A) an amount determined by the Secretary to be 
                necessary for the Secretary to make $2,500,000,000 in 
                community facility direct and guaranteed loans under 
                section 306(a)(1) of the Consolidated Farm and Rural 
                Development Act (7 U.S.C. 1926(a)(1)), to remain 
                available until September 30, 2010; and
                    (B) $100,000,000 for the costs of making and 
                modifying the loans described in subparagraph (A).
            (2) Receipt and acceptance.--The Secretary shall be 
        entitled to receive, shall accept, and shall use to provide 
        those loans the funds transferred under paragraph (1), without 
        further appropriation.
    (b) Community Facility Grants.--Of the funds of the Commodity 
Credit Corporation and in addition to any other funds made available, 
the Secretary shall use for cost of community facility grants under 
paragraph (19), (20), or (21) of section 306(a) of the Consolidated 
Farm and Rural Development Act (7 U.S.C. 1926(a)) (including the cost 
of making the grants) $100,000,000 for fiscal year 2009, to remain 
available until September 30, 2010.

SEC. 109. RURAL BUSINESS ENTERPRISE GRANTS.

    (a) In General.--Notwithstanding any other provision of law and in 
addition to any other funds made available, not later than 30 days 
after the date of enactment of this Act, out of any funds in the 
Treasury not otherwise appropriated, the Secretary of the Treasury 
shall transfer to the Secretary of Agriculture for the cost of grants 
to carry out section 310B(c) of the Consolidated Farm and Rural 
Development Act (7 U.S.C. 1932(c)) $100,000,000, to remain available 
until September 30, 2010.
    (b) Receipt and Acceptance.--The Secretary of Agriculture shall be 
entitled to receive, shall accept, and shall use to carry out that 
section the funds transferred under subsection (a), without further 
appropriation.

SEC. 110. TELEMEDICINE AND DISTANCE LEARNING SERVICES IN RURAL AREAS.

    (a) In General.--Notwithstanding any other provision of law and in 
addition to any other funds made available, not later than 30 days 
after the date of enactment of this Act, out of any funds in the 
Treasury not otherwise appropriated, the Secretary of the Treasury 
shall transfer to the Secretary of Agriculture for the cost of grants 
and loans to carry out chapter 1 of subtitle D of title XXIII of the 
Food, Agriculture, Conservation, and Trade Act of 1990 (7 U.S.C. 950aaa 
et seq.) $3,000,000,000, to remain available until September 30, 2010.
    (b) Receipt and Acceptance.--The Secretary of Agriculture shall be 
entitled to receive, shall accept, and shall use to carry out that 
chapter the funds transferred under subsection (a), without further 
appropriation.

SEC. 111. RURAL MICROENTREPRENEUR ASSISTANCE PROGRAM.

    (a) In General.--Notwithstanding any other provision of law and in 
addition to any other funds made available, not later than 30 days 
after the date of enactment of this Act, out of any funds in the 
Treasury not otherwise appropriated, the Secretary of the Treasury 
shall transfer to the Secretary of Agriculture for the cost of loans 
and grants to carry out section 379E of the Consolidated Farm and Rural 
Development Act (7 U.S.C. 2008s) $84,000,000, to remain available until 
September 30, 2010.
    (b) Receipt and Acceptance.--The Secretary of Agriculture shall be 
entitled to receive, shall accept, and shall use to carry out that 
section the funds transferred under subsection (a), without further 
appropriation.

SEC. 112. PUBLIC WORKS AND ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT.

    (a) In General.--Notwithstanding any other provision of law, not 
later than 30 days after the date of enactment of this Act, out of any 
funds in the Treasury not otherwise appropriated, the Secretary of the 
Treasury shall transfer to the Administrator of the Economic 
Development Administration $250,000,000, to remain available until 
September 30, 2010, for use in carrying out public works and economic 
development projects and activities that, as of the date of enactment 
of this Act, have been authorized but have not been initiated.
    (b) Receipt and Acceptance.--The Administrator of the Economic 
Development Administration shall be entitled to receive, shall accept, 
and shall use to carry out this section the funds transferred under 
subsection (a), without further appropriation.

SEC. 113. EXTENSION AND EXPANSION OF QUALIFIED ZONE ACADEMY BONDS.

    (a) In General.--Section 54E(c)(1) of the Internal Revenue Code of 
1986 is amended by striking ``$400,000,000 for 2008 and 2009'' and 
inserting ``and $400,000,000 for 2008 and $800,000,000 for 2009 and 
2010''.
    (b) Proceeds of Bonds May Be Used for Construction.--Paragraph (5) 
of section 1397E(d) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 is amended--
            (1) by striking ``rehabilitating or repairing'' in 
        subparagraph (A) and inserting ``constructing, rehabilitating, 
        or repairing'', and
            (2) by redesignating subparagraphs (B), (C), and (D) as 
        subparagraphs (C), (D), and (E), respectively, and by inserting 
        after subparagraph (A) the following:
                    ``(B) acquiring the land on which the facility is 
                to be constructed,''.
    (c) Effective Date.--The amendments made by this section shall 
apply to obligations issued after December 31, 2008.

SEC. 114. ENERGY PROGRAMS OF THE DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE.

    (a) In General.--Notwithstanding any other provision of law and in 
addition to any other funds made available, not later than 30 days 
after the date of enactment of this Act, out of any funds in the 
Treasury not otherwise appropriated, the Secretary of the Treasury 
shall transfer to the Secretary of Agriculture (referred to in this 
section as the ``Secretary'')--
            (1) for the costs of grants and loan guarantees to carry 
        out section 9003 of the Farm Security and Rural Investment Act 
        of 2002 (7 U.S.C. 8103)--
                    (A) $150,000,000 for fiscal year 2009; and
                    (B) $210,000,000 for fiscal year 2010;
            (2) to carry out section 9004 of that Act (7 U.S.C. 8104), 
        $80,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2009 and 2010;
            (3) to carry out section 9005 of that Act (7 U.S.C. 8105), 
        $40,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2009 and 2010;
            (4) for the costs of grants and loan guarantees to carry 
        out section 9007 of that Act (7 U.S.C. 8107), $100,000,000 for 
        each of fiscal years 2009 and 2010;
            (5) to carry out section 9008 of that Act (7 U.S.C. 8108)--
                    (A) $30,000,000 for fiscal year 2009; and
                    (B) $40,000,000 for fiscal year 2010;
            (6) to carry out section 9009 of that Act (7 U.S.C. 8109), 
        $20,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2009 and 2010;
            (7) to carry out section 9011 of that Act (7 U.S.C. 8111)--
                    (A) $20,000,000 for fiscal year 2009; and
                    (B) $30,000,000 for fiscal year 2010; and
            (8) to carry out section 9013 of that Act (7 U.S.C. 8113), 
        $20,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2009 and 2010.
    (b) Receipt and Acceptance.--The Secretary shall be entitled to 
receive, shall accept, and shall use to provide those loans the funds 
transferred under subsection (a), without further appropriation.

                     TITLE II--NUTRITION ASSISTANCE

SEC. 201. EMERGENCY FOOD ASSISTANCE PROGRAM.

    (a) In General.--Notwithstanding any other provision of law and in 
addition to any other funds made available, not later than 30 days 
after the date of enactment of this Act, out of any funds in the 
Treasury not otherwise appropriated, the Secretary of the Treasury 
shall transfer to the Secretary of Agriculture (referred to in this 
section as the ``Secretary'') for the cost of carrying out the 
emergency food assistance program established under the Emergency Food 
Assistance Act of 1983 (7 U.S.C. 7501 et seq.) $100,000,000 for fiscal 
year 2009, to remain available until September 30, 2010.
    (b) Receipt and Acceptance.--The Secretary shall be entitled to 
receive, shall accept, and shall use to carry out that program the 
funds transferred under subsection (a), without further appropriation.
    (c) Requirement.--Of funds made available under subsection (a), the 
Secretary may use up to $5,000,000 to carry out commodity distribution 
under the emergency food assistance program.

SEC. 202. COMMODITY SUPPLEMENTAL FOOD PROGRAM.

    (a) In General.--Notwithstanding any other provision of law and in 
addition to any other funds made available, not later than 30 days 
after the date of enactment of this Act, out of any funds in the 
Treasury not otherwise appropriated, the Secretary of the Treasury 
shall transfer to the Secretary of Agriculture for the cost of carrying 
out the commodity supplemental food program established under section 5 
of the Agriculture and Consumer Protection Act of 1973 (7 U.S.C. 612c 
note; Public Law 93-86) $50,000,000 for fiscal year 2009, to remain 
available until September 30, 2010.
    (b) Receipt and Acceptance.--The Secretary of Agriculture shall be 
entitled to receive, shall accept, and shall use to carry out that 
program the funds transferred under subsection (a), without further 
appropriation.

SEC. 203. EMERGENCY FOOD PROGRAM INFRASTRUCTURE GRANT PROGRAM.

    In addition to any other funds made available, there is 
appropriated to the Secretary of Agriculture, out of funds of the 
Treasury not otherwise appropriated, $15,000,000 for each of fiscal 
years 2009 and 2010 to carry out the emergency food program 
infrastructure grant program established under section 209 of the 
Emergency Food Assistance Act of 1983 (7 U.S.C. 7511a).

SEC. 204. SPECIAL SUPPLEMENTAL NUTRITION PROGRAM FOR WOMEN, INFANTS, 
              AND CHILDREN.

    (a) In General.--Notwithstanding any other provision of law and in 
addition to any other funds made available, not later than 30 days 
after the date of enactment of this Act, out of any funds in the 
Treasury not otherwise appropriated, the Secretary of the Treasury 
shall transfer to the Secretary of Agriculture for the cost of carrying 
out the special supplemental nutrition program for women, infants, and 
children established by section 17 of the Child Nutrition Act of 1966 
(42 U.S.C. 1786) $445,000,000 for fiscal year 2009, to remain available 
until September 30, 2010.
    (b) Receipt and Acceptance.--The Secretary of Agriculture shall be 
entitled to receive, shall accept, and shall use to carry out that 
section the funds transferred under subsection (a), without further 
appropriation.

                        TITLE III--RURAL HOUSING

SEC. 301. DOUG BEREUTER SECTION 502 SINGLE FAMILY HOUSING LOAN 
              GUARANTEE PROGRAM.

    Of the funds of the Commodity Credit Corporation, the Secretary of 
Agriculture shall use--
            (1) such sums as are necessary for the Secretary to make--
                    (A) $4,000,000,000 in direct loans under section 
                502(h) of the Housing Act of 1949 (42 U.S.C. 1472(h)); 
                and
                    (B) $18,000,000,000 in unsubsidized guaranteed 
                loans under that subsection; and
            (2) $500,000,000 for the costs of making direct loans and 
        unsubsidized guaranteed loans under paragraph (1).

                         TITLE IV--RURAL HEALTH

SEC. 401. NATIONAL HEALTH SERVICE CORPS PROGRAMS.

    (a) In General.--Notwithstanding any other provision of law and in 
addition to any other funds made available, not later than 30 days 
after the date of enactment of this Act, out of any funds in the 
Treasury not otherwise appropriated, the Secretary of the Treasury 
shall transfer to the Secretary of Health and Human Services, for use 
in carrying out the projects under the National Health Service Corps 
programs under subparts II and III of title III of the Public Health 
Service Act (42 U.S.C. 254d et seq. and 42 U.S.C. 254l et seq.) for 
each of the fiscal years 2009 and 2010, $300,000,000, to remain 
available until September 30, 2010.
    (b) Receipt and Acceptance.--The Secretary of Health and Human 
Services shall be entitled to receive, shall accept, and shall use to 
carry out this section the funds transferred under subsection (a), 
without further appropriation.

SEC. 402. IMPROVED ACCESS TO AMBULANCE SERVICES.

    (a) Extension of Increased Medicare Payments for Certain Ground 
Ambulance Services.--Section 1834(l)(13)(A) of the Social Security Act 
(42 U.S.C. 1395m(l)(13)(A)) is amended--
            (1) in the matter preceding clause (i)--
                    (A) by striking ``2007, and for'' and inserting 
                ``2007, for''; and
                    (B) by inserting ``, and for such services 
                described in clause (i) furnished on or after January 
                1, 2010, and before January 1, 2011'' after ``2010''; 
                and
            (2) in clause (i), by striking ``and before January 1, 
        2010'' and inserting ``and before January 1, 2009, or 6 percent 
        if such service is furnished on or after January 1, 2009, and 
        before January 1, 2011'' after ``2010''.
    (b) Extension of Assistance for Rural Providers Furnishing Services 
in Low Population Density Areas.--Section 1834(l)(12)(A) of the Social 
Security Act (42 U.S.C. 1395m(l)(12)(A)) is amended by striking 
``January 1, 2010'' and inserting ``January 1, 2011''.

SEC. 403. APPLYING RURAL HOME HEALTH ADD-ON POLICY FOR 2009 AND 2010.

    Section 421(a) of the Medicare Prescription Drug, Improvement, and 
Modernization Act of 2003 (Public Law 108-173; 117 Stat. 2283), as 
amended by section 5201(b) of the Deficit Reduction Act of 2005 (Public 
Law 109-171; 120 Stat. 46), is amended--
            (1) by striking ``, and episodes'' and inserting ``, 
        episodes''; and
            (2) by inserting ``and episodes and visits ending on or 
        after January 1, 2009, and before January 1, 2011,'' after 
        ``January 1, 2007,''.

SEC. 404. EXTENSION OF THE RECLASSIFICATION OF CERTAIN HOSPITALS.

    Subsection (a) of section 106 of division B of the Tax Relief and 
Health Care Act of 2006 (42 U.S.C. 1395 note), as amended by section 
117 of the Medicare, Medicaid, and SCHIP Extension Act of 2007 (Public 
Law 110-173) and section 124 of the Medicare Improvements for Patients 
and Providers Act of 2008 (Public Law 110-275), is amended by striking 
``September 30, 2009'' and inserting ``September 30, 2010''.

                     TITLE V--EMERGENCY DESIGNATION

SEC. 501. EMERGENCY DESIGNATION.

    For purposes of Senate enforcement, the amounts made available 
under this Act are designated as emergency requirements and necessary 
to meet emergency needs pursuant to section 204 of S. Con. Res. 21 
(110th Congress), the concurrent resolution on the budget for fiscal 
year 2008.
                                 <all>