[Congressional Bills 115th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 5491 Introduced in House (IH)]

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115th CONGRESS
  2d Session
                                H. R. 5491

 To provide loans and grants to qualified agricultural associations to 
 assist in the establishment of agricultural association health plans.


_______________________________________________________________________


                    IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

                             April 12, 2018

 Mr. Fortenberry introduced the following bill; which was referred to 
                      the Committee on Agriculture

_______________________________________________________________________

                                 A BILL


 
 To provide loans and grants to qualified agricultural associations to 
 assist in the establishment of agricultural association health plans.

    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 Health Insurance Act of 
2018''.

SEC. 2. SUPPORTING AGRICULTURAL ASSOCIATION HEALTH PLANS.

    (a) In General.--The Secretary of Agriculture may establish a loan 
program and a grant program to assist in the establishment of 
agricultural association health plans, in order to help bring new 
health options and lower priced health care coverage to rural 
Americans.
    (b) Loans.--
            (1) In general.--With respect to plan years 2019 through 
        2022, the Secretary of Agriculture, in consultation with the 
        Secretary of Labor, may make not more than 10 loans under this 
        section, for purposes of establishing agricultural association 
        health plans, to qualified agricultural associations that have 
        not received a loan under this section.
            (2) Use of funds.--The proceeds of a loan made under this 
        section may only be used to finance costs associated with 
        establishing and carrying out an agricultural association 
        health plan.
            (3) Loan terms.--A loan made under this section shall--
                    (A) bear interest at an annual rate equivalent to 
                the cost of borrowing to the Department of the Treasury 
                for obligations of comparable maturities;
                    (B) have a term of such length, not exceeding 20 
                years, as the borrower may request;
                    (C) be in an amount not to exceed $15,000,000;
                    (D) require that the borrower submit annual audited 
                financial statements to the Secretary; and
                    (E) include any other requirements or documentation 
                the Secretary deems necessary to carry out this 
                section.
    (c) Grants.--The Secretary may make grants to agricultural trade 
associations or industry associations which have been in existence for 
at least three years prior to applying for such a grant to provide for 
technical assistance in establishing an agricultural association health 
plan.
    (d) Authorization of Appropriations.--
            (1) In general.--There are authorized to be appropriated to 
        carry out this section $65,000,000 for the period of fiscal 
        years 2019 through 2022, to be available until expended.
            (2) Reservation of funds.--Of the funds made available 
        under paragraph (1), not more than 15 percent of such funds 
        shall be made available to make grants under subsection (c).
    (e) Definitions.--In this section:
            (1) Agricultural association health plan.--The term 
        ``agricultural association health plan'' means a group health 
        plan within the meaning of section 733(a)(1) of the Employee 
        Retirement Income Security Act of 1974 (42 U.S.C. 1191b)--
                    (A) that is sponsored by a qualified agricultural 
                association; and
                    (B) with respect to which the Secretary has 
                received a letter from the relevant State insurance 
                commissioner certifying that such association may offer 
                such plan in such State.
            (2) Qualified agricultural association.--The term 
        ``qualified agricultural association'' means an association--
                    (A) composed of members that operate a farm or 
                ranch or operate an agribusiness;
                    (B) that qualifies as an association health plan 
                within the meaning of guidance or regulation issued by 
                the Department of Labor;
                    (C) that acts directly or indirectly in the 
                interest of its members in relation to the plan;
                    (D) that is able to demonstrate an ability to 
                implement and manage a group health plan; and
                    (E) that meets any other criteria the Secretary 
                deems necessary to meet the intent of this section.
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