[Congressional Bills 116th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 1651 Introduced in House (IH)]

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116th CONGRESS
  1st Session
                                H. R. 1651

To authorize assistance to be provided under certain rural development 
 programs for the establishment or expansion of animal care facilities 
                or veterinary practices in rural areas.


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                    IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

                             March 8, 2019

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

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                                 A BILL


 
To authorize assistance to be provided under certain rural development 
 programs for the establishment or expansion of animal care facilities 
                or veterinary practices in rural areas.

    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 ``Returning Essential Rural Veterinary 
Animal Care Act'' or the ``RE-VAC Act''.

SEC. 2. AUTHORITY FOR ASSISTANCE TO BE PROVIDED UNDER CERTAIN RURAL 
              DEVELOPMENT PROGRAMS FOR THE ESTABLISHMENT OR EXPANSION 
              OF ANIMAL CARE FACILITIES OR VETERINARY PRACTICES IN 
              RURAL AREAS.

    (a) Community Facilities Loans and Grants.--Section 306(a) of the 
Consolidated Farm and Rural Development Act (7 U.S.C. 1926(a)) is 
amended by adding at the end the following:
            ``(27) Community facility direct loans and grants for 
        establishment or expansion of animal care facilities or 
        veterinary practices in rural areas.--The Secretary may provide 
        community facility direct loans and grants under paragraphs 
        (1), (19), (20), and (21) for the establishment or expansion of 
        an animal care facility or a veterinary practice in a rural 
        area. The Secretary may not deny such a loan or grant to an 
        entity otherwise eligible for the loan or grant on the basis 
        that any facility constructed using the loan or grant will be 
        used by a for-profit entity.''.
    (b) Rural Economic Development Loans and Grants.--Section 313B(a) 
of the Rural Electrification Act of 1936 (7 U.S.C. 940c-2(a)) is 
amended by at the end the following: ``A project designed to establish 
or expand an animal care facility or a veterinary practice in a rural 
area shall be eligible for a grant or loan under this section. The 
Secretary may not deny such a grant or loan to an entity otherwise 
eligible for the grant or loan on the basis that any facility 
constructed using the grant or loan will be used by a for-profit 
entity.''.
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