[Congressional Bills 117th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[S. 486 Introduced in Senate (IS)]

<DOC>






117th CONGRESS
  1st Session
                                 S. 486

 To amend the Department of Agriculture Reorganization Act of 1994 to 
 establish the Rural Innovation and Partnership Administration and to 
amend the Consolidated Farm and Rural Development Act to establish the 
   Rural Future Partnership Fund to invest in the rural areas of the 
United States to achieve their preferred future while maximizing their 
  contribution to the well-being of the United States, and for other 
                               purposes.


_______________________________________________________________________


                   IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES

                           February 25, 2021

 Mrs. Gillibrand (for herself, Ms. Smith, Mr. Booker, Mr. Durbin, and 
  Mr. Casey) introduced the following bill; which was read twice and 
   referred to the Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry

_______________________________________________________________________

                                 A BILL


 
 To amend the Department of Agriculture Reorganization Act of 1994 to 
 establish the Rural Innovation and Partnership Administration and to 
amend the Consolidated Farm and Rural Development Act to establish the 
   Rural Future Partnership Fund to invest in the rural areas of the 
United States to achieve their preferred future while maximizing their 
  contribution to the well-being of the United States, 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 ``Rebuild Rural America Act of 2021''.

SEC. 2. PURPOSES.

    The purposes of this Act are--
            (1) to create the scale and capacity that enables rural 
        areas to achieve their preferred future while maximizing their 
        contribution to the well-being of the United States;
            (2) to recognize the significant contributions of rural 
        areas of the United States to the success of the United States, 
        including the leading role that the rural areas play in 
        addressing the critical threat of climate change and building a 
        resilient United States;
            (3) to make a national commitment to the rural communities 
        and regions of the United States to ensure that the rural 
        United States benefits from and contributes to the prosperity 
        of the United States;
            (4) to establish a partnership with rural areas of the 
        United States that provides flexible, long-term, and annual 
        Federal investment for comprehensive, collaborative, and 
        locally driven community and economic development that improves 
        quality of life and economic competitiveness;
            (5) to strengthen rural population centers through 
        collaboration with neighboring rural areas that ensures 
        economic integration and regional development;
            (6) to strengthen connections between rural and urban areas 
        of the United States for mutual success and for the benefit of 
        the economy of the United States and the quality of life of the 
        people of the United States;
            (7) to support asset-based development, maximizing the 
        cost-effectiveness of existing infrastructure;
            (8) to ensure economic opportunities that create pathways 
        to high-quality, family-sustaining jobs for all individuals in 
        rural areas of the United States, including efforts to address 
        population loss, to promote the use of cooperatives and other 
        forms of public and employee ownership, and to expand and 
        improve access to training, infrastructure, and investment to 
        adapt to technological change, such as automation, for success 
        in the digital economy;
            (9) to provide for the evolution and expansion of the role 
        of the Department of Agriculture in ensuring that rural 
        communities have a dedicated agency and a new delivery system 
        for Federal assistance for disaster recovery and proactive 
        mitigation and resiliency efforts;
            (10) to rebuild and modernize infrastructure and expand 
        investment to support local and regional food systems, 
        sustainable agriculture production, and value added 
        agricultural industries;
            (11) to support infill development, preserve undeveloped 
        land, and remediate brownfields and other contaminated 
        properties for re-use; and
            (12) to support public health and improve quality of life 
        in rural communities by delivering--
                    (A) universal access to clean air and water;
                    (B) healthy foods available through local and 
                regional food systems;
                    (C) quality, affordable, and accessible health care 
                services in the rural communities, including access to 
                primary and emergency medical services, mental health 
                care, and treatment for substance abuse;
                    (D) affordable and reliable clean energy systems; 
                and
                    (E) quality, affordable, and energy-efficient 
                housing choices in the rural communities.

SEC. 3. ESTABLISHMENT OF RURAL INNOVATION AND PARTNERSHIP 
              ADMINISTRATION.

    (a) In General.--Subtitle C of the Department of Agriculture 
Reorganization Act of 1994 (7 U.S.C. 6941 et seq.) is amended by adding 
at the end the following:

``SEC. 237. RURAL INNOVATION AND PARTNERSHIP ADMINISTRATION.

    ``(a) Establishment.--The Secretary shall establish in the 
Department a Rural Innovation and Partnership Administration (referred 
to in this section as the `Administration').
    ``(b) Administrator.--
            ``(1) In general.--The Administration shall be headed by an 
        Administrator of Rural Innovation and Partnerships (referred to 
        in this section as the `Administrator'), who shall be appointed 
        by the Secretary.
            ``(2) Reporting to under secretary.--The Administrator 
        shall report to the Under Secretary for Rural Development.
    ``(c) Functions.--The Secretary shall carry out through the 
Administration the functions of the Rural Future Partnership Fund 
established under subtitle I of the Consolidated Farm and Rural 
Development Act.
    ``(d) Requirement for State Offices.--In carrying out the functions 
of the Administration, the Secretary shall ensure that each State 
office of the rural development mission area is staffed with not less 
than 3 new employees to implement the Rural Future Partnership Fund 
established under subtitle I of the Consolidated Farm and Rural 
Development Act, including providing--
            ``(1) technical assistance;
            ``(2) support for capacity building;
            ``(3) financial controls; and
            ``(4) performance oversight.
    ``(e) Coordination With Council on Rural Community Innovation and 
Economic Development.--In carrying out the functions of the 
Administration, the Administrator shall coordinate with the Council on 
Rural Community Innovation and Economic Development established by 
section 6306 of the Agriculture Improvement Act of 2018 (7 U.S.C. 
2204b-3).''.
    (b) Conforming Amendments.--
            (1) Section 296(b) of the Department of Agriculture 
        Reorganization Act of 1994 (7 U.S.C. 7014(b)) is amended by 
        adding at the end the following:
            ``(11) The authority of the Secretary to establish and 
        maintain in the Department the Rural Innovation and Partnership 
        Administration under section 237.''.
            (2) Section 6306(f) of the Agriculture Improvement Act of 
        2018 (7 U.S.C. 2204b-3(f)) is amended--
                    (A) in paragraph (4), by striking ``and'' at the 
                end;
                    (B) in paragraph (5)(B), by striking the period at 
                the end and inserting ``; and''; and
                    (C) by adding at the end the following:
            ``(6) give priority to coordinating with the Administrator 
        of Rural Innovation and Partnerships in carrying out the Rural 
        Future Partnership Fund established under subtitle I of the 
        Consolidated Farm and Rural Development Act.''.

SEC. 4. RURAL FUTURE PARTNERSHIP FUND.

    The Consolidated Farm and Rural Development Act (7 U.S.C. 1921 et 
seq.) is amended by adding at the end the following:

              ``Subtitle I--Rural Future Partnership Fund

``SEC. 385A. DEFINITIONS.

    ``In this subtitle:
            ``(1) Council.--The term `Council' means a rural 
        partnership council established under paragraph (1)(A)(i), 
        (2)(A)(i), or (3)(A)(i), as applicable, of section 385C(a).
            ``(2) Eligible technical assistance provider.--The term 
        `eligible technical assistance provider' means an entity--
                    ``(A) with a demonstrated national or regional 
                structure or capacity to deliver and support multiple 
                rural planning activities across the United States or 
                within a region of the United States; and
                    ``(B) that is--
                            ``(i) a federally recognized Indian Tribe;
                            ``(ii) an institution of higher education;
                            ``(iii) a nonprofit organization; or
                            ``(iv) a private organization.
            ``(3) Fund.--The term `Fund' means the Rural Future 
        Partnership Fund established under section 385B.
            ``(4) Institution of higher education.--
                    ``(A) In general.--The term `institution of higher 
                education' has the meaning given the term in section 
                101 of the Higher Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 
                1001)).
                    ``(B) Inclusions.--The term `institution of higher 
                education' includes--
                            ``(i) land-grant colleges and universities 
                        (as defined in section 1404 of the National 
                        Agricultural Research, Extension, and Teaching 
                        Policy Act of 1977 (7 U.S.C. 3103)); and
                            ``(ii) associated cooperative extension 
                        services.
            ``(5) Plan.--The term `Plan' means a rural partnership plan 
        established under section 385E(a).
            ``(6) Reservation.--
                    ``(A) In general.--The term `reservation' has the 
                meaning given the term `Indian country' in section 1151 
                of title 18, United States Code.
                    ``(B) Inclusion.--The term `reservation' includes 
                land held by a Native group, a Regional Corporation, or 
                a Village Corporation (as those terms are defined in 
                section 3 of the Alaska Native Claims Settlement Act 
                (43 U.S.C. 1602)).
            ``(7) Rural partnership block grant.--The term `rural 
        partnership block grant' means a rural partnership block grant 
        awarded under this subtitle.
            ``(8) Secretary.--The term `Secretary' means the Secretary, 
        acting through the Administrator of Rural Innovation and 
        Partnerships.
            ``(9) Workforce housing.--The term `workforce housing' 
        means, with respect to housing for a family, housing the cost 
        of which does not exceed 30 percent of--
                    ``(A) subject to subparagraph (B), 120 percent of 
                the median income in the area in which the family 
                lives, as determined by the Secretary, with appropriate 
                adjustments for the size of the family; or
                    ``(B) if the Secretary determines that there are 
                unusually high or low family incomes in the area in 
                which the family lives, such other percentage, as the 
                Secretary determines to be appropriate, of the median 
                income in the area in which the family lives.

``SEC. 385B. ESTABLISHMENT.

    ``The Secretary shall establish a program, to be known as the 
`Rural Future Partnership Fund', under which the Secretary shall award 
rural partnership block grants in accordance with this subtitle.

``SEC. 385C. ELIGIBILITY.

    ``(a) In General.--
            ``(1) Micropolitan statistical areas.--
                    ``(A) In general.--To be eligible to receive a 
                rural partnership block grant--
                            ``(i) one or more units of local government 
                        that govern a micropolitan statistical area, as 
                        defined by the Director of the Office of 
                        Management and Budget, shall establish a rural 
                        partnership council in accordance with 
                        subsection (b); and
                            ``(ii) that Council shall submit an 
                        application to--
                                    ``(I) not later than 180 days after 
                                the date of enactment of the Rebuild 
                                Rural America Act of 2021--
                                            ``(aa)(AA) the applicable 
                                        State; or
                                            ``(BB) the applicable 
                                        States, if the micropolitan 
                                        statistical area spans more 
                                        than 1 State; and
                                            ``(bb) the applicable State 
                                        offices of the rural 
                                        development mission area; or
                                    ``(II) after the date described in 
                                subclause (I), the Secretary.
                    ``(B) Regional collaboration.--
                            ``(i) In general.--On receipt of an 
                        application under subparagraph (A)(ii)(I), the 
                        one or more States, in coordination with the 
                        applicable State offices of the rural 
                        development mission area, shall advise the 
                        applicant on the inclusion in the Council, if 
                        practicable, of one or more contiguous census 
                        tracts or counties that--
                                    ``(I) fall outside of a 
                                micropolitan or metropolitan 
                                statistical area; and
                                    ``(II) demonstrate evidence of 
                                economic, social, and cultural 
                                cooperation that enhances the potential 
                                for comprehensive, asset-based regional 
                                development.
                            ``(ii) Decision.--After receipt of advice 
                        under clause (i), the applicant shall--
                                    ``(I) decide whether to include one 
                                or more of the applicable contiguous 
                                census tracts or counties in the 
                                Council; and
                                    ``(II) modify the application, as 
                                appropriate.
                    ``(C) Approval.--
                            ``(i) States.--The one or more States that 
                        receive an application under subparagraph 
                        (A)(ii)(I)(aa), in coordination with the 
                        applicable State offices of the rural 
                        development mission area, shall approve the 
                        Council as eligible to receive a rural 
                        partnership block grant if the requirements 
                        under subsection (b) for the composition of the 
                        membership of a Council are satisfied.
                            ``(ii) Secretary.--Not less frequently than 
                        once each year, the Secretary, in coordination 
                        with the applicable State offices of the rural 
                        development mission area, may approve 
                        applications received under subparagraph 
                        (A)(ii)(II) if the requirements under 
                        subsection (b) for the composition of the 
                        membership of a Council are satisfied.
            ``(2) Areas outside of micropolitan and metropolitan 
        statistical areas.--
                    ``(A) In general.--To be eligible to receive a 
                rural partnership block grant--
                            ``(i) one or more entities described in 
                        subsection (b)(1) that are located in, or 
                        represent, two or more contiguous census tracts 
                        or counties in an area that is not within a 
                        micropolitan statistical area or a metropolitan 
                        statistical area, as defined by the Director of 
                        the Office of Management and Budget, and are 
                        not represented by a Council established under 
                        paragraph (1)(A)(i) or (3)(A)(i), shall 
                        establish a rural partnership council in 
                        accordance with subsection (b); and
                            ``(ii) that Council shall submit an 
                        application to--
                                    ``(I) not later than 180 days after 
                                the date of enactment of the Rebuild 
                                Rural America Act of 2021--
                                            ``(aa) the one or more 
                                        applicable States; and
                                            ``(bb) the applicable State 
                                        offices of the rural 
                                        development mission area; or
                                    ``(II) after the date described in 
                                subclause (I), the Secretary.
                    ``(B) Approval.--
                            ``(i) States.--The one or more States that 
                        receive an application under subparagraph 
                        (A)(ii)(I)(aa), in coordination with the 
                        applicable State offices of the rural 
                        development mission area, shall approve the 
                        Council as eligible to receive a rural 
                        partnership block grant if--
                                    ``(I) the requirements under 
                                subsection (b) for the composition of 
                                the membership of a Council are 
                                satisfied; and
                                    ``(II) the area to be represented 
                                by the Council--
                                            ``(aa) is of practicable 
                                        geographic size; and
                                            ``(bb) demonstrates 
                                        evidence of economic, social, 
                                        and cultural cooperation that 
                                        enhances the potential for 
                                        comprehensive, asset-based 
                                        regional development.
                            ``(ii) Secretary.--Not less frequently than 
                        once each year, the Secretary, in coordination 
                        with the applicable State offices of the rural 
                        development mission area, may approve 
                        applications received under subparagraph 
                        (A)(ii)(II) if the requirements described in 
                        clause (i) are satisfied.
            ``(3) Indian reservations.--
                    ``(A) In general.--To be eligible to receive a 
                rural partnership block grant--
                            ``(i) an Indian Tribe that has jurisdiction 
                        over a reservation shall establish a rural 
                        partnership council in accordance with 
                        subsection (b); and
                            ``(ii) that Council shall submit an 
                        application to the Secretary.
                    ``(B) Approval.--
                            ``(i) In general.--On receipt of an 
                        application that was submitted under 
                        subparagraph (A)(ii) not later than 180 days 
                        after the date of enactment of the Rebuild 
                        Rural America Act of 2021, the Secretary, in 
                        coordination with the applicable State offices 
                        of the rural development mission area, shall 
                        approve the Council as eligible to receive a 
                        rural partnership block grant if the 
                        requirements under subsection (b) for the 
                        composition of the membership of a Council are 
                        satisfied.
                            ``(ii) Subsequent applications.--Not less 
                        frequently than once each year, the Secretary, 
                        in coordination with the applicable State 
                        offices of the rural development mission area, 
                        may approve applications submitted under 
                        subparagraph (A)(ii) later than 180 days after 
                        the date of enactment of the Rebuild Rural 
                        America Act of 2021 if the requirements under 
                        subsection (b) for the composition of the 
                        membership of a Council are satisfied.
    ``(b) Membership.--Each Council--
            ``(1) shall include one or more representatives of--
                    ``(A) a District Organization (as defined in 
                section 300.3 of title 13, Code of Federal Regulations 
                (or successor regulations)) or a comparable regional 
                planning organization if there is no applicable 
                District Organization;
                    ``(B) one or more units of local government, or one 
                or more entities designated by a unit of local 
                government, within the applicable area; and
                    ``(C) a public or nonprofit organization;
            ``(2) may include one or more representatives of--
                    ``(A) an economic development or other community or 
                labor organization;
                    ``(B) a financial institution, including a 
                community development financial institution (as defined 
                in section 103 of the Community Development Banking and 
                Financial Institutions Act of 1994 (12 U.S.C. 4702));
                    ``(C) a philanthropic organization;
                    ``(D) a rural cooperative;
                    ``(E) an entity with experience in the development 
                of cooperatives;
                    ``(F) an institution of higher education;
                    ``(G) elementary or secondary education;
                    ``(H) a private entity;
                    ``(I) a Tribal organization;
                    ``(J) a metropolitan planning organization (as 
                defined in section 134(b) of title 23, United States 
                Code);
                    ``(K) any other regional planning organization; or
                    ``(L) any other entity, as determined to be 
                appropriate by the Council; and
            ``(3) shall be composed of an odd number of members.
    ``(c) Revisions.--
            ``(1) In general.--Not more frequently than once every 5 
        years, a Council may submit to the one or more applicable 
        States, or to the Secretary in the case of a Council 
        established by an Indian Tribe, an application to revise the 
        geographic boundary of the applicable area represented by the 
        Council.
            ``(2) Final approval by secretary.--An application 
        submitted to one or more States under paragraph (1) shall be 
        subject to final approval by the Secretary.

``SEC. 385D. RURAL PARTNERSHIP BLOCK GRANTS.

    ``(a) Allocation of Funds.--
            ``(1) In general.--Except as provided in paragraph (2), the 
        Secretary shall allocate rural partnership block grant funds to 
        Councils proportionately based on the population of each area 
        represented by a Council.
            ``(2) High poverty rates.--The Secretary shall allocate to 
        a Council an amount equal to 3 times the applicable amount 
        under paragraph (1) with respect to each individual residing in 
        a census tract, or a group of contiguous census tracts, that--
                    ``(A) has a poverty rate of 20 percent or greater; 
                and
                    ``(B) is within or comprises the applicable area.
    ``(b) Distribution.--The Secretary shall distribute rural 
partnership block grant funds annually to each Council during the term 
of the rural partnership block grant.
    ``(c) Term.--A rural partnership block grant--
            ``(1) shall be for a term of 5 years; and
            ``(2) may be renewed.
    ``(d) Grant Agreements.--
            ``(1) In general.--Each Council shall enter into an 
        agreement with the Secretary, under which the Council, in 
        coordination with the Secretary, shall establish performance 
        measures and reporting requirements that shall be met by the 
        end of each year for which the Council receives funds under the 
        Fund.
            ``(2) Violations.--If the Secretary determines that a 
        Council has failed to meet any requirements of the applicable 
        agreement under paragraph (1), is not making reasonable 
        progress towards meeting that requirement, or is otherwise in 
        violation of that agreement, the Secretary may--
                    ``(A) withhold funds under the Fund until the 
                Council remedies the applicable violation; or
                    ``(B) terminate the agreement.

``SEC. 385E. RURAL PARTNERSHIP PLANS.

    ``(a) Establishment.--Each Council shall establish, maintain, 
evaluate, and report to the Secretary progress on a rural partnership 
plan in accordance with this section.
    ``(b) Coordination With Other Plans.--
            ``(1) In general.--In developing a Plan under this section, 
        a Council is encouraged to utilize existing Federal plans, and 
        existing State, regional, or Tribal plans, so as to reduce 
        duplicative efforts and align Federal investment.
            ``(2) Federal plans.--Existing Federal plans referred to in 
        paragraph (1) include--
                    ``(A) the Comprehensive Economic Development 
                Strategy of the Economic Development Administration;
                    ``(B) a local plan, as defined in section 3 of the 
                Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (29 U.S.C. 
                3102);
                    ``(C) the Consolidated Plan of the Department of 
                Housing and Urban Development;
                    ``(D) plans developed by metropolitan planning 
                organizations under section 134 of title 23, United 
                States Code;
                    ``(E) plans developed by regional transportation 
                planning organizations designated under section 135(m) 
                of title 23, United States Code, or section 5304(l) of 
                title 49, United States Code (commonly known as a 
                `rural transportation planning organization');
                    ``(F) emergency preparedness and hazard mitigation 
                plans required by the Federal Emergency Management 
                Agency;
                    ``(G) the Drinking Water Action Plan of the 
                Environmental Protection Agency;
                    ``(H) a good neighbor agreement (as defined in 
                section 8206(a) of the Agricultural Act of 2014 (16 
                U.S.C. 2113a(a))); and
                    ``(I) strategic plans developed by Federal regional 
                commissions, including--
                            ``(i) the Appalachian Regional Commission 
                        established by section 14301(a) of title 40, 
                        United States Code;
                            ``(ii) the Delta Regional Authority 
                        established under subtitle F of the 
                        Consolidated Farm and Rural Development Act (7 
                        U.S.C. 2009aa et seq.);
                            ``(iii) the Denali Commission established 
                        under the Denali Commission Act of 1998 (42 
                        U.S.C. 3121 note; title III of division C of 
                        Public Law 105-277);
                            ``(iv) the Northern Border Regional 
                        Commission established by section 15301(a)(3) 
                        of title 40, United States Code;
                            ``(v) the Northern Great Plains Regional 
                        Authority established under subtitle G of the 
                        Consolidated Farm and Rural Development Act (7 
                        U.S.C. 2009bb et seq.);
                            ``(vi) the Southeast Crescent Regional 
                        Commission established by section 15301(a)(1) 
                        of title 40, United States Code; and
                            ``(vii) the Southwest Border Regional 
                        Commission established by section 15301(a)(2) 
                        of title 40, United States Code.
    ``(c) Contents.--To the maximum extent practicable, a Plan shall 
include--
            ``(1) a plan to coordinate and build capacity across 
        jurisdictions in the applicable area to develop and implement 
        the Plan, including by targeting assistance to high-poverty and 
        other struggling areas within that region;
            ``(2) a plan that outlines feasible steps and achievable 
        goals, timelines, and strategies for implementing the Plan, 
        including making interjurisdictional agreements that provide 
        for cooperative and coordinated approaches to achieving the 
        goals of the Plan;
            ``(3) a prioritization of projects for funding and 
        implementation, when practicable, including by providing--
                    ``(A) a description of each prioritized project 
                proposed to be carried out; and
                    ``(B) a budget for each project described in 
                subparagraph (A) that includes--
                            ``(i) preliminary actions that have been or 
                        must be taken at the local or regional level to 
                        implement the project;
                            ``(ii) the anticipated Federal share of the 
                        cost of the project; and
                            ``(iii) a description of the source of the 
                        non-Federal share of funds or in-kind 
                        contributions for the project;
            ``(4) an assessment of current and future trends in the 
        applicable area, which may include--
                    ``(A) population growth or loss, and demographic 
                changes, in the region;
                    ``(B) accessibility of job centers within the 
                region to public transportation facilities and housing;
                    ``(C) infrastructure needs in the region, 
                including--
                            ``(i) projected water needs and sources;
                            ``(ii) any need for sewer infrastructure;
                            ``(iii) the existence of flood plains;
                            ``(iv) the needs of local and regional food 
                        systems, agricultural producers, and value-
                        added agricultural industries; and
                            ``(v) any need for affordable, high-speed 
                        internet, including new technologies for mobile 
                        internet services and for affordable, reliable 
                        cellular phone coverage;
                    ``(D) challenges in basic services within the 
                region, including pressing health challenges;
                    ``(E) skills and education for in-demand, quality 
                jobs and for regional economic development, which may 
                include retraining and education of incumbent or 
                displaced workers; and
                    ``(F) access to private debt and investment 
                capital;
            ``(5) a plan to develop opportunities for economic 
        diversification and innovation within the applicable area, with 
        particular attention to--
                    ``(A) agricultural diversification and supply chain 
                development;
                    ``(B) the conversion of existing businesses to 
                employee or local ownership, such as a cooperative;
                    ``(C) entrepreneurial support;
                    ``(D) clean energy;
                    ``(E) manufacturing; and
                    ``(F) technological innovation;
            ``(6) a plan for improving environmental resiliency, 
        efficient land use, remediation of brownfields and other 
        contaminated properties for re-use, mixed-use development, and 
        the preservation of agricultural, green, and open space, 
        including--
                    ``(A) an assessment of projected loss of 
                agricultural and rural land and other green space to 
                development; and
                    ``(B) a description of methods to minimize loss 
                described in subparagraph (A);
            ``(7) a plan for ensuring that no community or county in 
        the applicable area is excluded from receiving assistance 
        through the rural partnership block grant, including timelines 
        and goals for targeting assistance to high-poverty census 
        tracts included in the area;
            ``(8) a plan for building greater collaboration between--
                    ``(A) rural population centers and neighboring 
                rural areas of the applicable area; and
                    ``(B) the applicable area and neighboring urban 
                areas;
            ``(9) a plan for the creation and preservation of workforce 
        housing and affordable, energy-efficient housing for all ages, 
        incomes, races, and ethnicities, including--
                    ``(A) cooperative housing; and
                    ``(B) limited equity cooperative housing;
            ``(10) a plan to develop opportunities to revitalize 
        existing communities, including infill development and 
        utilizing existing assets, such as natural assets and public 
        infrastructure; and
            ``(11) such other information or plans as a Council or the 
        Secretary determines to be appropriate.
    ``(d) Approval.--
            ``(1) In general.--Not less frequently than annually, each 
        Council shall approve a Plan by a majority vote of the members 
        of the Council for submission to the Secretary for final 
        approval under paragraph (2).
            ``(2) Approval by secretary.--On receipt of a Plan under 
        paragraph (1), the Secretary may approve or disapprove the 
        Plan.

``SEC. 385F. USE OF GRANT FUNDS.

    ``(a) Planning.--During the first 2 years of the term of a rural 
partnership block grant, a Council may use the funds for comprehensive 
planning and capacity building to implement a Plan.
    ``(b) Implementation.--
            ``(1) In general.--A Council shall use funds under a rural 
        partnership block grant to implement a Plan.
            ``(2) Permissible uses.--In using funds to implement a Plan 
        under paragraph (1), a Council may use the funds--
                    ``(A) to support the development of critical 
                infrastructure necessary to facilitate economic 
                development in the applicable area, including high-
                speed internet, including new technologies for mobile 
                internet services and for affordable, reliable cellular 
                phone coverage;
                    ``(B) to support activities to achieve greater 
                economic and environmental resiliency, including for 
                emergency preparedness, disaster recovery, and hazard 
                mitigation;
                    ``(C) to provide assistance to entities within the 
                applicable area that provide basic public services, 
                such as--
                            ``(i) child care centers;
                            ``(ii) nonprofit health care, including 
                        community health centers, primary and emergency 
                        medical care, mental health, and substance 
                        abuse treatment providers;
                            ``(iii) public libraries;
                            ``(iv) community centers;
                            ``(v) public schools; and
                            ``(vi) nonprofit technology centers, 
                        including business incubators and business 
                        accelerators;
                    ``(D) to provide assistance with education, job 
                training, workforce development, or other needs 
                relating to the development and maintenance of a strong 
                workforce and support of youth, unemployed, 
                underemployed, dislocated, disabled, adult, and 
                incumbent workers and individuals with a barrier to 
                employment;
                    ``(E) to provide assistance in the development of 
                innovative collaborations that link public, private, 
                and philanthropic resources to achieve collaboratively 
                designed regional advancement;
                    ``(F) to promote and use employee ownership, 
                cooperatives, and local ownership in the development of 
                infrastructure, businesses, and community services;
                    ``(G) to acquire, or demolish improvements on, real 
                property;
                    ``(H) to construct or rehabilitate residential or 
                nonresidential structures;
                    ``(I) to develop new affordable low-income and 
                workforce housing options that ensure mixed-income 
                development;
                    ``(J) to construct public facilities and 
                improvements, such as water and sewer facilities, 
                streets, community centers, and the conversion of 
                school buildings for other purposes that are eligible 
                for funding under this subsection;
                    ``(K) to establish new connections between rural 
                population centers and neighboring rural areas within 
                the applicable area, and between the applicable area 
                and urban areas, relating to systems such as the supply 
                of clean energy, workforce sheds, food systems, supply 
                chains, commuting patterns, and outdoor recreation;
                    ``(L) to carry out activities relating to--
                            ``(i) energy conservation;
                            ``(ii) the development, storage, and use of 
                        clean energy resources; and
                            ``(iii) bio-based manufacturing;
                    ``(M) to rebuild and modernize infrastructure and 
                expand investment to support agricultural 
                diversification and supply chain development;
                    ``(N) to promote integrated transportation, 
                housing, energy, and economic development activities 
                carried out across policy areas and governmental 
                jurisdictions;
                    ``(O) to coordinate business development, land use, 
                housing, transportation, and infrastructure planning 
                processes across jurisdictions and agencies;
                    ``(P) to address public health needs, including--
                            ``(i) access to mental health and substance 
                        abuse services; and
                            ``(ii) access to healthy, locally, and 
                        regionally grown foods;
                    ``(Q) to encourage entrepreneurship and the scale-
                up of existing business operations by--
                            ``(i) improving access to capital, 
                        including market-based financing, such as 
                        angel, venture, equity, and equity-like 
                        capital;
                            ``(ii) facilitating collaboration between 
                        entrepreneurs and institutions of higher 
                        education and applied research institutions for 
                        the purposes of commercialization of research 
                        or adoption of technology or processes;
                            ``(iii) assisting with integration into a 
                        supply chain; and
                            ``(iv) providing mentor, networking, and 
                        support services for entrepreneurs, including 
                        establishing business incubators or 
                        accelerators;
                    ``(R) to develop innovative public and private 
                collaborations for investments in the applicable area;
                    ``(S) to use arts and culture for improvements in 
                economic development, education, training, and quality 
                of life;
                    ``(T) to revitalize downtown corridors and other 
                community centers to create vibrant, mixed-use 
                neighborhoods;
                    ``(U) to expand access to domestic and 
                international markets for businesses and agricultural 
                producers;
                    ``(V) to lead development programming for 
                organizations or cohorts of organizations included in 
                the Plan;
                    ``(W) to provide matching funds for other Federal 
                funding if that other Federal funding is for a project 
                that is in accordance with the goals of the Plan;
                    ``(X) to promote the use of energy efficiency in 
                applicable projects; and
                    ``(Y) to provide technical assistance for 
                cooperative conversions, startups, and expansions, 
                including education on cooperative governance.

``SEC. 385G. ACCESS TO FEDERAL PROGRAMS.

    ``(a) Definition of Rural Development Program.--In this section, 
the term `rural development program' means--
            ``(1) community facility direct and guaranteed loans under 
        section 306(a);
            ``(2) water or waste disposal grants or direct or 
        guaranteed loans under paragraph (1) or (2) of section 306(a);
            ``(3) community facility grants under paragraph (19), (20), 
        or (21) of section 306(a);
            ``(4) the rural cooperative development grant program 
        established under section 310B(e);
            ``(5) business and industry guaranteed loans under section 
        310B(g);
            ``(6) the rural microentrepreneur assistance program 
        established under section 379E;
            ``(7) the rural broadband access program established under 
        title VI of the Rural Electrification Act of 1936 (7 U.S.C. 
        950bb et seq.);
            ``(8) value-added producer grants under section 210A(d)(5) 
        of the Agricultural Marketing Act of 1946 (7 U.S.C. 
        1627c(d)(5));
            ``(9) the Healthy Food Financing Initiative established 
        under section 243 of the Department of Agriculture 
        Reorganization Act of 1994 (7 U.S.C. 6953);
            ``(10) the Rural Energy for America Program established 
        under section 9007 of the Farm Security and Rural Investment 
        Act of 2002 (7 U.S.C. 8107);
            ``(11) the rural energy savings program under section 6407 
        of the Farm Security and Rural Investment Act of 2002 (7 U.S.C. 
        8107a);
            ``(12) rural rental housing direct loans under section 515 
        of the Housing Act of 1949 (42 U.S.C. 1485);
            ``(13) the housing preservation grant program under section 
        533 of the Housing Act of 1949 (42 U.S.C. 1490m);
            ``(14) loan guarantees for multifamily rental housing in 
        rural areas under section 538 of the Housing Act of 1949 (42 
        U.S.C. 1490p-2);
            ``(15) housing preservation and revitalization 
        demonstration loans and grants provided by the Rural Housing 
        Service; and
            ``(16) multifamily housing transfer and prepayment 
        technical assistance grants provided by the Rural Housing 
        Service.
    ``(b) Waiver of Matching Funds Requirements.--The Secretary shall 
waive any matching funds requirement under a rural development program 
for a project that is carried out in an applicable area that is within 
or comprises a census tract, or a group of contiguous census tracts, 
that has a poverty rate of 20 percent or greater.
    ``(c) Priority Consideration for Other Rural Development 
Programs.--The Secretary shall give priority under a rural development 
program for an application for a project that--
            ``(1) is included in and supports a Plan;
            ``(2) is eligible for the applicable program from which the 
        funds were set aside; and
            ``(3) is carried out in the applicable area covered by the 
        Plan.
    ``(d) Other Federal Agencies.--The Secretary of Agriculture, acting 
as the Chair of the Council on Rural Community Innovation and Economic 
Development established by section 6306 of the Agriculture Improvement 
Act of 2018 (7 U.S.C. 2204b-3), may invite a member of that Council to 
give priority under the programs carried out by the member for a 
project that satisfies the criteria described in paragraphs (1) through 
(3) of subsection (c).

``SEC. 385H. CAPACITY BUILDING AND TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE PARTNERS.

    ``(a) Capacity Building.--
            ``(1) In general.--The Secretary shall provide to a Council 
        training, education, support, and advice to enhance the 
        technical assistance, research, organizational, and other 
        capacities of the Council in carrying out activities under the 
        Fund.
            ``(2) Activities.--In carrying out paragraph (1), the 
        Secretary, in coordination with the Rural Development 
        Innovation Center established by the Secretary of Agriculture 
        or through a contract for services entered into with an 
        eligible technical assistance provider, may provide training, 
        education, support, and advice that addresses--
                    ``(A) emergent innovative opportunities that are 
                not covered by an existing Plan;
                    ``(B) entrepreneurial opportunities to advance the 
                goals of the Fund;
                    ``(C) opportunities to advance a more integrative 
                rural policy framework for the United States, including 
                building regional connections between urban areas and 
                rural areas;
                    ``(D) with support from the Chief Information 
                Officer of the Department of Agriculture, the tracking, 
                collection, and analysis of data and measurements for 
                assessing the progress of Plans; and
                    ``(E) best practices based on--
                            ``(i) the experiences of Councils; and
                            ``(ii) domestic and international rural 
                        development practices.
    ``(b) Rural Future Leadership Institute.--
            ``(1) In general.--The Secretary shall establish a Rural 
        Future Leadership Institute (referred to in this subsection as 
        the `Institute').
            ``(2) Selection of entities.--
                    ``(A) In general.--Under the Institute, each year 
                the Secretary shall select individuals to participate 
                in the Institute.
                    ``(B) Preference.--In selecting individuals to 
                participate in the Institute under subparagraph (A), 
                the Secretary shall give preference to an individual 
                residing in, or directly assisting, an area represented 
                by a Council.
            ``(3) Activities.--The Secretary shall provide to each 
        individual that is selected to participate in the Institute 
        under paragraph (2) year-long programming such as--
                    ``(A) skill-building seminars;
                    ``(B) best practice reviews;
                    ``(C) site visits;
                    ``(D) performance measurement and data analytics; 
                and
                    ``(E) other training and capacity building 
                activities.
            ``(4) Peer exchange program.--In carrying out the 
        Institute, the Secretary shall establish a peer exchange 
        program within and across areas represented by Councils to 
        promote industry-leading practices, innovations relating to the 
        organizational development, program delivery, and regional 
        initiatives of the Councils, and opportunities to build 
        collaborative relationships between urban leaders and rural 
        leaders.
    ``(c) Rural Future Corps.--
            ``(1) Definition of americorps participant.--In this 
        subsection, the term `AmeriCorps participant' means a 
        participant under subtitle C of title I of the National and 
        Community Service Act of 1990 (42 U.S.C. 12571 et seq.) who 
        received an approved national service position provided under 
        section 121(b) of that Act (42 U.S.C. 12571(b)).
            ``(2) Establishment.--The Secretary shall enter into an 
        agreement with the Corporation for National and Community 
        Service under section 121(b) of the National and Community 
        Service Act of 1990 (42 U.S.C. 12571(b)) to establish a Rural 
        Future Corps in which AmeriCorps participants shall serve in 
        areas represented by Councils, to implement the Plans of the 
        Councils, including serving through--
                    ``(A) expansion of critical services such as child 
                care, health, nutrition assistance, education, and job 
                training; and
                    ``(B) strengthening the capacity of units of local 
                government and economic, community, and cooperative 
                development organizations to implement community and 
                economic development activities.
            ``(3) Retention.--On completion of service of an AmeriCorps 
        participant in the Rural Future Corps, the Secretary shall 
        encourage the retention of the participant in the applicable 
        area in which the participant served.
            ``(4) Relationship to national service programs.--
        Notwithstanding section 122(a) of the National and Community 
        Service Act of 1990 (42 U.S.C. 12752(a)), for purposes of that 
        Act, the approved national service positions provided under the 
        agreement for the Rural Future Corps program will be considered 
        to be used to support a national service program under section 
        122(b) of that Act (42 U.S.C. 12572(b)).
    ``(d) Map.--The Secretary, in coordination with the Chief 
Information Officer of the Department of Agriculture, shall make 
publicly available on a website a map of areas represented by Councils, 
including, with respect to each area, the members of the Council.
    ``(e) Technical Assistance Partners.--The Secretary may enter into 
a cooperative agreement under section 607(b)(4) of the Rural 
Development Act of 1972 (7 U.S.C. 2204b(b)(4)) with an eligible 
technical assistance provider to provide technical assistance to the 
Secretary and Councils in carrying out the Fund.

``SEC. 385I. EVALUATION AND REPORTING.

    ``(a) Evaluations.--Not later than the last day of the fourth year 
of the first rural partnership block grant awarded to a Council, and 
annually thereafter--
            ``(1) the Secretary shall evaluate the performance of the 
        Council in carrying out the Plan of the Council in relation to 
        the benchmarks established under subsection (b); and
            ``(2) the Council shall use the evaluation under paragraph 
        (1) in updating the Plan under section 385E(d)(1).
    ``(b) Reporting Benchmarks.--
            ``(1) In general.--The Secretary, in coordination with 
        Councils and national providers of technical assistance under 
        section 385H(e), shall establish annual reporting benchmarks 
        relating to the purposes of the Fund.
            ``(2) Existing measures.--In establishing reporting 
        benchmarks under paragraph (1), the Secretary shall consider 
        relevant existing performance measures used in programs of the 
        rural development mission area--
                    ``(A) to achieve alignment with those programs; and
                    ``(B) to allow for opportunities for a partnership 
                block grant to leverage other funding provided under 
                those programs.
    ``(c) Reports.--The Secretary shall--
            ``(1) not less frequently than annually, prepare and submit 
        to Congress a report describing--
                    ``(A) the implementation of the Fund; and
                    ``(B) an assessment of future goals for the Fund; 
                and
            ``(2) include the assessment described in paragraph (1)(B) 
        in the comprehensive rural development strategy under section 
        607(c) of the Rural Development Act of 1972 (7 U.S.C. 
        2204b(c)).

``SEC. 385J. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.

    ``There is authorized to be appropriated to carry out the Fund 
$10,000,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2022 through 2026, of which--
            ``(1) $100,000,000 for each fiscal year shall be used for 
        administrative functions, including staff and information 
        technology infrastructure, of the Rural Innovation and 
        Partnership Administration; and
            ``(2) $40,000,000 for each fiscal year shall be used to 
        carry out section 385H.''.
                                 <all>