[Congressional Bills 118th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 7444 Introduced in House (IH)]

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118th CONGRESS
  2d Session
                                H. R. 7444

To authorize the Secretary of Agriculture to provide rural partnership 
 program grants and rural partnership technical assistance grants, and 
                          for other purposes.


_______________________________________________________________________


                    IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

                           February 23, 2024

  Ms. Salinas (for herself and Mr. Valadao) introduced the following 
        bill; which was referred to the Committee on Agriculture

_______________________________________________________________________

                                 A BILL


 
To authorize the Secretary of Agriculture to provide rural partnership 
 program grants and rural partnership technical assistance grants, 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 ``Rural Partnership and Prosperity 
Act''.

SEC. 2. DEFINITIONS.

    In this Act:
            (1) Indian tribe.--The term ``Indian Tribe'' has the 
        meaning given the term in section 4 of the Indian Self-
        Determination and Education Assistance Act (25 U.S.C. 5304).
            (2) Rural; rural area.--The terms ``rural'' and ``rural 
        area'' have the meaning given those terms in section 
        343(a)(13)(A) of the Consolidated Farm and Rural Development 
        Act (7 U.S.C. 1991(a)(13)(A)).
            (3) Secretary.--The term ``Secretary'' means the Secretary 
        of Agriculture.

SEC. 3. RURAL PARTNERSHIP PROGRAM GRANTS.

    (a) In General.--Subject to the availability of appropriations 
under subsection (j), the Secretary shall establish a program to make 
multiyear grant awards to coordinate Federal, nonprofit, and for-profit 
investment in rural areas.
    (b) Grant Requirements.--
            (1) Term.--The term of a grant awarded under subsection (a) 
        shall be not less than 2 years and not more than 5 years.
            (2) Awards.--Except as provided in paragraphs (3) and (4), 
        the State offices of the rural development mission area shall 
        be responsible for reviewing applications for grant awards 
        under subsection (a) and selecting eligible applicants 
        described in subsection (d) for those grant awards.
            (3) Tribal awards.--Except as provided in paragraph (4), in 
        the case of grants under subsection (a) allocated to Indian 
        Tribes under subsection (c)(1)(B), the national office of the 
        rural development mission area shall be responsible for 
        reviewing applications for grant awards under subsection (a) 
        and selecting eligible applicants described in subsection (d) 
        for those grant awards.
            (4) Competitive process.--If the amount appropriated under 
        subsection (j) for a fiscal year is less than or equal to 
        $300,000,000, the national office of the rural development 
        mission area shall be responsible for reviewing applications 
        for grant awards under subsection (a) and selecting eligible 
        applicants described in subsection (d) for those grant awards--
                    (A) on a competitive basis; and
                    (B) by giving priority to areas that have higher 
                nonmetropolitan poverty levels and lower population 
                levels, while ensuring that grants under this section 
                are awarded in diverse geographic regions of the United 
                States.
    (c) Grant Allocation.--
            (1) In general.--Except as provided in subsection (b)(4), 
        the Secretary shall allocate funding for grants under 
        subsection (a)--
                    (A) for each State based on a formula determined by 
                the Secretary in accordance with paragraph (2); and
                    (B) for Indian Tribes in such amounts as the 
                Secretary determines to be appropriate, subject to the 
                condition that the total amount allocated to Indian 
                Tribes under this subparagraph shall not be less than 5 
                percent of the amount appropriated under subsection 
                (j), with Indian Tribes located in areas that have 
                higher poverty levels and lower populations receiving 
                higher levels of funding.
            (2) Allocation requirements.--
                    (A) In general.--The Secretary shall develop a 
                graduated scale to allocate funding for States under 
                paragraph (1)(A) based on the nonmetropolitan poverty 
                and population levels in each State.
                    (B) Limitation.--The amount allocated to any State 
                under subparagraph (A) shall not exceed 5 percent of 
                the amount appropriated under subsection (j).
            (3) Small state exception to formula.--Notwithstanding 
        paragraphs (1)(A) and (2)(A), the Secretary shall ensure that 
        each State is allocated an amount for grants under this 
        subsection that is sufficient to fulfill the purposes of the 
        program established under this section, as determined by the 
        Secretary.
            (4) Reallocation.--If a State or Indian Tribe does not use 
        funds allocated to the State or Indian Tribe under this 
        subsection, the Secretary may reallocate the unused funds to 1 
        or more other States or Indian Tribes, each of which has used 
        all of the funding allocated to the State or Indian Tribe under 
        this subsection.
    (d) Eligible Applicants.--To be eligible to receive a grant under 
subsection (a), an applicant shall--
            (1) propose to serve a rural area;
            (2) be composed of a partnership of 2 or more of--
                    (A) an instrumentality or political subdivision of 
                a State, such as a municipality, county, district, or 
                authority;
                    (B) a nonprofit corporation or association with 
                significant ties to the rural area described in 
                paragraph (1), including through--
                            (i) association with, or control by, 1 or 
                        more public bodies in the rural area;
                            (ii) broadly based ownership and control by 
                        members of the rural area; or
                            (iii) a substantial public funding 
                        contribution to the rural area through taxes, 
                        revenue bonds, other local government sources, 
                        or substantial voluntary community funding;
                    (C) a cooperative with significant ties to the 
                rural area described in paragraph (1);
                    (D) a for-profit entity with a significant presence 
                in the rural area described in paragraph (1);
                    (E) an institution of higher education--
                            (i) with a significant contribution to or 
                        presence in the rural area described in 
                        paragraph (1); and
                            (ii) that includes representatives who are 
                        members of the rural area; and
                    (F) an Indian Tribe--
                            (i) in a rural area described in paragraph 
                        (1); and
                            (ii) with demonstrated support from the 
                        Tribal council or duly elected Tribal executive 
                        of the appropriate Tribal government; and
            (3) demonstrate cooperation among the members of the 
        partnership described in paragraph (2) necessary to complete 
        comprehensive, asset-based rural development through eligible 
        activities described in subsection (e).
    (e) Eligible Activities.--An eligible applicant described in 
subsection (d) that receives a grant under subsection (a) may use the 
grant funds in rural areas--
            (1) to coordinate Federal, State, regional, or Tribal 
        initiatives to reduce duplicative efforts with respect to 
        Federal investments;
            (2) to leverage non-Federal financial and technical 
        resources;
            (3) to complete comprehensive predevelopment activities and 
        planning;
            (4) to create public-private partnerships and attract 
        private investment;
            (5) to support eligible operational activities, including 
        staffing, of the eligible applicants, except that a for-profit 
        entity may not use the grant funds for the purpose described in 
        this paragraph;
            (6) to provide capital to existing or new projects, subject 
        to the condition that not more than 50 percent of the grant 
        funds may be used for that purpose;
            (7) to support regional projects and initiatives;
            (8) to address economic recovery from emergencies and 
        natural or man-made disasters; and
            (9) to develop strategic community investment plans 
        described in section 379H(d) of the Consolidated Farm and Rural 
        Development Act (7 U.S.C. 2008v(d)).
    (f) Ineligible Activities.--An eligible applicant described in 
subsection (d) that receives a grant under subsection (a) may not use 
the grant funds--
            (1) to fund operational activities, including staffing, at 
        a for-profit institution;
            (2) to purchase or lease real property; or
            (3) to support a non-rural area.
    (g) Selection Criteria.--In awarding grants under subsection (b), 
the Secretary shall give priority to an eligible applicant described in 
subsection (d) that proposes to serve--
            (1) a rural area with a significant change in population;
            (2) a rural area with significant workforce changes or 
        changes in major employers;
            (3) an economically distressed rural area, as determined by 
        the Secretary;
            (4) a rural area that has historically received minimal 
        Federal funding, as determined by the Secretary; or
            (5) a rural area for the purpose of job retention and 
        economic stabilization, as determined by the Secretary.
    (h) Matching Funds.--
            (1) In general.--Subject to paragraph (2), an eligible 
        applicant described in subsection (d) that receives a grant 
        under subsection (a) shall provide non-Federal matching funds 
        in the form of cash or an in-kind contribution in an amount 
        that is not less than 25 percent of the amount of the grant.
            (2) Waiver.--
                    (A) In general.--The Secretary may waive the 
                requirement under paragraph (1) based on the 
                demonstrated need of the eligible applicant or the 
                population served by the eligible applicant, as 
                determined by the Secretary, including--
                            (i) an eligible applicant serving an area 
                        with a higher nonmetropolitan poverty level;
                            (ii) an eligible applicant serving a Tribal 
                        population; and
                            (iii) an eligible applicant composed of a 
                        partnership that includes an entity described 
                        in subsection (d)(2)(A).
                    (B) Justification.--The Secretary shall provide to 
                the Committee on Agriculture of the House of 
                Representatives and the Committee on Agriculture, 
                Nutrition, and Forestry of the Senate a justification 
                for each waiver provided under subparagraph (A).
            (3) Providers.--Non-Federal matching funds under paragraph 
        (1) may be provided by any member of the applicable partnership 
        described in subsection (d)(2).
    (i) Coordination.--The Secretary shall carry out this section in 
coordination with the Rural Partners Network established by section 
6306 of the Agriculture Improvement Act of 2018 (7 U.S.C. 2204b-3).
    (j) Authorization of Appropriations.--
            (1) In general.--There are authorized to be appropriated to 
        the Secretary such sums as are necessary to carry out this 
        section.
            (2) Administration.--The Secretary may retain not more than 
        2 percent of the amounts made available to carry out this 
        section for administration of the program established under 
        this section.

SEC. 4. RURAL PARTNERSHIP TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE GRANTS.

    (a) In General.--Subject to the availability of appropriations 
under subsection (g), the Secretary shall establish a program to award 
grants, on a competitive basis, for up to a 5-year period, to be 
administered at the national level through the Under Secretary for 
Rural Development, for the purpose of advising on and assisting rural 
community organizations with--
            (1) Federal grant management and the development of 
        financial management systems;
            (2) housing or community economic development projects; and
            (3) the development of placemaking plans and applications 
        for Federal grants.
    (b) Eligible Applicants.--To be eligible to receive a grant under 
subsection (a), an applicant shall be a qualified private or nonprofit 
intermediary organization, including an institution of higher education 
with an existing community development and planning program, including 
an extension program, that has demonstrated experience and capacity to 
provide technical assistance on community development and planning in 
rural areas.
    (c) Eligible Activities.--An eligible applicant described in 
subsection (b) that receives a grant under subsection (a) may use the 
grant funds to support the capacity building and economic development 
of identified rural areas and local partners in those rural areas 
through the following activities:
            (1) Training and supporting local staff, including relating 
        to systems development and support.
            (2) Identifying vetted technical consultants for planning 
        and designing physical infrastructure.
            (3) Facilitating coordination between Federal agencies and 
        local partners.
            (4) Providing expertise on developing public-private 
        partnerships.
            (5) Development and project predevelopment activities.
            (6) Grant writing and grant management activities.
    (d) Ineligible Activities.--An eligible applicant described in 
subsection (b) that receives a grant under subsection (a) may not use 
the grant funds--
            (1) to fund staffing at a for-profit entity;
            (2) to purchase or lease real property, buildings, or 
        equipment;
            (3) to support a non-rural area; or
            (4) for research and development.
    (e) Priority.--In awarding grants under subsection (a), the 
Secretary may give priority to an eligible applicant described in 
subsection (b) that serves--
            (1) a nonmetropolitan area with a high poverty level; or
            (2) an Indian Tribe with demonstrated support from the 
        Tribal council or duly elected Tribal executive of the 
        appropriate Tribal government.
    (f) Matching Funds.--
            (1) In general.--Subject to paragraph (2), an eligible 
        applicant described in subsection (b) that receives a grant 
        under subsection (a) shall provide non-Federal matching funds 
        in an amount that is not less than 30 percent of the amount of 
        the grant.
            (2) Waiver.--
                    (A) In general.--The Secretary may waive the 
                requirement under paragraph (1) based on the 
                demonstrated need of the area in which activities using 
                the grant are to be carried out, as determined by the 
                Secretary.
                    (B) Justification.--The Secretary shall provide to 
                the Committee on Agriculture of the House of 
                Representatives and the Committee on Agriculture, 
                Nutrition, and Forestry of the Senate a justification 
                for each waiver provided under subparagraph (A).
    (g) Authorization of Appropriations.--
            (1) In general.--There are authorized to be appropriated to 
        the Secretary such sums as are necessary to carry out this 
        section.
            (2) Administration.--The Secretary may retain not more than 
        2 percent of the amounts made available to carry out this 
        section for administration of the program established under 
        this section.

SEC. 5. RURAL PARTNERS NETWORK.

    Section 6306 of the Agriculture Improvement Act of 2018 (7 U.S.C. 
2204b-3) is amended--
            (1) in the section heading, by striking ``council on rural 
        community innovation and economic development'' and inserting 
        ``rural partners network'';
            (2) in subsection (a)(1), by striking ``council'' and 
        inserting ``network'';
            (3) by striking subsection (b) and inserting the following:
    ``(b) Establishment.--
            ``(1) In general.--There is established a Rural Partners 
        Network (referred to in this section as the `Network').
            ``(2) Successor.--The Network shall be the successor to the 
        Council on Rural Community Innovation and Economic Development 
        established by this section (as in effect on the day before the 
        date of enactment of the Rural Partnership and Prosperity 
        Act).'';
            (4) in subsection (c)--
                    (A) in paragraph (1)--
                            (i) by striking subparagraphs (C), (D), 
                        (N), (Q), (R), (S), (T), (V), (X), (Y), and 
                        (Z);
                            (ii) by redesignating subparagraphs (E) 
                        through (M), (O), (P), (U), (W), and (AA) as 
                        subparagraphs (C) through (K), (L), (M), (N), 
                        (O), and (X), respectively; and
                            (iii) by inserting after subparagraph (O) 
                        (as so redesignated) the following:
                    ``(P) The Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation.
                    ``(Q) The Appalachian Regional Commission.
                    ``(R) The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau.
                    ``(S) The Social Security Administration.
                    ``(T) The Delta Regional Authority.
                    ``(U) The Denali Commission.
                    ``(V) The Northern Border Regional Commission.
                    ``(W) The Southeast Crescent Regional 
                Commission.''; and
                    (B) in paragraphs (2) through (4), by striking 
                ``Council'' each place it appears and inserting 
                ``Network'';
            (5) in subsection (d), by striking ``Council'' and 
        inserting ``Network'';
            (6) in subsection (e)--
                    (A) in the subsection heading, by striking 
                ``Council'' and inserting ``Network'';
                    (B) in the matter preceding paragraph (1), by 
                striking ``Council'' and inserting ``Network'';
                    (C) in paragraph (2), by striking ``and'' at the 
                end;
                    (D) in paragraph (3), by striking the period at the 
                end and inserting ``; and''; and
                    (E) by adding at the end the following:
            ``(4) to improve the efficiency of Federal assistance to 
        rural communities by--
                    ``(A) reducing administrative burdens on rural 
                communities to pursue Federal funding;
                    ``(B) improving the administrative efficiency of 
                Federal economic development programs serving rural 
                communities; and
                    ``(C) streamlining and simplifying the application 
                process for Federal funding opportunities for rural 
                communities.'';
            (7) in subsection (f), in the matter preceding paragraph 
        (1), by striking ``Council'' and inserting ``Network'';
            (8) in subsection (g), by striking ``Council'' each place 
        it appears and inserting ``Network''; and
            (9) by striking subsection (h) and inserting the following:
    ``(h) Innovative Cross-Agency Coordination.--
            ``(1) In general.--The Secretary, acting as Chair of the 
        Network, may carry out innovative strategies for coordinating 
        with other Federal departments and agencies with respect to 
        programs that serve rural areas.
            ``(2) Priorities.--In carrying out paragraph (1), the 
        Secretary shall prioritize--
                    ``(A) improving ease of access to Federal programs 
                for resource-constrained rural communities;
                    ``(B) utilizing early technical assistance to 
                reduce duplicative applications and administrative 
                costs at the Federal level;
                    ``(C) leveraging partnerships with local, State, 
                philanthropic, and private entities to maximize returns 
                on Federal investments;
                    ``(D) integrating stakeholder and program user 
                experience into program design; and
                    ``(E) targeting areas experiencing economic 
                distress, as determined by the Secretary.''.
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