[Congressional Bills 118th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[S. 4945 Introduced in Senate (IS)]

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118th CONGRESS
  2d Session
                                S. 4945

To direct the Secretary of Agriculture to carry out research, technical 
 studies, demonstrations, and pilot programs to further the mission of 
                the Rural Business-Cooperative Service.


_______________________________________________________________________


                   IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES

                             August 1, 2024

   Mr. Welch introduced the following bill; which was read twice and 
   referred to the Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry

_______________________________________________________________________

                                 A BILL


 
To direct the Secretary of Agriculture to carry out research, technical 
 studies, demonstrations, and pilot programs to further the mission of 
                the Rural Business-Cooperative Service.

    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 Opportunities and 
Revitalization Act of 2024''.

SEC. 2. RESEARCH, TECHNICAL STUDIES, DEMONSTRATIONS, AND PILOT PROGRAMS 
              TO FURTHER THE MISSION OF THE RURAL BUSINESS-COOPERATIVE 
              SERVICE.

    (a) Definition of Secretary.--In this section, the term 
``Secretary'' means the Secretary of Agriculture.
    (b) Authorization.--The Secretary shall carry out the following 
activities relating to the mission and programs of the Rural Business-
Cooperative Service:
            (1) Research.
            (2) Technical studies.
            (3) Demonstrations.
            (4) Pilot programs.
    (c) Special Rules.--
            (1) Resources.--In carrying out the activities described in 
        subsection (b), the Secretary shall promote long-term 
        prosperity in rural areas by providing the following resources 
        to help individuals living in rural areas start businesses, 
        grow businesses, or find jobs:
                    (A) Capital.
                    (B) Training.
                    (C) Education.
                    (D) Entrepreneurial skills.
                    (E) Economic development.
            (2) Demonstrations.--In carrying out this section, the 
        Secretary may permit demonstrations involving innovative 
        methods of program delivery that do not meet standards, rules, 
        regulations, or policies of the Department of Agriculture if 
        the Secretary determines that--
                    (A) permitting a demonstration is in the best 
                interests of the Federal Government;
                    (B) the health and safety of individuals in the 
                area in which a demonstration is carried out will not 
                be adversely impacted; and
                    (C) deviations from the standards, rules, 
                regulations, or policies do not compromise the core 
                mission of the rural development mission area of 
                promoting rural development, economic growth, and 
                infrastructure development.
    (d) Authorization of Appropriations.--There is authorized to be 
appropriated to the Secretary to carry out this section $5,000,000 for 
each fiscal year.
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