SEC. 535. [7 U.S.C. 301 note] INSTITUTIONAL CAPACITY BUILDING GRANTS.

(a) DEFINITIONS.—As used in this section:

(1) FEDERAL SHARE.-The term "Federal share" means, with respect to a grant awarded under subsection (b), the share of the grant that is provided from Federal funds.

(2) NON-FEDERAL SHARE.-The term "non-Federal share" means, with respect to a grant awarded under subsection (b), the matching funds paid with funds other than funds referred to in paragraph (1), as determined by the Secretary.

(3) SECRETARY.-The term "Secretary" means the Secretary of Agriculture.

(b) IN GENERAL.

(1) INSTITUTIONAL CAPACITY BUILDING GRANTS.-For each of fiscal years 1996 through 2000, the Secretary shall make two or more institutional capacity building grants to assist 1994 Institutions with constructing, acquiring, and remodeling buildings, laboratories, and other capital facilities (including fixtures and equipment) necessary to conduct instructional activities more effectively in agriculture and sciences.

(2) REQUIREMENTS FOR GRANTS.-The Secretary shall make grants under this section—

(A) on the basis of a competitive application process under which appropriate officials of 1994 Institutions may submit applications to the Secretary in such form and manner as the Secretary may prescribe; and

(B) in such manner as to ensure geographic diversity with respect to the 1994 Institutions that are the subject of the grants.

(3) DEMONSTRATION OF NEED.-The Secretary shall require, as part of an application for a grant under this subsection, a demonstration of need. The Secretary may only award a grant under this subsection to an applicant that demonstrates a failure to obtain funding for a project after making a reasonable effort to otherwise obtain the funding.

(4) PAYMENT OF NON-FEDERAL SHARE.-A grant awarded under this subsection shall be made only if the recipient of the grant pays a non-Federal share in an amount specified by the Secretary.

(c) AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.-There are authorized to be appropriated to the Department of Agriculture to carry out this section, $1,700,000 for each of fiscal years 1996 through 2000.

9. SELECTED PROVISIONS OF THE RURAL DEVELOPMENT ACT OF 1972

[As Amended Through End of 104th Congress]

THE RURAL DEVELOPMENT ACT OF 1972

(Public Law 92–419, August 30, 1972)

AN ACT To provide for improving the economy and living conditions in rural

America.

Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, That this Act may be cited as the "Rural Development Act of 1972".

TITLE V RURAL DEVELOPMENT AND SMALL FARM
RESEARCH AND EDUCATION

SEC. 501.2 [7 U.S.C. 2661] PURPOSES AND GOALS. (a) The overall purpose of this title is to foster a balanced national development that provides opportunities for increased numbers of the people of the United States to work and enjoy a high quality of life dispersed throughout our Nation by providing the essential knowledge necessary for successful programs of rural development. It is further the purpose of this title to

(1) provide multistate regional agencies, States, counties, cities, multicounty planning and development districts, businesses, industries, Indian tribes on Federal and State reservations or other federally recognized Indian tribal groups and others involved with public services and investments in rural areas or that provide or may provide employment in these areas the best available scientific, technical, economic, organizational, environmental, and management information and knowledge useful to them, and to assist and encourage them in the interpretation and application of this information to practical problems and needs in rural development;

(2) provide research and investigations in all fields that have as their purpose the development of useful knowledge and information to assist those planning, carrying out, managing, or investing in facilities, services, businesses, or other enterprises, public and private, that may contribute to rural development;

(3) increase the capabilities of, and encourage, colleges and universities to perform the vital public service roles of research, and the transfer and practical application of knowledge, in support of rural development;

(4) expand small farm research and extend training and technical assistance to small farm families in assessing their

1 Titles I-IV are amendatory.

2 Public Law 103-318, the Northern Great Plains Rural Development Act (7 U.S.C. 2661 note), established a Northern Great Plains Rural Development Commission to make recommendations regarding the economic development of the rural Northern Great Plains.

needs and opportunities and in using the best available knowledge on sound economic approaches to small farm operations and on existing services offered by the Department of Agriculture and other public and private agencies and organizations to improve their income and to gain access to essential facilities and services; and

(5) support activities to supplement and extend programs that address special research and education needs in States experiencing rapid social and economic adjustments or unique problems caused by rural isolation and that address national and regional rural development policies, strategies, issues, and programs.

(b) the goals of this title are to—

(1) encourage and support rural United States, in order to help make it a better place to live, work, and enjoy life;

(2) increase income and improve employment for persons in rural areas, including the owners or operators of small farms, small businesses, and rural youth;

(3) improve the quality and availability of essential community services and facilities in rural areas;

(4) improve the quantity and quality of rural housing;

(5) improve the rural management of natural resources so that the growth and development of rural communities needed. to support the family farm may be accommodated with minimum effect on the natural environment and the agricultural land base;

(6) improve the data base for rural development decisionmaking at local, State, and national levels; and

(7) improve the problem solving and development capacities and effectiveness of rural governments, officials, institutions, communities, community leaders, and citizen groups in(A) improving access to Federal programs;

(B) improving targeting and delivery of technical assistance;

(C) improving coordination among Federal agencies, other levels of government, and institutions and private organizations in rural areas; and

(D) developing and disseminating better information about rural conditions.

SEC. 502. [7 U.S.C. 2662] PROGRAMS AUTHORIZED.—The Secretary of Agriculture may conduct, in cooperation and coordination with colleges and universities, the following programs to carry out the purposes and achieve the goals of this title.

(a) RURAL DEVELOPMENT EXTENSION PROGRAMS.-Rural development extension programs shall consist of the collection, interpretation, and dissemination of useful information and knowledge from research and other sources to units of multistate regional agencies, State, county, municipal, and other units of government, multicounty planning and development districts, organizations of citizens contributing to community and rural development, businesses, Indian tribes on Federal or State reservations or other federal recognized Indian tribal groups, and industries that employ or may employ people in rural area. The rural development extension.