Section 1(a) provides that this Act may be cited as the "Rural Development Policy Act of 1979". Subsection (b) cites findings of the Congress. Section 2 amends the Rural Development Act of 1972 by adding a new section 607, 608, 609, 610, and 611. Subsection (a) establishes a permanent Working Group for Rural Development to assist the Secretary of Agriculture in developing a national rural development strategy. Subsection (b): (1) requires the Working Group, with State and local input, to design comprehensive strategies to maximize effectiveness of Federal rural programs and to increase coordination of such programs and their effective combination with State and local resources. (2) requires the Working Group to establish a process that identifies the needs of rural areas on a continuing basis. It also requires the first strategy developed under paragraph (1) to include the period October 1, 1981 to September 30, 1982. Each succeeding strategy covers a consecutive four-year period beginning October 1, 1982. Each such strategy must be designed to assist rural areas by reducing the incidence of poverty and discrimination, improving employment prospects and local government capabilities, strengthening the family farm, and protecting and maintaining the environment. (3) requires the Working Group to determine whether rural areas are receiving an equitable share of the benefits of Federal programs. (4) provides that a report on the first strategy developed under paragraph (1) be submitted to Congress no later than Jan. 31, 1981. The second and succeeding strategies must be submitted no later than Jan. 31 of the year in which the period included in such strategy begins. Each report must analyze the Administration's budget as it relates to such strategy. (5) authorizes the Working Group to hold open hearings in developing any strategy. (6) requires the Working Group to maximize effectiveness and coordination of Federal programs through an effort to improve cooperation among Federal agencies, eliminate program duplication, facilitate joint funding and sharing of field offices, reduce and simplify paper work, and obviate unnecessary administrative obstacles. (7) requires the Working Group to hold hearings on any matter which significantly affects rural development either upon call of the Chair or of a majority of members. (8) requires the Working Group to develop a systematic method of receiving and evaluating public input and information on local needs and plans. .H.R. 3580 Summary Analysis (9) requires the Working Group to review proposed Federal regulations affecting rural areas and allows it to submit written comments. Subsection (c) provides that the Working Group shall consist of members holding the position of Assistant Secretary or the equivalent from 10 Federal departments and 4 agencies, and others that the Chairman may invite. Subsection (d) provides that the Chairman shall issue such regulations as are deemed necessary to govern the functioning of the Working Group. Subsection (e) empowers the Working Group to collect information and authorizes the Secretary of Agriculture to detail FmHA and other USDA employees and provide FmHA and other USDA funds to the Group, and to assist in establishing an office of rural development in each agency represented on the Working Group if such office is directly responsible to an agency head. Subsection (f) allows the Secretary of Agriculture to undertake cooperative efforts with agencies represented on the Working Group and to pay a portion of their costs. Subsection (g) requires the Working Group to report to Congress no later than January 31 of each year beginning in 1981 on the current rural development strategy with an analysis of available portions of the President's budget for the upcoming fiscal year. Subsection (h) authorizes appropriations necessary to carry out the purposes of this section. Section 608 amends the Organic Act of the Department of Agriculture to require the Secretary to initiate or expand research and development efforts related to solution of problems of technology appropriate to small and moderate sized family farming operations and any other problem which the Secretary may determine has an effect upon economic development or the quality of life in rural areas. Section 609 amends section 306 (a) (11) of the Consolidated Farm and Rural Development Act to increase from $10 million to $20 million the annual authorization for rural development planning grants, and broaden this program to include rural development technical assistance, rural community leadership development, and community and areawide rural development planning. Section 610 amends section 901 of the Agricultural Act of 1970 by deleting a portion of subsection (b) and all of subsections (c), (a) and (e). The deleted provisions require submission of four separate annual reports with respect to federal rural development efforts, the function of which would be superseded by other provisions of this bill. Section 611 amends section 331 of the Consolidated Farm and Rural Development Act by changing the name of the Farmers Home Administration to the Farmers Home and Rural Development Administration. H.R. 3580 Summary Analysis Section 3 amends section 503 of the Rural Development Act of 1972 to extend the Small Farm Research and Extension programs through September 30, 1981 at the existing annual authorization level of $20,000,000. (TITLE V) Section 4 amends section 507 (b) of the Rural Development Act of 1972 to add Guam and the Virgin Islands to the definition of the term "State" as it applies to Rural Development and Small Farm Research and Education programs. Section 5 amends section 603 of the Rural Development Act of 1972 to delete the requirement that the Secretary include in his annual report under that section, information on his efforts to most efficiently utilize USDA field offices and field personnel to promote rural development. Section 6 provides that the provisions of this Act shall become effective on October 1, 1979. H.R. 3580 RURAL DEVELOPMENT POLICY ACT OF 1979 Section-by-Section Analysis (Detailed) SECTION 1(a) Provides that this Act may be cited as the "Rural (b) Cites findings of the Congress that- (1) In section 901 (a) of the Agricultural Act of 1970 (2) Congress passed the Rural Development Act of 1972 as (3) In section 603 (b) (4) of the Rural Development Act, (4) The Congress finds that this mandate has yet to be (5) The Congress further finds that the programs of many (7) It is therefore the purpose of this Act to facilitate H.R. 3580 SECTION 2 Detailed Analysis Amends the Rural Development Act of 1972 by adding the "SECTION 607 (a) Establishes a permanent Working Group for Rural Development to assist the Secretary of Agriculture in the design, implementation and coordination of nationwide rural development strategies. The Working Group shall be chaired by the Secretary of Agriculture. "(b) (1) Provides that the Working Group shall develop and "(A) maximize the effectiveness, increase the of Federal programs to rural areas; "(2) Requires the Working Group to assist the Chairman in developing and implementing a process through which such needs, goals, objectives, plans, resources, and recommendations can be identified and attained on a continuing basis. Requires the first strategy to be for October 1, 1981 to September 30, 1982, with one for each four year period after that. Each strategy must be designed to- "(A) improve the economic well-being of all rural residents and alleviate problems of low income, elderly, minority, and otherwise disadvantaged rural residents; "(B) improve business and employment opportunities, "(C) improve local government management capa- |
