7 U.S.C. § 6946 — Rural Health Liaison

Page 1939 TITLE 7—AGRICULTURE § 6946 and activities of the Rural Development Mission Area to respond to a disaster and were des- ignated by the Congress as an emergency re- quirement if, in advance of the transfer, the Sec- retary determines that the unobligated amounts are no longer needed to respond to the disaster for which the amounts were originally appro- priated and the Secretary provides a certifi- cation of this determination to the Committees on Appropriations of the House of Representa- tives and the Senate. (f) Transfer of other appropriations to Fund Unless otherwise specifically provided in an appropriations Act, the Secretary of Agriculture may transfer to or within the Rural Develop- ment Disaster Assistance Fund, and merge with other amounts generally appropriated to the Fund, the available unobligated balance of any amounts that are appropriated for fiscal year 2009 or any subsequent fiscal year for programs and activities of the Rural Development Mission Area to respond to a disaster and are designated by the Congress as an emergency requirement if, in advance of the transfer, the Secretary deter- mines that the unobligated amounts are no longer needed to respond to the disaster for which the amounts were originally appropriated and the Secretary provides a certification of this determination to the Committees on Appro- priations of the House of Representatives and the Senate. A transfer of unobligated amounts with respect to a disaster may not be made under this subsection until after the end of the two-year period beginning on the date on which the amounts were originally appropriated for that disaster. (g) Administrative expenses In addition to any other funds available to the Secretary of Agriculture to cover administra- tive costs, the Secretary may use up to 3 percent of the amounts allocated from the Rural Devel- opment Disaster Assistance Fund for a specific disaster to cover administrative costs of Rural Development’s State and local offices in the areas affected by the disaster to carry out dis- aster related activities. (h) Limitation on per disaster obligations Amounts in the Rural Development Disaster Assistance Fund, except for amounts described in subsection (d) that are appropriated to the Fund and obligated in accordance with that sub- section, may not be obligated in excess of $1,000,000 for a disaster until at least 15 days after the date on which the Secretary of Agri- culture notifies the Committees on Appropria- tions of the House of Representatives and the Senate of the Secretary’s determination to obli- gate additional amounts and the reasons for the determination. The Secretary may not obligate more than 50 percent of the funds contained in the Rural Development Disaster Assistance Fund for any one disaster unless the Secretary declares that there is a specific and extreme need that additional funds must be provided in response to such disaster at time of the obliga- tion. (i) Quarterly reports The Secretary of Agriculture shall submit, on a quarterly basis, to the Committees on Appro- priations of the House of Representatives and the Senate a report describing the status of the Rural Development Disaster Assistance Fund and any transactions that have affected the Fund since the previous report. (Pub. L. 110–329, div. B, title I, § 10101, Sept. 30, 2008, 122 Stat. 3586; Pub. L. 111–80, title VII, § 702, Oct. 21, 2009, 123 Stat. 2118; Pub. L. 118–158, div. B, § 2101(1), (2), Dec. 21, 2024, 138 Stat. 1730, 1731.) Editorial Notes REFERENCES IN TEXT 7 U.S.C. 1926(a)(19), referred to in subsec. (c)(3), was so in the original, but probably should have been a ref- erence to section 306(a)(19) of the Consolidated Farm and Rural Development Act, which is classified to sec- tion 1926(a)(19) of this title. This Act, referred to in subsec. (d), is Pub. L. 110–329, Sept. 30, 2008, 122 Stat. 3574, known as the Consolidated Security, Disaster Assistance, and Continuing Appro- priations Act, 2009. For complete classification of this Act to the Code, see Tables. CODIFICATION Section was enacted as part of the Disaster Relief and Recovery Supplemental Appropriations Act, 2008, and also as part of the Consolidated Security, Disaster As- sistance, and Continuing Appropriations Act, 2009, and not as part of the Department of Agriculture Reorga- nization Act of 1994, which in part comprises this chap- ter. AMENDMENTS 2024—Subsec. (b). Pub. L. 118–158, § 2101(1)(B), (C), in- serted ‘‘The cost of such direct and guaranteed loans, including the cost of modifying loans, shall be as de- fined in section 661a of title 2.’’ before ‘‘Amounts so provided’’ and ‘‘, but shall not be limited to the origi- nal form of assistance, if any’’ after ‘‘to carry out the activity’’. Pub. L. 118–158, § 2101(1)(A), substituted ‘‘, in the form of loans, grants, loan guarantees, or cooperative agree- ments, for any authorized activity’’ for ‘‘for authorized activities’’ and ‘‘President, the’’ for ‘‘President or the’’ and directed insertion of ‘‘, or the Governor of a State or Territory’’ after ‘‘the Secretary of Agriculture’’, which was executed by making the insertion after ‘‘the Secretary of Agriculture’’ the second place appearing, to reflect the probable intent of Congress. Subsec. (c). Pub. L. 118–158, § 2101(2), amended subsec. (c) generally. Prior to amendment, text read as follows: ‘‘The Secretary of Agriculture may waive any limits on population, income, or cost-sharing otherwise applica- ble to an activity or project for which amounts in the Rural Development Disaster Assistance Fund will be obligated under subsection (b), except that, if the amounts proposed to be obligated in connection with the disaster would exceed the amount specified in sub- section (h), the notification required by that subsection shall include information and justification with regard to any waivers to be granted under this subsection.’’ 2009—Subsec. (b). Pub. L. 111–80 inserted at end ‘‘In carrying out this section, the Secretary may transfer funds into existing or new accounts as determined by the Secretary.’’ § 6946. Rural Health Liaison (a) Authorization The Secretary shall establish in the Depart- ment the position of Rural Health Liaison. (b) Duties The Rural Health Liaison shall— (1) in consultation with the Secretary of Health and Human Services, coordinate the Page 1940 TITLE 7—AGRICULTURE § 6951 role of the Department with respect to rural health; (2) integrate across the Department the stra- tegic planning and activities relating to rural health; (3) improve communication relating to rural health within the Department and between Federal agencies; (4) advocate on behalf of the health care and relevant infrastructure needs in rural areas; (5) provide to stakeholders, potential grant applicants, Federal agencies, State agencies, Indian Tribes, private organizations, and aca- demic institutions relevant data and informa- tion, including the eligibility requirements for, and availability and outcomes of, Depart- ment programs applicable to the advancement of rural health; (6) maintain communication with public health, medical, occupational safety, and tele- communication associations, research enti- ties, and other stakeholders to ensure that the Department is aware of current and upcoming issues relating to rural health; (7) consult on programs, pilot projects, re- search, training, and other affairs relating to rural health at the Department and other Fed- eral agencies; (8) provide expertise on rural health to sup- port the activities of the Secretary as Chair of the Council on Rural Community Innovation and Economic Development; and (9) provide technical assistance and guidance with respect to activities relating to rural health to the outreach, extension, and county offices of the Department. (Pub. L. 103–354, title II, § 236, as added Pub. L. 115–334, title XII, § 12409, Dec. 20, 2018, 132 Stat. 4977.) SUBCHAPTER IV—FOOD, NUTRITION, AND CONSUMER SERVICES § 6951. Under Secretary of Agriculture for Food, Nutrition, and Consumer Services (a) Authorization The Secretary is authorized to establish in the Department the position of Under Secretary of Agriculture for Food, Nutrition, and Consumer Services. (b) Confirmation required If the Secretary establishes the position of Under Secretary of Agriculture for Food, Nutri- tion, and Consumer Services authorized under subsection (a), the Under Secretary shall be ap- pointed by the President, by and with the advice and consent of the Senate. (c) Functions of Under Secretary (1) Principal functions Upon establishment, the Secretary shall del- egate to the Under Secretary of Agriculture for Food, Nutrition, and Consumer Services those functions under the jurisdiction of the Department that are related to food, nutri- tion, and consumer services (except as pro- vided in section 6981(b)(1) of this title). (2) Additional functions The Under Secretary of Agriculture for Food, Nutrition, and Consumer Services shall perform such other functions as may be re- quired by law or prescribed by the Secretary. (d) Succession Any official who is serving as Assistant Sec- retary of Agriculture for Food and Consumer Services on October 13, 1994, and who was ap- pointed by the President, by and with the advice and consent of the Senate, shall not be required to be reappointed under subsection (b) to the successor position authorized under subsection (a) if the Secretary establishes the position, and the official occupies the new position, within 180 days after October 13, 1994 (or such later date set by the Secretary if litigation delays rapid suc- cession). (Pub. L. 103–354, title II, § 241, Oct. 13, 1994, 108 Stat. 3222.) Editorial Notes CODIFICATION Section is comprised of section 241 of Pub. L. 103–354. Subsec. (e) of section 241 of Pub. L. 103–354 amended section 5314 of Title 5, Government Organization and Employees. § 6952. Multiagency task force (a) In general The Secretary shall establish, in the office of the Under Secretary for Food, Nutrition, and Consumer Services, a multiagency task force for the purpose of providing coordination and direc- tion for commodity programs. (b) Composition The Task Force shall be composed of at least 4 members, including— (1) a representative from the Food Distribu- tion Division of the Food and Nutrition Serv- ice, who shall— (A) be appointed by the Under Secretary for Food, Nutrition, and Consumer Services; and (B) serve as Chairperson of the Task Force; (2) at least 1 representative from the Agri- cultural Marketing Service, who shall be ap- pointed by the Under Secretary for Marketing and Regulatory Programs; (3) at least 1 representative from the Farm Services Agency, who shall be appointed by the Under Secretary of Agriculture for Farm Production and Conservation; and (4) at least 1 representative from the Food Safety and Inspection Service, who shall be appointed by the Under Secretary for Food Safety. (c) Duties (1) In general The Task Force shall be responsible for eval- uation and monitoring of the commodity pro- grams to ensure that the commodity programs meet the mission of the Department— (A) to support the United States farm sec- tor; and (B) to contribute to the health and well- being of individuals in the United States through the distribution of domestic agri- cultural products through commodity pro- grams.