RURAL DEVELOPMENT RESEARCH ASSISTANCE.

SEC. 2349. RURAL DEVELOPMENT RESEARCH ASSISTANCE. Section 502 of the Rural Development Act of 1972 (7 U.S.C. 2662) is amended by adding after the subsection added by section 2346 of this Act the following: “(h) Research Grants.— (1) In general.— In addition to the programs already conducted under this section, the Secretary shall also establish and carry out a program to award competitive research grants to land-grant colleges and universities, research foundations, and centers established by land-grant universities, State agricultural experiment stations, and to all colleges and universities having demonstrable capability in rural development research, as determined by the Secretary, to carry out research to— “(A) determine factors which impact upon rural economic development whether favorably or unfavorably; “(B) estimate the relative impacts of these factors; “(C) develop methodologies to investigate policy options for rural economic development; “(D) evaluate the impact of Federal and State economic development policies and programs designed to improve economic competitiveness and diversification; “(E) support strategic planning for economic investments; “(F) improve human resources; and “(G) improve the data base for rural development decision making in rural areas. “(2) Limitation on authorization of appropriations.— To carry out this subsection, there are authorized to be appropriated to the Secretary not to exceed $3,000,000 in each fiscal year. Amounts appropriated under this subsection shall remain available until expended.”.