UNDER SECRETARY OF AGRICULTURE FOR RURAL ECONOMIC AND COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT.

SEC. 231. UNDER SECRETARY OF AGRICULTURE FOR RURAL ECONOMIC AND COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT. (a) Authorization.— The Secretary is authorized to establish in the Department the position of Under Secretary of Agriculture for Rural Economic and Community Development. (b) Confirmation Required.— If the Secretary establishes the position of Under Secretary of Agriculture for Rural Economic and Community Development authorized under subsection (a), the Under Secretary shall be appointed 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 delegate to the Under Secretary of Agriculture for Rural Economic and Community Development those functions under the jurisdiction of the Department that are related to rural economic and community development. (2) Additional functions.— The Under Secretary of Agriculture for Rural Economic and Community Development shall perform such other functions as may be required by law or prescribed by the Secretary. (d) Succession.— Any official who is serving as Under Secretary of Agriculture for Small Community and Rural Development on the date of the enactment of this Act and who was appointed 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 nosition authorized under subsection (a) if the Secretary establishes the position, and the official occupies the new position, within 180 days after the date of the enactment of this Act (or such later date set by the Secretary if litigation delays rapid succession). (e) Loan Approval Authority.— Approval authority for loans and loan guarantees in connection with the electric and telephone loan and loan guarantee programs authorized by the Rural Electrification Act of 1936 (7 U.S.C. 901 et seq.) shall not be transferred to, or conditioned on review of, a State director or other employee whose primary duty is not the review and approval of such loans or the provision of assistance to such borrowers. (f) Conforming Amendments.— 108 STAT. 3219 (1) Existing position.— Section 3 of the Rural Development Policy Act of 1980 (7 U.S.C. 2211b) is amended by striking subsection (a). (2) Executive schedule.— Section 5314 of title 5, United States Code, is amended by striking “Under Secretary of Agriculture for Small Community and Rural Development” and inserting “Under Secretary of Agriculture for Rural Economic and Communi ty Development.”. (3) Repeal of rural development administration.— Section 364 of the Consolidated Farm and Rural Development Act (7 U.S.C. 20060 is repealed.