Rural Utilities Service

Rural Utilities Service rural electrification and telecommunications loans program account (including transfers of funds) Insured loans pursuant to the authority of section 305 of the Rural Electrification Act of 1936, as amended (7 U.S.C. 935), shall be made as follows: 5 percent rural electrification loans, $125,000,000, 5 percent rural telecommunications loans, $75,000,000; cost of money rural telecommunications loans, $300,000,000; municipal rate rural electric loans, $525,000,000; and loans made pursuant to section 306 of that Act, rural electric, $300,000,000, and rural telecommunications, $120,000,000, to remain available until expended. For the cost, as defined in section 502 of the Congressional Budget Act of 1974, including the cost of modifying loans, of direct and guaranteed loans authorized by the Rural Electrification Act of 1936, as amended (7 U.S.C. 935), as follows: cost of direct loans, $4,818,000; cost of municipal rate loans, $28,245,000; cost of money rural telecommunications loans, $60,000; cost of loans guaranteed pursuant to section 306, $2,790,000: Provided, That notwithstanding section 305(d)(2) of the Rural Electrification Act of 1936, borrower interest rates may exceed 7 percent per year. 110 STAT. 1588 In addition, for administrative expenses necessary to carry out the direct and guaranteed loan programs, $29,982,000, which shall be transferred to and merged with the appropriation for “Salaries and Expenses.”. rural telephone bank program account The Rural Telephone Bank is hereby authorized to make such expenditures, within the limits of funds available to such corporation in accord with law, and to make such contracts and commitments without regard to fiscal year limitations as provided by section 104 of the Government Corporation Control Act, as amended, as may be necessary in carrying out its authorized programs for the current fiscal year. During fiscal year 1997 and within the resources and authority available, gross obligations for the principal amount of direct loans shall be $175,000,000. For the cost, as defined in section 502 of the Congressional Budget Act of 1974, including the cost of modifying loans, of direct loans authorized by the Rural Electrification Act of 1936, as amended (7 U.S.C. 935), $2,328,000. In addition, for administrative expenses necessary to carry out the loan programs, $3,500,000. distance learning and medical link program For the cost of direct loans and grants, as authorized by 7 U.S.C. 950aaa et seq., as amended, $9,000,000, to remain available until expended, to be available for loans and grants for telemedicine and distance learning services in rural areas: Provided, That the costs of direct loans shall be as defined in section 502 of the Congressional Budget Act of 1974. rural utilities assistance program (including transfers of funds) For the cost of direct loans, loan guarantees, and grants, as authorized by 7 U.S.C. 1926, 1928, and 1932, except for 381E, 381H, 381N of the Consolidated Farm and Rural Development Act, $566,935,000, to remain available until expended, for direct loans and loan grantees and grants for rural water and waste disposal, and solid waste management grants of the Rural Utilities Service: Provided, That the cost of direct loans and loan guarantees shall be as defined in section 502 of the Congressional Budget Act of 1974, as amended: Provided further, That the amounts appropriated shall be transferred to loan program and grant accounts as determined by the Secretary: Provided further, That, through June 30, 1997, of the total amount appropriated, $18,700,000 shall be available for the costs of direct loans, loan guarantees, and grants to be made available for empowerment zones and enterprise communities, as authorized by Public Law 103–66: Provided further, That, of the total amount appropriated, not to exceed $18,700,000 shall be for water and waste disposal systems to benefit the Colonias along the United States/Mexico border, including grants pursuant to section 3060 of the Consolidated Farm and Rural Development Act, as amended: Provided further, That, of the total amount appropriated, not to exceed $5,200,000 shall be available for contracting with qualified national organizations for a circuit rider program 110 STAT. 1589to provide technical assistance for rural water systems: Provided further, That an amount not less than that available in fiscal year 1996 be set aside and made available for ongoing technical assistance under sections 306(a)(14) (7 U.S.C. 1926) and 310(B)(b) of the Consolidated Farm and Rural Development Act (7 U.S.C. 1932): Provided further, That of the total amount appropriated, not to exceed $8,760,000 shall be for water and waste disposal systems pursuant to section 757 of Public Law 104–127: Provided further, That notwithstanding section 306(a)(7) of the Consolidated Farm and Rural Development Act (7 U.S.C. 1926(a)(7)), the town of Berlin, New Hampshire, shall be eligible during fiscal year 1997 for a grant under the rural utilities assistance program. salaries and expenses For necessary expenses of the Rural Utilities Service, including administering the programs authorized by the Rural Electrification Act of 1936, as amended, and the Consolidated Farm and Rural Development Act, as amended, and cooperative agreements, $33,195,000: Provided, That this appropriation shall be available for employment pursuant to the second sentence of 706(a) of the Organic Act of 1944, and not to exceed $105,000 may be used for employment under 5 U.S.C. 3109.