Rural Utilities Service

Rural Utilities Service rural electrification and telephone 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, $90,000,000; 5 percent rural telephone loans, $70,000,000; cost of money rural telephone loans, $300,000,000; municipal rate rural electric loans, $525,000,000; and loans made pursuant to section 306 of that Act, $420,000,000, 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, $35,126,000; cost of municipal rate loans, $56,858,000; cost of money rural telephone loans, $60,000; cost of loans guaranteed pursuant to section 306, $2,520,000: Provided, That notwithstanding section 305(d)(2) of the Rural Electrification Act of 1936, borrower interest rates may exceed 7 percent per year. 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 1996 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), $5,023,000. In addition, for administrative expenses necessary to carry out the loan programs, $3,541,000. 109 STAT. 322 distance learning and medical link grants For necessary expenses to carry into effect the programs authorized in sections 2331–2335 of Public Law 101–624, $7,500,000, to remain available until expended. 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, $487,868,000, to remain available until expended, to be available for loans and grants for rural water and waste disposal and solid waste management grants: Provided, That the costs of direct loans and loan guarantees, including the cost of modifying such loans, shall be as defined in section 502 of the Congressional Budget Act of 1974: Provided further, That of the total amount appropriated, not to exceed $4,500,000 shall be available for contracting with the National Rural Water Association or equally qualified national organizations for a circuit rider program to provide technical assistance for rural water systems: Provided further, That of the total amount appropriated, not to exceed $18,700,000 shall be available for water and waste disposal systems to benefit the Colonias along the United States/Mexico border, including grants pursuant to section 306C: Provided further, That of the total amount appropriated, $18,688,000 shall be for empowerment zones and enterprise communities, as authorized by Public Law 103–66: Provided further, That if such funds are not obligated for empowerment zones and enterprise communities by June 30, 1996, they shall remain available for other authorized purposes under this head. In addition, for administrative expenses necessary to carry out direct loans, loan guarantees, and grants, $12,740,000, of which $12,623,000 shall be transferred to and merged with “Rural Utilities Service, Salaries and Expenses”. 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, $18,449,000, of which $7,000 shall be available for financial credit reports: 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 $103,000 may be used for employment under 5 U.S.C. 3109.