Rural Business-Cooperative Service

Rural Business-Cooperative Service rural development loan fund program account (including transfers of funds) For the cost of direct loans, $16,615,000, as authorized by the Rural Development Loan Fund (42 U.S.C. 9812(a)): Provided, That such costs, including the cost of modifying such loans, shall be as defined in section 502 of the Congressional Budget Act of 1974: Provided further, That these funds are available to subsidize gross obligations for the principal amount of direct loans of $38,256,000: Provided further, That of the total amount appropriated, $3,216,000 shall be available through June 30, 2000, for the cost of direct loans for authorized empowerment zones and enterprise communities and communities designated by the Secretary of Agriculture as Rural Economic Area Partnership Zones. In addition, for administrative expenses to carry out the direct loan programs, $3,337,000 shall be transferred to and merged with the appropriation for “Rural Business-Cooperative Service, Salaries and Expenses”. rural economic development loans program account (including rescission of funds) For the principal amount of direct loans, as authorized under section 313 of the Rural Electrification Act, for the purpose of promoting rural economic development and job creation projects, $15,000,000. For the cost of direct loans, including the cost of modifying loans as defined in section 502 of the Congressional Budget Act of 1974, $3,453,000. Of the funds derived from interest on the cushion of credit payments in fiscal year 2000, as authorized by section 313 of the Rural Electrification Act of 1936, $3,453,000 shall not be obligated and $3,453,000 are rescinded. rural cooperative development grants For rural cooperative development grants authorized under section 310B(e) of the Consolidated Farm and Rural Development Act (7 U.S.C. 1932), $6,000,000, of which $1,500,000 shall be available for cooperative agreements for the appropriate technology transfer for rural areas program: Provided, That at least 25 percent 113 STAT. 1154of the total amount appropriated shall be made available to cooperatives or associations of cooperatives that assist small, minority producers. salaries and expenses For necessary expenses of the Rural Business-Cooperative Service, including administering the programs authorized by the Consolidated Farm and Rural Development Act; section 1323 of the Food Security Act of 1985; the Cooperative Marketing Act of 1926; for activities relating to the marketing aspects of cooperatives, including economic research findings, as authorized by the Agricultural Marketing Act of 1946; for activities with institutions concerning the development and operation of agricultural cooperatives; and for cooperative agreements, $24,612,000: Provided, That this appropriation shall be available for employment pursuant to the second sentence of section 706(a) of the Organic Act of 1944 (7 U.S.C. 2225), and not to exceed $260,000 may be used for employment under 5 U.S.C. 3109.