OUTREACH AND ASSISTANCE FOR SOCIALLY DISADVANTAGED FARMERS AND RANCHERS.

SEC. 10707. OUTREACH AND ASSISTANCE FOR SOCIALLY DISADVANTAGED FARMERS AND RANCHERS. (a) Definitions.—Section 2501(e) of the Food, Agriculture, Conservation, and Trade Act of 1990 (7 U.S.C. 2279(e)) is amended by adding at the end the following: “(4) Department.—The term ‘Department’ means the Department of Agriculture. “(5) Eligible entity.—The term ‘eligible entity’ means any of the following: “(A) Any community-based organization, network, or coalition of community-based organizations that— “(i) has demonstrated experience in providing agricultural education or other agriculturally related services to socially disadvantaged farmers and ranchers; “(ii) has provided to the Secretary documentary evidence of work with socially disadvantaged farmers and ranchers during the 2-year period preceding the submission of an application for assistance under subsection (a); and “(iii) does not engage in activities prohibited under section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986. “(B) An 1890 institution or 1994 institution (as defined in section 2 of the Agricultural Research, Extension, and Education Reform Act of 1998 (7 U.S.C. 7601)), including West Virginia State College. “(C) An Indian tribal community college or an Alaska Native cooperative college. “(D) An Hispanic-serving institution (as defined in section 1404 of the National Agricultural Research, Extension, and Teaching Policy Act of 1977 (7 U.S.C. 3103)). “(E) Any other institution of higher education (as defined in section 101 of the Higher Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 1001)) that has demonstrated experience in providing agriculture education or other agriculturally 116 STAT. 521 related services to socially disadvantaged farmers and ranchers in a region. “(F) An Indian tribe (as defined in section 4 of the Indian Self-Determination and Education Assistance Act (25 U.S.C. 450b)) or a national tribal organization that has demonstrated experience in providing agriculture education or other agriculturally related services to socially disadvantaged farmers and ranchers in a region. “(G) An organization or institution that received funding under subsection (a) before January 1, 1996, but only with respect to projects that the Secretary considers are similar to projects previously carried out by the organization or institution under such subsection. “(6) Secretary.—The term ‘Secretary’ means the Secretary of Agriculture.”. (b) Outreach and Assistance.—Section 2501 of the Food, Agriculture, Conservation, and Trade Act of 1990 (7 U.S.C. 2279) is amended by striking subsection (a) and inserting the following: “(a) Outreach and Assistance.— “(1) Program.—The Secretary of Agriculture shall carry out an outreach and technical assistance program to encourage and assist socially disadvantaged farmers and ranchers— “(A) in owning and operating farms and ranches; and “(B) in participating equitably in the full range of agricultural programs offered by the Department. “(2) Requirements.—The outreach and technical assistance program under paragraph (1) shall— “(A) enhance coordination of the outreach, technical assistance, and education efforts authorized under various agriculture programs; and “(B) include information on, and assistance with— “(i) commodity, conservation, credit, rural, and business development programs; “(ii) application and bidding procedures; “(iii) farm and risk management; “(iv) marketing; and “(v) other activities essential to participation in agricultural and other programs of the Department. “(3) Grants and contracts.— “(A) In general.—The Secretary may make grants to, and enter into contracts and other agreements with, an eligible entity to provide information and technical assistance under this subsection. “(B) Relationship to other law.—The authority to carry out this section shall be in addition to any other authority provided in this or any other Act. “(C) Other projects.—Notwithstanding paragraph (1), the Secretary may make grants to, and enter into contracts and other agreements with, an organization or institution that received funding under this section before January 1, 1996, to carry out a project that is similar to a project for which the organization or institution received such funding. “(4) Funding.— “(A) Authorization of appropriations.—There is authorized to be appropriated to carry out this subsection $25,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2002 through 2007.116 STAT. 522 “(B) Interagency funding.—In addition to funds authorized to be appropriated under subparagraph (A), any agency of the Department may participate in any grant, contract, or agreement entered into under this subsection by contributing funds, if the agency determined that the objectives of the grant, contract, or agreement will further the authorized programs of the contributing agency.”. (c) Conforming Amendments.—Section 2501 of the Food, Agriculture, Conservation, and Trade Act of 1990 (7 U.S.C. 2279) is amended— (1) in subsection (d)(1), by striking “of Agriculture” after “Department”; and (2) in subsection (g)(1), by striking “of Agriculture” after “Department”.