RURAL ENERGY FOR AMERICA PROGRAM.

SEC. 9007. RURAL ENERGY FOR AMERICA PROGRAM. (a) Program Adjustments.—Section 9007 of the Farm Security and Rural Investment Act of 2002 (7 U.S.C. 8107) is amended— (1) in subsection (b)(2)— (A) in subparagraph (C), by striking “and” at the end; (B) by redesignating subparagraph (D) as subparagraph (E); and (C) by inserting after subparagraph (C) the following: “(D) a council (as defined in section 1528 of the Agriculture and Food Act of 1981 (16 U.S.C. 3451)); and” ; and (2) in subsection (c)— (A) by striking paragraph (3); (B) by redesignating paragraph (4) as paragraph (3); and (C) by adding at the end the following: “(4) Tiered application process. “(A) In general. In providing loan guarantees and grants under this subsection, the Secretary shall use a 3-tiered application process that reflects the size of proposed projects in accordance with this paragraph. “(B) Tier 1. The Secretary shall establish a separate application process for projects for which the cost of the activity funded under this subsection is not more than $80,000. “(C) Tier 2. The Secretary shall establish a separate application process for projects for which the cost of the activity funded under this subsection is greater than $80,000 but less than $200,000. “(D) Tier 3. The Secretary shall establish a separate application process for projects for which the cost of the activity funded under this subsection is equal to or greater than $200,000. “(E) Application process. The Secretary shall establish an application, evaluation, and oversight process that is the most simplified for tier I projects and more comprehensive for each subsequent tier.” . (b) Funding.—Section 9007(g) of the Farm Security and Rural Investment Act of 2002 (7 U.S.C. 8107(g)) is amended— (1) in paragraph (1)— (A) in subparagraph (C), by striking “; and” and inserting a semicolon; (B) in subparagraph (D), by striking the period and inserting “; and”; and (C) by adding at the end the following new subparagraph: “(E) $50,000,000 for fiscal year 2014 and each fiscal year thereafter.” ; and (2) in paragraph (3), by striking “$25,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2009 through 2013” and inserting “$20,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2014 through 2018”.