(a) PurposeThe purpose of this section is to enhance the efforts of the Federal Government to address the needs of rural areas in the United States by—(1) establishing a council to better coordinate Federal programs directed to rural communities;
(2) maximizing the impact of Federal investment to promote economic prosperity and quality of life in rural communities in the United States; and
(3) using innovation to resolve local and regional challenges faced by rural communities.
(b) Establishment(1) There is established a Council on Rural Community Innovation and Economic Development (referred to in this section as the “Council”).
(2) The Council shall be the successor to the Interagency Task Force on Agriculture and Rural Prosperity established by Executive Order 13790.
(c) Membership(1) In generalThe membership of the Council shall be composed of the heads of the following executive branch departments, agencies, and offices:(A) The Department of Agriculture.
(B) The Department of the Treasury.
(C) The Department of Defense.
(D) The Department of Justice.
(E) The Department of the Interior.
(F) The Department of Commerce.
(G) The Department of Labor.
(H) The Department of Health and Human Services.
(I) The Department of Housing and Urban Development.
(J) The Department of Transportation.
(K) The Department of Energy.
(L) The Department of Education.
(M) The Department of Veterans Affairs.
(N) The Department of Homeland Security.
(O) The Environmental Protection Agency.
(P) The Federal Communications Commission.
(Q) The Office of Management and Budget.
(R) The Office of Science and Technology Policy.
(S) The Office of National Drug Control Policy.
(T) The Council of Economic Advisers.
(U) The Domestic Policy Council.
(V) The National Economic Council.
(W) The Small Business Administration.
(X) The Council on Environmental Quality.
(Y) The White House Office of Public Engagement.
(Z) The White House Office of Cabinet Affairs.
(AA) Such other executive branch departments, agencies, and offices as the President or the Secretary may, from time to time, designate.
(2) ChairThe Secretary shall serve as the Chair of the Council.
(3) DesigneesA member of the Council may designate, to perform the Council functions of the member, a senior-level official who is—(A) part of the department, agency, or office of the member; and
(B) a full-time officer or employee of the Federal Government.
(4) AdministrationThe Council shall coordinate policy development through the rural development mission area.
(d) FundingThe Secretary shall provide funding and administrative support for the Council to the extent permitted by law and within existing appropriations.
(e) Mission and function of the CouncilThe Council shall work across executive departments, agencies, and offices to coordinate development of policy recommendations—(1) to maximize the impact of Federal investment on rural communities;
(2) to promote economic prosperity and quality of life in rural communities; and
(3) to use innovation to resolve local and regional challenges faced by rural communities.
(f) DutiesThe Council shall—(1) make recommendations to the President, acting through the Director of the Domestic Policy Council and the Director of the National Economic Council, on streamlining and leveraging Federal investments in rural areas, where appropriate, to increase the impact of Federal dollars and create economic opportunities to improve the quality of life in rural areas in the United States;
(2) coordinate and increase the effectiveness of Federal engagement with rural stakeholders, including agricultural organizations, small businesses, education and training institutions, health-care providers, telecommunications services providers, electric service providers, transportation providers, research and land grant institutions, law enforcement, State, local, and tribal governments, and nongovernmental organizations regarding the needs of rural areas in the United States;
(3) coordinate Federal efforts directed toward the growth and development of rural geographic regions that encompass both metropolitan and nonmetropolitan areas;
(4) identify and facilitate rural economic opportunities associated with energy development, outdoor recreation, and other conservation related activities; and
(5) identify common economic and social challenges faced by rural communities that could be served through—(A) better coordination of existing Federal and non-Federal resources; and
(B) innovative solutions utilizing governmental and nongovernmental resources.
(g) Executive departments and agencies(1) In generalThe heads of executive departments and agencies shall assist and provide information to the Council, consistent with applicable law, as may be necessary to carry out the functions of the Council.
(2) ExpensesEach executive department or agency shall be responsible for paying any expenses of the executive department or agency for participating in the Council.
(h) Council working groups(1) In generalThe Council may establish, in addition to the working groups established under paragraph (3), such other working groups as necessary.
(2) MembershipThe Secretary shall include as members of each working group such Council members, other heads of Federal agencies (or their designees as defined in (d)(3) 11 So in original. Probably should be “subsection (c)(3)”. ), and non-Federal partners as determined appropriate to the subject matter.
(3) Required working groupsThe working groups specified in this paragraph are each of the following:(A) The rural smart communities working group(i) EstablishmentThe Council shall establish a Rural Smart Communities Working Group.
(ii) DutiesThe Rural Smart Communities Working Group shall—(I) not later than 1 year after the establishment of such Working Group, submit to Congress a report describing efforts of rural areas to integrate smart technology into their communities to solve challenges relating to governance, economic development, quality of life, or other relevant rural issues, as determined by the Secretary; and
(II) create, publish, and maintain a resource guide designed to assist States and other rural communities in developing and implementing rural smart community programs.
(iii) Smart community definedFor the purposes of this subparagraph, the term “smart community” means a community that has the ability to integrate multiple technological solutions, in a secure fashion, to manage a community’s assets, including local government information systems, schools, libraries, transportation systems, hospitals, power plants, law enforcement, and other community services with the goal of promoting quality of life through the use of technology in ways that improve the efficiency of services and meet residents’ needs.
(B) Jobs accelerator working group(i) EstablishmentThe Council shall establish a Jobs Accelerator Working Group.
(ii) GoalsThe Jobs Accelerator Working Group shall support rural jobs accelerators (as defined in section 2008w(a)(4) of this title)—(I) to improve the ability of rural communities to create high-wage jobs, accelerate the formation of new businesses with high-growth potential, and strengthen regional economies, including by helping to build capacity in the applicable region to achieve those goals; and
(II) to help rural communities identify and maximize local assets and connect to regional opportunities, networks, and industry clusters that demonstrate high growth potential.
(iii) DutiesThe Jobs Accelerator Working Group shall—(I) provide the public with available information and technical assistance on Federal resources relevant to a project and region;
(II) establish a Federal support team comprised of staff from participating agencies in the working group that shall provide coordinated and dedicated support services to rural jobs accelerators; and
(III) provide opportunities for rural jobs accelerators to share best practices and further collaborate with one another.
Structure US Code
CHAPTER 55— DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
§ 2201. Establishment of Department
§ 2202. Executive Department; Secretary
§ 2204. General duties of Secretary; advisory functions; research and development
§ 2204–1. Delegation of regulatory functions of Secretary of Agriculture; definitions
§ 2204–3. Authority of designated employees; retroactive revocation of delegation
§ 2204–4. Delegation of functions under other laws as unaffected
§ 2204–5. Authorization of appropriations for cooperative research projects
§ 2204b. Rural development policy
§ 2204b–2. Temporary prioritization of rural health assistance
§ 2204b–3. Council on Rural Community Innovation and Economic Development
§ 2204b–4. Institute for Rural Partnerships
§ 2204c. Water management for rural areas
§ 2204d. Encouragement of private contracting
§ 2204e. Office of Risk Assessment and Cost-Benefit Analysis
§ 2204g. Authority of Secretary of Agriculture to conduct census of agriculture
§ 2204h. Local food production and program evaluation
§ 2204i. Reports on land access and farmland ownership data collection
§ 2204j. National agriculture imagery program
§ 2205. Duties of former Commissioner of Agriculture transferred to Secretary
§ 2206. Custody of property and records
§ 2206a. Conveyance of excess Federal personal property
§ 2206b. Availability of excess and surplus computers in rural areas
§ 2207a. Reports to Congress on obligation and expenditure
§ 2208. Expenditure of appropriations; accounting
§ 2208a. Loan levels provided to Department of Agriculture
§ 2209. Additional statement of expenditures
§ 2209a. Advances to chiefs of field parties
§ 2209b. Availability of appropriations
§ 2209c. Use of funds for one-year contracts to be performed in two fiscal years
§ 2209d. Statement of percentage and dollar amount of Federal funding
§ 2209e. Prohibition on payments to parties involved with prohibited drug-producing plants
§ 2209f. Restriction on commodity purchase program payments
§ 2209g. Availability of funds for uniforms or allowances
§ 2209h. Reimbursement of Office of the General Counsel
§ 2209i. Funding for preparation of final agency decisions regarding discrimination complaints
§ 2209j. Permanent debarment from participation in Department of Agriculture programs for fraud
§ 2209k. Prohibition on payments to fossil fuel refiners and importers
§ 2210. Deputy Secretary of Agriculture; appointment
§ 2211. Powers and duties of Deputy Secretary of Agriculture
§§ 2211b to 2212c. Repealed. , §§ 218(e)(2)–(6), 231(f)(1), , , 3219
§ 2214. General Counsel; appointment
§ 2217a. Power to administer oaths, examine witnesses, or require production of books, etc.
§ 2218. Fee for administering or taking oaths, affirmations, and affidavits
§ 2219a. Overtime and holiday pay
§ 2221. Details of persons from or to office of Secretary
§ 2223. Details of employees from and to library and bureaus and offices
§ 2225. Employment of temporary personnel
§ 2225a. Contracts for consulting services
§ 2225b. Personal service contracts for veterinarians
§ 2225c. Employment contracts for services abroad
§ 2225d. Availability of Department of Agriculture funds for temporary employment
§ 2226. Employment of persons for forest fire fighting, pest control, and handling of animals
§ 2228. Emergency subsistence for employees
§ 2229. Travel and per diem expenses of temporary or seasonal employees
§ 2230. Employees in Alaska; subsistence, equipment, and supplies
§ 2231. Official expenses of employees stationed abroad
§ 2231a. Reimbursement of employees for costs of State licenses and certification fees
§ 2231b. First amendment rights of employees of the United States Department of Agriculture
§ 2232. Stenographic reporting service
§ 2233. Funds available for expenses of advisory committees
§ 2234. Purchases for bureaus from appropriations for contingent expenses
§ 2235a. Deposit and retention of credit card refunds or rebates
§ 2236. Working capital fund for Agricultural Research Center; establishment
§ 2237. Use of field work funds for employment of men with equipment, etc.
§ 2238. Use of field work funds for purchase of arms and ammunition
§ 2239. Funds for printing, binding, and scientific and technical article reprint purchases
§ 2241. Sale or exchange of animals or animal products
§ 2241a. Exchange or sale authority
§ 2241b. Purchase of seeds and plants for distribution
§ 2242a. User fees for reports, publications, and software
§ 2242b. Translation of publications into foreign languages
§ 2243. Sale of photographic prints and maps
§ 2245. Sale of prints and lantern slides
§ 2246. Loan, rental, or sale of films
§ 2247. Sale of samples of pure sugars
§ 2247a. Farm or food products; sale of samples, practical forms, etc.
§ 2248. Statistics relating to turpentine and rosin
§ 2249. Amount and character of cooperation
§ 2250. Construction and repair of buildings and public improvements
§ 2250b. Nonrecurring expenses fund
§ 2253. Adjustment by Secretary of titles to lands acquired by Government and subject to his control
§ 2255. Membership in International Wheat Advisory Committee, International Sugar Council, etc.
§ 2255a. Financial assistance to national and international conferences
§ 2255b. Department of Agriculture conference transparency
§ 2257. Interchangeability of funds for miscellaneous expenses and general expenses
§ 2258. Purchase of newspapers
§ 2259. Market-inspection certificates as prima facie evidence
§§ 2260, 2260a. Repealed. , (4), ,
§ 2262. Employee liability insurance on motor vehicles in foreign countries
§ 2264. National Agricultural Library; acceptance of gifts, bequests, or devises; conditional gifts
§ 2265. Deposit of money accepted for benefit of National Agricultural Library; disbursement
§ 2266. Congressional reaffirmation of policy to foster and encourage family farms
§ 2266a. Century Farms program
§ 2266b. Eligibility for operators on heirs property land to obtain a farm number
§ 2268. Public lands; relinquishment
§ 2268a. Acquisition of land; options
§ 2270. Authority of Office of Inspector General
§ 2270a. Office of Inspector General; transfer of forfeiture funds for law enforcement activities
§ 2270c. Submission of results
§ 2271. Marketing education programs for small and medium size family farm operations
§ 2271a. Advanced marketing training for farmers and ranchers
§ 2272. Volunteers for Department of Agriculture programs
§ 2272a. Funds for incidental expenses and promotional items relating to volunteers
§ 2273. Local search and rescue operations
§ 2274. Firearm authority of employees engaged in animal quarantine enforcement
§ 2274a. Firearm authority of employees conducting field work in remote locations
§ 2276. Confidentiality of information
§ 2277. Contracts by Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service for services to be performed abroad
§ 2278. Consistency with international obligations of United States
§ 2279. Farming opportunities training and outreach
§ 2279–1. Transparency and accountability for socially disadvantaged farmers and ranchers
§ 2279–2. Report of civil rights complaints, resolutions, and actions
§ 2279a. Fair and equitable treatment of socially disadvantaged producers
§ 2279b. Department of Agriculture educational, training, and professional development activities
§ 2279c. Student internship programs
§ 2279d. Compensatory damages in claims under Rehabilitation Act of 1973
§ 2279g. Marketing services; cooperative agreements
§ 2279h. Cross-servicing activities of National Finance Center
§ 2279i. Cooperation with State and other agencies; expenditures
§ 2279k. Authorization of protection operations for the Secretary of Agriculture and others