SEC. 607.12 RURAL DEVELOPMENT POLICY.-(a) The Secretary of Agriculture shall provide leadership within the executive branch for, and shall assume responsibility for coordinating, a nationwide rural development program using the services of executive branch departments and agencies, including, but not limited to, the agencies, bureaus, offices, and services of the Department of Agriculture, in coordination with rural development programs of State and local governments.

(b) POLICY DEVELOPMENT.-(1) The Secretary shall conduct a systematic review of Federal programs affecting rural areas to (A) determine whether such areas are benefiting from such programs in an equitable proportion to the benefits received by urban areas and (B) identify any factors that may restrict accessibility to such programs in rural areas or limit participation in such programs.

(2) Subject to the Privacy Act of 1974, the Secretary may secure directly from any Federal department or agency information necessary to carry out the Secretary's duties under this section. Upon request of the Secretary under this paragraph, the head of any such Federal department or agency shall furnish such information to the Secretary.

(3) The Secretary shall develop a process through which multistate, State, substate, and local rural development needs, goals, objectives, plans, and recommendations can be received and assessed on a continuing basis. Such process may include the use of those rural development experts, advisors, and consultants that the Secretary deems appropriate, as well as the establishment of temporary advisory committees under the terms of the Federal Advisory Committee Act. (4) The Secretary may undertake cooperative efforts with other Federal departments and agencies to improve the coordination and effectiveness of Federal programs, services, and actions affecting rural areas. The Secretary may request the heads of other Federal departments and agencies to participate in any working groups that the Secretary deems necessary to carry out the purposes of this section.

(5) The Secretary may hold public hearings and receive comments on any matter that the Secretary determines may have a significant impact on rural development or the economic development of rural communities.

(c) RURAL DEVELOPMENT STRATEGY.-(1) The Secretary shall prepare a comprehensive rural development strategy based on the needs, goals, objectives, plans, and recommendations of local communities, substate areas, States, and multistate regions, which is designed to—

(A) maximize the effectiveness, increase the responsiveness, and improve the delivery of Federal programs to rural areas; (B) increase the coordination of Federal programs with the development needs, objectives, and resources of local communities, substate areas, States, and multistate regions; and

(C) achieve the most effective combinations of Federal, State, and local resources to meet the needs of rural areas for orderly growth and development.

(2) The rural development strategy shall take into account the need to

(A) improve the economic well-being of all rural residents and alleviate the problems of low income, elderly, minority, and otherwise disadvantaged rural residents;

12 7 U.S.C. 2204b. Added by Public Law 96-355, section 2, see note 8.

(B) improve the business and employment opportunities, occupational training and employment services, health care serv ices, educational opportunities, energy utilization and availability, housing, transportation, community services, community facilities, water supplies, sewage and solid waste management systems, credit availability, and accessibility to and delivery of private and public financial resources in the maintenance and creation of jobs in rural areas;

(C) improve State and local government management capa bilities, institutions, and programs related to rural development and expand educational and training opportunities for State and local officials, particularly in small rural communities;

(D) strengthen the family farm system; and

(E) maintain and protect the environment and natural re

sources of rural areas.

(3) The rural development strategy developed under this subsection shall be for the fiscal year ending September 30, 1982, and updated for each fiscal year thereafter.

(4) The Secretary shall hold public hearings and receive such suggestions and recommendations as the Secretary deems appropriate during the preparation of the rural development strategy and the annual updates to the strategy.

(5) The rural development strategy and the annual updates to the strategy shall be transmitted to the House Committee on Agriculture and the Senate Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry by January 31 of the calendar year immediately preceding the beginning of the appropriate fiscal year.

(6) the rural development strategy and each annual update of the strategy shall contain an analysis of the budget recommendations of the President for the fiscal year following the transmittal of the strategy or update of the strategy and of all the available budget projections of the President for subsequent fiscal years, and projec tions regarding the budget that are relevant or essential to the rural development policy and the rural development strategy developed under this subsection. Each annual update shall also contain a detailed statement of the findings and conclusions of the Secretary regarding the implementation during the preceding fiscal year of the rural development strategy, including any revisions of the strategy, any recommended legislation to improve the rural development effort of the Federal Government, and an evaluation of and recommendations regarding the rural development information system required under section 306 (a) (12) of the Consolidated Farm and Rural Development Act.

(d) STRATEGY IMPLEMENTATION.-The Secretary shall ensure the effective implementation of the rural development strategy and maximize coordination of Federal programs affecting rural areas through a systematic effort to

(1) improve communication and encourage cooperation among Federal departments and agencies in the administration of rural development programs;

(2) eliminate conflicts, duplication, and gaps in program coverage, and resolve contradictions and inconsistencies in the objectives, administration, and effects of rural development programs;

(3) facilitate the sharing or common location of field offices of Federal agencies administering similar or complementary programs and unification of delivery systems, where feasible, to maximize convenience and accessibility of such agencies and programs to rural residents;

(4) facilitate and expedite joint funding of rural projects through Federal programs;

(5) correct administrative problems in Federal programs that delay or hinder the effective delivery of services, assistance, or benefits to rural areas; and

(6) simplify, standardize, and reduce the complexity of applications, reports, and other forms required under Federal rural development programs.

COMMODITY CREDIT CORPORATION CHARTER ACT

Act of June 29, 1948, ch. 704, 62 Stat. 1070, 15 U.S.C. 714 et seq. AN ACT To provide a Federal charter for the Commodity Credit Corporation Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, That this Act may be cited as the "Commodity Credit Corporation Charter Act".

(m) Shall have such powers as may be necessary or appropriate for the exercise of the powers specifically vested in the Corporation, and all such incidental powers as are customary in corporations generally; but any research financed by the Corporation shall relate to the conservation or disposal of commodities owned or controlled by the Corporation and shall be conducted in collaboration with research agencies of the Department of Agriculture.

SEC. 5.2 SPECIFIC POWERS.-In the fulfillment of its purposes and in carrying out its annual budget programs submitted to and approved by the Congres pursuant to the Government Corporation Control Act (31 U.S.C. 841-871), the Corporation is authorized to use its general powers only to

(a) Support the prices of agricultural commodities through loans, purchases, payments, and other operations.

(b) Make available materials and facilities required in connection with the production and marketing of agricultural commodities.

(c) Procure agricultural commodities for sale to other Government agencies, foreign governments, and domestic, foreign, or international relief or rehabilitation agencies, and to meet domestic requirements. (d) Remove and dispose of or aid in the removal or disposition of surplus agricultural commodities.

(e) Increase the domestic consumption of agricultural commodities by expanding or aiding in the expansion of domestic markets or by developing or aiding in the development of new and additional markets, marketing facilities, and uses for such commodities.

(f) Export or cause to be exported, or aid in the development of foreign markets for, agricultural commodities.

(g) Carry out such other operations as the Congress may specifically

authorize or provide for.

In the Corporation's purchasing and selling operations with respect to agricultural commodities (except sales to other Government agencies), and in the warehousing, transporting, processing, or handling of agricultural commodities, the Corporation shall, to the maximum extent practicable consistent with the fulfillment of the Corporation's purposes and the effective and efficient conduct of its business, utilize the usual and customary channels, facilities, and arrangements of trade and commerce.

115 U.S.C. 714b. 215 U.S.C. 714c.

PART II. NATIONAL AGRICULTURAL RESEARCH, EXTENSION, AND TEACHING POLICY ACT OF 1977

The National Agricultural Research, Extension, and Teaching Policy Act of 1977 is set forth in Title XIV of the Food and Agriculture Act of 1977, Public Law 95-113, 91 Stat. 981, 7 U.S.C. 3101 et seq. TITLE XIV-NATIONAL AGRICULTURAL RESEARCH, EXTENSION, AND TEACHING POLICY ACT OF 1977

SHORT TITLE

SEC. 1401. This title may be cited as the "National Agricultural Research, Extension, and Teaching Policy Act of 1977".

Subtitle A-Findings, Purposes, and Definitions

FINDINGS

SEC. 1402. Congress finds that

(1) the Federal Government of the United States has provided funding support for agricultural research and extension for many years in order to promote and protect the general health and welfare of the people of the United States, and this support has significantly contributed to the development of the Nation's agricultural system;

(2) the agencies conducting such federally supported research were established at different times in response to different and specific needs and their work is not fully coordinated;

(3) these agencies have only been partially successful in responding to the needs of all persons affected by their research, and useful information produced through such federally supported research is not being efficiently transferred to the people of the United States;

(4) expanded agricultural research and extension are needed to meet the rising demand for food and fiber caused by increases in worldwide population and food shortages due to short-term localized, and adverse climatic conditions;

(5) increased research is necessary to alleviate inadequacies of the marketing system (including storage, transportation, and distribution of agricultural and forest products) which have impaired United States agricultural production and utilization;

(6) advances in food and agricultural sciences and technology have become increasingly limited by the concentration upon the thorough development and exploitation of currently known scientific principles and technological approaches at the expense of more fundamental research, and a strong research effort in the basic sciences is necessary to achieve breakthroughs in knowl