Section 1 Short title
This Act may be cited as the “Strengthening Rural Cooperatives and Communities Act”.
Strengthening Rural Cooperatives and Communities Act
A BILL
To amend the Consolidated Farm and Rural Development Act to reauthorize rural cooperative development grants.
Sec. 2 Reauthorization of rural cooperative development grants
Section 310B(e) of the Consolidated Farm and Rural Development Act (7 U.S.C. 1932(e)) is amended—
in paragraph (1)—
by redesignating subparagraphs (A) and (B) as subparagraphs (B) and (C), respectively; and
by inserting before subparagraph (B) (as so redesignated) the following:
“(A) Cooperative development—The term cooperative development means activities, including outreach, education, training, and technical assistance, to support the startup, expansion, or ongoing sustainability of new and existing cooperatives.”
in paragraph (4), in the matter preceding subparagraph (A), in the second sentence, by inserting “, and award maximum points in scoring criteria to applicants that satisfy the requirements of paragraph (5)(F),” before “if the plan”;
in paragraph (6)(B), by striking “If the Secretary determines it to be in the best interest of the program, the” and inserting “The”;
in paragraph (10)—
by striking “The Secretary” and inserting the following:
“(A) In general—The Secretary”
by adding at the end the following:
“(B) Analysis—The Secretary shall—
“(i) analyze the data resulting from the research conducted under subparagraph (A); and
“(ii) include the data and the analysis described in clause (i) in the annual report submitted by the interagency working group under paragraph (12).”
in paragraph (12)—
by striking “Not later” and inserting the following:
“(A) In general—Not later”
by adding at the end the following:
“(B) Annual reports—Not later than 180 days after the date of enactment of this subparagraph, and annually thereafter, the interagency working group described in subparagraph (A) shall submit to Congress a report describing the activities carried out by the interagency working group.”
in paragraph (13), by striking “2014 through 2023” and inserting “2025 through 2029”.