---
kind: "section"
citation: "7 U.S.C. § 2009cc–4"
title: "7"
title_heading: "Agriculture"
number: "2009cc–4"
heading: "Debentures"
release: "119-102"
date: "2026-07-12"
url: "https://uscodex.org/usc/7/2009cc-4"
units:
  - "Chapter 50 — Agricultural Credit"
  - "Subchapter VIII — Rural Business Investment Program"
---

# §2009cc–4. Debentures

- (a) **In general—** The [Secretary](/usc/7/499a.md?p=b-2) may guarantee the timely payment of principal and interest, as scheduled, on debentures issued by any [rural business investment company](/usc/7/2009cc.md?p=14).
- (b) **Terms and conditions—** The [Secretary](/usc/7/499a.md?p=b-2) may make guarantees under this section on such terms and conditions as the [Secretary](/usc/7/499a.md?p=b-2) considers appropriate, except that the term of any debenture guaranteed under this section shall not exceed 15 years.
- (c) **Full faith and credit of the United States—** [Section 2009g(i) of this title](/usc/7/2009g.md?p=i) shall apply to any guarantee under this section.
- (d) **Maximum guarantee—** Under this section, the [Secretary](/usc/7/499a.md?p=b-2) may—
  - (1) guarantee the debentures issued by a [rural business investment company](/usc/7/2009cc.md?p=14) only to the extent that the total face amount of outstanding guaranteed debentures of the [rural business investment company](/usc/7/2009cc.md?p=14) does not exceed the lesser of—
    - (A) 300 percent of the [private capital](/usc/7/2009cc.md?p=11-A) of the [rural business investment company](/usc/7/2009cc.md?p=14); or
    - (B) $105,000,000; and
  - (2) provide for the use of discounted debentures.

## Source credit

(Pub. L. 87–128, title III, § 384E, as added Pub. L. 107–171, title VI, § 6029, May 13, 2002, 116 Stat. 393.)