Title 7AgricultureRelease 119-73

§6941 Under Secretary of Agriculture for Rural Development

Title 7 › Chapter CHAPTER 98— - DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE REORGANIZATION › Subchapter SUBCHAPTER III— - RURAL ECONOMIC AND COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT › § 6941

Last updated Apr 6, 2026|Official source

Summary

The Secretary must create the job of Under Secretary of Agriculture for Rural Development inside the Department. The President must appoint that person and the Senate must approve the appointment. When the job exists, the Secretary must give the Under Secretary the Department duties that deal with rural economic and community development. The Under Secretary also must carry out other duties required by law or given by the Secretary. An official who was serving as Under Secretary of Agriculture for Small Community and Rural Development on October 13, 1994, and who was appointed by the President with the Senate’s approval does not need to be reappointed to the new job if the Secretary creates the position and that official fills it within 180 days after October 13, 1994 (or later if litigation delays the change). Approval power for loans and loan guarantees in the electric and telephone programs under the Rural Electrification Act of 1936 must not be moved to or made to depend on a State director or other employee whose main job is not reviewing and approving those loans or helping those borrowers.

Full Legal Text

Title 7, §6941

Agriculture — Source: USLM XML via OLRC

(a)The Secretary shall establish in the Department the position of Under Secretary of Agriculture for Rural Development.
(b)The Under Secretary of Agriculture for Rural Development shall be appointed by the President, by and with the advice and consent of the Senate.
(c)(1)Upon establishment, the Secretary shall delegate to the Under Secretary of Agriculture for Rural Development those functions under the jurisdiction of the Department that are related to rural economic and community development.
(2)The Under Secretary of Agriculture for Rural Development shall perform such other functions as may be required by law or prescribed by the Secretary.
(d)Any official who is serving as Under Secretary of Agriculture for Small Community and Rural Development on October 13, 1994, and who was appointed by the President, by and with the advice and consent of the Senate, shall not be required to be reappointed under subsection (b) to the successor position authorized under subsection (a) if the Secretary establishes the position, and the official occupies the new position, within 180 days after October 13, 1994 (or such later date set by the Secretary if litigation delays rapid succession).
(e)Approval authority for loans and loan guarantees in connection with the electric and telephone loan and loan guarantee programs authorized by the Rural Electrification Act of 1936 (7 U.S.C. 901 et seq.) shall not be transferred to, or conditioned on review of, a State director or other employee whose primary duty is not the review and approval of such loans or the provision of assistance to such borrowers.

Legislative History

Notes & Related Subsidiaries

Editorial Notes

References in Text

The Rural Electrification Act of 1936, referred to in subsec. (e), is act May 20, 1936, ch. 432, 49 Stat. 1363, which is classified generally to chapter 31 (§ 901 et seq.) of this title. For complete classification of this Act to the Code, see section 901 of this title and Tables. Codification Section is comprised of section 231 of Pub. L. 103–354. Subsec. (f) of section 231 of Pub. L. 103–354 amended section 5314 of Title 5, Government Organization and Employees, and repealed section 2006f and 2211b of this title.

Amendments

2018—Subsec. (a). Pub. L. 115–334, § 12407(1), substituted “shall” for “is authorized to”. Subsec. (b). Pub. L. 115–334, § 12407(2), substituted “The Under Secretary of Agriculture for Rural Development shall” for “If the Secretary establishes the position of Under Secretary of Agriculture for Rural Development authorized under subsection (a), the Under Secretary shall”. 1996—Pub. L. 104–127 struck out “Economic and Community” after “Under Secretary of Agriculture for Rural”, wherever appearing in section catchline and subsecs. (a) to (c).

Reference

Citations & Metadata

Citation

7 U.S.C. § 6941

Title 7Agriculture

Last Updated

Apr 6, 2026

Release point: 119-73