7 U.S.C. § 3319e: New Era Rural Technology…

Summary

Creates the New Era Rural Technology Program that must give grants for technology work, applied research, and training to help build an agriculture-based renewable energy workforce. The program supports bioenergy, pulp and paper manufacturing, agriculture-based renewable energy resources, and precision agriculture. To get money, an applicant must be a community college or advanced technical center in a rural area that existed when the law passed, do agricultural or bioenergy research, show a record of training certified technicians for those fields, and be able to use existing partnerships and outreach with high schools, 4-year colleges, and nonprofits. The Secretary must give preference to applicants who work together to share information and better meet the program goals. Money is authorized as needed for fiscal years 2019 through 2023. Community college: a higher education school that admits adults who can benefit from its programs, does not award bachelor’s degrees, and offers at least 2-year programs or 2-year technical programs in STEM fields.

Title 7, §3319e

Agriculture, Source: USLM XML via OLRC

(a)Definition of community college

In this section, the term “community college” means an institution of higher education (as defined in section 1001 of title 20)—

(1)that admits as regular students individuals who—

(A)are beyond the age of compulsory school attendance in the State in which the institution is located; and

(B)have the ability to benefit from the training offered by the institution;

(2)that does not provide an educational program for which the institution awards a bachelor’s degree or an equivalent degree; and

(3)that—

(A)provides an educational program of not less than 2 years that is acceptable for full credit toward such a degree; or

(B)offers a 2-year program in engineering, technology, mathematics, or the physical, chemical, or biological sciences, designed to prepare a student to work as a technician or at the semiprofessional level in engineering, scientific, or other technological fields requiring the understanding and application of basic engineering, scientific, or mathematical principles of knowledge.

(b)Functions

(1)Establishment

(A)In general

The Secretary shall establish a program to be known as the “New Era Rural Technology Program”, to make grants available for technology development, applied research, and training to aid in the development of an agriculture-based renewable energy workforce.

(B)Support

The initiative under this section shall support the fields of— (i)

(ii)pulp and paper manufacturing;

(iii)agriculture-based renewable energy resources; and

(iv)precision agriculture.

(2)Requirements for funding

To receive funding under this section, an entity shall—

(A)be a community college or advanced technological center, located in a rural area and in existence on the date of the enactment of this section, that participates in agricultural or bioenergy research and applied research;

(B)have a proven record of development and implementation of programs to meet the needs of students, educators, and business and industry to supply the agriculture-based, renewable energy or pulp and paper manufacturing fields with certified technicians, as determined by the Secretary; and

(C)have the ability to leverage existing partnerships and occupational outreach and training programs for secondary schools, 4-year institutions, and relevant nonprofit organizations.

(c)Grant priority

In providing grants under this section, the Secretary shall give preference to eligible entities working in partnership—

(1)to improve information-sharing capacity; and

(2)to maximize the ability to meet the requirements of this section.

(d)Authorization of appropriations

There are authorized to be appropriated to carry out this section such sums as are necessary for each of fiscal years 2019 through 2023.

Notes & Related Subsidiaries

Editorial Notes

References in Text

The date of the enactment of this section, referred to in subsec. (b)(2)(A), is the date of enactment of Pub. L. 110–246, which was approved June 18, 2008. Codification Pub. L. 110–234 and Pub. L. 110–246 enacted identical sections. Pub. L. 110–234 was repealed by section 4(a) of Pub. L. 110–246.

Prior Provisions

A prior section 3319e, Pub. L. 95–113, title XIV, § 1473E, as added Pub. L. 101–220, § 5, Dec. 12, 1989, 103 Stat. 1878, related to research into new commercial products from natural plant materials, prior to repeal by Pub. L. 102–237, title IV, § 402(14), Dec. 13, 1991, 105 Stat. 1863.

Amendments

2018—Subsec. (b)(1)(B)(iv). Pub. L. 115–334, § 7130(1), added cl. (iv). Subsec. (d). Pub. L. 115–334, § 7130(2), substituted “2019 through 2023” for “2008 through 2012”.

Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries

Effective Date

Enactment of this section and repeal of Pub. L. 110–234 by Pub. L. 110–246 effective May 22, 2008, the date of enactment of Pub. L. 110–234, see section 4 of Pub. L. 110–246, set out as a note under section 8701 of this title.

§3319e New Era Rural Technology Program