7 U.S.C. § 6941: Under Secretary of…

Summary

Creates an Under Secretary of Agriculture for Rural Development in the Department of Agriculture. The President must appoint the person and the Senate must confirm them. The Secretary must give that Under Secretary the Department’s rural economic and community development duties and any other tasks required by law or assigned by the Secretary. A person serving as Under Secretary for Small Community and Rural Development on October 13, 1994, who was President‑appointed and Senate‑confirmed need not be reappointed if placed in the new job within 180 days after that date (or later if litigation delays). Approval power for electric and telephone loans and guarantees under the Rural Electrification Act of 1936 (7 U.S.C. 901 et seq.) cannot be moved to or made dependent on review by a State director or other employee whose main job is not loan review or helping borrowers.

Title 7, §6941

Agriculture, Source: USLM XML via OLRC

(a)Authorization

The Secretary shall establish in the Department the position of Under Secretary of Agriculture for Rural Development.

(b)Confirmation required

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)Functions of Under Secretary

(1)Principal functions

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)Additional functions

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)Succession

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)Loan approval authority

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.

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).

§6941 Under Secretary of Agriculture for Rural Development