§ 2661. — Statement of purposes and goals.
[Laws in effect as of January 24, 2002]
[Document not affected by Public Laws enacted between
January 24, 2002 and December 19, 2002]
[CITE: 7USC2661]
TITLE 7--AGRICULTURE
CHAPTER 59--RURAL FIRE PROTECTION, DEVELOPMENT, AND SMALL FARM RESEARCH
AND EDUCATION
SUBCHAPTER II--RURAL DEVELOPMENT AND SMALL FARM RESEARCH AND EDUCATION
Sec. 2661. Statement of purposes and goals
(a) The overall purpose of this subchapter is to foster a balanced
national development that provides opportunities for increased numbers
of the people of the United States to work and enjoy a high quality of
life dispersed throughout our Nation by providing the essential
knowledge necessary for successful programs of rural development. It is
further the purpose of this subchapter to--
(1) provide multistate regional agencies, States, counties,
cities, multicounty planning and development districts, businesses,
industries, Indian tribes on Federal and State reservations or other
federally recognized Indian tribal groups and others involved with
public services and investments in rural areas or that provide or
may provide employment in these areas the best available scientific,
technical, economic, organizational, environmental, and management
information and knowledge useful to them, and to assist and
encourage them in the interpretation and application of this
information to practical problems and needs in rural development;
(2) provide research and investigations in all fields that have
as their purpose the development of useful knowledge and information
to assist those planning, carrying out, managing, or investing in
facilities, services, businesses, or other enterprises, public and
private, that may contribute to rural development;
(3) increase the capabilities of, and encourage, colleges and
universities to perform the vital public service roles of research,
and the transfer and practical application of knowledge, in support
of rural development;
(4) expand small farm research and extend training and technical
assistance to small farm families in assessing their needs and
opportunities and in using the best available knowledge on sound
economic approaches to small farm operations and on existing
services offered by the Department of Agriculture and other public
and private agencies and organizations to improve their income and
to gain access to essential facilities and services; and
(5) support activities to supplement and extend programs that
address special research and education needs in States experiencing
rapid social and economic adjustments or unique problems caused by
rural isolation and that address national and regional rural
development policies, strategies, issues, and programs.
(b) the \1\ goals of this subchapter are to--
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\1\ So in original. Should be capitalized.
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(1) encourage and support rural United States, in order to help
make it a better place to live, work, and enjoy life;
(2) increase income and improve employment for persons in rural
areas, including the owners or operators of small farms, small
businesses, and rural youth;
(3) improve the quality and availability of essential community
services and facilities in rural areas;
(4) improve the quantity and quality of rural housing;
(5) improve the rural management of natural resources so that
the growth and development of rural communities needed to support
the family farm may be accommodated with minimum effect on the
natural environment and the agricultural land base;
(6) improve the data base for rural development decisionmaking
at local, State, and national levels; and
(7) improve the problem solving and development capacities and
effectiveness of rural governments, officials, institutions,
communities, community leaders, and citizen groups in--
(A) improving access to Federal programs;
(B) improving targeting and delivery of technical
assistance;
(C) improving coordination among Federal agencies, other
levels of government, and institutions and private organizations
in rural areas; and
(D) developing and disseminating better information about
rural conditions.
(Pub. L. 92-419, title V, Sec. 501, as added Pub. L. 97-98, title XIV,
Sec. 1444(a), Dec. 22, 1981, 95 Stat. 1322.)
Prior Provisions
A prior section 2661, Pub. L. 92-419, title V, Sec. 501, Aug. 30,
1972, 86 Stat. 671, stated Congressional statement of purposes, prior to
repeal by Pub. L. 97-98, title XIV, Sec. 1444(a), Dec. 22, 1981, 95
Stat. 1326.
Effective Date
Section effective Dec. 22, 1981, see section 1801 of Pub. L. 97-98,
set out as a note under section 4301 of this title.
Short Title of 1990 Amendment
Pub. L. 101-624, title XXIII, Sec. 2390(a), Nov. 28, 1990, 104 Stat.
4055, provided that: ``This section [amending sections 2662 and 2663 of
this title] may be cited as the `Rural Health and Safety Education Act
of 1990'.''
Short Title of 1987 Amendment
Pub. L. 100-219, Sec. 1, Dec. 29, 1987, 101 Stat. 1456, provided
that: ``This Act [amending section 2662 of this title] may be cited as
the `Rural Crisis Recovery Program Act of 1987'.''
Northern Great Plains Rural Development
Pub. L. 103-318, Aug. 26, 1994, 108 Stat. 1781, as amended by Pub.
L. 104-327, Sec. 2, Oct. 19, 1996, 110 Stat. 4003, established Northern
Great Plains Rural Development Commission to study and make
recommendations regarding economic needs and economic development of
rural Northern Great Plains by seeking and encouraging participation of
interested citizens, public officials, groups, agencies, businesses, and
other entities in developing 10-year rural economic development plan for
Northern Great Plains, defined terms, provided for membership and
organization of Commission, duties and powers of Commission,
compensation of members, administrative provisions, interim and final
reports to Congress, appropriations, and for termination of Commission
on Sept. 30, 1997.
