§ 902. — General authority of Secretary of Agriculture.
[Laws in effect as of January 24, 2002]
[Document not affected by Public Laws enacted between
January 24, 2002 and December 19, 2002]
[CITE: 7USC902]
TITLE 7--AGRICULTURE
CHAPTER 31--RURAL ELECTRIFICATION AND TELEPHONE SERVICE
SUBCHAPTER I--RURAL ELECTRIFICATION
Sec. 902. General authority of Secretary of Agriculture
(a) Loans
The Secretary of Agriculture (referred to in this chapter as the
``Secretary'') is authorized and empowered to make loans in the several
States and Territories of the United States for rural electrification
and for the purpose of furnishing and improving electric and telephone
service in rural areas, as provided in this chapter, and for the purpose
of assisting electric borrowers to implement demand side management,
energy conservation programs, and on-grid and off-grid renewable energy
systems.
(b) Investigations and reports
The Secretary may make, or cause to be made, studies,
investigations, and reports regarding matters, including financial,
technological, and regulatory matters, affecting the condition and
progress of electric, telecommunications, and economic development in
rural areas, and publish and disseminate information with respect to the
matters.
(May 20, 1936, ch. 432, title I, Sec. 2, 49 Stat. 1363; Oct. 28, 1949,
ch. 776, Secs. 2, 3, 63 Stat. 948; Pub. L. 103-129, Sec. 2(c)(1), Nov.
1, 1993, 107 Stat. 1363; Pub. L. 103-354, title II, Sec. 235(a)(2),
(13), Oct. 13, 1994, 108 Stat. 3220, 3221; Pub. L. 104-127, title VII,
Sec. 771, Apr. 4, 1996, 110 Stat. 1149.)
Amendments
1996--Pub. L. 104-127, Sec. 771(1), inserted section catchline.
Subsec. (a). Pub. L. 104-127, Sec. 771(1), (2), inserted heading,
substituted ``The Secretary of Agriculture (referred to in this chapter
as the `Secretary') is'' for ``The Secretary of Agriculture is'', struck
out ``and the furnishing of electric energy to persons in rural areas
who are not receiving central station service'' after ``rural
electrification'', and substituted ``systems.'' for ``systems; to make,
or cause to be made, studies, investigations, and reports concerning the
condition and progress of the electrification of and the furnishing of
adequate telephone service in rural areas in the several States and
Territories; and to publish and disseminate information with respect
thereto.''
Subsec. (b). Pub. L. 104-127, Sec. 771(3), added subsec. (b) and
struck out former subsec. (b) which read as follows: ``By January 1,
1994, the Secretary shall issue interim regulations to implement the
authority contained in subsection (a) of this section to make loans for
the purpose of assisting electric borrowers to implement demand side
management, energy conservation programs, and on-grid and off-grid
renewable energy systems. If the regulations are not issued by January
1, 1994, the Secretary shall consider any demand side management, energy
conservation, or renewable energy program, system, or activity that is
approved by a State agency to be eligible for the loans.''
1994--Pub. L. 103-354 substituted ``Secretary of Agriculture'' for
``Administrator'' in subsec. (a) and ``Secretary'' for ``Administrator''
in two places in subsec. (b).
1993--Pub. L. 103-129 designated existing provisions as subsec. (a),
substituted ``electric and telephone service in rural areas, as provided
in this chapter, and for the purpose of assisting electric borrowers to
implement demand side management, energy conservation programs, and on-
grid and off-grid renewable energy systems;'' for ``telephone service in
rural areas, as hereinafter provided;'', and added subsec. (b).
1949--Act Oct. 28, 1949, authorized loans to furnish and improve
rural telephone service; and inserted ``title I,'' in credit of act May
20, 1936.
