(a) EstablishmentThe Secretary shall establish, within the National Agricultural Library, in coordination with the National Institute of Food and Agriculture, a National Rural Information Center Clearinghouse (in this section referred to as the “Clearinghouse”) to perform the functions specified in subsection (b).
(b) FunctionsThe Clearinghouse shall provide and distribute information and data to any industry, organization, or Federal, State, or local government entity, on request, about programs and services provided by Federal, State, and local agencies and private nonprofit organizations and institutions under which individuals residing in, or organizations and State and local government entities operating in, a rural area may be eligible for any kind of assistance, including job training, education, health care, and economic development assistance, and emotional and financial counseling. To the extent possible, the National Agricultural Library shall use telecommunications technology to disseminate information to rural areas.
(c) Federal agenciesOn request of the Secretary, the head of a Federal agency shall provide to the Clearinghouse such information as the Secretary may request to enable the Clearinghouse to carry out subsection (b).
(d) State and local agencies and nonprofit organizationsThe Secretary shall request State and local governments and private nonprofit organizations and institutions to provide to the Clearinghouse such information as such agencies and organizations may have about any program or service of such agencies, organizations, and institutions under which individuals residing in a rural area may be eligible for any kind of assistance, including job training, educational, health care, and economic development assistance, and emotional and financial counseling.
(e) Limitation on authorization of appropriationsTo carry out this section, there are authorized to be appropriated $500,000 for each of the fiscal years 1991 through 2023.
(Pub. L. 101–624, title XXIII, § 2381, Nov. 28, 1990, 104 Stat. 4049; Pub. L. 104–127, title VIII, § 842, Apr. 4, 1996, 110 Stat. 1170; Pub. L. 105–185, title III, § 301(b)(3), June 23, 1998, 112 Stat. 563; Pub. L. 107–171, title VII, § 7101, May 13, 2002, 116 Stat. 431; Pub. L. 110–234, title VII, §§ 7212, 7511(c)(9), May 22, 2008, 122 Stat. 1242, 1268; Pub. L. 110–246, § 4(a), title VII, §§ 7212, 7511(c)(9), June 18, 2008, 122 Stat. 1664, 2003, 2029; Pub. L. 113–79, title VII, § 7217, Feb. 7, 2014, 128 Stat. 887; Pub. L. 115–334, title VII, § 7215, Dec. 20, 2018, 132 Stat. 4814.)
Editorial Notes
Codification
Pub. L. 110–234 and Pub. L. 110–246 made identical amendments to this section. The amendments by Pub. L. 110–234 were repealed by section 4(a) of Pub. L. 110–246.
Section was enacted as part of the Rural Economic Development Act of 1990, and also as part of the Food, Agriculture, Conservation, and Trade Act of 1990, and not as part of the National Agricultural Research, Extension, and Teaching Policy Act of 1977 which comprises this chapter.
Amendments2018—Subsec. (e). Pub. L. 115–334 substituted “2023” for “2018”.
2014—Subsec. (e). Pub. L. 113–79 substituted “2018” for “2012”.
2008—Subsec. (a). Pub. L. 110–246, § 7511(c)(9), substituted “National Institute of Food and Agriculture” for “Extension Service”.
Subsec. (e). Pub. L. 110–246, § 7212, substituted “2012” for “2007”.
2002—Subsec. (e). Pub. L. 107–171 substituted “2007” for “2002”.
1998—Subsec. (e). Pub. L. 105–185 substituted “2002” for “1997”.
1996—Subsec. (e). Pub. L. 104–127 substituted “1997” for “1995”.
Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries
Effective Date of 2008 AmendmentAmendment 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, except as otherwise provided, see section 4 of Pub. L. 110–246, set out as an Effective Date note under section 8701 of this title.
Amendment by section 7511(c)(9) of Pub. L. 110–246 effective Oct. 1, 2009, see section 7511(c) of Pub. L. 110–246, set out as a note under section 1522 of this title.