§2009dd–3. National Board on Rural America
(a) Establishment
(1) In general
The Secretary shall establish a National Board on Rural America to carry out the rural strategic investment program established under this subchapter.
(2) Supervision and direction
Except as otherwise provided in this subchapter, the National Board shall be subject to the general supervision and direction of the Secretary.
(b) Composition
(1) In general
(A) Appointment
In addition to the Secretary or the designee of the Secretary, the National Board shall consist of 14 members appointed by the Secretary from among-
(i) representatives of nationally recognized entrepreneurship organizations;
(ii) representatives of regional planning and development organizations;
(iii) representatives of community-based organizations;
(iv) elected members of county governments;
(v) elected members of State legislatures;
(vi) representatives of the rural philanthropic community; and
(vii) representatives of Indian tribes (as defined in section 450b of title 25).
(B) Recommendations
In appointing the members of the National Board under subparagraph (A), the Secretary shall consider recommendations made by-
(i) the chairman and ranking member of each of the Committee on Agriculture of the House of Representatives and the Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry of the Senate;
(ii) the Majority Leader of the Senate; and
(iii) the Speaker of the House of Representatives.
(3) 1 Term of office
(A) In general
Subject to subparagraph (B), the term of office of a member of the National Board appointed under paragraph (1)(A) shall be 4 years.
(B) Staggered initial terms
Of the initial members of the National Board appointed under paragraph (1)(A), the term of office of-
(i) 5 members shall be 4 years;
(ii) 5 members shall be 3 years; and
(iii) 4 members shall be 2 years.
(4) Initial appointments
Not later than 90 days after May 13, 2002, the Secretary shall appoint the initial members of the National Board under paragraph (1)(A).
(5) Ex-officio members
(A) Special Assistant to the President for Rural Policy
If appointed by the President under section 6406(1) of the Farm Security and Rural Investment Act of 2002, the Special Assistant to the President for Rural Policy shall serve as an ex-officio, non-voting member of the National Board.
(B) Other members
In consultation with the chairman and ranking member of each of the Committee on Agriculture of the House of Representatives and the Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry of the Senate, the Secretary may appoint not more than 3 other officers or employees of the Executive Branch to serve as ex-officio, non-voting members of the National Board.
(6) Vacancies
A vacancy on the National Board shall be filled in the same manner as the original appointment.
(7) Compensation
A member of the National Board shall receive no compensation for service on the National Board, but shall be reimbursed for travel and other expenses incurred in carrying out the duties of the member of the National Board in accordance with section 2 5702 and 5703 of title 5.
(8) Chairperson
The National Board shall select a chairperson from among the members of the National Board.
(9) Meetings
(A) Time and place
The National Board shall meet at the call of the chairperson.
(B) Quorum
A quorum of the National Board shall consist of a majority of the members.
(C) Majority vote
A decision of the National Board shall be made by majority vote.
(10) Federal status
For purposes of Federal law, a member of the National Board shall be considered a special Government employee (as defined in section 202(a) of title 18).
(11) Conflict of interest
(A) In general
Except as provided in subparagraph (C), no member of the National Board shall vote on any matter respecting any application for a grant or other particular matter pending before the National Board in which, to the knowledge of the member, the member, spouse, or child of the member, partner, or organization in which the member is serving as officer, director, trustee, partner, or employee, or any person or organization with whom the member is negotiating or has any arrangement concerning prospective employment, has a financial interest.
(B) Violations
A violation of subparagraph (A) by a member of the National Board shall be cause for removal of the member, but shall not impair or otherwise affect the validity of any otherwise lawful action by the National Board in which the member participated.
(C) Exception
Subparagraph (A) shall not apply to the extent a member of the National Board advises the National Board of the nature of the particular matter in which the member proposes to participate, if-
(i) the member makes a full disclosure of the financial interest; and
(ii) prior to any participation by the member, the National Board determines, by majority vote of the other members of the National Board, that the financial interest is too remote or too inconsequential to affect the integrity of the services of the member to the National Board in that matter.
(c) Administrative support
The Secretary, on a reimbursable basis, may provide such administrative support to the National Board as the Secretary determines is necessary to carry out the duties of the National Board.
(d) Duties
The National Board shall-
(1) certify Regional Boards in accordance with section 2009dd–2 of this title, with the initial certification of Regional Boards occurring not later than 540 days after May 13, 2002;
(2) approve, negotiate, or disapprove each regional plan that is submitted by a Regional Board to the National Board under section 2009dd–2 of this title;
(3) develop, and submit to the Secretary for approval, a national strategic investment plan;
(4) use the amount received from the Secretary under section 2009dd–4 of this title to make planning grants and innovation grants to Regional Boards and to otherwise carry out the program;
(5) provide leadership and advice to Regional Boards on issues, best practices, and emerging trends relating to rural development;
(6) evaluate the progress of each Regional Board in achieving the benchmarks of the regional plan using annual reports submitted under section 2009dd–2(b)(3)(D) of this title and any other information that is available to the Regional Board; and
(7) submit an annual report on the performance of Regional Boards and the program to-
(A) the Committee on Agriculture of the House of Representatives;
(B) the Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry of the Senate; and
(C) the Secretary.
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References in Text
Section 6406(1) of the Farm Security and Rural Investment Act of 2002, referred to in subsec. (b)(5)(A), is section 6406(1) of