§2009dd–7. National Conference on Rural America
(a) In general
The President shall call and conduct a National Conference on Rural America, which shall be held not earlier than November 1, 2002, and not later than October 30, 2004.
(b) Purpose
The purpose of the Conference shall be to bring together the resources of governmental agencies and the private and nonprofit sectors to develop-
(1) policy recommendations and integrative strategies for addressing the unique challenges facing rural areas of the United States; and
(2) an implementation plan, with outcome-based measurements, for addressing the challenges.
(c) Composition
(1) In general
The Conference shall be comprised of-
(A) representatives of organizations devoted to rural development;
(B) Members of Congress, including 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;
(C) representatives of the Department of Agriculture and other Federal agencies;
(D) State, local, and tribal elected officials and representatives;
(E) representatives of colleges and universities, State and tribal extension services, and State rural development councils; and
(F) individuals with specialized knowledge of and expertise in rural and community development, cooperative business, agricultural credit, venture capital, health care, and rural demography.
(2) Selection
Of the participants in the Conference described in paragraph (1)-
(A) 1/3 of the members shall be selected by the President;
(B) 1/3 of the members shall be selected by the Chairman and the ranking member of the Committee on Agriculture of the House of Representatives; and
(C) 1/3 of the members shall be selected by the Chairman and the ranking member of the Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry of the Senate.
(3) Representation
In selecting the participants of the Conference, the President and the Chairman of each Committee referred to in paragraph (2) shall ensure, to the maximum extent practicable, that the participants are representative of the ethnic, racial, and linguistic diversity of rural areas of the United States.
(d) Report
(1) Report to President
Not later than 120 days after the termination of the Conference, the Conference shall submit to the President a report that contains the findings and recommendations of the Conference, including findings and recommendations to address needs related to-
(A) telecommunications;
(B) rural health issues;
(C) transportation;
(D) opportunities for economic diversification and innovation within rural America, with particular attention to entrepreneurial support and innovation;
(E) the current and future human resource capacity of rural America;
(F) access to market-based financing and venture and equity capital in rural America; and
(G) the development of innovative public and private collaborations for investments in rural America.
(2) Report made public and to Congress
Not later than 90 days after receipt by the President, the President shall-
(A) make the report public; and
(B) transmit to the Committee on Agriculture of the House of Representatives and the Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry of the Senate a copy of the report and a statement of the President containing recommendations for implementing the report.
(3) Publication and distribution
(A) In general
The Conference shall publish and distribute the report described in paragraph (1).
(B) Mandatory distribution
The Conference shall provide a copy of a report published under subparagraph (A), at no cost, to-
(i) each Federal depository library; and
(ii) on request, each State, tribal, and local elected official in a rural area of the United States.
(e) Funding
Not later than 180 days after the establishment of the National Board, the National Board shall transfer not more than $2,000,000 to the Office of the President to carry out this section, to remain available until expended.
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