2019 US Code
Title 7 - Agriculture
Chapter 55 - Department of Agriculture
Sec. 2204b-1 - Rural development

The Congress commits itself to a sound balance between rural and urban America. The Congress considers this balance so essential to the peace, prosperity, and welfare of all our citizens that the highest priority must be given to the revitalization and development of rural areas.

Congress hereby directs the heads of all executive departments and agencies of the Government to establish and maintain departmental policies and procedures giving first priority to the location of new offices and other facilities in rural areas as defined in the private business enterprise exception in section 1926(a)(7) ¹ of this title.

(Pub. L. 91–524, title IX, §901, Nov. 30, 1970, 84 Stat. 1383; Pub. L. 92–419, title VI, §601, Aug. 30, 1972, 86 Stat. 674; Pub. L. 94–273, §7(3), Apr. 21, 1976, 90 Stat. 378; Pub. L. 96–355, §6, Sept. 24, 1980, 94 Stat. 1174.)

Section 1926(a)(7) of this title, referred to in subsec. (b), was repealed and a new section 1926(a)(7) was added by Pub. L. 104–127, title VII, §741(a)(2), Apr. 4, 1996, 110 Stat. 1123. As added, section 1926(a)(7) of this title defined "rural areas" but no longer contained provisions relating to a private business enterprise exception. Subsequently, section 1926(a)(7) was repealed by Pub. L. 107–171, title VI, §6020(b)(1), May 13, 2002, 116 Stat. 363.

Section was formerly classified to section 3122 of Title 42, The Public Health and Welfare.

1980—Subsec. (b). Pub. L. 96–355 struck out provisions respecting annual report to Congress by the President covering efforts, etc., made for locating all new facilities.

Subsec. (c). Pub. L. 96–355 struck out subsec. (c) which related to planning assistance and annual report to Congress respecting such assistance.

Subsec. (d). Pub. L. 96–355 struck out subsec. (d) which related to information and technical assistance and annual report to Congress respecting such assistance.

Subsec. (e). Pub. L. 96–355 struck out subsec. (e) which related to provision of government services and annual report to Congress respecting such services.

Subsec. (f). Pub. L. 96–355 struck out subsec. (f) which required report to Congress by July 1, 1971, relating to implementation of rural financial assistance requirements.

1976—Subsec. (b). Pub. L. 94–273 substituted "December" for "September".

Subsec. (d). Pub. L. 94–273 substituted "December 1 of" for "September 1 of".

1972—Subsec. (b). Pub. L. 92–419 struck out "insofar as practicable," after "maintain" and substituted "policies and procedures giving first priority to the location of new offices and other facilities in rural areas as defined in the private business enterprise exception in section 1926(a)(7) of this title", for "policies and procedures with respect to the location of new offices and other facilities in areas or communities of lower population density in preference to areas or communities of high population densities".

Amendment by Pub. L. 96–355 effective Oct. 1, 1980, see section 10 of Pub. L. 96–355, set out as an Effective Date note under section 2204b of this title.

Ex. Ord. No. 11797, July 31, 1974, 39 F.R. 27893, which delegated to the Secretary of Agriculture the President's authority to prepare and submit to Congress annual reports concerning the location of new Federal facilities in rural areas, was revoked by Ex. Ord. No. 12553, Feb. 25, 1986, 51 F.R. 7237.

¹ See References in Text note below.