No financial assistance shall be provided under this part unless the Secretary determines that—
any cooperative association receiving assistance has a minimum of fifteen active members, a majority of which are low-income rural persons;
adequate technical assistance is made available and committed to the programs being supported;
such financial assistance will materially further the purposes of this part; and
the applicant is fulfilling or will fulfill a need for services, supplies, or facilities which is otherwise not being met.
Pub. L. 97–35, title VI, § 62295 Stat. 494 (, , .)