US Code

Public Law 119-73 (01/23/2026)

7 U.S.C. § 2009bb–5

Distressed counties and areas and nondistressed counties

(a)

Designations

Not later than 90 days after , and annually thereafter, the Authority, in accordance with such criteria as the Authority may establish, shall designate—
(1)
as distressed counties, counties in the region that are the most severely and persistently distressed and underdeveloped and have high rates of poverty, unemployment, or outmigration;
(2)
as nondistressed counties, counties in the region that are not designated as distressed counties under paragraph (1); and
(3)
as isolated areas of distress, areas located in nondistressed counties (as designated under paragraph (2)) that have high rates of poverty, unemployment, or outmigration.
(b)

Distressed counties

(1)

In general

section 2009bb–12 of this titleThe Authority shall allocate at least 50 percent of the appropriations made available under for programs and projects designed to serve the needs of distressed counties and isolated areas of distress in the region.

(2)

Funding limitations

section 2009bb–3(b) of this titleThe funding limitations under shall not apply to a project to provide transportation or telecommunication or basic public services to residents of 1 or more distressed counties or isolated areas of distress in the region.

(c)

Transportation, telecommunication, renewable energy, and basic public infrastructure

section 2009bb–12 of this titlesection 2009bb–2(a) of this titleThe Authority shall allocate at least 50 percent of any funds made available under for transportation, telecommunication, renewable energy, and basic public infrastructure projects authorized under paragraphs (1) and (3) of .

Pub. L. 87–128, title III, § 383GPub. L. 107–171, title VI, § 6028116 Stat. 384Pub. L. 110–234, title VI, § 6026(c)(1)(A)122 Stat. 1178Pub. L. 110–246, § 4(a)122 Stat. 1664Pub. L. 115–334, title VI, § 6701(h)132 Stat. 4779(, formerly § 383F, as added , , ; renumbered § 383G and amended , (2)(D), (g), , , 1179, 1181, and , title VI, § 6026(c)(1)(A), (2)(D), (g), , , 1940–1942; , , .)

Editorial Notes

Codification

Pub. L. 110–234Pub. L. 110–246Pub. L. 110–234section 4(a) of Pub. L. 110–246 and made identical amendments to this section. The amendments by were repealed by .

Prior Provisions

section 383G of Pub. L. 87–128section 2009bb–6 of this titleA prior , title III, was renumbered section 383H and is classified to .

Amendments

Pub. L. 115–3342018—Subsec. (c). substituted “telecommunication, renewable energy,” for “telecommunication renewable energy,,” in heading and “telecommunication,” for “telecommunication,,” in text.

Pub. L. 110–246, § 6026(g)(1)2008—Subsec. (b)(1). , substituted “50” for “75”.

Pub. L. 110–246, § 6026(c)(2)(D)(i)(I)section 2009bb–12 of this title, made technical amendment to reference in original act which appears in text as reference to .

Pub. L. 110–246, § 6026(c)(2)(D)(i)(II)section 2009bb–3(b) of this titleSubsec. (b)(2). , made technical amendment to reference in original act which appears in text as reference to .

Pub. L. 110–246, § 6026(g)(2)Subsec. (c). –(4), redesignated subsec. (d) as (c), inserted “renewable energy,” after “telecommunication” in heading and “, renewable energy,” after “telecommunication,” in text, and struck out former subsec. (c) which prohibited provision of funds for a project located in a county designated as a nondistressed county.

Pub. L. 110–246, § 6026(c)(2)(D)(ii)section 2009bb–4(b) of this titleSubsec. (c)(2)(A). , made technical amendment to reference in original act which appears in text as reference to .

Pub. L. 110–246, § 6026(g)(3)Subsec. (d). , redesignated subsec. (d) as (c).

Pub. L. 110–246, § 6026(c)(2)(D)(iii)section 2009bb–12 of this titlesection 2009bb–2(a) of this title, made technical amendments to references in original act which appear in text as references to and .

Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries

Effective Date of 2008 Amendment

Pub. L. 110–234Pub. L. 110–246Pub. L. 110–234section 4 of Pub. L. 110–246section 8701 of this titleAmendment of this section and repeal of by effective , the date of enactment of , see , set out as an Effective Date note under .