Program Description

This program provides project grants from FmHA to aid low-income families in carrying out mutual self-help housing efforts in rural areas. Grants are awarded to qualified States or political subdivisions, or non-profit corporations having the financial assistance necessary to pay part or all of

the cost of development, administering, or coordinating effective programs of technical and supervisory assistance.

Citizen Participation

Subject to requirements under CFDA # 10.405.

CFDA #10.500

Cooperative Extension Service

Authorization

Smith-Lever Act, as amended, 7 U.S.C. 341-349; District of Columbia Public Post-secondary Education Reorganization Act, D.C. Code Section 31-1719; Rural Development Act of 1972; 7 U.S.C. 2661-2668; Farmer-to-Consumer Direct Marketing Act of 1976; 7 U.S.C. 3001-3006.

Program Description

Grants are made to land-grant institutions which, through State and county extension service personnel, provide educational and technical assistance to (1) farmers, producers, and marketing firms on how to apply new technical developments emanating from agricultural research; (2) community organizations to develop natural, economic, and human resources; (3) homemakers and youth in the areas of food and nutrition, home management, family economics, child development, and parent education; and (4) 4-H youth in the areas of leadership development and career guidance through work projects, demonstration

projects, camping, and achievement programs. Citizen Participation

Except for programs carried out under Title V of the Rural Development Act of 1972, and the Farmer-to-Consumer Direct Marketing Act of 1976, citizen participation in Extension Service programs is not specifically defined by statute or regulation. However, Extension Service programs are designed and priorities are established through a high degree of involvement of local people with Extension Service staff in determining programs to meet local needs. Local leaders who serve on Extension program and advisory committees are usually active participants in a variety of other organizations and special interest groups on a local, State, regional, and national basis. Through such participation private interests have a direct impact in determining State and national Extension policies and program priorities.

For those Extension programs carried out under Title V of the Rural Development Act of 1972, the statute requires that a State Rural Development Advisory Council be appointed consisting of not more than 15 members. At least ten mem

National Advisory Council on Child Nutrition. The Council has 15 members, appointed by the Secretary of Agriculture, and is composed of persons from all organizational levels of child nutrition programs, including experts in nutrition. The function of the Council is to make a continuing study of the operation of programs carried out under the National School Lunch Act, the Child Nutrition Act of 1966, and any related Act under which meals are provided for children. The Council submits an annual report of the results of the study with recommendations for administrative and legislative changes. Members serve for a term of 3 years.

Regulations governing the operation of the child nutrition programs are published in the Federal Register with a time period for public comment before issuance in final form. Any member of the public may provide comments and recommendations for modification of proposed regulations. Significant proposed regulations are submitted in advance to the Advisory Commission on Intergovernmental Affairs.

CFDA #10.554

Nonfood Assistance for School Food Service Programs

Authorization

Child Nutrition Act of 1966, as amended, 42 U.S.C. 1774a.

Program Description

Grants are made to State agencies to aid schools drawing attendance from areas in which poor economic conditions exist, to purchase equipment needed to establish, maintain, and expand food service. One-third of the funds are reserved for

schools without the facilities to prepare or receive hot meals. The funds are apportioned to the States on the basis of the number of children to be affected, and may be used to pay up to 75 percent of the cost of the equipment. For especially needy schools, the matching requirement is waived. Citizen Participation

Subject to requirements under CFDA #10.553.

CFDA #10.555

National School Lunch Program

Authorization

National School Lunch Act of 1946, as amended, 42 U.S.C. 1752 and 1759(a).

Program Description

Funds are made available to States to reimburse public and non-profit private schools for lunches served free, at reduced price, or at full price to paying children. Meals are reimbursed at rates set by law which are adjusted twice a year to reflect changes in the cost of food away from home. All participating schools must agree to serve free and reduced price meals to eligible needy children. Citizen Participation

Subject to requirements under CFDA #10.553. CFDA #10.556

Special Milk Program For Children

Authorization

Child Nutrition Act of 1966, Section 3, 42 U.S.C. 1772.

Program Description

Funds are made available to States to reimburse participating schools and child care institutions

for milk served to eligible children. The reimbursement rate is set by law and is adjusted annually to reflect changes in the Consumer Price Index for the cost of food away from home. Milk served free to needy children is reimbursed at full price.

Citizen Participation

Subject to requirements under CFDA #10.553.

CFDA #10.557

Special Supplemental Food Program for Women, Infants and Children (WIC)

Authorization

Child Nutrition Act of 1966, Sec. 17; 42 U.S.C. 1771.

Program Description

Grants are made to State Health Departments to make nutritionally desirable foods available to pregnant or lactating women, infants, and children, through local public or non-profit private health agencies. Funds must be expended to purchase supplemental foods for participants or to redeem vouchers issued for that purpose. A portions of the funds may be used for State and local agency administrative costs, which must be described in approved budgets.

Citizen Participation

The Child Nutrition Act establishes the National Advisory Council on Maternal, Infant, and Fetal Nutrition. The Council has 15 members, appointed by the Secretary of Agriculture. Its membership is composed of persons from all of the organizational levels of the program, including recipients, an obstetrician, a pediatrician, and other experts in matters relating to maternal, infant, and fetal

nutrition. The function of the Council is to make a continuing study of the operation of the special supplemental food program and related programs with a view toward determing how such programs may be improved. The Council submits an annual report on its study, with recommendations for administrative and legislative changes.

Regulations governing the operations of the special supplemental feeding program are published in the Federal Register with a time period for public comment before issuance in final form. Any member of the public may provide comments and recommendations for modification of proposed regulations.

In addition, although not required by statute, a nationwide series of public hearings was held during which the Department's program officials received testimony from program recipients, State and local officials, project directors, welfare organizations, and health professionals, on the program's effectiveness. Recommendations for program improvement resulted from these hearings.

CFDA #10.558

Child Care Food Program

Authorization

Section 17 of the National School Lunch Act as amended, 42 U.S.C. 1766.

Program Description

Funds are made available to State agencies to reimburse eligible public and non-profit private day care centers and similar child care institutions for lunches, suppers, breakfasts and snacks, at rates set by law. Rates vary for meals served free, at reduced price, or at the full price. Financial

assistance is also given for purchase of equipment.

Citizen Participation

Subject to requirements under CFDA # 10.553.

CFDA #10.559

Summer Food Service Program for Children

Authorization

Section 13 of the National School Lunch Act as amended, 42 U.S.C. 1761.

Program Description

Funds are made available to State agencies for

CFDA #10.651

Forestry Cooperative Research Authorization

disbursement to eligible service institutions which conduct a regularly scheduled program for children from areas in which poor economic conditions exist. Lunches, breakfasts, suppers and snacks are reimbursed for the full cost of food service operations, except that certain cost per meal rates cannot be exceeded. States are also granted funds for their administrative expenses in the amount of 2 percent of program funds. All meals are served free.

Citizen Participation

Subject to requirements under CFDA #10.553.

Forest Research Act of May 22, 1928, P.L. 70-466 (45 Stat. 699), as amended and supplemented; 16 U.S.C. 581 a-1.

Program Description

Co-op aid agreements are used to support inhouse Forest Service Research in the fields of timber management, watershed management, forest range management, wildlife and fish habitat management, forest recreation, forest fire protection, forest insect and disease protection and control, forest products utilization, forest engineering, forest production economics, forest products marketing, forest survey, and surface mining area rehabilitation.

Citizen Participation

The Forest and Rangeland Renewable Resources

Planning Act of 1974, as amended by the National Forest Management Act of 1976, requires public participation in the development, review and administration of land management plans and programs, and requires procedures to give Federal, State and local governments, and the public, adequate notice and an opportunity to comment on the formulation of standards, criteria and guidelines applicable to Forest Service programs. Although not required by the Resources Planning Act, Forest Service policy has been to formulate its long-range program every five years for National Forest System, Research, and State and Private Forestry activities as an environmental impact statement. The National Environmental Policy Act of 1969 (NEPA) (see p. 57) requirements for public involvement are exceeded in preparing these statements. NEPA procedures are also followed in all Forest Service actions of a major or controversial nature, allowing extensive involve

ment.