12 2 STA T . 1 938PUBLIC LA W 11 0– 2 46—J U NE 18 , 2008 ‘ ‘ (3)exp e rtis ei n re mov in gba rriers to emp l o y ment f or in d ivid u als w it h disabilities , in c luding access to transportation, assistive technology, and other accommodations
and ‘‘( 4 ) existing relationships with national organi z ations focused primarily on the needs of rural areas . ‘‘(d) USE S. —A grant received under this section may be used only to expand or enhance— ‘‘( 1 ) employment opportunities for individuals with disabil - ities in rural areas by developing national technical assistance and education resources to assist small businesses in a rural area to recruit, hire, accommodate, and employ individuals with disabilities; and ‘‘( 2 ) self-employment and entrepreneurship opportunities for individuals with disabilities in a rural area. ‘‘(e) A UTHORIZA TIO N O F A P PROPRIATIONS.— T here is authorized to be appropriated to carry out this section $ 2, 0 00,000 for each of fiscal years 200 8 through 2012. ’ ’. SEC.6024 . H E ALT HCA R E SER VI CES. S ubtitle D of the C onsolidated F arm and R ural Development Act ( 7 U.S.C. 1 9 81etse q .) (as amended by section 6 023) is amended by adding at the end the following
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‘SEC. 379G . HEALTH CARE SERVICES. ‘‘(a) P URPOSE.—The purpose of this section is to address the continued unmet health needs in the Delta region through coopera- tion among health care professionals, institutions of higher edu- cation, research institutions, and other individuals and entities in the region. ‘‘(b) DEFINITION OF EL I G I B LE ENTIT Y .— I n this section, the term ‘eligible entity’ means a consortium of regional institutions of higher education, academic health and research institutes, and economic development entities located in the Delta region that have experi- ence in addressing the health care issues in the region. ‘‘(c) G RANTS.—To carry out the purpose described in subsection (a), the Secretary may award a grant to an eligible entity for – ‘‘(1) the development of – ‘‘(A) health care services; ‘‘( B ) health education programs; and ‘‘(C) health care j ob training programs; and ‘‘(2) the development and expansion of public health-related facilities in the Delta region to address longstanding and unmet health needs of the region. ‘‘(d) USE.—As a condition of the receipt of the grant, the eligible entity shall use the grant to fund projects and activities described in subsection (c), based on input solicited from local governments, public health care providers, and other entities in the Delta region. ‘‘(e) AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.—There is authorized to be appropriated to the Secretary to carry out this section, $3,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2008 through 2012.’’. SEC. 602 5 . D ELTA REGI ON ALA U THORIT Y . (a) AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.—Section 382 M (a) of the Consolidated Farm and Rural Development Act (7 U.S.C. 2009aa–12(a)) is amended by stri k ing ‘‘2001 through 2007’’ and inserting ‘‘2008 through 2012’’. 7USC20 0 8u.
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