Rural Development Modernization Act

[Congressional Bills 119th Congress] [From the U.S. Government Publishing Office] [H.R. 7609 Introduced in House (IH)] <DOC> 119th CONGRESS 2d Session H. R. 7609 To harmonize the population threshold for rural communities under programs carried out by the Department of Agriculture, and for other purposes. _______________________________________________________________________ IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES February 20, 2026 Mr. Costa (for himself, Mr. Crawford, Mr. Riley of New York, and Mr. Valadao) introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Agriculture, and in addition to the Committees on Energy and Commerce, Natural Resources, and Financial Services, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned _______________________________________________________________________ A BILL To harmonize the population threshold for rural communities under programs carried out by the Department of Agriculture, and for other purposes. Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE. This Act may be cited as the ``Rural Development Modernization Act''. SEC. 2. HARMONIZATION OF THE POPULATION THRESHOLD FOR RURAL COMMUNITIES UNDER DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE PROGRAMS. (a) Increase in Population Thresholds Under Certain Programs.-- (1) Broadband, telemedicine, and distance learning.-- (A) In general.--Section 601(b)(3)(A)(ii) of the Rural Electrification Act of 1936 (7 U.S.C. 950bb(b)(3)(A)(ii)) is amended by striking ``20,000 inhabitants'' and inserting ``25,000 inhabitants (excluding populations described in subparagraphs (F) and (G) of such section)''. (B) Ratio for allocation.--Section 601(j)(2)(B) of such Act (7 U.S.C. 950bb(j)(2)(B)) is amended by striking ``2,500'' each place it appears and inserting ``25,000''. (2) Telephone service loans.--Sectio