(a) Delegations. Pursuant to §§2.17(a)(14), (a)(16) through (a)(19) and (a)(22), and subject to policy guidance and direction by the Assistant to the Secretary for Rural Development, the following delegations of authority are made by the Assistant to the Secretary for Rural Development to the Administrator, Rural Housing Service:

(1) Administer the following under the Consolidated Farm and Rural Development Act (7 U.S.C. 1921 et seq.):

(i) Section 306 (7 U.S.C. 1926) except subsection 306(a)(11) and except financing for water and waste disposal facilities; hazardous weather early warning systems; grazing facilities; irrigation and drainage facilities; rural electrification or telephone systems or facilities; and hydro-electric generating and related distribution systems and supplemental and supporting structures if they are eligible for Rural Utilities financing;

(ii) Section 309A (7 U.S.C. 1929a), regarding assets and programs relating to community facilities; and

(iii) Administrative Provisions of subtitle D of the Consolidated Farm and Rural Development Act relating to Rural Housing Service activities;

(iv) Section 379 (7 U.S.C. 2008n) relating to the Rural Telework program.

(v) Section 379A (7 U.S.C. 2008o) relating to the Historic Barn Preservation program.

(vi) Section 379C (7 U.S.C. 2008q) relating to the Farm Workers Training Grant program.

(2) Administer title V of the Housing Act of 1949 (42 U.S.C. 1471 et seq.), except those functions pertaining to research.

(3) [Reserved]

(4) Administer the rural housing disaster program under sections 232, 234, and 253 of the Disaster Relief Act of 1970 (Pub. L. No. 91-606).

(5) [Reserved]

(6) Exercise all authority and discretion vested in the Secretary by section 510(d) of the Housing Act of 1949, as amended by section 1045 of the Stewart B. McKinney Homeless Assistance Amendments Act of 1988, Pub. L. No. 100-628 (42 U.S.C. 1480(d)), including the following:

(i) Determine, with the concurrence of the General Counsel, which actions are to be referred to the Department of Justice for the conduct of litigation, and refer such actions to the Department of Justice through the General Counsel;

(ii) Determine, with the concurrence of the General Counsel, which actions are to be referred to the General Counsel for the conduct of litigation and refer such actions; and

(iii) Enter into contracts with private sector attorneys for the conduct of litigation, with the concurrence of the General Counsel, after determining that the attorneys will provide competent and cost effective representation for the Rural Housing Service and representation by the attorney will either accelerate the process by which a family or person eligible for assistance under section 502 of the Housing Act of 1949 will be able to purchase and occupy the housing involved, or preserve the quality of the housing involved.

(7) [Reserved]

(8) Administer responsibilities and function assigned under the Defense Production Act of 1950, as amended (50 U.S.C. App. 2061 et seq.) and title VI of the Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act (42 U.S.C. 5195 et seq.), relating to rural housing and community development credit and financial assistance.

(9)-(10) [Reserved]

(11) Administer the Rural Firefighters and Emergency Personnel Grant program (7 U.S.C. 2655).

(12) Implement the information disclosure authorities of section 1619(b)(3)(A) of the Food, Conservation, and Energy Act of 2008 (7 U.S.C. 8791(b)(3)(A)).

(13) In coordination with the Director, Office of Advocacy and Outreach, issue receipts under section 2501A(e) of the Food, Agriculture, Conservation, and Trade Act of 1990 (7 U.S.C. 2279-1(e)).

(b) Reservation. The following authority is reserved to the Assistant to the Secretary for Rural Development: Making and issuing notes to the Secretary of the Treasury for the purposes the Rural Development Insurance Fund as authorized by the Consolidated Farm and Rural Development Act (7 U.S.C. 1929(a)) and the Rural Housing Insurance Fund as authorized by title V of the Housing Act of 1949 (41 U.S.C. 1487).

[60 FR 56393, Nov. 8, 1995, as amended at 66 FR 16593, Mar. 27, 2001; 68 FR 27444, May 20, 2003; 74 FR 3408, Jan. 21, 2009; 75 FR 43380, July 23, 2010; 78 FR 40938, July 9, 2013; 79 FR 44114, July 30, 2014]