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Rules and Regulations
Federal Register
41375
Vol. 69, No. 131
Friday, July 9, 2004
1 As used in this final rule, the term ‘‘direct USDA
assistance’’ refers to direct aid within the meaning
of the Establishment Clause of the first amendment.
For example, direct USDA assistance may mean
that the government or an intermediate organization
with similar duties as a governmental entity under
a particular USDA program selects an organization
and purchases the needed services straight from
that organization. In contrast, indirect funding
scenarios may place the choice of service provider
in the hands of a beneficiary, and then pay for the
cost of that service through a voucher, certificate,
or other similar means of payment.
DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
Office of the Secretary
7 CFR Part 16
RIN 0503–AA27
Equal Opportunity for Religious
Organizations
AGENCY: Office of the Secretary, USDA.
ACTION: Final rule.
SUMMARY: This final rule implements
executive branch policy that, within the
framework of constitutional church-
state guidelines, religiously affiliated (or
‘‘faith-based’’) organizations should be
able to compete on an equal footing
with other organizations for United
States Department of Agriculture
(USDA) assistance. The final rule
revises USDA regulations to remove
barriers to the participation of faith-
based organizations in USDA programs
and to ensure that these programs are
implemented in a manner consistent
with the requirements of the
Constitution, including the religion
clauses of the first amendment.
DATES: Effective date: August 9, 2004.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Julie