Staff assessment and report to Congress

(a) Staff assessment The Secretary of Agriculture shall evaluate the processes used by the staff of the Rural Utilities Service to— (1) review applications for assistance from programs administered by the Rural Utilities Service; (2) provide related technical assistance; and (3) monitor assistance awardees, with the goal of maximizing the efficiency and effectiveness of the programs. (b) Report to Congress 2 years after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Agriculture and the Administrator of the Rural Utilities Service shall jointly prepare and submit to the Committee on Agriculture of the House of Representatives and the Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry of the Senate a report that— (1) examines, at a minimum— (A) the workload of the staff of the Rural Utilities Service, the allocation of the workload, and the efficiency of the staff in reviewing applications and assisting applicants for assistance under the programs administered by the Rural Utilities Service; and (B) the timeliness, consistency, and quality of technical assistance provided and award decisions made under the programs; and (2) sets forth— (A) recommendations to enhance the effectiveness of the online permitting platform established under section 2; (B) an assessment of how permitting for projects assisted by the Rural Utilities Service could be expedited; and (C) findings that could strengthen service delivery to rural communities.