12 USC § 2252 - Powers and duties

(a) Enumerated powers

The Farm Credit Administration shall have the following powers, functions, and responsibilities in connection with the institutions of the Farm Credit System and the administration of this chapter:

(1) Modify the boundaries of farm credit districts, with due regard for the farm credit needs of the country, as approved by the Board, with the concurrence of the district banks involved.

(2) Where necessary or appropriate to carry out the policy and objectives of this chapter, issue and approve amendments to Federal charters of institutions of the System; approve change in names of banks operating under this chapter; approve the merger of districts when agreed to by the district bank boards involved and by a majority vote of the voting stockholders and contributors to the guaranty funds of each bank for each of such districts, voting in the same manner as is provided in section 2279a of this title; approve mergers and any related activities as provided for in subchapter VII of this chapter; and approve the consolidation or division of the territories of institutions when agreed to by a majority vote of the voting stockholders or contributors to the guaranty fund of each of the institutions involved; and approve consolidations of boards of directors when agreed to by a majority vote of the voting stockholders or contributors to the guaranty fund of each of the institutions involved. In issuing charters and certificates of territory for district-wide mergers of associations where stockholders of one or more associations did not approve the merger, the charter of the new or merged association shall not include the territory of the disagreeing association or associations; charters issued during calendar year 1985 for district-wide new or merged associations which included the territory of a disagreeing association shall be revoked and reissued to exclude such territory, unless subsequently agreed to by the board of directors of such association or associations. The Farm Credit Administration Board shall ensure that disapproving associations

(A) shall not be charged any assessment under this chapter at a rate higher than that charged other like associations in the district, and

(B) shall be provided with financial services and assistance on the same basis as other like associations in the district (including, but not limited to, access to credit and rates of interest on loans and discounts) by a district Farm Credit bank to the association and its member-borrowers. The Farm Credit Administration Board, after consultation with the respective boards of directors of the affected banks, may require two or more banks operating under the same or different titles to merge if the Board determines that one of such banks has failed to meet its outstanding obligations.

(3) Make annual reports directly to Congress on the condition of the System and its institutions, based on the examinations carried out under section 2254 of this title, and on the manner and extent to which the purposes and objectives of this chapter are being carried out and, from time to time, recommend directly legislative changes. The annual reports shall include a summary and analysis of the reports submitted to the Farm Credit Administration by the Farm Credit Banks under section 2207 (b) of this title relating to programs for serving young, beginning, and small farmers and ranchers.

(4) Approve the issuance of obligations of the System under subsections (c) and (d) ofsection 2153 of this title for the purpose of funding the authorized operations of the institutions of the System, and prescribe collateral therefor.

(5) Grant approvals provided for under this chapter either on a case-by-case basis or through regulations that confer approval on actions of Farm Credit System institutions.

(6) Establish standards for the System institutions with respect to loan security requirements and regulate the borrowing, repayment, and transfer of funds and equities between institutions of the System.

(7) Conduct loan and collateral security review.

(8) Regulate the preparation by System institutions and the dissemination to stockholders and investors of information on the financial condition and operations of such institutions, except that the requirements of the Farm Credit Administration governing the dissemination to stockholders of quarterly reports of System institutions may not be more burdensome or costly than the requirements applicable to national banks, and the Farm Credit Administration may not require any System institution to disclose in any report to stockholders information concerning the condition or classification of a loan—

(A) to a director of the institution—

(i) who has resigned before the time for filing the applicable report with the Farm Credit Administration; or

(ii) whose term of office will expire no later than the date of the meeting of stockholders to which the report relates; or

(B) to a member of the immediate family of a director of the institution unless—

(i) the family member resides in the same household as the director; or

(ii) the director has a material financial or legal interest in the loan or business operation of the family member.

(9) Prescribe rules and regulations necessary or appropriate for carrying out this chapter.

(10) Exercise the powers conferred on it under part C of this subchapter for the purpose of ensuring the safety and soundness of System institutions.

(11) Exercise such incidental powers as may be necessary or appropriate to fulfill its duties and carry out the purposes of this chapter.

(12) Require surety bonds or other provisions for protection of the assets of the institutions of the System against losses occasioned by employees.

(13)

(A) Subject to subparagraph (B), the Farm Credit Administration may approve an amendment to the charter of any institution of the Farm Credit System operating under subchapter I or II of this chapter, which would authorize the institution to exercise lending authority in any territory—

(i) in the geographic area served by an association that was reassigned pursuant to section 433 of the Agricultural Credit Act of 1987 (12 U.S.C. 2071 note) (where the geographic area was a part of the association’s territory as of the date of the reassignment); and

(ii) in which the charter of an institution that is not seeking the charter amendment authorizes the institution to exercise the type of lending authority that is the subject of the charter request.

(B) The Farm Credit Administration may approve a charter amendment under subparagraph (A) only on the approval of—

(i) the respective boards of directors of the associations that, if the charter request is approved, would exercise like lending authority in any of the territory that is the subject of the charter request;

(ii) a majority of the stockholders of each association described in clause (i) voting, in person or by proxy, at a duly authorized stockholders’ meeting; and

(iii) the respective boards of directors of the Farm Credit Banks that, if the charter request is approved, would exercise, either directly or through associations, like lending authority in any of the territory described in subparagraph (A)(i).

(14)

(A) Subject to subparagraph (B), the Farm Credit Administration may approve a request to charter an association of the Farm Credit System to operate under subchapter II of this chapter where the proposed charter—

(i) will include any of the geographic area included in the territory served by an association that was reassigned pursuant to section 433 of the Agricultural Credit Act of 1987 (12 U.S.C. 2071 note) (where the geographic area was a part of the association’s territory as of the date of the reassignment); and

(ii) will authorize the association to exercise lending authority in any territory in the geographic area in which the charter of an association that is not requesting the charter authorizes the association to exercise the type of lending authority that is the subject of the charter request.

(B) The Farm Credit Administration may approve a charter request under subparagraph (A) only on the approval of—

(i) the respective boards of directors of the associations that, if the charter request is approved, would exercise like lending authority in any of the territory that is the subject of the charter request;

(ii) a majority vote of the stockholders (if any) of each association described in clause (i) voting, in person or by proxy, at a duly authorized stockholder’s meeting; and

(iii) the respective boards of directors of the Farm Credit Banks that, if the charter request is approved, would exercise, either directly or through associations, like lending authority in any of the territory described in subparagraph (A)(i).

(15)

(A) Approve amendments to the charters of institutions of the Farm Credit System to implement the equalization of loan-making powers of a Farm Credit System association under section 2279c of this title.

(B) Amendments described in subparagraph (A) to the charters of an association and the related Farm Credit Bank shall be approved by the Farm Credit Administration, subject to any conditions of approval imposed, by not later than 30 days after the date on which the Farm Credit Administration receives all approvals required by section 2279c (a)(2) of this title.

(b) Exclusions

The Farm Credit Administration shall not have authority, either direct or indirect, to approve bylaws, or any amendments or modifications or changes to bylaws, of System institutions.

(c) Proposed and final regulations; procedures applicable

(1) At least thirty days prior to publishing any proposed regulation in the Federal Register, the Farm Credit Administration shall transmit a copy of the regulation to the Committee on Agriculture of the House of Representatives and the Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry of the Senate. The Farm Credit Administration shall also transmit to such committees a copy of any final regulation prior to its publication in the Federal Register. Except as provided in paragraph (2) of this subsection, no final regulation of the Farm Credit Administration shall become effective prior to the expiration of thirty calendar days after it is published in the Federal Register during which either or both Houses of the Congress are in session.

(2) In the case of an emergency, a final regulation of the Farm Credit Administration may become effective without regard to the last sentence of paragraph (1) of this subsection if the Farm Credit Administration notifies in writing the Committee on Agriculture of the House of Representatives and the Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry of the Senate setting forth the reasons why it is necessary to make the regulation effective prior to the expiration of the thirty-day period.

(d) Legislative veto of regulations; procedures applicable

(1) If there are any unresolved differences between the Farm Credit Administration and the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System as to whether any regulation implementing section 2128 (b) of this title or the other provisions of subchapter III relating to the authority under section 2128 (b) of this title conforms to national banking policies, objectives and limitations, simultaneously with promulgation of any such regulation under this chapter, and simultaneously with promulgation of any regulation implementing section 2015 (b) of this title, the Farm Credit Administration shall transmit a copy thereof to the Secretary of the Senate and the Clerk of the House of Representatives. Except as provided in paragraph (2), the regulation shall not become effective if, within ninety calendar days of continuous session of Congress after the date of promulgation, both Houses of Congress adopt a concurrent resolution, the matter after the resolving clause of which is as follows: “That Congress disapproves the regulations promulgated by the Farm Credit Administration dealing with the matter of             , which regulation was transmitted to Congress on             ”, the blank spaces therein being appropriately filled.

(2) If at the end of sixty calendar days of continuous session of Congress after the date of promulgation of a regulation, no committee of either House of Congress has reported or been discharged from further consideration of a concurrent resolution disapproving the regulation, and neither House has adopted such a resolution, the regulation may go into effect immediately. If, within such sixty calendar days, such a committee has reported or been discharged from further consideration of such a resolution, or either House has adopted such a resolution, the regulation may go into effect not sooner than ninety calendar days of continuous session of Congress after its promulgation unless disapproved as provided in paragraph (1).

(3) For the purposes of paragraphs (1) and (2) of this subsection—

(i) continuity of session is broken only by an adjournment of Congress sine die; and

(ii) the days on which either House is not in session because of an adjournment of more than three days to a day certain are excluded in the computation of sixty and ninety calendar days of continuous session of Congress.

(4) Congressional inaction on or rejection of a resolution of disapproval shall not be deemed an expression of approval of such regulation.

Source

(Pub. L. 92–181, title V, § 5.17, formerly § 5.18, Dec. 10, 1971, 85 Stat. 621; Pub. L. 96–592, title V, §§ 507, 508,Dec. 24, 1980, 94 Stat. 3449; renumbered § 5.17 and amended Pub. L. 99–205, title II, § 201(7),Dec. 23, 1985, 99 Stat. 1691; Pub. L. 99–509, title I, § 1036,Oct. 21, 1986, 100 Stat. 1878; Pub. L. 100–233, title II, § 207(a)(2), title IV, § 417, formerly § 414,§ 418(d), formerly § 415(d),§§ 424(a), 431(e), title VIII, §§ 802(v), 805 (z),Jan. 6, 1988, 101 Stat. 1607, 1653, 1656, 1660, 1713, 1717, renumbered §§ 417, 418 (d),Pub. L. 100–399, title IV, § 409(a),Aug. 17, 1988, 102 Stat. 1003; Pub. L. 100–399, title II, § 205, title IV, § 409(e), title IX, § 901(m), (n),Aug. 17, 1988, 102 Stat. 993, 1003, 1008; Pub. L. 101–624, title XVIII, § 1843(a)(1),Nov. 28, 1990, 104 Stat. 3836; Pub. L. 102–237, title V, § 502(h),Dec. 13, 1991, 105 Stat. 1869; Pub. L. 102–552, title IV, § 401(c), title V, § 511,Oct. 28, 1992, 106 Stat. 4128, 4132; Pub. L. 104–105, title II, §§ 210, 211,Feb. 10, 1996, 110 Stat. 174; Pub. L. 110–234, title V, § 5407(b), (c)(1),May 22, 2008, 122 Stat. 1160; Pub. L. 110–246, § 4(a), title V, § 5407(b), (c)(1),June 18, 2008, 122 Stat. 1664, 1921, 1922.)

Codification

Pub. L. 110–234and Pub. L. 110–246made identical amendments to this section. The amendments by Pub. L. 110–234were repealed by section 4(a) ofPub. L. 110–246.

Prior Provisions

A prior section 5.17 of Pub. L. 92–181was renumbered section 5.16 and is classified to section 2251 of this title.

Amendments

2008—Subsec. (a)(2). Pub. L. 110–246, § 5407(c)(1), substituted “(2)” for “(2)(A)” and struck out pars. (B) and (C) which prohibited issuance or amendment of the charter of any institution of the Farm Credit System that would authorize the institution to exercise lending authority in a territory in which the charter of another such institution authorized the other institution to exercise like authority, unless specified approvals were obtained, and provided that such prohibition would apply only in geographic areas where, due to the failure of a merger, the Federal intermediate credit bank or its successor was chartered to provide short- and intermediate-term credit, and a neighboring Farm Credit Bank that was not the successor to the Federal intermediate credit bank was chartered to provide long-term credit, in the same geographic territory.

Subsec. (a)(15). Pub. L. 110–246, § 5407(b), added par. (15).

1996—Subsec. (a)(2)(A). Pub. L. 104–105, § 210, struck out “or management agreements” after “consolidations of boards of directors” in first sentence.

Subsec. (a)(8). Pub. L. 104–105, § 211, inserted “the requirements of the Farm Credit Administration governing the dissemination to stockholders of quarterly reports of System institutions may not be more burdensome or costly than the requirements applicable to national banks, and” after “except that”.

1992—Subsec. (a)(2). Pub. L. 102–552, § 401(c), designated existing provisions as subpar. (A) and added subpars. (B) and (C).

Subsec. (a)(13), (14). Pub. L. 102–552, § 511, added pars. (13) and (14).

1991—Subsec. (a)(8)(B)(ii). Pub. L. 102–237struck out second period at end.

1990—Subsec. (a)(13). Pub. L. 101–624struck out par. (13) which read as follows: “Except for associations, approve the salary scale for employees of the institutions of the System, and approve the compensation of the chief executive officer of such institutions: Provided, That no salary scale or rate of compensation shall be approved under this provision unless determined by the Board to be fair and reasonable. The Board may not delegate its responsibilities under this paragraph.”

1988—Subsec. (a)(1). Pub. L. 100–399, § 901(m)(1), substituted “district banks” for “district boards”.

Subsec. (a)(2). Pub. L. 100–399, § 901(m)(2), substituted “district bank boards” for “boards of the districts”.

Pub. L. 100–399, § 409(e), substituted “approve the consolidation or division of the territories of institutions when agreed to” for “the consolidation or division of the territories that they serve when agreed to”.

Pub. L. 100–233, § 802(v)(1)(A), substituted “approve amendments to” for “amend or modify”.

Pub. L. 100–233, § 415(d), substituted “section 2279a of this title” for “section 2181 of this title” and “approve mergers and any related activities as provided for in subchapter VII of this chapter; and” for “; approve mergers of banks operating under the same subchapter of this chapter, merger of Federal land bank associations, merger of production credit associations, and”.

Pub. L. 100–233, § 414, substituted “. The Farm Credit Administration Board shall ensure that disapproving associations (A) shall not be charged any assessment under this chapter at a rate higher than that charged other like associations in the district, and (B) shall be provided with financial services and assistance on the same basis as other like associations in the district” for “; and the Farm Credit Administration shall ensure that the board of directors of district banks does not discriminate against the disapproving associations in exercising its supervisory authorities. Such associations shall not be (i) charged any assessment under this chapter at a rate higher than that charged other like associations in the district or (ii) discriminated against in the provision of any financial service and assistance”.

Pub. L. 100–233, § 431(e)(1), substituted “The Farm Credit Administration Board, after consultation with the respective boards of directors of the affected banks, may require two or more banks operating under the same or different titles to merge if the Board determines that one of such banks has failed to meet its outstanding obligations” for “The Chairman of the Farm Credit Administration Board, after consultation with the respective district board or boards and the board of directors of the Capital Corporation may require two or more banks of the Farm Credit System (other than Central Banks for Cooperatives) operating under the same subchapter to merge if the Chairman determines that one of such banks has failed to meet outstanding obligations of such bank.”

Subsec. (a)(3). Pub. L. 100–399, § 901(m)(3), substituted “Farm Credit Banks under section 2207 (b) of this title” for “Federal land banks and Federal intermediate credit banks under section 2207 (b) of this title”.

Subsec. (a)(5). Pub. L. 100–233, § 802(v)(1)(B), struck out “that meet standards and criteria established by the Farm Credit Administration, including standards and criteria with respect to (A) interest rates on obligations of Farm Credit System institutions, and (B) the payment of dividends or patronage refunds by Farm Credit System institutions” after “Farm Credit institutions”.

Subsec. (a)(8). Pub. L. 100–399, § 205, redesignated par. (9) as (8).

Pub. L. 100–233, § 207(a)(2), struck out par. (8) which read as follows: “Make investments in stock of the Capital Corporation out of the revolving fund referred to in section 2151 of this title, and require the retirement of such stock.”

Subsec. (a)(9). Pub. L. 100–399, § 205, redesignated par. (10) as (9). Former par. (9) redesignated (8).

Pub. L. 100–233, § 424(a), inserted provisions limiting Farm Credit Administration from requiring System institutions to disclose in reports to stockholders certain information concerning condition or classification of loans to certain directors or members of immediate family of certain directors.

Subsec. (a)(10) to (12). Pub. L. 100–399, § 205, redesignated pars. (11) to (13) as (10) to (12), respectively. Former par. (10) redesignated (9).

Subsec. (a)(13). Pub. L. 100–399, § 205, redesignated par. (14) as (13). Former par. (13) redesignated (12).

Pub. L. 100–233, § 805(z), redesignated par. (14) as (13), and struck out former par. (13) which read as follows: “Sue and be sued, complain and defend in any court of law or equity, State or Federal. All suits of a civil nature at common law or in equity to which the Farm Credit Administration shall be a party shall be deemed to arise under the laws of the United States, and the United States district courts shall have original jurisdiction thereof, without regard to the amount of the controversy; and the Farm Credit Administration may, without bond or security, remove any such action, suit, or proceeding from a State court to the United States district court for the district or division embracing the place where the same is pending by following any procedure for removal now or hereafter in effect. Service of process on the Farm Credit Administration shall be in accordance with provisions of title 28 and rules adopted under title 28 for suits in which an agency of the United States is a party. The Farm Credit Administration shall designate an agent at its principal office to accept service of process.”

Subsec. (a)(14). Pub. L. 100–399, § 205, redesignated par. (14) as (13).

Pub. L. 100–233, §§ 431(e)(2), 805 (z), redesignated par. (15) as (14) and inserted “by the Board” and “The Board may not delegate its responsibilities under this paragraph.” Former subsec. (14) redesignated (13).

Subsec. (a)(15). Pub. L. 100–233, § 805(z), redesignated par. (15) as (14).

Subsecs. (b), (c). Pub. L. 100–233, § 802(v)(2), added subsec. (b) and redesignated former subsec. (b) as (c). Former subsec. (c) redesignated (d).

Subsec. (d). Pub. L. 100–233, § 802(v)(2), redesignatedsubsec. (c) as (d).

Subsec. (d)(1). Pub. L. 100–399, § 901(n)(1), made technical amendment to reference to sections 2015 (b) and 2128 (b) of this title involving underlying provisions of original act and requiring no change in text.

Pub. L. 100–399, § 901(n), substituted “section 2015 (b) of this title” for “section 2074 of this title”.

1986—Subsec. (a)(5)(A). Pub. L. 99–509struck out “and on loans made or discounted by such institutions” after “Farm Credit System institutions”.

1985—Subsec. (a). Pub. L. 99–205amended subsec. (a) generally, revising and reorganizing the enumerated powers of the Farm Credit Administration by substituting pars. (1) to (15) for former pars. (1) to (17).

1980—Pub. L. 96–592designated existing provisions as subsec. (a), in par. (3) inserted provisions relating to summary and analysis of reports, and added subsecs. (b) and (c).

Effective Date of 2008 Amendment

Amendment of this section and repeal of Pub. L. 110–234by Pub. L. 110–246effective May 22, 2008, the date of enactment of Pub. L. 110–234, except as otherwise provided, see section 4 ofPub. L. 110–246, set out as an Effective Date note under section 8701 of Title 7, Agriculture.

Pub. L. 110–234, title V, § 5407(d),May 22, 2008, 122 Stat. 1161, and Pub. L. 110–246, § 4(a), title V, § 5407(d),June 18, 2008, 122 Stat. 1664, 1922, provided that: “The amendments made by this section [enacting section 2279c of this title and amending this section and provisions set out as notes under section 2011 of this title] take effect on January 1, 2010.”

[Pub. L. 110–234and Pub. L. 110–246enacted identical provisions. Pub. L. 110–234was repealed by section 4(a) ofPub. L. 110–246, set out as a note under section 8701 of Title 7, Agriculture.]

Effective Date of 1991 Amendment

Amendment by Pub. L. 102–237effective as if included in the provision of the Food, Agriculture, Conservation, and Trade Act of 1990, Pub. L. 101–624, to which the amendment relates, see section 1101(b)(4) ofPub. L. 102–237, set out as a note under section 1421 of Title 7, Agriculture.

Effective Date of 1988 Amendments

Amendment by sections 205 and 409(a), (e) ofPub. L. 100–399effective as if enacted immediately after enactment of Pub. L. 100–233, which was approved Jan. 6, 1988, and amendment by section 901(m), (n) ofPub. L. 100–399effective immediately after amendment made by section 401 ofPub. L. 100–233, which was effective 6 months after Jan. 6, 1988, see section 1001 ofPub. L. 100–399, set out as a note under section 2002 of this title.

Amendment by section 207(a)(2) ofPub. L. 100–233effective 15 days after Jan. 6, 1988, see section 207(b) ofPub. L. 100–233set out as an Effective Date of Repeal note under section 2152 of this title.

Effective Date of 1985 Amendment

Amendment by Pub. L. 99–205effective thirty days after Dec. 23, 1985, see section 401 ofPub. L. 99–205, set out as a note under section 2001 of this title.

Regulations

Section 424(b) ofPub. L. 100–233provided that: “Within 30 days after the date of the enactment of this Act [Jan. 6, 1988], the Farm Credit Administration shall amend its regulations as necessary to implement the amendment made by subsection (a) [amending this section].”

Termination of Reporting Requirements

For termination, effective May 15, 2000, of provisions in subsec. (a)(3) of this section relating to requirement to make annual reports to Congress, see section 3003 ofPub. L. 104–66, as amended, set out as a note under section 1113 of Title 31, Money and Finance, and page 166 of House Document No. 103–7.

Regulatory Review

Section 212 ofPub. L. 104–105provided that:

“(a) Findings.—Congress finds that—

“(1) the Farm Credit Administration, in the role of the Administration as an arms-length safety and soundness regulator, has made considerable progress in reducing the regulatory burden on Farm Credit System institutions;

“(2) the efforts of the Farm Credit Administration described in paragraph (1) have resulted in cost savings for Farm Credit System institutions; and

“(3) the cost savings described in paragraph (2) ultimately benefit the farmers, ranchers, agricultural cooperatives, and rural residents of the United States.

“(b) Continuation of Regulatory Review.—The Farm Credit Administration shall continue the comprehensive review of regulations governing the Farm Credit System to identify and eliminate, consistent with law, safety, and soundness, all regulations that are unnecessary, unduly burdensome or costly, or not based on law.”

Forbearance and Restructuring for Farm Loans; Farm Credit Administration

Pub. L. 100–387, title III, § 313(b),Aug. 11, 1988, 102 Stat. 950, provided that: “It further is the sense of Congress that the Farm Credit Administration should in its oversight of Farm Credit System institutions, with respect to farmers and ranchers who suffer major losses due to drought, hail, excessive moisture, or related condition in 1988—

“(1) ensure that Farm Credit System institutions exercise forbearance in the collection of principal and interest on loans outstanding to such farmers and ranchers;

“(2) expedite the use of credit restructuring and other credit relief mechanisms authorized under the Agricultural Credit Act of 1987 [Pub. L. 100–233, Jan. 6, 1988, 101 Stat. 1568, see Tables for classification] and related provisions of law for such farmers and ranchers; and

“(3) encourage other lenders participating with Farm Credit System institutions in mutual loan agreements to exercise forbearance before declaring loans to such farmers and ranchers in default.”