19 U.S.C. § 2344: Financial assistance

The Secretary may provide to a firm, on such terms and conditions as he determines to be appropriate, such financial assistance in the form of direct loans or guarantees of loans as in his judgment will materially contribute to the economic adjustment of the firm. The assumption of an outstanding indebtedness of the firm, with or without recourse, shall be considered to be the making of a loan for purposes of this section. for acquisition, construction, installation, modernization, development, conversion, or expansion of land, plant, buildings, equipment, facilities, or machinery, or to supply such working capital as may be necessary to enable the firm to implement its adjustment proposal. No direct loan may be provided to a firm under this part if the firm can obtain loan funds from private sources (with or without a guarantee) at a rate no higher than the maximum interest per annum that a participating financial institution may establish on guaranteed loans made pursuant to section 636(a) of title 15 . Notwithstanding any other provision of this part, no direct loans or guarantees of loans may be made under this part after April 7, 1986 . The Secretary shall, to such extent and in such amounts as are provided in appropriations Acts, provide grants to intermediary organizations (referred to in section 2343(b)(1) of this title ) throughout the United States pursuant to agreements with such intermediary organizations. Each such agreement shall require the intermediary organization to provide benefits to firms certified under section 2341 of this title . The Secretary shall, to the maximum extent practicable, provide by October 1, 2010 , that contracts entered into with intermediary organizations be for a 12-month period and that all such contracts have the same beginning date and the same ending date. Not later than 90 days after February 17, 2009 , the Secretary shall develop a methodology for the distribution of funds among the intermediary organizations described in subsection (a). The methodology described in paragraph (1) shall ensure the prompt initial distribution of funds and establish additional criteria governing the apportionment and distribution of the remainder of such funds among the intermediary organizations. The methodology described in paragraph (1) shall include criteria based on the data in the annual report on the trade adjustment assistance for firms program described in section 2356 of this title . An agreement with an intermediary organization described in subsection (a) shall require the intermediary organization to contract for the supply of services to carry out grants under this part in accordance with terms and conditions that are consistent with guidelines established by the Secretary. not less than 30 days before finalizing the methodology described in subsection (b); and not less than 60 days before adopting any changes to such methodology. The Secretary shall consult with the Committee on Finance of the Senate and the Committee on Ways and Means of the House of Representatives not less than 60 days before finalizing the guidelines described in subsection (c) or adopting any subsequent changes to such guidelines.”