(a) Delinquent borrowers prohibited from obtaining direct operating loans

The Secretary may not make a direct operating loan under subchapter II of this chapter to a borrower who is delinquent on any loan made or guaranteed under this chapter.

(b) Prohibition of loans for borrowers that have received debt forgiveness

(1) Prohibitions

Except as provided in paragraph (2) -

(A)

the Secretary may not make a loan under this chapter to a borrower that has received debt forgiveness on a loan made or guaranteed under this chapter; and

(B)

the Secretary may not guarantee a loan under this chapter to a borrower that has received -

(i)

debt forgiveness after April 4, 1996, on a loan made or guaranteed under this chapter; or

(ii)

received debt forgiveness on more than 3 occasions on or before April 4, 1996.

(2) Exceptions

(A) In general

The Secretary may make a direct or guaranteed farm operating loan for paying annual farm or ranch operating expenses of a borrower who -

(i)

was restructured with a write-down under section 2001 of this title; or

(ii)

is current on payments under a confirmed reorganization plan under chapters ^[1] 11, 12, or 13 of title 11.

(B) Emergency loans

The Secretary may make an emergency loan under section 1961 of this title to a borrower that -

(i)

on or before April 4, 1996, received not more than 1 debt forgiveness on a loan made or guaranteed under this chapter; and

(ii)

after April 4, 1996, has not received debt forgiveness on a loan made or guaranteed under this chapter.

(c) No more than 1 debt forgiveness for borrower on direct loan

The Secretary may not provide to a borrower debt forgiveness on a direct loan made under this chapter if the borrower has received debt forgiveness on another direct loan made under this chapter