(a) A complainant may file a civil action, in a United States district court for the district in which the recipient is found or transacts business, following the exhaustion of administrative remedies under the Act. Administrative remedies are exhausted if:
(1) 180 days have elapsed since the complainant filed the complaint and the agency has made no finding with regard to the complaint; or
(2) The agency issues any finding in favor of the recipient.
(b) Before commencing the action, the complainant shall give 30 days' notice by registered mail to the Secretary of HHS, the Attorney General of the United States, the head of the granting USDA agency, and the recipient stating the alleged violation of the Age Act, the relief requested, the court in which the action will be brought, and whether or not attorney's fees are demanded in the event the complainant prevails.
(c) No action shall be brought if the same alleged violation of the Act by the same recipient is the subject of a pending action in any court of the United States. A complainant prevailing in a civil action has the right to be awarded the costs of the action, including reasonable attorney's fees, but that these costs must be demanded in the complaint. Sec. Appendix A to 7 CFR Part 15c--Age Distinctions in Federal Statutes or Regulations Affecting Financial Assistance Administered by the United
States Department of Agriculture ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Program Statute Section and age distinction Regulation----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Farm Service Agency----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------Farm Loan Programs................ 7 U.S.C. 1941 Persons Section 761.2 defines ``rural 7 CFR part 761.
Eligible For Loans. youth'' as meaning a person
who has reached the age of 10
but has not reached the age of
21 and resides in a rural area
or any city or town with a
population of 50,000 or fewer
people.----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Food and Nutrition Service----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------Senior Farmer's Market Nutrition 7 U.S.C. 3007 Senior Section 249.2 defines 7 CFR part 249.
Program. Farmers' Market ``senior'' as meaning an
Nutrition Program. individual 60 years of age or
older, or as defined in Sec.
249.6(a)(1).
Section 249.6(a)(1) establishes
categorical eligibility for
the Senior Farmers' Market
Nutrition Program. The
categorical eligibility states
that: ``participants must be
not less than 60 years of age,
except that State agencies may
exercise the option to deem
Native Americans who are 55
years of age or older as
categorically eligible for
SFMNP benefits. State agencies
may, at their discretion, also
deem disabled individuals less
than 60 years of age who are
currently living in housing
facilities occupied primarily
by older individuals where
congregate nutrition services
are provided, as categorically
eligible to receive SFMNP
benefits''.Special Supplemental Nutrition 42 U.S.C. 1786....... Section 246.2 defines
Program for Women, Infants, and ``children'' as meaning
Children. persons who have had their
first birthday but have not
yet attained their fifth
birthday.
Section 246.2 defines
``infants'' as meaning persons
under 1 year of age.
Section 246.10(e) establishes 7 CFR part 246.
category and nutritional needs
of the participant for each of
the seven food packages
available under the program.
Food Packages I, II, and IV
contain age distinctions.
(e)(1) Food Package I--Infants
(1) Food Package I--Infants
(i)
Participant category served.
This food package is designed
for issuance to infant
participants from birth
through age 5 months who do
not have a condition
qualifying them to receive
Food Package III. (ii) Infant
(A) Birth
to one month. Three infant
feeding options are available
during the first month after
birth(B) . . . One through 5
months. Three infant feeding
options are available from 1
month through 5 months . . .
(2) Food Package II--Infants 6
(i)
Participant category served.
This food package is designed
for issuance to infant
participants from 6 through 11
months of age . . . (4) Food
Package IV--Children 1 through
(i) Participant
category served. This food
package is designed for
issuance to participants 1
through 4 years of age.
Commodity Supplemental Food Sec. 5, Pub. L. 93- Section 247.1 defines 7 CFR part 247.
Program. 86, 87 Stat. 249, as ``children'' as meaning
added by Sec. persons who are at least 1
1304(b)(2), Pub. L. year of age but have not
95-113, 91 Stat. 980 reached their sixth birthday.
(7 U.S.C. 612c Section 247.1 defines ``elderly
note); sec. 1335, persons'' as meaning persons
Pub. L. 97-98, 95 at least 60 years of age.
Stat. 1293 (7 U.S.C. Section 247.1 defines
612c note); sec. ``infants'' as meaning persons
209, Pub. L. 98-8, under 1 year of age.
97 Stat. 35 (7
U.S.C. 612c note);
sec. 2(8), Pub. L.
98-92, 97 Stat. 611
(7 U.S.C. 612c
note); sec. 1562,
Pub. L. 99-198, 99
Stat. 1590 (7 U.S.C.
612c note); sec.
101(k), Pub. L. 100-
202; sec. 1771(a),
Pub. L. 101-624, 101
Stat. 3806 (7 U.S.C.
612c note); sec
402(a), Pub. L. 104-
127, 110 Stat. 1028
(7 U.S.C. 612c
note); sec. 4201,
Pub. L. 107-171, 116
Stat. 134 (7 U.S.C.
7901 note); sec.
4221, Pub. L. 110-
246, 122 Stat. 1886
(7 U.S.C. 612c note).Food Stamp and Food Distribution 7 U.S.C. 2011-2036... Section 271.2 defines ``elderly 7 CFR part 271
Program. or disabled member'' as
meaning a member of a
household who: (1) Is 60 years
of age or older.
Section 271.2 defines ``Thrifty 7 CFR part 273
food plan'' as meaning the
diet required to feed a family
of four persons consisting of
a man and a woman 20 through
50, a child 6 through 8, and a
child 9 through 11 years of
age, determined in accordance
with the Secretary's
calculations.
Section 273.1 defined ``Elderly
and disabled persons'' as
meaning an otherwise eligible
member of a household who is
60 years of age or older and
is unable to purchase and
prepare meals because he or
she suffers from a disability
considered permanent under the
Social Security Act or a non-
disease-related, severe,
permanent disability may be
considered.
Section 273.1(b) outlines
special household
requirements. (b) Special
(1)
Required household
combinations. The following
individuals who live with
others must be considered as
customarily purchasing food
and preparing meals with the
others, even if they do not do
so, and thus must be included
in the same household, unless
(i)
Spouses; (ii) A person under
22 years of age who is living
with his or her natural or
adoptive parent(s) or step-
parent(s); and (iii) A child
(other than a foster child)
under 18 years of age who
lives with and is under the
parental control of a
household member other than
his or her parent. A child
must be considered to be under
parental control for purposes
of this provision if he or she
is financially or otherwise
dependent on a member of the
household, unless State law
defines such a person as an
adult.
Section 273.1(d) outlines head
of household requirements.
When designating the head of
household, the State agency
shall allow the household to
select an adult parent of
children (of any age) living
in the household, or an adult
who has parental control over
children (under 18 years of
age) living in the household,
as the head of household
provided that all adult
household members agree to the
selection.
Section 273.4(a)(4)(iii)
outlines household members
meeting citizenship or alien
status requirements. An
unmarried dependent child of
such Hmong or Highland Laotian
who is under the age of 18 or
if a full-time student under
the age of 22; an unmarried
child under the age of 18 or
if a full time student under
the age of 22 of such a
deceased Hmong or Highland
Laotian provided the child was
dependent upon him or her at
the time of his or her death;
or an unmarried disabled child
age 18 or older if the child
was disabled and dependent on
the person prior to the
child's 18th birthday. For
purposes of this paragraph
(a)(4)(iii), child means the
(4)(iii), child means the
(iii), child means the
legally adopted or biological
child of the person described
in paragraph (a)(4)(i) of this
section,
Section 273.4(a)(5)(ii)
outlines household members
meeting citizenship or alien
status requirements which
includes an alien who has been
subjected to a severe form of
trafficking in persons and who
is under the age of 18, to the
same extent as an alien who is
admitted to the United States
as a refugee under Section 207
of the INA;
Section 273.4(a)(5)(iii)
outlines household members
meeting citizenship or alien
status requirements which
includes the spouse, child,
parent or unmarried minor
sibling of a victim of a
severe form of trafficking in
persons under 21 years of age,
and who has received a
derivative T visa, to the same
extent as an alien who is
admitted to the United States
as a refugee under Section 207
of the INA.
Section 273.4(a)(5)(iv)
outlines household members
meeting citizenship or alien
status requirements which
includes the spouse or child
of a victim of a severe form
of trafficking in persons 21
years of age or older, and who
has received a derivative T
visa, to the same extent as an
alien who is admitted to the
United States as a refugee
under Section 207 of the INA.
Section 273.4(a)(6)(ii)(A)
outlines the criteria for a
qualified alien which includes
an alien age 18 or older
lawfully admitted for
permanent residence under the
INA who has 40 qualifying
quarters as determined under
Title II of the SSA, including
qualifying quarters of work
not covered by Title II of the
SSA, based on the sum of:
quarters the alien worked;
quarters credited from the
work of a parent of the alien
before the alien became 18
(including quarters worked
before the alien was born or
adopted); and quarters
credited from the work of a
spouse of the alien during
their marriage if they are
still married or the spouse is
deceased.
Section 273.4(a)(6)(ii)(G)(3)
outlines the criteria for a
qualified alien with military
connections which includes the
spouse and unmarried dependent
children of a person described
in paragraph (a)(6)(ii)(G)(1)
or (2) of this section,
including the spouse of a
deceased veteran, provided the
marriage fulfilled the
requirements of 38 U.S.C.
1304, and the spouse has not
remarried. An unmarried
dependent child for purposes
of this paragraph
(a)(6)(ii)(G)(3) is: a child
(6)(ii)(G)(3) is: a child
(ii)(G)(3) is: a child
(G)(3) is: a child
who is under the age of 18 or,
if a full-time student, under
the age of 22; such unmarried
dependent child of a deceased
veteran provided such child
was dependent upon the veteran
at the time of the veteran's
death; or an unmarried
disabled child age 18 or older
if the child was disabled and
dependent on the veteran prior
to the child's 18th birthday.
For purposes of this paragraph
(a)(6)(ii)(G)(3), child means
(6)(ii)(G)(3), child means
(ii)(G)(3), child means
(G)(3), child means
the legally adopted or
biological child of the person
described in paragraph
(a)(6)(ii)(G)(1) or (2) of
(6)(ii)(G)(1) or (2) of
(ii)(G)(1) or (2) of
(G)(1) or (2) of
this section.
Section 273.4(a)(6)(ii)(I)
outlines the criteria for a
qualified alien which includes
an individual who on August
22, 1996, was lawfully
residing in the U.S., and was
born on or before August 22,
1931.
Section 273.4(a)(6)(ii)(J)
outlines the criteria for a
qualified alien which includes
an individual who is under 18
years of age.
Section 273.4(a)(6)(iii)(A)
outlines qualified aliens that
must be in a qualified status
for 5 years before being
eligible to receive food
stamps which includes an alien
age 18 or older lawfully
admitted for permanent
residence under the INA.
Section 273.4(c)(3)(vi)
outlines exempt aliens which
includes a sponsored alien
child under 18 years of age of
a sponsored alien.
Section 273.4(c)(3)(vii) )
outlines exempt aliens which
includes a citizen child under
age 18 of a sponsored alien.
Section 273.5 (b)(1) outlines
criteria for student
eligibility for the program
which includes be age 17 or
younger or age 50 or older.
Section 273.5(b)(8) outlines
criteria for student
eligibility for the program
which includes a person who is
responsible for the care of a
dependent household member
under the age of 6.
Section 273.5(b)(9) outlines
criteria for student
eligibility for the program
which includes a person who is
responsible for the care of a
dependent household member who
has reached the age of 6 but
is under age 12.
Section 273.5(b)(10) outlines
criteria for student
eligibility for the program
which includes a single parent
enrolled in an institution of
higher education on a full-
time basis (as determined by
the institution) and be
responsible for the care of a
dependent child under age 12.
Section 273.5(b)(4) states that
if the household is unable to
provide an SSN or proof of
application for an SSN at its
next recertification within 6
months following the baby's
birth, the State agency shall
determine if the good cause
provisions of paragraph (d) of
this section are applicable.
Section 273.7(b)(1)(i) outlines
exemptions from work
requirements which includes a
person younger than 16 years
of age or a person 60 years of
age or older and a person age
16 or 17 who is not the head
of a household or who is
attending school, or is
enrolled in an employment
training program, on at least
a half-time basis, is also
exempt. If the person turns 16
(or 18 under the preceding
sentence) during a
certification period, the
State agency must register the
person as part of the next
scheduled recertification
process, unless the person
qualifies for another
exemption.
Section 273.9(b)(1)(v) defines
income which includes the
phrase this provision does not
apply to household members
under 19 years of age who are
under the parental control of
another adult member,
regardless of school
attendance and/or enrollment.
Section 273.9(d)(4) outlines
income deduction which include
dependent care stating the
maximum monthly dependent care
deduction amount households
shall be granted under this
provision is $200 a month for
each dependent child under two
(2) years of age and $175 a
month for each other dependent.
Section 273.10(e)(2)(i)(A)
outlines eligibility benefits
states households which
contain an elderly or disabled
member as defined in Sec.
271.2.
Section 273.10(e)(2)(i)(B)
outlines eligibility benefits
which states in addition to
meeting the net income
eligibility standards,
households which do not
contain an elderly or disabled
member shall have their gross
income, as calculated in
accordance with paragraph
(e)(1)(i)(A) of this section,
(1)(i)(A) of this section,
(i)(A) of this section,
(A) of this section,
compared to the gross monthly
income standards defined in
Sec. 273.9(a)(1).
Section 273.10(e)(2)(i)(D)
outlines eligibility benefits
which states if a household
contains a member who is 59
years old on the date of
application, but who will
become 60 before the end of
the month of application, the
State agency shall determine
the household's eligibility in
accordance with paragraph
(e)(2)(i)(A) of this section.
(2)(i)(A) of this section.
(i)(A) of this section.
(A) of this section.
Section 273.24(c)(1) outlines
exceptions for when the time
limit does not apply to an
individual which include a
person under 18 or 50 years of
age or older.
Section 273.24(c)(3) outlines
exceptions for when the time
limit does not apply to an
individual which include a
parent (natural, adoptive, or
step) of a household member
under age 18, even if the
household member who is under
18 is not himself eligible for
food stamps.
Section 273.24(c)(4) outlines
exceptions for when the time
limit does not apply to an
individual which include a
person residing in a household
where a household member is
under age 18, even if the
household member who is under
18 is not himself eligible for
food stamps.
National School Lunch Program..... 42 U.S.C. 1751-1760, Section 210.2 defines ``Child'' 7 CFR part 210.
1779. as meaning a (a) a student of
high school grade or under as
determined by the State
educational agency, who is
enrolled in an educational
unit of high school grade or
under as described in
paragraphs (a) and (b) of the
definition of ``School,''
including students who are
mentally or physically
disabled as defined by the
State and who are
participating in a school
program established for the
mentally or physically
disabled; or (b) a person
under 21 chronological years
of age who is enrolled in an
institution or center as
described in paragraph (c) of
the definition of ``School;''
or (c) For purposes of
reimbursement for meal
supplements served in
afterschool care programs, an
individual enrolled in an
afterschool care program
operated by an eligible school
who is 12 years of age or
under, or in the case of
children of migrant workers
and children with
disabilities, not more than 15
years of age.
Section 12(d) defines ``Child''
as meaning an individual,
(i) is
determined by a State
educational agency, in
accordance with regulations
prescribed by the Secretary,
to have one or more
disabilities; and (ii) is
attending any institution, as
defined in section 17(a), or a
nonresidential public or
nonprofit private school of
high school grade or under,
for the purpose of
participating in a school
program established for
individuals with disabilities.School Breakfast Program.......... 42 U.S.C. 1773, 1779. Section 220.2 defines ``Child'' 7 CFR part 220.
as meaning a (1) A student of
high school grade or under as
determined by the State
educational agency, who is
enrolled in an educational
unit of high school grade or
under as described in
paragraphs (1) and (2) of the
definition of ``School'',
including students who are
mentally or physically
disabled as defined by the
State and who are
participating in a school
program established for the
mentally or physically
disabled; or (2) a person
under 21 chronological years
of age who is enrolled in an
institution or center as
described in paragraph (3) of
the definition of School in
this section.Child and Adult Care Food Program. 42 U.S.C. 1766....... Section 1766 outlines that 7 CFR part 226.
reimbursement may be provided
under this section only for
supplements served to school
children who are not more than
18 years of age, except that
the age limitation provided by
this subsection shall not
apply to a child.
Section 1766(a)(3) and 7 CFR
226.2 outlines that
reimbursement are permitted
for meals served to children
through the age of 12,
children of migrant workers
through the age of 15, and
persons with disabilities, in
child care centers and day
care homes.
Section 1766(o)(1) and 7 CFR
226.2 outlines that adult day
care centers receive
reimbursement for meals served
to enrolled adults who are
functionally impaired or age
60 and older.
Section 1766(t)(5); and 7 CFR
226.2 outlines that
reimbursement are permitted
for emergency shelters for up
to three meals served each day
to residents age 18 and
younger.
Section 1766(r) and 7 CFR
226.17a(c) outlines that
reimbursement are permitted in
at-risk afterschool care
programs for meals served
during the regular school year
to children through the age of
18.Summer Food Service Program....... 42 U.S.C. 1761....... Section 1761(a)(1)(B) and 7 CFR 7 CFR part 225.
225.2 outlines that Children
age 18 and under may receive
meals through SFSP. A person
19 years of age and over who
has a mental or physical
disability (as determined by a
State of local educational
agency) and who participates
during the school year in a
public or private non-profit
school program (established
for the mentally or physically
disabled) is also eligible to
receive meals. In certain
circumstances, pregnant women
who receive Early Head Start
services are also eligible to
receive meals through SFSP if
they are age 18 or under. To
establish eligibility,
prospective mothers must be
enrolled in Early Head Start
and be eligible to receive
school meals through the NSLP
or another child nutrition
program.----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Forest Service----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------National Parks and Federal 16 U.S.C. 6808h...... Section 6808h(b)(1) AGE None.
Recreational Lands Pass. DISCOUNT.--The Secretary shall
make the National Parks and
Federal Recreational Lands
Pass available, at a cost of
$10.00, to any United States
citizen or person domiciled in
the United States who is 62
years of age or older, if the
citizen or person provides
adequate proof of such age and
such citizenship or residency.----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Natural Resources Conservation Service----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------Agriculture Conservation 16 U.S.C. 3851....... Section 1252 authorizes and None.
Experienced Services (ACES). directs the Secretary to
``establish a conservation
experienced services program
(in this section referred to
as the ``ACES Program'') for
the purpose of utilizing the
talents of individuals who are
age 55 or older, but who are
not employees of the
Department of Agriculture or a
State agriculture department,
to provide technical services
in support of the conservation-
related programs and
authorities carried out by the
Secretary.''----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Rural Development----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------Section 504 Origination Loans and 42 U.S.C. 1474....... Section 504 loans and grants 7 CFR 3550.101 et
Grants. are intended to help very low- seq.
income owner-occupants in
rural areas repair their
properties. Section 3550.103
provides that ``to be eligible
for grant assistance, an
application must be 62 years
of age or older at the time of
the application.''Section 515 Rural Rental Housing 42 U.S.C. 1490a...... Under the Direct Multi-Family 7 CFR part 3560.
Loans Program Section 521 Rental Housing Loan and Grants,
Assistance Program. Section 515 Rural Rental
Housing program supplies
apartments for elderly and
disabled people that are
equipped with special
amenities. USDA provides
assistance through the
separately appropriated
Section 521 Rental Assistance
Program, which brings tenants'
rent down to 30 percent of
their adjusted incomes.
Section 3560 defines ``elderly
person'' as ``a person who is
at least 62 years old.''----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
National Institute of Food and Agriculture----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------Secondary Education, Two-Year 7 U.S.C. 3152(j)..... Section 1417(j) directs the None.
Postsecondary Education, and Secretary to ``promote
Agriculture in the K-12 Classroom complementary and synergistic
Challenge Grants Program. linkages among secondary, 2-
year postsecondary, and higher
education programs in the food
and agricultural sciences in
order to promote excellence in
education and encourage more
young Americans to pursue and
complete a baccalaureate or
higher degree in the food and
agricultural sciences.'' The
Act further empowers the
Secretary to make competitive
or noncompetitive grants to
public secondary schools,
institutions of higher
education that award an
associate's degree, other
institutions of higher
education, and nonprofit
organizations [to] . . . (C)
to interest young people in
pursuing higher education in
order to prepare for
scientific and professional
careers in the food and
agricultural sciences; . . .
and (G) to support current
agriculture in the classroom
programs for grades K-12.Hispanic-Serving Institutions-- 7 U.S.C. 3243, as Section 1456(e)(1), as amended 7 CFR part 3434.
Competitive Grants Program for amended. by the Agricultural Act of
Hispanic Agricultural Workers and 2014, states that the
Youth. ``Secretary shall establish a
competitive grants program . .
. (B) to award competitive
grants to Hispanic-serving
agricultural colleges and
universities to provide for
training in the food and
agricultural sciences of
Hispanic agricultural workers
and Hispanic youth working in
the food and agricultural
sciences.Girl Scouts of the United States 7 U.S.C. 7630, as Section 410(d). Grants for None.
of America, the Boy Scouts of amended. Youth Organizations of the
America, the National 4-H Agricultural, Research,
Council, and the National FFA Extension and Education Reform
Organization. Act of 1998, directs the
Secretary to make grants
available to the designated
youth organizations for the
organizations' establishment
of pilot projects to expand
their programs in rural areas
and small towns. Eligibility
is limited to the four
statutorily-identified youth
organizations.Youth Farm Safety and Education 7 U.S.C. 341, et The primary purpose of program 29 CFR part 570,
Certification (YFSEC). seq.; 7 U.S.C. is to develop a coordinated subpart E-1.
343(d). approach to agricultural
safety and health education
for youth. YFSEC Program
notices define ``youth'' as
``children or adolescents who
have reached their 12th
birthday; but not their 20th
birthday.''
Expanded Food and Nutrition 7 U.S.C. 3175........ Section 1425 authorizes a 7 CFR part 15,
Education Program (EFNEP). national education program to subpart A.
enable low-income individuals
and families. Through EFNEP,
the Department delivers
several ``youth'' programs
that offer education on
nutrition, food preparation,
and food safety.The Children, Youth, and Families 7 U.S.C. 341, et Section 3(d) of the Smith-Lever 7 CFR part 3015, 7
At-Risk Sustainable Community seq.; 7 U.S.C. Act authorizes the Department CFR part 3019, 7
Projects (CYFAR SCP). 343(d). to administer the CYFAR SCP. CFR part 3430.
Per Program notices, CYFAR SCP
supports community educational
programs for at-risk children,
youth, and families which are
based on locally identified
needs, soundly grounded in
research, and which lead to
the accomplishment of one of
four CYFAR National Outcomes;
and (2) [t]o integrate CYFAR
programming into ongoing
Extension programs for
children, youth, and families--
insuring that at-risk, low
income children, youth, and
families continue to be part
of Extension and/or 4-H
programs and have access to
resources and educational
opportunities.----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Risk Management Agency----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------Federal Crop Insurance Program.... 7 U.S.C. 1501........ Per the Crop Insurance 7 CFR parts 400,
Handbook, which provides the 402, 457.
official FCIC approved
underwriting standards for
policies administered by
Approved Insurance Providers
under the Common Crop
Insurance Policy Basic
Provisions, 7 CFR part 457
including the Catastrophic
Risk Protection Endorsement, 7
CFR part 402, and the Actual
Production History Regulation
7 CFR part 400 Subpart G for
the 2014 and succeeding crop
years, to be eligible for crop
insurance the applicant must
be of ``legal majority.''
Legal majority is defined as
``where the individual has
reached 18 years old or was
conferred legal majority by a
(1) For individuals
less than 18 years of age or
where legal majority has not
been conferred by a court, to
be eligible for crop
insurance: (a) A minor must
provide evidence an insurable
share exists; and (b) a court-
appointed guardian or parent
must co-sign the application.
(2) When a court-appointed
guardian or parent cosigns the
application: (a) An
acknowledgement guaranteeing
payment of the annual premium
must be included with the
application; and (b) a written
statement describing the
farming operation and the
insurable share must be
provided. (3) For CAT coverage
only, a minor who is competent
to enter into a binding
contract, may insure a crop at
CAT level without a cosigner;
however, if not competent to
enter into a binding contract,
a court-appointed guardian or
parent must sign the
application.''----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------