Being a member of the partnership provides a license to steal these good ideas and practices. I have taken many ideas home from national and state meetings, and put them to use to make my community a better place. As you heard from earlier testimony, five federal agencies make financial contributions to the partnership. These resources provide a start for our activities, but the job is not finished. The national partnership should have representation from all 50 states, not just the 36 active councils.
Limited resources minimize our effectiveness.
And we need full federal participation from all agencies providing services in rural areas. Our communities and states look to the national partnership for leadership through tough issues. It is important that we continue to provide these services for the betterment of our rural areas. Before I describe the partnership's effects in my home state, let me give you some background information on rural Indiana. About two-thirds of Indiana's 92 counties are considered rural.