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program. Federal deficit reduction, while critical to the Nation as a 

 whole, should not be done at the expense of the poorest of the poor 

 in rural or urban areas. Only by providing a national plan for 

 rural America to allow rural communities to help themselves can 

 rural America be rebuilt and revitalized effectively for tomorrow 

 and for the next generation. 



We realize that the Federal Government cannot do this alone. 

 Within rural America partnerships must be created with religious, 

 philanthropic, and corporate interests to support rural develop- 

 ment. Many organizations will need to be activated and involved to 

 accomplish this task. This third sector must be included as part- 

 ners with environment, Government, and business to rebuild and 

 revitalize rural communities. 



In the past, resources and capacity of this sector to deliver serv- 

 ices to rural communities have been seriously underutilized. We 

 are here as members of many groups which represent many grass- 

 roots people. We work every day and come across so many situa- 

 tions that I have heard described. 



I can tell you about young A students who live in families with 

 unpaintable houses and no toilets. I can tell you about families who 

 have no health care. I can tell you about families who are not able 

 to feed the children in spite of wonderful programs this country 

 has. 



We are looking at ways to love and to feed the sick, to make the 

 sick well, to feed the hungry, to put clothes on the naked, and to 

 bring freedom and liberty to our people who are underutilized and 

 underappreciated. We come together today to say that we believe 

 that the best investment is in our people, in developing technical 

 skills, and developing people who are our resources. 



Thank you. 



[The prepared statement of Ms. Wynn appears at the conclusion 

 of the hearing.] 



The Chairman. Thank you very much. We appreciate your excel- 

 lent statement and your written statement. I must tell you that in 

 seven words you have very eloquently stated what I have been 

 trying to do with many words for a long time. "Rural is no longer 

 equivalent to farming." There you said it all. We can't seem to get 

 that across, but we are going to keep trying because the needs of 

 rural America, as you stated, are different. Our urban brethren 

 have the same needs, but if we don't have rural America and what 

 it supports in the farming sector, then all of us are gone. 



We thank you very much for your contribution. 



Mr. Roberts. 



Mr. Roberts. Ms. Wynn, it may be 4:30 in the afternoon and the 

 press may have left and the crowd may have left, but you made a 

 most pertinent and moving and, as far as I am concerned, very val- 

 uable appearance before this committee. 



We have your Southern Rural Development Initiative. I have 

 been going through it while listening to your testimony. I married 

 a girl from the South, so in terms of my in-laws — I represent 66 

 counties out on the prairie — our problems are your problems, al- 

 though obviously not as severe in some areas. 



