---
kind: "section"
citation: "7 U.S.C. § 2008m"
title: "7"
title_heading: "Agriculture"
number: "2008m"
heading: "National Rural Development Partnership"
release: "119-102"
url: "https://uscodex.org/usc/7/2008m"
units:
  - "Chapter 50 — Agricultural Credit"
  - "Subchapter IV — Administrative Provisions"
---

# §2008m. National Rural Development Partnership

- (a) **Definitions—** In this section:
  - (1) **Agency with rural responsibilities—** The term “agency with rural responsibilities” means any executive agency (as defined in [section 105 of title 5](/usc/5/105.md)) that implements a Federal law, or administers a program, targeted at or having a significant impact on [rural areas](/usc/7/1991.md?p=a-13-A).
  - (2) **Coordinating Committee—** The term “Coordinating Committee” means the National [Rural](/usc/7/1991.md?p=a-13-A) Development Coordinating Committee established by [subsection (c)](#c).
  - (3) **Partnership—** The term “Partnership” means the National [Rural](/usc/7/1991.md?p=a-13-A) Development Partnership continued by [subsection (b)](#b).
  - (4) **State rural development council—** The term “State rural development council” means a State rural development council that meets the requirements of [subsection (d)](#d).
- (b) **Partnership—**
  - (1) **In general—** The Secretary shall continue the National [Rural](/usc/7/1991.md?p=a-13-A) Development [Partnership](#a-3) composed of—
    - (A) the [Coordinating Committee](#a-2); and
    - (B) [State rural development councils](#a-4).
  - (2) **Purposes—** The purposes of the [Partnership](#a-3) are to empower and build the capacity of [States](/usc/7/1991.md?p=a-6) and [rural](/usc/7/1991.md?p=a-13-A) communities to design flexible and innovative responses to their own special [rural](/usc/7/1991.md?p=a-13-A) development needs, with local determinations of progress and selection of projects and activities.
  - (3) **Governing panel—**
    - (A) **In general—** A panel consisting of representatives of the [Coordinating Committee](#a-2) and [State rural development councils](#a-4) shall be established to lead and coordinate the strategic operation, policies, and practices of the [Partnership](#a-3).
    - (B) **Annual reports—** In conjunction with the [Coordinating Committee](#a-2) and [State rural development councils](#a-4), the panel shall prepare and submit to Congress an annual report on the activities of the [Partnership](#a-3).
  - (4) **Role of Federal Government—** The role of the Federal Government in the [Partnership](#a-3) may be that of a partner and facilitator, with Federal agencies authorized—
    - (A) to cooperate with [States](/usc/7/1991.md?p=a-6) to implement the [Partnership](#a-3);
    - (B) to provide [States](/usc/7/1991.md?p=a-6) with the technical and administrative support necessary to plan and implement tailored [rural](/usc/7/1991.md?p=a-13-A) development strategies to meet local needs;
    - (C) to ensure that the head of each [agency with rural responsibilities](#a-1) designates a senior-level agency official to represent the agency on the [Coordinating Committee](#a-2) and directs appropriate field staff to participate fully with the [State rural development council](#a-4) within the jurisdiction of the field staff; and
    - (D) to enter into cooperative agreements with, and to provide grants and other assistance to, the [Coordinating Committee](#a-2) and [State rural development councils](#a-4).
- (c) **National Rural Development Coordinating Committee—**
  - (1) **Establishment—** The Secretary shall establish a National [Rural](/usc/7/1991.md?p=a-13-A) Development [Coordinating Committee](#a-2) within the Department of Agriculture.
  - (2) **Composition—** The [Coordinating Committee](#a-2) shall be composed of—
    - (A) 1 representative of each [agency with rural responsibilities](#a-1); and
    - (B) representatives, approved by the Secretary, of—
      - (i) national associations of [State](/usc/7/1991.md?p=a-6), regional, local, and tribal governments and intergovernmental and multijurisdictional agencies and organizations;
      - (ii) national public interest groups;
      - (iii) other national nonprofit organizations that elect to participate in the activities of the [Coordinating Committee](#a-2); and
      - (iv) the private sector.
  - (3) **Duties—** The [Coordinating Committee](#a-2) shall—
    - (A) support the work of the [State rural development councils](#a-4);
    - (B) facilitate coordination of [rural](/usc/7/1991.md?p=a-13-A) development policies, programs, and activities among Federal agencies and with those of [State](/usc/7/1991.md?p=a-6), local, and tribal governments, the private sector, and nonprofit organizations;
    - (C) review and comment on policies, regulations, and proposed legislation that affect or would affect [rural areas](/usc/7/1991.md?p=a-13-A) and gather and provide related information;
    - (D) develop and facilitate strategies to reduce or eliminate administrative and regulatory impediments; and
    - (E) require each [State rural development council](#a-4) receiving [funds](/usc/7/4531.md?p=5) under this section to submit an annual report on the use of the [funds](/usc/7/4531.md?p=5), including a description of strategic plans, goals, performance measures, and outcomes for the [State rural development council](#a-4) of the [State](/usc/7/1991.md?p=a-6).
  - (4) **Federal participation in Coordinating Committee—**
    - (A) **In general—** A Federal employee shall fully participate in the governance and operations of the [Coordinating Committee](#a-2), including activities related to grants, [contracts](/usc/7/518.md?p=4), and other agreements, in accordance with this section.
    - (B) **Conflicts—** Participation by a Federal employee in the [Coordinating Committee](#a-2) in accordance with this paragraph shall not constitute a violation of section [205](/usc/18/205.md) or [208](/usc/18/208.md) of title 18.
  - (5) **Administrative support—** The Secretary may provide such administrative support for the [Coordinating Committee](#a-2) as the Secretary determines is necessary to carry out the duties of the [Coordinating Committee](#a-2).
  - (6) **Procedures—** The Secretary may prescribe such regulations, bylaws, or other procedures as are necessary for the operation of the [Coordinating Committee](#a-2).
- (d) **State rural development councils—**
  - (1) **Establishment—** Notwithstanding [chapter 63](/usc/31/chstV-ch63.md) of title 31, each [State](/usc/7/1991.md?p=a-6) may elect to participate in the [Partnership](#a-3) by entering into an agreement with the Secretary to recognize a [State rural development council](#a-4).
  - (2) **Composition—** A [State rural development council](#a-4) shall—
    - (A) be composed of representatives of Federal, [State](/usc/7/1991.md?p=a-6), local, and tribal governments, nonprofit organizations, regional organizations, the private sector, and other entities committed to [rural](/usc/7/1991.md?p=a-13-A) advancement; and
    - (B) have a nonpartisan and nondiscriminatory membership that—
      - (i) is broad and representative of the economic, social, and political diversity of the [State](/usc/7/1991.md?p=a-6); and
      - (ii) shall be responsible for the governance and operations of the [State rural development council](#a-4).
  - (3) **Duties—** A [State rural development council](#a-4) shall—
    - (A) facilitate collaboration among Federal, [State](/usc/7/1991.md?p=a-6), local, and tribal governments and the private and nonprofit sectors in the planning and implementation of programs and policies that have an impact on [rural areas](/usc/7/1991.md?p=a-13-A) of the [State](/usc/7/1991.md?p=a-6);
    - (B) monitor, report, and comment on policies and programs that address, or fail to address, the needs of the [rural areas](/usc/7/1991.md?p=a-13-A) of the [State](/usc/7/1991.md?p=a-6);
    - (C) as part of the [Partnership](#a-3), in conjunction with the [Coordinating Committee](#a-2), facilitate the development of strategies to reduce or eliminate conflicting or duplicative administrative or regulatory requirements of Federal, [State](/usc/7/1991.md?p=a-6), local, and tribal governments; and
    - (D)
      - (i) provide to the [Coordinating Committee](#a-2) an annual plan with goals and performance measures; and
      - (ii) submit to the [Coordinating Committee](#a-2) an annual report on the progress of the [State rural development council](#a-4) in meeting the goals and measures.
  - (4) **Federal participation in State rural development councils—**
    - (A) **In general—** A [State](/usc/7/1991.md?p=a-6) Director for [Rural](/usc/7/1991.md?p=a-13-A) Development of the Department of Agriculture, other employees of the Department, and employees of other Federal agencies with [rural](/usc/7/1991.md?p=a-13-A) responsibilities shall fully participate as voting members in the governance and operations of [State rural development councils](#a-4) (including activities related to grants, [contracts](/usc/7/518.md?p=4), and other agreements in accordance with this section) on an equal basis with other members of the [State rural development councils](#a-4).
    - (B) **Conflicts—** Participation by a Federal employee in a [State rural development council](#a-4) in accordance with this paragraph shall not constitute a violation of section [205](/usc/18/205.md) or [208](/usc/18/208.md) of title 18.
- (e) **Administrative support of the Partnership—**
  - (1) **Detail of employees—**
    - (A) **In general—** In [order](/usc/7/2902.md?p=10) to provide experience in intergovernmental collaboration, the head of an [agency with rural responsibilities](#a-1) that elects to participate in the [Partnership](#a-3) may, and is encouraged to, detail to the Secretary for the support of the [Partnership](#a-3) 1 or more employees of the [agency with rural responsibilities](#a-1) without reimbursement for a period of up to 1 year.
    - (B) **Civil service status—** The detail shall be without interruption or loss of civil service status or privilege.
  - (2) **Additional support—** The Secretary may provide for any additional support staff to the [Partnership](#a-3) as the Secretary determines to be necessary to carry out the duties of the [Partnership](#a-3).
  - (3) **Intermediaries—** The Secretary may enter into a [contract](/usc/7/518.md?p=4) with a qualified intermediary under which the intermediary shall be responsible for providing administrative and technical assistance to a [State rural development council](#a-4), including administering the financial assistance available to the [State rural development council](#a-4).
- (f) **Matching requirements for State rural development councils—**
  - (1) **In general—** Except as provided in [paragraph (2)](#f-2), a [State rural development council](#a-4) shall provide matching [funds](/usc/7/4531.md?p=5), or in-kind goods or services, to support the activities of the [State rural development council](#a-4) in an amount that is not less than 33 percent of the amount of Federal [funds](/usc/7/4531.md?p=5) received from a Federal agency under [subsection (g)(2)](#g-2).
  - (2) **Exceptions to matching requirement for certain Federal funds—** [Paragraph (1)](#f-1) shall not apply to [funds](/usc/7/4531.md?p=5), grants, [funds](/usc/7/4531.md?p=5) provided under [contracts](/usc/7/518.md?p=4) or cooperative agreements, gifts, contributions, or technical assistance received by a [State rural development council](#a-4) from a Federal agency that are used—
    - (A) to support 1 or more specific program or project activities; or
    - (B) to reimburse the [State rural development council](#a-4) for services provided to the Federal agency providing the [funds](/usc/7/4531.md?p=5), grants, [funds](/usc/7/4531.md?p=5) provided under [contracts](/usc/7/518.md?p=4) or cooperative agreements, gifts, contributions, or technical assistance.
  - (3) **Department’s share—** The Secretary shall develop a plan to decrease, over time, the share of the Department of Agriculture of the cost of the core operations of [State rural development councils](#a-4).
- (g) **Funding—**
  - (1) **Authorization of appropriations—** There is authorized to be appropriated to carry out this section $10,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2008 through 2023.
  - (2) **Federal agencies—**
    - (A) **In general—** Notwithstanding any other provision of law limiting the ability of an agency, along with other agencies, to provide [funds](/usc/7/4531.md?p=5) to the [Coordinating Committee](#a-2) or a [State rural development council](#a-4) in [order](/usc/7/2902.md?p=10) to carry out the purposes of this section, a Federal agency may make grants, gifts, or contributions to, provide technical assistance to, or enter into [contracts](/usc/7/518.md?p=4) or cooperative agreements with, the [Coordinating Committee](#a-2) or a [State rural development council](#a-4).
    - (B) **Assistance—** Federal agencies are encouraged to use [funds](/usc/7/4531.md?p=5) made available for programs that have an impact on [rural areas](/usc/7/1991.md?p=a-13-A) to provide assistance to, and enter into [contracts](/usc/7/518.md?p=4) with, the [Coordinating Committee](#a-2) or a [State rural development council](#a-4), as described in [subparagraph (A)](#g-2-A).
  - (3) **Contributions—** The [Coordinating Committee](#a-2) and a [State rural development council](#a-4) may accept private contributions.
- (h) **Termination—** The [authority](/usc/7/2009aa.md?p=1) provided under this section shall terminate on September 30, 2023.

## Source credit

(Pub. L. 87–128, title III, § 378, as added Pub. L. 107–171, title VI, § 6021, May 13, 2002, 116 Stat. 363; amended Pub. L. 110–234, title VI, § 6019, May 22, 2008, 122 Stat. 1172; Pub. L. 110–246, § 4(a), title VI, § 6019, June 18, 2008, 122 Stat. 1664, 1933; Pub. L. 113–79, title VI, § 6021, Feb. 7, 2014, 128 Stat. 847; Pub. L. 115–334, title VI, § 6420, Dec. 20, 2018, 132 Stat. 4765.)

## Notes

### Editorial Notes

### Codification

The authorities provided by each provision of, and each amendment made by, Pub. L. 115–334, as in effect on Sept. 30, 2023, to continue, and authorities to be carried out, until the later of Sept. 30, 2024, or the date specified in the provision of, or amendment made by, Pub. L. 115–334, see section 102(a) of Pub. L. 118–22, set out in an Extension of Agricultural Programs note under section 9001 of this title.

The authorities provided by each provision of, and each amendment made by, Pub. L. 110–246, as in effect on Sept. 30, 2012, to continue, and the Secretary of Agriculture to carry out the authorities, until the later of Sept. 30, 2013, or the date specified in the provision of, or amendment made by, Pub. L. 110–246, see section 701(a) of Pub. L. 112–240, set out in a 1-Year Extension of Agricultural Programs note under section 8701 of this title.

Pub. L. 110–234 and Pub. L. 110–246 made identical amendments to this section. The amendments by Pub. L. 110–234 were repealed by section 4(a) of Pub. L. 110–246.

### Amendments

2018—Subsecs. (g)(1), (h). Pub. L. 115–334 substituted “2023” for “2018”.

2014—Subsec. (g)(1). Pub. L. 113–79, § 6021(1), substituted “2018” for “2012”.

Subsec. (h). Pub. L. 113–79, § 6021(2), substituted “2018” for “2012”.

2008—Subsec. (g)(1). Pub. L. 110–246, § 6019(1), substituted “2008 through 2012” for “2003 through 2007”.

Subsec. (h). Pub. L. 110–246, § 6019(2), substituted “September 30, 2012” for “the date that is 5 years after May 13, 2002”.

### Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries

### Effective Date of 2008 Amendment

Amendment of this section and repeal of Pub. L. 110–234 by Pub. L. 110–246 effective May 22, 2008, the date of enactment of Pub. L. 110–234, see section 4 of Pub. L. 110–246, set out as an Effective Date note under section 8701 of this title.