[Congressional Bills 111th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[S. Con. Res. 62 Referred in House (RFH)]

111th CONGRESS
  2d Session
S. CON. RES. 62


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                    IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

                              May 3, 2010

                Referred to the Committee on Agriculture

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                         CONCURRENT RESOLUTION


 
Congratulating the outstanding professional public servants, both past 
   and present, of the Natural Resources Conservation Service on the 
                   occasion of its 75th anniversary.

Whereas the well-being of the United States is dependent on productive soils 
        along with abundant and high-quality water and related natural 
        resources;
Whereas the Natural Resources Conservation Service (in this resolution referred 
        to as ``NRCS'') was established as the Soil Conservation Service in the 
        Department of Agriculture in 1935 to assist farmers, ranchers, and other 
        landowners in protecting soil and water resources on private lands;
Whereas Hugh Hammond Bennett, the first Chief of the Soil Conservation Service 
        and the ``father of soil conservation'', led the creation of the modern 
        soil conservation movement that established soil and water conservation 
        as a national priority;
Whereas the NRCS, with the assistance of President Franklin D. Roosevelt, State 
        governments, and local partners, developed a new mechanism of American 
        conservation service delivery, which brings together private individuals 
        with Federal, State, and local governments to achieve common 
        conservation objectives;
Whereas the NRCS provides a vital public service by supplying technical 
        expertise and financial assistance to cooperating private landowners for 
        the conservation of soil and water resources;
Whereas the NRCS, as authorized by Congress, has developed and provided land 
        conservation programs that have resulted in the restoration and 
        preservation of millions of acres of wetlands, forests, and grasslands 
        that provide innumerable benefits to the general public in the form of 
        recreational opportunities, wildlife habitat, water quality, and reduced 
        soil erosion;
Whereas the NRCS is the world leader in soil science and soil surveying;
Whereas the NRCS is the national leader in the inventory of natural resources on 
        private lands, providing national leaders and the public with the status 
        and trends related to these resources and helping forecast the 
        availability of critical water supplies;
Whereas the NRCS has helped communities develop and implement thousands of 
        locally led projects that continue to provide flood control, soil 
        conservation, water supply, and recreational benefits to all Americans, 
        while providing business and job creation opportunities as well;
Whereas since its establishment, the NRCS has developed, tested, and 
        demonstrated conservation practices, helped develop the science and art 
        of conservation, and continues to strive toward innovation;
Whereas the NRCS encourages and works with landowners and land users to adopt 
        conservation practices and technologies in a voluntary manner to address 
        natural resource concerns;
Whereas NRCS employees serve in offices in every State and territory, while 
        other employees assist other countries and governments;
Whereas while some NRCS employees work directly with landowners, other employees 
        serve in support of NRCS field operations, but all work toward a common 
        goal of improving the condition of all natural resources found on 
        private lands, knowing when they succeed, all Americans benefit; and
Whereas the NRCS has been ``helping people, help the land'' for 75 years: Now, 
        therefore, be it
    Resolved by the Senate (the House of Representatives concurring), 
That Congress--
            (1) congratulates the outstanding conservation 
        professionals of the Natural Resources Conservation Service on 
        the occasion of the 75th anniversary of the Natural Resources 
        Conservation Service;
            (2) recognizes the vital role conservation plays in the 
        well-being of the United States;
            (3) expresses its continued commitment to the conservation 
        of natural resources on private lands in both the national 
        interest and as a national priority; and
            (4) recognizes the services that the Natural Resources 
        Conservation Service provides to the United States by helping 
        farmers, ranchers, and other landowners to protect soil, water, 
        and related natural resources.

            Passed the Senate April 29, 2010.

            Attest:

                                                NANCY ERICKSON,

                                                             Secretary.