[Congressional Record Volume 141, Number 127 (Wednesday, August 2, 1995)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1584]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]


                    RESPECTEEN NATIONAL YOUTH FORUM

                                 ______


                           HON. EARL POMEROY

                            of north dakota

                    in the house of representatives

                        Tuesday, August 1, 1995
  Mr. POMEROY. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to bring to the attention of 
my colleagues a letter written to me regarding the Conservation Reserve 
Program [CRP] by Rachel Heiser. Rachel Heiser participated in the 
seventh annual RespecTeen Speak for Yourself Program, and she was 
selected to represent North Dakota at the 1995 RespecTeen National 
Youth Forum in Washington, DC. She just completed the eighth grade at 
Simle Middle School in Bismarck, ND, and her letter emphasizes the 
benefits and importance of CRP. I have included Rachel's letter for the 
benefit of my colleagues.

       The Conservation Reserve Program (started in 1985) pays 
     farmers not to farm highly erodible land for 10 years and 
     convert it to perennial vegetation. CRP has been successful 
     because farmers, taxpayers, wildlife and the environment all 
     benefit.
       The Great Plains has been characterized as one of the most 
     endangered ecosystems in North America. Populations of 
     grassland-nesting birds have been declining faster than any 
     other bird group.
       Now, because of CRP, many species of birds are making a 
     great comeback. Ring-necked pheasant populations have more 
     than doubled in several states. Increased pheasant 
     populations in South Dakota attracted 48,000 non-resident and 
     80,000 resident hunters in 1993, spending $50 million. 
     Grasshopper sparrows, lark buntings, and Eastern meadowlarks 
     are increasing in areas with high CRP enrollment. Elk, Mule 
     deer, white-tailed deer, and antelope have responded 
     surprisingly well to CRP. In Idaho, Colombian sharp-tailed 
     grouse, a candidate species for federal listing, is making a 
     dramatic recovery on CRP lands. Three million additional 
     ducks were produced in 1994 in the Dakotas and Montana 
     because of CRP. CRP will provide up to $11.2 billion in 
     overall environmental benefits during the life of the 
     program.
       As you can see, CRP is a very important program when it 
     comes to saving soil and providing grassland habitat. 
     However, beginning this year, most of the grassland habitat 
     created by CRP will be converted back to cropland without 
     reauthorization of CRP. When all CRP contracts are 
     terminated, commodity prices are expected to drop due to 
     increased crop production leading to a significant reduction 
     in farm income. CRP pays for itself by reducing surplus crops 
     and thus support prices to producers. CRP is the only program 
     that has restored many wildlife populations while saving 
     taxpayers a bundle. Please help to reauthorize the CRP 
     program.
     

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