[Congressional Record Volume 156, Number 62 (Thursday, April 29, 2010)]
[Senate]
[Pages S2813-S2814]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




    SENATE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION 62--CONGRATULATING THE OUTSTANDING 
  PROFESSIONAL PUBLIC SERVANTS, BOTH PAST AND PRESENT, OF THE NATURAL 
 RESOURCES CONSERVATION SERVICE ON THE OCCASION OF ITS 75TH ANNIVERSARY

  Mrs. LINCOLN (for herself, Mr. Chambliss, Mrs. Murray, Mr. Pryor, Mr. 
Baucus, Mr. Casey, Mr. Durbin, Mr. Reid, Mr. Kohl, Mr. Harkin, Mr. 
Bennet, Mr. Brownback, Mr. Grassley, Mr. Crapo, Mr. Leahy, and Mr. 
Johanns) submitted the following concurrent resolution; which was 
considered and agreed to:

                            S. Con. Res. 62

       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

[[Page S2814]]

     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.

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