[Congressional Record Volume 156, Number 70 (Tuesday, May 11, 2010)]
[House]
[Pages H3292-H3293]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
CONGRATULATING THE NATURAL RESOURCES CONSERVATION SERVICE ON ITS 75TH
ANNIVERSARY
Mr. HOLDEN. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and concur in
the concurrent resolution (S. Con. Res. 62) congratulating the
outstanding professional public servants, both past and present, of the
Natural Resources Conservation Service on the occasion of its 75th
anniversary.
The Clerk read the title of the concurrent resolution.
The text of the concurrent resolution is as follows:
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 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
[[Page H3293]]
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.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentleman from
Pennsylvania (Mr. Holden) and the gentleman from Oklahoma (Mr. Lucas)
each will control 20 minutes.
The Chair recognizes the gentleman from Pennsylvania.
General Leave
Mr. HOLDEN. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members may
have 5 legislative days within which to revise and extend their remarks
on S. Con. Res. 62.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the
gentleman from Pennsylvania?
There was no objection.
Mr. HOLDEN. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself as much time as I may
consume.
Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of S. Con. Res. 62,
congratulating the outstanding professional public servants, both past
and present, of the United States Department of Agriculture's Natural
Resources Conservation Service on the occasion of its 75th anniversary.
I am proud to say that Members on both sides of the aisle support
this resolution. I join Agriculture Committee Chairman Collin Peterson,
Ranking Member Frank Lucas, and many of my colleagues on the
Agriculture Committee in cosponsoring the House version of this
resolution, which recognizes an important Federal agency that has
helped our farmers and ranchers practice smart conservation on private
land since its inception in 1935.
Established by Congress in response to the Dust Bowl disaster that
devastated vast stretches of our land, the agency was originally known
as the Soil Conservation Service. In 1994, the agency's name changed to
the Natural Resources Conservation Service to more accurately reflect
its role in protecting all natural resources, not only soil, but also
air, water, plants, and animals.
NRCS provides technical and financial assistance to landowners at
local levels, thus recognizing the diversity of the land in this
country and the unique concerns in each region. In fact, you will find
NRCS field offices in nearly every county in the Nation. NRCS helps
local communities carry out thousands of conservation projects, which
often translate into opportunities for job creation and increased
investment in local communities.
Mr. Speaker, the United States depends as much today on productive
soils and an abundant, high-quality water supply as we did 75 years
ago. In fact, given the agricultural and environmental challenges we
face, these programs are more important than ever. With this resolution
we salute the NRCS professionals, both past and present, who have
worked alongside America's local farmers and ranchers for 75 years to
help preserve our essential natural resources.
I urge my colleagues to support this resolution and to join me in
recognizing the great work of the USDA Natural Resources Conservation
Service.
I reserve the balance of my time.
Mr. LUCAS. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself as much time as I may consume.
Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of Senate Concurrent Resolution 62,
which recognizes the 75 years of service of the National Resources
Conservation Service, the NRCS. Created by Congress in 1935, the Soil
Conservation Service, now known as the NRCS, has worked hand-in-hand
with local governments, organizations, farmers, ranchers, and other
landowners to preserve and protect our Nation's natural resources on
private lands.
Farmers were conserving long before it became a celebrated trend to
``go green''. They have always had a vested interest in preserving the
land that provides for them. Partnering with the NRCS, our producers
are provided the scientific and technical assistance to implement the
most advanced conservation practices in the world.
Through the NRCS's assistance and implementation of conservation
programs, producers have voluntarily worked to help reduce soil
erosion, increase wetlands, and improve water and air quality, meeting
mounting government regulations and preserving farmland and wildlife
habitat. The environmental gains produced on these private lands
provide benefits far beyond the farm.
The benefits of the NRCS's assistance are evident in my home State of
Oklahoma. The conservation practices implemented by the producers have
reduced the removal of topsoil and prevented a recurrence of the
disastrous conditions of the 1930s Dust Bowl from ever happening again.
NRCS also works to protect the safety of our rural communities by
rehabilitating old dams and working to implement flood prevention
programs.
I would like to thank Chairman Peterson for his leadership in
introducing a similar resolution I have cosponsored. I would also like
to thank my colleagues on the Ag Committee who have helped to craft the
greenest farm bills in recent history. But most importantly, I want to
thank and congratulate the men and women of the Natural Resources
Conservation Service for their work in the field over the years,
providing our producers with the assistance to protect our natural
resources.
And let me just say once again: representing a part of the great
State of Oklahoma that faced the greatest challenges of both the
economic depression of the 1930s and the Dust Bowl, those good folks at
what at that time was the Soil Conservation Service, working with what
we would now consider to be very primitive equipment, working to
educate and encourage producers to adopt practices that would
ultimately make such a tremendous difference they have--what can you
say? Whether it's the NRCS or the old Soil Conservation Service, the
same great people for 75 years taking care of our natural resources.
Thank you.
I yield back the balance of my time.
Mr. HOLDEN. I yield back the balance of my time, Mr. Speaker, and
urge the passage of the resolution.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. The question is on the motion offered by the
gentleman from Pennsylvania (Mr. Holden) that the House suspend the
rules and concur in the concurrent resolution, S. Con. Res. 62.
The question was taken; and (two-thirds being in the affirmative) the
rules were suspended and the concurrent resolution was concurred in.
A motion to reconsider was laid on the table.
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