[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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