[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 161 (2015), Part 3]
[Senate]
[Pages 3652-3653]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




SENATE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION 10--SUPPORTING THE DESIGNATION OF THE YEAR 
 OF 2015 AS THE ``INTERNATIONAL YEAR OF SOILS'' AND SUPPORTING LOCALLY 
                         LED SOIL CONSERVATION

  Mr. DONNELLY (for himself and Mr. Boozman) submitted the following 
concurrent resolution; which was referred to the Committee on 
Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry:

                            S. Con. Res. 10

       Whereas many of the international partners of the United 
     States are designating 2015 as the ``International Year of 
     Soils'';
       Whereas soil is vitally important for food security and 
     essential ecosystem functions;
       Whereas soil conservation efforts in the United States are 
     often locally led;
       Whereas 2015 also marks the 80th anniversary of the signing 
     of the Soil Conservation and Domestic Allotment Act (16 
     U.S.C. 590a et seq.) on April 27, 1935;
       Whereas soils, as the foundation for agricultural 
     production, essential ecosystem functions, and food security, 
     are key to sustaining life on Earth;
       Whereas soils and the science of soils contribute to 
     improved water quality, food safety and security, healthy 
     ecosystems, and human health; and
       Whereas soil, plant, animal, and human health are 
     intricately linked; Now, therefore, be it
       Resolved by the Senate (the House of Representatives 
     concurring), That Congress--
       (1) supports the designation of 2015 as the ``International 
     Year of Soils'';
       (2) encourages the public to participate in activities that 
     celebrate the importance of soils to the current and future 
     well-being of the United States; and
       (3) supports conservation of the soils of the United 
     States, through--
       (A) partnership with local soil and water conservation 
     districts; and
       (B) landowner participation in--
       (i) the conservation reserve program established under 
     subchapter B of chapter 1 of subtitle D of title XII of the 
     Food Security Act of 1985 (16 U.S.C. 3831 et seq.);
       (ii) the environmental quality incentives program 
     established under chapter 4 of subtitle D of title XII of the 
     Food Security Act of 1985 (16 U.S.C. 3839aa et seq.);
       (iii) the conservation stewardship program established 
     under subchapter B of chapter 2 of subtitle D of title XII of 
     the Food Security Act of 1985 (16 U.S.C. 3838D et seq.);
       (iv) the agricultural conservation easement program 
     established under subtitle H of title XII of the Food 
     Security Act of 1985 (16 U.S.C. 3865 et seq.);
       (v) the regional conservation partnership program 
     established under subtitle I of title XII of the Food 
     Security Act of 1985 (16 U.S.C. 3871 et seq.); and
       (vi) the small watershed rehabilitation program established 
     under section 14 of the

[[Page 3653]]

     Watershed Protection and Flood Prevention Act (16 U.S.C. 
     1012).

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