[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 162 (2016), Part 4]
[House]
[Page 5120]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]


COMMENDING ENVIRONMENTAL WORK OF HOUSE SUBCOMMITTEE ON CONSERVATION AND 
                                FORESTRY

  (Mr. THOMPSON of Pennsylvania asked and was given permission to 
address the House for 1 minute and to revise and extend his remarks.)
  Mr. THOMPSON of Pennsylvania. Mr. Speaker, from our Nation's farmers 
to our foresters, anglers, hunters, and those who love the outdoors, 
good land management and conservation practices hold endless benefits.
  To support this stewardship, the 2014 farm bill provides substantial 
opportunities for agricultural conservation. This includes initiatives 
such as the Conservation Reserve Program, Environmental Quality 
Incentives Program, and Conservation Stewardship Program, just to name 
a few.
  These voluntary programs are essential in assisting landowners to 
implement best management practices while also improving water quality 
and the surrounding watersheds.
  The farm bill and the committee have also worked to promote well-
managed forests. Our Nation's forests, of course, are economic engines 
in many rural areas while providing resources for our Nation. 
Additionally, our forests also deliver significant ecological benefits 
because they are natural water filters, as well as our most important 
carbon sinks.
  With Earth Day last Friday, I think it is timely to recognize all the 
great conservation work going on in our communities and in our 
committee, and the importance of managed land and water. With that in 
mind, it remains essential that we continue active stewardship of our 
forests, farmlands, soils, and watersheds.

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