What I would ask us all to do today, is think about the "readiness" of our conservation delivery system. The people of NRCS have always given 100 percent of their abilities and will continue to do so. The 1985 Farm Bill asked them to concentrate more efforts on highly erodible lands, and they met that responsibility. The 1990 Farm Bill asked them to work harder for America's wetlands, and they also met that responsibility. The 1996 Farm Bill asked them to work harder for wildlife habitat, farmland protection, animal agriculture and a host of other activities. They are working hard to meet that responsibility, but they need our help. I want to suggest, in closing, that the reason that so much is being asked of NRCS is that so much is being asked of our nation's farmers and ranchers. Everyday, they put their boots on and go out to bring us the lowest cost, safest, and most abundant food supply on this planet. At the same time, we ask them to be the caretakers of our water, guardians of our air, and the stewards of the soil. It is up to us to give them a hand. 1 USDA Biographical Sketch Jim Lyons Under Secretary of Agriculture for Natural Resources and Environment The Forest Service administers programs for applying sound conservation and utilization practices to the national forests and national grasslands, for promoting these practices on all forest lands and for carrying out extensive forest and range research. The Natural Resources Conservation Service has the responsibility for developing and carrying out a national conservation program in cooperation with landowners, community planning agencies and regional resource groups, and with other federal, state and local government agencies. Before being appointed to his present position, James Lyons served from 1987-1993 as a staff assistant with the House Committee on Agriculture, where he was responsible for the policy and legislative activities of the committee affecting forestry and natural resources, conservation, environmental issues, pesticides, and food safety. Within that period, from 1989 through 1991, he was also the agricultural advisor to [then] Congressman Leon Panetta (D-Calif.). From March through December 1986 he was the staff director for the Subcommittee on Forests, Family Farms, and Energy, Committee on Agriculture. From April 1982 through March 1986 he served as director of Resource Policy for the Society of American Foresters in Bethesda, Md. He was a program analysts with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, U.S. Department of the Interior, 1979-82. He received a B.S. degree in forest and wildlife management with high honors from Cook College, Rutgers University, in 1977, and a Master of Forestry degree from Yale University in 1979. Back to: • The Photo Gallery and Biographical Information About USDA page The USDA Home Page Pearlie S. Reed was named chief of the Natural Resources Conservation Service by Agriculture Secretary Dan Glickman effective March 1, 1998. The NRCS works directly with private landowners to help them implement conservation measures, and with a broad array of state and local groups to sustain and enhance environmental quality. In February 1997, Mr. Reed was named as acting assistant secretary for administration for USDA. In December 1996, he became team leader of the USDA's Civil Rights Action Team, which was created by the Secretary to do a thorough audit of USDA civil rights issues inside and outside the Department. A 28-year USDA career employee, Mr. Reed is known for his strong leadership, clear vision, and keen understanding of how to integrate and implement massive change. For his leadership in conservation initiatives, Mr. Reed received the 1998 Professional Service Award from the National Association of Conservation Districts. In 1996, he received the Distinguished Presidential Rank Award-the highest award that can be bestowed upon a career Senior Executive Service member. That same year he received two USDA Honor Awards as an individual and as a group leader-for his vision and leadership in developing implementing the most comprehensive reorganization in the 60-year history of the NRCS, formerly the Soil Conservation Service. The reinvention of NRCS has resulted in a more efficient and cost-effective agency with a strong commitment to customer service and conservation partnerships. Mr. Reed was appointed on January 3, 1994, as associate chief of NRCS. From 1989 to 1994, he served as SCS state conservationist in California, where he was responsible for managing, leading, and directing a comprehensive soil, water, and resource conservation and development program for the state. He also led the USDA Drought Task Force in California. He received a USDA Honor Award in 1993 for his managerial commitment and leadership to equal opportunity and civil rights. He has also served as state conservationist in Maryland and as deputy state conservationist in Arkansas. Mr. Reed served in the SCS national headquarters in Washington, D.C., from 1977 to 1981 in several positions, including financial manager, budget analyst, and administrative officer. In 1979, he served as administrative officer for the National Agricultural Lands Study. He began his career with the SCS in 1968 as a student trainee at Walnut Ridge, Ark. Upon graduation, he went to Wisconsin as a soil conservationist. He later served as district conservationist in Sheboygan, and then as personnel officer and budget and accounting officer in the state office in Madison. He is a native of Heth, Ark., and graduated with honors in 1970 from the University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff with a B.S. degree in animal husbandry and agricultural business. He received a Master of Public Administration degree, with honors, from American University in Washington, D.C., in 1980. Danny Sells was named as the associate chief of the Natural Resources Conservation Service, effective March 1, 1998. Mr. Sells joined the agency in 1993 as special assistant to the chief and has served concurrently as its director of legislative affairs since 1994. The Natural Resources Conservation Service has federal leadership for the nation's voluntary natural resources conservation program on private lands. Mr. Sells helped guide the 1993 reorganization effort of the agency in response to Vice President Al Gore's National Performance Review. These efforts served as a guide for the Departmental Reorganization Plan that resulted in legislation passed in 1994. He also provided guidance for the development of the conservation provisions in the Federal Agriculture Improvement and Reform Act of 1996 (Farm Bill). Additionally, he served as an advisor to the USDA Farm Bill teams and program managers in the implementation of this new farm legislation. From 1985 to 1993, Mr. Sells served as a field representative and advisor on agricultural issues to United States Senator Al Gore. Mr. Sells and his wife Katherine have been Angus cattle and horse breeders for over 20 years. Mr. Sells, a native of Gray, Tenn. holds a B.A. degree in political science from the # February 1998 Mr. SKEEN. Thank you. I think what I will do is start with this questioning, and then I will go to Ms. Kaptur for her introductory statement. Go ahead and make that, Marcy. Go ahead. Ms. KAPTUR. Thank you. Thank you, Mr. Chairman. I just wanted to welcome our witnesses today, and thank Mr. Lyons and Mr. Reed, and all of your associates from NRCS, for the fine work that you and your colleagues do, not just here in Washington, but all over the country. I will agree with Mr. Reed on that. I have some questions, and I apologize for being about eight minutes late. I was involved in a meeting on, of all things, poultry waste management, with some of our fellow colleagues, and the problems we are having in the State of Maryland. So I apologize. I think NRCS may be the solution, at least part of the solution, to that. So I do have some questions, Mr. Chairman. I will withhold those for the moment. STAFF REDUCTIONS Mr. SKEEN. Thank you, Ms. Kaptur. Let me start with, Under Secretary Lyons, the President's budget proposes a significant funding increase for NRCS; yet, the staffing level has declined by a thousand people. How will this staffing reduction affect the current conservation programs? And, also, what types of personnel actions have to be considered to reduce the staff by a thousand people? Your program does not require them or Mr. LYONS. Well, let me take a shot at that, Mr. Chairman, and then I will yield to the Chief, who can, I think, offer more detail. Mr. SKEEN. Well, I want to know what he is going to do with those thousand people he is losing? Mr. LYONS. Well, I am concerned about the loss of those people. In large measure, that loss would be associated with the lack of reimbursements for programs we implement through the CCC. Part of the problem lies with a cap on the amount of reimbursement that can be provided from funds in the Commodity Credit Corporation, and that impacts our ability to do everything from provide technical assistance for the CRP program to other programs as well. I honestly believe we need to address that and work together to find a way in which to do so. It is an issue that we have to address, Mr. Chairman. If we don't, we face loss of FTE's, and FTE's translate to conservationists on the ground doing the job that we want them to do. CONSERVATION PHILOSOPHY Mr. SKEEN. Mr. Reed, OMB has laid out some pretty ambitious goals for your agency, but you are the Chief, and we recognize you as such. So we would like to hear from you on two matters. We want your comments on how well you believe the Federal Government is doing in meeting the mission on private lands conservation and your philosophy on conservation in general. Mr. REED. With your permission, I would like to do the latter first. Mr. SKEEN. You can take it any way you want to. We appreciate it. |