Agriculture, Rural Development, Food and Drug Administration, and Related Agencies Appropriations Act, 2007

AGRICULTURE, RURAL DEVELOPMENT, FOOD AND DRUG ADMINISTRATION, AND RELATED AGENCIES APPROPRIATIONS ACT, 2007

BREAK IN TRANSCRIPT

Mr. LUCAS. Mr. Chairman, the purpose of the amendment is to remove $810,000 in salaries and expenses from the Office of the Under Secretary For the Natural Resources and the Environment.

Mr. Chairman, I have had the privilege since and during the 2002 farm bill of chairing the subcommittee with jurisdiction over the conservation programs. In the 2002 farm bill we did an outstanding job of bringing new and substantial resources to conservation. Since then I have had the privilege of working with Chairman Bonilla and the subcommittee on appropriations in making sure those resources are effectively put in the hands of producers out there to protect our environment, our soil, our water, our wildlife. But after a number of years, I have worked diligently to address problems in the technical assistance programs, how these problems are paid for, the implementation.

I must say after much frustration with working with the national office of the NRCS today I have to take action. In that I offer this amendment to set aside $810,000 so that when the Appropriations Committee begins the process of putting the final conference committee reports together this fall, that they will have the necessary ammunition to correct this situation.

I know it is a bold statement, and I know it is a serious thing; but making sure that the technical assistance dollars are available to local and State NRCS offices so that the farm bill programs, conservation programs can be implemented is of the greatest importance. And only after tremendous frustration as a subcommittee chairman on the authorizing committee do I take this bold and drastic step.

BREAK IN TRANSCRIPT

http://thomas.loc.gov