WASHINGTON, D.C.—Dec. 9, 2010—The National Association of Conservation Districts (NACD) congratulates Rep. Frank Lucas (R-OK) on being elected as the next Chairman of the U.S. House Agriculture Committee.
“Rep. Lucas has been a strong supporter of conservation over the years, and we look forward to continuing to work closely with him as we head into the next Congress and upcoming Farm Bill,” said NACD President Steve Robinson. “He has played a critical role in strengthening cooperative conservation throughout the nation and his efforts have gone a long way in ensuring farmers, ranchers and other landowners have the resources necessary to protect our air land and water through locally-led, voluntary programs on the ground.”
As the former Chairman of the Conservation, Credit, Rural Development and Research Subcommittee, Rep. Lucas has a longstanding history of working closely with conservation districts. Lucas also authored language creating the federal matching program for Watershed Dam rehabilitation.
“We are extremely excited to see Congressman Lucas take over the position of Chairman of the House Agriculture Committee; I can think of no one better equipped to do the job,” said Trey Lam, President of the Oklahoma Association of Conservation Districts. “Mr. Lucas is a longtime champion of voluntary, locally-led conservation. Growing up in the heart of what once was the Dust Bowl, Frank knows firsthand what can happen when we don’t take care of our resources.”
Rep. Lucas has been a strong advocate of the partnership between local conservation districts, the Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) and state conservation agencies.
“As a Western Oklahoma Farmer and Rancher, Mr. Lucas understands the need to ensure that producers have the technical assistance necessary to help them protect our resources while maintaining the cost-share assistance they need to undertake improvements to the land in a manner that doesn’t undercut their ability to make a living,” Lam continued. “He knows that the partnership of NRCS, Local conservation districts and state conservation agencies helped roll back the tide of dirt during the dust bowl and that this partnership continues today protecting our water, soil, air and wildlife habitats in a manner that gets the job done while respecting private property rights.”