ALERT ON RC&D
FUNDING
The Administration
proposes to eliminate the Resource Conservation
and Development (RC&D) Program. First begun in 1962,
this program has outlived its need for Federal
support.
Funding Summary
2010 Enacted
2011 Request
2011 Change from 2010
$51.4M
$0
$-51
Justification:
The RC&D Program funds Federal coordinators for
375 Resource Conservation and Development Districts in
every State, the Caribbean, and the Pacific Basin.
First begun in 1962, the program was intended to build
community leadership skills through the establishment
of RC&D councils that would access Federal, State, and
local funding sources for the community’s benefit.
After 47 years, this goal has been accomplished.
These councils
have developed sufficiently strong Federal, State and
local ties and the Administration believes it is no
longer necessary to provide Federal funding for
council coordinators. This was reinforced by SAVE
award suggestions, some of which recommended
terminating the RC&D program as coordinators are no
longer needed and funds for the coordinators could be
better used elsewhere. Moreover, councils are now able
to secure funding for their continued operation
without assistance from the RC&D program: according to
a Department of Agriculture report to the Congress,
RC&D supplies only 16 percent of councils’ total
administrative and financial funding, with the
remaining 84 percent coming from other Federal, State,
and non-governmental sources.1 After several decades,
these councils have a proven track record of success,
showing that they have outlived the need for Federal
RC&D funding.
Budget Reduction page from the Office of Management
and Budget (PDF)
Link to the entire
document:
Terminations, Reductions, and Savings (PDF)
Link to the
Office of Management and Budget budget page.
And please remember legislative action
is strictly a council member responsibility. Neither
federal employees nor federal equipment (federally
supplied fax machines, computers, or stationary) can
be used to assist in these efforts.
