---
kind: "section"
citation: "16 U.S.C. § 2003"
title: "16"
title_heading: "Conservation"
number: "2003"
heading: "Congressional policy and declaration of purpose"
release: "119-102"
date: "2026-07-12"
url: "https://uscodex.org/usc/16/2003"
units:
  - "Chapter 40 — Soil and Water Resources Conservation"
---

# §2003. Congressional policy and declaration of purpose

- (a) **Responsiveness to long-term needs—** In order to further the conservation of [soil, water, and related resources](/usc/16/2002.md?p=2), it is declared to be the policy of the United States and purpose of this chapter that the conduct of programs administered by the [Secretary](/usc/16/2002.md?p=1) of Agriculture for the conservation of such resources shall be responsive to the long-term needs of the Nation, as determined under the provisions of this chapter.
- (b) **Full utilization of cooperative arrangements with State and tribal agencies—** Recognizing that the arrangements under which the Federal Government cooperates with [State](/usc/16/590q.md?p=a) and tribal soil and water conservation agencies and other appropriate [State](/usc/16/590q.md?p=a) and tribal natural resource agencies such as those concerned with forestry and [fish and wildlife](/usc/16/3102.md?p=17) and, through conservation districts, with other local [units](/usc/16/430f–7.md?p=4) of government and land users, have effectively aided in the protection and improvement of the Nation’s basic resources, including the restoration and maintenance of resources damaged by improper use, it is declared to be the policy of the United States that these arrangements and similar cooperative arrangements should be utilized to the fullest extent practicable to achieve the purpose of this chapter consistent with the roles and responsibilities of the non-Federal agencies, landowners and land users.
- (c) **Attainment of policies and purposes—** The [Secretary](/usc/16/2002.md?p=1) shall promote the attainment of the policies and purposes expressed in this chapter by—
  - (1) appraising on a continuing basis the [soil, water, and related resources](/usc/16/2002.md?p=2) of the Nation;
  - (2) developing and updating periodically a program for furthering the conservation, protection, and enhancement of the [soil, water, and related resources](/usc/16/2002.md?p=2) of the Nation consistent with the roles and program responsibilities of other Federal agencies and [State](/usc/16/590q.md?p=a), tribal, and local governments; and
  - (3) providing to Congress and the public, through reports, the information developed pursuant to paragraphs (1) and (2) of this subsection, and by providing Congress with an annual evaluation report as provided in [section 2006 of this title](/usc/16/2006.md).

## Source credit

(Pub. L. 95–192, § 4, Nov. 18, 1977, 91 Stat. 1407; Pub. L. 113–79, title II, § 2508(a), Feb. 7, 2014, 128 Stat. 756.)

## Notes

### Editorial Notes

### Amendments

2014—Subsec. (b). Pub. L. 113–79, § 2508(a)(1), inserted “and tribal” after “State” in two places in text.

Subsec. (c)(2). Pub. L. 113–79, § 2508(a)(2), inserted “, tribal,” after “State”.

### Executive Documents

### Transfer of Functions

For transfer of certain enforcement functions of Secretary or other official in Department of Agriculture under this chapter to Federal Inspector, Office of Federal Inspector for Alaska Natural Gas Transportation System, and subsequent transfer to Secretary of Energy, then to Federal Coordinator for Alaska Natural Gas Transportation Projects, see note set out under section 2002 of this title.