than five State foresters or equivalent State officials selected by a majority of the State foresters or equivalent State officials from States participating in programs under this Act. However, the Secretary need not consult with such committee regarding funds to be expended under emergency conditions that the Secretary may determine.

(d) For the purposes of this Act-

(1) The terms "United States" and "State" shall include each of the several States, the District of Columbia, the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, the Virgin Islands of the United States, the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands, the Trust Territory of the Pacific Islands, and the territories and possessions of the United States;

(2) The term "forest resources" shall include esthetics, fish and wildlife, forage, outdoor recreation opportunities, timber, and water; and

(3) The term "urban forestry" means the planning, establishment, protection, and management of trees and associated plants, individually, in small groups, or under forest conditions within cities, their suburbs, and towns. (e) The Secretary may prescribe rules and regulations, as the Secretary deems appropriate, to implement the provisions of this Act.

(f) The Secretary is authorized to make grants, agreements, contracts, and other arrangements the Secretary deems necessary to implement this Act.

(g) This Act shall be construed as supplementing all other laws relating to the Department of Agriculture and shall not be construed as limiting or repealing any existing law or authority of the Secretary, except as specifically cited in section 13 of this Act. (16 U.S.c. 2109)

STATEMENT OF LIMITATION

Sec. 11. This Act does not authorize the Federal Government to regulate the use of private land or to deprive owners of land of their rights to property or to income from the sale of property, and this Act does not diminish in any way the rights and responsibilities of the States and political subdivisions of States. (16 U.S.C. 2110)

REPORTS

Sec. 12. To ensure that Congress has adequate information to implement its oversight responsibilities and to provide accountability for expenditures and activities under this Act, section 8 (c) of the Forest and Rangeland Renewable Resources Planning Act of 1974 is amended by-

(1) inserting immediately before the period at the end of the last sentence "and in cooperative State and private Forest Service programs"; and

(2) adding a new sentence at the end thereof as follows: "With regard to the cooperative forestry assistance part of the Program, the report shall include, but not be limited to, a description of the status, accomplishments, needs, and work backlogs for the programs and activities conducted under the Cooperative Forestry Assistance Act of 1978." (16 U.S.C. 1606 note, 1606)

REPEAL OF OTHER LAWS; EXISTING CONTRACTS AND AGREEMENTS; APPROPRIATIONS

Sec. 13. (a) The following laws, and portions of laws, are hereby repealed:

(1) sections 1, 2, 3, and 4 of the Act of June 7, 1924, known as the Clarke-McNary Act (43 Stat. 653-654, as amended; 16 U.S.C. 564, 565, 566, 567);

(2) the Act of April 26, 1940, known as the White Pine Blister Rust Protection Act (54 Stat. 168; 16 U.S.c. 594a);

(3) the Forest Pest Control Act;

(4) the Cooperative Forest Management Act;

(5) section 401 of the Agricultural Act of 1956; (6) title IV of the Rural Development Act of 1972; and section 1009 and the proviso to section 1010 of the Agricultural Act of 1970, as added by the Agriculture and Consumer Protection Act of 1973. (16 U.S.C. 2111)

(b) Contracts and cooperative and other agreements under cooperative forestry programs executed under authority of the Acts, or portions thereof, repealed under subsection (a) of this section shall remain in effect until revoked or amended by their own terms or under other provisions of law. (c) Funds appropriated under the authority of the Acts, or portions thereof, repealed under subsection (a) of this section shall be available for expenditure for the programs authorized under this Act.

EFFECTIVE DATE

Sec. 14. The provisions of this Act shall become effective October 1, 1978. (16 U.S.C. 2101(note))

Emergency Flood Prevention
(Agricultural Credit Act of 1978)

• Act of August 4, 1978 (P.L. 95-334, 92 Stat. 434; 16 U.S.C. 2203)

Sec. 403. The Secretary of Agriculture is authorized to undertake emergency measures for runoff retardation and soil-erosion prevention, in cooperation with landowners and land users, as the Secretary deems necessary to safeguard lives and property from floods, drought, and the products of erosion on any watershed whenever fire, flood, or any other natural occurrence is causing or has caused a sudden impairment of that watershed.

NOTE.--This is the principal legislation relating to
functions of the Forest Service in flood control work.
In addition to this Act, the Secretary of Agriculture is
authorized to conduct flood control measures under the
Watershed Protection and Flood Control Act of August 4,
1954, to undertake emergency measures for run-off
retardation and soil-erosion prevention by the Act of
June 28, 1938, as amended by the Act of May 17, 1950,
and to initiate works of improvement on certain
authorized watersheds under the Act of December 22,
1944, as amended.

American Indian Religious Freedom

• Act of August 11, 1978 (P.L. 95-341, 92 Stat. 469; 42 U.S.C. 1996(note))

Whereas the freedom of religion for all people is an inherent right, fundamental to the democratic structure of the United States and is guaranteed by the First Amendment of the United States Constitution; Whereas the United States has traditionally rejected the concept of a government denying individuals the right to practice their religion and, as a result, has benefited from a rich variety of religious heritages in this country; Whereas the religious practices of the American Indian (as well as Native Alaskan and Hawaiian) are an integral part of their culture, tradition and heritage, such practices forming the basis of Indian identity and value systems;

Whereas the traditional American Indian religions, as an integral part of Indian life, are indispensable and irreplaceable;

Whereas the lack of a clear, comprehensive, and consistent Federal policy has often resulted in the abridgment of religious freedom for traditional American Indians; Whereas such religious infringements result from the lack of knowledge or the insensitive and inflexible enforcement of Federal policies and regulations premised on a variety of laws;

Whereas such laws were designed for such worthwhile purposes as conservation and preservation of natural species and resources but were never intended to relate to Indian religious practices and, therefore, were passed without consideration of their effect on traditional American Indian religions;

Whereas such laws and policies often deny American Indians access to sacred sites required in their religions, including cemeteries;

Whereas such laws at times prohibit the use and possession of sacred objects necessary to the exercise of religious rites and ceremonies;

Whereas traditional American Indian ceremonies have been intruded upon, interfered with, and in a few instances banned: Now, therefore, be it

Resolved by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled,

That henceforth it shall be the policy of the United
States to protect and preserve for American Indians
their inherent right of freedom to believe, express, and
exercise the traditional religions of the American
Indian, Eskimo, Aleut, and Native Hawaiians, including
but not limited to access to sites, use and possession
of sacred objects, and the freedom to worship through
ceremonials and traditional rites.

Sec. 2. The President shall direct the various Federal departments, agencies, and other instrumentalities responsible for administering relevant laws to evaluate their policies and procedures in consultation with native traditional religious leaders in order to determine appropriate changes necessary to protect and preserve Native American religious cultural rights and practices. Twelve months after approval of this resolution, the President shall report back to the Congress the results of his evaluation, including any changes which were made in administrative policies and procedures, and any recommendations he may have for legislative action.