"Radio Telephone Press Conferences" are similar in nature but are "audio only." Thirty or more farm broadcasters are editors are assembled on a teleconferencing bridge and ask questions of the Secretary and/or other officials and guests in the USDA Radio Services studio. Expanded coverage was instituted in fiscal year 1987 with a "Network of Networks," which involves 15 ag networks with nearly 1,000 affiliates receiving the audio of these events. Expanded coverage of both the satellite television and the radio telephone press conferences was instituted in fiscal year 1987 with a "Network of Networks" concept. Fifteen ag networks use Westar III to distribute programming to their affiliates (nearly 1,000 stations). USDA contracts with one network to uplink the audio of these special events to Westar III and alerts the other networks that it is available. They in turn downlink it at no additional cost and provide information from the event to their affiliates. The 1986 Yearbook of Agriculture, "Research for Tomorrow," will cover current agricultural research and its implications for the future of agriculture, forestry and human nutrition. The Yearbook was released November 10, during the annual conference of the National Association of State Universities and Land Grant Colleges at Phoenix, Ariz. A simultaneous ceremony for the press was held in Washington, D.C. OGPA worked with the Office of the Secretary and the Food and Drug Administration to help coordinate two Journalists' Conferences on food safety and nutrition. The conferences, which grew out of a series of food editors conferences conducted by the Office of the Secretary last year, were held in New York City, October 30-31, 1986, and in Los Angeles, November 13- 14, 1986. These conferences were designed to bring the top USDA and FDA policymakers and scientific experts to journalists in the field. OGPA designed a two-on-one, one-hour training session on "How to Handle Media Interviews" for top USDA executives. Since the beginning of 1986, 10 executives have requested and participated in the course. A special, expanded session of the course helped prepare 12 of the speakers and exhibitors for the 1986 Journalists' Conferences. The training includes instructions on what to wear, how to avoid bureaucratic answers, and how to keep your cool under hot studio lights. In addition, mock interviews are conducted on-camera so participants can evaluate their own performance. Several more group sessions are planned, and the two-on-one sessions will continue to be given upon request. A review of the publications inventory resulted in the disposal of over 600,000 copies of excess or obsolete publications. OGPA is reevaluating its methods for distributing materials to the media by mail and by electronic dissemination. The goals are to avoid duplication, lower postage and envelop costs, and target the materials better. Information and logistical support was given to several national agricultural events, such as National Agriculture Day, National Farm-City Week, World Food Day, National Energy Awareness Week, Farm Safety Week, Farm Women's Forum, and the Secretary's Challenge Forum. Liaison projects with the public included Building Our American Communities (a Future Farmers of America project), the Touch America Project whose main participant is the American Forestry Association, Take Pride in America, and Operation Care and Share. The following table provides workload data relating to the publications activity. Miscellaneous orders placed through GPO's Rapid Response *Composition (In-House USDA)...... 240 Printing through USDA Printing Plant (00): 170 124 Miscellaneous orders reviewed and cleared for printing in USDA Plant...... *Composition Section was transferred from 00 to OGPA in FY 1986. While the Section was in 00, 124 jobs were done. After the transfer, 116 jobs were done. The above figures show a reduction in jobs going to 00 by 667 orders. However, work coming to the Printing Division and being placed elsewhere increased by 721 orders. This was expected as 00 reduced its staff and changed to a duplicating operation. *Includes Farmer's Bulletins, Home and Garden Bulletins, Leaflets, Fact Sheets, and Yearbook Separates. INTERGOVERNMENTAL AFFAIRS Current Activities: The Office of Intergovernmental Affairs maintains USDA liaison with State and local government officials including Indian Tribal Councils and the official organizations representing these officials. Specifically, the Office of Intergovernmental Affairs responds to inquiries and requests from State and local government officials either personally, or through appropriate Governmental Agencies, to address the particular issue or requests; monitors the activities of associations and organizations representing public officials to assure appropriate information is available to USDA officials; and assists in the preparation of briefing information for the White House and the Secretary. In the role of liaison, the Office of Intergovernmental Affairs staff solicits State and local evaluation of issues to be addressed by USDA and keeps State and local officials advised regarding current and pending Federal actions which will affect agriculture and rural Amercia. Selected Examples of Recent Progress: 1. Provided informational packets to State and local officials apprising them of pending agricultural actions and soliciting their comments and suggestions. 2. Maintained an inventory of state legislative actions relative to agricultural issues. 3. Served as initial contact on drought relief initiative and participated in developing long-range programs involving State Departments of Agriculture. 4. Prepared background paper on enterprize zones and their use and potential function in rural development. 5. Developed booklet entitled "Agriculture Programs and Activities for Native Americans." CONGRESSIONAL RELATIONS Current Activities: The Congressional Relations activity keeps members of Congress informed about Departmental developments and coordinates responses to Congressional inquiries and requests. Information regularly disseminated to the Congress includes grant announcements, projects awards, disaster declarations, program changes and any major Departmental accomplishments and activities. In addition, staff coordinate Congressional hearings (except Appropriations hearings), respond to witness requests, and coordinate and track the clearance of testimony with the Department and the Office of Management and Budget to ensure timely and authorized replies for Departmental positions on legislation. Staff provide day-to-day coordination with agency personnel, and arrange visits, briefings, and follow-up actions on concerns or problems that Members of Congress may have with decisions or actions taken by USDA. In this connection, staff coordinate and track of Congressional correspondence to the Department to ensure timely responses from the agencies; maintain liaison with White House legislative officials; and coordinate with the other Executive Departments to respond adequately to Congressional requests within the Department. OGPA staff are responsible for tracking all legislation affecting the Department and works with Members of Congress and Congressional staff to ensure that the Department's position is known on this legislation. At the request of Members of Congress and the Department, staff provide briefings to farm organizations, consumer groups, Congressional staff associations and other groups on the operations of USDA and the current status of legislation. WEDNESDAY, MARCH 11, 1987. HUMAN NUTRITION INFORMATION SERVICE WITNESSES JOHN BODE, ASSISTANT SECRETARY FOR FOOD AND CONSUMER SERVICES LAURA SIMS, ADMINISTRATOR, HUMAN NUTRITION INFORMATION SERVICE ROBERT E. LEARD, ADMINISTRATOR FOOD AND NUTRITION SERVICE GEORGE A. BRALEY, DEPUTY ADMINISTRATOR, SPECIAL NUTRITION PROGRAMS, FOOD AND NUTRITION SERVICE WILLIAM G. BOLING, BUDGET OFFICER, FOOD AND NUTRITION SERVICE STEPHEN B. DEWHURST, BUDGET OFFICER, DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE Mr. WHITTEN. The committee will come to order. We have Mr. John Bode representing the Secretary's Office. We are glad to have you. If there is anyone new to the committee, we will be glad to have their biographical sketch in the record. We will be glad to hear from you at this time. I presume_the Human Nutrition Information Service is first, and then the Food and Nutrition Service. You may proceed as you like. Mr. BODE. Thank you, Mr. Chairman. It is a pleasure to be here this afternoon. We appreciate the opportunity to appear before you and express the President's and the Department's budget proposals for the Food and Nutrition Service and the Human Nutrition Information Service. As you know, our mission is to ensure that food assistance is available to all citizens who cannot provide for themselves. Presently, about 95 percent of the program dollars in the Food and Nutrition Service are spent on those families with income below 130 percent of the poverty guidelines, and we are doing a better job, we think, of targeting dollars to those most in need. Our programs are largely means-tested, with the income and financial situation of the recipient being the primary criteria for eligibility. By their very nature, these programs are sensitive to the conditions of the economy. This budget reflects lower unemployment and inflation. This budget presentation also reflects the costs of these programs under current law, which I know has been a particular interest of yours in the past, Mr. Chairman. Legislative proposals projected to save over $1 billion in Fiscal Year 1988 alone are being reviewed now for submission to Congress. The work of the Human Nutrition Information Service is also important because it enables the Secretary to monitor the effects of our agricultural economy on the nutritional well-being of the Nation and to take steps to see that research-based information on |