Rural development, agriculture, and related agencies appropriations for 1988

OFFICE OF THE SECRETARY

STATUS OF PROGRAM

Under the direction of the Secretary of Agriculture, the Immediate Office of the Secretary exercises broad executive responsibility for the development and implementation of national agricultural policies and the general management of the programs of the Department within the framework of the laws enacted by Congress. Policy and program activities are currently divided among nine Under or Assistant Secretaries, whose responsibilities fall into the following areas: International Affairs and Commodity Programs, Small Community and Rural Development, Economics, Food and Consumer Services, Marketing and Inspection Services, Natural Resources and Environment, Science and Education, Administration, and Governmental and Public Affairs.

The primary role of the Office of the Secretary is to provide over-all policy direction and managerial oversight to the Department's agencies.. Secretarial officers continuously evaluate programs to ensure compliance with Department objectives and develop new initiatives to facilitate the disposition of commodity surpluses and inventories. Departmental programs must be well coordinated with the activities of other Departments in matters of domestic and foreign affairs in order to realize their full potential. The Office of the Secretary provides forums for the discussion of agricultural policy and program alternatives, and frequently represents the United States' agricultural interests at national and international meetings on such vital matters as export development and world food problems.

OFFICE OF THE SECRETARY

PASSENGER MOTOR VEHICLES

The 1988 Budget Estimates propose no additional or replacement passenger motor vehicles.

Two vehicles are rented on an annual basis for use by the Secretary of
Agriculture and the Deputy Secretary.

DEPARTMENTAL ADMINISTRATION

Purpose Statement

The Departmental Staff Offices provide staff support to the top policy officials of the Department and overall direction and coordination of the work of USDA's program agencies to ensure the efficient and effective management and operation of the Department.

Activities carried out by Departmental Staff Offices include:

-- Overall direction and administration of the Department's budgetary functions including development, presentation, execution control, reporting and adjusting funds and manpower resources; evaluation of program and legislative proposals for program, budget, and related resource implications; and analysis of program resource issues and alternatives and preparation of summaries of pertinent data to aid Departmental policy officials and agency program managers in the decision-making process. Departmental leadership, oversight, and policy development in the areas of real and personal property, procurement, contracts, motor vechicles, management improvement, and automated data processing.

Guidance in and support of the personnel management program of the
Department.

Overall leadership, and coordination for the Department's programs for equal opportunity and civil rights; implementation and administration of programs under Sections 8 and 15 of the Small Business Act; direction of the Department's efforts to further the participation of minority colleges and universities in Departmental programs; and direction and monitoring of compliance in promoting full and open competition in procurement.

Departmental leadership, development and evaluation of programs in finance, accounting, Federal assistance, occupational safety and health, travel, productivity improvement, and management improvement; and provision of budget, accounting and fiscal services to the Office of the Secretary and Departmental Staff Offices.

Regulatory hearings and decisions by the Administrative Law Judges who hold rulemaking and adjudicatory hearings and issue initial decisions and orders, and by the Judicial Officer who serves as final deciding officer in regulatory proceedings.

Development and dissemination of Departmental standards, guidelines, rules, and regulations necessary to implement approved Information Resources Management (IRM) principles, policies, and programs that improve the operational effectiveness of USDA's programs; provision of telecommunications and ADP services to USDA agencies and Staff Offices.

-- Development of policies and procedures to minimize and control burdens associated with collection of information by the Department from

individuals, businesses, and other private institutions, and State and local governments.

Development of policies and procedures to provide required long-range

IRM planning for the Department and to guide the planning of its agencies.

Development of policies and procedures for the required review, monitoring and oversight of major Agency and Departmental Information Resources Management programs.

Working Capital Fund Activities. In addition to the activities indicated above, the Department's Staff Offices provide central services to the agencies of the Department, which are currently financed under the Department's Working Capital Fund (7 U.S.C. 2235) and include central accounting, payroll, voucher payments, billings and collections, supply, reproduction and copier services, mail collection and delivery, mailing lists, forms distribution, central shipping and receiving, excess property control, executive correspondence control, Imprest Fund, an automated contract system, computer services and centralized telecommunication services. A detailed explanation of these activities is presented in the Working Capital Fund section.

Reimbursable Activities. Includes personnel training services, and travel and printing for the Administrative Law Judges as well as reimbursements for service to Working Capital Fund activities.

Geographic Location. The majority of the staff offices are located in Washington, D.C. Central services financed through the Working Capital Fund are provided by the National Finance Center located in New Orleans and by the Department's computer centers located in Washington, D.C., Kansas City, Missouri and Fort Collins, Colorado, and by other administrative service units located in the Washington Metropolitan area.

As of September 30, 1986, there were 1,806 full-time employees and 156 part-time employees in the staff offices included under Departmental Administration, including 697 permanent full-time and 43 part-time employees located in Washington, D.C.