Title: Supporting the designation of December 5 of each year as "National Soil Health Day".
Policy area: Agriculture and Food

Summary:
This resolution expresses support for the designation of National Soil Health Day and calls upon this celebration and its related activities to improve the awareness of U.S. farmers and agribusiness toward the importance of the air and water quality environment for all U.S. citizens.

[Congressional Bills 117th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H. Res. 1079 Introduced in House (IH)]

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117th CONGRESS
  2d Session
H. RES. 1079

  Supporting the designation of December 5 of each year as ``National 
                           Soil Health Day''.


_______________________________________________________________________


                    IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

                             April 29, 2022

   Mr. Krishnamoorthi submitted the following resolution; which was 
           referred to the Committee on Oversight and Reform

_______________________________________________________________________

                               RESOLUTION


 
  Supporting the designation of December 5 of each year as ``National 
                           Soil Health Day''.

Whereas soil is an essential natural resource, and farmers and professionals in 
        the United States play a critical role in managing United States soil 
        and water resources;
Whereas the Natural Resources Conservation Service of the Department of 
        Agriculture defines soil health as the continued capacity of soil to 
        function as a vital living ecosystem that sustains plants, animals, and 
        humans;
Whereas the concept of soil health across the United States landscape is not 
        new, but is only recently recognized as needed to prevent soil 
        degradation and combat climate change;
Whereas the degradation of soil can be rapid, while the formation and 
        regeneration processes can be very slow;
Whereas the protection of United States soil is essential to the long-term 
        prosperity and sustainability of the soil and water resources of the 
        Nation;
Whereas the 6 basic principles of soil health necessary for that protection are 
        to--

    (1) minimize soil disturbance and external inputs, including reduced 
tillage;

    (2) maximize plant and microbial diversity;

    (3) maintain the presence of living roots;

    (4) keep the soil covered, including with cover crops and crop residue, 
to armor the soil;

    (5) integrate animals into land management, including grazing animals, 
birds, beneficial insects, or keystone species, such as earthworms; and

    (6) incorporate the context of local conditions in decision making, 
including, for example, soil type, topography, and time of year;

Whereas soil health principles and its associated practices of no-till, cover 
        crops, nutrient management plans, and longer crop rotations enhance the 
        ability of farmers to meet the nonpoint source pollution goals for 
        nitrate-nitrogen and phosphorus;
Whereas it is essential to reduce the amount of nutrients flowing off of farm 
        fields and into United States watersheds, and with these reduced 
        nutrient losses from agriculture lands, farmers will be able to meet 
        desired outcomes as outlined by the Mississippi River Basin Hypoxia Task 
        Force for the Gulf of Mexico;
Whereas soil health principles provide for the reduction of carbon dioxide in 
        the atmosphere through the sequestration of carbon within the upper 
        reaches of the soil profile, and this carbon mitigation improves the 
        organic matter content in the soil and provides a stable biome for soil 
        organisms, improves nutrient transfer from soil to root, and increases 
        water infiltration and water-holding capacity;
Whereas despite soil's importance to human health, the environment, nutrition 
        and food, feed, fiber, and fuel production, there is little public 
        awareness of the importance of soil protection; and
Whereas the United States should be actively raising awareness of the importance 
        of soil health and promoting its stewardship to safeguard this resource 
        for future generations of United States citizens: Now, therefore, be it
    Resolved, That the House of Representatives--
            (1) supports the designation of ``National Soil Health 
        Day''; and
            (2) calls upon this celebration and its related activities 
        to improve the awareness of United States farmers and 
        agribusiness toward the importance of the air and water quality 
        environment for all of the citizens of the United States.
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