[Agriculture Fact Book 98]

Office of Congressional and Intergovernmental Relations

Office of Congressional Relations

USDA’s Office of Congressional Relations serves as the Department’s primary liaison with Members of Congress and their staffs, providing information on the Department’s legislative agenda, budget proposals, programs, and policies.

Office of Intergovernmental Affairs

The Office of Intergovernmental Affairs (OIA) works closely with the Nation’s governors and State Commissioners of Agriculture, and other State and local elected officials, on various issues relating to their States. OIA is responsible for disseminating information on programs involving the implementation of USDA policies and procedures applicable to the Department’s intergovernmental relations.

OIA participates with the Secretary, Deputy Secretary, and the Assistant Secretary for Congressional Relations in the overall planning, formulation, and direction of the activities of the office relating to intergovernmental affairs. OIA serves as the USDA liaison with the White House and other executive branch agencies and Departments with respect to intergovernmental affairs

American Indian and Alaska Native Programs
The Director of Native American Programs, located in the Office of Intergovernmental Affairs, is USDA’s primary contact with tribal governments and their members. The director serves as the principal adviser and representative on all matters related to USDA policy and programs which affect and are available to American Indians and Alaska Natives. The director also chairs USDA’s Native American Working Group, which reports to the Secretary and provides advice, support, and other assistance to the director. In 1992, USDA adopted an American Indian and Alaska Native policy which guides USDA’s interactions with Indian tribes.

USDA provides a wide range of programs and services in all mission areas to American Indian and Alaska Native communities. In recent years, the Department has reached out to inform American Indians and Alaska Natives about USDA programs and services available to them, to deliver programs more effectively to Indian tribes, and to initiate new programs in response to the needs of Indian tribes. In October 1997, USDA published Guide to USDA Programs for American Indians and Alaska Natives to improve tribal communities’ access to USDA programs. The guide is also available on the USDA home page at the following address: www.usda.gov/news/pubs/indians/open.htm

Return to:
1998 Factbook Table of Contents
Publications Page
USDA's News and Current Information
USDA ...Homepage