USDA AGENCY RECEIVES ORGANIZATIONAL LEADERSHIP AWARD

WASHINGTON, April 3, 2003 – Agriculture Secretary Ann M. Veneman today announced that USDA’s Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) has been recognized by the American Society for Public Administration (ASPA) for increasing public access and demonstrating greater financial accountability. This is the first time ASPA’s Center for Accountability and Performance has presented its organizational leadership award to a federal agency.

“NRCS’ new financial system is an example of how we can make government more accountable, which is a key element of the President’s management agenda,” Veneman said. “We are committed to providing good customer service as well as effective and efficient management of all our programs. I am pleased and honored that NRCS is the first federal agency to receive this award.”

The award recognizes NRCS’ new Integrated Accountability System that allows the agency to collect high quality information with minimal burden on field staff, ensures consistency nationwide in the data collected and makes the information gathered more accessible to those who need it in a timely manner.

In accepting the award at the Society’s 64th National Conference in Washington, D.C., NRCS Chief Bruce Knight said, “This new accounting system is just one of many ways we are improving our operations to better serve the American people.”

NRCS manages programs that help people conserve, maintain and improve America’s natural resources and environment. For information on NRCS conservation programs, go to http://www.nrcs.usda.gov/ .

The President’s management reform agenda focuses on five government-wide management initiatives: strategic management of human capital, electronic government, competitive sourcing, improved financial performance and budget and performance integration.

ASPA’s Center for Accountability and Performance is dedicated to inspiring academicians in their scholarship and practitioners in their results-oriented practices to improve the performance of organizations involved with public purposes. Additional information about ASPA can be found at http://www.aspanet.org/ .

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