U.S. Executive Branch 98 U.S

U.S. G OVERNMENT IN NEBRASKA 97 U.S. EXECUTIVE BRANCH 98 U.S. GOVERNMENT IN NEBRASKA U.S. EXECUTIVE BRANCH1 PRESIDENT AND VICE PRESIDENT White House Offi ce: 1600 Pennsylvania Ave. N.W., Washington, D.C. 20500, phone (202) 456-1414 President of the United States: George W. Bush Vice President of the United States: Richard B. Cheney Article II, Section 1 of the U.S. Constitution provides that “the executive Power shall be vested in a President of the United States of America. He shall hold his Of- fi ce during the Term of four Years, ... together with the Vice President, chosen for the same Term ...” In addition to the powers set forth in the Constitution, federal statutes have conferred upon the president specifi c authority and responsibility covering a wide range of matters. The president is the administrative head of the U.S. government’s executive branch, which includes numerous agencies, both temporary and permanent, as well as the 15 executive departments — Agriculture, Commerce, Defense, Education, Energy, Health and Human Services, Homeland Security, Housing and Urban Development, Interior, Justice, Labor, State, Transportation, Treasury and Veterans Affairs. The Cabinet, a creation of custom and tradition dating back to George Washington’s administration, functions at the pleasure of the president. Its purpose is to advise the president upon any subject, relating to the duties of the respective offi ces, on which he or she requests information. The Cabinet is composed of the heads of the 15 executive departments and other offi cials to whom the president has accorded Cabinet-level rank. Editor’s note: The following is a list of U.S. government departments and agencies that maintain one or more offi ces in Nebraska. Other U.S. departments and agencies serve Nebraska from offi ces outside of the state. For information on other offi ces, the U.S. government has a federal information center in Maryland with a hot line. The toll-free number is (800) 688-9889. For hear- ing-impaired people, the TDD number is (800) 326-2996. More information about U.S. government departments and agencies can be obtained from the latest edition of The United States Government Manual. Nebraskans may call (816) 426-5702 for recorded messages listing federal jobs in Nebraska. 1 Information about the executive branch, Cabinet-level agencies and federal independent agencies was gathered from the following sources: The United States Government Manual 2005/06, and information provided by the agencies listed. U.S. G OVERNMENT IN NEBRASKA 99 CABINET-LEVEL AGENCIES Department of Agriculture The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) works to improve and maintain farm income and develop and expand markets abroad for agricultural products. The department works to curb and cure poverty, hunger and malnutrition. It works to enhance the environment and maintain production capacity by helping landowners protect the soil, water, forests and other natural resources. Rural development, credit and conservation programs are key resources for carrying out national growth policies. The department, through inspection and grading services, works to safeguard and ensure standards of quality in the daily food supply. Office of Inspector General Offi ce of Audit: 276 Denney Federal Building, 100 Centennial Mall North, Lincoln, NE 68508, phone (402) 437-5271 Senior Auditor: Anne C. Morrison Offi ce of Investigation: 282 Denney Federal Building, 100 Centennial Mall North, Lincoln, NE 68508, phone (402) 437-5249 Resident Special Agent: Martin Dahlke The Offi ce of Inspector General conducts audits and investigations designed to promote economy and effi ciency in the administration of USDA programs and to prevent and detect fraud and abuse in the operation of such programs. Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service The Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service conducts regulatory and control programs to protect and improve animal and plant health for the benefi t of humanity and the environment. These programs are carried out in cooperation with state governments, foreign governments, other federal agencies, farmers and ranchers, and private organizations. The agency administers federal laws and regulations pertaining to animal and plant health and quarantine, humane treatment of animals, and the control and eradication of pests and diseases. The service also enforces regulations to prevent the introduction or interstate spread of certain animal or plant pests or diseases. APHIS also carries out research and operational activities to reduce crop and livestock damage caused by birds, rodents and predators. Plant Protection and Quarantine Programs Nebraska Offi ce: 5940 S. 58th St., P.O. Box 81866, Lincoln, NE 68501, phone (402) 434-2345 State Plant Health Director: Vicki B. Wohlers Plant protection offi cials are responsible for programs to control or eradicate plant pests and diseases. Agricultural quarantine inspection offi cials administer federal regulations that prohibit or restrict the entry of foreign pests and plants, plant products, animal products and byproducts, and other materials that may harbor pests or diseases. 100 U.S. GOVERNMENT IN NEBRASKA Other responsibilities include the inspection and certifi cation of domestic com- modities for export; regulation of the import and export of endangered plant species and of genetically engineered organisms and products that present a plant pest risk; and ensuring that imported seed is free of noxious weeds. Veterinary Services Nebraska Offi ce: 5940 S. 58th St., P.O. Box 81866, Lincoln, NE 68501, phone (402) 434-2300, e-mail address — [email protected], Web site — http://www. aphis.usda.gov Area Veterinarian in Charge: Dr. Kathleen Jan Akin Veterinary Services is the animal health arm of APHIS. Agency offi cials are responsible for protecting and improving the health, quality, productivity and marketability of U.S. animals and animal products and for facilitating agricultural trade. Veterinary Services regulates the entry of imported animals and animal products and is prepared to take emergency action against foreign diseases. In cooperation with the states and industry groups, the agency also operates eradication programs for domestic animal diseases. When diseases are found, the agency regulates the interstate movement and transport of infected and exposed animals. Veterinary Services provides health certifi cation for exported animals and animal products. It also issues licenses for veterinary biological products and manufacturers and monitors quality control. Wildlife Services1 Nebraska Offi ce: 5940 S. 58th St., P.O. Box 81866, Lincoln, NE 68501-1866, phone (402) 434-2340, fax (402) 434-2330 State Director: Tim Veenendaal Offi cials with Wildlife Services, formerly Animal Damage Control, work to reduce crop and livestock damage caused by birds, rodents and predators. Wildlife Services offi cials work to educate and advise farmers and ranchers on proper uses of control methods and techniques; suppress serious nuisances and threats to public health and safety caused by birds, rodents and other wildlife; and work with airport managers to reduce risks of bird strikes. Wildlife Services also conducts research on predator-prey relationships, new control methods, and more effi cient and safe uses of present methods. Farm and Foreign Agricultural Services Through the Farm Service Agency, this mission area administers farm commodity, crop insurance and resource conservation programs for farmers and makes loans through a network of state and county offi ces. Agency programs are directed at agricultural producers or, in the case of loans, at those with farming experience. 1 For more information on Wildlife Services, see Page 462. U.S. G OVERNMENT IN NEBRASKA 101 Farm Service Agency Nebraska State Offi ce: 7131 A St., Lincoln, NE 68505-4202, phone (402) 437- 5581 State Executive Director: Brian Wolford FSA State Committee: Robert Anderson, Mary Gerdes, Ronald Ochsner, Dennis Richters and Milton Rogers The Farm Service Agency administers farm loans, conservation programs, market- ing assistance loans and loan defi ciency payments, as well as other commodity programs including direct and countercyclical payments. FSA also administers emergency programs to address crop disasters and livestock losses. Other programs are administered by the FSA as provided by Congress. The FSA delivers programs to agricultural producers through 81 offi ces in Ne- braska.2 The agency was created during the 1994 USDA organization. The parent organizations for the FSA were the Agricultural Stabilization and Conservation Service and the Farmers Home Administration. On May 13, 2002, President George W. Bush signed the Farm Security and Rural Investment Act of 2002 into law. This law made signifi cant changes in farm program structure and funding and now provides stability to farmers and ranchers as they conduct their business. The law guides the nation’s agricultural policy and provides total support for the $115 billion farm sector. The law does the following: z revises and rebalances loan rates z adds new payment programs for dairy, honey, wool, mohair and pulse crops z continues direct payments z creates a new system of countercyclical payments z signifi cantly changes the peanut program z makes administrative changes to the existing farm loan programs z expands conservation funding and adds new programs z contains new tools to support the expansion of trade for agricultural products The FSA administers and offers these programs: z the Noninsured Crop Disaster

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