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<br />..- <br /> <br />. <br /> <br />. <br /> <br />. <br /> <br />IN CLOSING <br /> <br />The members of the National Drought Policy Commission intend that the goals and <br />recommendations in this report will ensure a unified national approach to drought planning, impact- <br />reduction measures, and response programs. Our vision also incorporates the basis for appropriate <br />federal technical assistance and training linked to greater self-reliance and self-determination on the <br />part of stakeholders. We believe the goals, objectives, and recommendations in this report can do <br />much to involve the American public in the important work of carrying out drought planning and <br />impact-reduction measures. <br /> <br />Achieving the goals for national drought policy requires commitment to the vision and principles <br />we present. That commitment must include resolve by the federal government to dependable, long- <br />term funding of the required work. We fully appreciate the need to reduce the federal deficit and <br />believe that investments such as we recommend in proactive drought measures will significantly <br />decrease the need for future large-scale emergency payouts. It is probably not possible to determine <br />how much of any given year's emergency relief for farmers and ranchers and other sectors is <br />attributable to drought conditions. But even a small percentage of the billions of dollars that go to <br />emergency relief, were it to be dedicated to carrying out the recommendations in this report, would <br />likely result in significant savings to the federal treasury over the long run. <br /> <br />Federal drought-related programs can explore ways to limit costs and still provide viable services. <br />One suggestion in relation to providing training and technical assistance is to establish mobile <br />teams of federal and nonfederal experts who can train stakeholders to train still others, thereby <br />multiplying the initial investment of resources and expertise. Another suggestion is to take <br />advantage of modern telecommunications systems and technology to set up "virtual" training and <br />technical assistance workshops and to link teams ofresearchers, cutting down on travel costs and <br />saving time. <br /> <br />The combination of dependable, long-term funding and innovative measures to leverage that <br />funding should pay large dividends in the future. <br /> <br />/6 <br />