The Congressional Record is a unique source of public documentation. It started in 1873, documenting nearly all the major and minor policies being discussed and debated.
“ADDITIONAL STATEMENTS” mentioning the U.S. Dept of Agriculture was published in the Senate section on pages S13708-S13709 on Oct. 31, 2003.
The publication is reproduced in full below:
ADDITIONAL STATEMENTS
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HONORING DR. MARTHA RHODES ROBERTS
Mr. GRAHAM of Florida. Mr. President, today I pay tribute to a fine humanitarian and Floridian, Dr. Martha Rhodes Roberts, who is retiring on October 31. Throughout her 34-year career with the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services, Dr. Martha Rhodes Roberts has contributed to Florida's agriculture food safety industry as a scientific authority, industry counselor, strategist, and partner in the endeavors of Florida agricultural producers. She has become an expert on minimizing food contamination for consumers, by helping to develop safer standards in food processing. Dr. Rhodes Roberts' dedication to safe food practices has enriched the lives of Floridians and Americans.
Since beginning her career with the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services as a microbiologist in the Food Laboratory in 1968, Dr. Roberts has been a tireless advocate to ensure the food Americans eat is safe and abundant while at the same time helping the agricultural community to minimize their impacts on the environment. In addition to these achievements, she has the distinction of serving as the first female Assistant Commissioner of Agriculture for a State agency in the country. During her tenure at the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services, Dr. Roberts was instrumental in Florida's food safety program becoming one of the preeminent State food safety programs in the country. She also has overseen the divisions of pesticides, fertilizers, seeds, agricultural water policy, soil and water conservation, animal feeds, aquaculture and dairy and animal industries during her long career with the department.
Dr. Roberts has served on several Federal advisory groups for the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, the U.S. Department of Agriculture, and the U.S. Chamber of Commerce and she has served as president of the Association of Food and Drug Officials, comprised of all States, FDA and USDA. She was instrumental in organizing the Conference for Food Protection, a national body to set food safety standards for all States. Dr. Roberts is a member of the Institute of Food Technologists' Science Advisory Board, which provides scientific review and analysis of issues in food safety, food processing and human health. Dr. Roberts has utilized her expertise in food safety to assist producers, packers and processors in implementing new technologies designed to minimize food contamination, ensuring the highest quality and safest food products for consumers.
In 1996, recognizing that natural resource management was critical for Florida agriculture's long term viability, Dr. Roberts advocated the creation of the Office of Agricultural Water Policy within the Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services. Today it remains the only water policy office housed within a State department of agriculture. She also spearheaded the formation of the Suwannee River Basin Nutrient Management Working Group, a 26-member public-private partnership formed to assess nutrient loadings to the Suwannee River Watershed and effect reductions via voluntary, incentive-based programs. This innovative approach has resulted in dramatic environmental benefits to the watershed as a whole. Dr. Roberts was instrumental in the establishment of the Commissioner of Agriculture's Ag-Environmental Leadership Awards Program. This program, now in its ninth year, annually recognizes those Florida growers and ranchers who employ innovative management practices designed to optimize the protection of wildlife, effectively manage pesticides and nutrients, protect water quality, and conserve soil and water.
Dr. Roberts has been recognized with numerous awards and commendations for her efforts. In 2003, she received Florida's agriculture industry's highest honor when she was inducted into the Florida Agricultural Hall of Fame. Dr. Roberts has been a strong advocate of using a common sense approach when implementing a regulatory program. She helped win passage of Florida's country of origin labeling law in 1979 and worked to see this law become a Federal reality in 2002. For her many years of service ensuring the food Americans eat is safe, abundant and affordable, I am proud to acknowledge the work of Dr. Martha Rhodes Roberts.
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