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“HONORING MS. CINDY SMITH FOR HER 32 YEARS OF DEDICATED SERVICE TO AMERICAN AGRICULTURE” mentioning the U.S. Dept of Agriculture was published in the Extensions of Remarks section on pages E799-E800 on May 3, 2011.
The publication is reproduced in full below:
HONORING MS. CINDY SMITH FOR HER 32 YEARS OF DEDICATED SERVICE TO
AMERICAN AGRICULTURE
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HON. FRANK D. LUCAS
of oklahoma
in the house of representatives
Tuesday, May 3, 2011
Mr. LUCAS. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize Ms. Cindy Smith, the outgoing Administrator of the U.S. Department of Agriculture's Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS). She has served as Administrator of APHIS since September 2007, ably carrying out the mission of APHIS: protecting American agriculture.
Ms. Smith has dedicated her life to public service, and is a true success story. She started out at APHIS in 1979 as a clerk-typist. She worked her way from the bottom to the top of the agency, showing a real commitment to its important mission, no matter the job. She understands the value of leadership development. The APHIS Leadership Development Roadmap she inspired has served as a model for other Federal agencies.
As APHIS Administrator, Ms. Smith led a major regulatory agency that protects U.S. plant and animal health, administers the Animal Welfare Act, and conducts wildlife damage and disease management activities, overseeing more than 8,800 employees.
Ms. Smith has a unique ability to identify emerging issues and determine a course of action to attain high-quality outcomes that are technically sound while still respectful of the taxpayers' dollars. She understands how to build momentum for her ideas, while working closely with stakeholders on all sides of an issue to strengthen support and identify consensus.
When HINT influenza started gaining international attention in 2009, Ms. Smith provided key leadership in shaping USDA's response. She formulated an effective response plan, recognizing what the impacts and implications of detection in the U.S. livestock population would be, and how it would affect the swine industry. She directed APHIS to align animal health and human health officials at the Federal, State, and local levels to coordinate U.S. policy should H1N1 be identified in the U.S. swine herd, and she ensured the swine industry was included in the discussion. Under her leadership, APHIS and its partners developed action and communication plans that government and industry stakeholders praised for their inclusiveness and transparency. Once a case of H1N1 was identified, government officials spoke with one voice, providing a clear message to the public and stakeholders, assuring them of the safety of pork, and how APHIS and government efforts were protecting the swine industry and human health. Due to the groundwork she laid, the United States was able to avoid trade disruptions with Canada, and address concerns raised by Mexico.
With foresight, vision, and an ability to collaborate and get others behind her ideas, Ms. Smith demonstrated genuine leadership in what could have been a major crisis. Her efforts dramatically minimized the impact on American agriculture, and were of innumerable value to this country.
Ms. Smith has always demonstrated forward thinking. While she was Deputy Administrator for APHIS' Biotechnology Regulatory Services program, she recognized the growing importance of biotechnology in agriculture, as well as the need for more rigorous requirements for field tests of GE crops. She was instrumental in developing a program to help companies and researchers enhance their compliance with biotechnology regulatory requirements. Through its proactive approach to compliance, companies who participate in the Biotechnology Quality Management System are better able to analyze their operations, identify vulnerabilities, and see that they're addressed. The program she helped implement ensures accountability by confirming that trials of these necessary and beneficial crops are conducted responsibly. The program she created continues to grow, as more and more universities and small and large businesses recognize the value of participation.
Ms. Smith's integrity, dedication, professionalism--and perhaps most importantly, her leadership--have served the United States well in all these endeavors. While she is not retiring from federal service, and has taken a new role as APHIS' Chief Advisor for Government, Academia, and Industry Partnership, I wanted to thank her for her 32 years of service with APHIS, her successful tenure as administrator, and her continued commitment to the American people and U.S. agriculture.
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