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.
“TRIBUTE TO BARRY CARPENTER” mentioning the U.S. Dept of Agriculture was published in the Senate section on pages S6810-S6811 on Oct. 11, 2018.
The Department is primarily focused on food nutrition, with assistance programs making up 80 percent of its budget. Downsizing the Federal Government, a project aimed at lowering taxes and boosting federal efficiency, said the Department implements too many regulations and restrictions and impedes the economy.
The publication is reproduced in full below:
TRIBUTE TO BARRY CARPENTER
Mr. ROBERTS. Mr. President, I come to the floor today to recognize and congratulate Mr. Barry Carpenter, a longtime advocate for American agriculture, on his retirement from a career that spanned five decades. Last month, Barry retired his position as president and CEO of the North American Meat Institute, the Nation's largest and oldest trade association representing U.S. meat packers and processors. Barry's retirement concludes a career in both public service and private industry. His knowledge of the industry and his collaborative, affable disposition have allowed him to connect with everyone from CEOs to those just beginning their careers.
Barry's appreciation for U.S. agriculture, his drive to serve, and his work ethic were developed at an early age, working on his family's diversified farm in central Florida that produced cattle, hogs, corn, peanuts, and melons. After graduating from the University of Florida, Barry began his career as a meat grader with the U.S. Department of Agriculture. He also enlisted in the U.S. Army, earning the rank specialist fifth class. Barry carried with him the sense of duty and discipline learned in these formative years in each role he held.
Over the course of his 37-year career at USDA, Barry provided reasoned and steady guidance to Secretaries of both parties in multiple administrations. In his senior role at the Agricultural Marketing Service, Barry led programs critical to reestablishing U.S. beef export access following the first U.S. case of BSE in 2003. Barry further oversaw USDA's adoption of video technology used to assign beef quality grades, an important tool in identifying those high-quality prime steaks consumers around the world enjoy.
Upon retiring from USDA, Barry continued to serve American agriculture when he was named CEO of the National Meat Association in 2007. Barry has since provided steadfast leadership to the meat and poultry industry as CEO of the North American Meat Association and as president and CEO of the North American Meat Institute, following the completion of the merger, which he successfully guided, between the American Meat Institute and the North American Meat Association in January 2015.
Barry has earned numerous governmental awards, including Presidential Rank Awards, honors bestowed to less than 1 percent of senior career employees throughout the Federal Government, from Presidents Bill Clinton and George W. Bush. He has also received recognition from the livestock and meat industries.
Throughout his career, Barry remained grounded and inspired by his wife Janet, four children, Mary Catherine, Jane, Michael, and Robert, and 11 grandchildren.
I feel fortunate to have known many distinguished public servants and industry leaders like Barry, who have dedicated their careers to advocating for U.S. agriculture. I thank Barry for his many contributions to American agriculture, and I congratulate him on a well-deserved retirement.
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