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“TRIBUTE TO LaBRADFORD EAGLE DEER” mentioning the U.S. Dept of Agriculture was published in the Senate section on pages S1052-S1053 on Feb. 14, 2008.
The publication is reproduced in full below:
TRIBUTE TO LaBRADFORD EAGLE DEER
Mr. JOHNSON. Mr. President, today I wish to offer a statement about a distinguished South Dakota youth, LaBradford Eagle Deer. LaBradford, 16, of St. Francis, SD, was one of two teens who represented the United States at the United Nations' observation of the 20th International Day for the Eradication of Poverty last October. Six young people from across the world were chosen to speak at the event on a panel about what they thought needed to be done about poverty.
According to the United Nations' Web site, the U.N. General Assembly declared October 17 as the International Day for the Eradication of Poverty and invited all States to devote the day to presenting and promoting, as appropriate in the national context, concrete activities with regard to the eradication of poverty and destitution. The resolution further invites intergovernmental and nongovernmental organizations to assist States, at their request, in organizing national activities for the observance of the day, and requests the Secretary-General to take, within existing resources, the measures necessary to ensure the success of the day's observance by the United Nations.
Eagle Deer exemplifies the goals of this important day. Eagle Deer lives on the Rosebud Sioux Indian Reservation, where almost half of children younger than 17 live in poverty, according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture's Economic Research Center. Eagle Deer discussed the hopelessness that poverty creates in a person saying,
``suicide, addiction, dropout and crime rates are so high in poverty-
stricken areas on our reservation, as well as other areas in the world.''
Eagle Deer has taken a leading role to improve his community. An honor student at Todd County High School, he is president of the St. Francis Youth Center He coaches flag football and is himself involved in cross country, basketball, and track. Staying true to his culture, he has organized a traditional youth-honoring powwow. A sentiment that I agree with, Eagle Deer values education as a pathway out of poverty.
LaBradford is an example to other poverty stricken children, and I commend his efforts to alleviate the effects of poverty on children in South Dakota and children worldwide.
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