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.
“UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE'S 150TH ANNIVERSARY” mentioning the U.S. Dept of Agriculture was published in the Extensions of Remarks section on pages E774 on May 10, 2012.
The publication is reproduced in full below:
UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE'S 150TH ANNIVERSARY
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HON. LAURA RICHARDSON
of california
in the house of representatives
Thursday, May 10, 2012
Ms. RICHARDSON. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to pay tribute to one of our greatest American success stories. Today let us all pause to recognize the United States Department of Agriculture's 150th Birthday.
President Abraham Lincoln established the USDA 150 years ago, on May 15, 1862. That act helped ground our nation's agriculture industry in science, and helped give our nation the ability to lead the world in feeding the globe. One of the first responsibilities delegated to the USDA was the Homestead Act. The Homestead Act gave pre-approved U.S. citizens undeveloped federal land at no cost if they agreed to develop that land. This act led to the settling of the Great Plains; today those lands are the world's largest producers of wheat and corn.
Our nation's agriculture industry has, throughout our history, been a significant force in our economy. One out of every twelve Americans is employed in an agriculture-related industry. So it is important to recognize that agriculture is not just a nostalgic notion of the past but remains a foundation of the American economy. The influence of American farmers and ranchers not only reaches every state and household within the United States, but it can be felt all around the world. The Port of Long Beach, in my district, exports millions of metric tons of agricultural cargo to our vital Asian trade partners every year.
American consumers spend on average less than ten percent of their disposable income on food. That ten percent represents the lowest percentage in the history of the world. By comparison, most European consumers spend more than double that and in developing countries the percentage is often higher than 50 percent. Our nation's advanced system of production agriculture is evidence of how successful the USDA has been in ensuring a safe, affordable and abundant food supply.
Today, the United States is the world leader in the development and use of agricultural biotechnology, contributing to our positive balance of agricultural trade. We must continue supporting policies that promote the smart use of research, science and biotechnology that has enabled production agriculture to thrive. We must embrace the importance of agricultural innovation in the same way we endorse innovation in fields such as health care or communications.
Mr. Speaker, our producers remain a critical source of jobs and innovation. Maintaining a strong agriculture industry is vital to the present and future U.S. economy and is critical to the economic and political stability. It is with great pride and respect that I honor our nation's farmers and ranchers and extend birthday wishes to the USDA.
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