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.
“IN HONOR OF MR. RALPH PAIGE” mentioning the U.S. Dept of Agriculture was published in the Extensions of Remarks section on pages E987-E988 on July 10, 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:
IN HONOR OF MR. RALPH PAIGE
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HON. SANFORD D. BISHOP, JR.
of georgia
in the house of representatives
Tuesday, July 10, 2018
Mr. BISHOP of Georgia. Mr. Speaker, it is with a heavy heart that I rise today to pay tribute to an outstanding leader and dear friend of longstanding, Mr. Ralph Paige. Sadly, Mr. Paige passed away on Thursday, June 28, 2018. A funeral service was held on Friday, July 6, 2018 at 11:00 a.m. at New Community Church in LaGrange, Georgia.
A LaGrange, Georgia native, Ralph Paige received his Bachelor's degree in Education in 1967 from what is now Fort Valley State University and attended graduate school at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.
Ralph joined the Federation of Southern Cooperatives/Land Assistance Fund (the Federation) in 1969 as a Grassroots Organizer and went on to serve as the Director of the Federation's Business Development Office in the 70's; Director of the Federation's VISTA Project from 1977 to 1981; and as the Federation's National Field Director from 1981 until 1985 when he was promoted to the role of Executive Director, where he served with great distinction until his retirement in 2015.
During his 46-year tenure with the Federation, it flourished immensely and was instrumental in the creation of housing projects, community credit unions, cooperatives, and training programs for African-American farmers throughout the South. Ralph led the effort to file suit against the United States Department of Agriculture for discrimination in credit, conservation and rural development. Out of this effort, the Pigford I and Pigford II class action lawsuit cases were born. This paved the way for one of the largest discrimination law suits in the history of the United States and resulted in $2.5 billion in payments to African American farm families. Furthermore, he also fought for settlements for Native American, Hispanic and Women Farmers who were also the victims of discrimination.
Ralph was a member of numerous local, state, and national boards to include: Nationwide Insurance Company, National Cooperative Business Association, Cooperative Development Foundation, Cooperative Business International, the President's (George Bush) Twenty First Century Agriculture Commission, and the Rural Policy Advisory Committee to President Barack Obama and many more. Among his acclamations were inductions into the George Washington Carver Public Service Hall of Fame and the Cooperative Hall of Fame; a Congressional Black Caucus Leadership Award; and a National Cooperative Business Association Co-op Month Leadership Award. Under Ralph's outstanding leadership, the Federation received several commendations including a Humanitarian Award from the Martin Luther King Jr. Center for Nonviolent Social Change and a United Nations Award for ``significant contribution of adequate shelter to the poorer segments of the community.''
Ralph accomplished much throughout his life, but it would not have been possible without his enduring faith in God and the love and support of his wife of 51 years, Bernice; his children, Bernard and Kenyatta; and the countless others who impacted his life over the years
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On a personal note, Ralph and the federation worked diligently to facilitate a business loan to establish my law firm in Columbus, Georgia. I represented the Federation as an Attorney and during my years as a member of the Georgia General Assembly, I worked with Ralph and the Federation to enhance and facilitate state resources for the work of the Federation and its Land Assistance Activities. As a member of Congress, serving on the House Agriculture Committee and the Subcommittee of the House Agriculture Appropriations Committee, I along with other Members of the Congressional Black Caucus collaborated with Ralph Paige, the Federation and other organizations to enhance the full participation of minority and disadvantaged farmers in the receipt of resources for Agriculture, Conservation and Rural Development from the United States Department of Agriculture.
The great agricultural chemist Dr. George Washington Carver once said, ``No individual has any right to come into the world and go out of it without leaving behind distinct and legitimate reasons for having passed through it.'' We are all so blessed that Ralph Paige passed this way and during his life's journey did so much for so many for so long. His leadership, his friendship, and his presence will be greatly missed.
Mr. Speaker, my wife Vivian and I, the 48 members of the Congressional Black Caucus, along with the more than 730,000 people of the Second Congressional District, extend our heartfelt condolences to Ralph's family and friends during this difficult time. May they be consoled and comforted by their abiding faith and the Holy Spirit in the days, weeks, and months ahead.
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