Date: 1982-09-30
Speaker: DE LA GARZA (democrat)
Chamber: H

Mr. Speaker. I rise in support of House Joint Resolution 586. and Senate Joint Resolution 235. a resolution to proclaim March 21. 1983. as "National Agriculture Day." - I urge all of my colleagues to join in voting to pass this legislation. By doing so. we will be telling the Nation at large that Congress recognizes the importance of agriculture to all Americans. As chairman of the House Agriculture Committee. I sponsored this legislation in partnership with Mr. WAMPLER of Virginia. the ranking minority member of the committee. and with more than 225 other members of the House. because we believe the role of agriculture in our society deserves continued emphasis. The 1983 observance of Agriculture Dayon March 21. the first day of springwill markthe 10th anniversary of this celebration of the achievements and strengths of this vital industry. This is a milestcne. to be sure. but It is also an opportmnity to expressin H 8236 CO these very difficult times for our farmers and ranchersour commitment to a healthy agriculture and our understanding of its importance to the economies of this Nation and the world as a whole. This annual observance is a coordinated. nationwide effort of volunteers throughout agriculture and all the related enterprises to remind other Americans of the strength of this industry and its almost incredible ability to weather blows that others could not possibly withstand. The 1983 observance will give special emphasis to the breadth of this sector of our economy wh.rh. in fact. easily embraces onefifth of our work force. some 23 million men and women. That is not so hard to understand. when we think of all the jobs involved in making and serving farm equipment and supplies. in examining and extending credit. and in processing. transporting. and marketing farm products. That agriculture directly. embraces so many Americans may not be hard to understand once we think about it. but problems arise because we may not often think about it. Stimulating such thoughts is the central purpose of Agriculture Day and that is why there has been such a thoroughly bipartisan groundswell of support in the Congress the last 3 years for a joint resolution such as the one before us today. Agriculture Day is coordinated by the Agriculture Council of American Education Foundation. an independent. nonprofit organization encompassing all the various parts of the agricultural economy and devoted to communicating facts about it. The Secretary of Agriculture serves as the honorary chairman of the observance. This year. a new steering committee of nearly 50 men and women from across the countryincluding general farm and commodity organizations. individual producers. leading firms and cooperatives. trade associations. and Federal and State Governmentshas been formed. specifically to broaden the. base of involvement. The adoption of this resolution adds formal Government recognition to these noteworthy efforts to honor agriculure and raise the consciousness of the public about its workings. The 1983 observance will bring together millions of American men. women and childrenat exhibits. schools. parades. and ceremonies of many kinds in communities in every Statefor a unified refresher course in how American agricultur e works as it provides the most abundant and nu. tritious supply of food that the world has ever known. Agriculture can be thought of as a food and fiber chain. We often speak of a food chain in a biological sense but I believe we can also see the American food and fiber system as a human food chaina chain of humans linked together in a performance unrivaled anywhere in the world.