[Congressional Bills 110th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 2321 Introduced in House (IH)]







110th CONGRESS
  1st Session
                                H. R. 2321

 To authorize the designation of the facility under development by the 
 Stanislaus Ag Center Foundation, in Stanislaus County, California, as 
                    the National Ag Science Center.


_______________________________________________________________________


                    IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

                              May 15, 2007

  Mr. Cardoza (for himself, Mr. Radanovich, Mr. Costa, and Mr. Nunes) 
 introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on 
                              Agriculture

_______________________________________________________________________

                                 A BILL


 
 To authorize the designation of the facility under development by the 
 Stanislaus Ag Center Foundation, in Stanislaus County, California, as 
                    the National Ag Science Center.

    Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the 
United States of America in Congress assembled,

SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

    This Act may be cited as the ``National Ag Science Center Act of 
2007''.

SEC. 2. DESIGNATION OF NATIONAL AG SCIENCE CENTER IN STANISLAUS COUNTY, 
              CALIFORNIA.

    (a) Findings.--Congress finds the following:
            (1) The State of California is a preeminent producer of 
        more than 350 different agricultural commodities, including 
        more than 90 percent of all of the tomatoes and grapes produced 
        in the United States, all of the commercial almonds, dates, 
        figs, olives, cling peaches, prunes and raisins produced in the 
        United States, and one out of every five glasses of milk 
        consumed in the United States.
            (2) California is the leading State in terms of 
        agricultural exports, annually shipping more than $7 billion 
        dollars worth of agricultural commodities around the world.
            (3) The total investment by California's 78,500 farms in 
        terms of direct and indirect economic impact is staggering, 
        and, if California is going to keep its agricultural industry 
        strong and vibrant, it must focus on the needs of farmers who 
        are valuable contributors to the economic, social, and cultural 
        life of the State and the United States.
            (4) Since 1945, agricultural land has been rapidly 
        disappearing across California, as soil erosion, urbanization, 
        the growth of deserts, and salinization have all contributed to 
        loss of productive farmland. If these trends continue, 
        California will no longer be able to supply food for its 
        population, let alone the United States, and will be unable to 
        export food to the rest of the world.
            (5) As Americans grow more and more detached from the great 
        agrarian history of the United States, fewer Americans 
        understand the fundamental importance of agriculture to 
        American society.
            (6) Educating young Americans about agriculture and its 
        importance to the United States nation is an investment that 
        will pay off in future benefits.
            (7) Greater public understanding and appreciation of the 
        importance of agriculture to California, the United States, and 
        the world is needed to secure a positive future, in which the 
        United States can rely on healthy food that is produced 
        domestically. Citizens of all ages, especially youth, must play 
        a meaningful, hands-on role in determining the future of 
        California agriculture.
            (8) As planners, conservationists, and other interested 
        persons around the State of California organize to help protect 
        agricultural resources, the proposed National Ag Science Center 
        in Stanislaus County, California, is preparing to educate and 
        alert future generations about the need to preserve 
        agricultural land and to foster an understanding of the 
        importance of agriculture.
            (9) The mission of the National Ag Science Center will be 
        to provide exciting and fun agricultural learning opportunities 
        and resources in order--
                    (A) for young people to learn how a vibrant 
                agricultural economy is necessary for a vibrant 
                society;
                    (B) to prepare young people for career and 
                leadership opportunities in agriculture; and
                    (C) to assure a bright future for all aspects of 
                the agriculture industry.
            (10) According to findings of the Center for Public Policy 
        Studies at California State University, Stanislaus, the 
        National Ag Science Center will create or support up to 359 new 
        local jobs, create or support up to $57,500,000 in economic 
        activity and $15,200,000 in labor income through construction 
        of the new facility, generate as much as $8,500,000 in total 
        annual economic activity, and result in as much as $3,400,000 
        in total annual labor income.
            (11) On September 14, 2005, the Yosemite Community College 
        District Board, in Stanislaus County, California, voted 
        unanimously to approve the dedication of a 3.5 acre site on the 
        West Campus of Modesto Community College for the National Ag 
        Science Center.
            (12) Establishment of the National Ag Science Center is in 
        the national interest, as the proposed Center will enable 
        future generations to help assure a healthy and profitable 
        place for agriculture in the economy of California and the 
        United States.
    (b) Designation.--The facility under development by the Stanislaus 
Ag Center Foundation, in Stanislaus County, California, may be known 
and designated as the ``National Ag Science Center''.
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