[Congressional Bills 111th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H. Con. Res. 229 Introduced in House (IH)]

111th CONGRESS
  2d Session
H. CON. RES. 229

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


_______________________________________________________________________


                    IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

                            January 20, 2010

 Mr. Cardoza submitted the following concurrent resolution; which was 
                referred to the Committee on Agriculture

_______________________________________________________________________

                         CONCURRENT RESOLUTION


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

Whereas the United States was founded on the strength of agriculture production, 
        which helped to establish the United States among the world's most 
        powerful and prosperous nations;
Whereas the importance of agriculture in the United States continues to grow, as 
        American farmers and ranchers produce the food, fiber, and agricultural 
        products that keep the United States strong and bountiful and that help 
        feed a hungry world;
Whereas agriculture from field-to-fork and pond-to-plate is an economic engine 
        generating more than $258 billion in cash receipts annually for the 
        United States economy;
Whereas agricultural exports account for more than 20 percent of United States 
        exports;
Whereas 2.1 million family farms in the United States account for more than 90 
        percent of the commodities grown today, with the States of California, 
        Texas, Iowa, Nebraska, Minnesota, Kansas, Illinois, Wisconsin, North 
        Carolina, and Indiana leading the way in producing the world's safest 
        food and most abundant agricultural products;
Whereas 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;
Whereas 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;
Whereas the agricultural industry is challenged to find ways to address the 
        diverse needs of agriculture in regions with very different products, 
        climates, and experiences and must continue to work together to find 
        ways to both support agricultural production and ensure that consumers 
        continue to have access to the world's safest and most abundant food and 
        agriculture products;
Whereas the agricultural industry faces issues as varied as renewable energy, 
        rural development, disaster preparedness, nutrition, conservation, 
        international trade, futures markets, animal and plant health, research 
        and development, bioterrorism, forestry, species protection, habitat 
        restoration, energy policy, and climate change;
Whereas one of the challenges facing American agriculture is to continue to 
        attract the best and brightest minds to the industry and to foster 
        public awareness of agriculture's role in the United States and world 
        economy;
Whereas 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;
Whereas educating young Americans about agriculture and its importance to the 
        United States is an investment that will pay off in future benefits as 
        citizens of all ages, especially youth, will play a meaningful, hands-on 
        role in determining the future of American agriculture;
Whereas 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;
Whereas, as planners, conservationists, and other interested persons throughout 
        the United States organize to help protect agricultural resources, the 
        National Ag Science Center in Stanislaus County, California, is 
        preparing to educate and alert future generations about the need to 
        preserve agricultural land and foster an understanding of the importance 
        of agriculture;
Whereas the National Ag Science Center will be the premier showcase of science 
        and technology in American agriculture whose mission is to inspire, 
        excite, and enrich people of all ages through unique, interactive 
        opportunities that highlight the role science and technology contribute 
        to the production, processing, and marketing of America's food and 
        fiber;
Whereas, 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;
Whereas, on November 28, 2007, a memorandum of understanding for the dedication 
        of a 3.5 acre site on the West Campus of Modesto Community College for 
        the National Ag Science Center was executed by the Stanislaus County Ag 
        Center Foundation and the Yosemite Community College District;
Whereas the National Ag Science Center will be constructed using the standards 
        adopted by the U.S. Green Building Council for a LEED Certified Green 
        Building;
Whereas the name ``National Ag Science Center'' and an accompanying logo are 
        registered by the United States Patent and Trademark Office; and
Whereas establishment of the National Ag Science Center is in the national 
        interest, as the National Ag Science Center will enable future 
        generations to help assure a healthy and profitable place for 
        agriculture in the economy of California and the United States: Now, 
        therefore, be it
    Resolved by the House of Representatives (the Senate concurring), 
That Congress supports the designation of the facility under 
development by the Stanislaus County Ag Center Foundation, in 
Stanislaus County, California, as the ``National Ag Science Center''.
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