[Congressional Record Volume 142, Number 96 (Wednesday, June 26, 1996)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1171]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]

[[Page E1171]]


         JULY 6 IS RECOGNIZED AS INTERNATIONAL COOPERATIVE DAY

                                 ______
                                 

                           HON. DAVID R. OBEY

                              of wisconsin

                    in the house of representatives

                        Wednesday, June 26, 1996

  Mr. OBEY. Mr. Speaker, July 6 is recognized around the world as 
International Cooperative Day. This 74-year old tradition presents an 
opportunity to people from all corners of the Earth to recognize the 
important difference that cooperatives make in their lives.
  The potential role of cooperative enterprises in promoting economic 
development in areas of most critical need, in many cases businesses, 
has been recognized by the United Nations. Last year, the UN declared 
that the International Day of Cooperatives should be celebrated every 
year by governments in collaboration with their national cooperative 
movements.
  Next Monday, July 1, cooperative leaders from the United States and 
from around the world will meet at UN Headquarters in New York to 
celebrate in International Day of Cooperatives at an event organized by 
the UN, International Day of Cooperative Alliance, and the Committee 
for the Promotion and Advancement of Cooperatives. This event will 
provide an opportunity to discuss and to demonstrate the actual and 
potential contribution of cooperative business enterprise to the 
achievement of economic goals, including:
  The potential of the cooperative movement to participate as a 
distinct stakeholder and full partner with the United Nations and 
institutional procedures and structures hereby such participation may 
be most effective.
  The contribution of cooperative business enterprise to the 
achievement of the goals of the International Year and Decade for the 
Eradication of Poverty and the realization of the goals of the World 
Food Summit.
  The potential of the cooperative movement to develop human resources 
and institutional capabilities.
  The cooperative movement as a means for the economic, social and 
political empowerment of women.
  The contribution of cooperative businesses to the provision of 
appropriate and affordable social services.
  The capacity of the cooperative movement to undertake appropriate 
technical assistance as a complement to governmental multilateral and 
bilateral assistance.
  The ways and means whereby partnerships may be strengthened between 
cooperatively organized business enterprises and the United Nations 
development system.
  I have believed for many years that cooperatives provide people with 
an economic alternative that empowers them economically to help 
themselves. Throughout this century, this body has passed legislation 
that created the spark for cooperative development and opened the door 
for cooperatives in this country.
  The result has been the creation of our rural electric and telephone 
cooperative systems, the farm credit banking system, the National 
Cooperative Bank, and credit unions and community development credit 
unions. All of those have been tools that allow people to accomplish 
together things they could not accomplish alone. All are owned by the 
members who benefit from them, and are controlled through the election 
of boards of directors by that membership.
  It is fitting that the international community should recognize that 
power and the possibilities that cooperatives represent in developing 
countries. Today, over 760 million people around the world are members 
of cooperatives. And that fact has made all of their lives a little 
brighter.
  I encourage my colleagues to look to their own districts and 
recognize the existence of cooperatives there that meet their 
constituents needs. What you will find is over 100 million Americans 
and 45,000 businesses ranging in size from small buying clubs to 
businesses included in the Fortune 500. Today, we have cooperative 
businesses in the fields of housing, health care, finance, insurance, 
child care, agricultural marketing and supply, rural utilities and 
consumer goods and services.
  Cooperatives have helped to make this country the economic powerhouse 
of the world. It's a legacy we should share with the rest of the world.

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