[Congressional Record Volume 144, Number 5 (Tuesday, February 3, 1998)]
[Senate]
[Page S303]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




    TRIBUTE TO THE NATIONAL CATTLEMEN'S ASSOCIATION'S 100 YEARS OF 
                               EXCELLENCE

  Mr. CAMPBELL. Mr. President, I call upon my colleagues today to 
recognize an organization that has been very valuable not only to the 
hard working ranchers and farmers that I represent in Colorado, but to 
everyone in America whose livelihood depends upon the cattle industry.
  Founded in 1898, the National Cattlemen's Beef Association is the 
marketing and trade association for America's one million cattle 
farmers and ranchers.
  Small businesses, like cattle farms and ranches, are the heart of the 
American economy. The U.S. cattle industry is comprised of more than 
one million individual farms or ranches that provide our nation with a 
steady supply of safe, nutritious beef. Living on a small ranch in 
Ignacio, Colorado, I know the vast majority of U.S. cattlemen are 
family farmers and ranchers who are skilled stewards of their natural 
resources and trained caretakers of the animals under their care. 
Eighty percent of cattle businesses have been in the same family for 
more than 25 years and 10 percent for more than 100 years.
  Cattle ranchers form the largest part of the U.S. food and fiber 
industry, which, in turn, is the largest segment of the U.S. economy--
nearly 17.5 percent of the gross national product. Doing business in 
all 50 states, cattlemen contribute to thousands of rural economies 
and, directly and indirectly, add $153 billion to the national economy. 
It is also important to recognize that the beef industry provides 1.6 
million American jobs, and the U.S. annually produces nearly 25 percent 
of the world's beef supply with less than 10 percent of the world's 
cattle inventory.
  In Denver, where the industry is commemorating 100 years of the 
cattlemen's association history, we have a unique opportunity for 
people all across America to join in celebrating the labor of 
generations of America's cattlemen and women.
  Since this historic event is taking place in my home state of 
Colorado, I would like to take this time also to recognize the Colorado 
Cattlemen's Association, which is one of the nation's oldest 
cattlemen's associations, founded in 1867, even before Colorado became 
a state. I am proud to say that with hard working grass-roots 
organizations like the National Cattlemen's Association and the 
Colorado Cattlemen's Association, issues that directly affect the West 
and across this country can be addressed in Washington with great 
success.
  In 1996, I joined Senator Domenici on the Senate floor in support of 
the grazing reform bill in the 104th Congress. It was a moving sight to 
see so many cattlemen and women in the Senate gallery and the halls of 
Congress working with their senators to help ensure passage of this 
vital legislation. Currently, grazing legislation is pending in the 
Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee on which I serve. With 
endorsements from strong grass-roots organizations like the National 
Cattlemen's Beef Association and the Colorado Cattlemen's Association, 
we will continue to fight to get this legislation enacted into law.
  Once again I commend the National Cattlemen's Beef Association for 
100 years of dedicated service to America's ranchers and farmers.
  Mr. HAGEL. Mr. President, I suggest the absence of a quorum.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. The clerk will call the roll.
  The legislative clerk proceeded to call the roll.
  Mr. GRAMM. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the order for 
the quorum call be rescinded.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered.
  Mr. GRAMM. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent to speak as if in 
morning business for up to 10 minutes.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered. The 
Senator from Texas is recognized.

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