[Congressional Record Volume 147, Number 57 (Tuesday, May 1, 2001)]
[House]
[Pages H1688-H1692]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
RECOGNIZING 100TH ANNIVERSARY OF 4-H PROGRAM
Mr. KELLER. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and agree to the
resolution (H. Res. 112) recognizing the upcoming 100th anniversary of
the 4-H Youth Development Program and commending such program for
service to the youth of the world.
The Clerk read as follows:
H. Res. 112
Whereas the 4-H Youth Development Program celebrates its
100th anniversary in 2002;
Whereas the 4-H Youth Development program sponsors clubs in
rural and urban areas throughout the world;
Whereas the 4-H Clubs have grown to over 5.6 million annual
participants ranging from 5 to 19 years of age;
Whereas today's 4-H Clubs are very diverse, offering
agricultural, career development, information technology, and
general life skills programs; and
Whereas the 4-H Youth Development Program continues to make
great contributions toward the development of well-rounded
youth: Now, therefore, be it
Resolved, That the House of Representatives recognizes the
upcoming 100th anniversary of the 4-H Youth Development
Program and commends such program for service to the youth of
the world.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentleman from
Florida (Mr. Keller) and the gentlewoman from Hawaii (Mrs. Mink) each
will control 20 minutes.
The Chair recognizes the gentleman from Florida (Mr. Keller).
General Leave
Mr. KELLER. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members may
have 5 legislative days within which to revise and extend their remarks
on H. Res. 112.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the
gentleman from Florida?
There was no objection.
Mr. KELLER. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
Mr. Speaker, I rise today in strong support of H. Res. 112, which
extends the recognition of this body to the 4-H Youth Development
Program on the occasion of its 100th anniversary of its creation next
year.
The 4-H is the original ``learning by doing,'' and like all great
ideas in education, it originated at the local level as the product of
local educators and concerned citizens who saw a way to improve
agricultural education.
4-H participants pledged their heads to clear thinking, their hearts
to greater loyalty, their hands to greater service and their health to
better living for their clubs, their communities, their country, and
their world, not a bad code by which to live.
Even before Congress began supporting land-grant extension programs
that took the agricultural advances of academia into working farms, 4-H
understood the value of putting ideas into action.
{time} 1545
It is at the heart of this organization.
From its roots in agricultural education, food preservation, and
nature study, 4-H has spread to include training in a variety of areas,
more than 110 areas, in fact. These areas include the arts,
environmental education, communication, science and technology, and
healthy life-style education. With new programs, 4-H has continued to
help more and more young people learn skills to succeed later in life
and become positive contributing leaders. Today, only 10 percent of
participating youth live on farms. In fact, 30 percent are minorities.
More than 6.5 million youth are members. Some of the well-known former
4-H members are Johnny Carson, Faith Hill, Reba McIntyre, and Dolly
Parton.
The leadership skills 4-H members develop, the practical knowledge
they accumulate in the programs they study, the friendships they build,
and the experiences they have in competition and problem-solving make
them better people and make our country a better place.
Earlier this year, my family and I had the happy privilege of
visiting with several 4-H'ers at the Florida State Fair in Tampa and
the Orange County Fair in Orlando, Florida. These young people had
prepared several impressive agricultural exhibits, and they were also
very knowledgeable about the cows and the pigs and other livestock they
had raised. These 4-H members made quite a positive impression on my
two young children.
In a changing world, I am very glad that 4-H has been there for
America's young people and has continued to grow with them. 4-H helps
to prepare them for the challenges they continue to face and help
America to continue to be the place where the ideas and beliefs that
made it great are still taught and practiced.
Congratulations 4-H on 100 years of success and service, and best
wishes for 100 more.
[[Page H1689]]
Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
Mrs. MINK of Hawaii. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may
consume.
(Mrs. MINK of Hawaii asked and was given permission to revise and
extend her remarks.)
Mrs. MINK of Hawaii. Mr. Speaker, I rise in very strong support of
House Resolution 112, which recognizes the upcoming 100th anniversary
of the 4-H Youth Development Program. I am very proud to be an original
cosponsor of this legislation; and I would like to commend my
colleague, the gentleman from Florida (Mr. Foley), for introducing this
important recognition of a voluntary youth movement that has been
highly successful in our country.
Too often, I think, many of us in Congress rely upon the initiative
coming from governmental sources. We look for ways in which we can
stimulate young people into doing productive work and innovative
programs for self-improvement. But here is an example, where nearly 100
years ago, a group of individuals got together and decided that the
young people could come together and determine the ways in which they
might help themselves, and this is precisely the strength and the
energy that the 4-H movement leaders had.
It is very exciting to know that over the years it has grown. As my
colleague, the gentleman from Florida (Mr. Keller), said, there are
almost 7 million young people, ages 5 to 19, that participated in the
4-H programs in the year 2000; 1.6 million were members of 103,000
clubs; 2.5 million were members in a variety of special interest
groups; 3.6 million were members of school enrichment programs. There
were individual study groups, instructional programs, child care
programs, and many opportunities for groups that went out camping and
other types of excursions.
As my colleague said, initially this was supposed to be a farm or
agriculturally centered program, but it has gradually moved in from the
farms to our small towns and our communities. Today, well over half of
the program is centered around small towns and cities throughout the
country. Thirty percent of the participants are from minority racially-
ethnic groups. An astounding statistic that I found was that 52 percent
of the participants are girls and 48 percent boys. I am very encouraged
by that. We have over 610,000 volunteers, adults and others over age
19, who are participating in this program and helping the 4-H movement
to grow.
Many of us feel very honored each year to have the leaders of our 4-H
clubs come to visit us in Washington. They come to participate in the
wide variety of national programs, some elective, some not; and it is
always a pleasure to see these young people and the energy that they
bring to the work that they do.
Before I end my short part in this program this afternoon, I wanted
to tell my colleagues something about the 4-H movement in my own State.
The first club was organized in 1918. It had 31 members and was on my
own island of Maui, where I was born. It grew from there to have clubs
in all of the islands, Oahu, the big island of Kauai. It was very much
centered on the agricultural basis of farming and hog raising and
cattle raising, and the contests and various kinds of agricultural
activities. Today, the Hawaii 4-H organization has 24,000 participants
throughout the whole island, and they engage in a wide variety of
activities; not just farming, but citizenship, civic education, the
arts, sciences, environmental education, and all the things that go to
making up the totality of the human development.
So I stand today very proud to acknowledge the importance of the 4-H
clubs and to join in celebrating the upcoming 100th birthday.
Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
Mr. KELLER. Mr. Speaker, I yield such time as he may consume to the
gentleman from Florida (Mr. Foley), the sponsor of this important House
resolution.
Mr. FOLEY. Mr. Speaker, I appreciate the leadership of the gentleman
from Florida on the floor today on this very issue. And I want to take
a moment before I begin my prepared remarks to commend my colleague,
the gentlewoman from Hawaii (Mrs. Mink), for her wonderful homecoming
for members of the Navy who flew back and first landed in Hawaii on
their return to the United States from China. We are particularly
honored by the way the gentlewoman put the presentation together, and
we are delighted that they are on American soil again.
Mr. Speaker, I rise to speak on House Resolution 112, a resolution I
introduced to recognize next year's 100th anniversary of the 4-H Youth
Development Program, and commending the 4-H program for service to the
youth of the world.
The 4-H program has grown over the years to include 6.6 million
children. These 5- to 21-year-olds have benefited tremendously from 4-
H's wealth of diverse programs: from agriculture, career development,
information technology, to general life skills. These programs are
offered in both rural and urban areas of the world.
The 4-H continues to make great contributions toward the development
of well-rounded youth both in America and abroad. The program enables
youth to have fun, meet new people, learn new life skills, build self-
confidence, learn responsibility, and set and achieve goals. In fact,
more than 45 million people worldwide are 4-H alumni, including my
distinguished colleague, the gentleman from Idaho (Mr. Otter), who told
me just moments ago he will celebrate his 50th year of swearing in as a
member of the 4-H Club.
The 4-H truly builds the leaders of tomorrow. In fact, their motto is
``To Make the Best Better.'' Our country benefits enormously from
programs like 4-H. With the rising tide of teen suicide, drug use, and
school violence, the 4-H gives our youth an avenue to excel and build
self-esteem. One success story from a young 4-H'er in Georgia caught my
eye. It is entitled, ``4-H Brought Me to Life.''
It goes on to say, ``I was not popular at all. I had just moved and I
felt like an outcast. One day a lady came. She was with 4-H. I really
did not do anything with 4-H that year except camp. I then said I'm
going to have fun and make this year the best of my life. It has been 3
years since. I'm now in the 8th grade. I have friends all over Georgia.
4-H brought me to life.''
The gentlewoman from Hawaii mentioned several of the people who are
former 4-H'ers that I think deserve notation, and I will read the list.
And while I read the list, I will ask my colleagues to think with me,
because I think one of the hallmarks of 4-H is that none of these
people have been involved in any controversy. Seldom do we hear of a
child that has been accused of a crime or another problem having 4-H on
their resume. It obviously leads them on the right path, not the wrong
path.
Listen to some of these famous names: Glen Campbell, Johnny Carson,
Johnny Cash, John Denver, Janie Fricke, Faith Hill, Holly Hunter,
Martina McBride, Reba McIntyre, Dolly Parton, Charlie Price, Charley
Pride, Roy Rogers, Ricky Skaggs, Sissy Spacek, Aaron Tippin, and even
my favorite, Orville Redenbacher, who brings us such great popcorn.
These are people that learned the basics of life from 4-H and why I
am tremendously proud we are saluting them today on the House floor.
Hopefully, it will not only give them the enthusiasm but the direction
that not only do Members of Congress support them, but the Nation looks
up to those in the 4-H movement, those that have brought the 4-H'ers to
communities throughout our country.
I want to pay special tribute, because 100 years does not come often
in anyone's life, nor the legacy of any organization. I am joined by
many, many of my colleagues who have become cosponsors of this movement
and of this resolution, and they are noted in the Record. I would like
to thank John Hildreth, my legislative specialist, who was working on
this as well with us.
Again, my salute to every hamlet in America, wherever there is a 4-H.
And for children that may be listening, if you feel alone and you feel
desperate, look to 4-H for leadership. Look to 4-H for guidance. Become
a member of this great organization, and your life can turn around much
like that of the girl from Georgia. I commend them to you, I commend
them to your community, and I salute them.
Mrs. MINK of Hawaii. Mr. Speaker, I am delighted to yield 4 minutes
to the gentlewoman from North Carolina
[[Page H1690]]
(Mrs. Clayton), who is currently the co-chair for the Rural Caucus,
and has led us in so many areas that are important to rural America.
Mrs. CLAYTON. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentlewoman for yielding me
this time.
Mr. Speaker, I rise today in commendation of the upcoming 100th
anniversary of the 4-H youth program. For almost a century, 4-H has
been a constant beacon reminding us that we only receive from our
communities as much as we put into them. The 4-H Youth Development
Program has long recognized that leadership is not an innate quality,
but rather that leadership is built one step, one person, one community
at a time.
Rural America needs leaders today more than ever. I know I need not
remind my colleagues of the crisis in rural America today. I would like
to give my heartfelt thanks to 4-H for providing rural America with
strong voices of leadership for almost 100 years. I would also like to
urge 4-H to continue their very fine work. The fate of rural America
may well rest in the next generation of leadership.
I regret the fact that this country does not have a policy for rural
America. It needs one desperately. As this Congress considers ways in
which to assist rural America, I think that we would be wise to look to
the national 4-H for direction. In fact, 4-H has served rural America
well and has expanded its services and its opportunities to urban
youth, for which we congratulate and commend them.
The four components of 4-H, the head, the heart, the hand, and
health, speak to our unstated obligation to survey the needs of rural
America comprehensively, not in isolation from one another. In fact,
the national 4-H statistics are very impressive. We have heard them
already, but they are worth mentioning again. There are more than 6
million youth, from the ages of 5 to 19, who are involved in 4-H
program. Over half of them are from urban areas. Indeed, only 10
percent of them are from farm programs. So, indeed, it has moved from
its original program of serving farm youth to serving the youth of
America, and we commend them for that.
More importantly, they provide leadership. They provide opportunity
for development. They provide enrichment programs. They provide
environmental studies. But, also, they provide leadership and training
both for the youth and the adults who are involved in that.
{time} 1600
The needs for rural America are many: historically low commodity
prices, crumbling infrastructure, limited education opportunities, out-
migration of youth, limited employment opportunities, lack of access to
quality health care. Every one of these is, indeed, a serious problem
in its own right, but only by seeing them together, as necessary pieces
of a whole, do we see the complete picture.
We must address the entire fabric of farming communities across the
country, including youth development, rather than just the single
threads that bind it together.
The stakes are high. The livelihood of millions of farmers and the
future of our youth in America and urban area are at stake. But I am
heartened as we move forward, because standing alongside us is the
national 4-H program, building leaders for rural and urban America.
I commend them on their upcoming birthday.
Mr. KELLER. Mr. Speaker, I yield 3 minutes to the gentleman from
Idaho (Mr. Otter).
Mr. OTTER. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman for yielding me this
time.
Mr. Speaker, nearly 50 years ago I raised my right hand and I said,
``I pledge my head to clearer thinking, my heart to greater loyalty, my
hands to larger service, my health to better living, for my club, my
community, my country, and my world.''
Mr. Speaker, some of my colleagues may argue that not all of that
took as well as it might have, but I would argue for whatever benefit I
did receive in taking that pledge, my life has been richly blessed and
immensely improved by the process that goes on in 4-H.
The pledge of my head stands for the clear thinking that is required
to be a 4-H'er. Not only that, but the decision-making process and the
collection of knowledge, knowledge that one will use throughout their
life.
In pledging greater loyalty from the heart, the 4-H'er promises to
have greater loyalty to his fellow man and to his country, but also to
himself and for those values that they themselves stand for.
To pledge their hands to larger service, in this day and age it is
certainly needed by every citizen of this country.
Finally, to pledge their health, we all know the value of what good,
healthy lifestyles can stand for in this country.
Mr. Speaker, I would like to associate myself with the remarks of my
colleague, the gentleman from Florida (Mr. Foley), who spoke before me,
because he covered much of the material that I had intended to. I would
like to point out, in the nearly 7 million participants, as mentioned
by the gentlewoman from Hawaii (Mrs. Mink), some 597,000 are involved
in citizenship civic education programs, nearly 1 million in community
expressive arts programs, a half a million in consumer family science,
1.3 million in environment and science programs. In Idaho, Mr. Speaker,
32,643 members in 3,743 clubs with 4,200 adults participate in the
volunteer and leadership programs for 4-H.
Mr. Speaker, I join with my colleagues as a cosponsor in recognizing,
as is long overdue, the 4-H Clubs of the United States of America that
have stood for a long time for those words so aptly put by Chester
Bernard when he said that ``to try and fail is at least to learn, but
to fail to try is to suffer that estimable cost of what might have
been.'' Mr. Speaker, 4-H knows what it is.
Mr. KELLER. Mr. Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the gentlewoman from
Virginia (Mrs. Jo Ann Davis).
Mrs. JO ANN DAVIS of Virginia. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support
of House Resolution 112, recognizing the upcoming 100th anniversary of
the 4-H Youth Development Program in 2002.
Mr. Speaker, as you have heard, the four H's stand for head, heart,
hands and health; and the program gives children and youth the
opportunity to gain responsibility through hands-on involvement in
challenging projects. 4-H began as an agricultural education program
for youth, and clubs were formed with adult volunteers to encourage
learning by doing.
Mr. Speaker, I am personally familiar with 4-H as my youngest son
spent most of his teen years in a 4-H club and showed quarter horses in
local competitions and the State fair. The club developed his
leadership skills and made him a more responsible and purposeful young
man.
As we recognize 4-H, I want to commend the dedicated volunteers and
county extension agents that have given countless hours of their time
to help children and youth develop their skills and learn, while having
fun, and to thank them for the good times my son has enjoyed, and to
wish the organization another productive century of service.
Mr. KELLER. Mr. Speaker, I yield 2\1/2\ minutes to the gentlewoman
from Maryland (Mrs. Morella).
Mrs. MORELLA. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman for yielding me this
time.
I rise, as my colleagues have, to recognize the upcoming anniversary
of the dynamic 4-H Youth Development Program. I congratulate the
gentleman from Florida (Mr. Foley) for introducing H. Res. 112.
For a century the 4-H club has offered a wide range of projects and
activities for the purpose of building the leaders of tomorrow. I am
fortunate enough to represent the congressional district with not only
local branches of the 4-H club, but also the headquarters of the 4-H
Youth Development Program at the National Conference Center in Chevy
Chase, Maryland.
In my district, Montgomery County, the 4-H club reaches over 8,000
youth annually with such innovative programs as Adventures in Science.
During the early 1970s, Ralph R. Nash began this hands-on science
education activity in his basement in Gaithersburg, Maryland, in order
to provide science adventures for his daughter. Over the years, AIS has
introduced the fun of science to hundreds of children. AIS now meets at
five sites in Montgomery County, and additional programs have been
initiated at several other sites in the country, based on the
[[Page H1691]]
same philosophy and a similar format. Since the early 1990s, the
Montgomery County 4-H program has provided an administrative framework
for AIS, using 4-H Maryland Cooperative Extension volunteers as site
managers.
The Adventures in Science goal is to present science as an exciting
activity and a way of thinking about the world, rather than as a
compendium of facts. The topics presented reflect the interests of
children and the volunteers, rather than any prescribed curriculum. The
4-H method of ``learning by doing'' facilitates not only the education
process but also encourages teamwork and develops conflict resolution
skills.
The Adventures in Science program, in addition to the various annual
activities at the Montgomery County Agricultural Fairgrounds, instills
a spirit of community and volunteerism into the area's youth. It is
this spirit that enables the 4-H Youth Development Program to fulfill
the lofty ambition of their motto, ``to make the best better.''
I was very impressed that Mr. Otter earlier gave the 4-H pledge, ``I
pledge my head to clearer thinking, my heart to greater loyalty, my
hands to larger service, my health to better living, for my club, my
community, my country, and my world.''
Mr. KELLER. Mr. Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the gentleman from Iowa
(Mr. Latham).
Mr. LATHAM. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman from Florida for
yielding me this time.
As someone who was in 4-H for 9 years and learned a great deal from
my activities there, and everybody thinks about 4-H as how to have a
project for raising livestock or grains, that type of project, the
things that helped me the most in 4-H, we had Carl Rayder, our
extension director, used to have special classes for us out in the
country and teach us about etiquette: How to eat at a table, how to
dress. We had fashion shows. There are a lot of different things that
4-H did in rural America that really helped us along in life.
Mr. Speaker, probably the most important thing is the leadership that
was taught in 4-H and the opportunity for a young farm kid to be a
leader in his 4-H club locally, county-wide, and move on to State
offices, things like that were very, very important and meant a great
deal to us in 4-H.
I am also extremely proud that Clarion, Iowa, which is in my
district, is the home of the 4-H emblem; the four-leaf clover with the
four H's, one H on each leaf of the clover, obviously, is a sign that
is known by everyone as representing the 4-H itself.
Mr. Speaker, 4-H has been a very, very positive experience for young
people for 100 years now. I want to congratulate them. I do not have to
read the 4-H motto. ``I pledge my head to clearer thinking, my heart to
greater loyalty, my hands to larger service, my health to better
living, for my club, my community, my country, and my world.'' And it
means a great deal to a lot of young Americans that we can still do
that pledge.
Ms. JACKSON-LEE of Texas. Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of H. Res.
112 in honor of the millions of young people who participate in the 4-H
program.
Mr. Speaker, this resolution recognizes the 100th anniversary of the
4-H Youth Development Program and commends the program for its service
to the youth of the world. With over 6.8 million members, the program
is a stellar example of what is best and most successful in selfless
community and national service.
Mr. Speaker, at a time in our history when we are so often consumed
by what is wrong with our youth culture, I am delighted to take this
occasion to honor many of our Nation's young people who, each and every
day, work to give back to their communities in positive ways through
public service, education, and leadership.
``To make the best better.'' That is the 4-H motto, and it rings
true. The 4-H pledge states: ``I pledge my head to clear thinking; my
heart to greater loyalty; my hands to larger service; my health to
better living; for my club, my community, my country, and my world.''
Mr. Speaker, these are good and inspiring words to live by.
4-H provides our Nation's youth with the kinds of support, and
positive life-experience challenges that are so important in their
development into responsible and active members of our community. 4-H
is committed to nurturing our youth so that they may reach their
fullest potential by building self-confidence, teaching responsibility,
and by setting and attaining personal goals.
With focus programs ranging from Workforce Preparation; Environmental
Stewardship; Health, Wellness and Safety; Community Development; and
Youth Changing Their Community, 4-H operates through fairs, shows,
camps, state youth gatherings, a national congress, a national
conference, a collegiate program, and through an international youth
exchange.
4-H is committed to bringing children and adults together through
community service by creating bonds that last a lifetime. This makes 4-
H a unique and truly inspiring example of what is best in our community
and national service. These young people, their parents and sponsors do
a great job, and they deserve our thanks and our applause.
Mr. KIND. Mr. Speaker, I am honored to have the opportunity to
recognize and commend the 4-H Youth Development Program. Today marks
the organization's 100th anniversary and it is important for Congress
to take the time to recognize this outstanding program.
The 4-H is a dynamic group whose mission is to foster innovation and
shared learning of America's youth, ages 6 to 19. Its vision is to draw
upon combined power of youth and adults so that we can learn together
in order to address the challenges and opportunities critical to youth
in our communities. The 4-H is uniquely established to provide
opportunity to young people nationwide to learn valuable life skills,
work with others toward common goals, and develop into community
leaders.
4-H stresses three fundamental values: First, Mr. Speaker, we must
treat others with mutual trust and respect and open and honest
communication. Second, we must assume personal leadership and
responsibility for our actions. And third, we must celebrate our
differences as well as our similarities, and always realize that
working with youth as partners is the key to our success.
Over 5.6 million young people are involved in the 4-H clubs,
dedicating time and effort to the betterment of their communities and
their country. In fact, volunteerism among America's youth has
increased over the years, indicating that these fine young people have
a sincere interest in helping fellow Americans.
On the 100th anniversary of the 4-H club, I am honored to have the
opportunity to commemorate the group because I am a former 4-H member
myself. Growing up in Wisconsin, I loved and appreciated the time that
I spent within my 4-H club. In fact, two of my staffers here in
Washington were also 4-H members in their youth. The 4-H Clubs extend
their invaluable services throughout the United States and have
personally touched many of our lives.
Mr. Speaker, in closing, I am delighted to speak here today to honor
and commemorate the 4-H Youth Development Program and its contributions
to American communities for the past century. By pledging their heads
to clearer thinking, their hearts to greater loyalty, their hands to
larger service, and their health to better living, our young people--
along with the adult volunteers who teach and help them--are working to
strengthen the clubs, their communities, and their country.
Mr. PUTNAM. Mr. Speaker, in 2002, the 4-H movement celebrates its
centennial as one of America's premier youth development organizations.
Reflecting its historic vision, Congress is commemorating this event
that has brought together our nation's youth, youth leaders, and
communities for over a century and created youth development strategies
for the future.
No other youth organization spans the nation like the 4-H movement,
traveling the most remote roads of rural America and the most diverse
streets of our large cities. 4-H is uniquely poised to bring together
youth through collaboration, engagement, and a commitment to civic
responsibility to build a nation of strong communities. 4-H is in every
county in every state, in every U.S. territory and the District of
Columbia and 3,067 countries around the world.
The 4-H mission is to create supportive environments for diverse
youth and adults to reach their fullest potential. The 100 year-old
program has molded itself to meet the needs of our citizens by focusing
on developing rural, suburban and urban youth and teaching youth
utilizing the research and knowledge base of our state's land grant
institutions. 4-H has broadened its program areas to encompass not only
agriculture and animal science, but also public speaking, computers,
wildlife, forestry and many other topics of interest to today's youth.
Through ``learning by doing'' experiences, young people in the 4-H
program are educated through hands-on instruction about the world
around them with the guidance of over 600,000 volunteer leaders and
cooperative extension service faculty who invest time, talent, and
trust in our youth.
The 4-H program enables young people to grow up and become
participating citizens and defenders of democracy through outstanding
and exemplary programs such as the 4-H legislatures and the citizenship
project. The 4-H
[[Page H1692]]
program serves 6.8 million youth across America through 4-H clubs,
special interest groups, camping and school enrichment educational
programs. 4-H young people devote thousands of hours in service to
their communities annually through programs such as ``4-H'ers Helping
the Hungry'' and other service activities that benefit the people of
our nation.
In the coming century, 4-H is posed to provide a national curriculum
for youth development professionals reflecting tools and strategies
that yield the most successful outcomes. By its call to excellence
epitomized in its motto ``to make the best better,'' 4-H is inspiring
today's young people to strive for their dreams and not settle for
anything less than their best effort. Congress recognizes these
accomplishments through this resolution celebrating the centennial
anniversary of 4-H programs for America's youth.
Mr. STENHOLM. Mr. Speaker, as the 4-H program prepares to celebrate
its 100th anniversary as a national organization, I rise today to honor
them and to congratulate the individuals who have made this program a
tremendous national success. Let me also add that 4-H has also passed
another significant milestone in my own home state of Texas: For the
first time in its history, over one million young people are enrolled
in the various Texas 4-H programs.
Young people are the future leaders of our country and the lessons
they learn in 4-H programs, in any state or U.S. territory, help them
to be responsible, energetic, and committed individuals who make an
important contribution to our nation.
I commend 4-H for the positive impact it has on cultivating the head,
heart, hands, and health of our young people. The positive educational
experiences 4-H affords young people allows them to imagine unlimited
possibilities and to take them in new and exciting directions.
I would also like to recognize the efforts of 4-H adult volunteers;
it is their continuing efforts that allow this great organization to
grow. 4-H leaders say they work to make the best better. For almost 100
years they have done just that, and our country is clearly the better
for it.
Mr. UNDERWOOD. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to support H. Res. 112,
recognizing the upcoming 100th anniversary of the 4-H Youth Development
Program and commending such program for service to the youth of the
world. I would especially like to extend a heartfelt congratulations to
the members of the Guam 4-H Club on their twenty-seven years of
community activism and commitment to our youth.
The 4-H started as an idea that generated in the United States and
developed according to the needs of our communities. For most of the
nineteenth century, rural America set the tone for the country.
However, things changed at the turn of the century and jobs in the
larger cities enticed the youth of rural America and many moved in
search of economic prosperity.
These rural communities were faced with the potential loss of
children leaving to the larger cities. With these concerns to educate
the children of rural America and the advances in agricultural
technology came the 4-H idea of practical and applied educational
principles in the public schools of country life. In 1862, the Morrill
Act created the land grant university system. These land grant
institutions were dedicated to the general education and improvement of
agricultural and mechanical arts in the education of rural children. In
addition, as part of the land grant system, experimental stations were
established in agricultural production and technology. Although the
farming community did not readily accept these new ideas and concepts,
concerned citizens, school teachers, agricultural scientists scattered
the seeds that started the roots of the 4-H. By 1902, the club concept
was adopted and hence the forming of a club for boys and girls
promoting vocational agriculture in rural schools through the land
grant system. by 1914 the Cooperative Extension System was enacted with
the passage of the Smith-Lever Act. This was a unique partnership
created by Congress to establish national educational network designed
to meet the need for research, knowledge and educational programs.
Local leaders were now involved and as a part of the program base for
the cooperative extension programs the concept of 4-H expanded beyond
agricultural vocation.
During its first 80 years, 4-H grew from an organization primarily
concerned with improving agricultural production and food preservation
to one dedicated to total youth development. It has become an integral
part of the Land-Grant University and the Cooperative Extension Service
Systems and is one of the nation's most diverse organizations that has
now come to include people from every economic, racial, social,
political and geographic category. More than 6.8 million youth annually
participate in 4-H programs. These programs are conducted via the
Cooperative Extension System in 3,067 counties in the United States,
the District of Columbia, the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico and in my
home district of Guam. The 4-H has followed the needs of the nation's
youth from rural America to our urban and suburban communities, and
even further into our U.S. Territories. The participation of young
people in developing and governing 4-H has been key to its continuing
success.
In 1972 the University of Guam was awarded land grant status and by
1974 the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences (CALS) was
established. With the establishment of CALS, 4-H youth development on
Guam was officially sanctioned and is today 27 years old. 4-H has
served its members in Guam and other Pacific Island areas. Through
public and private partnerships, the 4-H club has afforded many of our
island youth the opportunity to engage in activities that hold their
personal interest, while being guided by adult volunteers. Youth
development professionals employed by the Cooperative Extension System
with the University of Guam provide direction and leadership and
centers on the personal growth of the 4-H member. Through projects,
activities and events sponsored by the extension program, our 4-H youth
members build life skills they can use for the rest of their lives.
Because of their experiences with 4-H, our youth become contributing,
productive, self-directed members of a forward moving society.
Experiences are built around life skills that center on positive self
esteem, communication and decision making. Citizenship, leadership,
learning how to learn, and the ability to cope with change are also
important life building skills learned through their activities. Two of
my children, Sophia and Roberto, now grown adults in their 30's,
participate in 4-H activities in Guam. I can't help but think that
their maturation was assisted by their experience.
I can think of no greater tribute to the 4-H program than by
recognizing its 100th Anniversary of community activism, and its
positive youth development through its partnerships and programs.
Mr. HOBSON. Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of H. Res. 112, and
recognize the accomplishment of the 4-H Youth Development Program.
In 1902, in Clark County, Ohio, which is my home and part of Ohio's
7th Congressional District, Mr. Albert Belmont Graham held the first
meeting of what eventually become known throughout the nation as 4-H.
The four H's are head, heart, hands and health; all of which should be
used to serve your community, country, and world. The purpose of Mr.
Graham's initial meeting was to instruct the county youth on the best
methods of harvesting corn, testing soil samples, planting a garden,
and identifying natural wildlife.
Soon, The Ohio State University's College of Agriculture became
interested in Mr. Graham's meetings, and assisted him in setting up
more of these ``agricultural clubs'' across the State of Ohio. Since
that time, 4-H has expanded to all fifty states, internationally to
more than 80 countries, and 45 million people now are 4-H alumni. The
original curriculum has been expanded to include health, family life,
photography, and more than 200 subject areas. The 4-H community not
only includes those with agricultural backgrounds, but has broadened to
reach the youths of the inner-cities and suburbs.
Every summer when I tour the county fairs in my district and see
young men and women showcasing their talents, I am reminded of the
vision of Albert Belmont Graham and his 4-H program, which continues to
provide lasting educational, cultural, and social benefits to young
people across America and throughout the world.
Mrs. MINK of Hawaii. Mr. Speaker, I have no further requests for
time, and I yield back the balance of my time.
Mr. KELLER. Mr. Speaker, I have no further requests for time, and I
yield back the balance of my time.
The SPEAKER pro tempore (Mr. Hastings of Washington). The question is
on the motion offered by the gentleman from Florida (Mr. Keller) that
the House suspend the rules and agree to the resolution, H.Res. 112.
The question was taken; and (two-thirds having voted in favor
thereof) the rules were suspended and the resolution was agreed to.
A motion to reconsider was laid on the table.
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