[Congressional Record Volume 147, Number 89 (Monday, June 25, 2001)]
[House]
[Pages H3479-H3481]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




   AUTHORIZING FUNDING FOR NATIONAL 4-H PROGRAM CENTENNIAL INITIATIVE

  Mr. LUCAS of Oklahoma. Madam Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and 
pass the Senate bill (S. 657) to authorize funding for the National 4-H 
Program Centennial Initiative.
  The Clerk read as follows:

                                 S. 657

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

     SECTION 1. NATIONAL 4-H PROGRAM CENTENNIAL INITIATIVE.

       (a) Findings.--Congress finds that--
       (1) the 4-H Program is 1 of the largest youth development 
     organizations operating in each of the 50 States and over 
     3,000 counties;
       (2) the 4-H Program is promoted by the Secretary of 
     Agriculture through the Cooperative State Research, 
     Education, and Extension Service and land-grant colleges and 
     universities;
       (3) the 4-H Program is supported by public and private 
     resources, including the National 4-H Council; and
       (4) in celebration of the centennial of the 4-H Program in 
     2002, the National 4-H Council has proposed a public-private 
     partnership to develop new strategies for youth development 
     for the next century in light of an increasingly global and 
     technology-oriented economy and ever-changing demands and 
     challenges facing youth in widely diverse communities.
       (b) Grant.--
       (1) In general.--The Secretary of Agriculture may provide a 
     grant to the National 4-H Council to pay the Federal share of 
     the cost of--
       (A) conducting a program of discussions through meetings, 
     seminars, and listening sessions on the National, State, and 
     local levels regarding strategies for youth development; and
       (B) preparing a report that--
       (i) summarizes and analyzes the discussions;
       (ii) makes specific recommendations of strategies for youth 
     development; and
       (iii) proposes a plan of action for carrying out those 
     strategies.
       (2) Cost sharing.--
       (A) In general.--The Federal share of the cost of the 
     program under paragraph (1) shall be 50 percent.
       (B) Form of non-federal share.--The non-Federal share of 
     the cost of the program under paragraph (1) may be paid in 
     the form of cash or the provision of services, material, or 
     other in-kind contributions.
       (3) Amount.--The grant made under this subsection shall not 
     exceed $5,000,000.
       (c) Report.--The National 4-H Council shall submit any 
     report prepared under subsection (b) to the President, the 
     Secretary of Agriculture, the Committee on Agriculture of the 
     House of Representatives, and the Committee on Agriculture, 
     Nutrition, and Forestry of the Senate.
       (d) Funding.--The Secretary may fund the grant authorized 
     by this section from--
       (1) funds made available under subsection (e); and
       (2) notwithstanding subsections (c) and (d) of section 793 
     of the Federal Agriculture Improvement and Reform Act of 1996 
     (7 U.S.C. 2204f), funds from the Account established under 
     section 793(a) of that Act.
       (e) Authorization of Appropriations.--There is authorized 
     to be appropriated to carry out this section $5,000,000.

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentleman from

[[Page H3480]]

Oklahoma (Mr. Lucas) and the gentlewoman from North Carolina (Mrs. 
Clayton) each will control 20 minutes.
  The Chair recognizes the gentleman from Oklahoma (Mr. Lucas).
  Mr. LUCAS of Oklahoma. Madam Speaker, I yield myself such time as I 
may consume.
  I rise today to urge my colleagues to support S. 657, a bill that 
authorizes funding for the National 4-H Program Centennial Initiative. 
4-H has been a guiding force for America's youth for over the past 
century. It has taught countless numbers of youth responsibility and a 
sense of community.
  This bill is identical to a House version, H.R. 1388, that the 
gentleman from Iowa (Mr. Ganske) and the gentlewoman from North 
Carolina (Mrs. Clayton) and I strongly support. S. 657 will provide the 
money for the 4-H programs in all 50 States to conduct meetings, 
seminars, and listening sessions on the national, State and local 
levels regarding strategies for youth development. Most importantly, it 
requires a report that Congress and the President can use to help 
determine what avenues and programs are best suited to helping the 
youth of this country.
  S. 657 will allow the Secretary of Agriculture to provide a $5 
million grant to the National 4-H Council. The bill sets up a cost-
share structure so that the private sector will match the grant up to 
$5 million.
  For those of my colleagues that are wondering why my Subcommittee on 
Conservation, Credit, Rural Development and Research is so concerned, 
let me get right to the point. The rural development and research 
programs that my subcommittee is responsible for overseeing are 
stretched very thin, and the loss of young people in our rural areas is 
extremely disturbing. The best thing about the 4-H youth program is 
that it not only helps youth in rural communities but urban and 
suburban communities as well, because 4-H programs are present in over 
3,000 counties in the United States.
  The National 4-H Program Centennial Initiative is good for America's 
youth and for America's future. I urge my colleagues to vote ``yes'' on 
this important piece of legislation.
  Madam Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
  Mrs. CLAYTON. Madam Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may 
consume.
  I also rise in support of this bill, S. 657, which provides funding 
to support the National 4-H Program Centennial Initiative. For 100 
years, the 4-H program has served the youth of this Nation by providing 
leadership training and education in a wide array of life skills. Our 
Nation has changed. The 4-H program has changed as well. While many may 
think that the 4-H program is for rural youth only, the fact is that 
now over 35 percent of the programs for youth are really, indeed, in 
urban and suburban areas. Without abandoning their original core 
constituency, the 4-H program and its thousands of volunteers have 
expanded their program throughout our Nation.
  So as the 4-H program celebrates its 100 years of service to American 
youth, this bill will play an important part. S. 657 will authorize 
funding for a grant, as has been mentioned, which will be administered 
by the USDA to help the National 4-H Council plan a national convention 
to develop critical youth-development strategies for the next century. 
The $5 million provided by this act will be paid out in a 50-50 
Federal-private matching grant, so it will also be a tool to leverage 
additional private resources or resources from non-Federal sources.
  Helping to shape the future of our Nation's youth is one of the most 
important investments this Congress can make. This is one good effort 
we can make in that regard. I thank the gentleman for bringing this 
bill to the floor, and I am delighted to encourage my colleagues to 
support its passage.
  Madam Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
  Mr. LUCAS of Oklahoma. Madam Speaker, I yield 5 minutes to the 
gentleman from Iowa (Mr. Ganske).

                              {time}  1515

  Mr. GANSKE. Madam Speaker, I am thankful that the House is taking up 
this legislation today which is the companion bill to the Ganske 4-H 
bill, H.R. 1388, which has wide bipartisan support.
  In April, a group of 4-H'ers from Iowa asked me to introduce this 
legislation in the House of Representatives. Since 4-H has been working 
to serve both rural and urban kids for over 100 years, I was proud to 
help them.
  Madam Speaker, this is the 4-H logo. It stands for head, heart, hands 
and health: Head for clearer thinking, heart for greater loyalty, hands 
for larger service, and health for better living. These are goals that 
are laudatory.
  4-H is active in all 50 States and the District of Columbia. It has 
chapters in over 3,000 counties, and has almost 7 million members. 
There are over 600,000 4-H volunteer leaders around the country, and I 
want to thank them for their efforts and for the countless hours they 
have put in. I know that those volunteers also recognize that their own 
lives are enriched by the time they spend with kids in 4-H.
  Madam Speaker, 4-H is often seen as a rural organization, and it has 
served rural areas very successfully through its history. But the 
organization is very active in serving youth in our urban areas and 
cities. Over a third of its members are from the suburbs and cities.
  Madam Speaker, 4-H is undertaking an ambitious plan to use the 
celebration of its 100th anniversary to foster a new initiative in 
youth development, culminating in a plan of action for families, 
communities and youth leaders around America to implement strategies 
for youth development to lead us into the next century. I strongly 
encourage my colleagues to support 4-H by voting for this legislation.
  I am honored that I was able to play a role in bringing this 
legislation forward, and I thank the gentleman from Oklahoma (Mr. 
Lucas) and the gentlewoman from North Carolina (Mrs. Clayton) for their 
important contributions as well. Vote for this legislation.
  Mrs. CLAYTON. Madam Speaker, I do not have any additional requests 
for time, and I yield back the balance of my time.
  Mr. LUCAS of Oklahoma. Madam Speaker, I yield 5 minutes to the 
gentleman from Indiana (Mr. Pence).
  Mr. PENCE. Madam Speaker, I thank the gentleman for yielding me this 
time.
  Madam Speaker, as a proud Hoosier representing proud 4-H'ers across 
Indiana, and as a former 4-H'er myself, I am proud to stand in favor of 
S. 657 to authorize funding for the National 4-H Program Centennial 
Initiative. I want to thank the gentleman from Oklahoma (Mr. Lucas), 
the gentlewoman from North Carolina (Mrs. Clayton) and the gentleman 
from Iowa (Mr. Ganske) for their seminal work on this project, and for 
their efforts to raise the national profile of 4-H through this study.
  Madam Speaker, think of it: 50 States, 3,000 counties, and just as 
many county fairs, 4-H is making a difference in the lives of America's 
youth. In the year 2002, 4-H will celebrate 100 years of having fun and 
making a difference for kids in both rural areas and, in increasing 
measure, in urban areas around the United States of America.
  The grant authorized by this legislation for the Secretary of 
Agriculture will not only provide the opportunity to study strategies 
for youth development, but as the gentleman from Oklahoma stated, it 
will require a report to the President. It will require leadership in 
4-H, both public and private, to think clearly about the next 100 years 
of youth development in 4-H.
  Madam Speaker, $5 million may not seem like a lot of money in this 
town, but all across America $5 million is very serious money. It gives 
us a genuine opportunity to assist 4-H in developing new strategies to 
face the new horizons for America's youth increasingly beset by 
distractions of a destructive nature that lead them down a path of 
unproductive lives.
  Madam Speaker, 4-H is fun. But as the gentleman from Iowa (Mr. 
Ganske) stated so eloquently, it is much more than just fun. It is 
head, heart, hands and health. It is teaching the habits of good living 
to young boys and girls across America.
  Madam Speaker, 4-H makes a difference, and so I stand in strong 
support and urge all of my colleagues to support this bill to authorize 
funding for the National 4-H Program Centennial Initiative.
  Mr. LUCAS of Oklahoma. Madam Speaker, I yield myself such time as I 
may consume.

[[Page H3481]]

  Madam Speaker, this is one of those occasions where as a Member of 
Congress, we have an opportunity to return something to one of the 
organizations that gave us the opportunities that we now enjoy.
  I think back to my days at Crawford Public School as a member of the 
Crawford Junior 4-H Club when I had my first opportunity to participate 
in leadership experience, my first opportunity to be a president of 
anything. This is my opportunity to return to 4-H, this body's 
opportunity to return to 4-H, part of what it has provided all of us 
with.
  Mr. CHAMBLISS. Madam Speaker, I support this bill to authorize 
funding for the National 4-H Program Centennial Initiative. From its 
beginnings as the Corn Club for Boys and Tomato Canning Club for Girls, 
the 4-H program has grown to one of the largest youth organizations in 
the United States with more than 6.8 million participants. Today 4-
H'ers can be found building model rockets, organizing canned food 
drives for the needy, showing livestock, delivering a speech before 
local government officials on issues critical to youth, and much more.
  In celebration of the centennial of the 4-H Program in 2002, the 
National 4-H Council has proposed a public-private partnership, to 
develop new strategies for youth development for the next century. As 
our world becomes increasingly global and technology-oriented, the 
demands and challenges facing youth continue to change. This bill will 
allow the program to change as well. The bill calls for the federal 
government to provide a $5 million federal grant that may be matched by 
non-federal sources.
  Today, as a former 4-H member I ask for your support of the youth of 
America by passing this bill and allowing this great youth organization 
to evolve into the next century.
  Mr. MORAN of Kansas. Madam Speaker, on behalf of over 94,101 Kansas 
youth involved in the 4-H program, I rise today in support of the 
National 4-H Program Centennial Initiative. 2002 marks the 100th 
anniversary of 4-H and it is only fitting that today we take action to 
recognize the important contributions that this organization has made 
in the development of our youth.
  In my home state of Kansas, 4-H is the largest youth organization 
outside of school. Almost 100,000 youth between the ages of 7-19 are 
involved in 3,065 4-H clubs and groups. 4-H reaches 1 in 7 Kansas 
youth, helping them develop important life skills such as teamwork, 
cooperation, time management, and communication.
  4-H is a diverse organization, in both its membership and 
programming. 4-H is traditionally thought of as being targeted to 
``farm kids.'' Yet 55% of 4-Her's in Kansas, a very rural state, reside 
in suburban and urban areas. Of the 6.8 million youth in 4-H 
nationwide, 30% represent minority racial, cultural, and ethnic 
populations. In fact, minority youth are the fastest growing segment of 
4-H membership.
  While 4-H has expanded to meet the needs and interests of youth with 
diverse backgrounds in all types of communities, at the same time it 
continues to honor its historic connection with America's rural 
communities. In Kansas, 45% of 4-H participants live on farms or in 
rural areas. As a member of the Agriculture Committee and the 
Congressional Rural caucus, I understand and appreciate the leadership 
and opportunity 4-H has provided to millions of our rural youth over 
the past century.
  The purpose of 4-H is illustrated in the 4 H's--head, heart, hands 
and health--which make up the symbolic 4-H clover. As the pledge 
states, 4-H does indeed teach youth to think more clearly, to value 
loyalty, to engage in service, and to follow a healthy lifestyle so 
that they may become better citizens who will enrich the lives of 
others and improve our society.
  The occasion of a centennial is a significant milestone for any 
organization, and I am proud of the century of service 4-H has given to 
our nation. I encourage my colleagues to recognize the contributions 
and value of 4-H youth development by supporting the National 4-H 
Program Centennial Initiative.
  Mr. HAYES. Madam Speaker, I rise in support of House bill 1388 to 
authorize funding for the National 4-H Program Centennial Initiative. 
For 100 years 4-H programs across the United States have been producing 
exemplary citizens. I believe that programs such as 4-H that promote 
healthy lifestyles, good decision making skills, and loyalty to one's 
self, community, country and world are vital to the development of our 
nation's youth. The program has successfully reached our youth in over 
3,000 counties in all 50 states. Through conferences, exchanges, and 
camps in North Carolina, 4-H is making a difference in the lives of 
young people.
  Through federally-funded grants, this bill will make it possible to 
conduct meetings and seminars to determine what youth development 
programs are needed and/or currently working and allow this important 
program to succeed another one hundred years.
  4-H participants in North Carolina and across the country benefit 
from the relationships formed and the timeless values taught through 
the program. The 4-H program teaches young people skills that will last 
a lifetime, and reaches students in both rural and urban areas, while 
not misplacing the values the organization was founded upon. Thank you 
and I urge my colleagues to support this bill.
  Mr. RODRIGUEZ. Madam Speaker, I rise this evening to offer my full 
support of funding for the National 4-H Program Centennial Initiative. 
4-H is the youth education branch of the Cooperative Extension Service, 
which is also a program of the United States Department of Agriculture. 
The 4-H program is one of the nation's largest youth development 
organizations operating in over 3,000 counties throughout each of the 
fifty states. Texas has one of the largest memberships which includes 
more than 1.1 million children and teenagers. In and around the 
district I am privileged to represent, the 28th District of Texas, more 
than 72,000 young people are enrolled in the 4-H program.
  In anticipation of its centennial in 2002, the National 4-H Council 
has proposed the creation of a public-private partnership to develop 
new strategies for youth development that will reflect the fast-
changing realities of life in the 21st Century. Among other things, 4-H 
hopes to examine the impact of expanding globalization and the role of 
emerging high technology businesses.
  The National 4-H Program Centennial Initiative will promote program 
discussions on the national, state, and local levels. These programs, 
whether meetings, seminars, or listening sessions, will promote new 
strategies for youth development and education. This legislation will 
provide grants up to $5 million to the National 4-H Council to federal 
share of program costs. Funding for these planning strategies will help 
address the issues facing millions of youth all across America.
  During these sessions, which will begin at the county level, 
interested young people will be able to raise issues or questions that 
face them and their future, such as how the 4-H program can best use 
emerging technologies to meet tomorrow's challenges. The results of 
these county sessions will form the foundation of a national strategic 
plan to implement changes and better prepare for the future. The 
diverse backgrounds and needs of Texas' counties will be reflected in 
these reports, helping 4-H members all across the nation understand and 
adapt to our changing world.
  Funding for this program will greatly benefit America's future by 
helping today's youth. We always say that our children are our future. 
Let's give them the chance to speak out and address the concerns of our 
changing world.
  Mr. LUCAS of Oklahoma. Madam Speaker, I yield back the balance of my 
time.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore (Mrs. Biggert). The question is on the motion 
offered by the gentleman from Oklahoma (Mr. Lucas) that the House 
suspend the rules and pass the Senate bill, S. 657.
  The question was taken; and (two-thirds having voted in favor 
thereof) the rules were suspended and the Senate bill was passed.
  A motion to reconsider was laid on the table.

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