[Congressional Record Volume 148, Number 126 (Tuesday, October 1, 2002)]
[Senate]
[Page S9709]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]


                      A TRIBUTE TO MR. RALPH PAIGE

 Mr. MILLER. Mr. President, it is a pleasure for me to 
recognize Ralph Paige, executive director of the Southern Federation of 
Cooperatives/Land Assistance Fund, or LAF, as the recipient for the 
National Cooperative Month Economic Freedom Award.
  For the past 14 years, under Mr. Paige's direction, the Federation/
LAF has aided the underserved communities in the great State of 
Georgia, and the rural South, by creating credit unions, farmer-owned 
cooperatives, and new sources of affordable housing for low-income 
people. He has also been a leading advocate for fair treatment and land 
retention for African-Americans and other minority farmers. The 
Federation/LAF has created more than 70 cooperative member groups with 
a membership of more than 20,000 families across 10 Southern States, 
200 units of affordable housing, and 19 credit unions with more than 
10,000 members.
  Under Mr. Paige's leadership, the Federation/LAF has been a 
frontrunner in not just developing new rural businesses and 
cooperatives but also provides the training and resources necessary so 
that they may continue to thrive. The Federation/LAF continues to also 
advance forestry cooperatives, providing special landowner training 
programs to advance their development.
  Mr. Paige has given selflessly of his time to promote and enhance 
cooperative business. He serves on the boards of the National 
Cooperative Business Association, Nationwide Insurance, and the 
Cooperative Development Foundation. He has served as an appointee to 
several USDA advisory committees, including the 21st Century Production 
Agriculture Commission, the Agriculture Policy Advisory Committee for 
Trade, and the National Agricultural Research, Extension, Education and 
Economics Advisory Board.
  Mr. Paige is a past member of the boards for the Georgia Advisory 
Board on Small and Minority Business, Cooperative Business 
International, and Cooperative Works, which is a national network of 
cooperative development centers.
  His achievements have been noted by national and international 
organizations. The Congressional Black Caucus recognized Mr. Paige's 
contributions to rural communities with the 2001 George Collins Rural 
Agriculture Advocacy Award. He is also an entrant into the George 
Washington Carver Public Service Hall of Fame, and has received the 
Georgia Distinguished Cooperator Award from the Georgia Cooperative 
Council. Under Mr. Paige's direction, the Federation/LAF received the 
Humanitarian Award from the Martin Luther King, Jr. Center for Non-
violent Social Change and an award from the United Nations for 
``significant contributions of adequate shelter to the poorer segments 
of the community.''
  Ralph Paige epitomizes cooperation. Since 1967, the Federation/LAF 
has worked on behalf of some of the most disadvantaged citizens of our 
Nation to enable them to do two of the things most basic to economic 
freedom: own land and operate businesses. For these reasons, it is my 
honor to recognize Ralph for his work to advance cooperatives and serve 
disadvantaged communities. I congratulate you on receiving the 2002 
Cooperative Month Economic Freedom Award.

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