[Congressional Record Volume 148, Number 150 (Tuesday, November 19, 2002)]
[Senate]
[Pages S11564-S11565]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




              RECOGNIZING PUBLIC SERVICE OF ANN JORGENSEN

 Mr. GRASSLEY. Mr. President, I want to take this opportunity 
to recognize and express appreciation for the contributions to public 
service made by Ann Jorgensen, who is finishing her term as board 
member to the Farm Credit Administration.

[[Page S11565]]

  A production agriculture and hog farmer from my home State of Iowa, 
Ms. Jorgensen moved to Washington in 1997 to serve on the 
Presidentially appointed, Senate-confirmed, three-member board of the 
Farm Credit Administration, FCA. FCA is an independent U.S. Government 
agency responsible for regulating and examining the entities of the 
Farm Credit System. The Farm Credit System is a nationwide financial 
cooperative that lends to agriculture and rural America.
  Members of the FCA board also serve as Directors for the Farm Credit 
System Insurance Corporation, FCSIC, to which Ms. Jorgensen was elected 
as the first woman chair in January 2000. FCSIC is an independent U.S. 
Government corporation responsible for ensuring the timely payment of 
principal and interest on insured notes, bonds, debentures, and other 
obligations issued on behalf of Farm Credit System banks. Ms. 
Jorgensen's leadership was instrumental in keeping the insurance fund 
at or near the statutory 2 percent capitalization level.
  During Ms. Jorgensen's 5-year tenure at the Farm Credit 
Administration, many changes took place in the Farm Credit System 
influenced by the FCA board. Through the board approval of 
restructuring applications, the number of Farm Credit System 
associations consolidated from 250 to 103, thus creating greater 
efficiencies, better customer service, and cost savings to 
associations. The board also amended participation regulations allowing 
for the purchase of a 100-percent interest in participations and 
eliminating the territorial consent requirement. With these and other 
changes, the Farm Credit System today is well capitalized and 
profitable with a high asset quality.
  Prior to her appointment to the FCA board, she served on a number of 
governing boards for the State of Iowa, including 6 years as a member 
of the Board of Regents. The Board of Regents is responsible for the 
State's three universities, including the University of Iowa Hospital, 
a world-renowned teaching hospital, and its affiliated clinics. She 
also served on the board of the Iowa Department of Economic Development 
and chaired the Iowa Rural Development Council. Among many other boards 
and committees, she has also served on the Agriculture Product Advisory 
Board, the Interstate Agricultural Grain Marketing Commission, the 
National Pork Producers Council Environmental Committee, the European 
Trade Task Force Legislative Study Committee; the Iowa Public 
Broadcasting Network Board of Directors and Foundation Board.
  She was named to the Farm Foundation's Bennett Agricultural Round 
Table in June 2000. This provides a forum for discussion and dialogue 
among agricultural, agribusiness, government, academic, and interest 
group leaders on issues of importance to agriculture and rural America. 
Alpha Zeta, the national honorary agricultural fraternity, named her to 
its Centennial Honor Roll in 1997. She has also been inducted into the 
Iowa Volunteer Hall of Fame, and along with her husband, has previously 
been recognized by Farm Futures magazine as owner of one of the Top 10 
Best Managed Farms.
  I thank her for her numerous contributions to our farmers as well as 
rural America, and I extend my very best wishes for her continued 
success.

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