[Congressional Record Volume 149, Number 56 (Tuesday, April 8, 2003)]
[Senate]
[Pages S4952-S4953]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




 COMMEMORATING THE 50TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE FOREIGN AGRICULTURE SERVICE

  Mr. COCHRAN. Mr. President, fifty years ago, President Eisenhower and 
Secretary of Agriculture Ezra Taft Benson had the foresight to 
acknowledge that the future of American agriculture was dependent on 
the development of creative marketing tools and foreign markets for 
U.S. food and agricultural products. With that in mind, the Foreign 
Agricultural Service, FAS, was created to represent American 
agricultural interests worldwide.
  During the past 50 years, the employees of FAS, working in 
coordination with partners in the agricultural community and other U.S. 
international agencies, have crafted important tools and programs to 
develop and expand foreign markets.
  Recognizing the ever changing global economy, FAS has effectively 
developed the necessary resources to negotiate trade agreements, open 
and maintain foreign markets, and address international food crises and 
development needs.
  Today, exports of American food and agricultural products have grown 
from less than $3 billion in 1953 to over $50 billion, experiencing a 
trade surplus year after year.
  The realities of today's global marketplace, as well as the 
challenges facing American agricultural producers abroad, make the 
mission and continued success of the Foreign Agriculture Service more 
important than ever.
  Therefore I rise today to submit resolution to congratulate the 
Foreign Agriculture Service on the 50th anniversary of its creation, 
and commend its dedicated employees for helping to create benefits for 
American farmers and ranchers by expanding global markets and reducing 
barriers to free trade.
  I urge my colleagues to support this resolution.
  Mr. HARKIN. Mr. President, in recognition of the 50th anniversary of 
the Foreign Agriculture Service of the U.S. Department of Agriculture 
on March 10, Senator Cochran and I are today submitting Senate 
resolution to honor that agency's many achievements over the past half 
century.
  During the 83d Congress, President Eisenhower recognized that the 
productive capacity of the U.S. agricultural sector was outstripping 
the food and feed needs of our domestic economy. In order to assist 
American farmers and exporters in identifying, capturing, and 
maintaining overseas markets for our food and fiber, and thus boost the 
sector's earnings, Secretary Ezra Taft Benson established the Foreign 
Agriculture Service, FAS, by memorandum on March 10, 1953. The next 
year with the passage of the Agriculture Act of 1954, P.L. 83-690, 
agricultural attaches were transferred from the State Department to the 
new agency.
  The mission of FAS is to serve U.S. agriculture's international 
interest by expanding export opportunities for U.S. agricultural, 
aquaculture, and forest products and promoting world food security. 
Since its inception, the agency has assisted in expanding U.S. 
agricultural exports from less than $3 billion in 1953 to projected 
exports valued at $57 billion for 2003, in nominal dollars.
  In addition to providing in-country services and market analysis for 
the key importing countries in the agricultural attache corps, FAS, 
through

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headquarters staff, conducts trade and food aid programs and works with 
staff from other USDA agencies to analyze world market trends. While 
the agency is not solely responsible for our large gains in exports 
over the past five decades, no one could argue it has not provided a 
crucial assistance in that effort. I salute the work of past and 
present FAS employees and look forward to their contributions in the 
future.

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