[Congressional Record Volume 149, Number 156 (Friday, October 31, 2003)]
[Senate]
[Pages S13708-S13709]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                         ADDITIONAL STATEMENTS

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                   HONORING DR. MARTHA RHODES ROBERTS

 Mr. GRAHAM of Florida. Mr. President, today I pay tribute to a 
fine humanitarian and Floridian, Dr. Martha Rhodes Roberts, who is 
retiring on October 31. Throughout her 34-year career with the Florida 
Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services, Dr. Martha Rhodes 
Roberts has contributed to Florida's agriculture food safety industry 
as a scientific authority, industry counselor, strategist, and partner 
in the endeavors of Florida agricultural producers. She has become an 
expert on minimizing food contamination for consumers, by helping to 
develop safer standards in food processing. Dr. Rhodes Roberts' 
dedication to safe food practices has enriched the lives of Floridians 
and Americans.
  Since beginning her career with the Florida Department of Agriculture 
and Consumer Services as a microbiologist in the Food Laboratory in 
1968, Dr. Roberts has been a tireless advocate to ensure the food 
Americans eat is safe and abundant while at the same time helping the 
agricultural community to minimize their impacts on the environment. In 
addition to these achievements, she has the distinction of serving as 
the first female Assistant Commissioner of Agriculture for a State 
agency in the country. During her tenure at the Florida Department of 
Agriculture and Consumer Services, Dr. Roberts was instrumental in 
Florida's food safety program becoming one of the preeminent State food 
safety programs in the country. She also has overseen the divisions of 
pesticides, fertilizers, seeds, agricultural water policy, soil and 
water conservation, animal feeds, aquaculture and dairy and animal 
industries during her long career with the department.
  Dr. Roberts has served on several Federal advisory groups for the 
U.S. Food and Drug Administration, the U.S. Department of Agriculture, 
and the U.S. Chamber of Commerce and she has served as president of the 
Association of Food and Drug Officials, comprised of all States, FDA 
and USDA. She was instrumental in organizing the Conference for Food 
Protection, a national body to set food safety standards for all 
States. Dr. Roberts is a member of the Institute of Food Technologists' 
Science Advisory Board, which provides scientific review and analysis 
of issues in food safety, food processing

[[Page S13709]]

and human health. Dr. Roberts has utilized her expertise in food safety 
to assist producers, packers and processors in implementing new 
technologies designed to minimize food contamination, ensuring the 
highest quality and safest food products for consumers.
  In 1996, recognizing that natural resource management was critical 
for Florida agriculture's long term viability, Dr. Roberts advocated 
the creation of the Office of Agricultural Water Policy within the 
Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services. Today it remains the 
only water policy office housed within a State department of 
agriculture. She also spearheaded the formation of the Suwannee River 
Basin Nutrient Management Working Group, a 26-member public-private 
partnership formed to assess nutrient loadings to the Suwannee River 
Watershed and effect reductions via voluntary, incentive-based 
programs. This innovative approach has resulted in dramatic 
environmental benefits to the watershed as a whole. Dr. Roberts was 
instrumental in the establishment of the Commissioner of Agriculture's 
Ag-Environmental Leadership Awards Program. This program, now in its 
ninth year, annually recognizes those Florida growers and ranchers who 
employ innovative management practices designed to optimize the 
protection of wildlife, effectively manage pesticides and nutrients, 
protect water quality, and conserve soil and water.
  Dr. Roberts has been recognized with numerous awards and 
commendations for her efforts. In 2003, she received Florida's 
agriculture industry's highest honor when she was inducted into the 
Florida Agricultural Hall of Fame. Dr. Roberts has been a strong 
advocate of using a common sense approach when implementing a 
regulatory program. She helped win passage of Florida's country of 
origin labeling law in 1979 and worked to see this law become a Federal 
reality in 2002. For her many years of service ensuring the food 
Americans eat is safe, abundant and affordable, I am proud to 
acknowledge the work of Dr. Martha Rhodes Roberts.

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