[Congressional Record Volume 157, Number 31 (Thursday, March 3, 2011)]
[Senate]
[Pages S1236-S1237]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                         SUBMITTED RESOLUTIONS

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       SENATE RESOLUTION 87--DESIGNATING THE YEAR OF 2012 AS THE 
                 ``INTERNATIONAL YEAR OF COOPERATIVES''

  Mr. JOHNSON of South Dakota (for himself, Mr. Cochran, Mr. Kohl, Mr. 
Enzi, Ms. Collins, Mr. Franken, Mr. Tester, Mr. Grassley, Ms. 
Klobuchar, Mr. Wicker, Mrs. McCaskill, Mr. Roberts, Mr. Pryor, Mr. 
Conrad, Mr. Brown of Ohio, Mr. Schumer, Mrs. Murray, Mrs. Boxer, Mr. 
Baucus, Ms. Stabenow, Ms. Cantwell, and Mr. Nelson of Nebraska) 
submitted the following resolution; which was referred to the Committee 
on the Judiciary:

                               S. Res. 87

       Whereas in the United States, there are more than 29,000 
     cooperatives with 120,000,000 members;
       Whereas cooperatives in the United States generate 
     2,000,000 jobs and make a substantial contribution to the 
     economy of the United States with annual sales of 
     $652,000,000,000 and assets of $3,000,000,000,000;
       Whereas the cooperative business model has empowered people 
     around the world to improve their lives through economic and 
     social progress;
       Whereas cooperatives are a major economic force in 
     developed countries and a powerful business model in 
     developing countries, employing approximately 100,000,000 
     people;
       Whereas there are millions of cooperatives, which are owned 
     and governed by more than 1,000,000,000 members, operating in 
     every nation of the world;
       Whereas the economic activity of the largest 300 
     cooperatives in the world is equal to that of the 10th 
     largest national economy;
       Whereas United Nations Resolution 64/136, adopted by the 
     General Assembly on December 18, 2009, designates the year 
     2012 as the ``International Year of Cooperatives'';
       Whereas the theme of the International Year of Cooperatives 
     is ``Cooperative Enterprise Builds a Better World''; and
       Whereas cooperatives are the businesses of the people, and 
     for more than a century, have been a vital part of the world 
     economy: Now, therefore, be it
       Resolved, That the Senate--
       (1) designates the year 2012 as the ``International Year of 
     Cooperatives'';
       (2) congratulates cooperatives and members of cooperatives 
     in the United States and around the world on the recognition 
     of the United Nations of 2012 as the ``International Year of 
     Cooperatives'';
       (3) recognizes the vital role cooperatives play in the 
     economic and social well-being of the United States;
       (4) urges the establishment of a National Committee for the 
     2012 International Year of Cooperatives to be comprised of 
     representatives from each Federal agency, all cooperative 
     sectors, and key stakeholders;
       (5) recognizes the importance of raising the profile of 
     cooperatives and demonstrating the manner by which 
     cooperatives build local wealth, generate employment, and 
     provide competition in the marketplace; and
       (6) encourages highlighting the positive impact of 
     cooperatives and developing new programs for domestic and 
     international cooperative development.

  Mr. JOHNSON of South Dakota. Mr. President, today I submitted a 
resolution with my friend, Senator Thad Cochran of Mississippi, to 
recognize and celebrate the importance of cooperatives to our economy, 
and our rural communities in particular. In 2009, the United Nations 
General Assembly officially declared 2012 as ``The International Year 
of Cooperatives'' through a resolution calling on governments to 
recognize the important role cooperatives play in providing economic 
opportunity for millions of people in the United States and throughout 
the world. Our resolution highlights the impact of cooperatives and 
encourages the development of programs, both here and abroad, for 
cooperative development.
  The Capper-Volstead Act of 1922 was the first legal protection for 
the cooperative business model in which a business is democratically 
controlled and owned by its members and operates for the mutual benefit 
of its members. The membership of a cooperative is comprised of the 
individuals who use the business' services or buy its goods. The 
Capper-Volstead Act was originally enacted with the purpose of legally 
empowering farmers to pool their marketing resources and to improve 
farmers' bargaining power with the buyers of their products. The 
cooperative business model has since expanded to other areas of the 
economy, and has contributed significantly to economic growth in rural 
communities.
  A recent study from the University of Wisconsin Center for 
Cooperatives found that today, 29,000 U.S. cooperatives operate at 
73,000 places of business throughout the country. They have a 
significant impact on the economy, employing around 2 million people 
and generating more than $650 billion in revenue annually. 
Additionally, the member-owned and controlled nature of cooperatives, 
particularly in rural States like South Dakota, helps to ensure that 
economic activity remains in the community. Having a membership stake 
in a local business tends to make one more likely to buy goods or 
services from that business, thereby contributing to local economic 
development. Research has even shown that when consumers find out a 
business is organized as a cooperative, they are more likely to do 
business with that entity.
  Overall, Americans hold 350 million memberships in cooperatives. A 
majority of our Nation's farmers are members of nearly 3,000 farmer-
owned cooperatives, which provide more than 250 thousand jobs in our 
economy. There are more than 900 rural electric cooperatives servicing 
42 million people in almost every State, and over 91 million people 
bank at more than 7,500 credit unions throughout the country. In South 
Dakota alone, 81 farm supply and marketing cooperatives claim 65,000 
memberships, generating $5.3 billion in annual revenue. The 50 credit 
unions located in my home State hold 24,600 memberships and generate 
$2.2 billion in assets. Additionally, there are 125,000 members of the 
30 electric cooperatives and 49,000 members of 11 telephone 
cooperatives throughout the State. Cooperatives clearly take many 
different forms in our communities, providing jobs and opportunities 
for rural residents, and in the case of agriculture, provide new 
markets for the products they produce.
  My resolution will officially include the United States in 
recognizing 2012 as the International Year of Cooperatives,

[[Page S1237]]

and encourage the growth and development of businesses throughout the 
world. I hope my colleagues will join me in recognizing and celebrating 
the contributions of cooperatives and pass this important resolution 
this year.

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