[Congressional Record Volume 158, Number 69 (Tuesday, May 15, 2012)]
[Senate]
[Pages S3164-S3169]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                       150TH ANNIVERSARY OF USDA

  Mr. DURBIN. Mr. President, today, I would like to recognize what 
Abraham Lincoln referred to as ``the people's department''--the U.S. 
Department of Agriculture.
  On this day 150 years ago, President Lincoln signed legislation to 
create the U.S. Department of Agriculture. At the beginning, USDA's 
focus was on agriculture research, farming techniques, and keeping 
statistics. Today, more than ever, the USDA is ``the people's 
department.'' The USDA covers a broad range of issues that touch 
people's lives, from soil and water conservation to the school lunch 
program and from agriculture trade to expanding rural broadband 
services.
  Through the efforts of USDA over the past 150 years, agriculture has 
become one of the most successful sectors in the U.S. economy. 
Agriculture accounts for 1 in 12 American jobs and provides our country 
with 86 percent of the food we consume. In 2011, agriculture trade set 
records by exporting nearly $140 billion in U.S. farm exports.
  The USDA has worked to develop rural communities, conserve the 
environment, and ensure that people across the country have access to 
safe and healthy food choices. In rural communities, USDA has given 
money to improve health care facilities, grants to assist families 
purchase or refinance homes, and investments to secure broadband 
services. USDA has worked to protect critical wetlands habitats, 
National Forests, and water and soil. And USDA ensures the health and 
safety of Americans by providing nutrition assistance through SNAP 
payments, reforming the school lunch program, and adopting tougher 
standards for E. coli and Salmonella in animal production.
  Illinois has played a large part in the evolution of agriculture 
policy. President Lincoln gained his respect for agriculture from his 
time spent on farms and in rural communities around the state of 
Illinois as well as in Kentucky and Indiana. The same year President 
Lincoln began USDA, he also signed into law the Homestead Act and the 
Morrill Land Grant College Act. Illinois has also had two Secretaries 
of USDA--John Block, who served from 1981 until 1986, and Edward 
Madigan, who served from 1991 through 1993.
  Over the past 150 years, the U.S. Department of Agriculture has lived 
up to Lincoln's vision as a department for the people. I hope USDA 
continues its commitment to improve agriculture, nutrition, and rural 
communities around the country and across the globe in the Department's 
next 150 years.
  Ms. STABENOW. Mr. President, today I wish to congratulate the U.S. 
Department of Agriculture on 150 years of service to the people of 
America.
  On this day in 1862, President Abraham Lincoln created the Bureau of 
Agriculture and with it, America's commitment to an abundant supply of 
food and fiber. Lincoln grew up on a farm, and he understood the long 
hours of hard work that men and women like his parents spent working 
the land. Farming in those days was a very different proposition--much 
of the work was done by hand or animal labor. He rightly called it the 
People's Department because 90 percent of Americans at the time worked, 
like his folks, on farms.
  Lincoln created the USDA at a time of great change in agriculture. 
Machinery was being introduced that lessened the workload and made 
farming more efficient. Families were heading westward and expanding 
the frontier. It was only 5 days later that Lincoln signed another 
important law that would have a dramatic effect on the future of 
agriculture in this country: the Homestead Act. That same year, Lincoln 
would also sign the law creating the Transcontinental Railroad, as well 
as the Land Grant Colleges Act, which has special meaning for me as a 
Michigan State University graduate.
  But here is the most amazing thing: he did all of this during some of 
the worst fighting of the Civil War.
  When he put pen to paper to create the Bureau of Agriculture, there 
had already been more than 100,000 casualties in the Civil War. He 
created all of these institutions that would have a lasting impact on 
this great Nation at a time when many people wondered how long this 
Nation could survive.
  Mr. President, 150 years ago, in his address to Congress, Lincoln 
said, ``Fellow citizens, we cannot escape history. The fiery trial 
through which we pass will light us in honor or dishonor to the last 
generation.''
  President Lincoln rose to the challenge. He saved the Union, and he 
created lasting institutions that are still with us and making a 
difference today.
  If he could do all that in the middle of the Civil War, with enemy 
troops camped just across the river, what challenge can't we face 
today?
  In the Agriculture Committee, we came together last month to pass, 
with an overwhelming bipartisan vote, the Agriculture Reform, Food and 
Jobs Act, or the farm bill. This is a bill we pass every 5 years to 
renew America's agriculture policy and to continue the important work 
of the Department of Agriculture.
  It is critical that we pass the farm bill before the current bill 
expires in September. We passed a very strong

[[Page S3165]]

bill out of committee, with real reforms that cut the deficit by $23 
billion, and we did it in a bipartisan way.
  We evaluated every program, eliminated duplication, and streamlined 
programs to save taxpayers money while getting better results on the 
ground, and we did it in a bipartisan way.
  Change is never easy, but we came together because the farm bill is 
so important to the 16 million men and women whose jobs rely on 
American agriculture. They work hard every day producing the most 
affordable, healthy, and abundant supply of food, fiber, and energy in 
the world.
  President Lincoln understood how important our food supply is--it 
feeds the Nation and can be the difference in times of war. The 
leadership and innovation of those 16 million Americans have made our 
Nation the world's leader in agriculture. With an ever-growing global 
population, our farmers are truly feeding the world. It is critical for 
our national security that we pass this farm bill to continue our 
leadership.
  It has been 150 years since President Lincoln created America's 
commitment to agriculture, and we have come a long way since then. We 
have been through floods and famines, dust bowls and depressions. But 
we have also seen great advances as we have learned to overcome these 
challenges with better risk management, conservation practices, and a 
commitment to fighting hunger.
  Passing the farm bill will continue this great American success 
story.
  The 150th anniversary of USDA's creation is a great time to celebrate 
farmers and rural communities. It is also a strong reminder that we 
here in Congress need to do our jobs too and pass the farm bill soon. 
Our country's future depends on it.
  Mr. LEAHY. Today marks the 150th anniversary of the United States 
Department of Agriculture, and I would like to take a moment to pay 
tribute to USDA's mission and day-to-day work and to all those involved 
in the agriculture industry--from farmers and ranchers and foresters, 
to producers and manufacturers and researchers.
  The Department of Agriculture is pillar and post in American 
agriculture, fostering durability while enabling innovation; bridging 
old and new, rural and urban. Agriculture has long been a centerpiece 
of Vermont's economy and way of life. The impact of agricultural 
industry is felt in every State, and in every household. In fact, one 
in every 12 Americans is employed in an agriculture-related industry, 
and in Vermont, the importance of our agricultural working landscape to 
tourism, to recreation and to the identity of our State is beyond 
measure.
  One hundred and fifty years ago today, on May 15, 1862, with the 
stroke of President Abraham Lincoln's pen, the Department of 
Agriculture was established, with the purpose of acquiring information 
through ``scientific experiments'' and finding, collecting, and 
disseminating ``new and valuable seeds and plants.'' It is worth noting 
that the establishment of the USDA was the first in a series of the 
foundational acts of Congress that helped to develop our modern 
agricultural system.
  Among these other landmark laws is the Morrill Act, named for 
Vermont's own Senator Justin Morrill, which established our land grant 
colleges, and which also is celebrating its 150th anniversary this 
year. Senator Morrill rightly believed that college education should 
expand beyond arts and classical studies to include agriculture and 
life sciences. In the last 150 years, our land grant colleges have 
provided the foundation for agricultural research and have helped give 
the United States a competitive advantage in the global market, in 
addition to becoming inarguably the best public institutions of higher 
learning in the world.
  Thanks to the hard work of our Nation's agricultural producers, to 
the research done at our land grant colleges, to the dedication of U.S. 
Department of Agriculture employees across the country, and to the 
policies and programs overseen by the Department of Agriculture, 
American consumers enjoy a safe and plentiful food supply. We Americans 
spend, on average, less than 10 percent of our disposable income on 
food, the lowest in the world. This would not be possible without the 
science, policies, and vital programs advanced by the USDA in fostering 
our modernized agricultural and food systems.
  The Department of Agriculture also manages some of the Nation's most 
significant ongoing conservation and environmental quality efforts.
  Farming is hard work. Farming also is an inherently risky venture, 
subject to the whims of nature, as well as the volatility of the 
commodity marketplace. The programs USDA manages at the local level 
have helped make risk manageable for farmers--especially when it comes 
to small family farms. These programs have been a steadying element--a 
balance wheel, smoothing out major risks, allowing America's farmers to 
harness the earth's bounty and giving American consumers access to 
unrivaled food security and variety.
  Despite--and, in some cases, as an unintended result of--the great 
advances in agriculture in the last 150 years, there is more work to be 
done. Too many Americans still endure hunger, with almost 50 million 
Americans living in food insecure households, while at the same time 
two-thirds of Americans are overweight, and obesity-related disease is 
fast becoming an epidemic in this country. Globally, 1 billion people--
out of a population of 7 billion--are hungry and food insecure. As the 
world population increases, we must continue our scientific effort in 
agriculture research and innovation, and we must not simply produce 
more food; we must also improve access to and consumption of healthier 
foods. These goals need to be achieved while we work to restore natural 
ecosystems that are fundamental to sustaining life on earth.
  My home State of Vermont has placed itself at the forefront of 
developing and implementing the agricultural and food systems that the 
planet will depend on in the 21st century, and the USDA is a critical 
partner in this essential venture. The USDA is providing needed 
technical support to enhance the efficiency of our dairy and 
diversified farms; the USDA provides the financial and risk management 
tools that farmers need to diversify and survive in a changing climate 
and volatile markets; the USDA supports cutting-edge research at the 
land grant University of Vermont; the USDA is vitally important to 
rural communities and businesses; USDA conservation programs are the 
lynchpin of our work to improve water quality; and the USDA Organic 
program has kept Vermont at the forefront of this fast-growing and 
promising sector. In fact, in Vermont, and across the Nation, the 
Department of Agriculture manages some of the Nation's most significant 
ongoing conservation and environmental quality efforts.
  The USDA has deep and longstanding roots throughout rural America and 
in our communities. Being in and being of the communities that the USDA 
serves makes a crucial difference, as we saw last year in Vermont 
through the many ways that USDA's diligent workforce became an integral 
part of the response to the disastrous damage wrought by Hurricane/
Tropical Storm Irene.
  We face many challenges today, but with smart, effective and 
sustainable agricultural policies, the United States is in a prime 
position to lead the war against global hunger and toward public health 
while also protecting our water, air and open spaces for generations to 
come.
  As a lifelong Vermonter, I value my State's farming traditions and I 
am proud of the hard work of Vermont's farmers who have persisted in a 
difficult economy, embracing innovation and change. Some are 
transitioning to organic operations, and others focusing on direct 
marketing opportunities or value-added products. Farming is not an easy 
way of life, but it has remained a cornerstone of Vermont's economy, 
and the Nation's, because of the dedication our farmers and producers, 
the research of our land grant colleges, and the policies and support 
of the Department of Agriculture. I am proud to see so many young 
people returning to the farms of Vermont. Some are continuing their 
family's farming legacy, while others are the first in several 
generations to turn back to the land. All of them have a deep 
dedication to the stewardship of Vermont's natural resources and to the 
working landscape that is helping to strengthen our economy.

[[Page S3166]]

  I am proud to be a member of the Senate Committee on Agriculture, 
Nutrition, and Forestry and to have had the opportunity to serve as its 
chairman. I also consider it a great privilege to be able to offer 
Vermonters a seat at the table when policy matters affecting our 
State's farmers and our State's economy, such as our current work on 
the 2012 Farm Bill, are written and considered.
  Agriculture is part of the lifeblood of the American economy then, 
now, and in the future.
  I wish the Department of Agriculture a ``Happy 150th Birthday'' and 
continued success in the USDA's vital missions that are so important to 
each and every American family, and to the world.
  Mr. ROBERTS. Mr. President, today I wish to recognize the marking of 
an historic event. 150 years ago--on May 15, 1862--President Abraham 
Lincoln signed into law an Act establishing what our Department of 
Agriculture is today.
  Agriculture has come a long way in 150 years. Through science, 
innovation, ingenuity and plain old hard work, America's farmers have 
gone from producing enough food for their individual families to 
producing enough to meet the needs of 150 people per farmer--that's 
what I call the miracle of modern agriculture.
  Some may have a romanticized view of agriculture production 150 years 
ago and pine for a return to the days of the past. But let me assure 
you, those were hard days. And if today's farmers and ranchers only 
produced the same yield and quality of food as the farmers and ranchers 
of yesteryear, we'd be in a world of hurt.
  Today's farmers and ranchers produce the safest, most abundant and 
affordable food and fiber supply in the world--all while facing 
increased input costs and tightening regulations.
  As if these challenges weren't enough, our producers face a challenge 
of worldwide significance. As the global population tops 9 billion in 
the next several decades, agriculture production must more than double 
to meet the expected demand for food and nutrition.
  In addition to the sheer population expansion, global food demand 
will shift toward higher value proteins and commodities as economies 
develop and prosper. For example, in 1985 the average person in China 
consumed roughly 44 pounds of meat. This increased to 90 pounds per 
person in a short 15 years. That number is expected to double again by 
2030.
  That's no small task. It will take advancements in technology, 
efficiency and in some cases simply getting government and regulatory 
roadblocks out of the way. Doubling agriculture production will only 
occur through production techniques that combine the use of important 
conservation practices with the use of improved seed varieties that 
increase drought and disease resistance while increasing yields.
  The importance of agriculture's mission cannot be overstated. It is 
also a matter of national security. A well fed world is a much safer 
and stable place than a hungry world. Full bellies lead to stability, 
economic growth and peace. Hungry bellies lead to discontent, 
instability, and extremism.
  The more nations we can help to feed and bring economic prosperity, 
the more stable the world as a whole will become.
  Now I don't know if 150 years ago President Lincoln knew how 
important the role of agriculture would become to global stability or 
what USDA's role would be in answering these challenges. But this 
anniversary provides us a unique opportunity to thank our producers for 
their efforts in bringing agriculture this far, and to let them know 
that we stand beside them in meeting the challenges ahead.
  Mr. President, I yield the floor.
  Mr. HARKIN. Mr. President, on this day, May 15, in 1862, President 
Lincoln signed into law an act establishing our nation's Department of 
Agriculture. This 150th anniversary is an important opportunity to 
recognize and celebrate the success and achievement of the many 
Americans who are involved directly or indirectly in producing, 
processing, and distributing food, fuel, and fiber for our nation and 
for export to foreign consumers.
  The specific purposes of the new department mentioned in the 1862 act 
are ``to acquire and diffuse among the people of the United States 
useful information'' concerning agriculture, broadly and 
comprehensively defined, and ``to procure, propagate, and distribute 
among the people new and valuable seeds and plants.'' The 
responsibilities and authority entrusted to the Department of 
Agriculture have of course been enlarged over the course of the past 
150 years, but this initial legislation contains the core elements of 
the Department's mission and role that have continued to this day.
  You will notice in the act the emphasis on disseminating among the 
people of the United States information, knowledge, and technology that 
would be helpful and useful to them as in their pursuits in 
agriculture. In doing so, the new Department would help to create, 
foster, and develop new, broadly-available opportunities among the 
people of the United States. Individuals and families could then 
capitalize on these opportunities through applying their own efforts 
and talents to create and grow farms and ranches, and in the process 
also to build and strengthen our nation. Some 2\1/2\ years later after 
signing the act, President Lincoln noted in his fourth and last message 
to Congress the success of the new Department of Agriculture in 
responding to and serving the needs of the people of our Nation: ``It 
is peculiarly the people's department, in which they feel more directly 
concerned than in any other.''
  Two other landmark pieces of legislation in 1862 also reflect this 
approach of the Federal government offering a helping hand to the 
people of our nation in developing American agriculture. On May 20, 
1862, President Lincoln signed what is commonly known as the Homestead 
Act in order to provide people who would otherwise not have the chance 
an opportunity to own land. And on July 2, 1862, President Lincoln 
signed into law the first Morrill Act to donate public lands to the 
states and territories to support education ``related to agriculture 
and mechanic arts''. This act was the first Federal assistance to 
higher education, and its purpose was to make this education widely 
available to multitudes of people who otherwise never would have 
obtained it.
  Over the ensuing years, our Nation has benefited tremendously from 
these policies. The productivity of America's farmers and ranchers, 
along with those working in associated businesses and industries, is a 
foundation for our national economy and our way of life. We have been 
blessed in this country with a richness of natural resources to which 
Americans have applied their hard work, knowledge, and talents. The 
abundance of America's agricultural output has been instrumental in 
supporting our people and enabling them to pursue and to excel in many 
other fields. To be sure, our Nation's history has proven the wisdom of 
Daniel Webster's observation in 1840, ``When tillage begins, other arts 
follow.''
  The responsibilities of the Department of Agriculture have of course 
grown over the years as the circumstances and needs of our Nation and 
its people have changed. The Department continues to play a critical 
role in supporting research, education, and extension involving food, 
agriculture, and related topics. It helps agricultural producers 
survive unpredictable economic losses from market fluctuations and 
damaging weather. The Department provides critical assistance to 
farmers and ranchers in conserving and protecting soil, water, 
wildlife, and other natural resources for future generations. And USDA 
nutrition assistance enables American children to eat healthy lunches, 
breakfasts, and snacks and low-income families to put food on the 
table. The Department of Agriculture also provides important assistance 
toward developing new sources of rural renewable energy and biobased 
products. Rural communities benefit from USDA programs that support 
vital facilities and foster the creation and growth of businesses and 
jobs. Of course, consumers rely on USDA to protect and ensure the 
safety of their meat and poultry. And its trade promoting efforts boost 
our agricultural exports.
  On this anniversary of the Department of Agriculture, it is also 
important to recognize and commend the dedication, talent, and hard 
work of all of the people working in the Department of Agriculture 
wherever they may be--in local, county, State, or regional offices, 
here in Washington, or

[[Page S3167]]

in a foreign country. I am also of course proud that several Iowans 
have very capably led the Department of Agriculture, including our 
present secretary, Tom Vilsack.
  So, today is a time to reflect upon and recognize the achievements of 
American agriculture and the contributions to that success from the 
Department of Agriculture. It is also a time to appraise and consider 
the huge challenges we face in the years ahead in producing the 
quantities of food needed to eradicate hunger in a growing global 
population and to do so in ways that conserve and sustain natural 
resources. Undoubtedly, our Nation and our Department of Agriculture 
will be called upon to continue our leadership in responding to and 
solving these crucial challenges.
  Mr. JOHANNS. Mr. President, I come to the floor today to commemorate 
the 150 year anniversary of the U.S. Department of Agriculture.
  I am pleased that my colleagues in the Senate have agreed the 
occasion is worthy of a resolution honoring this milestone in our 
nation's history. On May 15, 1862, President Abraham Lincoln signed 
legislation to establish the USDA. It gave the agency general authority 
to acquire and spread useful information on agricultural subjects and 
to assist in the development and use of new and valuable seeds and 
plants.
  For the past 150 years, USDA has lent a helping hand to our farmers 
and ranchers as they provide the food, feed, fiber, and fuel to 
Americans, as well as a growing customer base around the world. In the 
1850s, there was 1 farmer for every 2 people in the United States. 
Thanks to ongoing improvements in technology and management practices, 
today's farmers and ranchers are able to produce even more with 
efficient use of resources. Currently, the average farmer in the United 
States feeds more than 150 people.
  The history of Nebraska has been closely intertwined with this story. 
In fact, thousands of homesteaders settled in the Nebraska territory 
after President Lincoln signed another piece of legislation--the 
Homestead Act--on May 20, 1862. This influx of population led to 
Nebraska becoming the Nation's 37th State. Since that time, USDA has 
served as a resource to the many farmers and ranchers who continue to 
make agriculture the leading industry in Nebraska's economy--just as 
the department has done for producers nationwide.
  As the 28th Secretary of Agriculture, I was proud to work with men 
and women who are still committed to USDA's original mission of 
spreading information and developing new technologies to increase 
agricultural production.
  Today's Department of Agriculture conducts valuable research through 
the land-grant university system and institutions like the University 
of Nebraska. USDA also helps to minimize the risks of weather and 
commodity price volatility for producers. And, the department helps to 
protect the health of our plants and animals. But, USDA's mission goes 
beyond helping producers. For example, those who enjoy a good steak, as 
well as other meat and poultry products in the U.S., have come to trust 
USDA's food safety inspection process.
  Of growing importance is USDA's role in promoting exports of 
agriculture products. It is fitting that this anniversary falls in 
May--which is also world trade month. I think we can all agree that the 
benefits of trade are great especially to the agriculture sector.
  Nebraska is a big agricultural State. And, in Nebraska alone, more 
than 30,000 jobs and more than $7.6 billion dollars in revenue were 
directly tied to exports last year. And, these numbers will only grow 
as we continue to expand access to customers around the world.
  In fact, the Colombia Free Trade Agreement goes into effect today. It 
offers great opportunity to both the manufacturing and agriculture 
sectors. The Colombia Agreement eliminates barriers for many Nebraska 
agricultural products, including beef, corn, soybeans, pork, and wheat. 
For some time now, goods from Colombia have been entering the U.S. 
tariff-free, while American producers still paid tariffs on exports to 
Colombia as high as 40 percent.
  It is good news for our agriculture producers and manufacturers that 
trade agreements are finally being implemented. The South Korea 
Agreement has already gone into effect, and I hope Panama Agreement 
won't be far behind. These types of free trade agreements are sorely 
needed so we can level the playing field for our exporters.
  We cannot ignore the fact that the fastest-growing opportunities for 
American businesses, farms, and ranches are outside our borders. They 
are overseas in rapidly developing countries. I am confident that 
Nebraska farmers, businesses and workers, and those across the country, 
can compete with anyone in the world. And, in doing so, we can create 
new jobs here at home.
  USDA has played a key role in making sure our farmers and ranchers 
have the tools to take advantage of these export opportunities. 
Additionally, the department recognizes that American agriculture is 
intertwined with the health of our rural communities. USDA works to 
ensure small-town-America is not overlooked by a Federal Government 
that is often focused on big urban areas.
  Over the past 150 years, President Lincoln's vision of ``the People's 
Department'' has expanded beyond America's farms and ranches and rural 
communities. His vision is alive and well in the health of our 
schoolchildren, in our ability to supply energy from homegrown sources, 
and in our leadership role in helping feed some of the hungriest and 
neediest people around the world.
  A key part of USDA's mission--one that consumes the largest portion 
of USDA's budget--is addressing hunger and meeting the nutritional 
needs of Americans. Whether through school lunches or assistance for 
hungry families, USDA plays an important role in supporting those in 
need.
  USDA's mission is one of the most diverse of any department and in 
every area there are hard-working staff striving to meet the 
department's goals. On this day, I am happy to recognize the men and 
women of the ``People's Department.'' Their professionalism, 
dedication, and work ethic provide a shining example of why President 
Lincoln called the Department of Agriculture the ``People's 
Department.''
  Together, we celebrate the growth and success of American agriculture 
and the health and well-being of the people of the United States. We 
honor the farmers, ranchers, and others whose ingenuity, adaptability, 
and skill have created the safest and most abundant food supply in the 
history of mankind.
  Mr. CASEY. Mr. President, I am pleased to help recognize the 150th 
birthday of the United States Department of Agriculture--USDA. As a 
member of the Senate Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition and Forestry 
as well as the Committee on Foreign Relations, I understand the 
importance of agriculture to feeding our Nation and feeding the world.
  One hundred and fifty years ago today President Abraham Lincoln 
signed the legislation creating the Department of Agriculture. This was 
followed in short order by the Homestead Act and then the Morrill Act 
establishing our great land grant college system, including The 
Pennsylvania State University. I suspect that few Americans at the time 
would have imagined that President Lincoln's leadership and vision in 
the area of agriculture would have such a profound impact on our 
country and the world.
  Just recently, Dr. Rajiv Shah, the Administrator of the Agency for 
International Development said that the single-most effective way to 
eliminate world poverty was to increase agriculture yields. That is an 
extraordinary statement. It means that Penn State and the other 
agriculture research universities have a critical role to play in 
eliminating hunger, assisting in global food security and political 
stability.
  The world's population just passed seven billion people and is on the 
way to nine billion people by 2050. This means we must double world 
food production by 2050 in order to meet the challenge of feeding this 
increased population.
  As noted recently by Bob Stallman, President of the American Farm 
Bureau Federation:

       The importance of science and innovation . . . to 
     agriculture will be significant as we

[[Page S3168]]

     face several challenges in the years ahead. . . . Further, we 
     must accomplish this hefty goal while realizing that our 
     Earth is fragile. To take care of our environment, we must 
     embrace agriculture research, science, innovation and 
     biotechnology. When it comes to medical care, communication 
     and transportation we accept the importance of innovation. We 
     need to do the same when it comes to the production of food.

  Last year, net farm income and farm exports set a record and played a 
key role in helping to grow the U.S. economy. In order to ensure the 
food security of our Nation, I believe strongly that Pennsylvania 
farmers will continue to be productive, competitive and successful and 
supply food to communities in Pennsylvania, throughout the country and 
the world. Pennsylvania's proud agriculture tradition helped to build 
the Nation and agriculture continues to drive our economy.
  We live in a nation that is as diverse in agricultural production as 
it is in the people who consume the products that farmers grow. As we 
reflect upon agriculture's past, and look toward agriculture's future, 
I hope we can continue to ensure that we have a safe, stable, secure 
supply of food. Agriculture is not just a nostalgic reflection of the 
past; it is critical to the U.S. economy and all Americans as we move 
forward. Therefore, I am pleased to extend birthday wishes to USDA, the 
land grant colleges and universities, and all those in the food value 
chain.
  Ms. KLOBUCHAR. Mr. President, I am here today to commemorate the 
United States Department of Agriculture on its 150th anniversary.
  Our country has changed dramatically since 1862, when President 
Abraham Lincoln signed a bill into law creating the Department of 
Agriculture.
  Despite all the changes we have seen in the last century and a half, 
the USDA remains true to its original mission as ``The People's 
Department,'' administering critical programs that touch the lives of 
all Americans.
  So as we celebrate this important milestone for the USDA, I think we 
should also take a moment to recognize the men and women who are 
putting its programs to use--the farmers and agriculture leaders who 
grow our crops, produce our food and power our homegrown energy supply.
  Sometimes, people forget that food doesn't just magically appear on 
grocery store shelves. But the truth is that behind every aisle--
whether it's dairy or produce--there is farmer or a rancher who has 
made it their livelihood to produce nutritious, abundant food.
  In Minnesota, our economic strength is anchored in the soil of our 
land and the sweat of our farmers. Agriculture is our State's leading 
export, accounting for $75 billion in economic activity every year and 
supporting more than 300,000 jobs. And while we are 21st in the country 
for population, we are the sixth largest agricultural producer.
  Minnesota is number one in turkeys, green peas, and oats, number two 
in spring wheat, number three in hogs and soybeans, and number four in 
corn.
  I have spent the last year traveling across our State as part of an 
economic tour that has taken me to dozens of communities and businesses 
throughout Minnesota. And no matter where I go, I am always reminded of 
the critical role that farming plays in our State's economy.
  For generations, the Department of Agriculture has stood behind our 
farmers and rural communities and made sure they had the tools and 
resource to move forward.
  The USDA may be best known for administering the farm programs that 
help agricultural producers manage risk and recover from disasters--
everything from floods to market failures. But programs such as crop 
insurance, which provides a safety net across 254 million acres, are 
just one component of the USDA's larger portfolio of priorities--
everything from clean energy development and conservation to export 
promotion.
  In terms of research, the USDA has helped our farmers and ranchers 
remain the most productive in the world. It has funded research that 
not only shields our food supply from pests and dangerous diseases, but 
also increases the productivity of farmers growing everything from 
wheat to watermelons.
  Anyone who has visited a farm using modern precision agriculture can 
tell you just how far we have come. And in terms of the economic 
benefits, studies have shown that for every dollar spent on 
agricultural research, it returns over $20 to our economy.
  The USDA is also making great headway with conservation programs. By 
working with hundreds of thousands of farmers and ranchers and 
implementing conservation practices on tens of millions of acres of 
private land, the USDA is helping reduce soil erosion and ensure clean 
drinking water.
  And in preserving our natural resources, USDA is also strengthening 
key industries like fishing and hunting, which are so much more than 
just hobbies in my State--in Minnesota, sportsmen put $3.4 billion into 
our economy each year and support 55,000 jobs.
  On the energy front, USDA is moving us closer to oil independence by 
encouraging the development of homegrown sources--like cellulosic 
biofuels, methane digesters and other renewable and energy efficient 
solutions. Altogether, those solutions are expected to save enough 
energy to power nearly 600,000 homes a year.
  At a time of spiking gas prices and volatility in foreign oil 
markets, I believe we should be investing in the energy innovators of 
the Midwest--not the oil cartels of the Mideast.
  With the right tools, America's farmers can develop the next 
generation energy sources that will power the world.
  We are already feeding the world, and the USDA has helped make that 
possible through its work to lift export barriers and open new markets 
for agricultural goods. In 2011 farm exports reached a record high of 
$137 billion, which support 1.5 million jobs here in the U.S.
  Finally, so much of the USDA's work boils down to strengthening rural 
communities. That is why programs to help finance everything from 
broadband to infrastructure for clean drinking water are so important. 
They are critical to ensuring a kid who grows up in rural American can 
stay in rural America and doesn't have to move somewhere else to find a 
job, raise a family or start a business.
  In this sense, the USDA truly is the ``People's Department.'' This 
only underscores the importance of the work we're doing in the Senate 
to craft a strong and successful farm bill--one that builds on the 
success of existing programs while also making key improvements and 
accounting for challenges created by the current budget environment.
  The Agriculture Committee took the first step by passing the farm 
bill out of committee in April, on a strong bipartisan vote of 16 5, 
that should pave the way for full Senate action.
  The legislation strengthens and continues many vital programs that 
farmers rely on in States across the country.
  It maintains a robust farm safety net which makes several 
improvements to the crop insurance program, including changes to ensure 
the program works better for fruit, vegetable and organic producers.
  I sponsored an amendment that will give beginning farmers better 
access to the crop insurance program by making it more affordable for 
them to purchase coverage.
  And because I believe we should do more to invest in the future of 
American agriculture, I worked to make sure the bill included 
provisions for the Beginning Farmers and Ranchers Program and for 
promoting public-private research opportunities.
  Importantly, the bill we passed in the Committee also streamlines and 
strengthens the conservation programs that farmers rely on to keep our 
soil healthy and our water clean. It preserves the essential nutrition 
programs that millions of families and children rely on every day. And 
it includes a strong energy title for encouraging homegrown energy 
production.
  Every single American has a direct stake in the success of our farms 
and food businesses. Through the food we eat, the water we drink, the 
fuel we put in our cars and the air we breathe, each and every one of 
us is personally invested in the success of American agriculture, and 
that is why the USDA is such a critical resources.
  I congratulate all my friends with the USDA on a remarkable 150 
years, and I want to thank my colleagues on the floor today for their 
great work

[[Page S3169]]

and dedication to supporting our farmers and rural communities. I look 
forward to working with all of my colleagues in the Senate to pass a 
strong Farm Bill that supports vital services at the USDA and gets the 
job done for our Nation's farmers.
  Mr. JOHNSON of South Dakota. Mr. President, today I wish to recognize 
American agricultural producers on the 150th anniversary of President 
Lincoln signing legislation establishing the U.S. Department of 
Agriculture on May 15, 1862.
  As President Lincoln said in his last annual address to Congress, 
``[The Department of Agriculture] is precisely the people's Department, 
in which they feel more directly concerned than in any other.'' Many 
don't realize it, but USDA plays a unique role in the daily lives of 
every single American, ranging from the programs available that assist 
rural small businesses to providing the support system that makes it 
possible for our farmers and ranchers to produce the most affordable 
and abundant food supply of any country in the world.
  As the main economic pillar and No. 1 industry in my State of South 
Dakota, it is important that we acknowledge and celebrate the economic 
importance of agriculture and the role that the USDA has played in 
implementing and supporting policies that have assisted our farmers and 
ranchers in becoming a leader in feeding, fueling, and clothing the 
world.
  USDA's work on food, agriculture, economic development, science, risk 
management, natural resources conservation, and a whole host of other 
issues has enabled the agriculture industry to establish itself as a 
critical component in our economic success while having an influence on 
the lives of every single American. The Department, in coordination 
with our Nation's farmers and ranchers, has helped allow families to 
put nutritious, healthy food on their tables at a lower cost than 
almost anywhere else in the world. On average, less than 10 percent of 
American consumers' disposable income is spent on food.
  Moreover, agriculture is the economic engine that drives our rural 
communities. Without viable family farms and ranches our small towns 
and Main Street businesses throughout South Dakota and our Nation would 
face significant hardships. According to the South Dakota Department of 
Agriculture, the agriculture industry has a $20 billion economic impact 
each year, accounting for one-third of the State's economic activity. 
The 46,000 agricultural producers on 31,500 farms combine with 
associated industries to employ more than 143,000 South Dakotans.
  But the value of America's farmers and ranchers goes far beyond 
economic activity. Our producers are also the most productive in the 
world, providing the food, fuel, and fiber necessary to sustain us and 
millions of others throughout the world. Each year, just one South 
Dakota producer raises enough food to feed 155 people both here at home 
and abroad. As the world's population continues to grow to a projected 
9 billion people by 2050, the demand for our agricultural products will 
only increase, and we will have to continue improving our productive 
capacity to double food production on fewer acres.
  The increased yields needed to overcome the challenges ahead cannot 
be accomplished without the full use of sound science and innovative 
technology. In providing public land for the establishment of colleges 
to further agricultural research and education, the Morrill Land Grant 
College Act, which was also signed into law by President Lincoln in 
1862, gave us such institutions as South Dakota State University and 
will remain a lasting achievement for the ongoing progress of 
production agriculture.
  Therefore, on the 150th anniversary of its establishment, I commend 
USDA, and the American agricultural producers they assist, for 
providing the food, fuel, and fiber that we each rely on. I 
congratulate them and wish a happy birthday to USDA and those 
throughout the food chain.
  Senator KOHL. Mr. President, in the fall of 1859, just two years 
prior to his election to the presidency, Abraham Lincoln spoke to the 
Wisconsin State Agricultural Society in my hometown of Milwaukee, WI. 
Lincoln concluded his speech saying, ``Let us hope . . . that by the 
best cultivation of the physical world, beneath and around us, and the 
intellectual and moral world within us, we shall secure an individual, 
social, and political prosperity and happiness.'' Just 3 years later, 
President Lincoln created the Department of Agriculture with these 
words in mind.
  May 15, 2012 marks the 150th year of the U.S. Department of 
Agriculture, USDA. Perhaps more than any other department, USDA 
connects Americans to the land and to each other in ways seen and 
unseen. From its formation in 1862 through today, the Department has 
served millions of American's in a multitude of innovative ways.
  From the earliest years of our Nation, agricultural production has 
been front and center. Today, roughly 1 out of every 12 Americans is 
employed in an agriculture related industry. Whether a producer, 
researcher, conservationist, food safety official, or one of many other 
agricultural professions, each person, including those who work in 
USDA, plays an important role in producing and delivering a safe and 
healthy food supply to the United States and the world.
  Colleges and universities around the country have produced research 
that has improved crop yields, plant and livestock health, and soil 
quality, among others. Research has also led to the widespread use of 
conservation practices on farmland. While there are many different 
types of conservation efforts supported by USDA, they all share the 
same goal--to maintain the health and vitality of American farmland for 
future years and future generations. Once research and conservation 
efforts have been applied it becomes the job of agricultural producers 
to efficiently harvest and deliver their product to markets around the 
corner, or across the country. I believe American agricultural 
producers are the best in the world at what they do.
  To help Americans sort through the incredible variety of their food 
choices at grocery stores or farmers markets, USDA provides critical 
guidance for nutrition assistance. Through the My Plate program and 
other nutrition education initiatives, USDA works to ensure that 
children, low-income individuals, seniors and the disabled not only 
understand what makes up a nutritious, healthy meal--but they create 
access to such meals year round, through programs such as the Special 
Nutrition Assistance Program for Women, Infants and Children, or the 
Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program. These programs and others 
help feed those who have trouble accessing healthy foods, but they do 
so in a way that reinvests in agricultural producers and their rural 
communities.
  I believe USDA's most important achievement has been the fulfillment 
of Lincoln's vision--harmoniously using all the tools, resources and 
programs at its disposal to contribute to social prosperity and 
happiness through the cultivation of the American land and its people.
  It is with pride and respect that I honor USDA and our Nation's 
agriculture industry today.

                          ____________________