[Congressional Record Volume 160, Number 33 (Thursday, February 27, 2014)]
[Senate]
[Page S1239]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




 SENATE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION 33--CELEBRATING THE 100TH ANNIVERSARY OF 
THE ENACTMENT OF THE SMITH-LEVER ACT, WHICH ESTABLISHED THE NATIONWIDE 
                      COOPERATIVE EXTENSION SYSTEM

  Ms. STABENOW (for herself and Mr. Cochran) submitted the following 
concurrent resolution; which was referred to the Committee on 
Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry:

                            S. Con. Res. 33

       Whereas May 8, 2014, marks the centennial of the enactment 
     of the Smith-Lever Act (7 U.S.C. 341 et seq.), which 
     established the Cooperative Extension System, the nationwide 
     transformative education system operating through land-grant 
     colleges and universities (as defined in section 1404 of the 
     National Agricultural Research, Extension, and Teaching 
     Policy Act of 1977 (7 U.S.C. 3103)) in partnership with 
     Federal, State, and local governments;
       Whereas Senator Michael Hoke Smith of Georgia and 
     Representative Asbury Francis Lever of South Carolina 
     authored the Smith-Lever Act (7 U.S.C. 341 et seq.) to bring 
     the research-based knowledge of land-grant colleges and 
     universities to individuals where the individuals live and 
     work;
       Whereas the first section of the Smith-Lever Act (7 U.S.C. 
     341) states that the purpose of the Act is ``to aid in 
     diffusing among the people of the United States useful and 
     practical information on subjects relating to agriculture, 
     uses of solar energy with respect to agriculture, home 
     economics, and rural energy, and to encourage the application 
     of the same'' through extension work carried out by the land-
     grant colleges and universities;
       Whereas cooperative extension work is a critical component 
     of the three-part mission of the land-grant colleges and 
     universities to work collaboratively with research 
     institutions, in particular the State agriculture experiment 
     stations and 106 colleges and universities, in each State of 
     the United States, the District of Columbia, and each 
     territory or possession of the United States, including--
       (1) part B institutions (as defined in section 322 of the 
     Higher Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 1061));
       (2) 1994 Institutions (as defined in section 532 of the 
     Equity in Educational Land-Grant Status Act of 1994 (7 U.S.C. 
     301 note; Public Law 103-382)); and
       (3) Hispanic-serving institutions (as defined in section 
     1404 of the National Agricultural Research, Extension, and 
     Teaching Policy Act of 1977 (7 U.S.C. 3103));
       Whereas research-based education provided through the 
     Cooperative Extension System to farmers and ranchers helped 
     establish the United States as a leading agricultural-
     producing nation in the world;
       Whereas, in 1924, the clover emblem was adopted by the 
     Department of Agriculture to represent the 4-H Clubs through 
     which the nationwide youth development program of the 
     Cooperative Extension System is carried out;
       Whereas, since 1924, 4-H Clubs have prepared millions of 
     youth for responsible adulthood;
       Whereas cooperative extension activities--
       (1) prepare individuals for healthy, productive lives via 
     sustained education, such as the nutrition education program 
     established under section 1425 of the National Agricultural 
     Research, Extension, and Teaching Policy Act of 1977 (7 
     U.S.C. 3175);
       (2) help to break the cycle of poverty; and
       (3) reduce the expenditures of Federal and State assistance 
     programs;
       Whereas educational activities carried out under the Smith-
     Lever Act (7 U.S.C. 341 et seq.) provide rapid response to 
     disasters and emergencies, such as through the Extension 
     Disaster Education Network and other similar efforts, by 
     providing real-time alerts and resources so that educators 
     can respond to urgent needs resulting from hurricanes, 
     floods, oil spills, fire, drought, pest outbreaks, and 
     infectious diseases affecting humans, livestock, and crops;
       Whereas cooperative extension activities translate science-
     based research for practical application through local and 
     online learning networks in which educators are uniquely 
     available to identify emerging research questions, connect 
     with land-grant college or university faculty to find 
     answers, and encourage the application of the findings of 
     that research to improve economic and social conditions;
       Whereas cooperative extension activities engage with rural 
     and urban learners through practical, community-based, and 
     online approaches resulting in the acquisition of the 
     knowledge, skills, and motivation necessary to strengthen the 
     profitability of animal and plant production systems, protect 
     natural resources, help individuals make healthy lifestyle 
     choices, ensure a safe and abundant food supply, encourage 
     community vitality, and grow the next generation of leaders; 
     and
       Whereas many States are celebrating the centennial of the 
     enactment of the Smith-Lever Act (7 U.S.C. 341 et seq.) with 
     resolutions and proclamations, and many land-grant colleges 
     and universities are also commemorating the enactment of that 
     historic Act: Now, therefore, be it
       Resolved by the Senate (the House of Representatives 
     concurring), That Congress--
       (1) recognizes the significance of the Smith-Lever Act (7 
     U.S.C. 341 et seq.) to the establishment of the Cooperative 
     Extension System;
       (2) encourages the people of the United States to observe 
     and celebrate the centennial with a focus on launching an 
     innovative and sustainable future for the Cooperative 
     Extension System;
       (3) honors the university faculty and local educators who 
     dedicate careers to providing trusted educational programs to 
     help people, families, youth, businesses, and communities 
     solve problems, develop skills, and build a better future;
       (4) thanks the volunteers who provide thousands of hours to 
     promote excellence for 4-H Clubs, the Master Gardeners 
     program, the Family and Consumer Sciences program, and other 
     programs of the Cooperative Extension System in their 
     communities;
       (5) encourages continued collaboration and cooperation 
     among Federal, State, and local governments to ensure the 
     sustainability of the Cooperative Extension System as the 
     premiere nonformal educational network in the United States; 
     and
       (6) celebrates millions of youth, adults, families, 
     farmers, ranchers, community leaders, and others who engage 
     in cooperative extension learning opportunities designed to 
     extend knowledge and change lives.

                          ____________________