[Congressional Record Volume 160, Number 131 (Monday, September 15, 2014)]
[Senate]
[Page S5590]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                         SUBMITTED RESOLUTIONS

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      SENATE RESOLUTION 544--DESIGNATING THE YEAR OF 2014 AS THE 
                ``INTERNATIONAL YEAR OF FAMILY FARMING''

  Ms. KLOBUCHAR (for herself, Mr. Grassley, Ms. Baldwin, Mr. Crapo, Ms. 
Heitkamp, Mr. Hoeven, Mr. Johnson of South Dakota, Mr. Moran, and Mr. 
Donnelly) submitted the following resolution; which was considered and 
agreed to:

                              S. Res. 544

       Whereas United Nations Resolution A/Res/66/222, adopted by 
     the General Assembly on December 22, 2011, designates the 
     year 2014 as the ``International Year of Family Farming'';
       Whereas the International Year of Family Farming recognizes 
     the important contribution of family farming in food security 
     and eradicating poverty around the world;
       Whereas in the United States, family farms constitute 96 
     percent of all farms;
       Whereas the agriculture sector contributes more than 
     $130,000,000,000 to the United States economy, employs 
     approximately 14 percent of the total workforce in the United 
     States, and accounts for nearly 5 percent of the United 
     States gross domestic product;
       Whereas 45 percent of individuals around the world make a 
     living directly by farming;
       Whereas family farming is the predominant form of 
     agriculture in both developing and developed countries;
       Whereas family farming serves as a means of organizing 
     agricultural, forestry, fishery, pastoral, and aquaculture 
     production;
       Whereas family farming plays important socioeconomic, 
     environmental, and cultural roles;
       Whereas family farmers grow high-quality food, are active 
     participants in civil society, and are stewards of the land;
       Whereas 75 percent of the poorest individuals around the 
     world live in rural areas;
       Whereas family farms are linked to most areas of rural 
     development and have invested significantly in local 
     communities;
       Whereas the majority of farmers around the world are women 
     who produce up to 80 percent of food around the world; and
       Whereas 870,000,000 individuals are suffering from chronic 
     undernourishment and a disproportionate number of such 
     individuals are farmers: Now, therefore, be it
       Resolved, That the Senate--
       (1) designates the year 2014 as the ``International Year of 
     Family Farming'';
       (2) congratulates family farmers in the United States and 
     around the world;
       (3) recognizes the vital role family farms play in the 
     economic and social well-being of the United States and the 
     world;
       (4) recognizes the importance of raising the profile of 
     family farming by focusing the attention of individuals 
     around the world on the significant role of family farming in 
     alleviating hunger and poverty, providing food security and 
     nutrition, improving livelihoods, managing natural resources, 
     protecting the environment, and achieving sustainable 
     development in rural areas;
       (5) encourages countries, national organizations, and 
     States to undertake activities to support the International 
     Year of Family Farming;
       (6) recognizes the role and importance of women in family 
     farming;
       (7) emphasizes the positive impact of family farms and 
     developing new programs for domestic and international family 
     agricultural development; and
       (8) advocates for the protection of the viability of family 
     farms, which serve as the foundation of rural society and 
     social stability.

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