[Congressional Record Volume 162, Number 18 (Monday, February 1, 2016)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E73]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]





 HONORING THE NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF STATE DEPARTMENTS OF AGRICULTURE 
                       ON THEIR 100TH ANNIVERSARY

                                 ______
                                 

                        HON. K. MICHAEL CONAWAY

                                of texas

                    in the house of representatives

                        Monday, February 1, 2016

  Mr. CONAWAY. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor the 100th anniversary 
of the National Association of State Departments of Agriculture 
(NASDA). NASDA is a non-profit, non-partisan organization which 
represents the commissioners, secretaries, and directors of agriculture 
from all fifty states and four U.S. territories. The State departments 
of agriculture have served not only the farmers and ranchers of 
America, but also American consumers for a significant portion of our 
nation's history.
   NASDA is a highly effective association which serves to grow and 
enhance agriculture by forging partnerships and creating consensus to 
achieve sound policy outcomes between state departments of agriculture, 
the federal government, and stakeholders. These partnerships are 
apparent in the halls of almost every office building in the District 
of Columbia. I rely on the hard-working men and women in the Texas 
Department of Agriculture to provide me with perspectives on how 
federal policy is impacting boots on the ground agriculture. I'm sure 
my colleagues rely on their state department of agriculture in similar 
ways.
   NASDA is an active partner with the United States Department of 
Agriculture through a longstanding cooperative agreement to employ a 
nationwide network of enumerators in support of the mission of the 
National Agricultural Statistics Service (NASS). The data collected 
through this partnership informs a broad spectrum of legislative and 
regulatory initiatives, including farm programs under the jurisdiction 
of the Committee on Agriculture which I have the honor to chair.
   NASDA and its members likewise play a critical role informing 
Congress and the executive branch regarding the operation of federal 
and state programs covering everything from animal and plant health, 
food safety and marketing, nutrition, and literally hundreds of other 
consumer services.
   NASDA exists to amplify the unique voice of all state departments of 
agriculture. NASDA members are able to amplify their national voice by 
achieving consensus on otherwise contentious issues such as threatened 
and endangered species, agriculture labor, and water quality.
   Mr. Speaker, I join the members and stakeholders of NASDA in 
celebrating their 100th year of advocating for American agriculture. I 
wish NASDA many more years of public service to American agriculture at 
the critical nexus of state and federal policy.

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