[Congressional Record Volume 162, Number 163 (Tuesday, November 15, 2016)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1468]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




  HONORING MANUEL CUNHA FOR BEING NAMED THE 2016 AGRICULTURIST OF THE 
                 YEAR BY THE FRESNO CHAMBER OF COMMERCE

                                 ______
                                 

                             HON. JIM COSTA

                             of california

                    in the house of representatives

                       Tuesday, November 15, 2016

  Mr. COSTA. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor Mr. Manuel Cunha of 
Fresno, California, the recipient of the 2016 Agriculturist of the Year 
award by the Fresno Chamber of Commerce.
  Manuel and his family have been in the agricultural industry for two 
generations. He farms citrus on his ranch in Sanger, California. Manuel 
has served as the president of Nisei Farmers League since 1996. The 
Nisei Farmers League specializes in labor, immigration, housing, 
transportation and environmental issues and represents growers and 
related businesses of many agriculture commodities. Before his current 
role with the Nisei Farmers League, he was an educator for thirteen 
years. Manuel was a teacher at Reedley College and California 
Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo (Cal Poly). He received 
his undergraduate degree from Cal Poly in Crop Science and Agronomy in 
1973. He also holds his teaching credential in agriculture education 
and a master's degree in Agricultural Education from Cal Poly.
  As the president of the Nisei Farmers League, Manuel has been at the 
forefront of several important issues in the agriculture industry, 
including air quality, immigration reform and government regulation. As 
a member of various local, state and federal committees, Manuel has 
offered his knowledge to help guide policies and legislation.
  Manuel serves in a number of civic capacities, as a way to give back 
to the community he loves. He serves on the Board of Directors for 
Community Medical Centers of Central California, the largest hospital 
in the Central Valley. Manuel has also served on the Federal Reserve 
Bank of San Francisco and serves as a representative for U.S. 
Agriculture. These services are only a few of the generous 
contributions Manuel has made in our community throughout his career.
  Mr. Speaker, it is with great honor that I ask my colleagues to join 
me in honoring Manuel Cunha for being named the 2016 Agriculturalist of 
the Year. His great work in the industry and in the community is 
commendable. I ask that you join me in wishing Mr. Manuel Cunha 
continued success.

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