[Congressional Record Volume 165, Number 176 (Tuesday, November 5, 2019)]
[Senate]
[Pages S6378-S6379]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]



                        National Peanut Festival

  Mr. JONES. Madam President, it is not often in floor remarks we can 
often hit a trifecta on topics that are uniquely connected, but I am 
fortunate enough to have that privilege today. They all center around 
the glorious peanut. I want to honor the National Peanut Festival 
currently being held in Dothan, AL, which recognizes the importance of 
the peanut industry to the State of Alabama and to the United States.
  Every year, Dothan hosts the Nation's largest peanut festival to 
honor local peanut farmers and to celebrate harvest season. The 
festival began in 1938 and has been held annually each year, except for 
the years during the hiatus during World War II. This year's festival 
is a 10-day-long extravaganza with food, fun, and entertainment. You 
name it, you can find it in Dothan during the peanut festival. It is 
one of the most popular events in Alabama each year. In 2017, the 
festival broke attendance records with over 200,000 people joining the 
fun.
  Unfortunately, my schedule has prevented me from being down there 
this week, but I wish I had been there. I wish I could go for the end 
of this because it is a glorious time.
  Last week, I introduced a resolution here in the Senate to pay 
tribute to the National Peanut Festival and the importance of peanuts 
in our State and the entire country. Over 400 million pounds of peanuts 
are produced every year in Alabama alone, and nearly half of all the 
peanuts in America are grown within a 100-mile radius of Dothan, AL, 
where most of those peanuts are processed. It is no wonder that the 
city of Dothan--down in southeast Alabama, right in the corner, just 
right on the border of Georgia and Florida--is known as the Peanut 
Capital of the World.
  The peanut industry is a critical part of Alabama's economy. In 2018 
alone, the 400 million pounds of peanuts produced by Alabama farmers 
was valued at $118 million. The farm value of the Nation's peanut crop 
is over a billion dollars. And like all farmers, peanut farmers have 
their share of challenges. But year after year, the peanut farmers in 
Alabama and across the country persevere, providing a crop whose 
importance is often simply taken for granted--well, as peanuts, as it 
pertains to our overall economy.
  But the peanut is an important staple to the agriculture and food 
industry, thanks in large part to the amazing and extraordinary work of 
a scientist, an African-American scientist and adopted son of Alabama, 
Dr. George Washington Carver, who did his work at one of Alabama's 
great HBCUs, Tuskegee University.
  Dr. Carver was born into slavery, but raised by his former master 
once slavery was abolished. He was forced to attend segregated schools 
until 1891, when he was accepted as the first Black student at Iowa 
State University. Only 5 years later, in 1896, Dr. Carver was hired by 
the great Booker T. Washington to head the Agriculture Department at 
Tuskegee Institute, now known as Tuskegee University, in Tuskegee, AL.
  At that point, peanuts were not even recognized as a crop in the 
United States, but because of a serious threat to the South's cotton 
crop from boll weevil infestations, Dr. Carver suggested that Alabama 
farmers start growing peanuts in the alternate years, which he believed 
would restore and add nutrients to the barren soil so that cotton could 
grow the next year.
  It worked. He not only was a leading voice for crop rotation but 
ended up inventing over 300 products made out of peanuts, including 
peanut milk, peanut paper, and peanut soap--although, surprisingly, he 
did not invent my favorite, peanut butter, but 300 different types of 
products made from peanuts.
  In 1921, in a highly unusual circumstance in the era of Jim Crow, Dr. 
Carver testified regarding the value of peanuts before the Ways and 
Means Committee of the U.S. House of Representatives--an African-
American scientist in front of the U.S. House in 1921. In 1938, again 
during the Jim Crow era in Alabama, Dr. Carver was the featured speaker 
at the first peanut festival in Dothan, AL.
  Peanuts became more and more popular, and by 1940, they had become 
one of the top six crops in the United States--all in large part due to 
the work of Dr. Carver at Tuskegee University. It is not an 
overstatement to say that Dr. Carver, Tuskegee University, and the 
peanut helped save the economy of the South.
  This is just one example of the extraordinary contributions that 
HBCUs have made to our country over the years and continue to make 
today. But, as we have talked about for some time, including with my 
friend Senator Cardin earlier today, those contributions are threatened 
because of the expiration of Federal funding that occurred at the end 
of September.
  I have been pushing for the passage of my bill, the FUTURE Act, which 
would renew funding for HBCUs and other minority-serving institutions 
that expired at the end of September. We need to continue to invest in 
these institutions and ensure they have consistent funding.
  We have worked with this bill, the FUTURE Act, to make sure the 
concerns of others--particularly those who might object to the UC we 
have asked for on the FUTURE Act--to make sure that this is not some 
Federal budget gimmick. We have answered those concerns. We have 
answered all the pay-for concerns. All we are asking for is consistent 
funding because now planning is as important as the money. Yes, the 
Department of Education has told HBCUs that the funding would be there 
through September, but by this spring, those institutions have to plan. 
They have to start making sure they have the necessary resources for 
the fall and beyond. If their funding is set to expire at the end of 
next year, they cannot make those plans, both with teachers and their 
infrastructure.
  We need to continue to make sure those HBCUs are funded consistently 
and appropriately. Let's make sure we put aside any differences and 
make sure those funds are available so that our great HBCUs and 
minority-serving institutions across the country can continue to 
operate and plan.
  We need to honor the legacy of Dr. Carver, which is one of the 
reasons I was so proud to introduce a resolution honoring the National 
Peanut Festival and the peanut industry in the State of Alabama. It is 
a testament to the importance of the peanut and a time to celebrate its 
history, our State, and the peanut farming way of life.
  I am hopeful that with the advancements of peanut allergy research, 
we can make sure more people have the ability to enjoy what so many of 
us

[[Page S6379]]

can. I understand that peanut allergies are a real problem around the 
country and around the world for a lot of people. But advances in 
research that is going on right now--right now--can make sure we break 
through and that all who want to can enjoy the value and the taste of 
those wonderful peanuts. I am not going to go through specifics. I 
could name all manner of products. I won't do that here today, but I 
thank you for this opportunity.
  I yield the floor.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. The Senator from Wyoming.