[Congressional Record Volume 168, Number 48 (Thursday, March 17, 2022)]
[House]
[Page H3782]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                 RECOGNIZING NATIONAL AGRICULTURE WEEK

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. The Chair recognizes the gentleman from 
Pennsylvania (Mr. Thompson) for 5 minutes.
  Mr. THOMPSON of Pennsylvania. Madam Speaker, I rise today to 
recognize National Agriculture Week, which begins on March 20, a week 
dedicated to honoring and acknowledging the efforts and hard work of 
American farmers and farm families.
  While farmers, ranchers, producers, foresters, and farmworkers should 
be celebrated year-round, National Agriculture Week shines a bright 
light on where our Nation's food, fiber, and fuel come from. I have 
always said every American interacts with agriculture at least three 
times a day, whether they realize it or not: breakfast, lunch, and 
dinner. It is a fundamental part of our lives, and it is the backbone 
of the American economy.
  Celebrated during National Agriculture Week, National Agriculture Day 
began in 1973 as a way to recognize the unique value that farmers, 
ranchers, and foresters contribute to our society, contributions that 
have only grown in importance over the past 2 years as the world faced 
a pandemic, global supply chain disruptions, economic instability, and, 
now, war in Europe.
  Being a farmer has never been an easy job by any means. Feeding and 
clothing our Nation and the entire world is a monumental task. Every 
day, America's farm families dedicate their minds and bodies to 
achieving that feat.
  Unfortunately, many farmers today are facing rising input costs, 
shrinking profit margins, and unrelenting supply chain issues, much of 
which has been self-inflicted by leadership in Washington, yet they 
continue to persevere.
  As Republican leader of the House Agriculture Committee, I am honored 
to represent farm families in rural America and serve as their reliable 
voice in the Halls of Congress.
  National Agriculture Week encourages every American to: understand 
how food and fiber products are produced; appreciate the role 
agriculture plays in providing a safe, abundant, and affordable food 
supply; value the essential role of agriculture in our economy; and 
acknowledge and consider successful career opportunities in the 
agriculture industry.
  As the Representative of Pennsylvania's 15th Congressional District, 
I have the great privilege of working firsthand with many farmers and 
foresters. In the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, we are fortunate to 
have more than 59,000 farms. These men and women work hard to feed and 
clothe not just Pennsylvanians but our Nation and overseas. Their hard 
work results in agriculture being Pennsylvania's number one industry.
  Agriculture and its associated industries contribute more than $135 
billion, or about 18 percent of Pennsylvania's economy. The industry 
employs half a million workers, including 280,500 direct jobs.
  I will end with one of my favorite quotes about agriculture from 
President Jefferson: ``Agriculture . . . is our wisest pursuit, because 
it will in the end contribute most to real wealth, good morals, and 
happiness.''
  This sentiment rings just as true today as it did in President 
Jefferson's letter to George Washington in 1787. Our farm families 
truly embody the best of the American spirit through their moral 
integrity, hard work, and an unwavering dedication to their craft. 
Everyone in this Chamber and around the world benefits from the ``wise 
pursuit'' of agriculture, and we owe these patriots a resounding debt 
of gratitude.
  I want to applaud the farmers, ranchers, and foresters who continue 
to devote their lives to American agriculture.

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