[Congressional Record Volume 170, Number 23 (Thursday, February 8, 2024)]
[Senate]
[Page S501]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]





   SENATE RESOLUTION 549--EXPRESSING SUPPORT FOR THE DESIGNATION OF 
   FEBRUARY 17 THROUGH FEBRUARY 24, 2024, AS ``NATIONAL FFA WEEK'' , 
  RECOGNIZING THE IMPORTANT ROLE OF THE NATIONAL FFA ORGANIZATION IN 
 DEVELOPING THE NEXT GENERATION OF GLOBALLY CONSCIOUS LEADERS WHO WILL 
 CHANGE THE WORLD, AND CELEBRATING THE 10TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE ``GIVE 
 THE GIFT OF BLUE'' PROGRAM, WHICH HAS DONATED MORE THAN 17,000 OF THE 
             ICONIC FFA BLUE JACKETS TO FFA MEMBERS IN NEED

  Mr. YOUNG (for himself, Mr. Coons, Mr. Booker, Mr. Blumenthal, Ms. 
Butler, Mr. Carper, Ms. Cortez Masto, Mr. Durbin, Ms. Hassan, Mr. 
Hickenlooper, Mr. Kaine, Mr. Kelly, Mr. King, Ms. Klobuchar, Mr. Lujan, 
Mr. Merkley, Mr. Ossoff, Ms. Sinema, Ms. Smith, Ms. Stabenow, Mr. 
Warnock, Mr. Grassley, Ms. Lummis, Mr. Daines, Mr. Marshall, Mr. Risch, 
Mr. Tillis, Mr. Hagerty, Mr. Cotton, Mr. Barrasso, Mrs. Blackburn, Mr. 
Crapo, Mrs. Capito, Mr. Boozman, Mr. Cramer, Mr. Graham, Mr. Thune, Mr. 
McConnell, Mr. Ricketts, Mr. Hoeven, Mr. Schmitt, Mr. Mullin, Mr. 
Kennedy, Mr. Braun, Ms. Ernst, Ms. Collins, Mrs. Britt, Mrs. Hyde-
Smith, Mr. Cornyn, Mr. Lankford, Mr. Wicker, Mr. Scott of Florida, Ms. 
Duckworth, Mrs. Shaheen, Mr. Cruz, and Mr. Scott of South Carolina) 
submitted the following resolution; which was considered and agreed to:

                              S. Res. 549

       Whereas the National FFA Organization (referred to in this 
     preamble as the ``FFA'') was established in 1928;
       Whereas the mission of the FFA is to make a positive 
     difference in the lives of students by developing their 
     potential for premier leadership, personal growth, and career 
     success through agricultural education;
       Whereas the FFA has more than 945,000 members in 9,163 
     chapters in all 50 States, the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, 
     the United States Virgin Islands, and the District of 
     Columbia;
       Whereas the FFA welcomes all students;
       Whereas more than 13,000 FFA advisors and agricultural 
     education teachers deliver an integrated model of 
     agricultural education, providing students with an innovative 
     and cutting-edge education;
       Whereas the FFA facilitates formative experiences, altering 
     the course of students' lives for the better;
       Whereas FFA members develop the necessary career-readiness 
     skills to continue their education in college or to enter the 
     workforce immediately;
       Whereas the FFA prepares members to be globally conscious 
     citizens of their community, their State, their country, and 
     the world;
       Whereas the FFA provides opportunities to demonstrate 
     literacy, advocacy, and technical skills in agriculture, 
     food, and natural resources;
       Whereas the blue jacket originated in 1933 in 
     Fredericktown, Ohio and was created by the Universal Uniform 
     Company;
       Whereas the blue jacket debuted at the 1933 National FFA 
     Convention and was so popular the convention's official 
     delegates made the blue jacket part of the official FFA 
     attire;
       Whereas 17,000 FFA blue jackets have been given to FFA 
     members in need since 2014; and
       Whereas members of the FFA will celebrate ``National FFA 
     Week'' during the week of February 17 through February 24, 
     2024: Now, therefore, be it
       Resolved, That the Senate--
       (1) supports the designation of February 17 through 
     February 24, 2024, as ``National FFA Week'';
       (2) recognizes the important role of the National FFA 
     Organization (referred to in this resolution as the ``FFA'') 
     in developing the next generation of globally conscious 
     leaders who will change the world; and
       (3) celebrates the 10th anniversary of the ``Give the Gift 
     of Blue'' program, which has donated more than 17,000 of the 
     iconic FFA blue jackets to FFA members in need.

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