[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 147 (2001), Part 5]
[House]
[Pages 6608-6612]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]



              RECOGNIZING 100TH ANNIVERSARY OF 4-H PROGRAM

  Mr. KELLER. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and agree to the 
resolution (H. Res. 112) recognizing the upcoming 100th anniversary of 
the 4-H Youth Development Program and commending such program for 
service to the youth of the world.
  The Clerk read as follows:

                              H. Res. 112

       Whereas the 4-H Youth Development Program celebrates its 
     100th anniversary in 2002;
       Whereas the 4-H Youth Development program sponsors clubs in 
     rural and urban areas throughout the world;
       Whereas the 4-H Clubs have grown to over 5.6 million annual 
     participants ranging from 5 to 19 years of age;
       Whereas today's 4-H Clubs are very diverse, offering 
     agricultural, career development, information technology, and 
     general life skills programs; and
       Whereas the 4-H Youth Development Program continues to make 
     great contributions toward the development of well-rounded 
     youth: Now, therefore, be it
       Resolved, That the House of Representatives recognizes the 
     upcoming 100th anniversary of the 4-H Youth Development 
     Program and commends such program for service to the youth of 
     the world.

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentleman from 
Florida (Mr. Keller) and the gentlewoman from Hawaii (Mrs. Mink) each 
will control 20 minutes.
  The Chair recognizes the gentleman from Florida (Mr. Keller).


                             General Leave

  Mr. KELLER. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members may 
have 5 legislative days within which to revise and extend their remarks 
on H. Res. 112.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the 
gentleman from Florida?
  There was no objection.
  Mr. KELLER. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
  Mr. Speaker, I rise today in strong support of H. Res. 112, which 
extends the recognition of this body to the 4-H Youth Development 
Program on the occasion of its 100th anniversary of its creation next 
year.
  The 4-H is the original ``learning by doing,'' and like all great 
ideas in education, it originated at the local level as the product of 
local educators and concerned citizens who saw a way to improve 
agricultural education.
  4-H participants pledged their heads to clear thinking, their hearts 
to greater loyalty, their hands to greater service and their health to 
better living for their clubs, their communities, their country, and 
their world, not a bad code by which to live.
  Even before Congress began supporting land-grant extension programs 
that took the agricultural advances of academia into working farms, 4-H 
understood the value of putting ideas into action.

                              {time}  1545

  It is at the heart of this organization.
  From its roots in agricultural education, food preservation, and 
nature study, 4-H has spread to include training in a variety of areas, 
more than 110 areas, in fact. These areas include the arts, 
environmental education, communication, science and technology, and 
healthy life-style education. With new programs, 4-H has continued to 
help more and more young people learn skills to succeed later in life 
and become positive contributing leaders. Today, only 10 percent of 
participating youth live on farms. In fact, 30 percent are minorities. 
More than 6.5 million youth are members. Some of the well-known former 
4-H members are Johnny Carson, Faith Hill, Reba McIntyre, and Dolly 
Parton.
  The leadership skills 4-H members develop, the practical knowledge 
they accumulate in the programs they study, the friendships they build, 
and the experiences they have in competition and problem-solving make 
them better people and make our country a better place.
  Earlier this year, my family and I had the happy privilege of 
visiting with several 4-H'ers at the Florida State Fair in Tampa and 
the Orange County Fair in Orlando, Florida. These young people had 
prepared several impressive agricultural exhibits, and they were also 
very knowledgeable about the cows and the pigs and other livestock they 
had raised. These 4-H members made quite a positive impression on my 
two young children.
  In a changing world, I am very glad that 4-H has been there for 
America's young people and has continued to grow with them. 4-H helps 
to prepare them for the challenges they continue to face and help 
America to continue to be the place where the ideas and beliefs that 
made it great are still taught and practiced.
  Congratulations 4-H on 100 years of success and service, and best 
wishes for 100 more.
  Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
  Mrs. MINK of Hawaii. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may 
consume.
  Mr. Speaker, I rise in very strong support of House Resolution 112, 
which recognizes the upcoming 100th anniversary of the 4-H Youth 
Development Program. I am very proud to be an original cosponsor of 
this legislation; and I would like to commend my colleague, the 
gentleman from Florida (Mr. Foley), for introducing this important 
recognition of a voluntary youth movement that has been highly 
successful in our country.
  Too often, I think, many of us in Congress rely upon the initiative 
coming from governmental sources. We look for ways in which we can 
stimulate young people into doing productive work and innovative 
programs for self-improvement. But here is an example, where nearly 100 
years ago, a group of individuals got together and decided that the 
young people could come together and determine the ways in which they 
might help themselves, and this is precisely the strength and the 
energy that the 4-H movement leaders had.
  It is very exciting to know that over the years it has grown. As my 
colleague, the gentleman from Florida (Mr. Keller), said, there are 
almost 7 million young people, ages 5 to 19, that participated in the 
4-H programs in the year 2000; 1.6 million were members of 103,000 
clubs; 2.5 million were members in a variety of special interest 
groups; 3.6 million were members of school enrichment programs. There 
were individual study groups, instructional programs, child care 
programs, and many opportunities for groups that went out camping and 
other types of excursions.
  As my colleague said, initially this was supposed to be a farm or 
agriculturally centered program, but it has gradually moved in from the 
farms to our small towns and our communities. Today, well over half of 
the program is centered around small towns and cities throughout the 
country. Thirty percent of the participants are from minority racially-
ethnic groups. An astounding statistic that I found was that 52 percent 
of the participants are girls and 48 percent boys. I am very encouraged 
by that. We have over 610,000 volunteers, adults and others over age 
19, who are participating in this program and helping the 4-H movement 
to grow.
  Many of us feel very honored each year to have the leaders of our 4-H 
clubs come to visit us in Washington. They come to participate in the 
wide variety of national programs, some elective, some not; and it is 
always a pleasure to see these young people and the energy that they 
bring to the work that they do.
  Before I end my short part in this program this afternoon, I wanted 
to tell my colleagues something about the 4-H movement in my own State. 
The first club was organized in 1918. It had 31 members and was on my 
own island of Maui, where I was born. It grew from there to have clubs 
in all of the islands, Oahu, the big island of Kauai. It was very much 
centered on the agricultural basis of farming and hog raising and 
cattle raising, and the contests and various kinds of agricultural 
activities. Today, the Hawaii 4-H organization has 24,000 participants 
throughout the whole island, and they engage in a wide

[[Page 6609]]

variety of activities; not just farming, but citizenship, civic 
education, the arts, sciences, environmental education, and all the 
things that go to making up the totality of the human development.
  So I stand today very proud to acknowledge the importance of the 4-H 
clubs and to join in celebrating the upcoming 100th birthday.
  Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
  Mr. KELLER. Mr. Speaker, I yield such time as he may consume to the 
gentleman from Florida (Mr. Foley), the sponsor of this important House 
resolution.
  Mr. FOLEY. Mr. Speaker, I appreciate the leadership of the gentleman 
from Florida on the floor today on this very issue. And I want to take 
a moment before I begin my prepared remarks to commend my colleague, 
the gentlewoman from Hawaii (Mrs. Mink), for her wonderful homecoming 
for members of the Navy who flew back and first landed in Hawaii on 
their return to the United States from China. We are particularly 
honored by the way the gentlewoman put the presentation together, and 
we are delighted that they are on American soil again.
  Mr. Speaker, I rise to speak on House Resolution 112, a resolution I 
introduced to recognize next year's 100th anniversary of the 4-H Youth 
Development Program, and commending the 4-H program for service to the 
youth of the world.
  The 4-H program has grown over the years to include 6.6 million 
children. These 5- to 21-year-olds have benefited tremendously from 4-
H's wealth of diverse programs: from agriculture, career development, 
information technology, to general life skills. These programs are 
offered in both rural and urban areas of the world.
  The 4-H continues to make great contributions toward the development 
of well-rounded youth both in America and abroad. The program enables 
youth to have fun, meet new people, learn new life skills, build self-
confidence, learn responsibility, and set and achieve goals. In fact, 
more than 45 million people worldwide are 4-H alumni, including my 
distinguished colleague, the gentleman from Idaho (Mr. Otter), who told 
me just moments ago he will celebrate his 50th year of swearing in as a 
member of the 4-H Club.
  The 4-H truly builds the leaders of tomorrow. In fact, their motto is 
``To Make the Best Better.'' Our country benefits enormously from 
programs like 4-H. With the rising tide of teen suicide, drug use, and 
school violence, the 4-H gives our youth an avenue to excel and build 
self-esteem. One success story from a young 4-H'er in Georgia caught my 
eye. It is entitled, ``4-H Brought Me to Life.''
  It goes on to say, ``I was not popular at all. I had just moved and I 
felt like an outcast. One day a lady came. She was with 4-H. I really 
did not do anything with 4-H that year except camp. I then said I'm 
going to have fun and make this year the best of my life. It has been 3 
years since. I'm now in the 8th grade. I have friends all over Georgia. 
4-H brought me to life.''
  The gentlewoman from Hawaii mentioned several of the people who are 
former 4-H'ers that I think deserve notation, and I will read the list. 
And while I read the list, I will ask my colleagues to think with me, 
because I think one of the hallmarks of 4-H is that none of these 
people have been involved in any controversy. Seldom do we hear of a 
child that has been accused of a crime or another problem having 4-H on 
their resume. It obviously leads them on the right path, not the wrong 
path.
  Listen to some of these famous names: Glen Campbell, Johnny Carson, 
Johnny Cash, John Denver, Janie Fricke, Faith Hill, Holly Hunter, 
Martina McBride, Reba McIntyre, Dolly Parton, Charlie Price, Charley 
Pride, Roy Rogers, Ricky Skaggs, Sissy Spacek, Aaron Tippin, and even 
my favorite, Orville Redenbacher, who brings us such great popcorn.
  These are people that learned the basics of life from 4-H and why I 
am tremendously proud we are saluting them today on the House floor. 
Hopefully, it will not only give them the enthusiasm but the direction 
that not only do Members of Congress support them, but the Nation looks 
up to those in the 4-H movement, those that have brought the 4-H'ers to 
communities throughout our country.
  I want to pay special tribute, because 100 years does not come often 
in anyone's life, nor the legacy of any organization. I am joined by 
many, many of my colleagues who have become cosponsors of this movement 
and of this resolution, and they are noted in the Record. I would like 
to thank John Hildreth, my legislative specialist, who was working on 
this as well with us.
  Again, my salute to every hamlet in America, wherever there is a 4-H. 
And for children that may be listening, if you feel alone and you feel 
desperate, look to 4-H for leadership. Look to 4-H for guidance. Become 
a member of this great organization, and your life can turn around much 
like that of the girl from Georgia. I commend them to you, I commend 
them to your community, and I salute them.
  Mrs. MINK of Hawaii. Mr. Speaker, I am delighted to yield 4 minutes 
to the gentlewoman from North Carolina (Mrs. Clayton), who is currently 
the co-chair for the Rural Caucus, and has led us in so many areas that 
are important to rural America.
  Mrs. CLAYTON. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentlewoman for yielding me 
this time.
  Mr. Speaker, I rise today in commendation of the upcoming 100th 
anniversary of the 4-H youth program. For almost a century, 4-H has 
been a constant beacon reminding us that we only receive from our 
communities as much as we put into them. The 4-H Youth Development 
Program has long recognized that leadership is not an innate quality, 
but rather that leadership is built one step, one person, one community 
at a time.
  Rural America needs leaders today more than ever. I know I need not 
remind my colleagues of the crisis in rural America today. I would like 
to give my heartfelt thanks to 4-H for providing rural America with 
strong voices of leadership for almost 100 years. I would also like to 
urge 4-H to continue their very fine work. The fate of rural America 
may well rest in the next generation of leadership.
  I regret the fact that this country does not have a policy for rural 
America. It needs one desperately. As this Congress considers ways in 
which to assist rural America, I think that we would be wise to look to 
the national 4-H for direction. In fact, 4-H has served rural America 
well and has expanded its services and its opportunities to urban 
youth, for which we congratulate and commend them.
  The four components of 4-H, the head, the heart, the hand, and 
health, speak to our unstated obligation to survey the needs of rural 
America comprehensively, not in isolation from one another. In fact, 
the national 4-H statistics are very impressive. We have heard them 
already, but they are worth mentioning again. There are more than 6 
million youth, from the ages of 5 to 19, who are involved in 4-H 
program. Over half of them are from urban areas. Indeed, only 10 
percent of them are from farm programs. So, indeed, it has moved from 
its original program of serving farm youth to serving the youth of 
America, and we commend them for that.
  More importantly, they provide leadership. They provide opportunity 
for development. They provide enrichment programs. They provide 
environmental studies. But, also, they provide leadership and training 
both for the youth and the adults who are involved in that.

                              {time}  1600

  The needs for rural America are many: historically low commodity 
prices, crumbling infrastructure, limited education opportunities, out-
migration of youth, limited employment opportunities, lack of access to 
quality health care. Every one of these is, indeed, a serious problem 
in its own right, but only by seeing them together, as necessary pieces 
of a whole, do we see the complete picture.
  We must address the entire fabric of farming communities across the 
country, including youth development, rather than just the single 
threads that bind it together.

[[Page 6610]]

  The stakes are high. The livelihood of millions of farmers and the 
future of our youth in America and urban area are at stake. But I am 
heartened as we move forward, because standing alongside us is the 
national 4-H program, building leaders for rural and urban America.
  I commend them on their upcoming birthday.
  Mr. KELLER. Mr. Speaker, I yield 3 minutes to the gentleman from 
Idaho (Mr. Otter).
  Mr. OTTER. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman for yielding me this 
time.
  Mr. Speaker, nearly 50 years ago I raised my right hand and I said, 
``I pledge my head to clearer thinking, my heart to greater loyalty, my 
hands to larger service, my health to better living, for my club, my 
community, my country, and my world.''
  Mr. Speaker, some of my colleagues may argue that not all of that 
took as well as it might have, but I would argue for whatever benefit I 
did receive in taking that pledge, my life has been richly blessed and 
immensely improved by the process that goes on in 4-H.
  The pledge of my head stands for the clear thinking that is required 
to be a 4-H'er. Not only that, but the decision-making process and the 
collection of knowledge, knowledge that one will use throughout their 
life.
  In pledging greater loyalty from the heart, the 4-H'er promises to 
have greater loyalty to his fellow man and to his country, but also to 
himself and for those values that they themselves stand for.
  To pledge their hands to larger service, in this day and age it is 
certainly needed by every citizen of this country.
  Finally, to pledge their health, we all know the value of what good, 
healthy lifestyles can stand for in this country.
  Mr. Speaker, I would like to associate myself with the remarks of my 
colleague, the gentleman from Florida (Mr. Foley), who spoke before me, 
because he covered much of the material that I had intended to. I would 
like to point out, in the nearly 7 million participants, as mentioned 
by the gentlewoman from Hawaii (Mrs. Mink), some 597,000 are involved 
in citizenship civic education programs, nearly 1 million in community 
expressive arts programs, a half a million in consumer family science, 
1.3 million in environment and science programs. In Idaho, Mr. Speaker, 
32,643 members in 3,743 clubs with 4,200 adults participate in the 
volunteer and leadership programs for 4-H.
  Mr. Speaker, I join with my colleagues as a cosponsor in recognizing, 
as is long overdue, the 4-H Clubs of the United States of America that 
have stood for a long time for those words so aptly put by Chester 
Bernard when he said that ``to try and fail is at least to learn, but 
to fail to try is to suffer that estimable cost of what might have 
been.'' Mr. Speaker, 4-H knows what it is.
  Mr. KELLER. Mr. Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the gentlewoman from 
Virginia (Mrs. Jo Ann Davis).
  Mrs. JO ANN DAVIS of Virginia. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support 
of House Resolution 112, recognizing the upcoming 100th anniversary of 
the 4-H Youth Development Program in 2002.
  Mr. Speaker, as you have heard, the four H's stand for head, heart, 
hands and health; and the program gives children and youth the 
opportunity to gain responsibility through hands-on involvement in 
challenging projects. 4-H began as an agricultural education program 
for youth, and clubs were formed with adult volunteers to encourage 
learning by doing.
  Mr. Speaker, I am personally familiar with 4-H as my youngest son 
spent most of his teen years in a 4-H club and showed quarter horses in 
local competitions and the State fair. The club developed his 
leadership skills and made him a more responsible and purposeful young 
man.
  As we recognize 4-H, I want to commend the dedicated volunteers and 
county extension agents that have given countless hours of their time 
to help children and youth develop their skills and learn, while having 
fun, and to thank them for the good times my son has enjoyed, and to 
wish the organization another productive century of service.
  Mr. KELLER. Mr. Speaker, I yield 2\1/2\ minutes to the gentlewoman 
from Maryland (Mrs. Morella).
  Mrs. MORELLA. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman for yielding me this 
time.
  I rise, as my colleagues have, to recognize the upcoming anniversary 
of the dynamic 4-H Youth Development Program. I congratulate the 
gentleman from Florida (Mr. Foley) for introducing H. Res. 112.
  For a century the 4-H club has offered a wide range of projects and 
activities for the purpose of building the leaders of tomorrow. I am 
fortunate enough to represent the congressional district with not only 
local branches of the 4-H club, but also the headquarters of the 4-H 
Youth Development Program at the National Conference Center in Chevy 
Chase, Maryland.
  In my district, Montgomery County, the 4-H club reaches over 8,000 
youth annually with such innovative programs as Adventures in Science. 
During the early 1970s, Ralph R. Nash began this hands-on science 
education activity in his basement in Gaithersburg, Maryland, in order 
to provide science adventures for his daughter. Over the years, AIS has 
introduced the fun of science to hundreds of children. AIS now meets at 
five sites in Montgomery County, and additional programs have been 
initiated at several other sites in the country, based on the same 
philosophy and a similar format. Since the early 1990s, the Montgomery 
County 4-H program has provided an administrative framework for AIS, 
using 4-H Maryland Cooperative Extension volunteers as site managers.
  The Adventures in Science goal is to present science as an exciting 
activity and a way of thinking about the world, rather than as a 
compendium of facts. The topics presented reflect the interests of 
children and the volunteers, rather than any prescribed curriculum. The 
4-H method of ``learning by doing'' facilitates not only the education 
process but also encourages teamwork and develops conflict resolution 
skills.
  The Adventures in Science program, in addition to the various annual 
activities at the Montgomery County Agricultural Fairgrounds, instills 
a spirit of community and volunteerism into the area's youth. It is 
this spirit that enables the 4-H Youth Development Program to fulfill 
the lofty ambition of their motto, ``to make the best better.''
  I was very impressed that Mr. Otter earlier gave the 4-H pledge, ``I 
pledge my head to clearer thinking, my heart to greater loyalty, my 
hands to larger service, my health to better living, for my club, my 
community, my country, and my world.''
  Mr. KELLER. Mr. Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the gentleman from Iowa 
(Mr. Latham).
  Mr. LATHAM. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman from Florida for 
yielding me this time.
  As someone who was in 4-H for 9 years and learned a great deal from 
my activities there, and everybody thinks about 4-H as how to have a 
project for raising livestock or grains, that type of project, the 
things that helped me the most in 4-H, we had Carl Rayder, our 
extension director, used to have special classes for us out in the 
country and teach us about etiquette: How to eat at a table, how to 
dress. We had fashion shows. There are a lot of different things that 
4-H did in rural America that really helped us along in life.
  Mr. Speaker, probably the most important thing is the leadership that 
was taught in 4-H and the opportunity for a young farm kid to be a 
leader in his 4-H club locally, county-wide, and move on to State 
offices, things like that were very, very important and meant a great 
deal to us in 4-H.
  I am also extremely proud that Clarion, Iowa, which is in my 
district, is the home of the 4-H emblem; the four-leaf clover with the 
four H's, one H on each leaf of the clover, obviously, is a sign that 
is known by everyone as representing the 4-H itself.
  Mr. Speaker, 4-H has been a very, very positive experience for young 
people for 100 years now. I want to congratulate them. I do not have to 
read the 4-H motto. ``I pledge my head to clearer thinking, my heart to 
greater loyalty, my hands to larger service, my health to better 
living, for my club, my

[[Page 6611]]

community, my country, and my world.'' And it means a great deal to a 
lot of young Americans that we can still do that pledge.
  Ms. JACKSON-LEE of Texas. Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of H. Res. 
112 in honor of the millions of young people who participate in the 4-H 
program.
  Mr. Speaker, this resolution recognizes the 100th anniversary of the 
4-H Youth Development Program and commends the program for its service 
to the youth of the world. With over 6.8 million members, the program 
is a stellar example of what is best and most successful in selfless 
community and national service.
  Mr. Speaker, at a time in our history when we are so often consumed 
by what is wrong with our youth culture, I am delighted to take this 
occasion to honor many of our Nation's young people who, each and every 
day, work to give back to their communities in positive ways through 
public service, education, and leadership.
  ``To make the best better.'' That is the 4-H motto, and it rings 
true. The 4-H pledge states: ``I pledge my head to clear thinking; my 
heart to greater loyalty; my hands to larger service; my health to 
better living; for my club, my community, my country, and my world.'' 
Mr. Speaker, these are good and inspiring words to live by.




  4-H provides our Nation's youth with the kinds of support, and 
positive life-experience challenges that are so important in their 
development into responsible and active members of our community. 4-H 
is committed to nurturing our youth so that they may reach their 
fullest potential by building self-confidence, teaching responsibility, 
and by setting and attaining personal goals.
  With focus programs ranging from Workforce Preparation; Environmental 
Stewardship; Health, Wellness and Safety; Community Development; and 
Youth Changing Their Community, 4-H operates through fairs, shows, 
camps, state youth gatherings, a national congress, a national 
conference, a collegiate program, and through an international youth 
exchange.
  4-H is committed to bringing children and adults together through 
community service by creating bonds that last a lifetime. This makes 4-
H a unique and truly inspiring example of what is best in our community 
and national service. These young people, their parents and sponsors do 
a great job, and they deserve our thanks and our applause.
  Mr. KIND. Mr. Speaker, I am honored to have the opportunity to 
recognize and commend the 4-H Youth Development Program. Today marks 
the organization's 100th anniversary and it is important for Congress 
to take the time to recognize this outstanding program.
  The 4-H is a dynamic group whose mission is to foster innovation and 
shared learning of America's youth, ages 6 to 19. Its vision is to draw 
upon combined power of youth and adults so that we can learn together 
in order to address the challenges and opportunities critical to youth 
in our communities. The 4-H is uniquely established to provide 
opportunity to young people nationwide to learn valuable life skills, 
work with others toward common goals, and develop into community 
leaders.
  4-H stresses three fundamental values: First, Mr. Speaker, we must 
treat others with mutual trust and respect and open and honest 
communication. Second, we must assume personal leadership and 
responsibility for our actions. And third, we must celebrate our 
differences as well as our similarities, and always realize that 
working with youth as partners is the key to our success.
  Over 5.6 million young people are involved in the 4-H clubs, 
dedicating time and effort to the betterment of their communities and 
their country. In fact, volunteerism among America's youth has 
increased over the years, indicating that these fine young people have 
a sincere interest in helping fellow Americans.
  On the 100th anniversary of the 4-H club, I am honored to have the 
opportunity to commemorate the group because I am a former 4-H member 
myself. Growing up in Wisconsin, I loved and appreciated the time that 
I spent within my 4-H club. In fact, two of my staffers here in 
Washington were also 4-H members in their youth. The 4-H Clubs extend 
their invaluable services throughout the United States and have 
personally touched many of our lives.
  Mr. Speaker, in closing, I am delighted to speak here today to honor 
and commemorate the 4-H Youth Development Program and its contributions 
to American communities for the past century. By pledging their heads 
to clearer thinking, their hearts to greater loyalty, their hands to 
larger service, and their health to better living, our young people--
along with the adult volunteers who teach and help them--are working to 
strengthen the clubs, their communities, and their country.
  Mr. PUTNAM. Mr. Speaker, in 2002, the 4-H movement celebrates its 
centennial as one of America's premier youth development organizations. 
Reflecting its historic vision, Congress is commemorating this event 
that has brought together our nation's youth, youth leaders, and 
communities for over a century and created youth development strategies 
for the future.
  No other youth organization spans the nation like the 4-H movement, 
traveling the most remote roads of rural America and the most diverse 
streets of our large cities. 4-H is uniquely poised to bring together 
youth through collaboration, engagement, and a commitment to civic 
responsibility to build a nation of strong communities. 4-H is in every 
county in every state, in every U.S. territory and the District of 
Columbia and 3,067 countries around the world.
  The 4-H mission is to create supportive environments for diverse 
youth and adults to reach their fullest potential. The 100 year-old 
program has molded itself to meet the needs of our citizens by focusing 
on developing rural, suburban and urban youth and teaching youth 
utilizing the research and knowledge base of our state's land grant 
institutions. 4-H has broadened its program areas to encompass not only 
agriculture and animal science, but also public speaking, computers, 
wildlife, forestry and many other topics of interest to today's youth.
  Through ``learning by doing'' experiences, young people in the 4-H 
program are educated through hands-on instruction about the world 
around them with the guidance of over 600,000 volunteer leaders and 
cooperative extension service faculty who invest time, talent, and 
trust in our youth.
  The 4-H program enables young people to grow up and become 
participating citizens and defenders of democracy through outstanding 
and exemplary programs such as the 4-H legislatures and the citizenship 
project. The 4-H program serves 6.8 million youth across America 
through 4-H clubs, special interest groups, camping and school 
enrichment educational programs. 4-H young people devote thousands of 
hours in service to their communities annually through programs such as 
``4-H'ers Helping the Hungry'' and other service activities that 
benefit the people of our nation.
  In the coming century, 4-H is posed to provide a national curriculum 
for youth development professionals reflecting tools and strategies 
that yield the most successful outcomes. By its call to excellence 
epitomized in its motto ``to make the best better,'' 4-H is inspiring 
today's young people to strive for their dreams and not settle for 
anything less than their best effort. Congress recognizes these 
accomplishments through this resolution celebrating the centennial 
anniversary of 4-H programs for America's youth.
  Mr. STENHOLM. Mr. Speaker, as the 4-H program prepares to celebrate 
its 100th anniversary as a national organization, I rise today to honor 
them and to congratulate the individuals who have made this program a 
tremendous national success. Let me also add that 4-H has also passed 
another significant milestone in my own home state of Texas: For the 
first time in its history, over one million young people are enrolled 
in the various Texas 4-H programs.
  Young people are the future leaders of our country and the lessons 
they learn in 4-H programs, in any state or U.S. territory, help them 
to be responsible, energetic, and committed individuals who make an 
important contribution to our nation.
  I commend 4-H for the positive impact it has on cultivating the head, 
heart, hands, and health of our young people. The positive educational 
experiences 4-H affords young people allows them to imagine unlimited 
possibilities and to take them in new and exciting directions.
  I would also like to recognize the efforts of 4-H adult volunteers; 
it is their continuing efforts that allow this great organization to 
grow. 4-H leaders say they work to make the best better. For almost 100 
years they have done just that, and our country is clearly the better 
for it.
  Mr. UNDERWOOD. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to support H. Res. 112, 
recognizing the upcoming 100th anniversary of the 4-H Youth Development 
Program and commending such program for service to the youth of the 
world. I would especially like to extend a heartfelt congratulations to 
the members of the Guam 4-H Club on their twenty-seven years of 
community activism and commitment to our youth.
  The 4-H started as an idea that generated in the United States and 
developed according to the needs of our communities. For most of the 
nineteenth century, rural America set the tone for the country. 
However, things changed at the turn of the century and jobs in the 
larger cities enticed the youth of rural America and many moved in 
search of economic prosperity.

[[Page 6612]]

  These rural communities were faced with the potential loss of 
children leaving to the larger cities. With these concerns to educate 
the children of rural America and the advances in agricultural 
technology came the 4-H idea of practical and applied educational 
principles in the public schools of country life. In 1862, the Morrill 
Act created the land grant university system. These land grant 
institutions were dedicated to the general education and improvement of 
agricultural and mechanical arts in the education of rural children. In 
addition, as part of the land grant system, experimental stations were 
established in agricultural production and technology. Although the 
farming community did not readily accept these new ideas and concepts, 
concerned citizens, school teachers, agricultural scientists scattered 
the seeds that started the roots of the 4-H. By 1902, the club concept 
was adopted and hence the forming of a club for boys and girls 
promoting vocational agriculture in rural schools through the land 
grant system. by 1914 the Cooperative Extension System was enacted with 
the passage of the Smith-Lever Act. This was a unique partnership 
created by Congress to establish national educational network designed 
to meet the need for research, knowledge and educational programs. 
Local leaders were now involved and as a part of the program base for 
the cooperative extension programs the concept of 4-H expanded beyond 
agricultural vocation.
  During its first 80 years, 4-H grew from an organization primarily 
concerned with improving agricultural production and food preservation 
to one dedicated to total youth development. It has become an integral 
part of the Land-Grant University and the Cooperative Extension Service 
Systems and is one of the nation's most diverse organizations that has 
now come to include people from every economic, racial, social, 
political and geographic category. More than 6.8 million youth annually 
participate in 4-H programs. These programs are conducted via the 
Cooperative Extension System in 3,067 counties in the United States, 
the District of Columbia, the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico and in my 
home district of Guam. The 4-H has followed the needs of the nation's 
youth from rural America to our urban and suburban communities, and 
even further into our U.S. Territories. The participation of young 
people in developing and governing 4-H has been key to its continuing 
success.
  In 1972 the University of Guam was awarded land grant status and by 
1974 the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences (CALS) was 
established. With the establishment of CALS, 4-H youth development on 
Guam was officially sanctioned and is today 27 years old. 4-H has 
served its members in Guam and other Pacific Island areas. Through 
public and private partnerships, the 4-H club has afforded many of our 
island youth the opportunity to engage in activities that hold their 
personal interest, while being guided by adult volunteers. Youth 
development professionals employed by the Cooperative Extension System 
with the University of Guam provide direction and leadership and 
centers on the personal growth of the 4-H member. Through projects, 
activities and events sponsored by the extension program, our 4-H youth 
members build life skills they can use for the rest of their lives. 
Because of their experiences with 4-H, our youth become contributing, 
productive, self-directed members of a forward moving society. 
Experiences are built around life skills that center on positive self 
esteem, communication and decision making. Citizenship, leadership, 
learning how to learn, and the ability to cope with change are also 
important life building skills learned through their activities. Two of 
my children, Sophia and Roberto, now grown adults in their 30's, 
participate in 4-H activities in Guam. I can't help but think that 
their maturation was assisted by their experience.
  I can think of no greater tribute to the 4-H program than by 
recognizing its 100th Anniversary of community activism, and its 
positive youth development through its partnerships and programs.
  Mr. HOBSON. Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of H. Res. 112, and 
recognize the accomplishment of the 4-H Youth Development Program.
  In 1902, in Clark County, Ohio, which is my home and part of Ohio's 
7th Congressional District, Mr. Albert Belmont Graham held the first 
meeting of what eventually become known throughout the nation as 4-H. 
The four H's are head, heart, hands and health; all of which should be 
used to serve your community, country, and world. The purpose of Mr. 
Graham's initial meeting was to instruct the county youth on the best 
methods of harvesting corn, testing soil samples, planting a garden, 
and identifying natural wildlife.
  Soon, The Ohio State University's College of Agriculture became 
interested in Mr. Graham's meetings, and assisted him in setting up 
more of these ``agricultural clubs'' across the State of Ohio. Since 
that time, 4-H has expanded to all fifty states, internationally to 
more than 80 countries, and 45 million people now are 4-H alumni. The 
original curriculum has been expanded to include health, family life, 
photography, and more than 200 subject areas. The 4-H community not 
only includes those with agricultural backgrounds, but has broadened to 
reach the youths of the inner-cities and suburbs.
  Every summer when I tour the county fairs in my district and see 
young men and women showcasing their talents, I am reminded of the 
vision of Albert Belmont Graham and his 4-H program, which continues to 
provide lasting educational, cultural, and social benefits to young 
people across America and throughout the world.
  Mrs. MINK of Hawaii. Mr. Speaker, I have no further requests for 
time, and I yield back the balance of my time.
  Mr. KELLER. Mr. Speaker, I have no further requests for time, and I 
yield back the balance of my time.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore (Mr. Hastings of Washington). The question is 
on the motion offered by the gentleman from Florida (Mr. Keller) that 
the House suspend the rules and agree to the resolution, H.Res. 112.
  The question was taken; and (two-thirds having voted in favor 
thereof) the rules were suspended and the resolution was agreed to.
  A motion to reconsider was laid on the table.

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