[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 153 (2007), Part 11]
[House]
[Pages 15452-15453]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




  AUTHORIZING USE OF ROTUNDA FOR CEREMONY TO AWARD CONGRESSIONAL GOLD 
                     MEDAL TO DR. NORMAN E. BORLAUG

  Mr. BRADY of Pennsylvania. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that 
the Committee on House Administration be discharged from further 
consideration of the concurrent resolution (H. Con. Res. 164) 
authorizing the use of the rotunda of the Capitol for a ceremony to 
award the Congressional Gold Medal to Dr. Norman E. Borlaug, and ask 
for its immediate consideration in the House.
  The Clerk read the title of the concurrent resolution.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the 
gentleman from Pennsylvania?
  There was no objection.
  The Clerk read the concurrent resolution, as follows:

                            H. Con. Res. 164

       Resolved by the House of Representatives (the Senate 
     concurring), That the rotunda of the Capitol is authorized to 
     be used on July 17, 2007, for a ceremony to award the 
     Congressional Gold Medal to Dr. Norman E. Borlaug. Physical 
     preparations for the ceremony shall be carried out in 
     accordance with such conditions as the Architect of the 
     Capitol may prescribe.

  Mr. EHLERS. Mr. Speaker, I am proud to support H. Con. Res. 164, 
which authorizes use of the rotunda of the Capitol for a ceremony to 
award the Congressional Gold Medal to Dr. Norman E. Borlaug.
  Through a lifetime of research and development aimed at curing world 
hunger, Dr. Borlaug has exemplified how science and humanitarianism can 
intersect to address the needs of developing countries that have been 
ravaged by the effects of hunger and poverty. By introducing high-
yield, disease-resistant varieties of wheat to India, Mexico and 
Pakistan, Dr. Borlaug developed sustainable, renewable food sources 
that are frequently estimated to have saved over a billion lives.
  The results of Dr. Borlaug's research were remarkable, yet not 
surprising given the commitment of this man of science to find 
practical, applicable solutions to the world's problems, not, as he put 
it, chase academic butterflies. Dr. Borlaug's efforts to apply science 
to stimulate agricultural yield have been frequently credited as being 
a major milestone of the Green Revolution, and he himself has often 
been cited as the father of that movement.
  In 1970, Dr. Borlaug was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize for his work 
in India and Pakistan, and for his role in the Green Revolution. When 
he was advised in October of that year that he had won the enormous 
honor, Dr. Borlaug was where he spent many of his hours--in the farm 
fields of Mexico. When his wife drove an hour to reach him in the 
fields and advise him that the media was waiting for his reaction, Dr. 
Borlaug declined to return to the house, saying that he and his 
assistants still had much more work to do, as he continued to record 
data on his test plots. It was there that the TV camera crews found him 
2 hours later.
  In addition to the Nobel Prize, Dr. Borlaug has been recognized with 
the 1977 U.S. Presidential Medal of Freedom, the 2002 Public Welfare 
Medal from the U.S. National Academy of Sciences, the 2002 Rotary 
International Award for World Understanding and Peace, and the 2004 
National Medal of Science. He has also received numerous honorary 
degrees from around the world.
  Though he has received many accolades, Dr. Borlaug has been quick to 
point out that his work alone will not be enough to cure world hunger. 
In 1986, Dr. Borlaug created the World Food Prize, an international 
award recognizing the achievements of individuals who have advanced 
human development by continuing to improve the quality, quantity and 
availability of food in the world.

[[Page 15453]]

  Mr. Speaker, I am privileged to support H. Con. Res. 164 to authorize 
use of the Capitol rotunda to honor Dr. Norman E. Borlaug as he 
receives the Congressional Gold Medal. It is fitting that such an honor 
be bestowed upon a man who has done so much, for so many.
  Mr. BOSWELL. Mr. Speaker, I would like to thank my good friend and 
Colleague Mr. Tom Latham for his leadership on H. Con. Res. 164, which 
authorizes the use of the rotunda of the Capitol for a ceremony to 
award the Congressional Gold Medal to Dr. Norman Borlaug.
  I am honored to know Dr. Borlaug. He is a great humanitarian who is 
credited with saving over a billion lives. No small task but for Dr. 
Borlaug it was all in a days work.
  In 1944, Dr. Borlaug participated in Rockefeller Foundation's 
pioneering technical assistance program in Mexico. He was a research 
scientist and worked on high-yield and disease resistance cereal 
grains.
  His work changed production agriculture, as we know it today. Dr. 
Borlaug is also credited with beginning the `Green Revolution' in 
Mexico, Asia, and Latin America.
  He won the Nobel Peace Prize in 1970 for his groundbreaking work in 
world agriculture and his work to end world hunger. Through this he 
envisioned a prize that would honor others who had made contributions 
to helping feed the world.
  Dr. Borlaug's life is marked with accomplishments; one such 
accomplishment was founding the World Food Prize, which is now located 
in Des Moines, Iowa. The World Food Prize recognizes contributions by 
individuals who have worked to improve the quality, quantity and 
availability of the world food supply.
  Dr. Borlaug is an amazing man and because of him billions of lives 
have been saved. The implications of his life's work will be felt for 
years to come. I again thank Mr. Latham for helping to ensure this true 
American hero is properly honored.
  The concurrent resolution was agreed to.
  A motion to reconsider was laid on the table.

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