E806CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — Extensions of RemarksMay 15, 2012

rights, that I will not relent or give up. Alice said, ''I never doubted that equal rights was the right direction. Most reforms, most problems are complication. But to me, there is nothing complicated about ordinary equality.'' How true this statement is.

TERRY O'NEILL, NOW

REMARKS BY TERRY O'NEILL, EQUAL RIGHTS AMENDMENT PRESS CONFERENCE, MARCH 22, 2012

Thank you to Congresswoman Maloney for having the courage and the tenacity to reintroduce the ERA every year until we get it done. We will not give up. We will get the ERA one way or another. I have told people over and over again, if we have to get the ERA swinging from the chandeliers, that's the route we'll take to get it. I'm so grateful for all the leaders we have here. Thank you for your leadership. Women are only 17 percent of the United States Congress. That is not okay. Women are only three out of nine Supreme Court justices and given what the Supreme Court has started doing to women these days, that is really not okay. This year—2012, needs to be the year of the women. If we had had women in state legislatures in those key legislatures in 1982 when we almost ratified the ERA back then, in Illinois, in Florida and in North Carolina. If we had had women and if we had had people of color, men and women of color, we know that we would have ratified the ERA. We have got to change the complexion of our elected leadership. It starts this year, women will be voting this year, we've had it, we've had enough. Enough with the war on women, we're going to elect more women to support the ERA.

Thank you so much.

—Terry O'Neill, National Organization for Women, President.

UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

HON. BOB GIBBS

OF OHIO
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

Tuesday, May 15, 2012

Mr. GIBBS. Mr. Speaker, today marks the 150th anniversary of President Abraham Lincoln signing into law an act of Congress establishing the United States Department of Agriculture. Since May 15, 1862, the USDA's work on agriculture, economic development, science, natural resource conservation and many other important issues has impacted the lives of generations of Americans.

As the first Member of Congress who has also served as President of a state farm bureau and a farmer of 30 years, I know firsthand the valuable programs the USDA provides to rural America. Whether you need help with growing, grazing, or international trade, the USDA works to ensure that Ohio's number one industry remains a viable part of American society. The USDA has taken historic steps to improve the lives of rural Americans and build thriving economies in rural communities, a fact that does not go unnoticed in our state with over 26,207,000 acres of farmland.

I am proud to submit to the CONGRESSIONAL RECORD this column by American Farm Bureau President Bob Stallman, which highlights the story of the USDA and the important role science and technology played in the American farming industry.

[From the AgAgenda, May 2012.]

USDA: CELEBRATING 150 YEARS OF INNOVATION

(By Bob Stallman)

President Abraham Lincoln is known for many achievements during his lifetime, but a little known triumph of his—that affects farmers and ranchers greatly—was the establishment of the United States Department of Agriculture 150 years ago.

On May 15, 1862, President Lincoln signed into law a bill establishing a new Department of Agriculture, which was specifically directed to acquire information through ''practical and scientific experiments'' and to collect and propagate ''new and valuable seeds and plants'' and distribute these to the nation's agriculturists. It is clear, Lincoln was a man beyond his time.

A MAN WITH A VISION

Lincoln understood the importance of agriculture to America, and, as importantly, he realized science and technology played a major role in the farming industry. Without a doubt, I believe Lincoln today would embrace the many technological advancements farmers use on their farms, including biotechnology.

Lincoln once wrote: ''Every blade of grass is a study, and to produce two, where there was but one, is both a profit and a pleasure. And not grass alone, but soils, seeds and seasons—hedges, ditches and fences, draining, droughts and irrigation—plowing, hoeing and harrowing—reaping, mowing and threshing— saving crops, pests of crops, diseases of crops and what will prevent or cure them . . . the thousand things of which these are specimens—each a world of study within itself.''

The federal government was, from the beginning of its involvement in agriculture, dedicated to scientific progress in farming. This commitment continues today and is shared by farmers and ranchers across the country, regardless of the methods of food and fiber production they use—organic, conventional or biotechnology. They all need science.

FULL SPEED AHEAD

The importance of science and innovation— biotechnology in particular — to agriculture will be significant as we face several challenges in the years ahead. The world's population just passed the 7 billion mark. According to the World Food Program, the best estimate is that 1 billion people (one in seven) are hungry and food insecure. By 2050 the world's population will rise to 9 billion people. This means we must double world food production by 2050 in order to meet this challenge.

Further, we must accomplish this hefty goal while realizing that our Earth is fragile. To take care of our environment, we must embrace agriculture research, science, innovation and biotechnology.

When it comes to medical care, communication and transportation we accept the importance of innovation. We need to do the same when it comes to the production of food.

Earlier this year, the United Nations issued a special report recognizing that ''new 'green' biotechnologies can . . . improve resistance to pests, restore soil fertility and contribute to the diversification of the rural economy.'' Sound familiar? Seems a lot like what Lincoln described as a goal 150 years ago.

Scientists have developed new seeds that can improve yields while resisting disease and requiring less water. That is critical as 70 percent of all fresh water is used by agriculture. American consumers and consumers all over the world can feel safe with this technology and confident it will improve our environment.

While meeting these quantitative challenges and meeting our environmental goals, we will strive to focus even greater attention on the qualitative side, to also meet the needs of consumers who express a preference for foods grown ''their way.'' Science is the answer for all these missions, and today's USDA is helping to blaze that trail.

So, Happy Birthday USDA and best wishes as we continue down the road for another 150 years. America's farmers, ranchers and research scientists can lead the way to a new 21st century Green Revolution if we follow the vision of Abraham Lincoln. As Honest Abe said, ''Leave nothing for tomorrow which can be done today.''

BOONE COUNTY DEPUTY SHERIFF JESSE RICE BROWNING

HON. NICK J. RAHALL II

OF WEST VIRGINIA
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

Tuesday, May 15, 2012

Mr. RAHALL. Mr. Speaker, during this season of renewal, it is fitting that we recognize those who, through their service to the public good, paid the ultimate sacrifice. Today, every 53 hours a law enforcement officer falls in the line of duty in this country.

These men and women got up in the mornings, dressed for work, kissed their family goodbye, and went out the door just as we do each morning, but with one tremendous difference. As law enforcement officers, they knew the challenges of a most typical day for them, would amount to unimaginable odds for any of us to face on our best day.

What they viewed as just doing their job, the rest of us know goes to the heart of human courage and commitment. They died so the rest of us could live. Their sacrifice allowed us to grow, prosper and, for their families, as scripture tells us, ''to go forth and multiply.''

In this, our Nation's Capital, each year for the past several years on May 15th, a few blocks west of our Capitol Building, our country pauses to reflect on the noble and selfless acts of these officers who represented the law of our great republic. Here, at the National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial during National Police Week in a solemn and moving memorial candlelit vigil ceremony, Americans gather around our Nation's living tribute to fallen officers throughout the land.

Though it is a monument hewn of solid blue gray stone marble to withstand the ages—it is, Mr. Speaker, as alive as you or I. For on its face are forever carved the names of fathers, mothers, sons and daughters, brothers and sisters, aunts and uncles, grand paws and grand maws, cousins galore and friends to countless numbers of us. As long as we live, Mr. Speaker, they, nor their memories, will ever die.

This year, two names have been added to the face of the monument's more than 19,000 names of law enforcement officers who have been killed in the line of duty. These two sons of the State of West Virginia, two loyal public servants from the heart of the coalfields of Appalachia, and two officers of the law from Boone County, West Virginia, who were simply doing their jobs when the face and forces of evil struck to rob them and their families of any future.

All West Virginians owe them a deep debt of gratitude and we are indebted, as well, to