A RESOLUTION

 

1Celebrating the 100th anniversary of the signing of the Smith-
2Lever Act, which founded the nationwide Cooperative Extension
3System.

4WHEREAS, May 8, 2014, marks the centennial of the signing of
5the Smith-Lever Act (38 Stat. 372, 7 U.S.C. § 341 et seq.),
6which established Cooperative Extension, the nationwide
7transformational education system operating through land-grant
8universities, in partnership with Federal, State and local
9governments; and

10WHEREAS, United States Senator Hoke Smith of Georgia and
11United States Representative Asbury Francis Lever of South
12Carolina authored the Smith-Lever Act to expand the vocational,
13agricultural and home demonstration programs in rural America by
14bringing the research-based knowledge of the land-grant
15universities to people where they live and work; and

16WHEREAS, Cooperative Extension is a critical component of the
17three-part land-grant university mission and works

1collaboratively with research, particularly the Agricultural
2Experiment Station System, and academic programs in 106 colleges
3and universities, including historically black, Native American
4and Hispanic-serving institutions in all 50 states, the District
5of Columbia and six United States territories to reach
6traditional and underserved audiences in all communities; and

7WHEREAS, The Cooperative Extension System continues to
8receive Federal leadership and support enabled by the Smith-
9Lever Act and other legislation through the United States
10Department of Agriculture's National Institute of Food and
11Agriculture; and

12WHEREAS, Cooperative Extension's research-based education for
13farmers and ranchers helped establish the United States as a
14leading agricultural producing nation; and

15WHEREAS, Since 1924, when the clover emblem was adopted by
16the United States Department of Agriculture to represent 4-H,
17Cooperative Extension's nationwide youth development program has
18reached millions of youth and helped prepare them for
19responsible adulthood; and

20WHEREAS, Cooperative Extension prepares people for healthy,
21productive lives through sustained education, such as the
22Expanded Food and Nutrition Education Program, which is designed
23to break the cycle of poverty and reducing expenditures for
24Federal and State assistance programs; and

25WHEREAS, Cooperative Extension provides rapid response to
26disasters and emergencies through the Extension Disaster
27Education Network and similar efforts by providing real-time
28alerts and resources so Cooperative Extension educators can
29respond to urgent needs due to hurricanes, floods, oil spills,
30fire, drought, pest outbreaks and infectious diseases affecting

1humans, livestock and crops; and

2WHEREAS, Cooperative Extension translates science-based
3research for practical application through local and online
4learning networks, where educators are available to identify
5emerging research questions, connect with land-grant university
6faculty to find answers and encourage application of findings to
7improve economic and social conditions; and

8WHEREAS, Cooperative Extension engages with rural and urban
9learners through practical, community-based and online
10approaches, resulting in the acquisition of knowledge, skills
11and motivation to strengthen the profitability of animal and
12plant production systems, protect natural resources, help people
13make healthy lifestyle choices, ensure a safe and abundant food
14supply, encourage community vitality and grow the next
15generation of leaders; and

16WHEREAS, Many states are celebrating the centennial of the
17signing of the Smith-Lever Act with resolutions and
18proclamations, and many land-grant institutions also are
19commemorating the signing of the historic legislation; therefore
20be it

21RESOLVED, That the Senate recognize the significance of the
22Smith-Lever Act to the establishment of Cooperative Extension
23nationwide; and be it further

24RESOLVED, That the Senate encourage the people of the United
25States to observe and celebrate the centennial of the signing of
26the act with a focus on launching an innovative and sustainable
27future for Cooperative Extension; and be it further

28RESOLVED, That the Senate honor the university faculty and
29local educators who dedicate their careers to providing trusted
30education to help people, families, youth, businesses and

1communities solve problems, develop skills and build a better
2future; and be it further

3RESOLVED, That the Senate thank Cooperative Extension
4volunteers who provide thousands of hours to promote excellence
5for 4-H, Master Gardeners, Family and Consumer Sciences and
6other programs in their communities and encourages continued
7collaboration and cooperation among Federal, State and local
8governments to ensure Cooperative Extension's sustainability as
9the nation's premiere nonformal educational network; and be it
10further

11RESOLVED, That the Senate celebrate the millions of youth,
12adults, families, farmers, ranchers, community leaders and
13others who engage in Cooperative Extension learning
14opportunities designed to extend knowledge and change lives.