June 15, 2012 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — Extensions of Remarks E1047 education program. He returned to Le Grand age living, working, and enriching the quality over 120,000 wetlands in California, and in 1983 as Superintendent of Schools, a posi- of life in Southern California. worked to keep the farming culture strong. I tion he held until 1991. Dr. Duran’s career with Mr. Speaker, Americans of Caribbean herit- would like to submit for the RECORD the fol- Merced College began in 1991 when he be- age have made a positive impact on virtually lowing letter dated May 16, 2012, from Val came the Vice President for Administrative every aspect of American life, including the Dolcini, the State Executive Director of the Services. arts, science, business, education, athletics, USDA Farm Service Agency in California. This Dr. Duran chaired the Community College military, and government. For example, in the letter illustrates just a few successes of USDA League of California’s 2010 Commission on area of government and public affairs America over the last 150 years and, with our support, the Future. He has served as President of the has benefitted from the contributions of Colin their accomplishments will continue in the fu- California Community Colleges (CCC) Chief Powell, a former Secretary of State and Chair- ture. Executive Officers Board of Directors and man of the Joint Chiefs of Staff; U.N. Ambas- USDA AT 150: FARMS, FOOD, JOBS President of the CCC Economic and Work- sador Susan Rice; former Members of Con- One hundred and fifty years ago, in the force Development Program Advisory Com- gress Mervyn Dymally of California, and Shir- midst of a great Civil War, President Lincoln mittee. He was a member of the Hewlett/Irvine ley Chisholm of New York, and current Con- signed legislation to establish a Department of Foundation Task Force on Basic Skills Devel- gresswoman YVETTE CLARKE of New York; Agriculture to ‘‘acquire and to diffuse among opment, the CCLC Board of Directors, and Kamala Harris, the Attorney General of Cali- the people of the United States useful informa- has served as Staff Developer for the Cali- fornia; and Maryland Lieutenant Governor An- tion on subjects connected with agriculture fornia School Leadership Academy. thony Brown. . . . and to procure, propagate, and distribute In addition, Dr. Duran has been involved in American art and culture has been enriched among the people new and valuable seeds numerous community organizations and initia- by the legendary performances of Sidney and plants.’’ tives, among them include the Greater Merced Poitier, Harry Belafonte, Cicely Tyson, and Armed with these broad mandates, the High Speed Rail Committee, the Merced Sheryl Lee Ralph; the writings of authors ‘‘People’s Department,’’ as he called it, set County Regional Arts Council, the Mercy Med- W.E.B. DuBois and Malcolm Gladwell; the about to serve American farmers and a mostly ical Center Board of Directors, and the Merced music of Grace Jones, Gil Scott-Heron, and rural American landscape. School Employees Federal Credit Union Board Christopher Wallace, ‘‘The Notorious B.I.G.’’; At that time, half of all Americans lived on of Directors. His professional associations in- and the prowess of great athletes like Carl farms, compared with about 2 percent today. clude the UC Merced Foundation Board of Di- Lewis, Tim Duncan, Patrick Ewing, Sandra The U.S. population in 1862 was about 31.4 rectors, the CSU Stanislaus Community Advi- Richards-Ross, Dwight Freeney, and million and today, that number has increased sory Board and Center for Public Policy Stud- Ndamukong Suh. tenfold to almost 313 million people. ies. He is a member of the California Associa- Mr. Speaker, I am very pleased that on Since its inception, the department has con- tion of Latino Superintendents and a director June 29 the Caribbean Heritage Organization tinued to fulfill Abraham Lincoln’s original vi- sion to touch the lives of every American, of the California Dollars for Scholars Program. will be holding the 2012 Caribbean Heritage Dr. Duran and his wife, Dr. Rose Mary Salute to Hollywood and the Stars gala in Los every day in almost every way. Now, the mod- ern USDA works in food science, agricultural Parga-Duran have two children in college. Dr. Angeles honoring industry stalwarts Sheryl research, nutrition assistance, bio-fuel produc- Parga-Duran is presently serving as the Dis- Lee Ralph, Antonio Fargas, Lorraine Tous- tion, economic and community development, trict Superintendent for the Merced City saint, and Rob Edwards. natural resource conservation, international School District. Upon his graduation he is I also wish to recognize the leadership of trade, credit and a host of other issues. the Institute of Caribbean Studies. The ICS looking forward to becoming engaged in the By any measure, it’s been a very successful has been very effective in advocating on be- community as well as watching his children 150 years for the USDA. Americans benefit continue to grow into adulthood. He also is half of the Caribbean American community from safe, abundant and reasonably priced looking forward to spending more time with his and each year it hosts a Legislative Con- food. We produce 85 percent of what we con- eldest daughter and two grandsons who live in ference Week as part of the month long cele- sume and therefore enjoy food security. Southern California. bration. The conference focuses the attention Our food, fuel and fiber industries provides Mr. Speaker, I ask that my colleagues join of policy makers and experts on issues of par- employment for more than 20 million Ameri- me in honoring Dr. Benjamin Duran for his ticular concern to the Caribbean American cans, and agricultural exports continue to post dedication to Merced College and our commu- community such as trade, job creation and significant trade surpluses, which, in turn, nity as a whole. economic empowerment, Haitian disaster relief have generated almost 1 million jobs alone. f and economic reconstruction. I congratulate Looking to the future, the USDA must con- the ICS, the Caribbean Heritage Organization tinue the legacy of contributing to the strength IN SUPPORT OF H. RES. 289 ‘‘COM- in my home county of Los Angeles, and the and health of the nation by becoming a more MEMORATING CARIBBEAN AMER- many community organizations and volunteers modern and effective service provider. We ICAN HERITAGE MONTH’’ across the nation for their efforts in making must tighten our belt, just as many Americans Caribbean American Heritage Month the suc- are doing with their household budgets. HON. LAURA RICHARDSON cess that it is. In the past few decades, American agri- OF CALIFORNIA During this month I hope all Americans will culture has become one of the most produc- IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES join with me in celebrating the remarkable his- tive sectors of our economy, thanks to farm- Friday, June 15, 2012 tory, culture, and contributions of Caribbean ers, ranchers and growers adopting tech- Americans to our nation’s past and future. nology, reducing their debt and effectively Ms. RICHARDSON. Mr. Speaker, I rise f managing risk. today in strong support of H. Res. 289, which The USDA is adopting these same strate- celebrates June as Caribbean American Herit- HONORING THE 150TH ANNIVER- gies in its Blueprint for Stronger Service, an- age Month and recognizes the significant con- SARY OF THE U.S. DEPARTMENT nounced by Secretary Tom Vilsack earlier this tributions of Caribbean Americans that have OF AGRICULTURE year. The blueprint aims to build a modern made strengthened our country and made it and efficient service organization that is close- better. HON. MIKE THOMPSON ly aligned with technological innovations—and This month also marks the 50th anniver- OF CALIFORNIA better suited to respond to 21st century agri- saries of independence for the Caribbean na- IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES cultural challenges. tions of Jamaica and of Trinidad and Tobago. The challenges ahead are many, both for Although a half century has passed since they Friday, June 15, 2012 the USDA and American agriculture. But by gained their independence, the struggle they Mr. THOMPSON of California. Mr. Speaker, focusing on a strong safety net for farmers waged to win their freedom still stands as a I rise today to honor the 150th anniversary of and ranchers, supporting policies that encour- testament to the ideals of our own great na- the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA). I age sustainable productivity, and promoting vi- tion. represent the city of Davis, which is home to brant markets that help feed consumers at I am privileged to represent a large segment the University of California, Davis (UC Davis). home and abroad, the ‘‘People’s Department’’ of Los Angeles County, which is home to the The USDA has a natural partner in UC Davis will continue to help create jobs, support work- second largest foreign-born population of any given its outstanding history of agricultural re- ing families, strengthen rural communities and major metropolitan area. There are an esti- search and outreach. In California, USDA has build on the success and productivity of the mated 500,000 Americans of Caribbean herit- reduced crop pests and disease, protected American farmer.

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