2014 -- S 2916

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LC005436

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     STATE OF RHODE ISLAND

IN GENERAL ASSEMBLY

JANUARY SESSION, A.D. 2014

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J O I N T   R E S O L U T I O N

DECLARING MAY 8, 2014 AS "RHODE ISLAND COOPERATIVE EXTENSION DAY" IN

CELEBRATION OF THE CENTENNIAL OF THE PASSAGE OF THE SMITH-LEVER ACT

AND RHODE ISLAND'S CONTRIBUTIONS TO THE DEVELOPMENT OF AMERICA'S

LAND GRANT AND SEA UNIVERSITIES

     Introduced By: Senator V. SusanSosnowski

     Date Introduced: April 30, 2014

     Referred To: Senate Environment & Agriculture

     WHEREAS, In April of 1904, President Kenyon Leech Butterfield of the Rhode Island

College of Agriculture and Mechanical Arts (now known as the University of Rhode Island), with

a $4,000 appropriation from the Rhode Island General Assembly, formally established the

Extension Department at the college with a mission to share research findings with Rhode

Island's families and citizens; and

     WHEREAS, After a decade of experience in cooperative extension programming,

Kenyon Butterfield went on to assist United States Senators M. Hoke Smith and A. Frank Lever

in the formulation of legislation aimed at boosting the United States economy through

dissemination of practical scientific research undertaken at all of our nation's Land Grant

Universities; and

     WHEREAS, The Smith-Lever Act was passed by the United States Congress and signed

into law on May 8, 1914, by President Woodrow Wilson, establishing the Cooperative Extension

Service at Land Grant Universities nationwide; and

     WHEREAS, The Cooperative Extension Service has greatly contributed to the economic

growth of America by allowing for unprecedented increases in farm productivity such that each

farmer producing enough food to feed four people in 1914 now feeds over 70 people in 2014; and

     WHEREAS, The Cooperative Extension Service in Rhode Island over the last century

has diversified beyond work with farmers into varied programming for all Rhode Islanders

including food and nutrition education programs, home economics programming, soil and water

conservation education, 4-H youth programming, and home gardening outreach, among many

other programs; and

     WHEREAS, In 1966, with the cooperation of Dean John A. Knauss of the University of

Rhode Island's Graduate School of Oceanography, and Dr. Lewis M. Alexander of URI's

Department of Geography and Marine Affairs, Senator Claiborne Pell introduced the Sea Grant

College and Program Act, establishing Sea Grant Colleges throughout the nation with a Marine

Extension Service that was closely modeled after the Smith-Lever Cooperative Extension

programming; and

     WHEREAS, The Marine Extension Service program promulgated by the Rhode Island

Sea Grant since 1971, has been disseminating research results to boost our state's maritime

economy and building livelihoods in many marine trades while maintaining good stewardship of

the coastal and marine environments; and

     WHEREAS, The Rhode Island Cooperative Extension and the Rhode Island Sea Grant

Marine Extension program both remain a vital part of URI's continuing mission of research,

education and engagement with all Rhode Islanders; and

     WHEREAS, The unique combination of leading research, instruction and extension

capabilities of America's Land Grant and Sea Grant Universities, including the University of

Rhode Island, remains critical in resolving society's greatest challenges of economic and

environmental sustainability today and into the future; now, therefore be it

     RESOLVED, That this General Assembly of the State of Rhode Island and Providence

Plantations hereby recognizes the Centennial of the Smith-Lever Act and offers its

congratulations for 110 years of formal Extension programming by the University of Rhode

Island; and be it further

     RESOLVED, That this General Assembly hereby designates the day of May 8, 2014, the

Centennial of the Smith Lever Act, as "Rhode Island Cooperative Extension Day" in the State of

Rhode Island; and be it further

     RESOLVED, That the Secretary of State be and hereby is authorized and directed to

transmit duly certified copies of this resolution to University of Rhode Island President David M.

Dooley, Rhode Island Cooperative Extension Director John D. Kirby, and Rhode Island Sea

Grant Director Dennis W. Nixon.

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LC005436

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