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

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

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

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

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

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Island's families and citizens; and

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

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

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

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

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Universities; and

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

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

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Service at Land Grant Universities nationwide; and

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

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

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

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

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

 

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

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

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other programs; and

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

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

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

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

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

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programming; and

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

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

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

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the coastal and marine environments; and

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

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

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education and engagement with all Rhode Islanders; and

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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Island; and be it further

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

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

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Rhode Island; and be it further

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

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

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

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Grant Director Dennis W. Nixon.

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LC005436

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