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04 LC 25 3660S
The House Committee on Agriculture & Consumer Affairs offers the following substitute to HR 1459:
A RESOLUTION
Creating the House Agricultural Research, Extension, and
Teaching Programs Study Committee; and for other
purposes.
WHEREAS, agriculture and forestry constitute a substantial portion of Georgia´s economy, are important to every county, area, and region of the state, and comprise major components of the tax base of many counties; and
WHEREAS, Georgia is blessed with many assets such as good farmers; an excellent natural resource base including soil, water, and climate; outstanding transportation and communication systems; enlightened and progressive agribusinesses; and research, teaching, and extension programs that all contribute to successful agriculture and forestry industries; and
WHEREAS, the University of Georgia College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences, the Fort Valley State University College of Agriculture, Home Economics, and Allied Programs, and the Abraham Baldwin Agricultural College Division of Agriculture and Forest Resources and Family and Consumer Sciences have the responsibilities of teaching students in agricultural and environmental sciences, conducting research in the Georgia Agricultural Experiment Stations, and transmitting information, knowledge, and technology learned through research to farmers and others throughout the state through the Georgia Cooperative Extension Service; and
WHEREAS, 4-H and youth programs conducted by the respective colleges provide opportunities and experiences that enrich the lives of young people throughout the state; and
WHEREAS, research and extension programs in the University of Georgia College of Family and Consumer Sciences, supported by the Georgia Agricultural Experiment Stations and Georgia Cooperative Extension Service, strengthen families throughout the state; and
WHEREAS, research and extension programs in the University of Georgia D. B. Warnell School of Forest Resources, supported through the Georgia Agricultural Experiment Stations and Georgia Cooperative Extension Service, provide information, knowledge, and technology that ensure the sustainability and success of Georgia´s forestry industry; and
WHEREAS, an extension program in the University of Georgia College of Veterinary Medicine, supported by the Georgia Cooperative Extension Service, contributes greatly to the animal industries of Georgia; and
WHEREAS, funding for support of agricultural research and extension programs has been dramatically reduced since 1991, resulting in major reductions in capacity to conduct research and deliver information; and
WHEREAS, the reduction of funding has resulted in a loss of over 400 personnel devoted to these programs in the University of Georgia College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences; and
WHEREAS, the reduction of funding has resulted also in a loss of personnel in the College of Agriculture, Home Economics, and Allied Programs at Fort Valley State University; and
WHEREAS, information, knowledge, and technology are becoming increasingly important in ensuring the sustainability and success of agriculture; and
WHEREAS, the state has failed to provide an adequate match for federal funds for agricultural research and extension through the Cooperative State Research, Education, and Extension Service; and
WHEREAS, the 1995 and 1996 Reports of the Governor´s Science and Technology Advisory Council recommended enhanced support for agricultural research and extension programs; and
WHEREAS, the future economic viability of the State of Georgia is dependent upon successful agriculture and forestry industries; and
WHEREAS, the people served by such programs continue to expect the services provided previously; and
WHEREAS, there are major inequities in funding for health insurance, maintenance and operations, repair, and rehabilitation for these programs.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES that there is created the House Agricultural Research, Extension, and Teaching Programs Study Committee to be composed of not more than seven members of the House of Representatives to be appointed by the Speaker of the House of Representatives. The Speaker shall designate a member of the committee as chairperson of the committee. The chairperson shall call all meetings of the committee.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the committee shall undertake a study of the conditions, needs, issues, and problems mentioned above or related thereto and recommend any action or legislation which the committee deems necessary or appropriate. The committee may conduct such meetings at such places and at such times as it may deem necessary or convenient to enable it to exercise fully and effectively its powers, perform its duties, and accomplish the objectives and purposes of this resolution. The legislative members of the committee shall receive the allowances provided for in Code Section 28-1-8 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated. The allowances authorized by this resolution shall not be received by any member of the committee for more than five days unless additional days are authorized. The funds necessary to carry out the provisions of this resolution shall come from the funds appropriated to the House of Representatives. In the event the committee makes a report of its findings and recommendations, with suggestions for proposed legislation, if any, such report shall be made on or before December 1, 2004. The committee shall stand abolished on December 1, 2004.
WHEREAS, agriculture and forestry constitute a substantial portion of Georgia´s economy, are important to every county, area, and region of the state, and comprise major components of the tax base of many counties; and
WHEREAS, Georgia is blessed with many assets such as good farmers; an excellent natural resource base including soil, water, and climate; outstanding transportation and communication systems; enlightened and progressive agribusinesses; and research, teaching, and extension programs that all contribute to successful agriculture and forestry industries; and
WHEREAS, the University of Georgia College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences, the Fort Valley State University College of Agriculture, Home Economics, and Allied Programs, and the Abraham Baldwin Agricultural College Division of Agriculture and Forest Resources and Family and Consumer Sciences have the responsibilities of teaching students in agricultural and environmental sciences, conducting research in the Georgia Agricultural Experiment Stations, and transmitting information, knowledge, and technology learned through research to farmers and others throughout the state through the Georgia Cooperative Extension Service; and
WHEREAS, 4-H and youth programs conducted by the respective colleges provide opportunities and experiences that enrich the lives of young people throughout the state; and
WHEREAS, research and extension programs in the University of Georgia College of Family and Consumer Sciences, supported by the Georgia Agricultural Experiment Stations and Georgia Cooperative Extension Service, strengthen families throughout the state; and
WHEREAS, research and extension programs in the University of Georgia D. B. Warnell School of Forest Resources, supported through the Georgia Agricultural Experiment Stations and Georgia Cooperative Extension Service, provide information, knowledge, and technology that ensure the sustainability and success of Georgia´s forestry industry; and
WHEREAS, an extension program in the University of Georgia College of Veterinary Medicine, supported by the Georgia Cooperative Extension Service, contributes greatly to the animal industries of Georgia; and
WHEREAS, funding for support of agricultural research and extension programs has been dramatically reduced since 1991, resulting in major reductions in capacity to conduct research and deliver information; and
WHEREAS, the reduction of funding has resulted in a loss of over 400 personnel devoted to these programs in the University of Georgia College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences; and
WHEREAS, the reduction of funding has resulted also in a loss of personnel in the College of Agriculture, Home Economics, and Allied Programs at Fort Valley State University; and
WHEREAS, information, knowledge, and technology are becoming increasingly important in ensuring the sustainability and success of agriculture; and
WHEREAS, the state has failed to provide an adequate match for federal funds for agricultural research and extension through the Cooperative State Research, Education, and Extension Service; and
WHEREAS, the 1995 and 1996 Reports of the Governor´s Science and Technology Advisory Council recommended enhanced support for agricultural research and extension programs; and
WHEREAS, the future economic viability of the State of Georgia is dependent upon successful agriculture and forestry industries; and
WHEREAS, the people served by such programs continue to expect the services provided previously; and
WHEREAS, there are major inequities in funding for health insurance, maintenance and operations, repair, and rehabilitation for these programs.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES that there is created the House Agricultural Research, Extension, and Teaching Programs Study Committee to be composed of not more than seven members of the House of Representatives to be appointed by the Speaker of the House of Representatives. The Speaker shall designate a member of the committee as chairperson of the committee. The chairperson shall call all meetings of the committee.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the committee shall undertake a study of the conditions, needs, issues, and problems mentioned above or related thereto and recommend any action or legislation which the committee deems necessary or appropriate. The committee may conduct such meetings at such places and at such times as it may deem necessary or convenient to enable it to exercise fully and effectively its powers, perform its duties, and accomplish the objectives and purposes of this resolution. The legislative members of the committee shall receive the allowances provided for in Code Section 28-1-8 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated. The allowances authorized by this resolution shall not be received by any member of the committee for more than five days unless additional days are authorized. The funds necessary to carry out the provisions of this resolution shall come from the funds appropriated to the House of Representatives. In the event the committee makes a report of its findings and recommendations, with suggestions for proposed legislation, if any, such report shall be made on or before December 1, 2004. The committee shall stand abolished on December 1, 2004.