Honoring the life and achievements of Dr. Norman E. Borlaug for his many contributions to alleviating world hunger.

I thank the distinguished chairman and the ranking member and the proponent of this legislation, my good friend.

I rise in support of this recognition of Dr. Norman E. Borlaug for his many contributions, raising the bar, if you will, on the horrific impact of hunger in this world.

He engaged in groundbreaking scientific research and personal compassion to help save over a billion people from starvation across the world.

As a member of the Board of Directors of the Congressional Hunger Center, I am deeply saddened by his loss. But he deserves countless accolades--and none of these accolades do full justice to the greatness of his achievements in alleviating hunger.

Dr. Borlaug's work was extremely important to efforts of my former colleague Congressman Mickey Leland, who represented my district until his untimely death, trying to alleviate the hunger in Ethiopia on the basis of the continuing drought. Both Dr. Borlaug and Congressman Leland dedicated their lives to fighting hunger around the world.

For 20 years, Dr. Borlaug was a distinguished professor of International Agriculture at Texas A&M University. I believe he had the thesis, Teach a Person To Fish Versus Giving a Person a Fish and It Will Allow Them To Eat Forever.

This particular university is located in my good friend Congressman Edwards' district, but it is well respected throughout the State and the Nation. It was the home of Dr. Borlaug's Institute for International Agriculture, which develops and promotes science-based solutions to international challenges to agricultural and food production.

Although Dr. Borlaug was honored throughout his career, I'm proud that he continued to research agricultural techniques to alleviate global hunger until his passing.

He will forever be known as the ``Father of the Green Revolution.'' I believe that his work had to do with ending drought and finding out ways of intervention so that countries that suffered from this weather condition could still have the ability to grow crops.

The Green Revolution developed new strains of crops that could withstand environmental threats like the drought. He is, of course, a significant and respected individual who fought with all of his heart starvation around the world.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of H. Res. 739, which honors the life and achievements of Dr. Norman E. Borlaug for his many contributions to alleviating world hunger. I support this resolution because Dr. Borlaug's ground-breaking scientific research and personal compassion helped to save over a billion people from starvation across the world.

As a Member of the Board of Directors for the Congressional Hunger Center, I am deeply saddened by the loss of Dr. Borlaug. His countless accolades do not do full justice to the greatness of his achievements in alleviating hunger. Dr. Borlaug's work was extremely important to the efforts of former Congressman Mickey Leland, who represented my district until his untimely death in 1989. Both Dr. Borlaug and Congressman Leland dedicated their lives to fighting hunger around the world. Without these great Americans more than a billion people around the world would have died from starvation or suffered from malnutrition.

For 20 years, Dr. Borlaug was a Distinguished Professor of International Agriculture at Texas A&M University, located close to my district. Texas A&M is home to the Norman Borlaug Institute for International Agriculture, which develops and promotes science-based solutions to international challenges to agricultural and food production. Although Dr. Borlaug was honored throughout his career, I am proud that he continued to research agricultural techniques to alleviate global hunger until his passing. After he had gained international fame for his work he built upon his work to create the World Food Prize, known as the ``Nobel Prize for Food and Agriculture.''

Dr. Norman E. Borlaug will forever be known as the ``Father of the Green Revolution'' for his work developing new strains of crops that could withstand environmental threats. He developed a new strain of wheat that resisted disease while increasing productivity in the poorest areas of rural Mexico. The significant impact of his work in Mexico was noted around the world and his agricultural developments spread to South Asia where his wheat strain helped to feed millions in India and Pakistan. Dr. Borlaug's techniques were adopted in the Middle East and adapted to rice production. As Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi said in 2007, ``No person, before or since, has done more to answer the call to help liberate the world from hunger.''

In 1970, Dr. Borlaug's significant achievement in agriculture was honored by the Nobel Peace Prize. In 1977 he was bestowed the Presidential Medal of Freedom and in 2006, he was awarded the Congressional Gold Medal. Dr. Borlaug has been honored in the places where his work had the greatest impact. The Government of India awarded Dr. Borlaug its second highest civilian honor. He has an agricultural research building named after him in Bolivia and a street named after him in Ciudad Obregon in the Mexican State of Sonora. Academic institutions and agricultural research centers in Iowa, Minnesota, and Texas bear his name as a tribute to his work combating hunger.

Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.

Mr. Speaker, we gather today to honor the life and the accomplishments of Dr. Norman E. Borlaug, a pioneer in the field of the fight against world hunger. The world suffered a great loss with the recent passing of Dr. Borlaug, whose achievements in the field of agriculture have helped to feed millions of hungry people around the world. He passed from this world bearing the title of Father of the Green Revolution, his breakthrough advancement in wheat production and wheat adaptation having proven vital to those in need.

In rural areas around world, Dr. Borlaug's tireless efforts increased wheat output, helping to feed millions of starving people. Dr. Borlaug spent almost 30 years collaborating with scientists to alleviate world hunger through wheat development. In 1944 he accepted an appointment to the Cooperative Wheat Research and Production Program in Mexico, and it was there that he developed high-yielding, disease-resistant wheat, otherwise known as miracle wheat, opening the Green Revolution in global agriculture.

In 1970, Dr. Borlaug was awarded the distinguished Nobel Peace Prize for his work, the only person in the field of agriculture to be bestowed with such an honor.

He was later awarded such distinctions as the Presidential Medal of Freedom and the Congressional Gold Medal.

Dr. Borlaug's work was essential to those in need. He never wavered in this fight to fight world hunger, and he continued his efforts until his recent death. It is estimated that Dr. Borlaug's work helped to save over 1 billion people from starvation, but nevertheless, he warned that what he had helped to achieve was only a ``temporary success in man's war against hunger and deprivation,'' and he leaves behind a world in which many people still struggle to find enough to eat.

Mr. Speaker, challenges remain before us, but we can indeed be proud of the humanitarian work that Dr. Borlaug, an American patriot, demonstrated to the world. Today his Green Revolution stands as a singular success story for our efforts to assist those in dire need of our help around the world.

I am pleased to support this important resolution which honors the life of a true American hero, Dr. Norman Borlaug, whose incredible achievements in the fight against hunger should never be forgotten.

I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, I am so pleased to yield 3 minutes to the distinguished gentleman from Iowa (Mr. Latham), a member of the Committee on Appropriations and the ranking member on the Subcommittee on Transportation, Housing, and Urban Development.

Mr. Speaker, I would like to yield 3 minutes to the gentleman from Iowa (Mr. King), a member of the Agriculture, Small Business, and Judiciary Committees.

Mr. Speaker, I reserve my time.

Mr. Speaker, I have no further requests for time, and I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and agree to the resolution (H. Res. 739) honoring the life and achievements of Dr. Norman E. Borlaug for his many contributions to alleviating world hunger.

Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members may have 5 legislative days to revise and extend their remarks and include extraneous material on the bill under consideration.

Mr. Speaker, I yield myself 3 minutes.

Mr. Speaker, on September 12, 2009, the world mourned the passing of a great humanitarian. Dr. Norman Borlaug, a world renowned plant scientist, dedicated his life to ending global hunger and improving the world's food supply. Known as the Father of the Green Revolution, Doctor Borlaug saved more than a billion lives through his pioneering research and scientific innovation. In fact, he has been credited with saving more lives than any other person in history.

During his 20 years working in the poorest areas of rural Mexico, he developed a strain of ``miracle wheat'' that drastically increased crop yields and moved the country to food self-sufficiency.

In recognition of his tireless efforts, Dr. Borlaug has received more than 150 international honors. In 1970 he was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize and in 1977 the Presidential Medal of Freedom. Two years ago he was presented with the Congressional Gold Medal, America's highest civilian honor. In his Nobel acceptance lecture, Dr. Borlaug stated, ``The first essential component of social justice is adequate food for all mankind.''

Regrettably, we remain far from achieving this ideal. While, in theory, farmers produce enough food to feed every person on the planet, more people are hungry today than ever before. According to new estimates by the United Nations, over a billion people will go hungry every day in 2009, almost one-sixth of humanity.

We should take this opportunity not only to honor the extraordinary contributions of a true American hero, but to recommit ourselves to the goal of eradicating hunger.

I want to recognize and congratulate the sponsor of this resolution, my good friend from Iowa, Mr. Boswell, for introducing the resolution honoring Dr. Borlaug.

I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, I am very pleased to yield 4 minutes to the sponsor of the resolution, the gentleman from Iowa (Mr. Boswell).

(Mr. BOSWELL asked and was given permission to revise and extend his remarks.)

Mr. Speaker, I am very pleased to yield 2 minutes to the gentleman from Iowa (Mr. Braley).

Mr. Speaker, I am very pleased to yield 2 minutes to the gentleman from Texas (Mr. Edwards).

Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to yield 2 minutes to a member of the Foreign Affairs Committee, the gentlelady from Texas (Ms. Sheila Jackson-Lee).

Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of this resolution. On a personal basis, Dr. Borlaug was one of the most unusual people I met in my life. He was so impressive in so many ways.

On September 12, we lost one of the greatest humanitarians and scientists of our century. Dr. Borlaug has been credited to have saved more than 1 billion lives through his breakthrough work in agriculture. He was a truly remarkable man.

He was born on a small farm outside of Cresco, Iowa. After earning his Ph.D from the University of Minnesota, he joined a research project in Mexico in 1944. Through this work he developed what was called ``miracle wheat'' that tripled grain output and helped move Mexico to agriculture self-sufficiency. He then shared this new breed of wheat with Pakistan and India and helped those nations to avert the mass famine and starvations that had appeared imminent.

In a recent article in the Washington Post on Dr. Borlaug, it was stated that ``in India, Mexico and other nations susceptible to hunger and famine, he was known as one of the great Americans of modern times.''

Not only was he a great scientist, he was a world renowned humanitarian. Dr. Borlaug was one of only five people in history to win the Nobel Peace Prize, the Presidential Medal of Freedom, and the Congressional Gold Medal. He is in the company of Nelson

Mandela, Elie Wiesel, Mother Theresa, and Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. He was also named by Time magazine in 1999 as one of the 100 most influential minds of the 20th century.

After Dr. Borlaug won the Nobel Peace Prize in 1970, the only time in its history the award was given for achievements in agricultural science, he set out to create an award dedicated for significant breakthroughs in food and agriculture. In 1986, Dr. Borlaug founded the World Food Prize to recognize lifesaving achievements that increased the quality, quantity or availability of food in the world. Then in 1990, the prize was moved to my district in Des Moines, Iowa. Now in its 23rd year, the award has recognized individuals from around the world and has continued to promote global world security.

I mourn the loss of a great Iowan and American, yet I am also reminded of many wonderful memories. He was truly a great person who has had, and will continue to have, a profound impact on all of us. His contributions in the field of agriculture and his commitment to the human condition have fed so many around the world.

Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to join me in honoring this true American hero and father of the Green Revolution with a ``yes'' vote on H. Res. 739.

I thank the gentlewoman from Florida for yielding me this time for an opportunity to remember a great American, a great Iowan, Dr. Norman Borlaug, and I am very pleased that the whole Iowa delegation has come together and written a letter to the Iowa State legislature and the Governor to ask that a statue of Dr. Borlaug be placed, representing Iowa, right here in our Capitol. I appreciate the cooperation of everyone.

Dr. Borlaug devoted his life to a historic campaign to save the lives of the world's neediest people using agricultural science for the feeding of those individuals. His innovative leadership in plant breeding and agricultural production gave birth to the Green Revolution, and he was credited with saving over a billion--that's with a ``B''--a billion lives from starvation and the generations onward. It will be several billion as time goes on.

I think it's interesting that even in his final days at the age of 95, Dr. Borlaug pressed on with his mission to work for the good of all mankind. His accomplishments and his memory will live on continuing to improve the lives of countless people around the world for generations to come.

It was a great honor for me personally to call Dr. Borlaug a friend. I admired him for his vision and all of his accomplishments, but his modesty was every bit as extraordinary. He once described his work as ``a temporary success in man's war against hunger and deprivation.'' Dr. Norman Borlaug proved that one person can save a billion lives with a powerful vision and a pair of hardworking hands. He will very, very much be missed.

I think a very fitting thing that happened here with Congress was to give Dr. Borlaug the Congressional Gold Medal. I was very proud to have worked together with my colleagues from Iowa to make that achievement. And I think the remembering of his last words is so fitting for the life of achievement that he had and how he believed in basic science and having it actually relate to production agriculture. He was visiting with another scientist that he had taught on his deathbed. The scientist was telling about a new technology he had. Norman Borlaug, if I may try to quote what he said, he said, ``Get it to the farmers. Get it to the people who can actually make use of this technology to feed more people to make it actually utilized in agriculture today for the feeding to stamp out this horrible thing we call starvation around the world.''

Once again, I thank the gentlewoman from Florida for this chance and this opportunity to recognize once again a great American, Dr. Norman Borlaug.