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| In addition to celebrating National Agriculture Day in March and Earth Day in April, Secretary Ann M. Veneman also celebrated the 30th anniversary of the Women, Infants, and Children Program, met with Iraqis dedicated to improving their agriculture sector, and, along with Chief Information Officer Scott Charbo, officially launched the new Web-based “Customer Statement” for agricultural producers. |
 Secretary Ann M. Veneman (2nd from left) visits with the Iraqi Democracy Delegation at USDA headquarters in Washington, DC, in March. The delegation was led by Sayyed Qizwini (2nd from right), president of the University for Humanitarian Scientific and Religious Studies in Iraq. --Photo by Alice Welch |
Iraqi Delegation: During the one-year anniversary week of the beginning of the end of Saddam Hussein’s regime, a six-member Democracy Delegation from Iraq met with Secretary Veneman to discuss the state of that nation’s agriculture and to thank America for liberating Iraq.
“Iraq is really the birthplace of much of modern agriculture,” Veneman said, in introducing the delegation to the press. “It is the home of the Tigris and the Euphrates Rivers, and what we learned [from the delegation] is what happened in so many of these regions--how Saddam Hussein cut off water supplies, destroyed irrigation systems, brought in animals that ate the productive crops,” she said.
In remarks delivered through a translator, leader of the delegation Sayyed Qizwini acknowledged the former regime put seeds in canals to block water from reaching the farmers. Hussein took the first portion of production for “special animals” and if this was not turned over, the farmer was put in jail.
“He gave us flour mixed with sand, and children were quite hungry. Children would walk to school barefooted. That was Saddam Hussein,” he said. During this period technology completely bypassed the farmers of Iraq. Qizwini said, until the invasion “we had no idea what a computer was like, I had no idea that people could sell [crops] at the world market price.” Qizwini also related that Saddam Hussein “before my own eyes killed my father and brother. This is Saddam Hussein and this is how we lived with him. So let’s be objective. And let’s be brave and let us say to the USA, God bless you America, and God bless your president and your people who made such a sacrifice for the sake of humanity.”
Veneman also pointed out that Saddam Hussein not only killed over one million people, “he killed over one million plants and trees, and that is the agriculture that needs to be rebuilt. The momentum that’s building a free and democratic Iraq is being reflected in the Middle East and beyond, and it’s a force of positive change that stands to benefit Iraqis and people all around the world.” •
WIC 30th Anniversary: From a pilot project launched in Pineville, Ky., in 1974, WIC has become a multi-billion dollar program with a proven record for delivering real results. “It always amazes people when I tell them that we run the WIC program and that nearly 47 percent of children born into American families today are born into WIC households,” Secretary Veneman said on the occasion of the program’s 30th anniversary. The Food and Nutrition Service and 88 agencies at the state, tribal, and territorial levels administer it, with services through 46,000 authorized retailers and 10,000 clinic sites. “WIC has become a program that serves as a model for others in integrating nutrition assistance and with nutrition education in a powerful and effective way,” she said. •
April 15: More Americans were able to keep more of their money this year because of the Jobs and Growth Tax Relief Reconciliation Act of 2003. In a speech to producers in Rome, Ga., Secretary Veneman said, “As a result of last year’s tax cut, a married couple with one child on a rural residence farm with income of $60,000 would save nearly $1,200 in taxes in 2004, or 24 percent over prior law. And a married couple with two children on an intermediate-sized farm with $45,000 in income and a farm machinery purchase of $50,000 would save about $4,500 or 100 percent over prior law.
“Thanks to President Bush’s tax relief agenda, today more than 105 million people have lower income taxes; more than 23 million small businesses have tax savings to invest in equipment, facilities, and workers; more than 33 million married couples are benefiting from marriage penalty relief; and more than 26 million farmers are benefiting from the doubling of the Child Tax Credit,” she said. •
Rural Public TV Awarded $14 Million: While visiting a local IRS office in Rome, Ga., the Secretary also announced that 18 rural public television stations in 16 states will receive $14 million to assist in the conversion from analog to digital broadcasting, a requirement of the Federal Communications Commission. Congress recommended that a portion of the distance learning/telemedicine funds in the current fiscal year support this transition effort. Through the USDA distance learning/telemedicine program, the Bush Administration has invested over $90 million, since 2001, to enhance access to rural education and health care technology. •
Earth Day: In recognition of the 35th Annual Earth Day, Secretary Veneman announced $221.5 million in investments to 44 states for rural water and wastewater loans and grants to assist rural communities’ environmental and safe water drinking needs. As many as 122,500 households and businesses are expected to benefit. She also reported that the stewardship efforts of farmers and ranchers have produced a net increase of 131,400 acres of wetlands during 1997-2002, according to the most recent National Resources Inventory (NRI). The NRI said the most increases occurred in the Corn Belt and Delta States where producers have created, maintained, or enhanced wetlands through the Wetlands Reserve Program, the Conservation Reserve Program, and the Conservation Reserve Enhancement Program.•