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Contact: James Carstensen
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LATHAM APPLAUDS IMPORTANT STEP IN HONORING NORMAN BORLAUG IN U.S. CAPITOL
Effort kicked-off by Latham in 2009 to recognize one of Iowa's greatest sons
DES MOINES,
Oct 16 -
The Iowa Department of Cultural Affairs announced today that the state-appointed Dr. Norman E. Borlaug statue committee has selected Aberdeen, South Dakota artist Benjamin Victor to create a sculpture of Dr. Borlaug for display in the U.S. Capitol. Iowa Congressman Tom Latham welcomed the news of this important step in the process to honor Borlaug.
“Dr. Borlaug is a legendary Iowan and a true hero to this country and billions of people across the globe,” Congressman Latham said. “His work literally helped feed the world’s hungry, and I am pleased that the statue committee has taken this important step to ensure that he is paid the honor and respect he deserves.”
Congressman Latham led the successful effort in 2007 to award Borlaug the Congressional Gold Medal. Then, in 2009, Latham wrote a letter kicking off an aggressive campaign to urge the Iowa legislature and the governor to begin work on the statue project, calling Dr. Borlaug “one of our state’s most accomplished natives, and one whom generations of the world’s people owe a deep gratitude, honor and respect.”
BACKGROUND
An act of Congress in 1864 allowed each state to provide two statues of notable citizens for display in the Capitol. In 2000, Congress passed legislation allowing states to replace the statues if a resolution to do so is approved by a state’s legislature and governor. In March of last year, the Iowa legislature passed and Governor Terry Branstad signed a joint resolution providing for the creation of the seven-member statue committee to replace one of Iowa’s current statues, Civil War-era Senator James Harlan, with one of Dr. Borlaug.
Borlaug, a Cresco native who died in September 2009 at the age of 95, conducted groundbreaking work in breeding varieties of wheat to feed starving populations across the globe. Borlaug received a Nobel Peace Prize and a Presidential Medal of Freedom during his lifetime.
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