Political Quotes

“I commend the Senate for agreeing to this resolution celebrating the 150th anniversary of the signing of the First Morrill Act. The Morrill Act, named for its author, Justin Morrill of Strafford, VT, granted public lands to States and territories to support colleges in promoting education as a means of economic advancement and intellectual pursuit. This landmark legislation brought national attention to public higher education in the United States and made higher education accessible to the public by granting Federal land to each State to be used toward funding public agriculture colleges. It is difficult to overstate the profound impact and ways in which the core democratic vision behind the Morrill Act has improved the lives of Americans. Land grant institutions have opened the doors to affordable and accessible higher education for millions of students. These public institutions are the lifeblood of many communities, serving as hubs of research and innovation, as drivers of economic growth, and as laboratories for critical thinking and public debate. The University of Vermont is the State of Vermont's land-grant university. It is fitting that representatives from the University of Vermont's Proctor Maple Research Center will be in town next weekend for the Smithsonian's 2012 Folklife Festival. This year, the annual event celebrates the spirit of the Morrill Act and the cultural impact of land-grant institutions.…”