2015 -- H 6349

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LC002898

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     STATE OF RHODE ISLAND

IN GENERAL ASSEMBLY

JANUARY SESSION, A.D. 2015

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H O U S E   R E S O L U T I O N

HONORING BILL STAMP, JR., FOR HIS OUTSTANDING SERVICE TO AGRICULTURE

AND THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF RHODE ISLAND

     Introduced By: Representatives Naughton, Handy, Reilly, Shekarchi, and Filippi

     Date Introduced: June 24, 2015

     Referred To: House read and passed

     WHEREAS, Thomas Jefferson is quoted as saying, "Those who labor in the earth are the

chosen people of God," and believing this to be true, Bill Stamp, Jr., has spent much of his life as

their champion, advocate, and voice in our state and across this nation; and

     WHEREAS, Inarguably, no one has done more for farmers and farming in Rhode Island

than Bill Stamp, Jr. As President of the Rhode Island Farm Bureau (RIFB) from 1973 to 2014, he

was the longest of any farmer in the nation to serve as a State President and has been on the

forefront of efforts to improve the nation's constantly evolving agriculture system for more than

four decades; and

     WHEREAS, An outspoken advocate of property rights and farmers' rights, Mr. Stamp

spearheaded one of the strongest "right-to-farm" laws in the country, as well as the state's Farm

Forest and Open Space Act, which allows property enrolled in the program to be assessed at its

current use, not its value for development; and

     WHEREAS, In the 1970's, working with then Governor J. Joseph Garrahy, Mr. Stamp

was instrumental in establishing the Development Rights Program which further protected open

space and farmland in our state; and

     WHEREAS, More recently, RIFB, under Mr. Stamp's leadership, helped to ensure

passage of Inheritance Tax Legislation which allows future generations to continue farming, and

numerous other initiatives beneficial to farmers; and

     WHEREAS, In addition, Bill Stamp has significantly contributed to the presence and

health of agriculture in the state, which in turn provides our citizens with an abundant supply of

more nutritious and affordable food; and

     WHEREAS, Bill Stamp's dedication to the soil and the men and women who spend their

lives tilling the land is eminently deserving of our recognition and gratitude. He has not only

helped to feed the people of this state, but he has also helped preserve the land we farm for our

children and their children; now, therefore be it

     RESOLVED, That this House of Representatives of the State of Rhode Island and

Providence Plantations hereby honors and thanks Bill Stamp, Jr., for his dedicated service to

agriculture and the people of this state and our nation; and be it further

     RESOLVED, That the Secretary of State be and hereby is authorized and directed to

transmit a duly certified copy of this resolution to Mr. Bill Stamp, Jr.

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LC002898

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