Congresswoman Virginia Smith was the first woman elected to Congress from Nebraska. She served in the U.S. House of Representatives representing the Third District of Nebraska which included 62 of the 93 counties of the state, 79% of its land area. Additionally, Congresswoman Smith was the first woman inducted into the Nebraska Hall of Agricultural Achievement and the first woman recognized as a NHAA Honoree.
Thank you, Preside Waldo, ladies, and gentlemen, Virginia and Haven. What an honor it is for me to be asked to share this great moment with the Smith's, and with all of us who really appreciate Congresswoman Smith in the Third District of our fine State of Nebraska.
For you people who don't know him, may I take a few seconds for you to meet the man who is part of the team of Smith & Smith? Haven is our friend who helps to manage the show and keep the demanding schedule of our Congresswoman working. Haven, we appreciate you as a supportive and understanding husband of Virginia.
Virginia Smith of Chappell, Nebraska, is serving her 13th year in the United States House of Representatives as the Member of Congress from the Third District of Nebraska. The Third District includes 62 of the 93 counties of the state – 79 percent of its land area. It is the 8th largest in size of the districts represented in the Congress, and Congresswoman Smith visits each county at least once each year.
Representative Smith serves on the distinguished and powerful House Appropriations Committee. This committee has jurisdiction over 53 percent of all federal spending.
Nebraska's Congresswoman Smith serves on the Appropriations Subcommittee on Agriculture, on which she is the highest-ranking Republican member and acting Vice Chairman. She is also the second-ranking Republican minority member of the Appropriations Subcommittee on Energy and Water Development. Representative Smith is the only member of Congress from the vast 12-state northwestern plains region serving on both of these key subcommittees.
Mrs. Smith previously served on the House Education and Labor Committee and was a member of the Appropriations Subcommittee on Foreign Operations.
Mrs. Smith is the first woman ever elected to a full term in Congress from the State of Nebraska. She is the senior-ranking Republican woman in the 100th Congress.
Congresswoman Smith has consistently maintained one of the highest voting records in the House of Representatives. An Omaha World-Herald poll gives her an 89% approval rating from constituents.
Much has been said and written about the positive influence of Virginia Smith on the State of Nebraska.
Virginia was born in Randolph, Iowa, was a 4-H member, and has always referred back to the value gained from her 4-H Public Speaking experiences. She graduated from the University of Nebraska. She has long been a leader and lecturer to civic, educational, medical, and agricultural groups. Let me mention a few – Chairman, Presidential Task Force on Rural Development; Delegate to Republican National Convention; Senior Vice-President, Nebraska Republican Founders Day; National Chairman, American Farm Bureau Women; Board of Directors, American Farm Bureau Federation; Deputy-President, Associated Country Women of the World; Advisory Board, Educational Resources Information Center; Clearinghouse on Rural Education and Small Schools, U.S. Department of Health, Education & Welfare; Member, Census Advisory Committee, Agricultural Statistics, U.S. Department of Commerce, Bureau of the Census; National Board of Directors, Country Women's Council; Board of Governors, Agricultural Hall of Fame; Vice-President, Farm Film Foundation; Commissioner, National Commission on Community Health Services; Member, Board of Education, Nebraska State Normal Schools; Member, National Livestock and Meat Board; National President, American Country Life Association; Member, USDA Home Economics Research Advisory Committee; Member, Governor's Commission on Status of Women; Delegate to the White House Conference on Children and Youth; represented Associated Country Women of the World on tour of Latin-American countries; official speaker at First Regional Seminar for Women's Organization of Central & South America, Recife, Brazil; one of six U.S. leaders as guest of French government on three-week goodwill mission to France; headed delegation of American Farm Bureau Women to Associated Country Women of the World Worldwide Conference in Australia, Ireland and Norway; sent by Crusade for Freedom on inspection tour of Radio Free Europe; sent by American Society for Friendship with Switzerland on goodwill mission.
Her awards are many. Congresswomen Smith was the first woman to be inducted into the Nebraska Hall of Agricultural Achievement and is the first woman to receive this fine award tonight. She has been recognized with the Watchdog of Treasury Awards; National Federation of Independent Business 94-98th Congress; Knights of Ak-Sar-Ben Agricultural Award; National Safety Council Distinguished Service to Safety Award; 4-H Alumni Award, Iowa State University; National 4-H Alumni Award; Distinguished Service, Midwest Conference on World Affairs; Nebraska Woman of Achievement by Nebraska Business and Professional Women; Eyes on Nebraska Award, Nebraska Optometric Association; Freedom Foundation Top Public Address; Distinguished Service Award, University of Nebraska; Distinguished Service to Agriculture and Education, Extension Service, Land Grant Colleges; National Award of Merit, Daughters of the American Revolution and many more.
Her memberships include such groups as International Honorary Member; Beta Sigma Phi; State Honorary Member, Delta Kappa Gamma; PEO, Daughters of the American Revolution; American Association of University Women; Easter Star; Business and Professional Women, and Methodist Church.
Virginia and her husband, Dave, maintain their permanent residence in Chappell.
To get some good grassroots ideas of what Congresswoman Virginia Smith has done for our fine state I wrote to several people to obtain their thoughts on her outstanding public service to Nebraska. This is what they had to say:
"Not many people are aware that Virginia and Haven started out with very little and worked hard and long hours to achieve their agriculture success."
"As a Member of Congress, she does her homework on upcoming legislation, takes the time to explain it to her constituents and works with Members of both political parties to achieve the legislative goals that are best for our Country, State and her Congressional District."
"A tireless worker – giving of herself and her resources to best serve the people of the 3rd District and the State of Nebraska."
"She has a personal commitment for using her time and talent for the public good. Her dream is to do whatever is possible to preserve and extend the ideal American way of life to future generations. Her willingness to fill pulpit requests exhibits her Christian responsibility as well as civic rules."
"If there were one word to describe Virginia Smith it would be caring. She truly cares for the people in her Third District. She cares for people in groups; the farmers, the businessmen, the older folks, the students, the workers, and on it goes. She tries to help everyone she can, but she also cares for people as families and individuals."
"Virginia Smith's tireless effort to keep her constituents in the vast 62-county Third District informed about the issues, to listen to their concerns and counsel, and to report back to them on her actions, is one example of her outstanding public service to Nebraska. She is able to do this splendidly because of her great intelligence and her ability to think logically on countless subjects. These traits are based on a photographic memory and the ability of instant recall. She is a highly articulate speaker, who is comfortable with any audience, be it a community delegation, a town hall meeting, or one of her important congressional committees. Nebraska has never had a more effective and dedicated Representative."
"As to remarks about our mutual and faithful friend, Virginia Smith – here goes. Too bad we don't have a majority of Virginia Smith's in Congress. She is a fighter for what is just and right that will benefit her constituents. Every reasonable proposal she will listen to, and if worthwhile, will give it her utmost support to see it completed."
"There are three things that we admire about Congresswoman Virginia Smith. First – she's always a gracious lady, even when someone wants to take more than his share of her time at a Town Hall meeting. Second, she isn't afraid to speak out on issues that might make her unpopular. And she will go right to the top to plead for something she thinks is important for us in the Third District. Third – her incredible memory. She remembers names, dates, dollar amounts, statistics, and details of the various bills in Congress."
"Congresswoman Smith has successfully carried out her mission in the U.S. House of Representatives by accurately reflecting the image and spirit of her constituency. She did not take her election as simply a ticket for the transportation of Virginia Smith from Chappell, Nebraska, to Washington, D.C. where she might take on a new persona as a member of one of the world's greatest governing bodies. Instead, she took to Washington what we believe to be the best in all of us with her high-energy, down-to-earth approach to problems of global importance.
She made it repeatedly clear that she was one of us and that we were one with her as she responded quickly and aggressively to our requests. She took upon herself the difficult mission of empowering rural residents to deal with a massive government which is otherwise completely overwhelming. That singleness of focus, absent of the many other "hidden agendas" which seem to characterize our image of most politicians, made her both very effective and much loved.
Rural Americans owe Virginia Smith both our gratitude and our attention. She is teaching us many lessons about the trust we place in public officeholders and what we should expect in return. Her performance in our behalf is the exception, not the rule, and if this nation's rural sector is to be a factor in policy development, we must find and encourage more like her."
As valedictorian of her high school at the age of 15, Congresswoman Smith wrote, "There is no excellence without great labor." Today, she says, "I continue to live by that philosophy."
Well, Virginia, your deeds speak for you far better than anything I can say. You have devoted yourself unselfishly to a host of humanitarian causes. Your activities have been so extensive. You have found the time and energy to serve, to work, and to lead, shouldering countless burdens with unfailing good humor and grace. You have set an example for all to live by. And thank you Haven for your encouragement and support.
It is for this approach to her work, her positive influence on the lives of many persons in this state, and the enormous input of her achievements on Nebraska agriculture, that Representative Virginia Smith is appropriately recognized tonight as the 1987 Honoree of the Nebraska Hall of Agricultural Achievement. Virginia, congratulations on this appropriate recognition.
