Bill Text: VA HJR758 | 2013 | Regular Session | Enrolled

Virginia House Joint Resolution 758 (Prior Session Legislation)

Bill Title: Urban Agriculture Month; designating as October 2013, and each succeeding year thereafter.

Spectrum: Slight Partisan Bill (Republican 17-8)

Status: (Passed) 2013-02-19 - Bill text as passed House and Senate (HJ758ER) [HJR758 Detail]

Download: Virginia-2013-HJR758-Enrolled.html

HOUSE JOINT RESOLUTION NO. 758 Designating October, in 2013 and in each succeeding year, as Urban Agriculture Month in Virginia.

Agreed to by the House of Delegates, January 25, 2013 Agreed to by the Senate, February 19, 2013

WHEREAS, since Colonial times, agriculture has been an important part of the Commonwealth's economy; and

WHEREAS, early colonists and their families worked on the land to raise food for themselves and their livestock; and

WHEREAS, over the years, the Commonwealth and nation have become increasingly suburban and urban; and

WHEREAS, agriculture continues to play an important role in Virginia's economy and in local communities, with farmer's markets, community gardens, and other urban agriculture education and awareness programs; and

WHEREAS, recent natural events ranging from the derecho storm in 2012 to the aftereffects of Superstorm Sandy in 2013 demonstrate the importance of food security; and

WHEREAS, the increasing challenges of hunger and obesity also show the need for a more coordinated approach to growing, distributing, and accessing healthy food; and

WHEREAS, urban agriculture efforts help to strengthen community food systems and bolster food security; and

WHEREAS, a Virginia Cooperative Extension report showed that if every family in Virginia spent $10 a week on fresh, local food and farm-based Virginia products, more than $1.65 billion in economic impact would be generated; and

WHEREAS, the use of urban agriculture initiatives can promote community wellness and environmental sustainability, enhance education and learning, and help preserve the Commonwealth's agricultural heritage; and

WHEREAS, a month designated as Urban Agriculture Month in Virginia will provide the opportunity to promote and educate Virginians as to the benefit and importance of urban agriculture programs to local communities; now, therefore, be it

RESOLVED by the House of Delegates, the Senate concurring, That the General Assembly designate October, in 2013 and in each succeeding year, as Urban Agriculture Month in Virginia; and, be it

RESOLVED FURTHER, That the Clerk of the House of Delegates transmit a copy of this resolution to Dr. Edwin Jones, Director of the Virginia Cooperative Extension, so that members of the Virginia Cooperative Extension State Extension Leadership Council and Virginia Cooperative Extension may be apprised of the sense of the General Assembly of Virginia in this matter; and, be it

RESOLVED FINALLY, That the Clerk of the House of Delegates post the designation of this month on the General Assembly's website.