The so-called “Father of the Green Revolution” is one step closer to a gold medal and the highest honor Congress can give an individual. Iowa Senator Chuck Grassley wants to expedite the process to recognize Cresco native Norman Borlaug, a plant genetics researcher whose work helped feed starving masses in impoverished nations across the globe.
Grassley says he’s sending a letter today (Tuesday) co-signed by Congressman Tom Latham to U.S. House Speaker Dennis Hastert. Grassley says “Speaker Hastert has the authority to waive the regular rules that require 290 signatures before a bill can go through the committee of jurisdiction. The reason why we want to get this done is, it’s already passed the Senate and we think that we ought to honor Dr. Borlaug with a Congressional Gold Medal.”
Grassley says Borlaug is a true American hero and the Iowa native deserves more recognition. Grassley says “His role in saving what experts said had been hundreds of millions of people throughout the world from starvation. He’s also the only person working in agriculture that’s ever been awarded the Nobel Peace Prize.”
Borlaug is a geneticist and plant pathologist who is still pursuing his original goals at helping people around the planet live healthier lives. Grassley says “To this day, Dr. Borlaug continues to do his work to alleviate poverty and hunger throughout the world. He’s 93 years old but when he got done with the World Food Prize in Des Moines (last month), he was on his way to Africa to do what he could. He says it just makes him so angry that people are still starving.”