Congress votes highest civilian honor to Dr. Norman Borlaug

Today, the U.S. House of Representatives voted to award a Congressional Gold Medal — the nation’s highest honor — to Dr. Norman Borlaug, credited with saving a billion lives through increasing crop yields in developing countries. The Senate has already voted for the award, and the legislation now goes to President Bush for his signature.

The creator of the “Green Revolution,” Dr. Borlaug, now 92, still continues his research work in Mexico and in Africa. Winner of a 1970 Nobel Prize, he has been credited with saving “more lives than any other person who has ever lived.” Dr. Borlaug also has been an advocate of agricultural biotechnology and its role in helping to feed the poor of the world.

CEI was honored to present him with the CEI Prometheus award at its 20^th Anniversary dinner in 2004. Highlights of his memorable address appear here.