working with the Department of Agriculture in order to get this sit- 

 uation moving. So I thank Congresswoman Mink for coming for- 

 ward and also Mr. Strong. 



Mrs. Mink. May I just make a comment at least in concluding 

 that my feeling is, rather than struggling to try to get administra- 

 tive changes within the U.S. Department of Agriculture, that per- 

 haps the Congress might consider legislative solutions to this prob- 

 lem. 



Perhaps we can legislate to correct some of these obvious defi- 

 ciencies such as the equity question rather than rely upon the ad- 

 ministrative agency, upon the occurrence of each hurricane, to be 

 able to make and adjust these requests. 



If we could correct it legislatively, it would seem to me to be the 

 most appropriate and equitable thing to do. Certainly it would be 

 timely, I think, and appropriate for legislation to be constructed 

 which would say that the crop year should begin from the day of 

 the hurricane and not make your assessments as to the claims 

 based upon the year that has already been spent before the hurri- 

 cane occurred. 



Then because in our case in Kauai the hurricane hit in the fall, 

 which then rendered the farmers there completely ineligible. Cer- 

 tainly that can be corrected by legislation. The dead tree issue is 

 something that can be specifically corrected and amended by legis- 

 lation. 



For our specialty crops, which grow in our kind of geographical 

 areas, that produce fruits year after year, there are certainly ways 

 in which the economic loss can be measured and the farmers can 

 be put back reasonably to a condition where they can continue in 

 their business. 



It is tragic that the loss disaster provisions for the farmers have 

 been showed to be inadequate. The farmers furthermore, when the 

 hurricane hit, thought they could walk in and perhaps get some as- 

 sistance from the Small Business Administration. They found out 

 they were ineligible there. If we are not going to get relief from 

 EDA, SBA, and FEMA and the rest of these agencies that have 

 been constructed to help all people in America, we have to look to 

 the farm agency, which is the Department of Agriculture, to pay 

 specific attention and care and be aware of the variety of crops that 

 are produced in this country. Everybody cannot live under the 

 same regulations. 



We are different in terms of our geography and the kinds of crops 

 that we produce. So rather than wait for another hurricane, an- 

 other disaster, it seems to me to be appropriate for this committee 

 to consider the necessity of moving forward with legislation, not 

 wait for an appropriation bill or a supplemental bill to treat it in 

 terms of the monetary aspects, but in the authorizing legislation to 

 come up with language that would meet the specific needs in both 

 of our areas. 



I think that is really what Mr. Strong is here today to testify on 

 behalf of, and what I would certainly support if it came out of this 

 committee. 



Mrs. Thurman. We thank you both very much for being here and 

 we look forward to working with you. 



