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REVISED COPY 



STATEMENT OF 



THE HONORABLE DAN GLICKMAN (D-KS), CHAIRMAN 



PERMANENT SELECT COMMITTEE ON INTELLIGENCE 



ON HR 1507. 

 "THE DEBT FOR DEMOCRACY ACT OF 1993" 



BEFORE A PUBLIC HEARING OF THE 

 FOREIGN AGRICULTURE AND HUNGER SUBCOMMITTEE 



TO REVIEW RUSSIAN AGRICULTURE 



9:30 AM, TUESDAY, MARCH 30. 1993 



1300 LONGWORTH HOUSE OFFICE BUILDING 



WASHINGTON, D. C. 



MR. CHAIRMAN: Thank you for the opportunity to testify. You are to be 

 commended for calling this hearing and for devoting your Subcommittee's attention 

 to the situation in Russia. Not only do I believe this is among the most important 

 issues facing Americaa farmers, it is among the most important of all challenges 

 confronting the American public today. 



As deeply intertwined as American interests are in the reform process 

 imderway in the former Soviet Union, the direction and pace of the process are, in 

 the end, questions the Russians must determine for themselves. 



The United States can, and should, encourage that process, however. We have 

 substantial interests in seeing the reforms culminate in a democratic, market- 

 oriented state. Having spent trillions and devoted our national energy for four 

 decade to winning the Cold War, we can not afford to lose the peace. Nor can 

 Americtin farmers and American agribusiness afford to lose this customer. 



The credits the Department of Agriculture has extended to Russia and the 

 other former Soviet states are the primary form of assistance the West has made 

 available to them in the Ifist two yetirs. The lotms have also been of immense benefit 

 in keeping open one of the single most important markets American agriculture has 

 and will have in the near future. 



In the legislation I have introduced, I propose that the US use the leverage of 

 these credits to encourage further reforms while advancing our interests. 



The Russians need debt relief, including rescheduling of USDA debt. They will 

 need additional food assistance and American agriculture needs to get back into that 

 market. We have an interest in seeing the Russians convert their military to peaceful 

 uses and in encouraging the movement towards a market oriented economy. 



