8 



CYNTHIA A. MCKINNEY 

 1 tTH District, Georgia 



Congre£(£( of tfje ^nttetr States; 



J^ouit of l^tpvtitntatiiiti 

 raa^dtngton. Mt 20515-1011 



Statement of Cynthia A. McKinney to the Committee on Agriculture, 

 Subcommittee on Foreign Agricultvire and Hxmger 



AIDING RUSSIAN AGRICULTURE 



Thank you Mr. Chairman for holding these hearings and for the 

 opportunity to express my concerns before this panel this morning. I also 

 thank the panel for your testimony before us today. 



Mr. Chairman while I do believe that Russia is in need of support from the 

 United States, and I believe this country should support those countries that 

 are in need, I do look forward to the day when Russia can feed and support 

 itself. I look forward to the day when Russia's farmers can rely on its on 

 farming. 



I'm concerned about the lowering of credit standards for Russia. If we 

 lower credit standards for Russia, does it mean that we will have to lower 

 credit standards for other countries that are served by government credit 

 programs? Should we keep extending credit or should I ask the question. 

 Does the law permit us to keep extending credit? If we can afford to lower 

 Russia's credit standards it means increased risk to the United States 

 government. How do you justify increasing that risk to Russia when there 

 are other coimtries that have equal or greater needs? Russia unfortunately 

 is already in default of its agriculture debt to the United States on grain 

 received since the 1970's. There needs to be some agreemen about these old 

 debts. 



Another concern that needs attention is the environment and Russia's 

 environmental practices. Pesticides were used that could damage the 

 environment and the Aral Sea was drained for irrigation. These kinds of 

 practices cannot continue if there is to be a safe environment for the citizens 

 of Russia. 



Again, thank you Mr. Chairman for this opportunity to address my 

 concerns. 



