would allow the USDA to reopen a commercial export relationship 

 with Russia and the other Republics of the former Soviet Union. 



Mr. Chairman, the fate of the Russian democracy and reform 

 hangs in the balance over the next months and years. U.S. agri- 

 culture can make a significant contribution toward ensuring the 

 survival of freedom in that country. We need to provide the prac- 

 tical technical assistance directly to the Russian farmers as they 

 attempt to reform their ag sector. While those reforms are under- 

 way, we need to revive our commercial commodity exports as of 

 today. Now. Their economy needs our food; our farmers certainly 

 need their market. 



Again, Mr. Chairman, I thank you for your leadership and asso- 

 ciate myself with the remarks of Chairman de la Garza. 



The Chairman. Will the gentleman yield briefly? 



Mr. Roberts. I'd be happy to jdeld to the chairman. 



The Chairman. I thank the gentleman, and I appreciate his very 

 excellent statement. I would like to mention, though, that we 

 should not be dealing solely with Russia. We should also be dealing 

 with the Ukraine, with Georgia, Turkmen, all of the other former 

 Soviet Republics. And although it has been mentioned that we 

 might involve ourselves in dealing solely with Russia, this should 

 not be the case. It is only, because of the predicament of Mr. 

 Yeltsin that we're speaking about Russia solely, but we should not 

 forget that there are other viable and valuable markets for us in 

 the rest of the former Republics. 



I thank the gentleman. 



Mr. Roberts. If I could just say one other thing, Mr. Chairman, 

 I certainly agree with the chairman of the full committee and w£int 

 to stress again that this legislation, while its practical effect would 

 be Russia-specific, is a policy change that affects all countries, the 

 long-term ability of all countries to repay the credit. Again, we're 

 trymg to change the focus on a rather narrow USDA interpretation 

 of existing law to certainly meet the challenges of all countries, as 

 the chairmsm has indicated. 



Again, I thank you, Mr. Chairman. 



Mr. Penny. Thank you, Mr. Roberts. 



Mr. Allard, and then we'll move on to the video tape. 



OPENING STATEMENT OF HON. WAYNE ALLARD, A REP- 

 RESENTATIVE IN CONGRESS FROM THE STATE OF COLO- 

 RADO 



Mr. Allard. Thank you, Mr. Chairman. This is our first hearing 

 of the Foreign Agriculture and Hunger Subcommittee. This is a 

 new subcommittee, and I'm looking forward to working with you 

 and the rest of the members of the subcommittee on the many is- 

 sues within our jurisdiction. 



It is appropriate that the first series of hearings will focus on 

 Russia. With the current situation being as fluid as it is, I'm not 

 alone in wondering what the final outcome of the current struggle 

 will be. 



It is my hope that the administration is seriously pursuing the 

 possibilities available to agriculture. We have a tremendous oppor- 

 tunity to assist Russia to continue its transition to democratic re- 

 form and to make a market-based economy. Many of us want to 



