Opening Statement by Rep. Kika da la Garza, D-Texas 

 Chairman, House Agriculture Committee 



Hearing on Economic Situation Facing 



U.S. Agriculture and Rural America 



Wednesday, Feb. 3, 1993 



Today we kick off our public hearing schedule for the 103rd 

 Congress by focusing our attention on the economic health of the 

 U.S. agricultural sector and the rural economy in general. 



Much of what this Committee has jurisdiction over revolves 

 around the central question: how should government respond to 

 the economic needs of farmers, ranchers and rural residents. To 

 begin to answer that question, we must seek input from the 

 Administration and all who are share our interest in this area. 



So we extended an open invitation to the Secretary of 

 Agriculture and for any individuals or organizations to present 

 their views on this question today. This is merely the start of 

 a hearing process that we will continue at the full Committee and 

 Subcommittee levels throughout this year and next. 



We are pleased and honored to have our former colleague, Mr. 

 Espy, with us today. He is making his inaugural appearance 

 before the Committee as our distinguished Secretary of 

 Agriculture. I would like to say publicly what I have told him 

 privately: as Chairman of this Committee, I look forward to 

 working with the Secretary to improve the agricultural and rural 

 economy and in helping shape and achieve the President's goals on 

 areas within our jurisdiction. 



One of the issues that this Committee is very interested in 

 are proposals to reorganize and streamline the U.S. Department of 

 Agriculture. I believe the time has come to seriously consider 

 reform of the organizational structure at USDA. However, we must 

 approach this subject thoughtfully, deliberatively and with great 

 sensitivity to its impact on the people served by USDA programs. 



Since Secretary Espy has had only two weeks on the job to 

 consider this issue, I have invited him to appear before the 

 Committee again later in the month to discuss the 

 Administration's views on USDA reorganization. After this next 

 hearing, the issue will be pursued through our Department 

 Operations subcommittee chaired by Mr. Stenholm as well as the 

 other subcommittees in their respective areas of jurisdiction. 



Today's hearing is focused solely on the issue of the 

 economic situation facing U.S. agriculture and rural America. I 

 would suspect that most of the people in this room today agree 

 that all is not well out in farm country or on the Main Streets 

 of our rural communities. Where we disagree is on what the cause 

 of the problems are and what the solutions should be. 



Hopefully, today's hearing will serve to help the Congress 

 and the Administration set our priorities for action on issues 

 that affect the economic health of agriculture and rural America. 



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