The Honorable Pat Roberts 

 Statement: Economic Outlook Hearing 

 February 3, 199 3 



Thank you Mr. Chairman. Mr. Secretary, welcome back. Rest 

 assured, we will keep a seat warm for you anytime you would like to 

 visit. I said warm, not hot. 



We look forward to your initial assessment on the state of 

 Agriculture at today's hearing. 



In that regard, we have had change since November to be sure 

 but there are constants that are self evident. 



First, the deficit remains our number one policy 

 consideration. This is not only true here in Washington where farm 

 program, rural development and administrative policy decisions will 

 be deficit directed, but also throughout rural and small town 

 America where getting our economic house in order should be and is 

 the priority issue. 



Every farmer, every rancher, every small business person, 

 every citizen concerned about the continued loss of essential 

 services that we must maintain to remain economically viable, also 

 knows we in rural America must do our part in helping to reduce the 

 deficit, that it is in our best interests. 



But, Mr. Secretary and Mr. Chairman, we should make clear to 

 the new administration that our economic situation in farm country 

 is precarious at best. We may be in pretty good shape for the 

 shape we are in, but there are obvious reasons for legitimate 

 concern: 



First, I can report to you that in Kansas we have a bumper 

 crop of wheat under snow cover. The same is true for other 

 commodities and our competitors world wide. I have often made the 

 point in this committee that we have impossible task in trying to 

 meet our budget responsibilities when our actual outlays are 

 determined by such uncontrollable variables as the weather, 

 infestation, value of the dollar and other foreign currencies, 

 foreign policy and trade negotiations. 



Now, due to world wide crop prospects and problems on the 

 export front, we apparently face the challenge of dealing with a $7 

 billion increase in CCC outlays for federal farm programs for 

 fiscal year 1993. 



Mr. Secretary, add on to that the commitment by the 

 administration to invest $20 billion annually into our nation's 

 infrastructure as we work to enhance and restore the economic 

 viability and vitality of rural America. 



