Opening Statement 



Honorable Jack Kingston 



Flouse Committee on Agriculture 



Wednesday, February 3, 1993 



Mr. Chairman: 



Thank you for arranging this hearing today, and for allowing us to 

 get an early start in examining the outlook for agricultural programs 

 under our committee's jurisdiction. It is also vitally important that we 

 begin the monumental task of examining the various suggestions for the 

 1994 Federal Budget, and the role of agricultural programs as a part of 

 that budget process. 



Before coming onto the committee, Mr. Chairman, I attempted to do 

 some research into these matters. I was impressed by the fact that 

 agricultural programs require such a very small portion of the overall 

 Federal budget, and even more with the fact that you have been able to 

 guide this committee in a way which has dramatically reduced the costs of 

 the farm programs over the past six or seven years. To read the popular 

 press accounts, the average American would think that current farm 

 programs are outlandishly expensive, and that agricultural producers are 

 nothing more than a bunch of lazy bums demanding a "handout" from the 

 U. S. Treasury. 



