14 



I would simply like to make an observation and associate myself 

 with the remarks of the chairman in reference to your fine work 

 on the committee and how happy we are that you are now heading 

 up the Congressional Rural Caucus. 



On page 5 of your testimony, you talk about health care. Mr. 

 Stenholm and I are the cochairmen of an outfit called the Rural 

 Health Care Coalition. There are 175 of us who are worried about 

 really preserving whatever is left of the rural health care delivery 

 system as we look at the possible alternatives in regard to national 

 health care. 



It just struck me that perhaps in your position you could encour- 

 age all members of the caucus to join the Rural Health Care Coali- 

 tion, and then we in turn could encourae them to take part in the 

 caucus. We could then work out a better bipartisan team effort to 

 do what we would like to do. 



I am also very happy you mentioned the Clean Water Act and 

 the Clean Air Act. Many small communities are now getting dic- 

 tates in regard to a new yardstick the EPA is using on parts per 

 million in regard to nitrates. 



A small community in my district was instructed to completely 

 build a new waterworks for $600,000. They don't have the money. 

 Nobody is sick. Nobody locally had a problem with it. So if we have 

 solutions, hopefully we need to hear from them and the Rural 

 Caucus will be most important in that effort. 



I thank the gentlelady and encourage her to head up the Con- 

 gressional Rural Caucus posse in the right direction and give us 

 some help in this regard. 



Thank you so much. 



Ms. Long. Thank you very much. 



The Chairman. Thank you very much. 



If any members have any questions to direct to Ms. Long, I know 

 she will be agreeable to answer them in writing if you will submit 

 them for the record. 



Otherwise, we thank you very much. We wish you luck and we 

 look forward in working with you in your other job. But we want 

 this to be your main committee, as it has been in the past. 



Ms. Long. Thank you, Mr. Chairman. 



The Chairman. We now have our next witness. It is my personal 

 privilege and high honor to welcome back to our committee Secre- 

 tary Mike Espy, a colleague who has done yeoman work in his own 

 right in this committee. It is said that when one of your own is 

 honored, the honor is shared by all who served with him. 



That is the case today. We are very fortunate that the new ad- 

 ministration has chosen one of our members to be the Secretary of 

 Agriculture. We all wish you well, Mr. Secretary. We want you to 

 know that on the Hill this is your home and we are here to work 

 with you — shoulder to shoulder — to counsel with you when you 

 may need it, to run down rumors if you have any you want us to 

 run — [Laughter.] 



To work with you in every way possible so that the honor which 

 you have brought to us may be enhanced and that we together 

 might make you the best we have had as Secretary of Agriculture. 



I know that all the members, including the new members, are 

 very proud of the fact that you, who come from rural Mississippi, 



