15 



have been chosen. We know of your expertise. We know of the 

 areas where you may need our support and counsel. We will be 

 here at all times. 



I might mention also that we wanted you to be the first to 

 appear here. The forum today, of course, is going to be the econom- 

 ics of agriculture and rural America as it impacts directly on us. 

 But you are the Secretary for all Americans and we, the commit- 

 tee, for all Americans, urban or rural. 



The urban areas would be in very difficult circumstances were it 

 not that we have producers of food and fiber in rural America. We 

 share that responsibility with you. 



I know that you will come back later this month for a more 

 formal meeting in relation to the Clinton administration's agenda. 

 We will not bother you at this point or expect to hear from you in 

 the finite areas related to the Clinton administration's proposals or 

 agenda for rural America. 



Basically, we wanted to welcome you, to have you come to the 

 Hill and your first appearance after your nomination would be at 

 this committee. Mainly, I want to tell you that we are proud of you 

 and that we look forward to 4 years of working together to make 

 America better from the perspective of the responsibilities that you 

 have as Secretary of Agriculture. 



Mr. Roberts. 



OPENING STATEMENT OF HON. PAT ROBERTS, A REPRESENT- 

 ATIVE IN CONGRESS FROM THE STATE OF KANSAS 



Mr. Roberts. Thank you, Mr. Chairman. 



Mr. Secretary, welcome back. Rest assured that we will keep a 

 seat very warm for you any time — I said warm and not hot. 

 [Laughter.] 



We look forward to your assessment on the state of agriculture 

 at today's hearing. 



We have had a lot of change, Mr. Chairman, since November to 

 be sure, but there are several constants. You have already gone 

 over the deficit as our No. 1 policy consideration. I think that is 

 shared by every person throughout our rural areas. We know we 

 have to do our part. 



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

 the new administration that our situation in farm country is pre- 

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

 we're in, but there are obvious reasons for very legitimate concern. 



We have a bumper crop under snow cover in Kansas, and that 

 bumper crop situation is true for many of our major commodities 

 and also our competitors worldwide. I have often said to the com- 

 mittee, "I wonder how we can set any budget priorities when you 

 have things like the value of the dollar, the weather, and some 

 kind of major infestation throughout the world, or the value of for- 

 eign currency, or any kind of a trade negotiation." But we have to 

 do that. 



Now with the worldwide prospects in terms of crop production 

 and also with some real challenges ahead on the export front, we 

 are looking at a $7 billion increase in CCC outlays for Federal farm 

 programs for fiscal year 1993. 



