22 



Second, we have begun to move on the front of reorganization. It 

 has been reported accurately that we have sort of suspended 

 former Secretary Madigan's plan to consolidate and to close these 

 local offices. Not that we won't have a plan very soon, it is just in 

 my opinion and the opinion of our President that we need to show 

 the American people that we can get our own house in order first. 

 I have talked to Mr. Stenholm about this. We will be presenting 

 these findings hopefully to a hearing he will have very soon to con- 

 solidate our shop and to get our house in order. 



With that, Mr. Chairman, I thank you again for the privilege of 

 testifying before you. I am open to any questions you might have at 

 this time. 



[The prepared statement of Secretary Espy appears at the con- 

 clusion of the hearing.] 



The Chairman. Thank you very much, Mr. Secretary. 



Let me mention that Mr. Stenholm, as you know, will be leading 

 the effort on the reorganization of the Department, and then the 

 respective subcommittees within their area of jurisdiction will be 

 studying that issue. Then we will come back to the full committee. 



So from time to time you may be consulted by these subcommit- 

 tees — principally Mr. Stenholm — for your input at any time. 



Secretary Espy. Mr. Chairman, I have been consulted by many 

 already on the reorganization. 



The Chairman. The Food Safety and Inspection Service — Mr. 

 Stenholm has that responsibility also. He was already working 

 prior to the incident in Washington State and is working with in- 

 terested groups and parties. We will continue dedicating our time 

 to that effort. 



I wish that all of the inspection services were at USDA, includ- 

 ing seafood. We don't know what the end result of our efforts, but 

 we will continue working in that regard because that is where the 

 responsibility and expertise should be. That is where the area of 

 food inspection belongs. 



Let me add that we share much together and I knew of your fa- 

 ther's history, and certainly coming from Tuskeegee he came well- 

 prepared for that endeavor. I have worked with and visited Tuskee- 

 gee periodically. I assure you that our effort has been to assist 

 them. Many great individuals have come from Tuskeegee, most un- 

 fortunately not receiving the recognition deserved. But maybe you 

 and I can help in that respect because when you visit Tuskeegee, 

 when you visit their museum, when you see who has gone through 

 there and what they have done, you wonder why America hasn't 

 heard from these great heroes of American agriculture who have 

 come through the halls of Tuskeegee. 



I share with you something of your father's experience, for my 

 father in his later years, worked for APHIS and worked in a pro- 

 gram called the Screwworm Eradication Program. It has been prob- 

 ably the most successful program in APHIS. 



What these people were doing was trying to work themselves out 

 of a job when the pest was no longer. We have rid it from the 

 United States, we have eliminated it through Mexico. We are in 

 Guatemala and Belize now and we hope to rid it throughout Cen- 

 tral America. 



