27 



In a lot of that construction and reconstruction this committee 

 will help because a lot of these divisions are statutorily based. So 

 just hold on and be patient and I think you will be pleased. 



Mr. Brown. Thank you, Mr. Secretary. 



The Chairman. Thank you, Mr. Secretary. 



Let me mention your statement that you would visit with us. 

 Without interfering at all in the advice and consent clause of the 

 Constitution, I think that we have in this committee and in this 

 House the ability to counsel with you. 



Secretary Espy. Yes. 



The Chairman. I do hope that you would avail yourself of that 

 without any infringement on the advice and consent side for we 

 are coequal partners in this endeavor. We do hope that we can 

 work with you in that respect. 



Now we go to a gentleman that sits where I sat many years ago, 

 Mr. Bishop. 



Mr. Bishop. Thank you very much, Mr. Chairman. 



I would like to commend the Secretary for his remarks. I would 

 certainly like to thank him for the courtesies he has extended to 

 this Member because I, too, come from Georgia as Mr. Kingston. In 

 regard to the closing of many of the ASCS and the SCS offices, 

 there is great concern in Georgia because Georgia was targeted for 

 the biggest hit. 



It helps us to feel a lot more comfortable and the people in my 

 district are very grateful to you, Mr. Secretary, for your deliberate 

 fashion in approaching this reorganization. 



We would also like to ask the Secretary if he would be sensitive 

 to the needs of the people in our area with regard to NAFTA and 

 GATT. There are very serious concerns in the Second Congression- 

 al District, particularly, and throughout south Georgia about the 

 ramifications that GATT and NAFTA will have on south Georgia 

 agriculture and ultimately agriculture for the entire Nation. 



We are very concerned about that and would hope that there 

 would be some dialog, that they would have an opportunity to par- 

 ticipate in that dialog, and really seriously look at what the ramifi- 

 cations will be in agriculture in south Georgia and how that will 

 affect rural development, the quality of life, and how it could possi- 

 bly devastate the total south Georgia economy. 



With that, Mr. Secretary, I am very grateful for your courtesies. 

 If there is any way we can be of help to you, we will certainly be 

 available to do so. 



Secretary Espy. Thank you, Mr. Bishop. I appreciate the ques- 

 tion. 



We will be sensitive to the impact of NAFTA and GATT on the 

 economy of your district. Let me say to you that you are aware 

 that the President has already embraced NAFTA. This was a sub- 

 ject in the Presidential campaign and it is one that he has talked 

 about in a little detail since he was sworn in. 



NAFTA is going to be good for agriculture in general, particular- 

 ly cattle, dairy, and corn. It is going to be good for agriculture. I 

 am aware that when it comes to peanuts and perhaps sugar there 

 are concerns. Before the election, I had a chance to go up to North 

 Dakota and talk to the sugar beet farmers about the impact of 

 NAFTA on their industry. We sat and shared a lot of theories. 



