38 



statement yesterday concerning the most unfortunate E-coli out- 

 break out in the West, we need some research in some of these 

 areas. We need to find out the answers to these questions. 



So all in all I welcome you here. We look forward to working 

 with you. I couldn't agree more with your comments on rural elec- 

 trification, the water corporations, and even with Ms. Long's testi- 

 mony in the area of health care reform. Rural America is unique 

 and must be looked at. In doing so, I believe you're going to find 

 that rural electrification can play an extremely important part in 

 seeing that health care delivery is there, foreign to most people 

 that don't understand the uniqueness of rural electrification or the 

 uniqueness of rural America. 



I look forward to working with you. 



Secretary Espy. Thank you, Charlie. I do appreciate the state- 

 ment. I look forward to working with you as well. 



On the research aspects of the statement, let me say that I agree 

 with you. I think that research from the Department, and perhaps 

 even from this committee, takes on the character more of dispensa- 

 tional pork rather than prioritization of programs. Where do we 

 need to go in the out-years on agricultural research? 



It came to me clearly yesterday in the State of Washington when 

 we endeavored to ask whether or not there was a test to isolate 

 this E-coli culture in a timely way such as not to frustrate the in- 

 spection of the carcasses down the line. If you try to inspect every 

 carcass, that is very tough to do and I doubt that we could ever do 

 it. But we can take samples. But while we're sampling the car- 

 casses trying to find this culture, how long can you hold it before 

 you do it? 



So there is such a study that identifies this E-coli culture within 

 24 hours, but this research had not been funded by USDA. I may 

 stand corrected on that. I don't think it was. I think it was funded 

 by a private group, an industry and trade group. 



We should be doing that. We shouldn't have to respond and react 

 so. We should target and we ought to identify these emerging prob- 

 lems and then the best university, we ought to go for it. 



The Chairman. I thank the gentleman. 



Mr. Holden. 



Mr. Holden. Thank you, Mr. Chairman. 



Mr. Secretary, I am from Pennsylvania, and I am the first Penn- 

 sylvanian to serve on this committee in almost 20 years, I am very 

 pleased to be a member of this committee because agriculture is 

 the No. 1 industry in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. It is also 

 the No. 1 industry in my congressional district. 



So Mr. Secretary, I would just like to say to you that I look for- 

 ward to working with you and with this committee to see that 

 Pennsylvania has a voice in this Nation's agricultural policy. 



Secretary Espy. Thank you. It does and it will. 



Mr. Holden. Thank you, Mr. Secretary. 



Thank you, Mr. Chairman. 



The Chairman. Mr. Doolittle. 



Mr. Doolittle. Thank you, Mr. Chairman. 



Mr. Secretary, I am new to the committee and didn't have the 

 pleasure of being acquainted with you on this committee when you 

 served here. I appreciate very much your open and fair approach to 



