Mr. VOLKMER. At this time the Chair would Hke to recognize the 

 gentleman from Wisconsin, Mr. Gunderson. 



OPENING STATEMENT OF HON. STEVE GUNDERSON, A REP- 

 RESENTATIVE IN CONGRESS FROM THE STATE OF WISCON- 

 SIN 



Mr. Gunderson. Thank you very much, Mr. Chairman. I appre- 

 ciate the opportunity to be here. 



We are pleased to welcome the Acting Administrator for AMS 

 and members of the American egg industry to testify on behalf of 

 H.R. 1637, introduced by our colleagues, Mr. Stenholm and Mr. 

 Boehner. 



The importance of the American egg industry, which produces 

 over 70 billion eggs annually, cannot be overemphasized. I look for- 

 ward to receiving their testimony on the impact of an increase in 

 the potential assessment on producers with 50,000 laying hens 

 from $0.10 to $0.30 per case will have on individual producers not 

 exempt from the assessment in the industry as a whole, as well as 

 the annual activities of the Egg Board. 



I am also interested in their respective opinions on the level of 

 actual assessment to fully fund the authorized activities of the Egg 

 Board. 



Finally, Mr. Chairman, there has been some discussion about 

 creating a formal arrangement between the Egg Board and the var- 

 ious State egg promotion programs, like those we have in our other 

 Federal commodity research and promotion programs, where a por- 

 tion of the Federal revenues is provided to qualified State programs 

 to assist in the funding of their activities. It would be helpful to 

 have the commentary of our witnesses today on whether such an 

 arrangement might work in our Federal egg research and pro- 

 motion program, as well. 



With these thoughts in mind, I look forward to a meaningful dia- 

 log before which I would simply note that it is nice to have a hear- 

 ing on a promotion program where there is not the controversy we 

 have in some of the other promotion programs. 



Mr. VOLKMER. Thank you. 



The Chair will now recognize the sponsor of the legislation, the 

 gentleman from Texas. 



Mr. Stenholm. I thank the chairman very much for scheduling 

 this hearing for prompt action on this legislation. You and Mr. 

 Gunderson have thoroughly explained it. There are some relatively 

 minor changes in existing legislation; the differences have been 

 worked out. I do believe it is noncontroversial. It is another step 

 in the right direction as far as self-help programs are concerned. 

 I commend you for holding this hearing and look forward to work- 

 ing with you to see that this legislation becomes law. 



[The prepared statement of Mr. Stenholm follows:] 



