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OPENING STATEMENT 



REVIEWING THE MISSION OF THE FOREIGN AGRICULTURAL SERVICE 



November 10, 1993 

 Room 1300 Longworth 



Mr. Chairmen, thank you both for holding this hearing concerning 

 reorganization efforts of the USDA Foreign Agricultural Service. I look forward 

 hearing the testimony of the witnesses. 



The USDA Is charged with an important task - how to better expand U.S. 

 agricultural markets abroad. There have been many efforts to enhance this effort 

 with the help of loan guarantees, insurance, subsidies, credit and marketing grants. 

 The results have been overwhelming since the United States exported $42.3 billion 

 of agricultural products throughout the world during the Fiscal Year 1992. The 

 potential to export more, however, is far greater depending upon how successful 

 USDA realigns its mission and re-evaiuates the products currently assisted. 



Secretary Espy suggests moving the Foreign Agricultural Service to a newly 

 created International Trade Agency as a way to move the farm programs closer to 

 the products FAS Is trying to export. The new name represents exactly what USDA 

 Is suppose to do. But a new name alone will not move the United States beyond 

 $42 billion. 



Reorganization efforts only scratch the surface. If we want to make our 

 agricultural products more competitive throughout the 21st Century, there must be 

 a fundamental shift In the functions of USDA. Creating a global mission Is one 

 thing - getting huge bureaucracies to change is another. 



International trade means setting a long-term strategy. It means steering 

 away from micromanaging programs. And, it means assisting those commodities 

 until ttiey can stand on their own. 



Mr. Chairmen, today's hearing will help us redefine that mission. I look 

 forward to hearing from our witnesses on the changes they suggest for policies, 

 such as the Market Promotion Program, the General Sales Manager program and 

 the long-term agricultural trade strategy. 



