clientele, from our sister agencies and others, at least four of our 

 programs. The MPP is one where we have already made some 

 progress. 



The export enhancement program is one where if, as I believe we 

 are going to be successful in achieving a resolution of the Uruguay 

 Round, we would need to be making some changes. GSM, the ex- 

 port credit guarantee program, is a major program that £dso can 

 benefit by a review. 



Last, I would like for us to take a thorough look at the title I 

 program, that has operational aspects. This is our oldest program 

 that we are still operating more or less along the lines that it was 

 initiated. And it is certainly time to take a look at how that pro- 

 gram is working. 



As I said, we will start by trying to work smarter in the spirit 

 of the National Performance Review and asking the people who op- 

 erate these programs for their thoughts on how they might be bet- 

 ter run. But increasingly, we will seek input from producers, from 

 exporters, from the other clients that we work with. 



Your last question had to do with the TPCC process. Let me say 

 only that we intend to be fully involved in that process, we have 

 been fully involved in that process. And Mr. Mackie and others 

 have been contributing to the interagency discussions that have re- 

 sulted in the initial report. 



Let me close, if I may, by simply pointing out an often forgotten 

 story, a success story. I would like to point to the great benefit that 

 all Americans derive from the fact that we have had relatively sta- 

 ble food prices in this country for four decades or more. I saw some 

 statistics just yesterday that indicated that in 1992 the portion of 

 per capita income that the average American spent on food fell to 

 a new low of around 11.2 percent. Certainly, the entire complex of 

 programs that we run that help to maintain a healthy agriculture, 

 that help to maintain the agricultural producers' income at a rea- 

 sonable level, is critical to this success. 



I would contrast that with the problems we have seen in health 

 care and other areas, and I would say that we will work hard with 

 the guidance of this committee, with the guidance of our new Sec- 

 retary, and Under Secretary, to try to be sure that we maintain the 

 strength of the new ITS and our export programs so that we can 

 continue that success story. 



Thank you. 



[The prepared statement of Mr. Goldthwait appears at the con- 

 clusion of this hearing.] 



Mr. Penny. Thank you, Chris. 



Mr. Mendelowitz. Please proceed. 



STATEMENT OF ALLAN I. MENDELOWITZ, MANAGING DIREC- 

 TOR, INTERNATIONAL TRADE, FINANCE, AND COMPETITIVE- 

 NESS, GENERAL GOVERNMENT DIVISION, U.S. GENERAL 

 ACCOUNTING OFFICE, ACCOMPANIED BY PHIL THOMAS, 

 ASSISTANT DIRECTOR. AGRICULTURE TRADE ISSUES, AND 

 KEN GRAFFAM, PROJECT MANAGER 



Mr. Mendelowitz. Thank you. 



With your permission, I will be happy to submit my full state- 

 ment for the record and make a few brief comments orally. 



