65 



Mr. NOTAR. We also receive the FAS reports. We have no real 

 recommendations other than I think it would be very helpful, Mr. 

 Chairman, as the grouping and mergers of the Departments and 

 agencies take place, and we move forward toward possibly a one- 

 stop or two-stop shop, that FAS and USDA, through a series of 

 meetings or programs on a periodic basis, reach out regionally and 

 have an opportunity to get feedback such as you are getting here 

 today. 



I think trjdng to keep that dialogue going across the country on 

 a periodic basis, maybe using the reports or an executive summary 

 of the reports as a foundation to do that, would be very helpful to 

 continue to get feedback and information. 



Mr. CONDIT. Mr. Terhaar. 



Mr. Terhaar. Mr. Chairman, I rarely agree with the GAO's find- 

 ings. In this case, the report that FAS's publications and reports 

 are of limited use to the private sector, I would have to in part 

 agree with. I think that where FAS is unique, is its ability to ac- 

 quire raw data, trade contacts overseas, on the ground where it 

 does the most good for us, and report that back to the private sec- 

 tor. 



FAS Washington, instead of trying to compete with other USDA 

 and other agencies on analysis, needs to focus on being a pass- 

 through using modem electronic dissemination methods of those 

 excellent attache reports of the data bases that are unique to FAS, 

 where we do the best job of collecting data overseas of any country. 

 As a matter of fact, a lot of countries use our data because it is 

 a lot more cost effective than collecting their own. That is the 

 unique part. 



The other unique side is that relationship with the private sector 

 to actually export the product, I think FAS has to focus on those 

 two sides and the middle part is, frankly, in today's world, of some- 

 what limited value to the private sector. The part about export 

 credits, trade policy, to the extent they need analytical support, it 

 is valid. Beyond that, I would not agree with. 



Thank you. 



Mr. CONDIT. I am going to yield to Mrs. Thurman for a final 

 round of questioning. 



Mrs. Thurman. Mr. Notar, you were here earlier when I asked 

 the question about the ethyl bromide kind of thing and the coordi- 

 nation. And so my question is kind of a follow-up to you all. 



Do you think that there is cooperation, but just as importantly, 

 is the small businessman being intimidated by the maze of Federal 

 bureaucracy and programs that are available to help get you into 

 that exporting business? And if they are, could you tell us where 

 you would like some changes to really develop a true one-stop? 



Mr. Notar. That is an excellent question because I think it does 

 relate to particularly some of the smaller and midsize cooperatives. 

 I think there is an apprehension, an anxiety, about how to ap- 

 proach and get and accumulate information. And having that infor- 

 mation, either through a fax possibility or a series of regional meet- 

 ings once in a while, I think FAS and USDA has to reach out to 

 have an opportunity to get feedback and have small- and medium- 

 sized- cooperatives have a chance to understand that this is not the 



