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I am a long-standing member of the AFPA, and also an active 

 member of the American Hardwood Export Council (AHEC) . Both of 

 these groups currently manage significant export promotion 

 programs funded through the FAS. I also come to you today as the 

 President of Webster Lumber Company. My family has been involved 

 in the harvesting and sawmilling of hardwood timber in 

 Southeastern Minnesota and across the upper Mississippi valley 

 for over ninety years. My timber suppliers are farmers with 

 small portions of their land growing hardwoods on steep, non- 

 cultivatable hillsides. I have several thousand of these 

 farmer/suppliers who depend on me to buy their timber crop for 



cash. ■ , .:'..y • : . _v ;., ■ ' .; ^^i.' r ,' - i:-, : 



FAS MISSION; 



,.■:., ■-.■/ :•.. :■;:;. ..T ' ' u;'- - ' ■■ ;:- ' --.^ .;• 



The FAS mandate is to encourage the expansion of exports of 

 U.S. food and fiber products. FAS maintains a global network of 

 agricultural officers as well as a Washington based staff to 

 achieve this mandate by analyzing and disseminating information 

 on world agricultural and trade, by representing the agricultural 

 trade policy interests in multilateral and bilateral forums and 

 by administering overseas market promotion activities. 



We continue to feel that this is the correct focus for the 

 FAS, and any changes considered as a part of a reorganization or 

 budget cutback should keep this central mission in mind. Those 



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