227 



audits, ensuring cooperator responsibility in the expenditure of 

 tax payer dollars. As Secretary Espy considers his options for 

 reorganization of the Department of Agriculture, our industry 

 recommends that the current structure which has worked so well in 

 the past not be dismantled. We would urge that it in fact, be 

 strengthened, so that the mandate of FAS is more easily achieved. 



PROPOSED CONSOLIDATION OF OICD WITHIW FAS AND FAS REORGANIZATIOK; 



We believe that FAS has the basic organizational structure 

 in place and the tools to achieve its mandate of increasing 

 exports of food and fiber products. This has been ably 

 demonstrated. We think that the OICD consolidation is a large 

 and important step and that this should be completed before any 

 other significant changes are made within the agency. 



We also understand, however, that FAS is facing severe 

 budgetary restraints and is even considering reducing staff and 

 offices overseas to meet these proposed budgetary requirements. 

 When well coordinated FAS's (1) trade policy, (2) information 

 gathering and analysis, and (3) marketing activities generate an 

 export promotion program that is synergistic and unparalleled in 

 effectiveness and we therefore respectfully question the current 

 proposal to modify or change this basic structure. 



