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The Honorable Pat Roberts 

 Hearing Statement: 

 Dept. Operations Subcommittee 

 May 24, 1994 



HR 2927: Plant Variety Protection Act Amendments 



Mr. Chairman, Mr. Smith: Thank you for convening today's hearing on H.R. 2927, 

 a bill introduced by Chairman de la Garza, our colleague Chairman Brown, and me at the 

 request of the Administration. The purpose of this bill is to make the necessary 

 amendments to the Plant Variety Protection Act (PVPA) to bring it into conformity with its 

 updated international sibling, the Union for the Protection of New Varieties of Plants - 

 UPOV for short. 



With the exception of a few concerns that some of today's witnesses are certain to 

 highlight, it is my understanding that this legislation has the general approval of all interested 

 parties. In addition, I also understand that many of the concerns have been addressed 

 through actions on the companion bill, S. 1406. 



The PVPA was first enacted in 1970, and was intended to encourage the research and 

 development of new varieties of plants. Obviously, a key interest of this Committee is to 

 make certain the law continues to serve as an encouragement ~ rather than an impediment - 



- to the plant geneticists working to provide our agricultural producers with new and 

 improved plant varieties to help them meet the economic and management challenges of 

 modern agriculture. 



This encouragement is particularly critical for self-propagating species of plants, such 

 as wheat, soybeans and cotton. Over the past few years, the farm sector has witnessed a the 

 phase-down or pull-out by some private-sector plant breeders in these three important crops 



- a very troubling development. 



At the same time, we need to ensure that we reconfirm the ability of a farmer to save 

 back seed for the planting of his or her next crop. And, I believe this legislation will do that. 

 That leaves the issue of selling excess saved seed ~ "excess" meaning that seed beyond the 

 farmer's needs for his own plantings. That is the tough question, and one I'm hoping today's 

 witnesses can help shed some light on relative to both sides of the issue. 



Finally, saving the most important point for last, I want to introduce and welcome to 

 the Committee one of my constituents - Mr. Lawrence Strouts of Solomon, Kansas. 

 Lawrertce is a Morris County farmer, a certified Kansas seed wheat dealer, and a man who 

 spent 30 years trying to teach science to Solomon High School students ~ I say "trying" 

 because my staff director on the Committee was a student of Lawrence's. 



I look forward to the grassroots perspective Lawrence will bring to today's hearing, 

 as well as the comments and counsel of the other witnesses. 



