20 



effective than it has ever been before. It is not as effective as it 

 once was and that alternatives are needed, and I am just not im- 

 pressed that the money and the resources are being — they are cer- 

 tainly not being put by California and of course California would 

 like to control any of this research if it was done from the Federal 

 Government, and they have other priorities. 



So I am just saying, looking at it in a fresh way like I did, why 

 does Congress not create, with the department's approval of course, 

 and agreement, a separate effort on exotic pest detection, control, 

 eradication methods, et cetera, and put them in these border States 

 where these major shipments of imports are coming from? 



I don't have to tell you what is going on at the post offices where 

 Asians and foreigners, their families at home are mailing fruit to 

 the relatives who live in this country, and I doubt that you are sat- 

 isfied with the post office as a detection agency for foreign patho- 

 gens, are you? 



Mr. Lee. No, sir. And you have a very good grasp of the problem 

 and we generally, within APHIS, are in agreement with that view 

 of having research done for that, with a bit of caution, though, Mr. 

 Rose. 



We would find it difficult to allow the importation of a known ex- 

 otic detrimental quarantined organism to be released into the envi- 

 ronment for the specific purpose of research. Whether it is the 

 Mediterranean fruit fly or Asian gypsy moth, we would not favor 

 bringing those into the locations where research facilities are estab- 

 lished. We would prefer that the research facilities be established 

 and develop cooperative work in locations of the country where 

 those organisms exist to carry out active programs of research in 

 those locations. 



Mr. Rose. And how many of those do you have around the world 

 now? 



Mr. Lee. The Agricultural Research Service is engaged in a num- 

 ber of those. 



Mr. Rose. How many? 



Mr. Lee. I would have to find out, Mr. Rose, I have no idea. A 

 number of our institutions 



Mr. Rose. So you do not think the research in this area at UCR 

 is necessary; that it could really all be done offshore? 



Mr. Lee. I think a good bit could be done offshore. Part of it 

 could be done at UCR. 



Mr. Rose. I am not making a speech for the university system 

 or anybody's congressional district, but exotic pests are not being 

 imported under visas or anjrthing like that. They are coming in 

 with the people that bring them here, or friends that mail them 

 plants or food that are contaminated. 



Mr. Volkmer, what is your reaction to that? 



Mr. Volkmer. I think you have a great idea, Mr. Chairman, and 

 I think that it is one that I think would be beneficial in the long 

 run to people of this country and the assuming public as well as 

 producers of various products. 



Mr. Rose. Would you meet with me sometime and let us, maybe 

 you and Mr. DeFazio and Mr. Smith, or others that are interested, 

 could just talk a little bit about a concept of this; that we could de- 

 velop some legislation at least to authorize it for right now. 



