14 



I have had some experience with site reviews, but I have not had 

 enough to specifically comment on the quality of the site reviews 

 conducted in the Department of Agriculture. 



What little experience I have had indicates that they make the 

 effort; to provide real experi;ise in these site reviews and that they 

 are useful. But I think perhaps you might want to have a more 

 thorough evaluation of that process. 



Mr. Stenholm. How important are matching funds from local, 

 State, or other sources to the solution to this problem? 



Mr. Brown. The general reaction that I have is that they are es- 

 sential, that only when you have a program that is sufficiently im- 

 portant that your State and local agencies are willing to contribute 

 to it can you be sure that you have a high quality there. 



Of course, this is the basis on which so many of the Department 

 of Agriculture programs are nin. They are shared programs with 

 the States, both the research programs and the extension pro- 

 grams. 



Mr. Stenholm. Any other ideas — you talked about the facihty re- 

 view commission idea. We recommended — as you know, you and I 

 sent a letter to Chairman Durbin this year recommending that that 

 be funded. I am not aware at this moment — ^we have been unable 

 to find out whether they did or did not fiind it. 



If they don't, do you have any ideas as to how we might pursue 

 that concept? 



Mr. Brown. Yes. I would suggest that we offer an amendment 

 on the floor to fund it and take the money out of something else 

 that Mr. Durbin likes. [Laughter.] 



Mr. Stenholm. That is about the most specific answer I have 

 ever received fi*om any witness at any time. [Laughter.] 



Mr. Brown, I think we understand that one. Thank you. 



Mrs. Clayton. Mr. Chairman. 



Mr. Stenholm. Mrs. Clayton. 



Mrs. Clayton. I was wondering if on that peer review there is 

 the opportunity for the historically black colleges to be represented 

 and what the process for that is. 



Mr. Brown. Again, I cannot pose as an expect on the degree of 

 the involvement of the historically black colleges. I can assure you 

 of the longstanding concern of this committee that they be involved 

 and if there is a problem, I think that we can correct that problem. 



Mrs. Clayton. How would we get the information about the par- 

 ticipation now? 



Mr. Brown. I think the Secretary might be willing to provide us 

 with that information. 



Mr. Stenholm. The next witness might be able to answer your 

 question on that. 



Mr. Bishop. 



Mr. Bishop. Thank you, Mr. Chairman. 



I won't belabor that point, but I have seen some figures £m.d com- 

 parisons on all the research grants that were issued and I was 

 looking specifically for the historically black colleges and imiver- 

 sities and the percentage was very slim in comparison to the oth- 

 ers. That causes a great deal of concern for me, obviously, and also 

 for the potential research that could be spread out and help for the 

 institution that could be spread out among the districts. 



