44 



funding. So the funds are not going to where they are needed. I 

 think in an environment with scarce resources we should do better. 



Some could argue that this disjuncture is purposely made to even 

 out this geographical distribution of research funds. However, it 

 should be noted that the amount of competitive research funding 

 to each State relates closely to the number of research scientists 

 within each State. Many States with smaller populations or with 

 agriculture that represents a smaller component of the State's total 

 economy have excellent scientists which compete well, but because 

 there are fewer scientists, the funding for these States is well 

 below the others in total dollars. 



The competitive program would reflect both quality, national pri- 

 orities, and where the agricultural research is concentrated. Also, 

 as Dr. Carlson has pointed out, the national research initiative pro- 

 gram does provide strengthening grants to help States improve 

 their ability to compete. 



Thank you very much, Mr. Chairman. 



[The prepared statement of Mr. Hess appears at the conclusion 

 of the hearing.] 



Mr. Stenholm. Thank you. 



I apologize, but we have two votes and we must recess now for 

 at least 15 minutes. Since we have two votes, we will reconvene no 

 earlier than 12:50 p.m. I apologize for this. 



[Recess taken.] 



Mr, Stenholm. The subcommittee will come to order. 



Our next witness is Ms. Kathleen Merrigan, department of urban 

 studies, Massachusetts Institute of Technology. 



Welcome. 



STATEMENT OF KATHLEEN ANN MERRIGAN, ENVIRON- 

 MENTAL POLICY GROUP, DEPARTMENT OF URBAN STUDIES 

 AND PLANNING, MASSACHUSETTS INSTITUTE OF TECH- 

 NOLOGY 



Ms. Merrigan. Thank you, Mr. Chairman. 



I appreciate the opportunity to testify today and to talk about an 

 issue of vital importance to U.S. agriculture and to the Nation as 

 a whole. I refer to the crisis in agricultural research, the most basic 

 component of our agricultural system. 



Almost everyone in the business of assessing agricultural re- 

 search in this country agrees that existing research facilities are 

 underused and rundown, that they duplicate activity elsewhere, 

 and that the current process for establishing new projects is seri- 

 ously flawed. Today, in my written testimony, I will contribute 

 more information and analysis to this arsenal of studies that, to- 

 gether, describe a crisis in our research facilities system and dem- 

 onstrate a real need for reform. 



Each new study has added compelling details to the condemning 

 body of evidence, but policjonakers have done little to address the 

 root cause. Mr. Chairman, 10 years have passed since the GAG 

 first brought attention to the facilities crisis, reporting that 27 per- 

 cent of Agricultural Research Service facilities operate at less than 

 70 percent capacity, a fact, I might note, that has not changed at 

 all today. 



