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since the negative media campaign against seafood and shellfish began in 1987, 

 our industry production has dropped more than 40% nationally. With a concurrent 

 drop in price of 60% and overall losses of more than half of their businesses, 

 hundreds of processing plants have been forced to close, resulting in the 

 loss of countless jobs. 



President Clinton has conmitted to increase jobs in this country. Putting 

 companies out of business for reasons which have no real or widespread public 

 health significance puts people out of work. It is the small family businesses 

 like ours which provide most of those desperately needed jobs. 



The FDA and other agencies should not base their mission on expanding their 

 power to more easily close American businesses, but should strive to work 

 more closely \d.th states and industry to help solve any existing or potential 

 problems . 



In view of the above facts and concerns, the Shellfish Institute of North 

 America cannot support HB14'12. 



T thank you again for allowing me the opportunity to present some of my industry's 



