[Congressional Record Volume 140, Number 96 (Thursday, July 21, 1994)]
[Senate]
[Page S]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]


[Congressional Record: July 21, 1994]
From the Congressional Record Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]

 
           REGARDING THE MARKET PROMOTION PROGRAM, H.R. 4554

  Mr. LEVIN. Madam President, I am supportive of the goals of the 
Market Promotion Program, which include helping American growers and 
agricultural commodity processors to gain entry into closed or 
difficult to access foreign markets. However, I want to echo concerns 
voiced by Senator Bumpers, chairman of the Senate Agriculture 
Appropriations Subcommittee, earlier this week. The program should be 
more targeted to assist groups and firms that do not otherwise have 
sufficient resources to gain a foothold in overseas markets, especially 
where nontariff barriers are significant. Many Michigan firms and 
groups that have received MPP funds fall into this category.
  Also, the committee amendment to H.R. 4554, funds the MPP by reducing 
27 other accounts at the Department of Agriculture by 1.5 percent. This 
may not seem to be a large number, but at a time when the Clinton 
administration is requesting only the bare minimum for Federal agencies 
to conduct their business, rearranging funds in this blanket fashion 
makes management inefficient.
  Madam President, until we have free and open markets around the world 
for American agricultural products, the Federal Government should 
support American private sector efforts to combat unfair foreign trade 
practices. We should fund these efforts directly and not through 
indiscriminate cuts.

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