[Congressional Record Volume 140, Number 146 (Saturday, October 8, 1994)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]


[Congressional Record: October 8, 1994]
From the Congressional Record Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]

 
                    S. 2500, LAMB AND WOOL CHECKOFF

                                 ______


                           HON. PAT WILLIAMS

                               of montana

                    in the house of representatives

                        Friday, October 7, 1994

  Mr. WILLIAMS. Mr. Speaker, the lamb and wool checkoff bill which we 
are sending to the President is the breath of fresh air to the 2,500 
sheep ranchers and farm-flock operators in Montana.
  Imagine the doom and despair created last year when Congress 
torpedoed the Wool Act. Our domestic lamb and wool industry, long under 
pressure from subsidized imports was left without a research and 
promotion mechanism.
  The successes of the domestic sheep industry in recent years in 
improving wool and lamb quality and marketing are testaments to the 
effectiveness of programs under the wool act.
  I was proud to be an original co-sponsor of H.R 5183, along with such 
colleagues as Charles Stenholm, Craig Thomas, and Tim Johnson. 
Identical legislation passed the Senate and was unanimously approved by 
the House Wednesday. I'm glad we in the 103rd Congress were able to 
finish this important business before adjourning.
  The program, operated at no cost to the government, must be approved 
by eligible producers, feeders and importers. Checkoff rates will be a 
penny per pound of domestic and imported lamb and two cents a pound on 
both domestic and imported wool.
  That's expected to bring in about $14 million a year, of which 20 
percent would be returned to state organizations.
  I'm grateful for the support and research conducted by the Montana 
Wool Growers Association on this vital issue. Signing this act into law 
provides a self-help program of benefit to sheep producers and the 
rural communities which they help support.

                          ____________________