[Congressional Record Volume 141, Number 1 (Wednesday, January 4, 1995)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E25]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]


           THE STUTTGART FISH FARMING EXPERIMENTAL LABORATORY

                                 ______


                      HON. BLANCHE LAMBERT LINCOLN

                               of arizona

                    in the house of representatives

                       Wednesday, January 4, 1995
  Mrs. LINCOLN. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to introduce legislation to 
transfer the Stuttgart Fish Farming Experimental Laboratory to the 
Department of Agriculture.
  The lab was established in 1958 under the Interior Department and 
charged with conducting research and experimentation to solve problems 
relating to the commercial production of warmwater fish. Located in the 
heart of the Nation's catfish and baitfish production region, the lab 
and its staff have become nationally renowned for their work on behalf 
of the aquaculture industry.
  In the years since the laboratory was established aquaculture has 
progressed rapidly, becoming the fastest growing segment of U.S. 
agriculture, accounting for nearly 300,000 domestic jobs. My home State 
is the largest producer of commercial baitfish and the second largest 
producer of catifsh--accounting for nearly $100 billion in annual 
revenue.
  Mr. Speaker this simple bill will transfer the laboratory from the 
Interior Department to USDA. I believe that this move makes sense 
because the people who do business with this laboratory are farmers, 
and are best served by USDA. The bill also changes the laboratory's 
name to the Stuttgart National Aquaculture Research Center to better 
reflect the excellent work that the lab produces. I look forward to 
passage of this legislation.


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