[Congressional Record Volume 142, Number 86 (Wednesday, June 12, 1996)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1065]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                 STOP ATTACK ON CALIFORNIA AVOCADO JOBS

                                 ______


                     HON. RANDY ``DUKE'' CUNNINGHAM

                             of california

                    in the house of representatives

                        Wednesday, June 12, 1996

  Mr. CUNNINGHAM. Mr. Speaker, as we consider the fiscal year 1997 
Agriculture Appropriations Act, I want to take this opportunity to 
inform my colleagues of another Clinton administration attack on 
California agricultural jobs. Six thousand American avocado growers and 
21,000 avocado industry workers are in danger of losing their 
livelihood should the USDA implement its proposed plan to modify the 
quarantine on Mexican Hass avocados. The quarantine was placed in 1914 
to protect our avocado crops from Mexican pests and fruit flies.
  During a trip to Mexico City, USDA Secretary Dan Glickman spoke about 
lifting the current ban. He continues to tell me that he is 
``absolutely committed to a sound, well-founded, science-based decision 
on this proposal.'' This is what I expect from the USDA. However, 
Secretary Glickman continues to ignore the warnings of independent 
scientists at the University of California Riverside and elsewhere that 
infestation of pests from Mexico is very likely if the quarantine is 
lifted. The USDA believes that Mexico can handle their serious pest 
problem. But, science has proven that Mexico has failed for years to 
destroy pests. NAFTA specifically left the quarantine intact because 
our Government knows that Mexican pests would devastate American 
avocados. The University of California Center for Exotic Pest Research 
released an important report based on their studies, entitled ``Risks 
of Exotic Pest Introductions from Importation of Fresh Mexican Hass 
Avocados into the United States.'' Secretary Glickman must carefully 
consider the results of this report before a final rule is made.
  Mexican pest-infested avocados have already been smuggled across our 
border. On January 5, 1996, the U.S. Customs Service confiscated and 
destroyed 3,337 pounds of Mexican Hass avocados at the Otay Mesa 
commercial facility in San Diego County. The driver, who had previously 
been arrested for the same offense, admitted to similar smuggling 
activities in recent months. Although U.S. Customs officials thought 
they were seizing a truck loaded with drugs, they definitely touched on 
a problem of significant concern to California's avocado growing 
region.
  It is evident that the USDA proposal will only harm our country. I 
encourage my colleagues to give me a call, should any of you have 
questions about this plan to destroy the crops and lives of American 
avocado growers and workers. We must stop this attack against 
California jobs.

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