Date: 1994-09-28
Speaker: DE LA GARZA (democrat)
Chamber: H

Madam Chairman. I -yield myself such time as I may consume. Let me thank my distinguished colleague from Kansas for his presentation and his always very wise statements. We have no disagreement. This is not the best or times. This may not be the bill that each one of us wants. But now is the time for us to act. and that is why we find ourselves here. I would like to add further. though. that this process began back with the Bush administration and Secretary Madigan. They had a Commission to go out throughout the countryside and. my humble colleague did not mention the fact that our colleagues. the gentleman from Texas and the gentleman from Kansas . were part of that Commission. So a lot of the information and a lot of the thrust that has been incorporated came from that Commission. and these two gentlemen played a major part in the endeavor. Madam Chairman. H.R. 3171. the Department of Agriculture Reorganization Act of 1994. provides for a major restructuring and streamlining of the Department of Agriculture. The committee believes this legislation is needednot because USDA is a burden on .the budget. for it is notbut because we believe the Departments structure must change to meet our Nations changing needs. The bill the Committee on Agriculture brings to the floor today has three principal objectives. First. the bill mandates revisions in USDAs organizational structure to better reflect its modernday activities. It endorses the six broad mission areas carried out by the Department and creates Under Secretary positions to head up each area. Those missions are: To serve farmers and ranchers. To promote economic and community development in rural areas. To provide food assistance and �educate the general population about proper nutrition. To promote soil and water conservation and to meet other environmental goals in rural areas. To ensure the quality and safety .of our food. To carry out agricultural research. economic analyses and educate the American public. Madam Chairman. each of these missions is vitally important to our Nation. In particular. I would point out that this bill establishes a separate Under Secretary for Food Safety at USDA. whose sole responsibility will be to administer USDAs vital food safety and meat and poultry inspection programs. Second. the bill allows the Secretary to improve services to all who use USDA programs through a more efficient management of USDA personnel and the use of modern technology. The bill requires USDA to combine farmrelated agencies and field offices to provide "onestop shopping." It establishes an independent appeals process. It encourages the development of computer and other information systems that will allow the exchange of information between programs and agencies. Third. the bill requires USDA to undergo organizational and management changes that are designed to save the taxpayers money in the years to come. The bill requires the Secretary to reduce total USDA personnel by 7.500 staff years over the next 5 years--a process USDA has already begun. Improved computer capabilities are also designed to save money in the years ahead. And of course. the bill allows the Secretary to go forward with his announced intentions to close and consolidate USDA farm agency field offices.