Date: 1992-08-06
Speaker: DR LA GARZA (democrat)
Chamber: H

Mr. Chairman. I yield myself 3 minutes. Mr. Chairman. I rise to express my support for the Freedom Support Act. This legislation includes a bipartisan series of amendments approved by voice vote in the House Agriculture Committee last month. Our amendments. contained In section 702. will provide the Secretary of Agriculture greater flexibility to use our Nations agricultural trade programs to assist the newly independent states at no increased cost. The Agriculture Committees amendments will do essentially three things: Allow greater latitude in using the Food for Progress Program to provide agricultural commodities to meet food needs In these countries. Allow the Secretary of Agriculture to pay for the cost for technical assistance to develop more efficient food and rural business systems in emerging democracies. and Encourage the increased export of highvalue agricultural products processed here in the United States. Mr. Chairman. there are many Americans who ask why--at a time of deep economic problems here at home and a $400 billion deficit--we should help Russia or any of the other emerging demooracies. As chairman of the Committee on Agriculture. I could point out how delegation after delegation from the Russian Federation and the 6ther newly independent states have come to our country to learn about our agricultural system. They realize that one of the key elements to a successful market economy is providing consumers with an abundant and affordable food supply. But probably the best rationale I heard for supporting this legislation came from our Ambassador to the Russian Federation. the Honorable Robert Strauss. when he appeared before the House Agriculture Committee 2 weeks ago. Ambassador Strauss said we have a historic window of opportunity to help solidify democracy in the Russian Federation. He said and I quote: This bill represents far more than the money that It spends. It represents a signal to the rest of the world that the West and particularly the United States Is not going to turn its back on the Russans as they attempt to get rid of communism and put In Its plaoe democracy. Ambassador Strauss argued that we here in Congress must look at this bill not so much as a foreign aid bill but as a bill vital to our domestic interest. our national security. and our economic future. I agree with Ambassador Strauss. We must take advantage of this historic opportunity to help the newly independent states through this difficult transition to market economy. Mr. Chairman. the Freedom Support Act will also benefit the American agrioultural economy. and It will create Jobs here at home. Through this bills provisions we can lay the foundation for longterm export markets for American agricultural and nonagricultural exports. Finally. this bill will help us take a gigantic step to achieving a more lasting world peace. Mr. Chairman. like Bob Strauss. I do not want It said one day that I contributed to the loss of the democratic movement In the former Soviet Union. We have too mush invested In this effort. We have waited 70 years to see the demise of communism. Now is our very short window of opportunity. and we should not let it pass us by. I urge my colleagues to join me In supporting the Freedom Support Act. Mr. Chairman. I reserve the balance of my time.