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“THE EXPORT ENHANCEMENT PROGRAM” mentioning the U.S. Dept of Agriculture was published in the House of Representatives section on pages H9165 on Sept. 28, 1998.
The publication is reproduced in full below:
THE EXPORT ENHANCEMENT PROGRAM
The SPEAKER pro tempore. Under a previous order of the House, the gentleman from Oklahoma (Mr. Lucas) is recognized for 5 minutes.
Mr. LUCAS of Oklahoma. Mr. Speaker, fiscal year 1998 ends in 3 days, and President Clinton has let cob webs grow on the Export Enhancement Program.
Yes, as our farmer constituents struggle through one of the most devastating downturns in commodity prices our country has seen, our President has sat on $150 million that could have been and should have been utilized to prevent the loss of markets in wheat, wheat flour, vegetable oil, and other commodities.
The 1996 farm bill made over $1.5 billion available for EEP, and this administration has used it to move some frozen chickens and some barley. They should be ashamed.
This administration's trade policy should be called promises made, promises broken. Understanding the need to open new markets for our commodities, the President has promised to utilize EEP to its fullest. This is a promise he has not kept.
In March of this year, I joined my colleagues from Oklahoma in sending a letter to Secretary Glickman outlining our thoughts on the need for the administration to utilize EEP. I would like to read the letter we sent.
Dear Mr. Secretary: It has come to our attention that according to the United States Department of Agriculture . .
. February supply/demand report, the season average price for wheat is expected to decline by at least twenty percent compared to the 1996/97 season. This price decline is causing serious concern to our producers, and we strongly urge the Department to use all discretionary programs to strengthen market prices and export opportunities for U.S. producers.
We believe the Department should aggressively utilize export enhancement tools in strategic markets, including the Export Enhancement Program (EEP) and the GSM credit programs. All agree that export growth is fundamental to improved market prices for producers. As we talk it our producers/constituents throughout Oklahoma, they time and time again express great dissatisfaction with the Department's reluctance to use the EEP to counter competitive subsidization of wheat in world markets. The unwillingness to utilize this program has weakened its effectiveness both as a deterrent to unfair trade practices and as a means of gaining access to markets.
As U.S. producers lose market share to a growing list of countries with state trading enterprises, it is imperative that the Department implement a long-term strategy to counter these entities. As you begin the preparation for the next round of World Trade Organization Negotiations in Agriculture, we hope that you will utilize all export tools available.
Thank you for consideration. We are looking forward to your response. Frank D. Lucas, J.C. Watts, Jr., Ernest Istook, Steve Largent, Wes Watkins, and Tom Coburn.
How did he respond? Nearly $50 million a month has sat idly by as our markets have dried up throughout the world as the administration plays partisan politics with the future of our producers. I would argue that one of the main problems plaguing those trying to earn a living off this land is this administration's lack of an agricultural trade policy. Mr. President, this needs to change.
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