Henry Bonilla

Mr. BONILLA

Mr. BONILLA. Mr. Chairman, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. BONILLA. Mr. Chairman, I claim the time in opposition.

Mr. BONILLA. Mr. Chairman, I reserve a point of order on this amendment.

Mr. BONILLA. Mr. Chairman, I thank my friend for yielding. I appreciate the hard work that the gentleman has undertaken on this issue. I know it is a very serious problem. The committee and this chairman are aware of the emergency conditions that exist in Utah and throughout the Great Basin region caused by the Mormon Crickets. The gentleman from Utah has my commitment to ensure that proper funding for this problem is obtained in a timely manner this year and that specific funding for addressing the Mormon Cricket and grasshopper problem is identified to meet future needs in the FY 2002 bill.

Mr. BONILLA. Mr. Chairman, will the gentleman yield?

Mr. BONILLA. Mr. Chairman, we support the amendment.

Mr. BONILLA. Mr. Chairman, will the gentleman yield?

Mr. BONILLA. Mr. Chairman, I continue to reserve my point of order.

Mr. BONILLA. I continue to reserve my point of order, Mr. Chairman.

Mr. BONILLA. Mr. Chairman, I reserve a point of order on this amendment.

Mr. BONILLA. Mr. Chairman, I would be happy to work with the gentlewoman from California (Ms. Lee) and the folks at USDA to provide some positive direction in this area. There is not a parent out there that is not concerned about good nutrition for children so I thank the gentlewoman for bringing this up and would look forward to again trying to direct USDA, somehow working with the gentlewoman on this issue of organic foods.

Mr. BONILLA. Mr. Chairman, will the gentlewoman yield?

Mr. BONILLA. It is hard to speculate as to what the Department is going to do, but I can assure her that this is something that we are all concerned about. I know the gentlewoman from Ohio (Ms. Kaptur) has worked on this as well, along with the gentleman from Massachusetts (Mr. McGovern), the gentleman from New York (Mr. Walsh), and others. The subcommittee included report language that encourages the Secretary to continue this program at the same level as the current fiscal year. Accordingly, I will be pleased to work with the gentlewoman to see that USDA continues a program they initiated administratively.

Mr. BONILLA. Mr. Chairman, will the gentlewoman yield?

Mr. BONILLA. Mr. Chairman, I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. BONILLA. Mr. Chairman, our Committee has worked hard to bring a good bill to the House. We have made prudent recommendations for the use of the budgetary allocation available to us, and we have done yoeman work in keeping the bill free of contentious issues such as trade policy, that have caused concern in prior years. I think we have a very good bill, and I know that we will have a good debate. In closing, I would certainly hope that everyone would support this bill on final passage.

Mr. BONILLA. Mr. Chairman, I yield 2 minutes to the gentlewoman from Connecticut (Mrs. Johnson).

Mr. BONILLA. Mr. Chairman, I yield 2 minutes to the gentleman from Washington (Mr. Nethercutt), a very distinguished member of the subcommittee.

Mr. BONILLA. Mr. Chairman, reclaiming my time, while I have not examined this issue in particular in detail, I assure the gentleman from New Jersey that I will work with him on this and will consider inserting language into the final report regarding this matter. Mr. Chairman, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. BONILLA. I yield to the gentleman from New Jersey.

Mr. BONILLA. Mr. Chairman, I yield 2 minutes to myself.

Mr. BONILLA. Mr. Chairman, reclaiming my time, I would be pleased to work with the gentlewoman from Connecticut (Ms. DeLauro) on this issue. This program has widespread support of the Members in the whole House. As a result of the gentlewoman's efforts, the subcommittee has placed a priority on the program. We are aware that WIC participation levels can fluctuate above and below those forecast in administration budgets. I look forward to continuing my work with the gentlewoman to address the changes that may be brought on by adjustments in caseloads, and I thank the gentlewoman from Connecticut (Ms. DeLauro) for her efforts.

Mr. BONILLA. I yield to the gentlewoman from Connecticut.

Mr. BONILLA. Mr. Chairman, I yield myself 4 minutes.

Mr. BONILLA. I thank my friend for yielding, and I would be more than happy and enthusiastic about helping my friend work on this problem. This is not a new problem for wheat producers. Accordingly, we will work to do everything possible to get USDA to act in a proper way, not only with the problem but to assist producers with whatever ramifications may occur.