Henry Bonilla

Mr. BONILLA

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

Mr. BONILLA. Mr. Chairman, I move to strike the last word.

Mr. BONILLA. I yield to the gentleman from Nebraska.

Mr. BONILLA. Well, Mr. Chairman, reclaiming my time, the gentleman raises a very, very good issue here that needs attention. This is an issue, however, that up until the last 24 hours was not an issue that we were aware of, although I know the gentleman has been working on it for some time now. What we would like to do is look into this issue and see what is going on over at the FDA. And I certainly agree that government at all levels must be held accountable for decisions made by its public servants. This may be a case in which accountability is lacking, which is something we should all be concerned about. So I pledge to the gentleman that we will try to figure out exactly what is going on here so that he gets an appropriate answer. Mr. Chairman, I believe we are now out of time.

Mr. BONILLA. I ask unanimous consent to speak for 1 more minute on this issue. THE CHAIRMAN. The gentleman from Texas may strike the last word, if he wants to, an additional time between amendments.

Mr. BONILLA. Mr. Chairman, I move to strike the last word in the event the gentleman from Nebraska (Mr. Terry) has any additional information on this.

Mr. BONILLA. I yield to the gentleman from Nebraska (Mr. Terry).

Mr. BONILLA. I yield to the gentleman from Iowa for a brief comment on this matter.

Mr. BONILLA. Mr. Chairman, reclaiming my time, I thank the gentleman from Iowa and the gentleman from Nebraska. Amendment No. 7 Offered by Mr. Chabot

Mr. BONILLA. Mr. Chairman, I claim the time in opposition to the amendment, and I yield myself such time as I may consume. Mr. Chairman, I recall in the previous administration they cutely coined the phrase ``corporate welfare'' any time there was any attempt by this institution or others in this country to fall on the side of free enterprise and the private sector. So I think this is one of those occasions where that phrase is being exploited to a great degree. I want to point out that there are many positive aspects of the Market Access Program. The fiscal year 2005 funding level on this program authorized by the farm bill will be $140 million from the Commodity Credit Corporation to help initiate and expand sales of U.S. ag products: fish and forest products overseas. Rural American farmers and ranchers are the primary suppliers of commodities that benefit from MAP. All regions of the country benefit from the program's employment and economic effects from expanded agricultural export markets. So there is probably not a State in this Nation that does not see a direct benefit from this. Ag exports are expected to reach a record $61.5 billion this year. There are well over 1 million jobs related to ag exports. This program goes a long way towards making sure American ag products have export markets. Mr. Chairman, for those that argue there is corporate welfare, to use that cute phrase again, it is accurate that agricultural co-ops and small companies can receive assistance under the branded program. To conduct branded promotion activities, individual companies must provide at least 50 percent funding. So it is not simply a complete giveaway, as might be indicated here. For generic promotion activities, trade associations and others must meet a minimum 10 percent match requirement. Participants are required to certify that Federal funds used under the program supplement, not replace, private sector funds. Many regulations limit the promotion of branded products in a single country to no more than 5 years. Those are the facts. This is a program that has been around for some time, and we feel it has worked very well for the American people. Mr. Chairman, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. BONILLA. Mr. Chairman, I yield 2 minutes to the gentleman from Virginia (Mr. Goodlatte), the distinguished chairman of the authorizing committee. (Mr. GOODLATTE asked and was given permission to revise and extend his remarks.)

Mr. BONILLA. Mr. Chairman, I yield 2 minutes to the gentleman from Texas (Mr. Stenholm), the ranking member of the authorizing committee.

Mr. BONILLA. Mr. Chairman, I yield 2 minutes to the distinguished gentleman from Washington (Mr. Hastings).

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

Mr. BONILLA. Mr. Chairman, I move to strike the last word, and I yield to the gentleman from California (Mr. Dooley).

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

Mr. BONILLA. Mr. Chairman, I thank the gentleman from California for raising this issue today and pledge to work with him to arrive at a satisfactory resolution. I agree that implementation of this regulation is long overdue and should be concluded immediately. As the gentleman suggests, a spending limitation on the Department's fiscal year 2005 appropriation may well be an appropriate step if the implementing regulations are not finalized in the very near future. I would hope, however, that we could be successful in convincing the Department of the serious need to conclude this matter on an expedited basis. Further delay is simply unacceptable. Let me assure the gentleman that we will work with him to bring this issue to closure as quickly as possible. If we need to consider additional action as the appropriations process moves forward, we will do so.

Mr. BONILLA. I thank the gentleman from California. Amendment Offered by Mr. Sanders

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

Mr. BONILLA. I would like to state that we have seen the gentleman's amendment, and if he would like to just move the question, we would be happy to accept it if the gentleman sees fit.

Mr. BONILLA. Mr. Chairman, we will be happy to support this amendment, and I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. BONILLA. Mr. Chairman, I rise in opposition to the amendment, and I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. BONILLA. Mr. Chairman, I yield 1 minute to the distinguished gentleman from Virginia (Mr. Cantor).

Mr. BONILLA. Mr. Chairman, I yield to a large number of Members who will ask for unanimous consent agreements; and I also note, Mr. Chairman, that in each case there will be an alternate from the majority and the minority to show strong bipartisan opposition to this amendment. I yield for the purpose of making a unanimous consent request to the gentleman from Kentucky (Mr. Rogers). (Mr. ROGERS of Kentucky asked and was given permission to revise and extend his remarks.)

Mr. BONILLA. Mr. Chairman, I yield for the purpose of making a unanimous consent request to the gentleman from North Carolina (Mr. Etheridge). (Mr. ETHERIDGE asked and was given permission to revise and extend his remarks.)