One study last year argued that a 16 percent appreciation in the value of the United States dollar was responsible for a 17 to 25 percentage point decline in corn and wheat prices.

I want to encourage you to keep up the fight, and you will have my strongest help.

I went down to Latin America with the leader of the Senate, Trent Lott, and we visited Guatemala, Ecuador, Costa Rica, and Panama.

I have indicated my strong belief in that regard as to the result of the hearings to our current Secretary and the staff down there.

If we exported the bulk commodities, those countries could go to more specialty crop areas.

It seems to me that that is important.

I might add that that was part of the design of the FAIR Act--I had a little bit to do with that.

I think it is time that we start to think out of the box.

We have seen the United States share of export markets continue to fall.

Do you have any suggestions in regard to how our food aid programs could be improved?

I think we need to take a very serious look at what the food aid needs are.

I think we need to upgrade this debate in a more general way if we possibly can.

It is intolerable to have this taking place. Yet, it is Africa, so what happens?

I would hope that now we would broaden that relationship and say we will lift the economic sanctions that we have on India.

I think it really wants to be better tied to the United States.

It is with great pleasure today that I rise to join my colleagues in supporting National Co-op Month.