On the recordJune 19, 2013
I most respectfully oppose the gentleman's amendment. Mr. Chair, the MAP program has been a critical tool for producers in my district to access foreign markets. The program forms a private- public partnership that shares the cost of overseas marketing and promotional activities. The current agriculture export forecast for FY13 is estimated to be nearly $140 billion, which smashes our export records. For a country that operates under a net trade deficit, agriculture has been a bright spot and generates a surplus. Independent studies show that the MAP program is directly responsible for $6.1 billion of these exports. This is a 35 to 1 return on investment. How many other Federal programs have this type of economic benefit? Not many. With our trade forecast expected to increase this year, this reinforces the need for valuable programs such as the Market Access Program. I urge my colleagues most respectfully to oppose the amendment.
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