Tony Thurmond: “It was for these reasons and others that I was proud to be a part of a National public health campaign that resulted in…”

“It was for these reasons and others that I was proud to be a part of a National public health campaign that resulted in alcohol container warning labels. It is irresponsible and poor public policy for the federal government to continue to subsidize the marketing of alcohol beverage products. In addition, it is poor economics to continue to support the alcohol beverage industry's export program. Quite frankly, Mr. President, the Market Access Program has been a huge success for the wine industry. In the 13 years of the Program, the wine industry has received about $90 million in export program funds. The Wine Institute boasts that the California wine industry has been one of the largest recipients of USDA export promotion funding. This has resulted in record exports each year. During that time, export sales have risen from $35 million in 1986 to $537 million in 1998. This is a 448 percent increase from export sales of a decade ago. I do not begrudge this success. The wine industry is a legitimate industry, producing and marketing a legal product. It is made up of many small businesses, with thousands of employees. I recognize it contributes billions of dollars to or economy in sales, wages, and taxes. However, the success of the industry, particularly with its record breaking exports, leads me to conclude that federal government export subsidies are improper, and no longer required. The industry's export program has matured to the point where it can stand on its own.”