William Bryan: “it is just not outside groups that are calling for the elimination of this program. The Market Access Program was…”

“it is just not outside groups that are calling for the elimination of this program. The Market Access Program was specifically targeted for elimination in the fiscal year 1999 Republican budget resolution. This provision was included in the legislation passed on the Senate floor by a vote of 57-41 on April 2 of this year. Unfortunately, however, like Lazarus, this program seems to rise from the dead every year and is currently authorized to receive some $90 million in fiscal year 1999. The Foreign Agricultural Service, FAS, is a branch of the U.S. Department of Agriculture, and it distributes this $90 million that has previously been authorized in three different categories. One is a direct contribution to private companies. Two is a contribution that is made to industry associations which, in turn, makes grants to members within that association. And the third category is cooperatives. These moneys are frequently used for the promotion of brand-name products, specifically identified household names in America, as well as generic commodities overseas. So we have private companies that receive money directly from the funding source--industry associations and cooperatives. In spite of numerous reforms that we have debated and enacted in recent years in efforts to limit the aid provided to giant corporations, millions of dollars continue to flow to large, well-established producers, agribusinesses to subsidize their advertising budget.”