Political Quotes

“Mr. Chairman, the agriculture quarantine inspection user fee amendment that is included in my amendment No. 12 is a clarifying amendment. Passengers in commercial vehicles coming into the country pay an agriculture quarantine inspection fee. The funds collected go into an account and are used to cover the cost of providing inspections of cargo and international air and sea passengers at ports of entry within the United States, inspections of cargo and people at the Mexican and Canadian borders, and the preclearance and preinspection services at sites overseas. These inspections are absolutely essential to protect American agriculture from the introduction of pests and diseases of foreign origin and to facilitate the entry of our agriculture products into international markets. For example, if the Medfly were to establish itself in this country, the loss to the fruit and vegetable industry in California alone would be in the billions of dollars. If foot and mouth disease, which has been eradicated in the United States, were to be re-introduced into this country, losses to the cattle industry would be estimated at more than $20 billion.”