OPENING STATEMENT OF CHAIRMAN LARRY COMBEST

Good morning and welcome to everyone here. I would first like to thank all of the witnesses for their time and efforts to share their views on this important subject.

Today is the second in our series of hearings to review agricultural research, education, and extension programs.

Yesterday, we explored many issues, including the question - Why is it so difficult to maintain adequate funds for agricultural research? In questioning by Representative Brown, it was revealed that part of the problem is the inability of scientists to adequately relay to the American public the benefits that are derived from agricultural research programs. For instance, in today's testimony, we will hear about how agricultural research has lead to the development of a drug that we consider very basic today - penicillin -- and today is leading to treatments for HIV-AIDS. Why is it that the fact agricultural research is making significant contributions to the treatment of HIV is confined to this room and not on the national news?

We also had an extensive discussion with the three major elements of the agricultural research system -- ARS, State universities, and the private sector. During this discussion, we focused on the current and future roles each of the entities will play. In so doing, we asked our witnesses to take a giant step back and tell us if the current system were to be re-built, would it come out the same way.

Having differentiated the roles of the three major entities, our agenda today is to review several examples of how the entities coordinate their activities. Specifically, we would like to evaluate ongoing partnerships between the public and private sectors in which minimal resources are leveraged to maximize results.

We will continue with our theme of improving the efficiency of our research and reducing or eliminating any duplication of research efforts in light of our tight budget situation. While the examples we will discuss today are ongoing partnership projects I would like to explore any possibilities for encouraging the formation of these partnerships whenever possible in all of our research, education, and extension activities.

Again, I appreciate the efforts on behalf of all of our witnesses to appear before the Subcommittee. I look forward to the testimony and the discussion.