CONTENTS Budge, Hon. Hamer H., a Representative in Congress from the State 169 154 Im Masche, Frank W., Department of Agriculture. 139 Pfost, Hon. Gracie, a Representative in Congress from the State of 138 Salyer, E. C., of Salyer Land Co., accompanied by Mr. Gordon H. 143 Sisk, Hon. B. F., of the 12th District of the State of California. 170 128 Ullman, Hon. Al, a Representative in Congress from the Second Dis- 131 Upsal, Paul, president of the South Dakota Farmers' Union.. 165 171 Projections of payments under wool payment program and duty Apparel wool consumption and fabric production within the Wool used by the military forces, clean basis, United States, 151 Wool used by the military forces, scoured basis, United States, 151 EXTEND NATIONAL WOOL ACT OF 1954 TUESDAY, MAY 20, 1958 HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES, SUBCOMMITTEE ON LIVESTOCK AND FEED GRAINS OF THE COMMITTEE ON AGRICULTURE, Washington, D. C. The subcommittee met pursuant to notice at 10 a. m., in room 1310, New House Office Building, Hon. W. R. Poage (chairman of the subcommittee) presiding. Present: Representatives Poage, Jennings, Matthews, Hill, Harvey, and Simpson. Also present: Representatives Hagen, Johnson, McIntire, Dixon, Quie, Harrison, and Fisher. Mabel C. Downey, clerk. Mr. POAGE. We are meeting here this morning to further consider the wool situation. I see we have several Members of Congress here whom I presume wish to discuss the wool bill. We would be glad to hear from any of you. STATEMENT OF HON. WAYNE ASPINALL, A REPRESENTATIVE Mr. ASPINALL. Mr. Chairman, I would ask permission to have my statement filed as if read, and then I will speak but just a moment to the bill. Mr. POAGE. We will be glad to proceed that way, and without objection your statement will be made a part of the record. Mr. ASPINALL. Mr. Chairman, I am happy to appear before you today in behalf of a measure which I introduced in the Congress. last summer to extend the provisions of the National Wool Act beyond its present expiration date of March 31, 1959. I introduced this bill, first of all, because of its great importance to my own district of western Colorado. I also introduced this bill because it is a measure which is vital not only to the entire State of Colorado but because of its benefits to all of the Nation as well. There are about 1,200,000 stock sheep in the State of Colorado. A large percentage of these harvest the natural grass resources of the arid range lands as well as the mountain regions of my own district in western Colorado. I am proud to say that some of the finest wool in the Nation is produced in my district of Colorado and this area is also noted for its production of some of the finest and most appetizing lamb in the country. These lambs are marketed in the fall directly off our high forest areas and provide delicious food for America's dining tables. My colleagues in the Congress from Colorado also appreciate the importance of this great industry because sheep are also contributing to the prosperity of their areas. Also, in counties east of my district in Colorado, over 500,000 lambs are fed annually. These lambs come from ranges not only in Colorado but also from Wyoming, New Mexico, Texas, and Montana to be finished on beet tops and other products of our Colorado farms. Colorado's interest in the sheep industry may be judged by the fact that this is one of the most important agricultural enterprises in our State, ranking third or fourth from year to year. In fact, nearly $30 million in new wealth is created in our State each year through the marketing of lambs and wool. There are some counties and areas in Colorado that are largely dependent on the sheep industry for support of their business enterprises. I know that this holds true not only in Colorado but in a dozen other Western States where sheep utilize and convert into meat and wool, grass resources that would otherwise be wasted. I know, also, that sheep raising is becoming an increasingly important enterprise in some of our Eastern and Southern States. At the time the National Wool Act became law in 1954 the sheep industry of this Nation was in a desperate financial plight. Conditions beyond the control of sheep producers caused a drop in sheep numbers by almost half in the 12 years prior to 1954. În the interests of national defense, wool prices were frozen throughout World War II, while sheep production costs went steadily upward. Then after the war the tariff on imports of raw wool was cut by 25 percent. The unsatisfactory price support and loan programs established in an effort to alleviate conditions in the sheep industry, only piled up surpluses of wool in a Government stockpile. The National Wool Act of 1954 is the first program that has been established that has stopped further piling up of wool in Government storage. I am advised that not only is no wool going into storage since the establishment of this program, but also that the big stockpile that the Government had in storage has now all gone to market. This is, I think wonderful news. This is also a program that is tailor-made to meet the rather peculiar requirements of a commodity that must meet heavy foreign competition here at home. In fact, wool and sugar are among those few commodities of which we produce less than we consume. In the case of wool, we are producing a little more than one-third of our normal peacetime requirements. And, of course, during national emergencies, demand rises and foreign supplies become more difficult to obtain. I think the woolgrowers should be especially commended for establishing a self-help program. Through the contribution of a part of the incentive payments on wool they are establishing a promotion and advertising program on both of their commodities-wool and lamb. |