recently issued by this Committee "The Soviets and the Seas"-FPC production is one of the relatively few areas of fishery technology where we are ahead of the Soviets. But their expanding fishing fleets and great interest in harvesting the seas' resources will make it likely that they will move into this field soon.

We as a nation are spending billions of dollars in foreign aid, hoping to sell democracy and the free enterprise system to the developing countries of the world. It seems strange that, as capable as our government is, we are unable to solve this relatively simple problem. Our scientific research and our industrial know-how are adequate. The bureaucratic dilemma is what must be solved.

I urge your continued interest in getting the FDA to move constructively to find a way to approve this product and this process. I hope also that both branches of Congress will take whatever action is necessary to make FPC available to the hungry people of the world.

Mr. DINGELL. Our next witness this morning is our colleague, the Honorable Don H. Clausen.

STATEMENT OF HON. DON H. CLAUSEN, A REPRESENTATIVE IN CONGRESS FROM THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA

Mr. CLAUSEN. Mr. Chairman, it is with a great deal of pleasure that I appear before you this morning to speak on behalf of S. 2720, which is for the purpose of establishing demonstration plants for the production of fish protein concentrate, and which is similar to my bill, H.R.

13347.

One of the many strong arguments in favor of this bill is the realities of the present nutritional state of the world. It has been estimated that nearly 2 billion of the world's people suffer from a lack of animal protein in their diets. There is a protein deficit of about 4 billion pounds in the world, and protein deficiency diseases are the largest single source of infant mortality in the world.

We in this country are fortunate in that this condition is extremely rare in the United States, due in large part to the easy availability of such foods as meat, fish, milk, and eggs to most of the population. Other countries in the world are not as fortunate.

Though the incidence of protein deficiency in the United States is negligible, the poor pay a high price for their protein sources in relation to their incomes. It can be expected that fish protein concentrate would free some income previously spent on relatively expensive high-protein foods.

Having established that there is indeed a need in the world for cheap animal protein in extremely large quantities, it appears to me that fish protein concentrate is perhaps the best method which is currently available for making an assault upon this problem.

It is thought that merely one-half ounce of fish protein concentrate is capable of providing a child with his daily need for animal protein, and this at a cost of only a fraction of a cent.

Prominent members of UNICEF, WHO, and FAO-Food and Agriculture Organization-have gone on record as favoring fish protein concentrate as probably the most valuable food substance for combating the world protein deficiency.

To summarize the arguments, the Marine Protein Resource Committee of the National Academy of Sciences:

. . . has concluded that the fish protein concentrate made by the BCF (Bureau of Commercial Fisheries) process is a product that is wholesome and safe for human consumption, is highly nutritious, blends well as an additive to many types

of food normally used, can be produced at a reasonably low cost and, in view of the Committee, is suitable at present for commercial production, distribution and use in human nutrition.

The State of California has also gone on record as being in favor of this legislation. Governor Brown has announced his support for the bill, and the California State Assembly and Senate have passed a resolution urging favorable action at the "earliest time."

I would like to request respectfully that this resolution be included in the hearing record.

Mr. DINGELL. Without objection, that may be done.

(The resolution follows:)

ASSEMBLY JOINT RESOLUTION No. 14-RELATIVE TO EXPERIMENTAL FISH

PROTEIN CONCENTRATE PLANTS

Whereas, The development of a means for low cost production of fish protein concentrate would mean that more than a thousand million human beings, who now suffer the misery of chronic malnutrition, would have an opportunity for a better diet; and

Whereas, Protein deficiency diseases are the largest single source of infant mortality in the world today; and

Whereas, The ocean resources off California contain vast numbers of fish, other than anchovies, such as the Pacific hake, which could be used for such a program without endangering either their population or the other fish resources of the state; and

Whereas, Proper development of a fishery for such purpose could greatly aid the commercial fisheries of this state and be a substantial addition to the state's economic prosperity; and

Whereas, The Conservation and Wildlife Committee of the California Assembly has considered this matter on numerous occasions and attempted to further the development of a program to provide such a concentrate; and

Whereas, California has increased its expenditures in this area, including an appropriation in the budget for this year of $92,000 from the state's General Fund for research; and

Whereas, Legislation has been introduced in Congress which would authorize the expenditure of 5 million dollars for the construction of up to five experimental fish protein concentrate plants in the United States; and

Whereas, The earliest possible construction of such plants is essential to the development of an acceptable fish protein concentrate which can so immeasurably aid in relieving the suffering of so many persons in the world; now, therefore, be it

Resolved by the Assembly and Senate of the State of California, jointly, That the Legislature of the State of California respectfully memorializes the Congress of the United States to enact legislation at the earliest possible time to authorize construction of experimental fish protein concentrate plants; and be it further Resolved, That the Chief Clerk of the Assembly is directed to transmit copies of this resolution to the President and Vice President of the United States, to the Speaker of the House of Representatives, and to each Senator and Representative from California in the Congress of the United States.

Mr. CLAUSEN. For the record, Mr. Chairman, I would like to state my earnest hope that a fish protein plant will be established in my congressional district under this legislation.

I am frank to say that the north coast of California would be an ideal location for one of these plants. We have the harbors, the fishing fleet, and the fish necessary to make this project a complete success. My First Congressional District of California contains more than half of the commercial fishing vessels in California. The hake population, a fish particularly suited for the FPC process, is estimated at 6 billion on the west coast, enough fish to supply 180,000 tons of

FPC, sufficient to provide on a sustained supplemental basis the animal protein to meet the needs of 40 million people.

I would like to stress that my interest in this bill is not provincial, but I do want to bring the assets of our area to the attention of the committee.

To those who would claim that this bill is not within the proper scope of Federal activity, I would just like to make a point or two. As my colleagues are well aware, I have been, and will continue to be, one of the stanchest defenders of the private sector against Federal encroachment. We have written this bill in such a manner, however, so as to provide for the ultimate sale of the plants to private enterprise.

In this way, we will be able to carry out thorough studies of the product, and to demonstrate its extreme usefulness in combating protein deficiency. Once this has been shown, and I am convinced that it will be shown, the plants will be sold to private industry for operation-the Federal Government will step out of the picture, having accomplished its goal of FPC production at small cost to the taxpayers.

In conclusion, let me just add that I believe firmly that this bill is in keeping with our efforts throughout the world for peace. While our military actions in Vietnam and our other military commitments in other nations are gaining all the headlines, I have long felt that the most proper, most effective way to achieve peace and stability throughout the world is to organize and escalate an economic and technological "freedom offensive," thereby minimizing the need for military activity.

I am quite excited about the prospects for using fish protein concentrate as a tool in the freedom offensive. I feel that rarely does our Government have such a chance to do so much good with such a small investment.

I thank you, Mr. Chairman, for the courtesy you have extended by allowing me to make this statement.

Mr. DINGELL. Thank you, Mr. Clausen, for a very informative statement.

I would now like to call on our good friend from Alaska, the Honorable Ralph J. Rivers.

STATEMENT OF HON. RALPH J. RIVERS, A REPRESENTATIVE IN CONGRESS FROM THE STATE OF ALASKA

Mr. RIVERS. Mr. Chairman, I thank you for the privilege of testifying before your committee in support of my bill, H.R. 12269, and other similar bills which would establish a pilot project to manufacture fish protein concentrate.

The benefits that would result from enactment of this legislation are essentially threefold. First, it would provide a much needed, as well as cheap, solution to the protein deficiency problem of the estimated 2 billion people in the world who suffer from malnutrition and even starvation.

Second, aside from answering our humanitarian and moral obligations to the question of nger, the proposal offered in this legis

lation would serve as a useful weapon in the fight for peace and freedom. "A hungry man is not a free man," said the late Adlai Stevenson; and a hungry man is not likely to differentiate between political ideologies until he is first fed.

Finally, such a program would be of great economic benefit to the American fishing industry and would provide a basis for equal competition with fishermen of foreign nations. Fish protein concentrate plants would use largely bottom fish which are now taken almost exclusively by foreign fishing fleets.

While a question regarding the purity of such a fish product has been raised by the Federal Food and Drug Administration, I have no doubt that the finished product is absolutely sterile and safe for human consumption. Indeed, the Food and Drug Administration is now reviewing its position on the subject.

In summary, then, this bill should be passed to help solve the food problems of the world, to help the United States itself in its foreign policy program, and to assist the economic development of the domestic fishing industry and related industries.

Legislation on this subject, sponsored by Alaska's Senator E. L. Bartlett, has already passed the Senate, and it is my sincere hope that this bill will be approved by this committee at an early date and passed by the House of Representatives during the current session.

Thank you, Mr. Chairman, and other distinguished members of this committee, for your courteous attention and consideration.

Mr. DINGELL. Thank you for a fine statement, Congressman. For our next witness, I would like to call on the gentleman from Oregon, the Honorable Wendell Wyatt.

STATEMENT OF HON. WENDELL WYATT, A REPRESENTATIVE IN CONGRESS FROM THE STATE OF OREGON

Mr. WYATT. I wish to express to you, Mr. Chairman, and the distinguished members of your committee, my gratitude and thanks for these hearings on my proposed bill for the establishment of experimental fish protein concentrate plants. As you well know, fish protein concentrate, or fish flour, is potentially of tremendous economic significance to our fishing industry, of political significance to our Nation, and of sociological significance to the world.

With the developing of the worldwide struggle against hunger, the potential of this new process for producing a wholesome fish protein concentrate which can be used as a diet supplement throughout the world is nearly unlimited. The task of feeding a world confronted with a population explosion of the magnitude which we now anticipate is almost beyond belief. President Johnson's message to Congress on food for freedom documents the problems of the world. At the present time, more than half of the inhabitants of the world are undernourished or in actual hunger. When the world's population is geometrically increased over the coming years, the world's food problem will be increased in like proportion. Thus, this new concept of fish protein concentrate is of the utmost importance for us all.

Our domestic fishing industry should be given the opportunity to produce a satisfactory low-cost fish protein concentrate meeting gen

eral nutritional standards for worldwide use in human diets. Our domestic fishing industry, in the Pacific Northwest, as well as in the Northeast Atlantic and indeed throughout almost all areas of the United States, has been economically depressed for the past several

years.

The world fish catch has more than doubled in the past 10 years or so and the world ocean is yielding approximately 100 billion pounds of fish and fishery products annually, whereas our domestic fishery catch has not increased. If a practicable and economic means can be developed for the production of fish protein concentrate by the commercial fishing industry, our domestic fishing industry could economically and advantageously fish for different species of fish which are in abundance on or above our Continental Shelf. Bottom dwelling species are to be found in great abundance and as of now this resource is barely tapped. Research conducted to date proves conclusively that fish protein concentrate would have a tremendous world market and would be a boom not only to our domestic fishery, but also would do much to provide a low cost highly nutritional food for the hungry of the world.

In my judgment it would be perilous for the United States to delay supporting needed action at this time to develop fully a strong fish protein concentrate industry in the United States. In the past 2 years we have had a tremendous buildup of Soviet fishing activity off the coast of Oregon and Washington and there is absolutely no question but that the Russian Government intends to continue the buildup of its international fishing fleet. Unless we in the United States wake up and take immediate action to strengthen our own domestic fishing industry we will be left by the wayside. This will have serious political implications and consequences for the United States throughout the world.

My bill calls for a very modest authorization of $5 million for the construction of experiment and demonstration plants. I certainly feel that this will be one of the very best investments that the United States can make not only in our own fishing industry, but in world good will. I urge with all the power at my command your favorable consideration of H.R. 13457. Thank you very much for your courtesy and cooperation.

Mr. DINGELL. Thank you for your fine statement Mr. Wyatt. The able Congressman from Massachussets, the Honorable Thomas O'Neill, Jr., will be our next witness.

STATEMENT OF HON. THOMAS P. O'NEILL, JR., A REPRESENTATIVE IN CONGRESS FROM THE STATE OF MASSACHUSETTS

Mr. O'NEILL. Mr. Chairman, I come before the committee today to testify on behalf of two bills I have introduced, H.R. 14268 and H.R. 14905, and related bills.

The legislation about which I am concerned authorizes the Secretary of the Interior to develop practicable means for the production of fish protein concentrate. The Secretary would do this through the use of experiment and demonstration plants seeking a practicable and economic means which could be used by the commercial fishing industry.