Although it took me some time, here is my input to Sen. Coats: **************** 24 April 1995 Hon. Sen. Daniel Coats 101 N. W. Martin Luther King, Jr. Blvd. Evansville, IN 47708 Hon. Sen. Coats, In the April issue of Bee Culture you are credited with two comments that to me illustrate a profound ignorance and bias with respect to agricultural research funding, comments to which I feel compelled to reply, as follows: 1) "...the United States doesn't have a problem with screw worms. The money appropriated by the Congress...is aimed at eradicating screw worms in Mexico." By using the name, "screw worms," instead of the appropriate name, "screw worm fly," you have misled the public, people who should be able to trust you as a "leader" in our government. Flies have wings and can easily fly across the Mexican-American border - its larvae (maggots) are a devastating pest of cattle. Do you really want to be responsible (at least in part) for a future infestation of American cattle? 2) "...the United States - to my knowledge - doesn't have a problem with honey bees. But $5 million was appropriated last year to research them." The honey bee industry in the United States has an incredible set, problems that have undoubtedly already been brought to your attention. * * * * * What is really going on here? Members of Congress all too often search for sound bites that can assure re-election. The beekeeping industry is really quite a helpless group, politically - of enormous benefit to the nation - but largely invisible with respect to their contributions. An attack on that group will have no political repercussions but may gain some important votes. (Hence, it is easy to be a "bully," as we knew such behavior in earlier days.) However, Sen. Coats, how diligently have Congress members gone after the tobacco industry or wealthy people who reap federal subsidies in agribusiness? When members of Congress show consistency in their pronouncements, then we will believe they have integrity and the American taxpayer at heart. Sincerely, Adrian M. Wenner (Prof. Emeritus) Dept. of Biol. Sciences Univ. of Calif., Santa Barbara Santa Barbara, CA 93106 (Not an agricultural research institution) cc: Members of worldwide honey bee e-mail network *************************************************************** * Adrian Wenner E-Mail [log in to unmask] * * Department of Biology Office Phone (805) 893-2838 * * University of California Lab Phone (805) 893-2838 * * Santa Barbara, CA 93106 FAX (805) 893-4724 * ***************************************************************