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WHICH IS A MOTION TO RECOMMIT
PRIOR TO THE VOTES OTHER THAN A
MOTION TO WAIVE, POINTS OF ORDER
AND MOTIONS TO TABLE THAT.
UPON DISPOSITION OF THESE
AMENDMENTS AND THE LEE MOTION, I
BE RECOGNIZED.
IS THERE
MADAM PRESIDENT?
OBJECTION?
THE
SENATOR FROM KENTUCKY.
RESERVING THE RIGHT TO OBJECT,
I'M CONCERNED ABOUT DR. SHAKIL
AFRIDI, A DOCTOR IN PAKISTAN
WHO HELPED US AND LED TO THE
CAPTURE OF BIN LADEN.
HE'S BEEN HELD IN PRISON.
HE'S BEEN PUT IN PRISON IN
PAKISTAN FOR 33 YEARS.
I DON'T THINK WE SHOULD CONTINUE
TO SEND TAXPAYER MONEY IN THE
FORM OF FOREIGN AID TO PAKISTAN
WHEN THEY'RE HOLDING IN PRISON A
DETECTOR DR. WHO SIMPLY HELPED
US TO GET BIN LADEN.
THIS ISSUE IS OF THE UTMOST
URGENCY.
HIS CASE WILL BE HEARD FOR AN
APPEAL BUT IT'S A POLITICAL CASE
ACTION.
AND CAN BE INFLUENCED BY U.S.
I THINK THE U.S. TAXPAYERS
SHOULD NOT SEND MONEY TO
PAKISTAN WHEN PAKISTAN IS
HOLDING THIS INNOCENT MAN WHO
HELPED US GET ONE OF THE WORLD'S
MOST DANGEROUS MEN, A MASS
MURDERER WHO KILLED 3,000
AMERICANS, WE CAPTURED HIM WITH
HELP WITH HELP OF DR. SHAKIL
AFRIDI AND DR. AFRIDI DESERVES
OUR HELP NOW.
I HAVE AN AMENDMENT THAT'S VERY
IMPORTANT.
IT'S NOT GERMANE BUT THAT
DOESN'T MEAN IT'S NOT IMPORTANT.
IT'S VERY IMPORTANT THAT WE SEND
PAKISTAN A SIGNAL WE WILL NOT
CONTINUE TO SEND THEM A WELFARE
CHECK WHEN THEY'RE HOLDING IN
PRISON A POLITICAL PRISONER WHO
HELPED US GET BIN LADEN.
THIS AMENDMENT IS OF THE UTMOST
URGENCY.
WOULD ONLY REQUIRE 15 MINUTES OF
THE SENATE'S TIME.
I'M NOT ASKING FOR ALL DAY.
I'M ASKING FOR 15 MINUTES TO
VOTE ON ENDING AID TO PAKISTAN
UNTIL THEY RELEASE DR. AFRIDI.
I DON'T THINK THIS IS TOO MUCH
TO ASK.
THE SENATE HAS HISTORICALLY BEEN
A BODY THAT ALLOWED DEBATE,
THAT ALLOWED AMENDMENTS PER
INTENT OR NOT PERTINENT.
THIS ONE IS VERY IMPORTANT.
TIME IS OF THE ESSENCE FOR DR.
AFRIDI.
IT'S THE LEAST WE CAN DO FOR
SOMEONE WHO HELPED US TO GET BIN
LADEN AND I ASK THAT WE ALLOW
THIS AMENDMENT TO OCCUR
AND SO I OBJECT TO THE UNANIMOUS
CONSENT.
OBJECTION
IS HEARD.
MADAM PRESIDENT?
I APPRECIATE THE GOOD INTENTIONS
OF MY FRIEND FROM KENTUCKY
BECAUSE THEY ARE GOOD
INTENTIONS.
BUT WE ARE ON A BILL NOW THAT
JUST SIMPLY DOES NOT ALLOW
SOMETHING LIKE THAT TO COME
FORWARD.
I WOULD LIKE TO WORK WITH HIM IN
THE FUTURE AND I'M SURE A NUMBER
OF OTHER SENATORS WOULD TO FOCUS
ON OUR RELATIONS WITH PAKISTAN.
IT'S NOT ONLY A PROBLEM THAT HE
OUTLINED BUT THERE ARE OTHER
THINGS.
THE ABILITY OF OUR VEHICLES TO
DRIVE TO AFGHANISTAN, AND LOTS
OF OTHER THINGS.
AND IT'S AN ISSUE THAT THE
FOREIGN RELATIONS COMMITTEE HAS
HELD HEARINGS ON, IT'S
FOCUS ON.
SOMETHING THAT WE REALLY NEED TO
AND I WOULD ALSO INDICATE TO MY
FRIEND THAT SENATOR LEAHY, WHO
HAS BEEN REALLY A PROTECTOR OF
HUMAN RIGHTS FOR HIS ENTIRE
CAREER, WHO IS CHAIRMAN OF THE
FOREIGN OPERATIONS COMMITTEE IS
ALSO CONCERNED ABOUT THIS.
I WOULD SAY TO MY FRIEND THAT HE
DOESN'T STAND ALONE IN HIS
CONCERN, BUT THERE HAS TO BE A
TIME AND PLACE FOR EVERYTHING
AND HOPEFULLY WE CAN HAVE A FULL
DEBATE ON OUR RELATIONS WITH
PAKISTAN IN THE NEAR FUTURE.
MADAM PRESIDENT, ON BEHALF OF
THE MANAGERS I CALL TO IF CLERK
AND ASK TO BE REPORTED 2389,
AMENDMENT NUMBERED 2389.
THAT IS AT THE DESK.
THE CLERK
WILL REPORT.
THE SENATOR FROM
NEVADA, MR. REED REID, FOR
MS. STABENOW AND MR. ROBERTS
2389.
PROPOSES AMENDMENT NUMBERED
I ASK FOR THE YEAS AND
MADAM PRESIDENT.
NAYS ON THAT AMENDMENT,
IS THERE
IS A SUFFICIENT SECOND?
THERE APPEARS TO BE.
THE YEAS AND NAYS ARE ORDERED.
I HAVE A SECOND-DEGREE
AMENDMENT AT THE DESK.
THE CLERK
WILL REPORT.
THE SENATOR FROM
NEVADA, MR. REID, PROPOSES
AMENDMENT NUMBERED 2390 TO
AMENDMENT NUMBER 2389.
I HAVE A MOTION TO
RECOMMIT THE BILL WITH
INSTRUCTIONS THAT ALSO IS AT THE
DESK.
THE CLERK
WILL REPORT.
THE SENATOR FROM
NEVADA, MR. REID, MOVES TO
RECOMMIT S. 3240 TO THE SENATE
COMMITTEE ON AGRICULTURE,
NUTRITION AND FORESTRY WITH
INSTRUCTIONS TO REPORT BACK
2391.
FORTHWITH AN AMENDMENT NUMBERED
I ASK FOR THE YEAS AND
NAYS ON THIS MOTION.
IS THERE
A SUFFICIENT SECOND?
THERE APPEARS TO BE.
THE YEAS AND NAYS ARE ORDERED.
I NOW CALL AMENDMENT
NUMBER 23 -- LOOKS LIKE AN 8 TO
ME -- 82 -- 92.
LOOKED LIKE AN 8 BUT IT'S A 9.
NUMBER 2392.
THE SENATOR FROM
NEVADA, MR. REID, PROPOSES
AMENDMENT NUMBERED 2392 TO THE
1-6789S 3240.
MOTION INSTRUCTIONS TO RECOMMIT
I ASK FOR THE YEAS AND
NAYS ON THAT AMENDMENT.
IS THERE
A SUFFICIENT SECOND?
THERE APPEARS TO BE.
THE YEAS AND NAYS ARE ORDERED.
I CALL NOW AMENDMENT
NUMBERED 2393 WHICH IS A
SECOND-DEGREE AMENDMENT.
THE CLERK WILL REPORT
TAX REFORM NEVADA
PROPOSES AMENDMENT 23932.
I MOVE TO.
S. 1940, A BILL TO
AMEND THE NATIONAL FLOOD
INSURANCE ACT OF 1948 TO RESTORE
THE FINANCIAL SOLVENCY OF THE
FLOOD INSURANCE FUND AND FOR
OTHER PURPOSES.
MADAM PRESIDENT, ON
THE FARM BILL I'VE MANAGED A FEW
BILLS DURING MY TIME HERE,
QUITE A FEW BILLS.
AND IT'S ALWAYS SO GRATIFYING
AFTER THE WORK THAT GOES INTO
WORK THAT YOU'VE DONE ON A
COMMITTEE OR SUBCOMMITTEE TO
HAVE THAT MATTER COME TO THE
FLOOR AND IT'S A TERRIBLE
DISAPPOINTMENT TO NOT BE ABLE TO
MOVE FORWARD AS YOU ANTICIPATED.
SO I SAY THAT FOR SENATORS
STABENOW AND ROBERTS.
NO ONE HAS WORKED HARDER THAN
THEY HAVE BRINGING THE BILL TO
THE FLOOR.
IT'S BIPARTISAN, IT'S IMPORTANT
NOT FOR THE STATE OF MICHIGAN,
THE STATE OF KANSAS, IT'S
IMPORTANT FOR THE COUNTRY.
AND I WISH WE COULD PROCEED IN
ANOTHER WAY TO HAVE AMENDMENTS
HEARD AND VOTED ON, BUT WE,
EVEN THOUGH THIS IS SOMEWHAT
AWKWARD, WE'RE GOING TO MOVE
FORWARD WITH THIS BILL.
WE'RE GOING TO BRING UP SOME
AMENDMENTS, THEY'RE BIG
AMENDMENTS, THEY'RE CRUCIAL TO
SENATORS BEING ABLE TO ISSUE
THEIR OPINION ON THIS
LEGISLATION.
ONE DEALS WITH SUGAR, ONE WITH
FOOD STAMPS, VERY BOTH
CONTROVERSIAL AND VERY IMPORTANT
AND WE'RE GOING TO HAVE THOSE
AND HOPEFULLY HAVE A GOOD DEBATE
ON THOSE MATTERS.
WE CAN MOVE FORWARD ON THIS BILL
IN OTHER WAYS.
I HAVE NOT GIVEN UP HOPE AND I
KNOW THAT SENATOR STABENOW AND
SENATOR ROBERTS HAVE NOT GIVEN
UP HOPE TO HAVE A UNIVERSAL
AGREEMENT SO WE CAN REALLY
LEGISLATE ON THIS BILL.
AS I'VE INDICATED, WE DON'T DO
THIS VERY OFTEN IN THIS MANNER,
BUT IT'S IMPORTANT BECAUSE WE
HAVE AN ISSUE HERE THAT NEEDS TO
MOVE FORWARD.
A LOT OF TIMES WHEN THE TREE IS
FILLED WE WALK AWAY FROM IT.
WE'RE NOT GOING TO WALK AWAY
FROM THIS.
THIS BILL IS FAR TOO IMPORTANT,
IT AFFECTS THE LIVES OF MILLIONS
OF PEOPLE, ABOUT 16 MILLION IN
AMERICA.
AND THERE ARE REFORMS MADE IN
THIS BILL, I REMEMBER WHEN I
CAME FROM THE HOUSE OF
REPRESENTATIVES 26 YEARS AGO,
WE WANTED TO MAKE THESE -- THE
REFORMS THAT ARE IN THIS BILL.
SO THEY'VE DONE REMARKABLY GOOD
WORK.
WE HEAR, EVERYONE, DEMOCRATS
AND REPUBLICANS, TALKING ABOUT
LET'S DO SOMETHING ABOUT THE
DEBT AND THE DEFICIT.
HERE, MADAM PRESIDENT, WE'VE
DONE IT.
WHAT THEY HAVE DONE IS BRING TO
THIS BODY A BILL THAT REDUCES
OUR DEBT BY $23 BILLION.
WE HAVE A LONG WAYS THAT WE NEED
TO GO BEYOND THAT, BUT GEE
***, THIS IS A BIG DEAL, $23
BILLION.
SO I COMMEND AND APPLAUD THE TWO
MANAGERS OF THIS BILL.
THEY ARE FINE SENATORS, AND
THEY'VE DONE SERVICE TO OUR
COUNTRY BY GETTING US TO THE
POINT WHERE WE ARE NOW.
THE
SENATOR FROM MICHIGAN.
THANK YOU,
MADAM PRESIDENT.
FIRST I WANT TO THANK OUR LEADER
FOR HIS STRONG SUPPORT IN
FLOOR.
HELPING US BRING THIS TO THE
WE WOULD NOT BE HERE WITHOUT THE
SENATOR FROM NEVADA, OUR
LEADER, AND FRANKLY THERE ARE
MANY DEMANDS, MANY THINGS ON
HIS PLATE AND OUR PLATE IN THE
SENATE.
HE UNDERSTANDS 16 MILLION JOBS
ARE AFFECTED BY WHAT WHAT
HAPPENS IN AGRICULTURE IN THIS
COUNTRY, SO THANK YOU, SENATOR
REID, FOR YOUR WILLINGNESS TO
SUPPORT US AND CONTINUE TO
SUPPORT US AS WE MOVE FORWARD TO
GET THIS BILL DONE.
I ALSO WANT TO THANK MY PARTNER
AND MY RANKING MEMBER, THE
SENATOR FROM KANSAS, FOR HIS
CONTINUED LEADERSHIP AS WE MOVE
THE BILL FORWARD.
WE WOULD HAVE LIKED TO HAVE
BEGUN THE UNANIMOUS CONSENT
AGREEMENT TO MOVE FORWARD ON SIX
DIFFERENT AMENDMENTS, NOT THE
UNIVERSAL AMENDMENTS, CERTAINLY
ANYONE COULD COME DOWN AND SAY
WHY ISN'T MY AMENDMENT AS PART
OF THE FIRST SIX, BUT THIS WE
WANTED TO GET STARTED AS WE
WORKED WITH COLLEAGUES TO BRING
UP OTHER AMENDMENTS AND SO WE
HAVE PUT FORWARD SOMETHING THAT
INVOLVED FIRST OF ALL A
TECHNICAL AMENDMENT THAT WE NEED
TO DO FOR THE BILL, A
PERFECTING AMENDMENT, AND THEN
TWO DEMOCRATIC COLLEAGUES'
AMENDMENTS AND THREE DEMOCRATIC
COLLEAGUES' AMENDMENTS INCLUDING
THE SENATOR FROM KENTUCKY, WHO
JUST ENTERED THE OBJECTION, AN
IMPORTANT DEBATE THAT INVOLVES
AN AMENDMENT THAT HE IS INVOLVED
WITH.
SO WE -- OUR FIRST STEP WAS TO
TRY TO DO THIS AROUND UNANIMOUS
CONSENT, BUT UNDERSTANDING THAT
WE DO HAVE AN OBJECTION,
SENATOR REID HAS OFFERED US
ANOTHER PATH TO DO THIS BY
CREATING A WAY FOR US TO AT
LEAST HAVE THE DEBATE ON TWO OF
THE ISSUES THAT WE HAD PUT
FORWARD IN THE SIX AMENDMENTS
BEFORE US.
AND ONE INVOLVES THE SUGAR
PROGRAM FOR OUR COUNTRY, AND WE
HAVE A NUMBER OF MEMBERS WHO
HAVE DIFFERENT AMENDMENTS, WE
HAVE ONE THAT WILL BE IN FRONT
OF US BUT IT'S AN OPPORTUNITY
FOR EVERYONE TO SAY THEIR
PIECE, AND I CAN TELL YOU AS
SOMEBODY WHO REPRESENTS A LOT OF
SUGAR BEETS THAT I CARE VERY
DEEPLY ABOUT THIS ISSUE AND
CERTAINLY SUPPORT THE SUGAR
PROGRAM, IT'S AN IMPORTANT
DEBATE TO HAVE AND MEMBERS
DESERVE TO BE HEARD ON ALL
SIDES.
AND THE OTHER RELATES TO THE
SUPPLEMENTAL NUTRITION
ASSISTANCE PROGRAM, MANY
MEMBERS WHO HAVE FEELINGS ON ALL
SIDES ABOUT THIS, AND SO WE
THINK IT'S AN IMPORTANT DEBATE
TO HAVE TO GIVE PEOPLE AN
OPPORTUNITY TO GIVE THEIR
OPINIONS.
I CERTAINLY AS THIS GOES
FORWARD, TOMORROW WILL BE DOING
THAT MYSELF AND CERTAINLY FEEL
VERY STRONGLY THAT WE'VE DONE IN
THE BILL ON ACCOUNTABILITY AND
TRANSPARENCY TO MAKE SURE EVERY
DOLLAR GOES FOR FAMILIES WHO
NEED IT IS VERY IMPORTANT.
BUT WE WANT MEMBERS TO HAVE AN
OPPORTUNITY TO BE ABLE TO DEBATE
COUNTRY.
WHAT IS IMPORTANT POLICY FOR OUR
AS WE ARE MOVING FORWARD ON BOTH
OF THESE AMENDMENTS TOMORROW,
WE WILL ALSO BE WORKING, OUR
STAFFS AND OURSELVES, TO COME
TOGETHER ON A LARGER PACKAGE, A
UNIVERSE OF AMENDMENTS TO OFFER
TO THE BODY OF THE SENATE TO BE
ABLE TO MOVE FORWARD SO WE CAN
COME UP WITH A FINE NIGHT --
FINITE NUMBER OF AMENDMENTS THAT
WILL ALLOW US TO COMPLETE THE
BILL.
THERE ARE MANY AMENDMENTS THAT
HAVE BEEN OFFERED AND WE ARE
GOING TO SPEND OUR TIME GOING
THROUGH THOSE JUST AS WE DID IN
COMMITTEE WHERE WE WORKED ACROSS
THE AISLE.
WE HAD A HUNDRED AMENDMENTS AND
WHITTLED THAT DOWN TO A POINT
AGREED-UPON AMENDMENTS.
WHERE WE COULD COME FORWARD WITH
WE'LL DO THE SAME THING, PUT
TOGETHER A UNIVERSE OF
AMENDMENTS TO MOVE FORWARD ON
THE BILL.
BUT WHILE WE ARE DOING THAT, WE
WILL HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY, WE
INVITE MEMBERS WHO CARE
PARTICULARLY ABOUT EITHER OF THE
ISSUES THAT WILL BE VOTED ON
TOMORROW WHEN THE LEADER WILL
MOVE FORWARD WITH A MOTION TO
TABLE ON THOSE, BUT WE WANT
EVERYONE TO HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY
TO COME TO THE FLOOR AND BE ABLE
ISSUES.
TO BE HEARD ON BOTH OF THOSE
SO WE ARE MOVING FORWARD.
WE WOULD HAVE LIKED TO HAVE DONE
IT WITH A LARGER GROUP OF
AMENDMENTS THAT WE COULD HAVE
STARTED WITH WHILE WE CONTINUE
THROUGH, OUR GOAL IS TO ALLOW
AS MUCH OPPORTUNITY FOR
DISCUSSION AND DEBATE AS
POSSIBLE, BUT FRANKLY,
MADAM PRESIDENT, I HAVE TO SAY
BEFORE YIELDING TO MY FRIEND
FROM KANSAS, OUR GOAL
ULTIMATELY IS TO PASS THIS BILL.
WE HAVE 16 MILLION PEOPLE WHO
ARE COUNTING ON MOVING FORWARD,
WANTING CERTAINTY, OUR FARMERS
AND RANCHERS WANT TO KNOW WHAT'S
COMING FOR THEM AS THEY'RE IN
THE PLANTING SEASON AND GOING
INTO HARVEST SEASON IN THE FALL
AND THEY NEED ECONOMIC
CERTAINTY.
WE NEED TO MAKE SURE THAT WE
HAVE A POLICY GOING FORWARD THAT
MAKES SENSE AND IS PUT IN PLACE
BEFORE SEPTEMBER 30 OF THIS YEAR
WHEN THESE POLICIES RUN OUT AND
VERY SERIOUS RAMIFICATIONS TO
THE BUDGET TAKE PLACE.
AND FRANKLY, I THINK ALL OF US
HAVE SAID AT ONE TIME OR ANOTHER
REDUCTION.
WE WANT TO SEE DEFICIT
AND I DON'T KNOW ANOTHER BILL
THAT'S COME BEFORE THIS BODY
WITH $23 BILLION IN DEFICIT
REDUCTION, BIPARTISAN, A
NUMBER THAT WAS AGREED TO IN THE
FALL WITH THE HOUSE AND THE
SENATE.
WE HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY TO TELL
THE PEOPLE THAT WE REPRESENT IN
THE COUNTRY WE MEANT IT WHEN WE
SAID DEFICIT REDUCTION, WE
MEANT IT WHEN WE SAID REFORM AND
WE MEANT IT WHEN WE SAID WE WERE
GOING TO WORK TOGETHER TO GET
THINGS DONE.
WE'VE BEEN DOING THAT WITH A
WONDERFUL BIPARTISAN VOTE IN
COMMITTEE, WITH A VERY STRONG
VOTE TO PROCEED TO THIS BILL
LAST WEEK, AND WE KNOW THE HARD
PART IS GETTING THROUGH AND
COMING UP WITH THE LIST OF
AMENDMENTS THAT WE INTEND TO
DO, AND WE'RE ASKING FOR OUR
COLLEAGUES TO WORK WITH US ON
BEHALF OF THE PEOPLE OF THIS
COUNTRY WHO HAVE THE SAFEST,
MOST AFFORDABLE FOOD SUPPLY IN
THE WORLD BECAUSE OF A GROUP OF
FOLKS CALLED FARMERS AND
RANCHERS WHO HAVE THE BIGGEST
RISKS IN THE COUNTRY AND GO OUT
EVERY DAY WORKING HARD TO MAKE
SURE WE HAVE THE NATIONAL
SECURITY AND THE FOOD SECURITY
WE NEED FOR OUR COUNTRY.
THEY ARE LOOKING TO US TO GET
THIS DONE, ALONG WITH CHILDREN
AND FAMILIES ACROSS THIS
COUNTRY, AND WE WILL DO THAT,
WE WILL BEGIN THAT PROCESS
BETWEEN NOW AND TOMORROW WITH A
DEBATE ON TWO IMPORTANT ISSUES.
MADAM PRESIDENT, THANK YOU AND
SEE MY DISTINGUISHED COLLEAGUE
AND FRIEND WHO IS HERE AS
RANKING MEMBER AND I ALSO WANT
TO THANK ANOTHER DISTINGUISHED
COLLEAGUE FROM IOWA, WHO HAS
MADE VERY SIGNIFICANT
CONTRIBUTIONS IN THIS
LEGISLATION ON REFORM.
REFORMS I KNOW HE HAS BEEN
FIGHTING FOR FOR YEARS.
I DON'T KNOW HOW MANY YEARS,
BUT A LONG TIME.
AN
-- AND WE HAVE STEPPED UP TO
BACK HIM UP AND SUPPORT HIM.
WE NEED TO GET THIS DONE.
DONE.
WE NEED TO GET THESE REFORMS
WE NEED TO GET THIS BILL DONE.
WE'RE GOING TO WORK HARD TO MAKE
SURE WE DO THAT.
THANK YOU, MADAM PRESIDENT.
MADAM PRESIDENT?
THE
SENATOR FROM KANSAS.
WELL, THIS ISN'T
EXACTLY THE TRAIL THAT I HAD
HOPED THAT WE WOULD TAKE TO GET
TO CONCLUSION, A SUCCESSFUL
CONCLUSION TO A FARM BILL THAT
WE NEED SO VITALLY IN FARM
COUNTRY, AND FOR ALL THE REASONS
THAT THE DISTINGUISHED
CHAIRWOMAN HAS OUTLINED.
I NEED NOT GO OVER ALL OF THOSE
REASONS.
I WOULD MENTION THAT WE HAVE A
SEPTEMBER 30 DEADLINE IN WHICH
THE CURRENT FARM BILL EXPIRES.
THE ALTERNATIVE TO THAT IS TO GO
BACK TO THE CURRENT FARM BILL,
WHICH WE KNOW IS OUTDATED AND
THAT HAS A PAYMENT SYSTEM THAT
IS ALSO OUTDATED.
THE OTHER ALTERNATIVE, OF
COURSE, IF YOU DO NOT EXTEND THE
FARM BILL, YOU GO TO THE 1949
ACT WHICH IS JUST NOT
SUSTAINABLE.
IT'S NOT AN ALTERNATIVE.
SO I HAD HOPED THAT WE COULD
START CONSIDERING.
WE HAD THREE REPUBLICAN
AMENDMENTS, TWO DEMOCRAT, AND
ALSO THE PERFECTING AMENDMENT.
BUT THAT'S NOT THE TRAIL WE'RE
GOING TO GO DOWN.
BASICALLY I THINK ABOUT THE ONLY
THING I COULD ADD IS THAT WE'RE
NOT GIVING UP.
WE CAN'T.
WE WILL KEEP WORKING AS HARD AS
MEMBERS.
TO ACCOMMODATE ALL
I KNOW THERE'S A LOT OF TALK ON
BOTH SIDES OF THE AISLE ABOUT A
GLOBAL AGREEMENT.
THAT SEEMS TO BE A LITTLE BIT OF
AN EXAGGERATION, MORE ESPECIALLY
FOR THIS BODY.
BUT AT ANY RATE, AN AGREEMENT
THAT WOULD ENCOMPASS EVERY
MEMBER'S CONCERN, AT LEAST, AND
WE WILL GO BACK TO WHAT THE
SENATE USED TO BE AND HAVE
EVERYBODY OFFER AN AMENDMENT AND
DEBATE THOSE AMENDMENTS AND THEN
HAVE A VOTE AND HAVE A
CONCLUSION AND WORK THROUGH IT.
THAT'S EXACTLY WHAT WE DID WHEN
WE MARKED UP THE BILL WITH OVER
100 AMENDMENTS AND DID IT IN
A RECORD.
FOUR AND A HALF HOURS WHICH WAS
THAT'S NOT WHAT WE'RE GOING TO
DO AS OF TODAY -- OR AS OF
TOMORROW.
AT LEAST THERE'S SOME DEGREE OF
MOVEMENT.
I KNOW THE SENATOR FROM IOWA HAS
SEVERAL AMENDMENTS THAT ARE
EXTREMELY IMPORTANT TO THE
FUTURE OF AGRICULTURE PROGRAM
POLICY, AND I COMMEND HIM FOR
HIS LEADERSHIP IN THE PAST AND
FOR BEING SUCH A SUCCESSFUL
PARTNER IN WORKING THINGS OUT
NOT ONLY FOR HIS STATE BUT FOR
THE COUNTRY.
WE WILL PERSEVERE,
MADAM PRESIDENT, AND WE WILL GET
THIS DONE.
I GUESS WE'RE JOHN PAUL JONES.
WE HAVE JUST BEGUN TO FIGHT.
I YIELD BACK.
THE
SENATOR FROM IOWA.
I ASK PERMISSION
TO SPEAK FOR JUST A FEW MINUTES,
AND I ASK THAT MY REMARKS BE
PLACED IN THE RECORD AFTER THE
SENATE HAS TAKEN ACTION ALREADY,
AS THEY HAVE TODAY, ON JUDGE
HURWITZ'S CONFIRMATION.
WITHOUT
OBJECTION.
I WAS SHOCKED
AND DISAPPOINTED TO LEARN
EARLIER THIS AFTERNOON THAT THE
MAJORITY LEADER CAME TO THE
FLOOR TO YIELD BACK ALL TIME AND
TO MOVE IMMEDIATELY TO A VOICE
VOTE ON THE NOMINATION OF ANDREW
DAVID HURWITZ TO BE U.S. CIRCUIT
JUDGE, NINTH CIRCUIT.
FIND THIS TO BE QUITE
IRREGULAR AND OUTSIDE THE RECENT
PRECEDENTS OF THIS SENATE.
TYPICALLY MEMBERS ARE INFORMED
OF SUCH ACTIONS IN ADVANCE.
I WAS NOT SO INFORMED, AND I'M
COMMITTEE.
RANKING MEMBER OF THE JUDICIARY
I CERTAINLY DID NOT INTEND TO
YIELD MY TIME, AND IN FACT I
INTENDED ON SPEAKING FURTHER ON
THE NOMINEE, PARTICULARLY TO
MAKE CLEAR SOME CORRECTIONS THAT
I THINK NEEDED TO BE MADE AFTER
I DEBATED THIS YESTERDAY.
REGARDLESS OF YIELDING TIME OR
FURTHER DEBATE, I EXPECTED A
ROLL CALL ON THIS NOMINEE.
RECENTLY.
THIS HAS BEEN SENATE PRECEDENT
BEFORE TODAY, A CLOTURE VOTE WAS
INVOKED ON 22 DIFFERENT JUDICIAL
NOMINEES.
ONLY ONE OF THOSE 22 WAS
CONFIRMED WITHOUT A ROLL CALL
VOTE: LEVINSKY SMITH TO THE
EIGHTH CIRCUIT.
94-3 ON JULY
15, 2002, AND HE WAS CONFIRMED
BY UNANIMOUS CONSENT LATER THAT
DAY.
EVEN BARBARA KEENAN FOURTH
CIRCUIT HAD A CONFIRMATION ROLL
CALL AFTER CLOTURE WAS INVOKED
99-0.
FURTHERMORE, IT HAS BEEN OUR
GENERAL UNDERSTANDING AROUND
HERE FOR SOME TIME THAT CIRCUIT
VOTES WOULD BE BY ROLL CALL
VOTE, SO I'M EXTREMELY
DISAPPOINTED THAT THERE HAS BEEN
A BREACH OF COMITY AROUND HERE.
YESTERDAY I OUTLINED MY PRIMARY
CONCERN REGARDING THE NOMINATION
OF ANDREW DAVID HURWITZ TO BE
UNITED STATES CIRCUIT JUDGE FOR
THE NINTH CIRCUIT.
I CONTINUE TO OPPOSE THE
HIS CONFIRMATION.
NOMINATION AND WILL VOTE "NO" ON
I WANT TO SUPPLEMENT THE RECORD
AND CORRECT THE RECORD ON A FEW
ISSUES THAT AROSE DURING
YESTERDAY'S DEBATE.
AT THIS POINT I'M GOING TO PUT
THE REST OF MY STATEMENT IN THE
RECORD, MADAM PRESIDENT.
I HAVE SOMETHING ELSE TO SAY.
WITHOUT
OBJECTION.
IT SEEMS TO ME
THAT ALL THE BUSINESS OF THE
SENATE IS BASED UPON TRUST
BETWEEN ONE SENATOR AND ANOTHER.
WHEN THE RANKING MEMBER OF THE
JUDICIARY COMMITTEE ISN'T
NOTIFIED OF THIS ACTION OR ANY
OTHER SENATOR NOTIFIED OF THIS
ACTION, IT SEEMS TO ME THAT THAT
TRUST HAS BEEN VIOLATED.
AND I WON'T BE SATISFIED THAT
THAT TRUST HAS BEEN RESTORED
UNLESS THERE'S SOME ACTION TAKEN
TO HAVE A ROLL CALL VOTE ON THIS
NOMINATION.
I YIELD THE FLOOR.
THE
CLERK WILL CALL THE ROLL.
QUORUM CALL:
QUORUM CALL:
THE
SENATOR FROM MICHIGAN.
I WOULD ASK
UNANIMOUS CONSENT THAT -- TO
VITIATE THE QUORUM CALL.
WITHOUT
OBJECTION.
I KNOW MY
COLLEAGUE FROM NEW HAMPSHIRE
WISHES TO SPEAK.
I WANT FOR THE PURPOSES OF
MEMBERS UNDERSTANDING WHAT IS
HAPPENING NOW, WE DO HAVE TWO
AMENDMENTS THAT WILL BE VOTED ON
TOMORROW MORNING.
THE MAJORITY LEADER HAS AT HIS
DISPOSAL THE ABILITY TO HAVE A
MOTION TO TABLE, WHICH HE WILL
EXERCISE IN THE MORNING.
BUT WE WANT ANYONE INTERESTED IN
EITHER OF THESE TWO TOPICS OR
AMENDMENTS TO COME FORWARD, HAVE
THE OPPORTUNITY TO DEBATE
TONIGHT.
SENATOR SHAHEEN HAS AN AMENDMENT
THAT IS I KNOW VERY IMPORTANT TO
HERKS AND MANY MEMBERS, AND WE
WANT TORCH HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY
-- AND WE WANT EVERYONE TO HAVE
THE OPPORTUNITY TO HAVE THE
OPPORTUNITY THIS MORNING AND TO
I DON'T KNOW THE TIME OF THE
VOTE EXACTLY BUT I WOULD THINK
AT THIS POINT IT WOULD BE IN THE
MORNING WITH THE LEADER.
SO WE WANT THOSE THAT ARE
INTERESTED IN DEBATING THE SUGAR
PROGRAM OR DEBATING THE QUESTION
OF WHETHER OR NOT TO BLOCK GRANT
THE NUTRITION PROGRAM, THE
SUPPLEMENTAL NUTRITION
ASSISTANCE PROGRAM, SNAP, TO
COME FORWARD AND HAVE THE
DISCUSS AND TO
DEBATE THAT THIS EVENING.
AND THERE MAY BE SOME TIME IN
THE MORNING, BUT WE WILL BE
AMENDMENTS.
MOVING FORWARD ON BOTH OF THESE
SO WE WANT TO PUT FOLKS ON
NOTICE TO LET THEM KNOW IF THESE
ARE TOPICS THEY ARE INTERESTED
IN, WE WOULD CERTAIN WILL YOULY
WELCOME THEM COMBING COMING TO
THE FLOOR.
THANK YOU.
MR. PRESIDENT?
THE
SENATOR NEW HAMPSHIRE.
HURRICANE KATRINA HOON THANK
YOU.
I WANT TO THANK --
THANK YOU,
MR. PRESIDENT.
I WANT TO THANK SENATOR
STABENOW.
SHE AND AING RIERCHGING MEMBER
ROBERTS HAVE DONE AMAZING WORK
TO BRING IT BILL TO THE FLOOR.
IT IS BIPARTISAN AND IT IS
LEGISLATION THAT MAKES SOME
SIGNIFICANT REFORMS IN THE SUGAR
-- IN THE FARM PROGRAMS THAT
WE'VE HAD.
IN NEW HAMPSHIRE, MANY OF THE
PROGRAMS THAT ARE AUTHORIZED IN
THE FARM BILL ARE CRITICAL FOR
OUR FARMERS AND OUR RURAL
COMMUNITIES AS WELL AS FOR THE
PROTECTION OF OUR NATURAL
RESOURCES.
AND I HOPE THAT WE DO HAVE SOME
AGREEMENT SO THAT WE'RE GOING TO
BE AIL TO ACTUALLY IS A FULL
DEBATE ON THIS BILL IN THE
REMAINDER OF THIS WEEK AND IN
THE UPCOMING WEEK.
AS I SAID, THIS LEGISLATION
REALLY MAKES VERY NEEDED REFORMS
TO OUR FARM PROGRAMS, AND IT
THOAPS REDUCE THE DEFICIT.
AND I THINK FOR ALL OF THAT
TERRIFIC REFORM AND THE WOCIALG
THAT'S BEEN DONE, SENATOR STAB
NIEWNDZ RANK MEMBER ROBERTS
DESERVE REAL APPRECIATION AND
THANKS FROM THIS BODY.
HOWEVER, THIS IS ONE GLARING
EXCEPTION TO THE REFORMS THAT
HAVE BEEN MADE IN THE BILL.
AND THAT IS THAT THE BILL
CONTAINS NO REFORM TO THE SUGAR
PROGRAM.
THE SUGAR SUBSIDIES THAT WE
PROVIDE TO FARMERS IN AMERICA
UNIQUE.
BECAUSE WHAT THE FEDERAL
GOVERNMENT DOES IS TO
ARTIFICIALLY RESTRICT SUPPLY AND
PROVIDE A SUBSIDY THAT KEEPS
PRICES FOR SUGAR IN THE UNITED
AVERAGE.
STATES AT NEARLY TWICE THE WORLD
THESE ARE HIGH PRICES THAT HURT
CONSUMERS, THEY HURT BUSINESSES.
IN FACT, A RECENT STUDY FOUND
$3.5 BILLION A YEAR.
THAT THE PROGRAM COSTS AMERICANS
NOW, LET ME TELL YOU HOW THE
SUBSIDY WORKS.
FIRST THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT
SETS A FLOOR ON SUGAR PRICES
THROUGH GUARANTEES, SO THEY
GUARANTEE HOW MUCH IS GOING TO
BE PAID FOR THE PRICE OF SUGAR.
THESE PRICE FLOORS ENSURE THAT
SUGAR GROWERS AND PROCESSORS
WILL ALWAYS RECEIVE A MINIMUM
PRICE FOR SUGAR, REGARDLESS OF
WHAT HAPPENS ON THE WORLD
MARKET.
BUT SUGAR PRICES HAVE BEEN FAR
HIGHER THAN THIS MINIMUM PRICE
NOW AND THAT'S THANKS
TO SOME ADDITIONAL, VERY
EGREGIOUS GOVERNMENT CONTROLS ON
SUGAR.
UNDER THE SUGAR SUBSIDY PROGRAM,
THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT TELLS
SUGAR GROWERS HOW MUCH THEY CAN
GROW.
THESE RESTRICTIONS ARE CALLED
MARKETING ALLOTMENTS AND THEY
LIMIT HOW MUCH SUGAR IS
AVAILABLE ON THE MARKET AND
RESTRICT THE ABILITY OF BUYERS
AND SELLERS TO TRADE SUGAR
FREELY.
SO THIS IS NOT A MARKET
ENTERPRISE WHEN IT COMES TO
SUGAR IN THE UNITED STATES.
AND NO OTHER U.S. CROP IS
SUBJECT TO THESE SAME KINDS OF
GOVERNMENT CONTROLS.
SO AS A RESULT IN THE UNITED
STATES, WE HAVE SEVERE SUPPLY
SHORTAGES WHICH KEEP SUGAR
PRICES ARTIFICIALLY HIGH.
NOW, THE LAST COMPONENT OF THE
SUBSIDY PROGRAM FOR SUGAR IS
TRADE RESTRICTIONS.
THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT SEVERELY
RESTRICTS THE AMOUNT OF SUGAR
THAT COMPANIES CAN IMPORT INTO
STATES.
SO ONLY ABOUT 15% OF SUGAR IN
THE UNITED STATES IS IMPORTED AT
PRICES.
THOSE LOWER WORLD AVERAGE
AGAIN, NO OTHER CROP IS SUBJECT
TO THE KIND OF RESTRICTIONS AND
PRICE CONTROLS THAT I HAVE JUST
DESCRIBED.
THE RESULT IS A SUBSIDY THAT
HURTS HUNDREDS OF THOUSANDS OF
BUSINESSES AND CONSUMERS AND
ONLY BENEFITS ABOUT 4,700 SUGAR
GROWERS.
BUT, UNFORTUNATELY, THE FARM
BILL BEFORE THE SENATE, WHILE IT
CONTAINS A LOT OF REFORMS,
CONTAINS NO REFORMS TO THIS
SUBSIDY PROGRAM.
I'VE INTRODUCED SEVERAL
AMENDMENTS BUT THE ONE WE'RE
GOING TO BE VOTING ON TOMORROW
IS ONE THAT WOULD REPEAL THE
SUBSIDY SO THAT PRICES ARE
DETERMINED BY THE MARKET INSTEAD
OF GOVERNMENT CONTROLS.
FOR THE PAST YEAR AND A HALF,
I'VE BEEN WORKING WITH OUR
COLLEAGUE, SENATOR MARK KIRK OF
ILLINOIS, ON BIPARTISAN
LEGISLATION, THE SUGAR ACT,
WHICH WOULD PHASE OUT THE SUGAR
PROGRAM OVER SEVERAL YEARS AND
ELIMINATE GOVERNMENT CONTROL OF
SUGAR PRICES.
UNFORTUNATELY, SENATOR KIRK
CAN'T BE HERE TOMORROW FOR THIS
VOTE BECAUSE HE'S CONTINUING HIS
RECOVERY, BUT I'M PLEASED THAT
THERE IS A BIPARTISAN GROUP OF
OUR COLLEAGUES WHO HAVE JOINED
IN SUPPORT OF THIS SUGAR REFORM.
IN PARTICULAR, SENATORS LUGAR,
McCAIN, DURBIN, TOOMEY,
LAUTENBERG, COATS, PORTMAN,
FEINSTEIN, AND MY COLLEAGUE FROM
NEW HAMPSHIRE, SENATOR AYOTTE,
HAVE ALL JOINED ME IN CALLING
FOR ELIMINATION OR SIGNIFICANT
REFORM FOR THE SUGAR PROGRAM.
NOW, THIS IS A BIG CONCERN FOR
US IN NEW HAMPSHIRE AND IN OTHER
STATES AROUND THE COUNTRY WHO
ACTUALLY MAKE CANDY OR OTHER
PRODUCTS THAT RELY ON SUGAR.
NEW HAMPSHIRE, WE'RE THE HOME
OF LINDT CHOCOLATES.
WE'RE THE AMERICAN HOME OF LINDT
CHOCOLATES.
WE ALSO HAVE A NUMBER OF OTHER
SMALL CANDY COMPANIES.
AND AS THIS MANUFACTURING CHART
CHART -- AS THIS CHART SHOWS,
AMERICAN MANUFACTURING COMPANIES
LIKE LINDT PAY ALMOST TWICE THE
WORLD AVERAGE PRICE FOR THEIR
SUGAR.
IN FACT, PRICES HAVE GONE UP
CONSIDERABLY SINCE CONGRESS
PASSED THE LAST FARM BILL IN
2008.
SO WE CAN SEE THIS BLUE LINE
HERE AT THE BOTTOM IS THE WORLD
PRICE OF RAW SUGAR.
THIS RED LINE IS THE U.S. PRICE
OF RAW SUGAR.
AND THIS GREEN LINE THAT'S AT
THE TOP IS THE U.S. WHOLESALE
REFINED SUGAR PRICE.
SO WHILE WE CAN SEE HOW MUCH
HIGHER THAT RAW SUGAR PRICE IS,
WE CAN ALSO SEE WHAT IT DOES TO
THE REFINED SUGAR PRICE.
AND WE CAN SEE HOW SIGNIFICANTLY
IT'S INCREASED SINCE THE LAST
FARM BILL.
AGAIN, THE SUGAR SUBSIDY PROGRAM
IS ABLE TO KEEP THESE PRICES SO
HIGH BECAUSE IT DISTORTS THE
MARKET.
IN ADDITION TO THE MINIMUM
GOVERNMENT, THE FEDERAL
PRICES GUARANTEED BY THE
GOVERNMENT DRASTICALLY RESTRICTS
THE SUPPLY OF SHIEWGER IN THE
UNITED -- OF SUGAR IN THEUNITED STATES, WITH ONLY ABOUT
15% OR SO OF SUGAR SOLD COMING
FROM ABROAD, THANKS TO THOSE
IMPORT RESTRICTIONS.
THE GOVERNMENT CONTROLS HOW MUCH
EACH INDIVIDUAL SUGAR PROCESSOR
CAN SELL AND THAT FURTHER
MARKET.
RESTRICTS THE SUPPLY ON THE
AND AGAIN, THE RESULT OF THESE
GOVERNMENT CONTROLS ARE TO KEEP
THE ARTIFICIALLY HIGH PRICES FOR
SUGAR THAT ARE REFLECTED ON THIS
GRAPH.
THESE HIGH SUGAR PRICES HURT JOB
CREATION.
ACCORDING TO THE DEPARTMENT OF
COMMERCE, FOR EVERYONE JOB
PROTECTED IN THE SUGAR INDUSTRY
PROGRAM, WE'RE
SACRIFICING THREE JOBS IN
AMERICAN MANUFACTURING.
A RECENT STUDY BY AN
AGRICULTURAL RESEARCH FIRM
CALLED PROMAR SUGGESTS THAT THE
PROGRAM, THE SUGAR SUBSIDY, THAT
IS, COSTS 20,000 AMERICAN JOBS
EACH YEAR.
IN ADDITION, A RECENT ANALYSIS
THAT I REFERRED TO EARLIER FOUND
THAT THE PROGRAM ALSO COSTS
CONSUMERS $3.5 BILLION EVERY
YEAR IN THE FORM OF ARTIFICIALLY
HIGH SUGAR PRICES.
NOW, THESE REALLY ARE PRETTY
STARTLING NUMBERS, BUT I WANT TO
TALK ABOUT HOW THIS PROGRAM,
THIS SUBSIDY PROGRAM, AFFECTS
JUST ONE OF THE SMALL BUSINESSES
IN NEW HAMPSHIRE.
WE HAVE A COMPANY CALLED GRANITE
STATE CANDY SHOP.
IT'S A SMALL, FAMILY-OWNED CANDY
MANUFACTURING COMPANY IN
CONCORD, NEW HAMPSHIRE, THE
CAPITAL OF NEW HAMPSHIRE.
SUGAR IS THAT COMPANY'S MOST
IMPORTANT INGREDIENT.
JEFF BART, WHO'S THE OWNER,
TELLS ME THAT THE ARTIFICIALLY
HIGH COST OF SUGAR HAS FORCED
THE COMPANY TO RAISE PRICES ON
THEIR GOODS.
BUT, MORE IMPORTANTLY, THE
SUBSIDY HAS ALSO PREVENTED THE
COMPANY FROM HIRING NEW WORKERS
AS QUICKLY AS IT WOULD LIKE TO.
SO WHILE GRANITE STATE CANDY
SHOP WOULD LIKE TO GROW AND
EXPAND, THE SUGAR SUBSIDY IS
REALLY SLOWING DOWN THAT
EXPANSION BECAUSE OF THE HIGH
PRICE OF SUGAR.
AND GRANITE STATE CANDY SHOP IS
JUST ONE OF MANY COMPANIES WHO
WANT TO GROW BUT WHO ARE FORCED
TO SLOW DOWN THEIR EXPANSION DUE
TO AN OUTDATED, UNNECESSARY
GOVERNMENT PROGRAM THAT BENEFITS
RELATIVELY FEW SUGAR CANE AND
SUGAR BEET GROWERS NATIONWIDE.
NOW, HIGH SUGAR PRICES ALSO PUT
AMERICAN COMPANIES AT A
COMPETITIVE DISADVANTAGE WITH
FOREIGN MANUFACTURERS.
SINCE FOREIGN COMPANIES CAN GET
SUGAR SO MUCH CHEAPER, IT IS
TEMPTING FOR AMERICAN COMPANIES
TO LOOK ELSEWHERE TO MANUFACTURE
THEIR CANDY.
AND, IN FACT, LOW SUGAR PRICES
ARE A MAJOR SELLING POINT FOR
FOREIGN GOVERNMENTS ENCOURAGING
CANDY COMPANIES TO RELOCATE.
AND WE JUST COPIED THIS COVER OF
A BROCHURE FROM CANADA.
AND YOU CAN SEE THAT IT SAYS,
"CANADA, NORTH AMERICA'S
LOCATION OF CHOICE FOR
CONFECTIONCONFECTIONERY MANUFACTURERS."
AND THEN IT GOES ON TO SAY,
"CONSIDER THESE HARD FACTS.
SUGAR REFINERS IMPORT THE VAST
MAJORITY OF THEIR RAW MATERIALS
AT WORLD PRICES.
CANADIAN SUGAR USERS ENJOY A
SIGNIFICANT ADVANTAGE -- THE
AVERAGE PRICE OF REFINED SUGAR
IS USUALLY 30% TO 40% LOWER IN
CANADA THAN IN THE U.S.
MOST MANUFACTURED PRODUCTS
CONTAINING SUGAR ARE FREELY FREELY FREELY FREELY
TRADED IN THE NAFTA REGION."
LOSING THESE JOBS TO
CANADA AND TO OTHER PLACES.
20,000 JOBS A YEAR WE'RE LOSING
IN BUSINESSES THAT NEED SUGAR AS
A MAJOR INGREDIENT.
THIS OUTDATED PROGRAM PUTS
AMERICAN COMPANIES AT A
COMPETITIVE DISADVANTAGE AND IT
SHOULD GO.
THAT'S WHY I HOPE THAT OUR
COLLEAGUES, AS THEY'RE
CONSIDERING THIS AMENDMENT
TOMORROW MORNING TO REPEAL THE
SUGAR PROGRAM, WILL DECIDE TO
SUPPORT IT.
I HOPE WE WILL NOT HAVE
OPPOSITION TO VOTING ON THE
AMENDMENT FROM ANY OF OUR
COLLEAGUES IN THE SENATE.
WE HAVE CONSUMER AND BUSINESS
GROUPS WHO HAVE BEEN CALLING FOR
THE REPEAL OF THE SUGAR PROGRAM
FOR YEARS NOW.
THE CONSUMER FEDERATION OF
AMERICA, THE NATIONAL CONSUMERS
LEAGUE, THEY'VE JOINED BUSINESS
GROUPS SUCH AS THE U.S. CHAMBER
OF COMMERCE AND THE NATIONAL
ASSOCIATION OF MANUFACTURERS IN
SUPPORT OF THIS AMENDMENT.
THESE GROUPS SUPPORT REFORMING
THIS PROGRAM BECAUSE THEY
RECOGNIZE THAT THESE SPECIAL
INTERESTS ARE HURTING CONSUMERS
AND THEY'RE HURTING AMERICAN
BUSINESSES.
SO I WOULD HOPE THAT ALL OF MY
COLLEAGUES TOMORROW SUPPORT THIS
AMENDMENT, HELP US GROW SMALL
BUSINESSES, GROW THOSE AMERICAN
JOBS.
LET'S REFORM THE SUGAR PROGRAM.
IT IS LONG OVERDUE.
THANK YOU VERY MUCH,
MR. PRESIDENT.
I YIELD THE FLOOR.
I SUGGEST THE
ABSENCE OF A QUORUM.
THE CLERK
WILL CALL THE ROLL.
QUORUM CALL:
CALL:
A SENATOR: I ASK VITIATION OF
THE QUORUM CALL, PLEASE.
WITHOUT
OBJECTION.
THE SENATOR FROM MICHIGAN.
I'D LIKE TO TAKE A
FEW MOMENTS TO SPEAK ABOUT THE
TWO AMENDMENTS WE WILL BE VOTING
ON WITH MOTIONS TO TABLE