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THE PRESIDING OFFICER: THE
SENATOR FROM OKLAHOMA.
MR. COBURN: I ADDRESS MY
COMMENTS TO AMENDMENT 228.
THE PRESIDING OFFICER: ORDER,
PLEASE.
THE CLERK WILL REPORT.
THE CLERK: MR. COBURN PROPOSES
AN AMENDMENT NUMBERED 2289.
MR. COBURN: I'D ASK THAT THE
AMENDMENT BE CONSIDERED AS READ.
THE PRESIDING OFFICER: WITHOUT
OBJECTION.
MR. COBURN: THIS IS AN
AMENDMENT THAT FALLS IN LINE
WITH WHAT THE RECOMMENDED --
RECOMMENDATION OF THE
ADMINISTRATION IS AS WELL AS
EVERY OUTSIDE GROUP THAT'S EVER
LOOKED AT THIS PROGRAM.
THE DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
HAS FIVE MARKETING PROGRAMS.
THIS IS JUST ONE OF THEM.
THE ADMINISTRATION RECOMMENDED A
20% REDUCTION.
WE HAVE PUT FORWARD AN AMENDMENT
TO REDUCE IT BY 20%.
WE SPEND $2 BILLION OVER THE
NEXT TEN YEARS ON MARKET ACCESS.
AMERICAN CONTRIBUTION TO TOTAL
WORLD AGRICULTURAL PRODUCTS IS
ON THE DECLINE IN SPITE OF THESE
PROGRAM, AND THE WASTE IN THESE
PROGRAMS, IF YOU LOOK WHERE THE
MONEY IS SPENT, IS UNBELIEVABLE.
I RESERVE THE BALANCE OF MY
TIME.
THE PRESIDING OFFICER: THE
SENATOR MICHIGAN.
MS. STABENOW: THANK YOU, MR.
PRESIDENT.
I WOULD RISE TO OPPOSE MY
COLLEAGUE'S AMENDMENT.
THE RELATE THANK YOU FOR US THAT
AMERICAN AGRICULTURAL EXPORTS
ARE THE ONLY REAL AREA WHERE WE
HAVE A SURPLUS RIGHT NOW, AND WE
WANT TO CONTINUE THAT.
THE CURRENT PROGRAM THAT THE
SENATOR IS SPEAKING ABOUT IS ALL
ABOUT EXPORTS.
IT'S ALL ABOUT JOBS.
FOR EVERY $1 INVESTED IN THIS
PARTICULAR MARKET ACCESS
PROGRAM, $35 IS GENERATED BACK
IN ECONOMIC ACTIVITY.
I THINK THAT'S A PRETTY GOOD
INVESTMENT.
WE KNOW THAT A VERY IMPORTANT
PART OF THE FUTURE, NOT ONLY FOR
OUR TRADITIONAL PRODUCTION
AGRICULTURAL PARTS OF THE
COUNTRY BUT FOR SMALLER,
VALUE-ADDED FOOD PRODUCTS REALLY
IS IN EXPORTS.
AND THIS SUPPORTS THAT.
AND SO I WOULD RESERVE THE
BALANCE OF MY TIME.
MR. COBURN: MR. PRESIDENT?
THE PRESIDING OFFICER: THE
SENATOR FROM OKLAHOMA.
MR. COBURN: I WOULD ASSUME BY
THE CHAIRMAN'S RESPONSE THAT SHE
SUPPORTS THE $20 MILLION THAT
WENT INTO A REALITY TV SHOW IN
INDIA TO PURCHASE COTTON OTHER
THAN MADE IN THE UNITED STATES.
THAT'S WHERE $20 MILLION OF IT
WENT.
THAT'S WHAT'S WRONG WITH THIS
PROGRAM.
I'M NOT OBJECTING TO THE FACT
THAT WE OUGHT TO HAVE MARKET
ACCESS PROGRAMS, BUT WHEN WE'RE
WASTING $20 MILLION ON SOMETHING
THAT HAS NO CONNECTION
WHATSOEVER WITH AMERICAN
AGRICULTURE PRODUCTS --
THE PRESIDING OFFICER: THE
SENATOR'S TIME HAS EXPIRED.