CONSENT THE SENATE NOW TURN TO H.R. 4461, THE AGRICULTURE
           APPROPRIATIONS BILL. I FURTHERED ASK CONSENT THAT ALL AFTER THE
           ENACTING CLAUSE OF H.R. 4661 -- 4461, BE STRICKEN AND THE TEXT
           OF S. 2536 WITH A MODIFIED SECTION "B" BE INSERTED IN LIEU
           THEREOF AND THAT THE NEW TEXT BE TREATED AS ORIGINAL TEXT FOR
           THE PURPOSE OF FURTHER AMENDMENT AND THAT NO POINT OF ORDER BE
           WAIVED.
           

           MR. REID: RESERVING THE RIGHT TO OBJECT, MR. PRESIDENT. I JUST
           WANT TO EXPRESS MY APPRECIATION TO SENATOR WELLSTONE FOR BEING
           SO REASONABLE ON THIS ISSUE AND, AS USUAL, HE HAS SPOTTED THE
           ISSUE, IT'S BEEN EXPLAINED TO HIM AND NOW WE'RE MOVING FORWARD
           ON THIS LEGISLATION.
           

           MR. LOTT: THANK YOU VERY MUCHMENT
           

           THE PRESIDING OFFICER: WITHOUT OBJECTION, SO ORDERED.
           

           MR. LOTT: MR. PRESIDENT, I KNOW NOW THAT THE MANAGERS ARE READY
           TO PROCEED, SENATOR COCHRAN. WE HOPE TO GO FORWARD WITH OPENING
           STATEMENTS AND ANY AMENDMENTS THAT CAN BE CONSIDERED TONIGHT. I
           WILL CONSULT WITH SENATOR COCHRAN AND MANAGERS ABOUT HOW TO
           PROCEED THROUGHOUT THE BALANCE OF THE NIGHT BUT WE WILL TURN
           BACK TO THIS LEGISLATION IN THE MORNING NOT
           
           LATER THAN 9:PO AND WE WILL
           
           HAVE STACKED VOTES -- THE:30 AND WE WIMG HAVE STACKED VOTES
           
           IF ANY ARE REQUIRED AT 2:15 OR
           

           2:30 TOMORROW. WE WILL MAKE IT SPECIFIC LATER. THANK YOU
           SENATOR COCHRAN. GOOD LUCK.
           

           THE CLERK: H.R. 4461, AN ACT MAKING APPROPRIATIONS FOR
           AGRICULTURE, FOOD AND DEVELOPMENT AND RELATED AGENCY'S PROGRAMS
           FOR THE FISCAL YEAR ENDING IT 0011 AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES. MR.
           COCHRAN: MR. PRESIDENT?
           
           

           THE PRESIDING OFFICER: THE SENATOR FROM MISSISSIPPI.
           

           MR. COCHRAN: MR. PRESIDENT, I AM VERY PLEASED TO BE AGE TO
           PRESENT FOR THE SENATE'S -- ABLE TO PRESENT FOR THE SENATE'S
           CONSIDERATION S. 2536 THE FISCAL YEAR 2001 AGRICULTURE RURAL
           DEVELOPMENT, FOOD AND DRUG ADMINISTRATION AND RELATED AGENCIES
           APPROPRIATIONS BILL. THIS BILL PROVIDES FISCAL YEAR 2001
           FUNDING FOR THE PROGRAMS AND ACTIVITIES OF THE DEPARTMENT OF
           AGRICULTURE, THE FOOD AND DRUG ADMINISTRATION, AND THE

           COMMODITY FUTURES TRADING COMMISSION. THE U.S. FOREST SERVICE
           IS FUNDED BY THE INTERIOR APPROPRIATIONS BILL. THIS BILL AS
           REPORTED PROVIDES FISCAL YEAR 23000 SUPPLEMENTAL APPROPRIATIONS
           AND RESCISSIONS TO RESPOND TO EMERGENCY NEEDS RESULTING FROM
           NATURAL DISASTERS AND OTHER UNANTICIPATED FUNDING REQUIREMENTS.
           THE FISCAL YEAR 2001 PROVISIONS ARE CONTAINED IN DIVISION A OF
           THE REPORTED BILL. IT PROVIDES TOTAL NEW BUDGET AUTHORITY FOR

           FISCAL YEAR 2001 OF $75.3 BILLION. THIS IS $295 MILLION LESS
           THAN THE FISCAL YEAR 200 ENACTED LEVEL, EXCLUDING EMERGENCY
           APPROPRIATIONS AND $.5 BILLION LESS THAN THE PRESIDENT'S BUDGET
           -- $1.5 BILLION LEGISLATION THAN THE PRESIDENT'S BUDGET
           REQUEST. OVER 80% OF THE TOTAL RECOMMENDED BY THE BILL IS FOR
           MAN DA ATTORNEY APPROPRIATIONS OVER WHICH THE APPROPRIATIONS
           COMMITTEE HAS NO EFFECTIVE CONTROL. THE SPENDING LEVELS FOR

           THESE PROGRAMS ARE GOVERNED BY AUTHORIZING STATUTES. THE
           MANDATORY PROGRAMS FUNDED BY THIS BILL INCLUDE THE COMMODITY
           CREDIT CORPORATIONS THE FEDERAL CROP INSURANCE CORPORATION AND
           THE FOOD STAMP AND CHILD NUTRITION PROGRAMS. PART OF THE TOTAL
           RECOMMENDED BY THIS BILL IS FOR DISCRETIONARY PROGRAMS AN
           ACTIVITIES INCLUDING CONGRESSIONAL BUDGET SCORE KEEPING ADJUST
           PTMENTS AND PRIOR YEAR SPENDING ACTIONS, THIS BILL RECOMMENDS

           TOTAL DISCRETIONARY SPENDING OF $14.850 IN BUDGET AUTHORITY AND
           $14.925 BILLION IN OUTLAYS FOR FISCAL YEAR 2001. THESE AMOUNTS
           ARE CONSISTENT WITH THE SUBCOMMITTEE'S DISCRETIONARY SPENDING
           ALLOCATIONS. ALTHOUGH THE TOTAL DISCRETIONARY SPENDING
           RECOMMENDED BY THIS BILL IS APPROXIMATELY $277 MILLION IN
           BUDGET AUTHORITY WEE E. BELOW THE PRESIDENT'S BUDGET REQUEST
           LEVEL, AS REESTIMATED BY THE CONGRESSIONAL BUDGET OFFICE, THE

           PRESIDENT'S PROPOSED BUDGET REPUBLIC LIES UPON ADDITIONAL
           REVENUES AND SAVINGS TO ACCOMMODATE MUCH HYPER LEVELS OF
           SUGGESTED DISCRETIONARY SPENDING. THE PRESIDENT'S BUDGET
           PROPOSES TO GENERATE A NET TOTAL OF $564 MILLION IN COLLECTIONS
           FROM NEW USER FEE PROPOSALS AND TO REDIRECT FUNDS FROM ONGOING
           PROJECTION AND CONGRESSIONAL INITIATIVES TO PAY FOR

           PRESIDENTIAL INITIATIVES. THIS COMMITTEE DOES NOT HAVE THE
           LUXURY OF RELYING UPON REVENUES AND SAVINGS FROM LEGISLATIVE
           PROPOSALS THAT HAVE NOT YET BEEN ENACTED BY THE CONGRESS AND
           SIGNED INTO LAW. CONSEQUENTLY WITHIN THE DISCRETIONARY SPENDING
           LIMITATIONS ESTABLISHED FOR THIS BILL, WE HAVE NOT BEEN ABLE TO
           AFFORD MANY OF THE DISCRETIONARY SPENDING INCREASES AND NEW
           INITIATIVES PROPOSED BY THE ADMINISTRATION AND STILL REMAIN

           CONSISTENT WITH THE BUDGET ACT. FOOD SAFETY TIPS TO BE A VERY
           HIGH PRY -- CONTINUES TO BE A VERY HIGH PRIORITY FOR THIS
           COMMITTEE. THE BHIL AS RECOMMENDED TO THE SENATE PROVIDES THE
           FUNDS NECESSARY TO ENSURE THAT AMERICAN CONSUMERS CONTINUE TO
           HAVE THE SAFEST FOOD SUPPLY IN THE WORLD. NOT ONLY DOES THE
           BILL PROVIDE INCREASED FUNDS REQUIREDED FOR MEAT AND POULTRY
           INSPECTION ACTIVITIES OF THE FOOD SAFETY AND INSPECTION
           SERVICE, IT PROVIDES TOTAL FUNDING OF $377 MILLION, A $53

           MILLION INCREASE FROM THE CURRENT YEAR LEVEL FOR U.S. D.A. AND
           F.D.A. PROGRAMS AND ACTIVITIES INCLUDED IN THE PRESIDENT'S FOOD
           SAFETY INITIATIVE. TURNING TO DIVISION B, THIS IS THE EMERGENCY
           SUPPLEMENTAL APPROPRIATIONS PRO-- PORTION OF THE BILL DRN IT
           RECOMMENDS A NET TOTAL -- -- IT RECOMMENDS A NET TOTAL OF $2

           OIN 2 BILLION FOR SUPPLEMENTAL AND RESCISSIONS FOR THE YEAR
           2000 THE CURRENT YEAR. A NUMBER OF THESE PROVISIONS HAVE BEEN
           ENACTED INTO LAW AS PART OF THE CONFERENCE REPORT ON THE FISCAL
           YEAR 2001 MILITARY CONSTRUCTION APPROPRIATIONS ACT. THE
           SUBSTITUTE AMENDMENT DELETES THOSE PROVISIONS AND MAKES OTHER
           ACCOMPANYING TECHNICAL AND CON FORMING CHANGES TO DISTINGUISH B
           OF THE REPORTED BILL. THE CHAIRMAN OF THE VARIOUS

           APPROPRIATIONS SCOMEETS MAY SPEAK TO THOSE UNDER MART B OF THE
           BILL UNDER THEIR RESPECTIVE JURISDICTIONS. HOWEVER FOR PROGRAMS
           AND ACTIVITIES UNDER THE JURISDICTION OF THE ALCHUR
           SUBCOMMITTEE, DIVISION B AS MODIFIED RECOMMENDS $1.1 BILLION IN
           EMERGENCY SUPPLEMENTAL APPROPRIATIONS FOR FISCAL YEAR 2000.
           SUPPLEMENTAL APPROPRIATIONS FOR EMERGENCY HOURSING AND RELIEF
           TO FARMERS AS A RESULT OF THE NORTH CAROLINA HURRICANE AND
           OTHER NATURAL DISASTERS ARE INCLUDED. FOR THE FARM SERVICE

           AGENCY TO MEET HIGH WORKLOAD DEMANDS, AND TO OFFSET THE ASSESS.
           ON PEANUT PRODUCERS FOR PROGRAM LOSSES HAVE NOW BEEN ENACTED
           INTO LAW. THE REMAINING EMERGENCY SUPPLEMENTAL APPROPRIATIONS
           RECOMMENDED IN THE BILL RORMTED TO THE SENATE STILL MUST BE
           ADDRESSED. THESE ITEMS INCLUDE THE $13 MILLION REQUESTED BY THE
           PRESIDENT TO COVER A SHORTFALL IN AVAILABLE FUNDING FOR CROP

           INSURANCE PREMIUM DISCOUNTS. $35 MILLION TO SUPPORT ONGOING
           ACREAGE ENROLLMENTS IN THE CONSERVATION RESERVE AND WETLANDS
           RESERVE PROGRAMS AND AN ADDITIONAL $130 MILLION FOR THE RURAL
           COMMUNITY ADVANCEMENT PROGRAM. JUST ARTS DEVASTATING TO
           PRODUCERS AS LOSSS FROM HURRICANES, DROUGHT AND OTHER NATURAL
           DISASTERS ARE LOSSES FROM NEW AND EMERGING DISEASES AND PEST
           INFESTATIONS. THE BILL PROVIDES AUTHORITY FOR THE SECRETARY OF

           AGRICULTURE TO COME MEN SAIT GROWERS FOR LOSSES AS A RESULT OF
           THE PLUMB POX VIRUS WHICH DEVASTATED THE STONE FRUIT INDUSTRY,
           CITRUS CANKER, MEXICAN GROUP FLY, GROSS HOPPERS AND MORMON
           CRICK ET CETERA AND A NEW PROBLEM PLAGUING THE DEPRA I. GRAPE
           INDUSTRY. AN ESTIMATED $443 MILLION IS RECOMMENDED FOR DAIRY
           PRODUCERS AND $450 MILLION FOR LIVESTOCK PRODUCERS. MR.
           PRESIDENT, THIS APPROPRIATIONS BILL WAS REPORTED BY THE

           COMMITTEE ON APPROPRIATIONS ON MAY 10. IT WAS THE FIRST -- IT
           WAS ONE OF THE FIRST OF THE 13 FISCAL YEAR 23000 APPROPRIATIONS
           BILLS TO BE REPORTED TO THE SENATE BY THE APPROPRIATIONS
           COMMITTEE. ALTHOUGH THE COMPANION BILL WAS REPORTED FROM THE
           HOUSE APPROPRIATIONS COMMITTEE ABOUT THE SAME TIME, ON MAY 16,
           THE HOUSE DID NOT BEGIN CONSIDERATION OF THE BILL UNTIL JUNE
           29. THE HOUSE RESUMED CONSIDERATION OF THE BILL IMMEDIATELY

           FOLLOWING THE JULY RECESS, AND PASSED THE BILL ON JULY 111 BY A
           VOTE OF 339 TO 82. THERE ARE APPROXIMATELY 26 LEGISLATIVE DAYS
           REMAINING BEFORE THE OCTOBER 1 START OF THE FISCAL YEAR. AND IT
           IS MY HOPE THAT WE CAN EXPEDITE THE SENATE'S CONSIDERATION OF
           THIS BILL SO WE CAN GO TO CONFERENCE WITH THE HOUSE, AND GET
           THIS BILL TO THE PRESIDENT AS QUICKLY AS POSSIBLE. I WOULD LIKE
           TO THANK THE DISTINGUISHED SENATOR FROM WISCONSIN, THE RANKING
           MEMBER OF THE SUBCOMMITTEE, SENATOR KOHL, AS WELL AS OTHER

           MEMBERS OF THE SUBCOMMITTEE FOR INTO SUPPORT IN E. AND
           COOPERATION IN PUTTING THIS BILL TOGETHER. IT IS NEVER EASY TO
           DETERMINE FUNDING PRIORITIES OR TO BALANCE THE MANY COMPETING
           AND LEGITIMATE NEEDS THAT CONFRONT AGRICULTURE IN THIS BILL AND
           STAY WITHIN THE SUBCOMMITTEE'S REQUIRED SPENDING LIMITATIONS.
           BUT I BELIEVE THIS BILL REPRESENTS A RESPONSIBLE FUNDING

           RECOMMENDATION, AND I ASK THE SENATORS TO GIVE IT THEIR IT
           FAVORABLE CONSIDERATION. MR. PRESIDENT, I ASK UNANIMOUS CONSENT
           THAT P FOLLOWING -- THAT THE FOLLOWING APPROPRIATIONS COMMITTEE
           STAFF MEMBERS AND INTEMPERATURES BE GRANTED FLOOR PRIVILEGES
           DURING THE CONSIDERATION OF THIS BILL,; 2536, AND NIP VOTES
           THAT MAY OCCUR IN RELATION THERETO. REBECCA DAVIS, MAR IS THAT

           SCOTT POINDEXTER, HUNT SHIPMAN, LES SPIVEY, CORY KNEEL.
           

           THE PRESIDING OFFICER: WITHOUT OBJECTION.
           
           I SUGGEST THE ABSENCE OF A QUORUM.
           

           THE PRESIDING OFFICER: THE CLERK WILL CALL THE ROLL.
           
           
           
           QUORUM CALL:
           
{END: 2000/07/18 TIME: 17-45 , Tue.  106TH SENATE, SECOND SESSION}