I MAKE THIS POINT, MR. PRESIDENT, BECAUSE WE TALK OFTEN, GLIBLY
           ABOUT THE NEED NOR EXPORTS. OF COURSE WE HAVE A NEED FOR
           EXPORTS, BUT THEY WILL NOT HAPPEN?
           THE QUANTITIES THAT WE NEED TO HAVE HAPPEN WITHOUT LOWERING
           TARIFF AND NONTARIFF BARRIERS AND THE SEATTLE MEETING IS WHERE
           THAT GETS DONE OR IT DOES NOT GET DONE AND IF WE DON'T HAVE
           FAST TRACK AUTHORITY IT WON'T OCCUR DURING THIS ADMINISTRATION,
           AND THAT'S A LONG TIME. SO FOR ALL THESE REASONS, MR.
           PRESIDENT, FARMERS HAVE TAKEN A DIRECT HIT, LARGELY BECAUSE OF

           WORLDWIDE DEMAND. IN THE CASE OF MANY FIELDS IN THE CHAIR'S
           DISTINGUISHED STATE OF ILLINOIS OR MY STATE OF INDIANA OR
           SENATOR HARKIN'S STATE OF IOWA, AS MUCH AS A THIRD TO A HALF OF
           ALL OF OUR ACREAGE, LITERALLY, RESULTS IN YIELDS THAT MUST BE
           EXPORTED OR WE HAVE IT COMING UP AROUND OUR EARS. WE KNOW THAT
           AND YET HAS A NATION WE HAVE NOT MOVED AGGRESSIVELY TO MAKE THE
           DIFFERENCE THAT HAS TO OCCUR. SO FOR ALL THESE REASONS, MR.

           PRESIDENT, THE SENATE MIGHT COME TO A CONCLUSION THAT SOME
           COMPENSATION IS REQUIRED FOR FARMERS IN ORDER TO KEEP THEIR
           CASH FLOW GOING. I MADE THE POINT EARLIER MR. PRESIDENT THAT,
           AS A MATTER OF FACT, LOANS WILL BE REDUCED THIS YEAR. BUT CASH
           FLOW WILL BE REDUCED ALSO. AND FOR THOSE FARMERS WHO HAVE NEED
           FOR OPERATING LOANS, WHO ARE GENUINELY IN DANGER BECAUSE OF
           DEBT SITUATIONS, THE SITUATION COULD BE DIRE. FAMILY FARMS

           COULD BE LOST. NOW, IN THE EVENT THAT WE ARE TO MAKE PAYMENTS,
           MR. PRESIDENT, THE SO-CALLED AMTA PAYMENTS PUT MONEY INTO THE
           HANDS OF FARMERS QUICKLY, DIRECTLY, AND CERTAINLY. WE HAD A
           PRETTY GOOD DEMONSTRATION OF THAT LAST YEAR YEAR. THE SENATE IN
           ITS WISDOM, AT THE VERY END OF THE SESSION, AS THE LARGE
           APPROPRIATIONS COMPROMISE CAME TOGETHER, APPROPRIATED AS A PART
           OF THE PACKAGE ABOUT $6 BILLION FOR AMERICAN AGRICULTURE. IT
           CAME AS A SURPRISE TO MANY, BUT THE FORM OF IT CAME AS A

           SURPRISE THAT WAS EVEN MORE DIFFICULT. ABOUT $3 BILLION OF IT
           CAME IN AMTA PAYMENTS. THOSE WERE MADE IMMEDIATELY. THEY WERE
           RECEIVED BY FARMERS IN THE FIRST WEEK OF NOVEMBER, AFTER
           PASSAGE LATE IN OCTOBER OF THE APPROPRIATIONS BILL. I MAKE THAT
           POINT, MR. PRESIDENT, WE ARE SERIOUS ABOUT MONEY ACTUALLY
           ARRIVING IN THE HANDS OF FARMERS, THEN WE MUST BE SERIOUS ABOUT
           THE DISTRIBUTION METHOD AND THE AMTA METHOD GETS THE MONEY TO

           FARMERS; IT DOES INCREASE TASH FLOW; IT IS SANE, IT IS
           EQUITABLE. THE BASIS RATIOS WERE WORKED OUT LONG AGO AND THE
           SIGNATURES FOR THE FARM BILL. THE OTHER HALF OF THE $6 BILLION,
           MR. PRESIDENT, WAS FOR SO-CALLED DISASTER PAYMENTS PAYMENTS.
           THEY WERE ILL-DEFINED THEN, AS THEIR ILL-DEFINED NOW IN THE
           LEGISLATION IN FRONT OF US. THE USDA STRUGGLED AND AS A MATTER
           OF FACT FINALLY MADE PAYMENTS IN JUNE OF THIS YEAR -- NOT
           NOVEMBER OR OCTOBER OF LAST YEAR -- AND IT DID SO AFTER

           EXPLORING NOT ONLY DISASTERS OF 1998 IN SOME STATES, BUT 1997,
           1996, 1995, 1994, MULTIPLE YEARS, ALL MOPPED UP WITH SOME TYPE
           OF DISTRIBUTION AND EQUITY FOUND AMONG ALL SORTS OF CONTENDING
           PARTIES IN VARIOUS STATES AND COUNTIES. NOW, MR. PRESIDENT,
           MONEY IS NOT GOING TO GET THE FARMERS VERY -- GET TO FARMERS
           VERY FAST IN DISTRIBUTION METHODS THAT SUGGEST THAT TYPE OF
           PROCEDURE. HOWEVER HUMANE THE MOTIVATION MAY BE. AND AS A
           MATTER OF FACT PAYMENTS AREN'T GOING TO GO TO ANY FARMER VERY

           SOON FROM THIS LEGISLATION BECAUSE THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
           IS NOT PREPARED TO ACT UPON THIS, AND SO, THEREFORE, WHATEVER
           WE ARE DOING WITH URGENCY NOW IS GOING TO BE A MATTER FOR
           SEPTEMBER, OR IF THE APPROPRIATE BILLS DO NOT PASS, THE
           APPROPRIATIONS BILLS -- OR OCTOBER OR NOVEMBER OR WHATEVER
           WHENEVER A GRAND COMPROMISE OCCURS. I MAKE THAT POINT BECAUSE
           FARMERS LISTENING TO THIS DEBATE MIGHT FEEL THAT THERE IS SOME
           POSSIBILITY AS OF TOMORROW OR THE NEXT DAY A VOTE BY THE SENATE

           COULD LEAD TO MONEY COMING TO THEM. BUT IT WILL THE NOT -- BUT
           IT WILL NOT COME TO THEM VERY SOON, WHATEVER OUR RESULT MAY BE
           ON THE FLOOR. SO, THEREFORE, MR. PRESIDENT, LAST WEEK I
           SUGGESTED THAT WE HAVE THREE DAYS OF HEARINGS BEFORE THE SENATE
           AGRICULTURE COMMITTEE IN WHICH ON THE FIRST DAY THE SECRETARY
           OF AGRICULTURE WOULD BE -- COME BEFORE THE COMMITTEE AND
           HOPEFULLY RESPOND TO OUR QUESTIONS AS TO WHAT THE
           ADMINISTRATION'S RECOMMENDATIONS ARE. GIVEN ALL THAT THE

           PRESIDENT AND THE SECRETARY HAVE SAID ABOUT THE OVERALL BUDGET
           CONDITION, ABOUT TAXES, ABOUT MEDICARE, ABOUT SOCIAL SECURITY
           SECURITY, AND GIVEN THE SFREAGS'S VIEW OF WHAT IS APPROPRIATE
           -- AND GIVEN THE ADMINISTRATION'S VIEW OF WHAT IS APPROPRIATE
           FARM LEGISLATION AND THAT WE FOLLOW THIS WITH OTHER GROUPS IN
           OUR SOCIETY WHO WOULD RESPOND TO SENATORS' QUESTIONS ABOUTHIS
           THIS, THAT THE COMMITTEE HOLD A MARKUP IN THE FIRST WEEK OF
           SEPTEMBER SO THAT THE APPROPRIATIONS COMMITTEE THAT MUST NOW
           STRUGGLE WITH THIS GISLATION WOULD HAVE A FAIRLY CLEAR ROAD MAP

           OF WHAT THE COMPROMISES WERE AND WHAT CONSIDERATION HAD BEEN
           GIVEN. AND, FURTHERMORE, THE SEPTEMBER DEBATE WOULD GIVE US A
           PRETTY GOOD IDEA OF WHAT THE YIELDS ACTUALLY ARE GOING TO BE
           FOR A NUMBER OF OUR MAJOR CROPS CROPS. BECAUSE I SUCCESS SPERXT
           MR. PRESIDENT, EVEN AS WE SPEAK -- AND PEOPLE NOW BEGIN TO TALK
           ABOUT A DIFFERENT PROBLEM IN AGRICULTURE -- NAMELY, DROUGHT --
           THAT A WHOLE SLEW OF NEW CONSIDERATIONS ARE GOING TO COME INTO
           THE PICTURE PICTURE. THE PRICE MIGHT GO UP AND THE YIELD MIGHT

           GO DOWN. ONCE AGAIN, THE PRODUCT OF THE TWO IS THE CRITICAL
           ELEMENT, REVENUE PER ACRE. BUT, MR. PRESIDENT, OBVIOUSLY, WE
           ARE IN THIS DEBATE BECAUSE THE CHAIR AND THE -- MORE
           PARTICULARLY, THE DISTINGUISHED FLOOR LEADER, HAS INDICATED
           THAT WE NEED TO GET ON WITH THIS. I ACCEPT THAT FACT, BUT WE
           WILL HAVE TOMORROW MORNING IN THE AGRICULTURE COMMITTEE AT
           
           9:00, AN APPEARANCE BY THE SECRETARY OF AGRICULTURE. AND WE
           WILL ASK HIM FOR HIS TESTIMONY, AND WE WILL ASK HIM FOR THE

           ADMINISTRATION'S POINT OF VIEW, WHICH I THINK IS RELEVANT TO
           WHAT WE ARE DISCUSSING NOW. I KNOW IT IS RELEVANT ON THE BASIS
           OF OUR LAST YEAR'S EXPERIENCE BECAUSE WE PASSED AN AGRICULTURE
           APPROPRIATIONS BILL AND IT HAD CONSIDERABLE BENEFITS FOR
           FARMERS. BUT IT WAS VETOED BY THE PRESIDENT, AND, AS A RESULT,
           THE BENEFITS DID NOT ACCRUE VERY RAPIDLY, AND WE GOT INTO WHAT

           I WOULD SAY WAS A BIDDING WAR AGAIN. THAT IS NOT ADVISABLE, MR.
           PRESIDENT. IT COULD BE AVOIDED IN SOME NORMAL FRAMEWORK, AND SO
           I'M HOPEFUL THAT WE WILL HAVE THE HEARING, AT LEAST THAT THAT
           WILL PROVIDE SOME BENEFIT FOR THE DEBATE THAT WE ARE NOW HAVING
           BEFORE US, AND CERTAINLY FOR THE DEBATE WE SHALL HAVE AGAIN. WE
           WILL HAVE IT AGAIN BECAUSE THE APPROPRIATIONS COMMITTEES WILL
           HAVE TO COME BACK WITH CONFERENCE REPORTS, AND WE WILL HAVE TO
           JUDGE THE ADEQUACY OR INADEQUACY OF WHAT WE HAVE DONE AT THAT

           POINT. NOW, MR. PRESIDENT, I FINALLY WOULD MAKE THE POINT THAT
           THE PREVIOUS SPEAKERS HAVE STATED THERE IS AN EMERGENCY TO BE
           MET MET, AN IMMEDIATE NEED FOR INCOME. BUT THAT FUNDAMENTALLY
           WE MUST DEBATE THE ENTIRE FARM BILL WHEN WE COME BACK, NOT
           SIMPLY A QUESTION OF ADEQUATE INCOME FOR FARMERS, BUT THE
           FUNDAMENTAL LAW OF THE LAND. AND, MR. PRESIDENT, I'M PREPARED
           FOR THAT DEBATE, BUT I WOULD SIMPLY SAY THAT BEFORE SENATORS
           ENGAGE IN THE DEBATE, IT IS WELL TO GAUGE AT LEAST THE BENEFITS

           THAT COME FROM THE CURRENT FARM BILL. THEY ARE, TO DATE, $16.6
           BILLION THIS YEAR, WHICH WAS -- IS JUST $100 MILLION SHORT OF
           AN ALL-TIME RECORD OF FARM OUTLAYS. THAT IS A SUBSTANTIAL
           SAFETY NET, I JUST MAKE THE POINT THAT THE FARM BILL RECOGNIZES
           THAT POINT AND IN FACT PROVIDES FAIRLY AMPLY WHEN THAT OCCURS.
           BUT IT ALSO PROVIDES FREEDOM TO FARM, AND THAT IS VERY
           IMPORTANT TO MOST FARMERS IN THIS COUNTRY -- THE ABILITY TO

           DETERMINE HOW TO MANAGE THEIR LAND, HOW MANY ACRES OF CORN OR
           BEANS OR COTTON OR RICE OR WHATEVER A FARMER WANTS TO PLANT --
           OR TO NOT PLANT AT ALL ALL. THE AMTA PAYMENT COMES TO TO A
           FARMER THAT DOES NOT PLANT AT ALL, BECAUSE THIS IS A TRANSITION
           FROM THE DAY OF SUPPLY CONTROL TO A DAY IN WHICH WE MOVE INTO
           MARKET ECONOMICS IN THE FARM AREA MORE COMPLETELY. I THINK THE
           WORLD DICTATES PRESENTLY THAT MARKET ECONOMICS IS THE IMPORTANT

           WAY TO GO. OUR COUNTRY TESTIFIES THAT IN ALMOST EVERY OTHER
           DEBATE. I HOPE WE WILL CONTINUE TO TESTIFY ON BEHALF OF THAT AS
           IT COMES TO AMERICAN AGRICULTURE. MR. PRESIDENT, I THANK THE
           CHAIR FOR THIS INDULGENCE. LIKEWISE, FOR OTHER SENATORS. I AM
           HOPEFUL THAT BEFORE ACTION IS TAKEN ON EITHER OF THE TWO
           AMENDMENTS, THERE WILL BE TESTIMONY BY THE SECRETARY AND A VERY
           THOROUGH ANALYSIS BY EACH SENATOR AS TO WHAT OUR OBLIGATIONS
           SHOULD BE TO AMERICAN AGRICULTURE, BOTH TO ENCOURAGE AND

           ENHANCE IT, AND LIKEWISE WHAT OUR OBLIGATION IS TO ALL THE
           TAXPAYERS OF THE COUNTRY AND THE OTHER MAJOR OBJECTIVES THAT

           LIE BEFORE OUR COUNTRY. I THANK THE CHAIR. MR. COCHRAN: MR.
           PRESIDENT?
           
           

           THE PRESIDING OFFICER: THE SENATOR FROM MISSISSIPPI.
           

           MR. COCHRAN: MR. PRESIDENT, I THINK THE SENATOR FROM INDIANA
           HAS DEFINITELY ELEVATED THE LEVEL OF DISCUSSION OF THE ISSUES
           BEFORE THE SENATE BY HIS REMARKS. HE'S GIVEN TO THIS DEBATE
           UNUSUAL INSIGHT, BASED ON HIS EXPERIENCE, HIS KNOWLEDGE OF THE
           SUBJECT, HIS PERSONAL EXPERIENCE AS ONE WHO IS ENGAGED IN
           PRODUCTION AGRICULTURE IN THE STATE OF INDIANA. BUT I THINK THE
           SENATE HAS BENEFITED FROM HIS REMARKS, AND I FOR ONE WANT TO
           CONGRATULATE HIM AND THANK HIM FOR REMAINING ON THE FLOOR THIS

           EVENING AND GIVING THE SENATE THE BENEFIT OF HIS OBSERVATIONS
           OF THIS ISSUE. TOMORROW, AS HE POINTS OUT, THERE WILL BE A
           HEARING IN THE AGRICULTURE COMMITTEE WHICH COULD ALSO BE VERY
           HELPFUL TO OUR FURTHER UNDERSTANDING OF THE SITUATION, THE
           ECONOMIC RESEARCH SERVICE AND OTHER AGENCIES OF THE DEPARTMENT
           OF AGRICULTURE COULD MAKE AVAILABLE TO US, INFORMATION THAT
           WOULD BE VERY HEAVILY AND CONSTRUCTIVE AS WE TRY TO DECIDE
           WHAT'S BEST IN THIS SITUATION FOR OUR FARMERS AROUND THE

           COUNTRY. SO, I AGAIN DON'T WANT TO OVERDUE THIS OR GUILD THE
           LILY TOO BRIGHTLY, BUT I PERSONALLY RESPECT THE SENATOR SO MUCH
           -- AND HE KNOWS THAT; I CONSIDER HIM A GREAT FRIEND -- AND I
           AGAIN WANT TO EXPRESS MY PERSONAL APPRECIATION FOR HIS BEING
           HERE TONIGHT AND HIS LEADERSHIP IN THE AGRICULTURE AREA

           SPECIFICALLY. MR. LUGAR: MR. PRESIDENT?
           
           

           THE PRESIDING OFFICER: THE SENATOR FROM INDIANA.
           

           MR. LUGAR: I THANK THE DISTINGUISHED SENATOR FROM MISSISSIPPI,
           WHO IS MY FRIEND AND HIS LEADERSHIP I APPRECIATE SO MUCH. LET
           ME INQUIRE OF THE DISTINGUISHED SENATOR FROM MISSISSIPPI IF HE
           KNOWS OF FURTHER DEBATE AND IF NOT, I MAKE THE INQUIRY BECAUSE
           I'VE BEEN ASKED TO SUBSTITUTE FOR THE LEADER IN MAKING SOME
           MOTIONS.
           

           MR. COCHRAN: MR. PRESIDENT, I KNOW OF NO OTHER SENATOR WHO
           SEEKS RECOGNITION ON THIS, AND I THINK IT WOULD BE APPROPRIATE
           THEN TO GO TO FINAL WRAP-UP.
           

           MR. LUGAR: I THANK THE SENATOR. MR. PRESIDENT, I ASK UNANIMOUS
           CONSENT THAT THE SENATE NOW PROCEED TO A PERIOD OF MORNING
           BUSINESS WITH SENATORS PERMITTED TO SPEAK FOR UP TO TEN MINUTES
           EACH.
           

           THE PRESIDING OFFICER: WITHOUT OBJECTION.
           

           MR. LUGAR: MR. PRESIDENT, I ASK UNANIMOUS CONSENT THAT THE
           CHAIR LAY BEFORE THE SENATE A MESSAGE FROM THE HOUSE ON SENATE
           BILL 880.
           

           THE PRESIDING OFFICER: THE CHAIR LAYS BEFORE THE SENATE A
           MESSAGE FROM THE HOUSE.
           

           THE CLERK: RESOLVE THAT THE BILL FROM THE SENATE, S. 880,
           ENTITLED "AN ACT TO AMEND THE CLEAN AIR ACT, TO REMOVE
           FLAMEABLE FUELS FROM THE LIST OF SUBSTANCES WITH RESPECT TO
           WHICH REPORTING AND OTHER ACTIVITIES ARE REQUIRED UNDER THE
           RISK MANAGEMENT PLAN PROGRAM" DO PASS WITH AMENDMENTS.
           

           MR. LUGAR: PLM, I ASK UNANIMOUS CONSENT THAT THE SENATE CONCUR
           IN THE AMENDMENTS OF THE HOUSE.
           

           THE PRESIDING OFFICER: WITHOUT OBJECTION, SO ORDERED.
           

           MR. LUGAR: MR. PRESIDENT, I ASK UNANIMOUS CONSENT THAT THE
           SENATE IMMEDIATELY PROCEED TO EXECUTIVE SESSION TO CONSIDER THE
           FOLLOWING NOMINATIONS EN
           
           BLOC: SQUIF CALENDARS NUMBER 205, 207, 216. I FURTHER ASK
           UNANIMOUS CONSENT THAT THE NOMINATIONS BE CONFIRMED EN BLOC,
           THE MOTION TO RECONSIDER BE LAID UPON THE TABLE, ANY STATEMENTS
           RELATING TO THE NOMINATIONS APPEAR AT THIS POINT IN THE RECORD,
           THE PRESIDENT BE IMMEDIATELY NOTIFIED OF THE SENATE'S ACTION

           AND THE SENATE THEN RETURN TO LEGISLATIVE SESSION.
           

           THE PRESIDING OFFICER: WITHOUT OBJECTION, SO ORDERED.
           

           MR. LUGAR: I THANK THE CHAIR. MR. PRESIDENT, I ASK UNANIMOUS
           CONSENT THAT WHEN THE SENATE COMPLETES ITS BUSINESS TODAY, IT
           ADJOURN UNTIL THE HOUR OF
           
           9:30 A.M. ON TUESDAY, AUGUST 3 3. I FURTHER ASK CONSENT THAT ON
           TUESDAY IMMEDIATELY FOLLOWING THE PRAYER, THE JOURNAL OF
           PROCEEDINGS BE APPROVED TO DATE, THE MORNING HOUR BE DEEMED
           EXPIRED, THE TIME FOR THE TWO LEADERS BE RESERVED FOR THEIR USE
           LATER IN THE DAY DAY, AND THE SENATE THEN BEGIN A PERIOD OF
           MORNING BUSINESS
           
           UNTIL 10:30 A.M. WITH SENATORS SPEAKING FOR UP TO FIVE MINUTES

           EACH WITH THE FOLLOWING
           
           EXCEPTIONS: SENATOR HAGEL OR HIS DESIGNEE
           
           FROM 9:30 TO 10:00 A.M. TO BE FOLLOWED BY SENATOR REED OF
{END: 1999/08/02 TIME: 19-15 , Mon.  106TH SENATE, FIRST SESSION}