Robert Bennett

Mr. BENNETT

Mr. BENNETT. I appreciate my colleague's comments and the opportunity to discuss the USDA Southern Plains Range Research Station. I am aware of this project's importance to Oklahoma and the Oklahoma delegation. My colleague is uniquely aware of the constraints of the budget we must work within, and of the many areas in need of funding. I look forward to working with my colleague to address the issue of funding for Phase II of construction at the Southern Plains Range Research Station in Woodward.

Mr. BENNETT. I appreciate Senator Chafee and Senator Reed bringing this situation in Rhode Island to the attention of the Agriculture Appropriations Subcommittee. For all of the reasons that my colleagues have raised, I agree that it makes sense to try to eradicate this organism from American poultry flocks. I look forward to working with the two Senators and the Ranking Member of the Subcommittee, Senator Kohl, to develop language that directs APHIS to play an active role in depopulating these flocks in Rhode Island.

Mr. BENNETT. That is correct.

Mr. BENNETT. I ask unanimous consent that this amendment be set aside.

Mr. BENNETT. Mr. President, it would be my intention on this side to accept this amendment.

Mr. BENNETT. Mr. President, I thank Senator Murkowski for explaining the need for her provision in the manager's amendment to this important legislation. ARS Research

Mr. BENNETT. I thank my distinguished colleague for bringing these important projects to my attention. While this committee is working within a very tight budget, I will give your requests all due consideration.

Mr. BENNETT. Mr. President, I am more than willing to acknowledge my colleague from Pennsylvania with regard to his two projects.

Mr. BENNETT. I understand the Senator's concern and would also like to see that USDA make that distinction.

Mr. BENNETT. I assumed we would go to the amendment from the Senator from Washington.

Mr. BENNETT. I would like to join my colleague, Mr. Kohl, in voicing my support for this project, and also hope that it will be added in conference.

Mr. BENNETT. This amendment would allow a small town which does not have sufficient internal resources to utilize an outside not-for-profit party to perform the service for which the grant was made. For instance, if a community received a grant for a childcare facility, the community could contract with a third party to provide the childcare. I ask for a voice vote.

Mr. BENNETT. I thank the Senator and I share her assessment of the importance of agricultural research and the value of the USDA and its State partners.

Mr. BENNETT. That is correct.

Mr. BENNETT. Mr. President, let me say to the Senator from North Carolina that I appreciate the suggestion particularly in light of the budget constraints that we face. I will be happy to look into this matter to see if there is a workable solution that will achieve the desired result.

Mr. BENNETT. Mr. President, I concur with my colleague's sentiments on the importance of multi-agency involvement in rural development. I appreciate the Senator's comments and look forward to our continuing to work together to support this effort when this bill goes to conference.

Mr. BENNETT. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the order for the quorum call be rescinded.

Mr. BENNETT. The Senator from Iowa has explained to me that his State is in need of specialized assistance through funding for a viticulture technician to provide on-site technical assistance.

Mr. BENNETT. I thank the Senator from New Mexico and will encourage the Department of Agriculture to review the current situation. If the review warrants a testing facility, I will suggest that the Department of Agriculture consider establishing a testing facility in the State of New Mexico. NutriCore Northeast and Geisinger Rural Aging Study (GRAS)

Mr. BENNETT. Madam President, I see no other Senators wishing to speak on this matter. The chairman of the Budget Committee has not presented himself. But speaking on his behalf, I will raise a budget point of order about the emergency designation. Utah is at the bull's eye of the drought. We have more drought problems in Utah perhaps than any other State, and it is with some reluctance that I raise this point of order. But this is $6.3 billion, and there is no offset for it. I think if it is of value, it is of sufficient value that it is worthwhile to have a supermajority to support going $6.3 billion into an emergency. I think an emergency designation for this much money is something for which this procedure is designed. Therefore, I raise a point of order against the emergency designation contained in the pending amendment, that it violates section 502 of the concurrent budget resolution on the budget for fiscal year 2004, and therefore is not in order.

Mr. BENNETT. All right. There is objection. Therefore, I do not pursue that. I suggest to the Senator from Illinois this might be a good time to hear from him.

Mr. BENNETT

Mr. BENNETT. Madam President, as I have listened to this debate, it has reminded me once again of why I am glad I did not go to law school. The details of the legislation are best left to the lawyers who have argued it. I simply share with my colleagues a conversation I had when the question of derivatives arose with respect to the bankruptcy of Orange County in California. There was an attempt at that point to say we must regulate these derivatives. Derivatives are terrible. Derivatives are responsible for all of our troubles. Chairman Greenspan was asked pointblank if derivatives were responsible for the bankruptcy in California. He said no, all derivatives did was make the stupid actions of the treasurer of Orange County be carried out more effectively than would have been the case without them. We must remember that derivatives are neutral. They are tools to be used by managers to hedge risks and to make things move more efficiently in the marketplace. We sometimes move away from that understanding and think they are inherently evil in and of themselves. I accept the assurances that the trading in this area is appropriately managed by the regulatory agencies that have been set up and I intend to oppose the amendment. I urge my fellow Senators to do the same.

Mr. BENNETT. Mr. President, I ask the Senator from Idaho if he has further comments.

Mr. BENNETT. I am happy to have the second two votes be 10-minute votes.

Mr. BENNETT. I yield 5 more minutes to the Senator from Idaho.