Dale Bumpers

Mr. BUMPERS

Mr. BUMPERS. Mr. President, I send an amendment to the desk on behalf of the minority leader, Mr. Daschle.

Mr. BUMPERS. I ask unanimous consent that reading of the amendment be dispensed with.

Mr. BUMPERS. Mr. President, this is an amendment that I think has a lot of merit. It is a pilot program under which farmers who are enrolled in the Conservation Reserve Program can take a reduction in the payments that they would otherwise receive under that program in exchange for the right to bale hay and graze according to an agreement, of course, that they would have to work out. But they would have a right to forego certain payments in the Conservation Reserve Program in exchange for the right to hay and graze on some of their CRP lands.

Mr. BUMPERS. I move to lay that motion on the table. The motion to lay on the table was agreed to. Amendment No. 3144 (Purpose: To prohibit the previous shipment of shell eggs under the voluntary grading program of the Department of Agriculture and to require the Secretary of Agriculture to submit a report on egg safety and repackaging)

Mr. BUMPERS. Mr. President, I send an amendment to the desk on behalf of Senator Durbin.

Mr. BUMPERS. I ask unanimous consent that reading of the amendment be dispensed with.

Mr. BUMPERS. I move to lay that motion on the table. The motion to lay on the table was agreed to. Mr. BUMPERS addressed the Chair.

Mr. BUMPERS. I send an amendment to the desk on behalf of the Senator from West Virginia, Mr. Byrd.

Mr. BUMPERS. I ask unanimous consent that reading of the amendment be dispensed with.

Mr. BUMPERS. Mr. President, this is an amendment that provides, from available funds in the bill, $433,000 can be used to complete construction of the Alderson Plant Materials Center in Alderson, WV.

Mr. BUMPERS. I move to lay that motion on the table. The motion to lay on the table was agreed to.

Mr. BUMPERS. Mr. President, I suggest the absence of a quorum.

Mr. BUMPERS. Mr. President, I send an amendment to the desk and ask for its consideration.

Mr. BUMPERS

Mr. BUMPERS. Mr. President, the amendment has been cleared on this side of the aisle.

Mr. BUMPERS. Mr. President, I move to reconsider the vote by which the amendment was agreed to.

Mr. BUMPERS. Mr. President, I send an amendment to the desk and ask for its consideration.

Mr. BUMPERS. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the reading of the amendment be dispensed with.

Mr. BUMPERS. Mr. President, the amendment has been cleared on this side of the aisle.

Mr. BUMPERS. I move to lay that motion on the table. The motion to lay on the table was agreed to. Amendment No. 3133 (Purpose: To require the Secretary of Agriculture to conduct a review of methyl bromide alternatives research)

Mr. BUMPERS. Mr. President, the amendment has been cleared on this side of the aisle.

Mr. BUMPERS. I move to lay that motion on the table. The motion to lay on the table was agreed to. Amendment No. 3134 (Purpose: To express the sense of the Senate that the Secretary of Agriculture should take certain actions to provide timely assistance to Texas agricultural producers that are experiencing worsening drought conditions)

Mr. BUMPERS. I move to lay that motion on the table. The motion to lay on the table was agreed to. Amendment No. 3136 (Purpose: To make technical corrections to the Agricultural Research, Extension, and Education Reform Act of 1998)

Mr. BUMPERS. Mr. President, it has been cleared on this side of the aisle.

Mr. BUMPERS. I move to reconsider the vote.

Mr. BUMPERS. I share the Senator's concern about this matter and recognize the serious nature of this disease. I also believe that it is important that we provide funding for this valuable project, and hopefully we will be able to accommodate the Senator from Georgia's request in conference.