Thad Cochran

Mr. COCHRAN

Mr. COCHRAN. But there have been problems?

Mr. COCHRAN. I understand that the aerial program plays a large role in wolf recovery efforts in the Rocky Mountain West.

Mr. COCHRAN. I thank the Senator.

Mr. COCHRAN. Mr. President, I appreciate the Senator's indulgence. We are trying to get the reaction of the Food and Drug Administration and the legislative committee that has jurisdiction over this subject. I don't have an answer from them yet as to whether they want me to move to table the amendment or try to amend it to make it consistent with their wishes, or to suggest that we accept it. The Senator said that a Member of the House, the other body, has offered this as an amendment over there. Has it been passed in a freestanding bill, or is it on this bill, does the Senator know?

Mr. COCHRAN. I appreciate the Senator's inquiry. I have no objection to your offering the amendment. I haven't seen the amendment. I asked my staff what it was about. They haven't seen it, either. We are trying to get in touch with the legislative committee. We understand it is a legislative subject, not appropriations at all. It doesn't ask for spending any more money or any less money, but it imposes a burden on an industry, and we are trying to find out what the implications are. You can offer it. Amendment No. 3176 (Purpose: To amend the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act to require the Secretary to ensure timely notification of certain recalls)

Mr. COCHRAN

Mr. COCHRAN. Mr. President, as I understand it, the time is equally divided. In view of the fact that this is an amendment offered by the Senator from South Dakota, I presume he or some other person who supports his amendment will come to discuss the provisions of the amendment for the benefit of the Senate. Until that time arrives, if I suggest the absence of a quorum, I believe time would run equally against the proponents and the opponents of the amendment, is that correct?

Mr. COCHRAN

Mr. COCHRAN. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the Subcommittee on European Affairs of the Committee on Foreign Relations be authorized to meet during the session of the Senate on Wednesday, July 15, 1998 at 2:00 pm to hold a hearing.

Mr. COCHRAN. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the Special Committee on Aging be permitted to meet on July 15, 1998 at 1:30 to 5:00 p.m. in Dirksen 628 for the purpose of conducting a hearing.

Mr. COCHRAN. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the Select Committee on Intelligence be authorized to meet during the session of the Senate on Wednesday, July 15, 1998 at 2:30 p.m. to hold an open hearing.

Mr. COCHRAN. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the Committee on Small Business be authorized to meet during the session of the Senate for a hearing entitled ``Home Health Care: Can Small Agencies Survive New Regulations?'' the hearing will begin at 9:45 a.m. on Wednesday, July 15, 1998, in room 428A Russell Senate Office Building.

Mr. COCHRAN. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the Committee on the Judiciary be authorized to meet during the session of the Senate on Wednesday, July 15, 1998 at 9:00A.M. in room 226 of the Senate Dirksen Office Building to hold a hearing on: ``Department of Justice Oversight.''

Mr. COCHRAN. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the Senate Committee on Indian Affairs be authorized to meet during the session of the Senate on Wednesday, July 15, 1998 at 9:30 a.m. to Mark-Up the following: S. 1905, Cheyenne River Sioux Compensation; S. 391, Mississippi Sioux Judgment Funds; H.R. 700, Agua Caliente and S. 109, Native Hawaiian Housing. Immediately following the Mark-Up the Committee will hold a HEARING on S. 2097, Indian Tribal Conflict Resolution and Tort Claims and Risk Management Act of 1998. The meeting/hearing will be held in room G-50 of the Dirksen Senate Office Building.

Mr. COCHRAN. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent on behalf of the Governmental Affairs Committee to meet on Wednesday, July 15, 1998 at 10:30 am for a business meeting.

Mr. COCHRAN. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the Committee on Environment and Public Works be granted permission to conduct a hearing Wednesday, July 15, 11:00 a.m., Hearing Room (SD- 406), to receive testimony from Nikki L. Tinsley, nominated by the President to be Inspector General, Environmental Protection Agency.

Mr. COCHRAN. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources be granted permission to meet during the session of the Senate on Wednesday, July 15, for purposes of conducting a full committee hearing which is scheduled to begin at 9:00 a.m. The purpose of this hearing is to receive testimony on H.R. 856, a bill to provide a process leading to full self-government for Puerto Rico; and S. 472, a bill to provide for referenda in which the residents of Puerto Rico may express democratically their preferences regarding the political status of the territory, and for other purposes.

Mr. COCHRAN. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation be authorized to meet on Wednesday, July 15, 1998, at 2:00 p.m. on S. 2107--Government Paperwork Elimination Act.

Mr. COCHRAN. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs be authorized to meet during the session of the Senate on Wednesday, July 15, 1998, to conduct a hearing on the practice of automated teller machine surcharging.

Mr. COCHRAN

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

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

Mr. COCHRAN. Mr. President, the remaining amendments that we have identified to complete action on tonight were the Johnson amendment regarding meat labeling and the Graham amendment regarding disaster assistance. We are prepared to recommend that the Senate accept those amendments, along with other amendments that have been cleared by the two managers. I am prepared to ask unanimous consent that we accept those amendments en bloc, those that we have identified, and include statements in the Record describing the amendments. Mr. President, Senator Graham is here. We could do his amendment first. We are prepared to accept it, and then the other list of amendments we will do en bloc if there is no objection.

Mr. COCHRAN. Mr. President, I move to reconsider the vote by which the amendments were agreed to.

Mr. COCHRAN. Mr. President, the Senator from Arkansas and I have reviewed a number of amendments and have agreed to recommend the Senate accept them. I now ask unanimous consent the following amendments be considered en bloc, agreed to en bloc, the motions to reconsider be laid upon the table: An amendment of the Senator from Georgia, Mr. Coverdell, on food safety research and E. coli; Senators DeWine and Hutchison, a sense of the Senate on inhalants; Senators Harkin and Grassley on APHIS biocontainment facilities; Senator Cochran, a technical correction on conservation operations; Senators Kempthorne and Baucus and others, secondary agriculture education, with a Kempthorne statement for the Record; an amendment for Senator Bryan dealing with the Market Access Program report; another amendment in behalf of Senator Graham of Florida and Senator Mack on the Mediterranean fruit fly; an amendment for Senator Johnson on meat labeling.

Mr. COCHRAN. Mr. President, the Department of Agriculture advises us that they cannot at this time verify whether available disaster money has been depleted. I understand this has been a devastating disaster for Florida and that other areas of the country have also been affected by various disasters. We will work with the administration and the House conferees to address the needs of the areas affected by these recent disasters and to determine whether these needs are being met through available funds. It is my hope that the Department of Agriculture and the Office of Management and Budget are assessing the need for additional funding to meet the needs resulting from these most recent disasters and that the President will soon submit to the Congress requests for supplemental funds which are determined to be required. THE PRESIDING OFFICER. If there be no further debate, the question is on agreeing to the amendment.

Mr. COCHRAN

Mr. COCHRAN. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that there now be a period for the transaction of routine morning business, with Senators permitted to speak for up to 10 minutes each.

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