Thad Cochran

Mr. COCHRAN

Mr. COCHRAN. I thank the Senator from Illinois. As Senator Durbin knows, the committee has worked hard over the past several years to maintain this very important program. This program may be the only hope for cures for some with extremely rare diseases. It is important that FDA not divert these appropriated funds to other areas, thus undermining this worthwhile program. I thank the Senator from Illinois for bringing this issue to our attention. fda

Mr. COCHRAN. Mr. President, this deals with the Agricultural Credit Restoration Act. It has been cleared on this side. We recommend it be agreed to.

Mr. COCHRAN. Mr. President, another amendment we have been able to clear, I am advised, is offered by the Senator from Virginia, Mr. Robb. On his behalf, I send his amendment to the desk and ask that it be stated.

Mr. COCHRAN. I move to lay that motion on the table. The motion to lay on the table was agreed to. Amendment No. 3137

Mr. COCHRAN. Mr. President, we have reviewed it. We think it ought to be agreed to by the Senate.

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

Mr. COCHRAN. Mr. President, I have another amendment offered by the Senator from Indiana, Mr. Lugar, and cosponsored by others, dealing with technical corrections to the Agricultural Research, Extension, and Education Reform Act. On behalf of Senator Lugar, I send that amendment to the desk and ask that it be stated.

Mr. COCHRAN. I move to reconsider the vote.

Mr. COCHRAN. Mr. President, this does involve an effort by the Senator from Indiana to improve the effectiveness of the Wetland Reserve Program. It has been reviewed, and we are prepared to recommend that it be agreed to in this bill.

Mr. COCHRAN. Mr. President, another amendment we have been able to review and are prepared to recommend approval of is offered by the Senators from Texas, Senator Gramm and Senator Hutchison. On their behalf, I send an amendment to the desk and ask that it be stated.

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

Mr. COCHRAN. Mr. President, this amendment deals with the review of methyl bromide alternatives research. We have examined the amendment. We think it appropriate for the Senate to include it in this bill, and we recommend that it do so.

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

Mr. COCHRAN. Mr. President, another amendment which we have been able to review and are prepared to recommend the Senate accept is one offered by Senator Graham of Florida. I send that amendment on his behalf to the desk and ask that it be stated.

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

Mr. COCHRAN. Mr. President, the amendment has been cleared on this side. We recommend that it be approved by the Senate.

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

Mr. COCHRAN. Mr. President, the next amendment on my list that has been cleared is one by the Senator from Arkansas dealing with a pilot personnel program. Does the Senator want to send that to the desk?

Mr. COCHRAN. I move to lay that motion on the table. The motion to lay on the table was agreed to. Amendment No. 3131 (Purpose: To establish a personnel management demonstration project)

Mr. COCHRAN. Mr. President, this amendment, as I stated, is designed to eliminate the subsidy appropriation for Farm Service Agency credit sales of acquired property and transfer this amount to subsidize the cost of additional farm ownership direct loans. The amendment increases the subsidy appropriation for farm ownership direct loans by $3,260,000 to fund an additional $21,777,000 in loans. This will fund an estimated total farm ownership direct loan level of $85,649,000 for fiscal year 1999 versus the $63,872,000 level now proposed by the bill. I have been advised by the Department of Agriculture that the Farm Service Agency credit sales loan obligations are currently lower than anticipated and the full amount requested for fiscal year 1999 will not be required. Any funding needed for credit sales of acquired property for fiscal year 1999 can be made available through the agency's loan programs. Given this, the amendment proposes to move this money to increase available funding for farm ownership direct loans.

Mr. COCHRAN

Mr. COCHRAN. I move to reconsider the vote by which the amendment was agreed to.

Mr. COCHRAN. Mr. President, the amendment has been cleared on this side.

Mr. COCHRAN. I move to reconsider the vote by which the amendment was agreed to.

Mr. COCHRAN. Mr. President, we have reviewed the amendment on this side of the aisle and find no objection to it. I urge it be approved.

Mr. COCHRAN. I move to reconsider the vote by which the amendment was agreed to.