Richard Lugar

Mr. LUGAR

Mr. LUGAR. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the Subcommittee on East Asian and Pacific Affairs of the Committee on Foreign Relations be authorized to meet during the session of the Senate on Wednesday, February 7, 1996, at 10 a.m.

Mr. LUGAR. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent on behalf of the Governmental Affairs Committee to meet on Wednesday, February 7, at 9:30 a.m. for a hearing on recommendations by Members of Congress relating to Federal employment.

Mr. LUGAR

Mr. LUGAR. Mr. President, I thank all Senators for prompt consideration of the farm bill. I think we have an excellent bill. I had wanted to go to the conference with the House and hopefully expedite decisionmaking for farmers throughout the country. I thank my colleague, Senator Leahy, who has worked so well, once again, in a bipartisan way, on an important bill. I thank the majority leader, Senator Dole, for his very, very strong leadership throughout the cloture battles, as well as all we have experienced today, and the distinguished Democratic leader, Senator Daschle, who worked to make certain we had both a pathway to success today, and expedited the timing of that. I want to thank, especially, staff members who have done so much, and I want to mention them by name. I have Andy Morton, Randy Green, Dave Johnson, Marcia Asquith, Beth Johnson, Terri Snow, Michael Knipe, Dave Stawick, Terri Nintemann, Katherine McGuire, Darrel Choat, Danny Spellacy, Doug Leslie, Barbara Ward, Debbie Schwertner, Jill Clawson, Cathy Harrington, Mary Kinzer, David Dayhoff, Pat Sweeney, Bob Sturm, Bill Sims, Jim Hedrick, and, of course, Chuck Conner, our chief of staff, who has done a splendid job, as always. I thank all of them and all Senators for their support.

Mr. LUGAR. I move to reconsider the vote.

Mr. LUGAR. It seems reasonable for the United States to consider providing funding for a credible study, in light of commitments from the United Kingdom and New Zealand, and I would urge the USDA to look seriously at doing so.

Mr. LUGAR. That seems to be a commonsense approach given our limited resources.

Mr. LUGAR. That is my understanding.

Mr. LUGAR. That is my understanding.

Mr. LUGAR. Mr. President, I will. I want to commend the Senator from Minnesota for his strong and active interest in reforming the Federal order system. His efforts have been positive for Midwestern agriculture and the Nation as a whole. agriculture research

Mr. LUGAR. I will be happy to do so. The negotiations have yielded reform in milk marketing orders in three fundamental ways. First, the reforms would have mandated a reduction in the number of orders, with a consolidation plan to be decided by the end of 1998 and implemented by the end of 2000. Second, they would have mandated the use of a multiple-basing point pricing system in Federal orders. Third, they would have provided that no Federal funds could be used to administer more than 14 marketing orders after December 31, 2000, if the Secretary of Agriculture failed to implement the order consolidation plan, which would have required no fewer than 10 nor more than 14 orders.

Mr. LUGAR. The Senator is correct. Unfortunately, the Senate was unable to agree on those reforms due to intense regional differences over reform proposals.

Mr. LUGAR. The amendment would simply require a national age standard be set for labeling of lamb in the United States and that this standard would be also enforced on imported product. This is a relatively simple measure that would ensure that lamb coming into the United States is actually lamb and not mutton. This amendment would be GATT legal since the requirements are the same on both domestic and imported product. If we are to have a viable lamb and wool industry in the United States something must be done to enhance stability and future growth while halting the hemorrhaging of our industry's infrastructure. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the amendment be agreed to.

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

Mr. LUGAR. Mr. President, I send an amendment to the desk on behalf of Senators Craig and Baucus and ask for its immediate consideration.

Mr. LUGAR. The Senator is correct, it is the intent of the substitute that all tenants and sharecroppers must be treated fairly and equitably in the division of payments under the bill. Amendment No. 3462 (Purpose: To require the Secretary of Agriculture to establish standards for the labeling of sheep carcasses, parts of carcasses, meat, or meat food products as ``lamb'' or ``mutton'')

Mr. LUGAR. I agree with the distinguished Senator that it is the intent of the substitute that all tenants and sharecroppers who are actively engaged in farming will be eligible for payments, assuming that they are producers on a farm with contract acreage that qualifies for participation in the program and that they meet the payment limitation provisions.

Mr. LUGAR. I move to lay that motion on the table.

Mr. LUGAR. Senator Santorum has proposed a farmland protection program, for which $35 million would be devoted. It would authorize the Commodity Credit Purchase Corporation conservation easements of not less than 170,000, not more than 340,000 acres of land, subject to a pending offer from State or local governments. It is cosponsored by Senator Leahy and has been cleared on both sides.

Mr. LUGAR. Mr. President, the Santorum amendment calls for a land preservation--I sent the Santorum amendment to the desk. Mr. President, let me ask the distinguished Senator, does he want an explanation of the Santorum amendment, the amendment that is now pending?

Mr. LUGAR. Mr. President, I ask that the amendment be considered.

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

Mr. LUGAR. Mr. President, I send to the desk an amendment proposed by Mr. Santorum, to establish a farmland protection program.

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

Mr. LUGAR. Mr. President, I send to the desk an amendment proposed by Mr. Graham, for himself, and Mr. Mack dealing with crop insurance.

Mr. LUGAR. Mr. President, I have a series of amendments that I will send to the desk. They have been cleared on both sides and they will require voice votes. Amendment No. 3454 to Amendment No. 3184