Mark Pryor

Mr. PRYOR

Mr. PRYOR. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that when the Senate completes its business today, it stand adjourned until 11:30 a.m. Wednesday, December 19, 2007; that on Wednesday, following the prayer and pledge, the Journal of proceedings be approved to date, the morning hour be deemed expired, the time for the two leaders reserved for their use later in the day, and there then be a period of morning business, with Senators permitted to speak therein for up to 10 minutes each; that during morning business, Senator Reed of Rhode Island be recognized for up to 30 minutes; and that on Wednesday, the Senate stand in recess from 12:30 p.m. to 2:15 p.m. for a party conference meeting.

Mr. PRYOR

Mr. PRYOR. Mr. President, if there is no further business today, I now ask unanimous consent that the Senate stand adjourned under the previous order.

Mr. PRYOR

Mr. PRYOR. I understand the Chair has an announcement.

Mr. PRYOR

Mr. PRYOR. I ask unanimous consent that a Feingold amendment, which is at the desk, be agreed to; the committee amendment be agreed to; the bill, as amended, be read three times and passed; the motions to reconsider be laid upon the table with no intervening action or debate, and any statements relating to the bill be printed in the Record.

Mr. PRYOR. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the Senate proceed to the immediate consideration of Calendar No. 532, S. 2135.

Mr. PRYOR

Mr. PRYOR. I ask unanimous consent that the concurrent resolution be agreed to; the motion to reconsider be laid upon the table; and any statements relating thereto be printed in the Record.

Mr. PRYOR. I ask unanimous consent that the Senate proceed to the immediate consideration of S. Con. Res. 62.

Mr. PRYOR

Mr. PRYOR. I ask unanimous consent that the concurrent resolution be agreed to; the amendment to the preamble be agreed to; the preamble, as amended, be agreed to; the motions to reconsider be laid upon the table en bloc; and any statements relating thereto be printed in the Record without further intervening action or debate.

Mr. PRYOR. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the Foreign Relations Committee be discharged from further consideration of S. Con. Res. 53 and the Senate then proceed to its immediate consideration.

Mr. PRYOR

Mr. PRYOR. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the bill be read a third time and passed, the motion to reconsider be laid upon the table, and that any statements relating to the measure be printed in the Record.

Mr. PRYOR

Mr. PRYOR. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the bill be read three times, passed, and the motion to reconsider be laid upon the table, and that any statements relating to the measure be printed in the Record.

Mr. PRYOR. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the Senate proceed to the immediate consideration of Calendar No. 528, S. 2436.

Mr. PRYOR

Mr. PRYOR. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the bill be read a third time and passed, the motion to reconsider be laid upon the table, and that any statements relating to the measure be printed in the Record.

Mr. PRYOR. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the Committee on Commerce be discharged from further consideration of S. 2260, and the Senate proceed to its immediate consideration.

Mr. PRYOR

Mr. PRYOR. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the amendment at the desk be considered and agreed to, the resolution, as amended, be agreed to, the amendment to the preamble be agreed to, the preamble, as amended, be agreed to, that the motions to reconsider be laid upon the table, en bloc, that any statements be printed in the Record.

Mr. PRYOR. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the Foreign Relations committee be discharged from further consideration of S. Res. 279 and that the Senate then proceed to its immediate consideration.

Mr. PRYOR

Mr. PRYOR. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the tributes to Senator Lott in the Congressional Record be printed as a Senate document and that Senators be permitted to submit statements for inclusion in the Record until January 30, 2008.

Mr. PRYOR

Mr. PRYOR. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the Senate proceed to the immediate consideration of S. Con. Res. 61, the adjournment resolution.

Mr. PRYOR. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the concurrent resolution be agreed to and the motion to reconsider be laid upon the table.

Mr. PRYOR

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

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

Mr. PRYOR

Mr. PRYOR. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the Senate now proceed to a period of morning business with Senators permitted to speak therein for up to 10 minutes each.

Mr. PRYOR

Mr. PRYOR. Mr. President, I would like to express my support for a provision of the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2008. Specifically, I would like to take this opportunity to highlight and clarify language included in Division E, the Department of Homeland Security Appropriations Act of 2008 regarding the secure handling of ammonium nitrate. This legislation reduces the risk of large quantities of ammonium nitrate falling into the wrong hands, while ensuring access for agriculture professionals and farmers who use this fertilizer for legitimate purposes. It requires that ammonium nitrate sellers and purchasers register and receive a registration number in order to distribute or buy the product. Doing so reduces the possibility that ammonium nitrate will be misused. First, it allows Department of Homeland Security and relevant law enforcement agencies to know who has access to ammonium nitrate. Second, it requires registration number applicants to be matched against the terrorism screening database before being authorized to buy or sell ammonium nitrate. Finally, by making the sale or purchase of ammonium nitrate more difficult, it deters acquisition of this explosive precursor by dangerous persons. Farmers who use ammonium nitrate in agriculture production normally obtain the ammonium nitrate from a retail fertilizer dealership. Any retail fertilizer dealership that stores and sells ammonium nitrate would have to register under this legislation. The intent of this legislation is ``track and trace''--to provide law enforcement officials with the ability to know where ammonium nitrate is being stored and the establishment of a prescreening process before a person can purchase and take away ammonium nitrate. Retail fertilizer dealerships provide many services for farmers and one of those services is custom application. Many farmers buy the fertilizer, but never physically take possession of the ammonium nitrate. Instead, farmers purchase the services of a dealer who spreads the ammonium nitrate on their fields. In the southeastern United States, nearly 90 percent of the 41,800 tons of ammonium nitrate purchased is directly applied to the field from the custody of the fertilizer dealer or applicator company. Only 10 percent of the ammonium nitrate purchased in the southeastern United States is ever under the direct control and possession of the farm customer. Businesses and employees who provide custom application services would be subject to the registration requirements of the legislation. It is not the intent of this legislation to require registration by individuals who use custom application services but never physically control any ammonium nitrate. I believe this bill will help keep ammonium nitrate out of would-be terrorists' hands while allowing farmers to use it for legitimate purposes.

Mr. PRYOR

Mr. PRYOR. I ask unanimous consent that the resolutions be agreed to, the preambles be agreed to, and the motions to reconsider be laid upon the table en bloc.

Mr. PRYOR. I ask unanimous consent that the Senate now proceed to the en bloc consideration of the following Senate resolutions which were submitted earlier today: S. Res. 410, 411, 412, 413, 414, 415, and 416.