Debbie Stabenow

Ms. STABENOW

Ms. STABENOW. Mr. President, I yield back all time, and we do have an agreement on a voice vote.

Ms. STABENOW. Mr. President, I move to reconsider and to lay that motion on the table. The motion to lay on the table was agreed to. Amendment No. 2427

Ms. STABENOW. Mr. President, I would just simply say that I strongly support the amendment.

Ms. STABENOW. Mr. President, before moving to Senator Wyden's amendment, we want to go back to an agreed-upon amendment, which is Schumer amendment No. 2427, to increase research, education, and promotion of maple products. I call up amendment No. 2427, and I ask unanimous consent that we move forward with a voice vote.

Ms. STABENOW. Mr. President, I strongly oppose this amendment. We have over 643 conservation and environmental groups from every State in the Union supporting our conservation reforms in this bill. This is about protecting land and water and air habitat, wetlands. Ducks Unlimited is a huge supporter of what we have been doing. The Conservation Reserve Program, which has been in place for 25 years, was shown last year, with the drought, to have had a tremendous effect. We saw some of the worst droughts on record since the Dust Bowl in the last number of months, but we did not have a Dust Bowl and that is because the CRP prevented erosion and the soil stayed where it should stay. This is about our country, protecting our land, resources for our children and grandchildren. I strongly urge a ``no'' vote.

Ms. STABENOW

Ms. STABENOW. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that we proceed with a voice vote.

Ms. STABENOW. Mr. President, I support this amendment and yield the remainder of our time. It is my understanding we can proceed with a voice vote on this amendment.

Ms. STABENOW. Yes, the Senator is correct.

Ms. STABENOW. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that we have 2 minutes of debate equally divided prior to the vote on the first Akaka amendment, No. 2440.

Ms. STABENOW. I would ask the Presiding Officer if there is any time remaining in the debate?

Ms. STABENOW. Mr. President, I must, regretfully, oppose this amendment. I deeply care about protecting nutrition assistance programs. I hope that is not in doubt. But here is what is going on. In a handful of States, they have found a way to increase the SNAP benefits for people in their States by sending $1 checks in heating assistance to everyone who gets food assistance. Now, it is important to consider what a family's heating bill is when determining how much help they need, which is why the two programs are linked. But sending out $1 checks to everyone is not the intent of Congress. For the small number of States that are doing that, it is undermining the integrity of the program, in my judgment. I appreciate we have turned down those amendments that would, in fact, change this structure and lower benefits. But this is about accountability and integrity within the program, and I must oppose the amendment.

Ms. STABENOW. The Senator is correct in his understanding.

Ms. STABENOW. Mr. President, if I might take a moment, I believe we want to first dispose of the Akaka amendment No. 2440. Our ranking member has indicated no opposition, so at this point I would ask that we proceed, unless there is a reason not to do so. On behalf of Senator Akaka, I call up amendment No. 2440 and ask that we proceed with a voice vote.

Ms. STABENOW. Mr. President, I strongly commend Senator Feinstein and strongly support the amendment. It is my understanding we do have those who have asked for a rollcall vote on this amendment. I yield to my ranking member.

Ms. STABENOW. I rise to oppose this amendment. One of the important principles in this bill is that we support the great diversity of American agriculture. This particular amendment would go after a very small part of this bill--a provision to support the fastest growing part of agriculture, which is organic farming. We have reformed this bill, as we have every other part of the bill. We continue what has been in the farm bills of the past. I might add this amendment would also reduce funding available for conservation and risk management assistance for States that have been underserved by crop insurance. I urge a ``no'' vote on the amendment.

Ms. STABENOW. Mr. President, I ask for the yeas and nays.

Ms. STABENOW. Mr. President, if I may take a moment to thank Senator Bingaman and Senator Hutchison. Both New Mexico and Texas have strong and passionate advocates. They are lucky to have them, and we are looking forward to working with them to make sure the issues they have raised are addressed. Also, just for those following along in order, I would just indicate that Senator Collins, in light of the passage of the Snowe amendment, will not be proceeding with her amendment, just for the information of the Senate.

Ms. STABENOW. I ask for the yeas and nays.

Ms. STABENOW. Mr. President, on behalf of the ranking member and myself, I yield back all time, and we both agree to a voice vote.

Ms. STABENOW. Mr. President, on behalf of the ranking member and myself, I yield back the time. It is my understanding that we may proceed with a voice vote on this amendment.

Ms. STABENOW. I ask unanimous consent that Bennet-Crapo amendment No. 2202, which has been cleared by both sides, be in order.

Ms. STABENOW. Mr. President, I would urge a ``no'' vote on this amendment. The good news is, the people who were mentioned will no longer be able to get farm subsidies under this bill because of the reforms we have already put in place. We have already lowered the adjusted gross income. We have put a $50,000-per-person cap on payments, which is less than half than what farmers currently receive. Let me say, this would cap across the board, including conservation, and conservation of land and water is critically important to us as a country. I yield now the remainder of my time to my ranking member.

Ms. STABENOW. Mr. President, I wish to take a moment--the ranking member has yielded some time to me--to thank Senator Feinstein. This is an excellent amendment. She has done a tremendous amount of work on it. I urge a ``yes'' vote.

Ms. STABENOW. Mr. President, we agree to a voice vote.

Ms. STABENOW

Ms. STABENOW. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent the following members of Senator Bingaman's office be granted the privilege of the floor for the pendency of S. 3240, the farm bill: Bijan Peters, Eugenia Woods, James Anderson, Aurora Trujillo, Carl Slater.