Floor Statements

Mr. President, I thank my colleague and friend from Colorado for his words about the farm bill. He and I are an example of how this bill is important to every region of the country. His kind of farming is very different than our kind of farming, but they are equally important to our States.

I rise to talk about the farm bill. This bill is a long time coming. There has been back-and-forth between the two Chambers, the House and Senate, and between various regions, probably most famous, South versus Midwest farming, but that is not the only one--different types of crops and different types of farm products. It may be sugar, milk, soybeans or corn. Who knows what it is going to be.

Nonetheless, I am happy to report that finally this bill overcame the partisan gridlock we have seen in Washington. I am sorry it took so long. I know last year the House basically blew up this bill on kind of ``my way or the highway'' politics. I thought that was very unfortunate. But here we are with a bipartisan farm bill, one that got a huge vote in the House and I hope will get a huge vote in the Senate.

I am glad this cut, cut, cut ideology did not prevail, because when we look at this bill and how important it is, not just to my State but to every State in the Union and so important to the U.S. economy--this bill is very important to the Nation's economy and to the future of our Nation.

Agriculture is something we do in this country better than anybody else in the world. We do a lot of things great in this country, and we should be proud of those, but no one does agriculture better than the good old United States of America. Our farmers, our producers, our agribusiness do incredible work. We literally are the envy of the world. It is a core strength of the U.S. economy.

It is critical to keeping our Nation's economy strong that we have a strong agricultural sector. It is critical to our Nation that we have strong rural communities and to a large extent--not completely but a lot of what this bill is about is helping rural communities.

Not everyone in this country lives in the big cities or lives in the suburbs. This bill will help every American in lots of ways, no matter where they live, whether they live in the biggest city in the country or the smallest town out in the countryside. But it will

also help millions and millions of hard-working people and their families in rural America. Why in the world would we want to let ideological fights and partisan bickering jeopardize this economic powerhouse we built for ourselves? Nonetheless, today we have overcome that.

This legislation is a win-win for everyone. We have seen Democrats and Republicans from all regions of the country come to the floor to talk about this farm bill, why it is important to them and why it is important that it pass.

Just a few of the provisions in there:

There are market protections for our farmers and ranchers all over the country.

The PILT Program is so critical to a number of western States but certainly a number of our counties in Arkansas. We have counties in our State where literally half or more of their land is Federal. They can't get any tax base off of it, so PILT helps to fix that.

The Catfish Inspection Program. We don't subsidize catfish, but we have the inspection program to make sure imported catfish meet U.S. standards. This is critical. We want a safe and good food supply. There is a big emphasis on exports. We all know we have a terrible trade deficit. Our trade deficit would be horrendous if it wasn't for agriculture.

Of course, there is nutritional assistance for hard-working families in this country. We have the richest, most bountiful, most blessed Nation in the history of the world, and we have people who are hungry. These nutrition programs in many cases are the difference between life and death.

This bill also focuses on conservation. Not everyone is a farmer, but there are millions of people all over this country who love to enjoy the great outdoors. They like to go hunting, they like to go fishing, and other activities. Conservation programs are critical to keep habitat where it is and critical for large sections of our economy. Hunting and fishing is a huge part of our economy, not just in Arkansas but all over the country.

The rural development programs are essential for rural America. We know there is everything from wastewater programs in here to rural housing, to all kinds of programs. But rural development programs are critical for the quality of life in rural America.

I am the first to say this bill isn't perfect. I think all of us agree this is a series of compromises. There are probably things each one of us would do differently if we could change a provision or two in the bill, but it is a good bill. It is going to provide and stabilize good jobs and economic security for our country.

Our agricultural producers not only feed us and clothe us, but they feed and clothe the world. In the Senate we hear every day from the business community. They want more certainty. They want more stability. This bill provides that in the agricultural economy. Our farmers, producers, and others deserve that same certainty and stability, and this bill provides that.

In closing, I would read a quick passage from James 5:7. I was going to read it from King James, but I will paraphrase it. Be patient, therefore, brothers . . . see how the farmer waits for the precious fruit of the Earth, being patient about it, until it receives the early and late rains.

Our agricultural producers have been patient long enough. They have waited and waited and waited on this legislation. I sincerely hope all of us will give this bill strong consideration. This bill provides good common ground. It provides economic security. It continues the safe and abundant food supply that we have in this Nation.

I hope Members on both sides of the aisle will join me in voting yes for this conference report today.

I yield the floor.

Milk Pricing Formula

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

Mr. President, I rise to talk about the business on the floor, which is the Omnibus appropriations bill. Let me start by thanking Chairwoman Mikulski for her leadership. She has put long hours in on this over the Christmas and New Year's break. When most people were home with families and doing things in their home State, on vacation, she never stopped working. Her team, her staff on the Appropriations Committee, never stopped working. The staff, as always, is kind of the unsung hero around here. They did so many great things to put this together, both Democrats and Republicans, House and Senate--everybody had to work together to get this done and I am proud they did.

I am also proud to be one of the appropriations subcommittee chairs who was able to work on this legislation. As you know, I am chairman of the Agriculture Appropriations Subcommittee. I have worked with my counterpart Senator Blunt, the ranking member of the subcommittee, to craft part of this bipartisan bill. Again, Senator Blunt has been wonderful to work with. We appreciate him and his staff as well.

When people hear agriculture appropriations, they often think about farming. That is understandable. We all understand why. That is certainly a key part of the bill, but that is not all it does. Our bill helps farmers with operating loans, conservation practices, marketing. It funds programs that benefit rural communities such as clean drinking water and rural housing, and it supports nutrition programs that help kids across the country.

It also funds international food assistance such as Food for Peace that allows crops grown here at home to be distributed around the world.

This bill, in addition, touches on the Food and Drug Administration. That is an agency that is vitally important to the United States. Here again, just like agriculture is one of the core strengths of the U.S. economy, pharmaceuticals is another area where America leads the world. It is critically important that we have a highly functioning FDA in order for us to keep that competitive advantage.

This bill overall has a huge impact over the U.S. economy, but my subcommittee's part in this bill also has a very significant bearing over the U.S. economy that will continue this recovery. Getting people back to work, getting people focused on domestic jobs and the fact that we make things here and grow things here is critically important for our future.

For example, look at what it is doing to my home State. If I could, I could go around to each one of these desks in the Senate and talk about specific things it is doing in everyone's State, but just in my home State, it is providing funding for many of our universities, including the University or Arkansas at Fayetteville and Arkansas State University in Jonesboro, to conduct cutting edge agricultural research. It is supporting economic development grants for the Delta Regional Authority, which is in our region of the country, to boost the quality of life in the Delta region. It is providing our kids with a safe and stable food supply by supporting, again in our State, the Arkansas Children's Nutrition Center in Little Rock, and it is investing in the technology of tomorrow by funding the National Center for Toxicological Research in Jefferson County, AR.

The NTCR, which is part of the FDA, is also very important and people take it for granted because they don't know what it does, but it is very important. Now they have a new focus on nanotechnology, which they have been doing in the last few years, and that will be a game changer as well. Those are just a few of the challenges.

I could stand here for an hour or so talking about the benefits of the bill and talking about all the provisions and lots of matters that are contained in this bill, but I think overall it is most important to note the agriculture appropriations bill and the omnibus bill overall are an agreement reached because of bipartisanship. We have to look back at what Senator Murray and Congressman Ryan did. I appreciate what they did. They laid the groundwork for us to be here today. It was a bipartisan effort, went through both Houses, bipartisan, big votes, and we saw a huge vote in the House of Representatives yesterday. I hope we will see a large vote in the Senate today or tomorrow or Saturday, whenever we get this done. Certainly I hope it is going to be today. Nonetheless, this is a victory for bipartisanship and the agriculture appropriations part of that is important.

But overall, the fact is that Congress is back in business. We are getting things done. We are getting back to what our chairwoman would call regular order. We are working together and that is the only way we can get things done in Washington. But it is also the only way we can secure our Nation's economic future. I hope we will see a lot more bipartisanship in 2014. I know it is an election year. All the talking heads tell us it is going to be hard to do, but certainly I hope we can get that done and 2014, I hope, is a much more productive year in the Congress than 2013 was.

I yield the floor.

We sure do. We handle, as the Senator says, everything from artichokes to catfish and everything in between. In our bill we take the entire Department of Agriculture, with the exception of forestry--that goes to another subcommittee--and we also do FDA. If you look at--for example, I mentioned, agriculture is one of the core strengths of the U.S. economy. It may not be very exciting. We may take it for granted because in this country we have always had productive agriculture, but if we look at the different advantages it gives us as a nation in lots of different ways, we need to keep that core strength going, just like the pharmaceuticals and the Federal Drug Administration; it is critically important.

That is exactly right. Had we not had those food inspectors, it literally could have shut down the poultry plants--but also the beef and pork and other types of facilities--overnight. It could have shut them down and been very disruptive.

One of the great things about agriculture in the United States is we have created a lot of efficiencies in the agriculture economy. So when you have something disruptive such as this, these inspectors can't inspect the meat and they just cannot operate, you start to cause all kinds of disruptions, all kinds of inefficiencies.

Then what happens is the price of that chicken fillet at the grocery store goes up. When we go to a restaurant it goes up.

We do not need to jeopardize our food supply, either on food safety grounds or on supply grounds, because we have--if we look at the United States and what we spend as a per-capita share of our income, we spend less on food than any country in the world. It is in relative terms. We have to use that per capita, because if we have a higher standard of living here, and we do, but it is something we are very fortunate about and because of this legislation and because of what Senator Stabenow is doing with the farm bill--it is all a team effort--we are going to keep that advantage and keep that food and fiber cheap.

Those are all domestic jobs. That is very important. This is growth here,

raised here, processed here, and served here. It is great for domestic jobs. It has a huge ripple effect on the U.S. economy. This bill is part of that and I am proud to have a hand in it.

Mr. President, I would say in conclusion, as I look on the floor and I see Senators from Alabama, from Maryland, from Maine, from Connecticut, agriculture touches each of these States. It touches them differently. Agriculture is truly a matter of national pride. Every State contributes, basically every person benefits from it.

Again, I was honored to be part of this. The chairwoman deserves a lot of credit for working in a bipartisan way and getting it through both Houses.

I yield the floor.

Mr. President, I move to reconsider the vote.

I suggest the absence of a quorum.

Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the Senate proceed to the immediate consideration of H. Con. Res. 71 which was received from the House.

I ask unanimous consent that the concurrent resolution be read a third time and passed and the motion to reconsider be laid upon the table.

I ask unanimous consent that the Senate proceed to the immediate consideration of H.R. 2319, which is at the desk.

I further ask that the bill be read three times and passed and the motions to reconsider be considered made and laid upon the table, with no intervening action or debate.

I ask unanimous consent that the Indian Affairs Committee be discharged from further consideration of H.R. 623 and that the Senate proceed to its immediate consideration.

I further ask that the bill be read a third time and passed and the motion to reconsider be considered made and laid upon the table, with no intervening action or debate.

Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the Energy Committee be discharged from further consideration of H.R. 767, and the Senate proceed to its consideration.

Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the bill be read a third time and passed, and the motion to reconsider be laid upon the table, with no intervening action or debate.

Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the Judiciary Committee be discharged from further consideration of S. 1614, and the Senate proceed to its consideration.

Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the bill be read a third time and passed, and the motion to reconsider be laid upon the table, with no intervening action or debate.

Mr. President, I understand that there are two bills at the desk, and I ask for their first reading en bloc.

Mr. President, I now ask for a second reading, en bloc, and I object to my own request en bloc.

Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that when the Senate completes its business today, it adjourn until 9 a.m. on Friday, December 20, 2013; that following the prayer and pledge, the morning hour be deemed expired, the Journal of proceedings be approved to date, and the time for the two leaders be reserved for their use later in the day; and that following any leader remarks, the Senate resume executive session under the previous order.

Mr. President, there will be six rollcall votes at approximately 10:15 a.m. tomorrow.

If there is no further business to come before the Senate, I ask unanimous consent that it adjourn under the previous order.

I rise to discuss the pending budget agreement.

First, I wish to praise Senator Murray and Congressman Ryan for their hard work. I think everyone around here and everyone around the Nation recognizes what they have done. Their efforts have allowed us to reach a bipartisan and bicameral agreement. They deserve our recognition, and we appreciate them for all their hard work. I am sure at times it seemed like endless hours of hard work, but it has definitely paid off with the big votes we have seen in the House and also in the Senate.

As anyone in this Chamber could tell us, bipartisanship is all too rare in Congress these days. I can only speak for myself, but I am tired of the gridlock, and the American people--especially those whom I talk to from Arkansas--are tired of it as well. We must work together to get work done and to keep our economy growing.

This agreement, in my view, is a positive step forward. It gives our business community and our economy the certainty it has been looking for. It also prevents the ``my way or the highway'' politics that have been so destructive and that have been practiced by an irresponsible few that have seemed committed to hurt our economy. It restores resources to our national security interests, which I think is extremely important.

I appreciate what Senator McCain of Arizona said a few moments ago on the floor. It does all this while reducing the deficit. That being said, this agreement is not perfect, especially when it comes to the harmful budget cuts made at the expense of our men and women in uniform. I will be the first to say we need to cut our spending, but we need to do it in a responsible way. We need to cut waste, fraud, and abuse. We need to eliminate items such as unnecessary government purchasing and maintenance of real estate and buildings. We can end out-of-date and ineffective government programs, but we cannot balance the budget on the backs of our hard-working military members and their families.

As the Senator from Arizona said a few moments ago, he is hopeful-- and many of us believe and agree--that we will have a chance to fix this someday soon. That is why I am here, to encourage my colleagues from both sides of the aisle to support commonsense solutions, commonsense provisions that will restore full retirement pay for our future military retirees and repeal section 403 of this agreement.

Our brave men and women in uniform have made many sacrifices for this country. When I think about their heroism and the what they have done, I think of a passage in the Book of Isaiah, when Isaiah is preparing to leave everything behind, go out, and preach the word of the Lord to the people who need to hear it.

Isaiah 6:8 states:

And I heard the voice of the Lord saying, ``Whom shall I

send, and who will go for us?'' Then I said, ``Here I am!

Send me.''

Here I am. Send me. That is exactly what our men and women in uniform say. They leave their families behind. They leave behind their homes, their jobs, and in many cases a wonderful life to go out and protect the freedoms we all enjoy. So singling them out is not only unfair, it is also wrong. These heroes laid their lives on the line for us, and they deserve for us to work to fix this provision so they can receive the full benefits they have earned.

The good news is, as we have heard the Senator from Arizona and the Senator from Washington say a few moments ago, we can fix this and we can move forward. That is the good news today. We have this bipartisan, bicameral budget agreement, and it does move us forward. If we can get the votes necessary today to pass it, then we can swiftly move with another bill at some point in the near future to protect and fix what I am so concerned about.

Back to the bipartisan agreement, the bicameral agreement that the chairwoman of the Senate Budget Committee reached with the chairman of the House Budget Committee, this is a job well done. This is an effort. None of this is easy. There are always going to be decisions that are hard and difficult.

That is why balancing the budget is so hard, because there are popular provisions. We have to make tough choices, but these are tough times and we need to make these tough choices.

I join my colleagues in the hope we get a large bipartisan vote for the legislation and for the agreement Senator Murray and Congressman Ryan reached. I also hope we very quickly will act to fix the one provision that is causing so much heartburn.

With that, I yield the floor and I suggest the absence of a quorum.

Mr. President, today, I wish to recognize the dedicated employees at Aerojet Rocketdyne's production facility in Camden, AR. The employees, nearly 525 strong, recently achieved the milestone shipment of their 2,000th PAC-3 solid rocket motor and 400,000th PAC-3 attitude control motor to Lockheed Martin and the U.S. Army.

Aerojet Rocketdyne is recognized around the globe as an aerospace and defense leader proudly serving the missile, space propulsion, and armaments markets. Since 1998, the PAC-3 SRM and ACM rocket motors manufactured in Camden have been a noteworthy component of Aerojet Rocketdyne's industry-leading tactical propulsion portfolio.

The PAC-3 missile is a high-velocity interceptor, and it is the world's most advanced, capable, and powerful terminal air defense missile when deployed in a Patriot battery. It is capable of defeating the entire threat of tactical ballistic missiles, cruise missiles, and aircraft. The solid rocket motors produced in Camden are a vital component to the PAC-3 rocket receiving 100 percent effective rate during Operation Iraqi Freedom.

I am proud to recognize the dedicated and hard-working employees of Aerojet Rocketdyne for their outstanding achievement. This milestone is a reflection of their continued dedication to ensuring our men and women in uniform have the resources they need to carry out their missions effectively and efficiently. With this accomplishment and their future endeavors, the employees of Aerojet Rocketdyne in Camden, AR have earned our most sincere appreciation for a job well done.