Nomination of John Roberts

NOMINATION OF JOHN ROBERTS

BREAK IN TRANSCRIPT

AMENDMENT NO. 1760, WITHDRAWN

Mr. DURBIN. Mr. President, I rise to enter into a brief colloquy with Senator Cochran, who is the chairman of the Senate Appropriations Committee, to discuss agriculture disaster assistance. The purpose of this colloquy is to set the stage for withdrawing a pending amendment which I am sure the chairman of the subcommittee, the Senator from Utah, will be happy to hear.

This has been a tough year for agricultural producers from coast to coast. Hurricane Katrina has decimated production throughout the gulf coast. The most recent USDA estimates released yesterday put hurricane-related losses in that region at nearly $900 million as a result of Hurricane Katrina. Having just visited this region with Senator Cochran a few days ago, I am not surprised. The devastation there is unimaginable, until one is on the scene.

In addition, we have had a terrible drought in the Midwest--in my home State of Illinois, Missouri, parts of Iowa, and Minnesota. We have had the worst drought in over 100 years in some parts of my State. Every county but one in Illinois has been designated a disaster area by the Secretary of Agriculture. Corn that should be standing 10 feet tall in some of the most fertile ground in America barely measures 6 feet and, sadly, is not going to produce much. The same is true for many of my counties when it comes to soybean production.

These drought conditions have reduced crop yields. Based on September USDA estimates of 2005 crop production and prices, the value of corn and soybean production in Illinois has been reduced by over $792 million, relative to what might have been expected under average growing conditions. In addition to these losses, there may be impacts on other crops and pastures as well.

We also face flooding in parts of North Dakota, red tide problems in New England that are shutting down shellfish producers who depend on the sea for their livelihoods, and an extended drought in the West and parts of the South, including Arkansas.

During this uncertain time, it is important to ensure that our agricultural producers stay in business. Most producers depend on farming for their livelihoods. In addition, there is an intrinsic good in knowing our food has been grown locally, is regulated by the Federal and State Governments, and is the safest in the world. We all benefit when American farmers are prosperous. For all of these reasons, I hope to ensure that our farmers, ranchers, and others who face disaster losses have their day in court when it comes to our Federal Government.

We have done this in the past. Last year, following a series of hurricanes, we enacted legislation to provide assistance to farmers who experienced crop loss.

I wish to ask the Senator from Mississippi to include agriculture losses incurred due to Hurricane Katrina and other national disasters, including the drought in the Midwest, in the next Katrina supplemental package.

I yield the floor to the Senator from Mississippi for a response.

The PRESIDING OFFICER. The Senator from Mississippi is recognized.

Mr. COCHRAN. Mr. President, I am happy to join my friend from Illinois in bringing to the attention of the Senate the fact that there have been substantial losses that have occurred as a result of Hurricane Katrina, particularly in the States of Louisiana, Mississippi, and Alabama.

Having visited the State, as the Senator pointed out, just recently, it makes a vivid impression upon anyone who looks upon the widespread disaster that was caused by this dreadful hurricane.

While we do have on the books Federal crop insurance programs, other disaster assistance authorization, there always seems to be examples in a disaster of this kind of unmet needs and where, for some reason or another, the effect of the disaster is not fully protected by existing programs.

I am pleased to note, on page 88 in the committee report accompanying this appropriations bill, the committee includes information about the recent amendments to the Agricultural Risk Protection Act. It amended the original Federal Crop Insurance Act to strengthen the safety net for agricultural producers by providing greater access to more affordable risk management tools and improved protection from production and income loss and to improve the efficiency and integrity of the Federal Crop Insurance Program.

So progress has been made, but notwithstanding, I agree to work with the Senator from Illinois and the chairman of the subcommittee to craft language and funding that would be approved by the Senate, it is my hope, in any supplemental bill which the administration may request.

It is my understanding, from a visit yesterday with the Director of the Office of Management and Budget, it is expected that the administration will request an additional appropriation supplementing the funds that are available for many Government agencies and some departments to continue to provide disaster assistance to help recover from this dreadful hurricane.

In that legislation, when it does come before the Senate, we will work together to ensure that an appropriate provision is included, as described by the Senator from Illinois.

The PRESIDING OFFICER. The Senator from Illinois is recognized.

Mr. DURBIN. Mr. President, I thank the Senator from Mississippi for coming over to the floor because I know
there are thousands of agricultural producers across the United States who were anxious to hear we are mindful of the disasters they have faced and in the region of Hurricane Katrina and other natural disasters across our country.

I ask unanimous consent that the following cosponsors be added to the amendment I have sent to the desk: My colleague from Illinois, Senator Obama, who shares my feelings on the drought that has faced our State, as well as my colleague from across the Mississippi River, Senator Bond.

The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered.

Mr. DURBIN. Mr. President, with this colloquy, however, I feel confident we can work together to resolve this problem in a reasonable way and, as a consequence, I ask unanimous consent to withdraw amendment No. 1760.

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