Small Business Lending Fund Act

Floor Speech

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Mr. DURBIN. Will the Senator yield for a question?

Ms. LANDRIEU. I will yield for a question.

Mr. DURBIN. She made reference to the fact that the Senator from Arkansas, Senator Lincoln, had asked for some agricultural disaster assistance which is now included in this bill, and she has represented in the Senate that this has bipartisan support?

Ms. LANDRIEU. Yes.

Mr. DURBIN. I don't know if the Senator has heard from others that they object to her adding this in the bill, but if I am not mistaken, we are prepared to take a vote on that on the floor on the agricultural disaster assistance, if that is what is being asked of us.

Ms. LANDRIEU. I thank the Senator for raising that. Although it was not said publicly, I have been told privately that there is some strong objection on the Republican side for including that. I said I thought it was a bipartisan amendment, but if it is not, perhaps something could be worked out where we could have a straight up-or-down vote on that on the floor. That did not seem to satisfy the critics. Let's wait and see. I don't know how to respond other than I have heard that. I have said I think there are enough votes on the floor of the Senate, Republicans and Democrats, to vote to move that provision with this bill. If there is any doubt about it, then let's have a straight up-or-down vote on it, but we will see.

Right now, in conclusion, the bill, the package that came to the floor, has one amendment offered by Republican LEMIEUX and LANDRIEU, and the agricultural disaster. That is it. That is what is in this bill and it is worthy of a positive vote.

If there are three or four or other things that need to be amended, we should figure that out, but I am prepared to vote to move this bill to final passage because it is in excellent shape with bipartisan support--although not everybody supports every provision. We most certainly have had a very rigorous debate and hopefully we can continue to keep this bill in its current form, with maybe a few additions, but if not, it is in very good form now, and I yield the floor.

I will suggest the absence of a quorum.

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