Mitch Landrieu: “I thank both of the Senators from Arkansas and the Senators from Mississippi. Senator Breaux and I join with them in…”

“I thank both of the Senators from Arkansas and the Senators from Mississippi. Senator Breaux and I join with them in sponsoring this provision in the Agriculture appropriations bill. I thank my colleagues for wisely defeating this amendment. Allow me to take a few moments to say that for Louisiana this is a very important industry. Catfish farmers in Catahoula Parish, Franklin Parish, and other parishes throughout our Mississippi Delta have spent years and a lot of money, as the Senator from Mississippi knows, in developing these farms and investing their hard-earned dollars in marketing this product to a nation that was somewhat reluctant some years ago to accept this. Now catfish is commonplace in restaurants across the country. Speaking for a State that represents the greatest restaurants in this Nation, let me say it is not only the farmers who benefit, but also our restaurants and our consumers. I thank the Senate for their wise tabling of the McCain amendment. I am for free trade but fair trade, and tabling this amendment was a step in that direction.”