Trent Lott: “Since objection has been heard, I have no alternative other than to offer a series of amendments. This is important…”

“Since objection has been heard, I have no alternative other than to offer a series of amendments. This is important because we do need to move forward with the Agriculture appropriations bill. We brought it up earlier, this past month. It became embroiled in an unrelated issue, and we had to set it aside. The farmers in America and the consumers of America and the children of America are depending on this very important legislation going through the process. We are talking about $60.7 billion, probably more than that by the time it is completed, for agriculture in America. We need to get it completed. I know there are some issues that cause a lot of concern: How do you deal with a disaster in America, when do you deal with it, and how would any assistance be apportioned among the farmers that have been impacted by disasters in a number of ways. And also, of course, we have this very important dairy issue. I have advised Senator Cochran, Senator Jeffords, Senator Kohl, and Senator Daschle to make sure everybody understands what I am doing here. I am doing it because I do think it is so important that we move forward on this bill.”