Cord Byrd: “I thank the Chair, Senator Kohl, who is also chairman of the agriculture appropriations subcommittee. I thank him for…”

“I thank the Chair, Senator Kohl, who is also chairman of the agriculture appropriations subcommittee. I thank him for his good work on behalf of the people of his State, for his good work on behalf of the people of my State, and for his good work on behalf of the people of the Nation. He is an apt student of public service and of the legislative process. He is one of my favorites. When I speak in that term, I think of the legislative process and I think of this institution, the Senate. I also thank Senator Cochran, who is the ranking member of the subcommittee. I thank him for his service to the Nation and to his people and to my people--to our people. Senator Cochran likewise does good work for the Nation and for the committee. He is a very able member of the Appropriations Committee. This conference report includes $75.8 billion in total spending for fiscal year 2002. This amount is $3 million below the level passed by the Senate. Of the total amount provided, $16.0 billion is discretionary spending, and this amount is within the subcommittee's 302(b) allocation. This conference does not include one cent--not one copper penny--of emergency spending. This conference report supports programs related to agricultural research, conservation, rural development, promotion of international trade, and many other traditional programs for which the agriculture bill has become so well known.”