Tom Harkin: “let me just wrap up by again thanking Senators for the overwhelming vote that we just had. I think that vote will send a…”

“let me just wrap up by again thanking Senators for the overwhelming vote that we just had. I think that vote will send a clear signal to the House to move very rapidly on the bill. We will get it down to the President and hopefully get this important conference report signed in very short order. I can just tell you, there will be a giant sigh of relief among the agriculture community from coast to coast and border to border as soon as this bill gets signed, because then we can get on to the business of getting our crop insurance policies renewed around the country and we can get on with the business of revamping, revising, and strengthening agricultural research throughout America. But the most important and most vital aspect of the bill in the immediate future is the Crop Insurance Program. Farmers will be assured right away that they will be able to continue their protection against disaster losses. Mr. President, let me again compliment and thank my chairman, Senator Lugar, first for his leadership on the ag research provisions of the bill. He has said many times that, entering the new century, we need to have a new approach, and new ways of doing our research in agriculture. He is absolutely right. I was happy and proud to support him in those efforts.”