Tom Harkin: “I join my colleague and concur in his remarks on the Sessions amendment. For a lot of subjects before us we get good…”

“I join my colleague and concur in his remarks on the Sessions amendment. For a lot of subjects before us we get good ideas, interesting ideas that come up via amendments on bills. This isn't the first time it has happened. As Senator Chambliss said, this idea has been talked about, floated around for a while. Senator Sessions has perhaps focused it more than I have seen in the past on the savings account idea. But I think Senator Chambliss is right. This is a very complicated subject. It involves a lot of different considerations and as well as interactions with other programs in agriculture. I would just say to my friend from Alabama that I would, with Senator Chambliss, be willing to have some hearings on this next year, and I invite the Senator to testify and bring some witnesses in, as Senator Chambliss says, some agricultural economists, some agricultural producers, and see what this proposal would do. If it has legs, if it has some merit, we could move it. Just because we pass a farm bill doesn't mean that our committee is dormant for 5 years. We will be holding hearings and working on legislation. The occupant of the chair, too, will be actively involved in a lot of those discussions next year as a valuable member of our committee. So I would just say to the Senator from Alabama, I am going to join Senator Chambliss in opposing the amendment.”