Tom Harkin: “Mr. President, I express my support for the conference report to the Agriculture Risk Protection Act of 2000 which we…”

“Mr. President, I express my support for the conference report to the Agriculture Risk Protection Act of 2000 which we conferenced yesterday. I thank Senator Lugar, our chairman, for his hard work and persistence, as I said, over a couple of years in crafting the crop insurance title in this conference report which will provide significant benefits to farmers across the country. This accomplishment is bipartisan, one of which we can be proud. I thank Senator Lugar again for his persistent and strong leadership. I thank both Senator Roberts and Senator Kerrey who really were the impetus for these changes in the Crop Insurance Program. I know the two of them worked long and hard to put together this bill. In the beginning stages, they worked with us on both sides of the aisle to meet the needs of various parts of our country. I especially thank Senator Roberts and Senator Kerrey. In this regard, Mr. President, this is probably the last agriculture bill we will have this year.”