Dick Lugar: “I want to discuss the two amendments which have been offered by my colleagues, the distinguished ranking member, Senator…”

“I want to discuss the two amendments which have been offered by my colleagues, the distinguished ranking member, Senator Harkin of Iowa, and the distinguished chairman of the Agriculture Subcommittee on Appropriations, Senator Cochran. But I want to do so in the context in which Senators may be thoughtful about what type of action is appropriate, given not only the problems of agriculture but likewise the general problems that we have in this country that we are trying to address. I note, for example, that the President of the United States, in his speech to the Nation on agriculture on Saturday, indicated that there are a number of things at stake here. I quote the President: I am committed to working with Congress to provide the resources to help our farmers and ranchers by dealing with today's crisis and by fixing the farm bill for the future. But we must do so in a way that maintains the fiscal discipline that has created our prosperity that now makes it possible for us to save Social Security, strengthen and modernize Medicare with a prescription drug benefit and to pay off our national debt guaranteeing our long-term financial prosperity. These things are good for America's farming and ranching families, too, and they're good for all Americans.”