On the recordJune 19, 2012
unfortunately, I would urge my colleagues to vote no on this amendment. It cuts in half funding for a program that helps food entrepreneurs--small businesses and farmers who want to create new kinds of products and to commercialize them and get them to the marketplace. This is really what we are trying to do--to leverage more dollars in this bill to support not only the farmer on the farm but also to move into commercialization and to create new food products and jobs. In fact, we have created hundreds of jobs at wineries. We have done this all across the country--created jobs by helping small businesses and entrepreneurs to take a great idea and to move it to commercialization and add value to their product. I would strongly urge a ``no'' vote, and I would ask for the yeas and nays. The PRESIDING OFFICER. Is there a sufficient second? There appears to be a sufficient second. All time has expired. The question is on agreeing to the amendment. The clerk will call the roll. The legislative clerk called the roll.
