I ask unanimous consent that following a moment of silence at noon today, the Senate proceed to a vote in relation to Cantwell amendment No. 919; that upon disposition of the Cantwell amendment, Senator Gillibrand be recognized. The…

Is there time remaining? The PRESIDING OFFICER. There is 1 minute 9 seconds remaining.

I ask for the yeas and nays. The PRESIDING OFFICER. Is there a sufficient second? There appears to be. There is a sufficient second. The clerk will call the roll. The bill clerk called the roll.

Thank you, Mr. President. Certainly we want to hear from the distinguished Senator from Montana. I know the Senator from South Dakota has been waiting for some time as well, and we had asked him to wait until Senator Roberts had offered…

I object. The PRESIDING OFFICER. Objection is heard. The Senator from North Dakota.

Reserving the right to object, Madam President. The PRESIDING OFFICER. The Senator from Michigan.

Before proceeding with Senator Gillibrand's amendment, I ask unanimous consent that the Sessions amendment No. 945, with the changes at the desk, as modified, be agreed to. The amendment, as modified, was agreed to, as follows: (Purpose…

I thank the Senator. Madam President, we have a great start here with our first vote. Amendment No. 945, As Modified

I move to reconsider the vote and to lay that motion upon the table. The motion to lay on the table was agreed to. Amendment No. 931

I ask unanimous consent that there now be 5 minutes equally divided prior to a vote in relation to the Gillibrand amendment No. 931; that there be no second-degree amendments in order to the amendment prior to the vote. The PRESIDING…

Let me indicate that this amendment would require tribes to be included in the development of Resource Conservation Act appraisals. It is something that is supported by Senator Cochran and me. I ask for the yeas and nays. The PRESIDING…

I move to reconsider the vote and to lay that motion on the table. The motion to lay on the table was agreed to. The PRESIDING OFFICER. The Senator from Michigan. Amendment No. 931

I rise in strong opposition to this amendment. This goes way beyond what we have done in the committee, which is to focus on waste, fraud, and abuse and make sure there is integrity in the program, to make sure supplemental nutrition…

I see my friend from Louisiana wishing to speak, but I have a unanimous consent request first. I ask unanimous consent that at 4:05--5 minutes after 4--the Senate proceed to a vote in relation to the Roberts amendment, No. 948; that there…

first, I thank the Senator from Vermont for raising all these issues that are so important for the American people. At this point in time, we do have an amendment that is pending, the amendment of Senator Gillibrand. We do not have…

I ask unanimous consent that the Permanent Subcommittee on Investigations of the Committee on Homeland Security and Government Affairs be authorized to meet during the session of the Senate on May 21, 2013, at 9:30 a.m., to conduct a…

I ask unanimous consent that further reading of the amendment be dispensed with. The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered. The amendment is as follows: (Purpose: To allow Indian tribes to participate in certain soil and…

I wish to thank our majority leader, Republican leader, and all the Members for allowing us in the Senate to move forward today on this very important bill. I want to thank my ranking member Senator Thad Cochran for his friendship and his…

I now take the opportunity to turn to my friend, a great agricultural leader in the Senate. The ACTING PRESIDENT pro tempore. The Senator from Mississippi.

reserving the right to object, I just indicated to the Senator from Arizona that while I have no objection to having a vote on his amendment, I ask that he not proceed with his request at this time. We have an amendment that is pending…

I would like to take a moment this afternoon to talk about the importance of crop insurance as a risk management tool. I think we will probably have a lot of discussion on the floor about crop insurance, but, as I said, as a matter of…

I ask unanimous consent that Kevin Norton, a detailee to our committee, Heather Arnold, John Newton, and Eric Hansen, fellows for the committee, be granted floor privileges for the remainder of the debate on S. 954, the Agriculture Reform…

This is an incredibly important hearing.

That is correct. Mr. McCAIN. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent to engage in a colloquy. The ACTING PRESIDENT pro tempore. Without objection, it is so ordered. Mr. McCAIN. Does that mean we would vote on this early on?

Before the Senator from Ohio leaves, I want to thank him. He has been an invaluable member of our committee. We would not have the agricultural risk coverage portion and the yield loss coverage portion in this bill were it not for his…