this letter was sent to Majority Leader Reid and Republican Leader McConnell on behalf of the American Farm Bureau, American Soybean Association, the National Association of Wheat Growers, National Barley Growers Association, National Corn…

I first wish to thank Senator Harkin as chair of the Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions Committee and past chair of the Agriculture Committee for his words of concern regarding the House budget as it relates to agriculture. I share…

as we come back into session this evening and into September, as Chair of the Agriculture Committee I have one message for colleagues in the House of Representatives--for the Speaker, for the Republican leadership--and that is, we need a…

Absolutely. And because of the wonderful work of the Senator from Iowa on our school nutrition efforts and the Fresh Fruit and Vegetable Program, we had the strong support of families, educators, and schools across the country.

Absolutely. We had the support of farm groups and conservation groups all across the country.

Well, the distinguished Senator is absolutely right. One would think this would be the time to just pass it. And frankly, if not, because we know the House committee has a little different view on commodities, we offered to sit down all…

I ask unanimous consent the order for the quorum call be rescinded. The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered. The Senator from Michigan.

I ask unanimous consent that the motion to reconsider be considered made and laid upon the table, that the President be immediately notified of the Senate's action, and the Senate resume legislative session. The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without…

I would suggest the absence of a quorum. The PRESIDING OFFICER. The clerk will call the roll. The assistant bill clerk proceeded to call the roll. Mr. McCAIN. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the order for the quorum call be…

I thank the Senator from North Dakota for allowing me to take a few moments to speak when he was waiting his turn. I wish to also say Senator Hoeven has been a terrific member of our Agriculture Committee, coming in, in his first term, and…

I rise today to strongly urge my colleagues to support the nomination of an outstanding judge, Gershwin Drain, to the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Michigan. We will have an opportunity to vote in a few minutes…

I am not sure the House has completed the vote yet on a partial disaster assistance program, but I am rising to urge colleagues in the House to join with us in passing the Agricultural Reform Food and Jobs Act, commonly known as the farm…

I wish to take a few moments to update folks about what is happening as it relates to the very important effort to pass a 5-year farm bill for our country--for our ranchers, for our farmers, for those who care deeply about nutrition and…

I ask unanimous consent that the order for the quorum call be rescinded. The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered. The Farm Bill

I ask unanimous consent that the Committee on Indian Affairs be authorized to meet during the session of the Senate on July 19, 2012, in room SD-628 of the Dirksen Senate Office Building, at 2:15 p.m., to conduct a hearing entitled…

I ask unanimous consent that the Committee on Armed Services be authorized to meet during the session of the Senate on July 19, 2012, at 9:30 a.m. The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered. Committee on Health, Education…

in just a couple minutes we are going to be voting on a very important policy, a very important bill I am proud to sponsor with a number of cosponsors, a number of colleagues, called the Bring Jobs Home Act. It goes to the heart of what…

I ask unanimous consent that the Select Committee on Intelligence be authorized to meet during the session of the Senate on July 19, 2012, at 2:30 p.m. The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered. ____________________

I ask unanimous consent that the Committee on the Judiciary be authorized to meet during the session of the Senate on July 19, 2012, at 10 a.m., in SD-226 of the Dirksen Senate Office Building, to conduct an executive business meeting. The…

Thank you, Mr. President. I wish to take a moment to speak about what just happened and my deep concern about what just happened with this vote. On the one hand, we have 56 Members, a majority--a substantial majority of Members who voted…

I want to speak as the chair of the Agriculture Committee about what is happening on the droughts across the country. First, I want to take a moment as the author of the Bring Jobs Home Act to say that this afternoon we are going to have…

I ask unanimous consent that the Committee on Health, Education, Labor and Pensions be authorized to meet during the session of the Senate to conduct a hearing entitled ``Making College Affordability a Priority: Promising Practices and…

I first want to thank my friend and colleague from Connecticut for his commitment and compassion and passion on this issue. I appreciate very much his joining with me and others to come together to put forward what I think is a commonsense…

I rise today to urge my colleagues to support the motion we have before us to begin consideration of my bill, the Bring Jobs Home Act. I thank my leader for making this a priority and thank the President of the United States for also…

if I might just have 1 more minute. The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered.