Thad Cochran: “this is a provision to be added to the bill that deals with eligibility for USDA rural development programs. This is a…”

“this is a provision to be added to the bill that deals with eligibility for USDA rural development programs. This is a provision which enables the municipality of Carolina, Puerto Rico to be eligible for USDA rural development programs. Eligibility for these programs is based on certain statistics such as population and income but on occasion some communities are declared not eligible because they are too close to an urban area or there is a small pocket of higher income population in the locality. There is no cost to this amendment. It merely makes the community eligible. They still must apply through USDA and they are subject to the availability of existing funds. The Agriculture Committee has no objection and it has been cleared on the Democratic side. Mr. President, the amendment has been cleared on both sides of the aisle and we know of no objection to the amendment from any Senator. The PRESIDING OFFICER. Is there further debate? If not, the question is on agreeing to the amendment. The amendment (No. 1735) was agreed to.”