Byron Dorgan: “I only wanted to follow Senator Conrad and point out that this amendment is truly bipartisan. Those who have watched…”

“I only wanted to follow Senator Conrad and point out that this amendment is truly bipartisan. Those who have watched this debate will recognize we have had Republicans and Democrats come to the floor of the Senate to say this is an important amendment. They support it, and they hope the Senate will pass it. I want to point out again that this is the third time we have brought this to the floor of the Senate. On two other occasions, it passed the Senate and had gone to conference. On both of those occasions, it was blocked in conference with the U.S. House. It was blocked by the House conferees. I believe on both occasions I asked for a vote of the Senate conferees, and the Senate conferees insisted on their position. So it is not a weak will here with respect to disaster assistance for farmers that exists. It is a very strong will, and the Senate has expressed itself previously on two occasions.”