Mr. President, I am here to offer a substitute amendment to the Menendez act, which is currently under consideration on the Senate floor. That is S. 2204. The substitute amendment I would like to offer is legislation I have authored along…

So no amendments will be allowed? Mr. President, I think that is unfortunate. It is time, it is well past time, to take action on behalf of the American people. I yield the floor. The PRESIDING OFFICER. The Senator from Alaska.

I want to thank you for your help on the Water Bank Program, and your folks are working to implement it.

I know you and I share a common belief that blender pumps are a good thing, can help give consumers more choice, better pricing, help stimulate renewable fuel, production, and distribution.

Are you willing to encourage that potatoes be included with the WIC supplemental nutrition program?

I'm on the Agriculture subcommittee as well, and that's not the direction we're going.

Crop insurance is going to be more important, in terms of a cost-effective safety net.

Crop insurance is a partnership between the Government and farmers.

I do want to emphasize those two programs to you, U.S. Wheat and Barley Scab Initiative, also, the Ug99 Barley Stem Rust Research Program, because both saw 30-percent reduction.

Clearly, we're not going to have direct payments.

We're going to need to emphasize crop insurance.