Kent Conrad: “let me thank Senators Hutchison and Feinstein, the managers of this bill, for the opportunity to offer and discuss my…”

“let me thank Senators Hutchison and Feinstein, the managers of this bill, for the opportunity to offer and discuss my amendment to provide emergency agricultural disaster assistance for our farmers and ranchers. Normally, most of my colleagues know I would not offer this amendment on an unrelated measure. Our hand is forced. We are told it is highly unlikely there will be an Agriculture appropriations bill considered separately. We have no alternative but to offer this measure to this legislation. This amendment will determine whether thousands of farm families will be able to continue next year. We have had 2 years of unusual natural disasters that have affected agriculture across this country. These people need to know whether they can continue in the business of farming and ranching. Their bankers need to know. This legislation is critical to that determination.”