Kent Conrad

Workforce reductions at Farm Service Agency as well as other agencies within the U.S. Department of Agriculture have impacted the quality of services provided. Employees of the U.S. Department of Agriculture have expressed concern that…

I do object to what has occurred here, in terms of the way we are dealing with each other. When I worked to put together an indemnity plan, I went to Members on the other side and I consulted with everyone. On this matter, there was no…

I have found the Senator from Indiana to be among the most courteous of our colleagues, and we are very much going to miss him. I think he is an outstanding U.S. Senator, an extraordinarily decent person, and I am personally going to miss…

The fact is there are no new bureaucracies in this bill. Those have been taken out. Our friends on the other side talk about taxes. They talk not at all about the taxes that are being imposed on every American to pay for the costs that are…

Is it not the case in the Texas matter that there has not been a dollar paid and there is no final resolution of that matter, that that matter is on appeal, and the Governor has interceded in that case?

One final question I ask of the Senator. Isn't the Senator concerned, as I am, that the $4,000-per-hour fee cap that is supposed to be a cap, supposed to be a ceiling, could well turn into a floor, and the fact is that we will see…

How can this Senator justify supporting an amendment now that goes to $4,000 an hour?

I think the Senator misspoke himself. The Senator indicated in the arbitration panel one would be appointed by the plaintiff, one by the plaintiff's lawyer, and then one by the two. I am sure the Senator will acknowledge it is one by the…

I have been in the Senate 12 years. I must say I don't recall a time when the majority leader said to the minority, ``We will not only decide what amendments are offered on our side, but we'll decide what amendments are offered on your…

No. I asked repeatedly for the Senator to yield to me. He repeatedly refused, so I refuse. The point is very simple. The reason his numbers are at dramatic variance with the official estimate of what this bill that is before this body will…

The simple fact is the numbers he has displayed here are not the official forecast for what this bill will raise. They just are not. They are dramatically higher than the official forecast before this body by the Joint Tax Committee, which…

Last week, I made a series of speeches on what I called the stealth disaster that is affecting North Dakota. This year, we have another disaster, but it is getting almost no attention. It is a stealth disaster. It is a stealth disaster…

It would not stop NATO enlargement from going forward. This is not some scheme to stop NATO enlargement. I am opposed to NATO enlargement, but this does not stop enlargement. This does do something about sending a signal we ought to do…

What we are trying to do is direct the attention of this administration and our colleagues to the very real threat that ``loose nukes'' present. And we are trying to take the words of General Habiger, who has said to us they have 7,000 to…

Is there anything in the amendment that is before the Senate now that requires a reduction on anybody's part before there is ratification?

Let me just say that the publisher, Mike Maidenberg, and the editor, Mike Jacobs, did truly a remarkable job in having this newspaper produced every single day even though their building was destroyed by flood and fire, and to produce a…

This issue is simple. The question is, Are we going to have a reserve fund so that there is a solution to the tobacco controversy, that we can use the money in a way that accommodates every comprehensive bill that is before this body…

We are both persuaded that if we don't address the long-term entitlement changes that are necessary in this country, we put this country at risk. We are talking about the national security of our Nation because, fundamentally, that cannot…

Yes, exactly. It seems startling, but that is what the budget resolution provides. The resolution says that not one dime of any tobacco settlement money can go for tobacco smoking cessation, smoking prevention, or any of the other programs…

Amendment No. 2175 (Purpose: To express the sense of the Senate regarding elementary and secondary school modernization and construction; improving the educational environment for the 14 million children who attend severely dilapidated…

This is to ensure that the tobacco reserve fund in the resolution protects public health.

One of the major issues on comprehensive tobacco legislation is, Will this industry be given special, unprecedented protection-- protection that has never been granted any other industry at any time? That is, special protection against…

I wish to recognize the leadership of Senator Kennedy on the critical issue of protecting the public health and the tobacco legislation. He has been one of the most valued members of the task force on tobacco in the Democratic Caucus. No…

In 1993, the Democrats passed an economic plan that was a 5-year plan. That plan cut spending and it also raised income taxes on the wealthiest 1.5 percent of the people in this country. Many criticized us for that plan at the time…

We appreciate the interest of the Ranking Member in our request to provide an official designation to the Red River Trade Corridor. We look forward to working with them on this designation, which is critical to the future of our state and…