If we do not grant Russia PNTR status, the second question is, do you see the disparity that exists today...

I think it is important that we do everything we can to provide U.S. businesses greater access to markets.

If we are going to continue to see the types of commodity prices that have helped agriculture prosper in the last few years, we have to continue to look for ways to open up more markets around the world.

I think that is something that people across this country, particularly in farm country, get and want to make sure that we are doing our part.

Representing South Dakota, agriculture is our number one industry, so I take my position on this Committee very seriously.

I have worked with some of my colleagues on this Committee to develop a program that sort of fits within those parameters I mentioned that is more timely delivered and easier to administer.

back in 2008 then-Senator Obama said that under his policies energy costs would necessarily ``skyrocket'' and that he would ``have preferred a gradual adjustment to higher gasoline prices.'' He indicated at the time that under his policies…

In order for agriculture to maintain its current role as one of the few shining stars in our economy, our Committee has a tremendous responsibility to create agricultural policy that not only provides an adequate safety net but that also…

this week the Gallup poll came out with a survey that said 85 percent of small businesses in this country are not hiring. They just are not hiring. When asked why, 50 percent of those small businesses responded that it was the health care…

I ask unanimous consent to enter into a colloquy with the Senator from Kansas for as much time as we may consume. The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered. ____________________

if the Senator from Kansas will yield quickly in closing on one point, is the Senator aware of any group that was consulted on this? Were there any farm organizations that were brought into this or had any input into this? As the Senator…

if the Senator will yield on that point, what the Senator has touched upon I think is something that perhaps people who don't come from farm country don't appreciate as much as we do, and that is just the very nature of farming. Farming…

I don't know what the Senator's average age of a farmer in Kansas is, but my understanding is, at least nationally, the average age of a farmer in this country is nearing 60 years old, which means one thing: somebody is going to have to…

I think it is very clear. I think if you look at, as the Senator said, the debt as a percent of GDP--now over 100 percent; think about that--this is the highest level of debt, highest level of spending as a percentage of our GDP that we…

I would say to the Senator from Alabama that it was interesting to me because at the White House Fiscal Responsibility Summit in February of 2009--this is in the context of discussing our unsustainable budget deficits--President Obama said…

If the Senator would yield on that point, in closing, I do think there will be a vote probably at some point. The House is going to pass a budget. We know that. I suspect what will happen is what happened last year. If the Senate fails to…

We really need a voice of reason, so thank you.

We have an epidemic problem with the pine beetle in the Black Hills.

the full potential yet to be seen for rural America to contribute to our Nation's energy independence is going to be really important.

the number one priority of South Dakotans in the farm bill is a strong Crop Insurance Program.

I thank the distinguished ranking member on the Budget Committee for engaging in this discussion, and I am anxious to hear from our colleague from New Hampshire, Senator Ayotte. She was there this morning and was able to ask questions of…

I think that it has been said here earlier, but I think the proposals in the budget this year actually sort of take us backwards when it comes to the issue of tax reform.

Taxing qualified dividends at the same low rate as capital gains for all taxpayers reduces the tax bias against equity investment and promotes a more efficient allocation of capital.

If we are serious about tax reform, that the administration ought to put forward a plan that would actually accomplish tax reform that would allow us to move forward.

there is an old political axiom that is attributed to Thomas Jefferson, more recently to Gerald Ford, that says: A government that is big enough to give you everything you want is also big enough to take it all away. Those words took on a…