When do we go on the trafficking act? The PRESIDING OFFICER. Morning business has expired.

Are we on the trafficking act? The PRESIDING OFFICER. No, we are in morning business.

Do you share my concerns that a reopening of the Farm Bill as part of budget reconciliation would be devastating to the work your Department has been doing?

I appreciate the courtesy from the distinguished Republican leader, Senator Cornyn, in letting me go forward for a few moments. I would like to note that the executive director of the Vermont Coalition of Runaway & Homeless Youth…

I want to speak briefly about an issue that all Senators should be concerned about, and that is the future of the Organization of American States. The origin of the OAS dates to the First International Conference of American States held in…

we have been working on the issue of human trafficking on a bipartisan basis for almost a year, and it is usually bipartisan. I know when we included my amendment on the Trafficking Victims Protection Reauthorization Act, most Senators…

the Senator from Mississippi has graciously allowed me to speak before him, and I ask unanimous consent that Senator Wicker be recognized immediately upon the conclusion of my comments. The PRESIDING OFFICER (Mr. Cassidy). Without…

while the distinguished senior Senator from Georgia is on the floor, I wish to associate myself with what he had to say about Congressman John Lewis. Congressman Lewis has been a friend, a colleague, and a mentor to all of us on both sides…

I want to thank the distinguished senior Senator from Maine, my New England neighbor, for her comments, speaking on Leahy-Collins amendment No. 290. She and I and others have worked on this for a very long time. In her comments, she talked…

I have no objection. Mr. President, I withhold that. I suggest the absence of a quorum. The PRESIDING OFFICER. The Senator from Tennessee has the floor.

I hate to see this held up over just the Hyde amendment. In somewhat similar legislation, the Republican House of Representatives was wise enough not to create this illusory ``special assessment fund.'' The House-passed bill is an…

I am sorry, I didn't hear what the request was. The PRESIDING OFFICER. Is there objection to setting aside the pending amendment?

on Monday I gave a statement on the 50th anniversary of Bloody Sunday and the Voting Rights Act. I ask unanimous consent to have printed in the Record President Obama's remarks from the commemoration. There being no objection, the material…

am I correct that the Senator from Tennessee is not asking the Senate to set aside the pending amendment but wishes to file an amendment? Is that correct?

of course I also would like to see the trafficking bill go forward. I am looking around the floor of the Senate, and I think I am the only person standing on the floor who has actually prosecuted people for molestation and endangerment of…

Do you share my concerns that a reopening of the Farm Bill as part of budget reconciliation would be devastating to the work your Department has been doing?

What assurances can you give to this Committee and states like Vermont that the FDA will prioritize this food safety work in your fiscal year 2017 budget request?

That does not seem the way it should be. I would hope FDA would commit to complete the rulemaking...

I appreciate that your food safety team, led by Mike Taylor, has visited Vermont several times and has listened many of my constituent's concerns, resulting in better rules, yet many questions still remain for our farmers and our State…

There are serious price tags attached to these food safety rules, not only for the Federal Government, but also for the states, and for our farmers of all sizes who do not have the infrastructure in place to meet these new rules.

I want to thank the Department and Deputy Commissioner for Foods and Veterinary Medicine Michael Taylor for continuing to engage with the state of Vermont and our farmers and specialty producers.

First time a parochial interest has ever come up in my 40 years on this Committee.

I appreciate especially as the newest member of this subcommittee the courtesy of the chairman.

We cannot expect farmers to make such monumental changes on their farms without technical and financial support.

I am worried that your budget falls short on the needs for your State partnerships, staff training, and education and technical assistance for producers and value added agriculture.