[Congressional Record Volume 141, Number 145 (Monday, September 18, 1995)]
[Senate]
[Page S13708]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




   AGRICULTURE, RURAL DEVELOPMENT, FOOD AND DRUG ADMINISTRATION, AND 
               RELATED AGENCIES APPROPRIATIONS ACT, 1996

  The Senate continued with the consideration of the bill.


                      ars facility at el reno, ok

  Mr. NICKLES. Mr. President, I rise to express my concern with the 
Senate committee's designation of the primary ARS laboratory at El 
Reno, OK, as a ``worksite.'' Upon a thorough evaluation of the Fort 
Reno facility, it remains clear that this primary station remains an 
important and valuable resource for the agricultural community of the 
Midwest.
  Fort Reno's 7,000 contiguous acres, numerous existing structures, 
including buildings and fences and valuable on-site personnel 
resources, make it a unique asset and an ideal location to direct and 
administer research.
  A large amount of work at Fort Reno is dedicated to closing the 
forage gaps in livestock production systems common to the Great Plains 
States by experimenting in forage alternatives to native pasture and 
winter wheat pasture.
  Fort Reno's regional value is visible in their cooperative efforts 
with ARS stations in Booneville, AR, and Bushland, TX, to solve the 
problems caused by cattle raised on fescue pastures in the eastern-
third of the United States. Fort Reno's research on the resistance of 
tropical cattle breeds of fescue fungus problems continues to hold 
valuable promise.
  In addition, Fort Reno many years ago established watershed research 
locations on several pastures to collect runoff and evaluate the 
environmental impact of agricultural waste, chemicals, and sediment 
generated by various grazing systems. Current plans call for an 
evaluation of this long-term data and an expansion of the program to 
larger, system-size watersheds. This information will be very valuable 
as non-point source pollution reduction goals are expanded in the Clean 
Water Act reauthorization.
  As a primary research facility, these are just several examples of 
progress being made at Fort Reno and a demonstration of the facility's 
continuing contributions to the agricultural community of the Midwest.
  I know the committee is aware that the House of Representatives 
maintains full funding for the ARS station at Fort Reno in their fiscal 
year 1996 Agriculture appropriations bill. In light of the important 
research and existing nature of the Fort Reno site, I continue to 
strongly support full funding for primary research at Fort Reno.
  Mr. COCHRAN. Senator Nickles, I am aware of your strong interest in 
the ARS facility at El Reno, OK, and share your support for the 
agricultural research conducted there.
  The valuable work being conducted at the Fort Reno's facility is 
indeed unique and I recognize the importance of continuing research at 
the site. As this issue is revisited by a House-Senate conference 
committee, I will work to maintain this valuable research asset.
  Mr. President, I suggest the absence of a quorum.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. The clerk will call the roll.
  The bill clerk proceeded to call the roll.
  Mr. BUMPERS. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the order 
for the quorum call be rescinded.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER (Mr. Gorton). Without objection, it is so 
ordered.
  Mr. COCHRAN addressed the Chair.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. The Senator from Mississippi is recognized.


                      Unanimous-Consent Agreement

  Mr. COCHRAN. Mr. President, there has been a unanimous-consent 
agreement worked out in connection with the handling of an amendment to 
the appropriations bill. The amendment is a committee amendment.
  The Senator from California, Senator Boxer, for herself and Senator 
Feinstein--and maybe others--has offered to strike that amendment. In 
connection with that, I propose the following:
  I ask unanimous consent that at 10:30 a.m. on Tuesday, the Senate 
resume consideration of the excepted committee amendment regarding 
chickens, and there be 2 hours to be equally divided between Senators 
Boxer and Cochran or their designees.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. Is there objection?
  Without objection, it is so ordered.
  Mr. COCHRAN. Mr. President, I further ask that immediately following 
the vote on passage of H.R. 4, as amended, the Senate resume H.R. 1976, 
and there be 4 minutes for debate on the committee amendment, to be 
equally divided in the usual form, to be followed by a vote on or in 
relation to the committee amendment.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. Is there objection?
  Without objection, it is so ordered.
  Mr. COCHRAN. Mr. President, I thank the distinguished Senator from 
Arkansas and all Senators for permitting us this unanimous-consent 
agreement.
  Mr. President, I suggest the absence of a quorum.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. The clerk will call the roll.
  The assistant legislative clerk proceeded to call the roll.
  Mr. DORGAN. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the order for 
the quorum call be rescinded.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER (Mr. Helms). Without objection, it is so 
ordered.
  Mr. DORGAN. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent to speak as if in 
morning business for 5 minutes.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered.

                          ____________________