[Congressional Record Volume 142, Number 80 (Tuesday, June 4, 1996)]
[Senate]
[Page S5780]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                    SENATE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION 63

  Mr. DOLE. Mr. President, it had been my hope tonight, on behalf of 
Senator Kassebaum, to pass Senate Concurrent Resolution 63. We were 
going to ask that the Committee on Agriculture be discharged from 
further consideration of that resolution and that the Senate then 
proceed to its immediate consideration. I understand there may be an 
amendment on the other side of the aisle. As I understand, the person 
who may have the amendment is not now available.
  Let me indicate what the resolution will do. We have been promised 
that maybe by tomorrow morning sometime we can resolve any problem. I 
hope that is the only reason. There may be another reason that sort of 
crosses my mind as I stand here.
  This resolution will express the sense of Congress that the Secretary 
of Agriculture should dispose of all remaining commodities in the 
disaster reserve maintained under the Agricultural Act of 1970 to 
relieve the distress of livestock producers whose ability to maintain 
livestock is adversely affected by the prolonged drought conditions 
existing in certain areas of the United States, and for other purposes. 
The amendment indicates that, in light of the prolonged drought 
conditions existing in certain areas of the United States, the 
Secretary of Agriculture promptly dispose of all commodities in the 
disaster reserve maintained under section 813 of the Agricultural Act 
of 1970, 7 USC 1427 (a) to relieve the distress of livestock producers 
whose ability to maintain livestock is adversely affected by the 
prolonged drought. And that is true.
  In some parts of America, including my home State of Kansas, we have 
had a long drought. In fact, in Texas, I think it is the worst drought 
they have had, in some parts of Texas, in over 50 years.
  So I hope we can move on this quickly. It is a sense-of-the-Senate 
resolution. It may be that the administration has decided to move 
without passage of the resolution. That will probably be known later.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. In my capacity as a Senator from the State of 
Washington, I suggest the absence of a quorum. The clerk will call the 
roll.
  The bill clerk proceeded to call the roll.
  Mr. DOLE. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the order for 
the quorum call be rescinded.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered.

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