[Congressional Record Volume 142, Number 81 (Wednesday, June 5, 1996)]
[Senate]
[Page S5830]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                              THE DROUGHT

  Mr. GRAMM. Mr. President, we have 45 million bushels of feed grain in 
emergency reserve in the United States. We pay $10 million a year in 
rent to store that feed grain. We have a major drought in many parts of 
the country. Obviously, much of it is centered in my part of the 
country. I thought last night we had worked out an agreement whereby we 
could pass a resolution calling on the Secretary of Agriculture to 
release this emergency feed grain to let it flow into the market and 
flow to people who are being forced to liquidate their livestock herds 
because they cannot obtain food.
  It is my understanding that we have now worked that out. I think it 
is very important this resolution pass tonight. This is not going to 
make it rain in Texas, Oklahoma, and Kansas. It is not a solution for 
the kind of divine intervention that we need in eliminating the 
drought, but it is a small step in the right direction. I hope this 
resolution tonight will pass. I was disappointed the Democratic leader 
objected to it yesterday. We could have sent good news out last night. 
I hope we can do that tonight.
  In addition, Senator Hutchison and I hope, tonight, to pass a 
resolution on haying on conservation reserve land. If you will 
remember, the President wisely, in an action that I applauded, allowed 
people to put livestock on conservation reserve land. We want to let 
them hay it in drought areas. I think that is also a step in the right 
direction.
  I thank the distinguished Senator for yielding.

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