[Congressional Record Volume 143, Number 59 (Thursday, May 8, 1997)]
[Senate]
[Page S4205]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




[[Page S4205]]




                           Amendment No. 239

   (Purpose: To provide relief to agricultural producers who granted 
easements to, or owned or operated land condemned by, the Secretary of 
the Army for flooding losses caused by water retention at the dam site 
at Lake Redrock, Iowa, to the extent that the actual losses exceed the 
                      estimates of the Secretary)

  Mr. STEVENS. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the 
amendment to S. 672 that I send to the desk be adopted.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered.
  Mr. BYRD addressed the Chair.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. The clerk will report.
  Mr. BYRD addressed the Chair.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. The clerk will report.
  Is there objection?
  Mr. BYRD. I have no objection to reporting of the amendment.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. The clerk will report.
  The legislative clerk read as follows:

       The Senator from Alaska [Mr. Stevens], for Mr. Grassley, 
     proposes an amendment numbered 239.

  Mr. STEVENS. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that reading of 
the amendment be dispensed with.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered.
  The amendment is as follows:

       At the appropriate place, insert the following:

     SEC.   . RELIEF TO AGRICULTURAL PRODUCERS FOR FLOODING LOSS 
                   CAUSED BY DAM ON LAKE REDROCK, IOWA.

       (a) Eligibility.--To be eligible for assistance under this 
     section, an agricultural producer must--
       (1)(A) be an owner or operator of land who granted an 
     easement to the Federal Government for flooding losses to the 
     land caused by water retention at the dam site at Lake 
     Redrock, Iowa; or
       (B) have been an owner or operator of land that was 
     condemned by the Federal Government because of flooding of 
     the land caused by water retention at the dam site at Lake 
     Redrock, Iowa; and
       (2) have incurred losses that exceed the estimates of the 
     Secretary of the Army provided to the producer as part of the 
     granting of the easement or as part of the condemnation.
       (b) Compensation.--
       (1) In general.--Subject to paragraph (2), the Secretary of 
     the Army shall compensate an eligible producer described in 
     subsection (a) for flooding losses to the land of the 
     producer described in subsection (a)(2) in an amount 
     determined by the Federal Crop Insurance Corporation.
       (2) Reduction.--If the Secretary maintains a water 
     retention rate at the same site at Lake Redrock, Iowa, of--
       (A) less than 769 feet, the amount of compensation provided 
     to a producer under paragraph (1) shall be reduced by 10 
     percent;
       (B) not less than 769 feet and not more than 772 feet, the 
     amount of compensation provided to a producer under paragraph 
     (1) shall be reduced by 7 percent; and
       (C) more than 772 feet, the amount of compensation provided 
     to a producer under paragraph (1) shall be reduced by 3 
     percent.
       (c) Crop Years.--This section shall apply to flooding loses 
     to the land of a producer described in subsection (a)(2) that 
     are incurred during the 1997 and subsequent crop years.

  Mr. STEVENS. Mr. President, I do ask that we consider this amendment 
at this time, and I further ask that upon its adoption it be placed in 
the bill that's just been passed as this action was completed prior to 
voting upon advancing this bill to third reading.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. Is there objection?
  Mr. BYRD addressed the chair.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. The Senator from West Virginia.
  Mr. BYRD. Will the distinguished manager of the bill explain why this 
amendment is being called up following the final action on the bill?
  Mr. STEVENS. Mr. President, by mistake this bill was deemed to have 
been objected to, and upon review after the bill, S. 672, was advanced 
to third reading, it was determined that the objection had not in fact 
been placed by the Senator that was purported to have placed an 
objection. It has been cleared on both sides, and it is matter now of 
trying to correct it and get this amendment of Senator Grassley back to 
where it should have been adopted prior to the advancing of this bill 
to third reading.
  Mr. BYRD. Mr. President, I thank the distinguished Senator from 
Alaska. I have no objection to the action requested.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered.
  The question is on agreeing to the amendment.
  The amendment (No. 239) was agreed to.
  Mr. STEVENS. Mr. President, I ask that this bill, S. 672, be 
postponed and set aside until the House bill arrives and this unanimous 
consent agreement may be fulfilled.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. Is there objection? Without objection, it is 
so ordered. The bill has been set aside.
  Mr. LOTT addressed the Chair.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. The majority leader.
  Mr. LOTT. Has a quorum been put in place, Mr. President?
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. No quorum call has been placed.

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