[Congressional Record Volume 143, Number 140 (Thursday, October 9, 1997)]
[Senate]
[Page S10817]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




      EXPLANATION OF VOTES ON THE AGRICULTURE APPROPRIATIONS BILL

 Mr. ABRAHAM. Mr. President, I rise today to explain my final 
vote on the fiscal year 1998 appropriations bill. The last amendment to 
this legislation was a second attempt by Senator Harkin to fully fund 
FDA efforts to prevent underage smoking. Specifically, the amendment 
sought to fully fund a program which was established to punish 
establishments that sell tobacco to individuals under 18 years of age.
  I support efforts to curb underage smoking. Unfortunately, I was 
forced to vote against Senator Harkin's first attempt to fund this 
program because the amendment's offset would have imposed a new, $34 
million tax. The majority of Senators shared my concerns and the 
amendment failed by a 52 to 48 margin. In recognition of that 
shortfall, the amendment which Senator Harkin reintroduced identified a 
new, noncontroversial offset from a minor USDA program. In light of 
this new funding source, I was pleased to vote in support of the Harkin 
amendment. The motion to table the Harkin amendment subsequently failed 
by a 28 to 70 margin and the amendment was agreed to.
  It is my hope, Mr. President, that the conferees can move quickly to 
resolve the differences between the House and Senate bills and allow us 
to vote on the conference report in the coming weeks.

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