[Congressional Record Volume 147, Number 79 (Friday, June 8, 2001)]
[Senate]
[Pages S6016-S6017]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




EXTENSION OF THE PERIOD FOR ENACTMENT OF CHAPTER 12 OF TITLE 11 OF THE 
                           UNITED STATES CODE

  Mr. REID. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the Senate 
proceed to the immediate consideration of H.R. 1914 just received from 
the House.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. The clerk will report the bill by title.
  The legislative clerk read as follows:

       A bill (H.R. 1914) to extend for 4 additional months the 
     period for which chapter 12 of title 11 of the United States 
     Code is reenacted.

  The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, the Senate will proceed to 
the consideration of the bill.
  Mr. LEAHY. Mr. President, the Senate is once again passing 
legislation to retroactively renew Chapter 12 of the Bankruptcy Code, 
which protects family farmers and helps them prevent foreclosures and 
forced auctions of their farms.
  While I strongly support providing our family farmers with bankruptcy 
protection so they can continue farming the land, it is time for 
Congress to make Chapter 12 a permanent part of the Bankruptcy Code. 
Too many family farmers have been left in legal limbo in bankruptcy 
courts across the country when temporary extensions of the chapter 
expire. I look forward to working with my colleagues to enact Chapter 
12 on a permanent basis.

[[Page S6017]]

  Less than two months ago, Congress passed H.R. 254 to retroactively 
renew Chapter 12 since it expired on July 1, 2000. H.R. 254, however, 
renewed the family farmer bankruptcy protections until only June 1, 
2001. Now Congress must once again pass narrow legislation to 
retroactively renew Chapter 12. This time H.R. 1914 renews Chapter 12 
for four additional months--until October 1, 2001.
  As I did on final passage of H.R. 254, I again commend Representative 
Nick Smith and Representative Tammy Baldwin for their leadership in 
working together to secure House passage of legislation to 
retroactively renew Chapter 12. Thanks to their bipartisan efforts the 
House of Representatives passed H.R. 1914 on June 6 by a vote of 411-1.
  Senator Carnahan and Senator Bond introduced similar legislation to 
help our family farmers forced into the bankruptcy process. On behalf 
of family farmers in Missouri and across the country, I commend them 
for their bipartisan efforts as well.
  During the debate earlier this year on comprehensive changes to the 
bankruptcy system, some proponents of the controversial reform bill 
claimed that it must be passed to restore Chapter 12 to the Bankruptcy 
Code. I hope today's action to pass a stand alone Chapter 12 bill will 
make it clear to all that the Senate does not have to pass a mammoth 
bankruptcy reform bill to provide family farmers with bankruptcy 
protection. I also hope today's action will put an end to any efforts 
to use Chapter 12 as leverage to enact controversial bankruptcy reform 
legislation. Our family farmers deserve better.
  Mr. President, I strongly support H.R. 1914 to retroactively give our 
family farmers bankruptcy protection if they fall on hard times. It is 
now time for Congress to permanently establish Chapter 12 as part of 
the Bankruptcy Code to provide a secure safety net for our nation's 
family farmers.
  Mr. REID. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the bill be 
considered read three times and passed, and the motion to reconsider be 
laid upon the table.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered.
  The bill (H.R. 1914) was read the third time and passed.

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