[Congressional Record Volume 154, Number 71 (Thursday, May 1, 2008)]
[Senate]
[Page S3727]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




 TEMPORARY EXTENSION OF THE FARM SECURITY AND RURAL INVESTMENT ACT OF 
                                  2002

  Mr. ROCKEFELLER. Mr. President, a procedural matter. I ask unanimous 
consent the Senate proceed to the immediate consideration of S. 2954, 
introduced earlier today by Senator Harkin.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. The clerk will report the bill by title.
  The bill clerk read as follows:

       A bill (S. 2954) to amend Public Law 110-196 to provide for 
     a temporary extension of programs authorized by the Farm 
     Security and Rural Investment Act of 2002 beyond May 2, 2008.

  Mr. ROCKEFELLER. Mr. President, I ask if there is objection to 
proceeding?
  Mr. CRAIG. Mr. President, reserving the right to object, and I will 
not object, I came to the floor last night to speak to a time extension 
for our colleagues on the farm bill.
  Mr. ROCKEFELLER. This would follow both you and Senator Nelson.
  Mr. CRAIG. I am speaking to the unanimous consent request and the 
extension, and I think it is appropriate at this time. It appears our 
colleagues have labored hard and long. We believe we have a compromise 
for the farm bill. This gives them adequate time to refine it and bring 
it to floor as a conference report for final consideration.
  Mr. ROCKEFELLER. I am informed we have to get this bill to the House 
right away.
  There being no objection, the Senate proceeded to consider the bill.
  Mr. ROCKEFELLER. I ask unanimous consent that the bill be read three 
times and passed, the motion to reconsider be laid upon the table with, 
no intervening action or debate, and any statements related to the bill 
be printed in the Record.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered.
  The bill (S. 2954) was read the third time and passed, as follows:

                                S. 2954

       Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of 
     the United States of America in Congress assembled,

     SECTION 1. ADDITIONAL TEMPORARY EXTENSION OF AGRICULTURAL 
                   PROGRAMS AND SUSPENSION OF PERMANENT PRICE 
                   SUPPORT AUTHORITIES.

       Effective April 25, 2008, section 1 of Public Law 110-196 
     (122 Stat. 653) (as amended by Public Law 110-200 (122 Stat. 
     695) and Public Law 110-205 (122 Stat. 713)) is amended--
       (1) in subsection (a), by striking ``May 2, 2008'' and 
     inserting ``May 16, 2008''; and
       (2) in subsection (d), by striking ``May 2, 2008'' and 
     inserting ``May 16, 2008''.

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