[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 159 (2013), Part 6]
[Senate]
[Pages 7894-7895]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                           TEXT OF AMENDMENTS

  SA 1156. Mr. COBURN (for himself, Mr. Burr, Mr. Alexander, and Mr. 
Isakson) submitted an amendment intended to be proposed by him to the 
bill S. 954, to reauthorize agricultural programs through 2018; which 
was ordered to lie on the table; as follows:

       On page 1150, after line 15, insert the following:

     SEC. 12213. INTEREST RATES.

       (a) Interest Rate Provisions.--Section 455(b)(7) of the 
     Higher Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 1087e(b)(7)) is 
     amended by adding at the end of the following:
       ``(E) Interest rate provisions for new loans on or after 
     july 1, 2013.--
       ``(i) In general.--Notwithstanding the preceding paragraphs 
     of this subsection or subparagraph (A) or (B), for Federal 
     Direct Stafford Loans, Federal Direct Unsubsidized Stafford 
     Loans, and Federal Direct PLUS Loans, for which the first 
     disbursement is made on or after July 1, 2013, the applicable 
     rate of interest shall, during any 12-month period beginning 
     on July 1 and ending on June 30, be determined on the 
     preceding June 1 and be equal to--

       ``(I) the bond equivalent rate of 10-year Treasury bills 
     auctioned at the final auction held prior to such June 1; 
     plus

[[Page 7895]]

       ``(II) 3.0 percent.

       ``(ii) Consultation.--The Secretary shall determine the 
     applicable rate of interest under this subparagraph after 
     consultation with the Secretary of the Treasury and shall 
     publish such rate in the Federal Register as soon as 
     practicable after the date of determination.
       ``(iii) Rate.--The applicable rate of interest determined 
     under clause (i) for a Federal Direct Stafford Loan, a 
     Federal Direct Unsubsidized Stafford Loan, or a Federal 
     Direct PLUS Loan shall be fixed for the period of the 
     Loan.''.
       (b) Savings for Deficit Reduction.--Not later than 1 year 
     after the date of enactment of this Act, the Comptroller 
     General of the United States shall determine the savings to 
     the Federal Government resulting from the amendment made by 
     subsection (a).
       (c) Amount to Be Used for Deficit Reduction.--Any savings 
     determined under subsection (b) shall be transferred to the 
     Treasury for deficit reduction.
                                 ______
                                 
  SA 1157. Mr. HARKIN submitted an amendment intended to be proposed by 
him to the bill S. 954, to reauthorize agricultural programs through 
2018; which was ordered to lie on the table; as follows:

       Beginning on page 998, strike line 25 and all that follows 
     through page 999, line 14, and insert the following:
       (ii) in paragraph (4), by striking subparagraph (A) and 
     inserting the following:
       ``(A) Grants.--The amount of a grant under this subsection 
     shall not exceed the lesser of--
       ``(i) $500,000; and
       ``(ii) 25 percent of the cost of the activity carried out 
     using funds from the grant.''; and
       (iii) by adding at the end the following:
       ``(5) Tiered application process.--
                                 ______
                                 
  SA 1158. Mr. BOOZMAN submitted an amendment intended to be proposed 
by him to the bill S. 954, to reauthorize agricultural programs through 
2018; which was ordered to lie on the table; as follows:

       On page 628, between lines 13 and 14, insert the following:

     ``SEC. 3502. RIGHTS-OF-WAY FOR RURAL WATER PROJECTS.

       ``The Secretary shall waive land use fees for rights-of-way 
     issued or reauthorized for any rural water project on 
     National Forest System land that is federally financed 
     (including a project that receives Federal funds under 
     section 3501 or from a State drinking water treatment 
     revolving loan fund established under section 1452 of the 
     Safe Drinking Water Act (42 U.S.C. 300j-12)).
                                 ______
                                 
  SA 1159. Mr. CARDIN submitted an amendment intended to be proposed by 
him to the bill S. 954, to reauthorize agricultural programs through 
2018; which was ordered to lie on the table; as follows:

       On page 1150, after line 15, add the following:

     SEC. 12___. STRICT COMPLIANCE WITH EXISTING PROTECTIONS FOR 
                   PERSONALLY IDENTIFIABLE INFORMATION.

       The Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency 
     shall comply with all applicable laws (including section 552a 
     of title 5, United States Code (commonly known as the 
     ``Privacy Act of 1974'') and section 552 of title 5, United 
     States Code (commonly known as the ``Freedom of Information 
     Act'')) that pertain to the disclosure of any personally 
     identifiable information, including, as applicable, the 
     personally identifiable information of any owner, operator, 
     or employee of a livestock or farming operation.
                                 ______
                                 
  SA 1160. Mr. PRYOR submitted an amendment intended to be proposed by 
him to the bill S. 954, to reauthorize agricultural programs through 
2018; which was ordered to lie on the table; as follows:

       On page 1150, after line 15, add the following:

     SEC. 12___. FELLOWSHIP AND SCHOLARS PROGRAM.

       Section 226B of the Department of Agriculture 
     Reorganization Act of 1994 (7 U.S.C. 6934(c)) is amended--
       (1) by striking ``The duties of the Office shall be to'' 
     and inserting ``(1) farmers and ranchers.--The Office 
     shall'';
       (2) by redesignating paragraphs (1) through (7) as 
     subparagraphs (A) through (G), respectively; and
       (3) by adding at the end the following:
       ``(2) Fellowship and scholars.--
       ``(A) In general.--The Office shall continue, through the 
     agencies and offices of the Department, competitive 
     fellowship and scholars programs for the purpose of promoting 
     the study of food and agricultural sciences (as defined in 
     section 1404 of the National Agricultural Research, 
     Extension, and Teaching Policy Act of 1977 (7 U.S.C. 3103)) 
     at--
       ``(i) 1890 Institutions (as defined in section 2 of the 
     Agricultural Research, Extension, and Education Reform Act of 
     1998 (7 U.S.C. 7601);
       ``(ii) 1994 Institutions (as defined in section 2 of the 
     Agricultural Research, Extension, and Education Reform Act of 
     1998 (7 U.S.C. 7601)); and
       ``(iii) Hispanic-serving institutions (as defined in 
     section 1404 of the National Agricultural Research, 
     Extension, and Teaching Policy Act of 1977 (7 U.S.C. 3103)).
       ``(B) Appointments.--The Secretary may make a 
     noncompetitive appointment of a fellowship or scholars 
     program participant leading to term, career, or career-
     conditional employment within the Department upon a 
     participant obtaining an academic degree, subject to the 
     condition that the applicant is adequately equipped to 
     perform the duties of the position, without regard to the 
     provisions of title 5, United States Code, governing 
     appointments in the competitive service.''.
                                 ______
                                 
  SA 1161. Mr. PRYOR submitted an amendment intended to be proposed by 
him to the bill S. 954, to reauthorize agricultural programs through 
2018; which was ordered to lie on the table; as follows:

       On page 250, strike line 12 and insert the following:

     ``rolled in this program.
       ``(e) Consultation.--
       ``(1) In general.--After an easement has been acquired 
     under the program, the Secretary shall consult with the 
     landowner to assist with the completion of the terms of the 
     easement.
       ``(2) Requirements.--In providing the consultation required 
     under paragraph (1), the Secretary shall provide to the 
     landowner--
       ``(A) once every 30 days during the term of easement, a 
     status update with respect to the easement, including a list 
     of outstanding items to be performed by the landowner and the 
     Secretary in order for the terms of the easement to be 
     completed; and
       ``(B) an estimate of the number of days needed to complete 
     the terms of the easement.
       ``(3) Notification.--The Secretary shall notify the 
     landowner of any changes to the estimate provided under 
     paragraph (2)(B), including an explanation of the reason for 
     the changes.''.
                                 ______
                                 
  SA 1162. Mr. JOHANNS submitted an amendment intended to be proposed 
by him to the bill S. 954, to reauthorize agricultural programs through 
2018; which was ordered to lie on the table; as follows:

       On page 174, between lines 6 and 7, insert the following:

     SEC. 1615. PROHIBITION ON USE OF FUNDS TO DELAY COMPLIANCE 
                   WITH WTO DECISIONS.

       None of the funds made available by this Act (including 
     funds of the Commodity Credit Corporation) may be used by the 
     Secretary to make payments or influence a foreign government 
     or organization (including the Brazilian Cotton Institute) 
     for the purpose of delaying compliance with a decision of the 
     World Trade Organization.
                                 ______
                                 
  SA 1163. Mr. HOEVEN submitted an amendment intended to be proposed by 
him to the bill S. 954, to reauthorize agricultural programs through 
2018; which was ordered to lie on the table; as follows:

       On page 1111, after line 20, add the following:

     SEC. 11__. SPECIAL PROVISIONS.

       As soon as practicable after the date of enactment of this 
     Act, the Secretary shall remove from the Special Provisions 
     of crop insurance related to prevented planting any 
     limitation that would apply to acreage that--
       (1) would be prevented from the proper and timely planting 
     of the crop when weather and other conditions are normal for 
     the area in which the acreage is located.

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