mr. hoeven: mr. president, absolutely not. it doesn't change any of the authorized purposes for the reservoirs and for the system. so this does not impact in any way any of the authorized uses for the main stem dams, reservoirs. i want to emphasize that because we've got the seven missouri river states. sometimes we get the upstream, downstream interests. this does not change any of those authorize purposes or how they're utilized or how the respective states interact with them or even the amount of water usage. so to try to bring any of those other issues in which typically have been concerns on the missouri river does not apply here. again, this is simply about whether the respective states -- and this is one where we can really come together because it is upstream and downstream whether any of the states are going to be charged for water that is rightfully theirs. and that makes this very much a states' rights issue that all of the states should be concerned about. how can we allow federal agencies

mr. hoeven. mr. hoeven: madam president? the presiding officer: the senator from north dakota. mr. hoeven: i understand my amendment is already pending, so i would just point out that i have a modification at the desk. this is a very simple amendment. it simply provides that the corps of engineers cannot charge a state or a tribe or municipality -- mrs. boxer: i would say the senate is not in order. i believe this is our last amendment, and this is an important amendment to my friend. it's hugely important to many states, and it would be nice if we could just give him the courtesy. the presiding officer: the senate will be in order. mr. hoeven: i'd like to thank my colleague from california and i'd like to thank both senator boxer and senator vitter for their work on this amendment. i appreciate it very much. it's a very simple amendment. it says the corps of engineers cannot charge a state for water, cannot charge fees for water when it violates the state's water rights that affects municipalities and tribes as well. we have made sure that it does not score under the cob rules. we

mr. hoeven: i ask that the quorum call be suspended. the presiding officer: without objection. mr. hoeven: thank you, mr. president. i just with aens to take severat want to take several minutes to respond to several of the comments in regard to the farm bill and specifically the sugar program on the floor of the senate. we've got a vote coming up, not the -- the presiding officer: we vently have an order to move to the consideration of s. res. 65 at 3:45 p.m. mr. graham: mr. president, that is my resolution with senator menendez. i don't mind yielding a couple minutes to the tho the senator e his point. the presiding officer: without objection. mr. hoeven: i thank my esteemed colleague. i do want to rye spon respond te comments that were made with regard to sugar. it is important to understand that the price of sugar in the united states is actually less than the international price, so because of the sugar program we have, american consumers benefit. i want to reiterate that point and also express how important it is to understand that we have low-cost producers in this country wh

mr. hoeven: thank you no objection. mrs. boxer: thank you. so we'll put a quorum call in and just wait to finish. i would ask unanimous consent that the completion of my remarks be returned to senator hoeven for his remarks. the presiding officer: without objection. mrs. boxer: mr. president? the presiding officer: the senator from california. mrs. boxer: i would ask that the quorum call be dispensed with. officer ifthe presiding officer: without objection. mrs. boxer: i ask unanimous consent that not with stand the previous order the following amendments which have been cleared on bodge sides be considered and agreed to en bloc: pryor 01 as modified with the changes that are at the desk; pryor number 806 inhofe number 835, with the modification to the instruction lines mccain number 833 and murray number 832. further, that all other provisions of the previous order remain in effect. the presiding officer: is there objection? des desmr. menendez: reserving the right to object, what is -- i'd just like to understand what the previous order is.

mr. hoeven: madam president? the presiding officer: the senator from north dakota. mr. hoeven: i would like to thank the distinguished senator from mississippi for his kind comments and also for his leadership on the ag committee as our ranking member. i want to express my appreciation. with that, again i yield the floor. a senator: madam president? the presiding officer: the senator from north dakota. ms. heitkamp: it should come as no surprise that two senators for the great state of north dakota stand today and talk about the importance of american agriculture. 90% of the -- of the land that we have in north dakota is engaged in production agriculture. and as much as what you have heard -- and it's all true -- about this great economic renaissance that we're having in our state, let me tell you agriculture is still number one, and every year american farmers, north dakota farmers bet. they bet on good weather, they bet on good prices, they bet that the crop will grow, and they spend millions of dollars on that bet. they are the biggest gamblers in the history of the w

senator hoeven, thank you. >> thank you, mr. chairman. madam secretary, good to see again. thank you for being here. a project that we submit for record, a decision some years ago come we're still waiting for a final record of decision, the red river valley water supply project. would you be willing to commit to me that we can get together and you could give us a final decision one way or the other on that record of decision? >> happy to meet with you on it and learn more about it. deputy secretary, you know the status of the record of decision? >> i did not but we certainly will get back to you on that. that. >> we need to get a decision from. so could we agreed to schedule something, get together and get a frank discussion on a final decision? >> absolutely. >> second, i want to thank you for your willingness to come visit us in north dakota. appreciated very much. one of the stocks that we've got to make is at the spirit lake nation. and i think it's very important to there's a situation where the bureau of indian affairs has taken over the child protective services, for