mr. leahy: mr. president, i understand we're waiting for another senator and when he arrives, of course i'll yield. i'd ask unanimous consent that bob ross, a detailee on the agriculture subcommittee -- a detailee on the interior subcommittee, olivia matthews, an intern on my appropriations committee, be granted floor privileges for the length of the current debate and h.r. 3055, justice, science, agriculture, rural development, food and drug administration, interior and environment, veterans affairs, transportation, and housing and urban development appropriations act of 2020. the presiding officer: without objection. mr. leahy: mr. president, i was just talking with the distinguished senior senator from alabama a couple of minutes ago. i know he has spoken and we have begun consideration of the bill containing the fiscal year 2020 commerce, justice, science, agriculture, interior, transportation, housing, urban development. i mentioned this because all four of these bills are the product of hard w

mr. leahy: i ask unanimous consent the quorum -- the presiding officer: we're not in a quorum call. the senator is recognized. mr. leahy: i think as the senator knows, senator shelby and i have been working very hard on the appropriations bills. i want to commend his staff and my staff for all the work that they have done. it's not just the bills, the first page and the number at the end, that counts. there's a whole lot that goes in. in between there are a number of policy considerations that are in there. there are things that senators in both parties want that make a great deal of sense and both parties support, and we're getting those -- we're putting those together. i would hope that having done all that it means that within the next day or so we can get at least four these appropriations bills passed. i'd remind everybody that the last time that senator shelby and i went through this exercise, we passed most of the bills, if not unanimous, virtually unanimously. and i think it helps the s

mr chairman senator lugar i would like to. welcome the other 6 exact senior executives of n.a.c. a member companies to join me on this panel today. one of senator leahy's main opponents to the bill was chave room mr of room has represented the pesticide industry in washington for nearly 3 decades bans written state an argument in 1990 with senator leahy and others as it is today is that. we would rather that the united states be a principal source providing proper texan tools for farmers around the world and the incubator if you will for innovation for that kind of product development and the follow on stewardship that companies like those that are based here in the united states can and do provide over the years rather than having those needs served by product producers pesticide compounds from places that other than the united states. do you think you'd find everything safe or do you think you'd find a whole lot more. perhaps a little of both i will tell you when the agency undertook its investigation last year we did find a number of violations. and filed a number of cases against companies it was the 1st time that we had really enforced j. vroom al

mr chairman senator lugar i would like to. welcome the other 6 exact senior executives of n.a.c. a member companies to join me on this panel today. one of senator leahy's main opponents to the bill was chave room mr of room has represented the pesticide industry in washington for nearly 3 decades dance rhythms in our argument in 1990 with senator leahy and others as it is today is that. we would rather that the united states be a principal source providing proper texan tools for farmers around the world and the incubator if you will for innovation for that kind of product development and the follow on stewardship that companies like those that are based here in the united states can and do provide over the years rather than having those needs served by product producers pesticide. pounds from places other than the united states. do you think you'd find everything safe or do you figure to find a whole lot more violations. perhaps a little of both i will tell you when the agency undertook its investigation last year we did find a number of violations. and filed a number of cases against companies it was the 1st time that we had really enforced j. vroom a

mr chairman senator lugar i would like to. welcome the other 6 exact senior executives of n.a.c. a member companies to join me on this panel today. one of senator leahy's main opponents to the bill was chave room mr of room has represented the pesticide industry in washington for nearly 3 decades bans written state an argument in 1990 with senator leahy and others as it is today is that. we would rather that the united states be a principal source providing proper texan tools for farmers around the world and the incubator if you will for innovation for that kind of product development and the follow on stewardship that companies like those that are based here in the united states can and do provide over the years rather than having those needs served by product producers pesticide compounds from places that other than the united states. you think you'd find everything sacred you think you'd find a whole lot more. perhaps a little of both i will tell you when the agency undertook its investigation last year we did find a number of violations. and filed a number of cases against companies it was the 1st time that we had really enforced j. vroom also had

mr chairman senator lugar i would like to. welcome the other 6 exact senior executives of n.a.c. a member companies to join me on this panel today. one of senator leahy's main opponents to the bill was chave room mr of room has represented the pesticide industry in washington for nearly 3 decades bans written state an argument in 1990 with senator leahy and others as it is today is that. we would rather that the united states be a principal source providing proper texan tools for farmers around the world and the incubator if you will for innovation for that kind of product development and the follow on stewardship that companies like those that are based here in the united states can and do provide over the years rather than having those needs served by product producers pesticide compounds from places that other than the united states. do you think you'd find everything safe or do you think you'd find a whole lot more. perhaps a little of both i will tell you when the agency undertook its investigation last year we did find a number of violations. and filed a number of cases against companies it was the 1st time that we had really enforced j. vroom al

mr chairman senator lugar i would like to. welcome the other 6 exact senior executives of n.a.c. a member companies to join me on this panel today. one of senator leahy'smain opponents to the bill was chave room mr of room has represented the pesticide industry in washington for nearly 3 decades dance rhythms state an argument in 1900 with senator leahy and others as it is today is that. we would rather that the united states be a principal source providing proper texan tools for farmers around the world and the incubator if you will for innovation for that kind of product development and the follow on stewardship that companies like those that are based here in the united states can and do provide over the years rather than having those needs served by product producers pesticide compounds from places that other than the united states. you think you'd find everything sacred you figure to find a whole lot more. perhaps a little of both i will tell you when the agency undertook its investigation last year we did find a number of violations. and filed a number of cases against companies it was the 1st time that we had really enforced j. vroom also had li

mr. leahy: mr. president? the presiding officer: the senator for vermont. mr. leahy: mr. president, today the senate is going to vote on whether to invoke cloture on the motion to proceed to a package of appropriations bills. they'll include the senate defense appropriations bill, labor, health and human services, education, labor-h.h.s. appropriations bill. there are many things in these bills that i support, but i'm going to strongly urge all senators to vote no. i am disappointed that the majority leadership has taken this step. they bowed to demand president trump and that's continuing to delay funding for our troops. this delay -- and let's explain exactly why. they insist on including in this bill authority for president trump to raid american tax dollars from our million, -- our military, munn that's intended for specific -- like cleaning up the substandard housing that many of our military families are living in. he wants to raid that money to pay for his wall which -- after he'd given his solemn word that mexico would pay for it and that's unacceptable. because h

mr. leahy: mr. president, if nobody is seeking, i would move to yield back all time. the presiding officer: all time is yielded back. the question somebody on the amendment. is there a sufficient second? the clerk will call the roll. vote: vote: vote: the presiding officer: does any senator wish to change their vote? has any senator not voted? on this vote the yeas are 24. the nays are 67. the amendment is not agreed to. there will now be two minutes of debate equally divided prior to a vote in relation to amendment number 1067 offered by the senator from alabama mr. jones. the senate will come to order. the senate will come to order. the senate will come to order. the senator from alabama is recognized. mr. jones: thank you, mr. president. mr. president, this amendment will continue a process that we started last year in the farm bill to correct one of a grave injustices to the african american population here. this deals with property that has gone down through generations without clear title. these land owners have been denied access to usda programs and other inst