mr. northey. as both indicated in a joint statement that said in part, and i'm quoting, bill northey is a qualified and respected public servant who knows agriculture firsthand, and he will serve rural america well at usda. end quote. now the ranking member joined us earlier, and she went a step further by saying to bill, saying this to him, quote, i know that you are a farmer. you understand these challenges annow that our farmers need leaders that will speak up for them when their voices are not being heard. end quote. he was voted out of the ag committee unanimously. let me state that again. he was voted out of the ag committee unanimously. and if you didn't hear that, let me say it a third time. he was voted out of the ag committee unanimously. democrats and republicans believe that bill northey is a leader, and he is being held hostage over an unrelated issue. bill northey's nomination has become entangled in an unrelated policy dispute. i'm very disappointed that a man, an upstanding man like

mr. northey being confirmed. in december i laid out a very clear path to mr. northey being confirmed. the people blocking mr. northey's confirmation are the ethanol lobbyists who have said we're unwilling to have a win-win solution. the answer is let thousands of people lose their jobs, even though doing so doesn't benefit iowa corn farmers at all. that doesn't make any sense. but, mr. president, here's a ray of sunshine, a ray of hope. i believe the administration is going to do the right thing. i believe the president wants to see a win-win solution, a solution that is good for iowa corn farmers. i want to see iowa corn farmers sell more corn, a solution that results in mr. northey being confirmed and a solution that doesn't bankrupt refineries and cost a bunch of blue-collar union members their jobs. that's a win for everybody. and i believe that's where the president and the administration want to go. i think that's where we will end up. i am hopeful we will arrive on that solution which is consistent with the responsibilities of all of us. with that i yield the floor. mr. grassle

the clerk: department of agriculture, william northey of iowa to be under secretary of farm and agricultural services. mr. young: i ask consent, mr. president, that the senate vote on the nomination with no intervening action or debate, that if confirmed, the motion to reconsider be considered made and laid upon the table, the president be immediately notified of the senate's action, that no further motions be in order, and that any statements relating to the nomination be principled in the record. the presiding officer: without objection. the question occurs on the nomination. all those in favor say aye. all those opposed say no. the ayes appear to have it. the ayes do have it. the nomination is confirmed. under the previous order, the motion to reconsider is considered made and laid upon the table and the president will be immediately notified of the senate's action. mr. lee: mr. president. the presiding officer: the senator from utah. mr. lee: mr. president, 200 years ago this month, a man was born into slavery in a cabin not far from here, in maryland. the child knew his mother only briefly. they wer