regardless of age, color, gender, background, any other factor deserves to be physically or emotionally unsa unsafe in a justic just society, we plo act together to ensure that each individual is safe from harm. in a just society, i think we have to say this over and over and over: we are not going to tolerate the violence." madam president, the vawa reauthorization bill is another step toward a more just society, as sheila described it. and i look forward to it and i look forward to it [cheering] you are still here. [laughter] that's good. i couldn't remember where we landed on that. now the senate agriculture committee meets to mark up the 2012 farm bill. the last legislation was passed in 2008 and is set to expire this year. the bill replaces the direct payment program for major crops with a revenue guarantee and reduces conservation and food assistance spending. this portion of the meeting is about 90 minutes. >> good morning. we welcome everyone this morning. i would call the meeting to order. the agriculture committee. this committee is unique. our hearing room doesn't have a raised dais. ins

regardless of age, color, gender, background, any other factor deserves to be physically or emotionally unsa unsafe. in a justic just society, we plo act together to ensure that each individual is safe from harm. in a just society, i think we have to say this over and over and over: we are not going to tolerate the violence." madam president, the vawa reauthorization bill is another step toward a more just society, as sheila described it. and i look forward to it becoming law. thank you. the presiding officer: the senator from west virginia. mr. manchin: madam president, i rise today with the surest conviction that this body united as a group of democrats and republicans can an will rote vote to ensure the women and children of this country are tree from domestic abuse. i believe that opposing the bill before us would defy every ounce of common sense that i have in my body. i am a proud spar sponsor of the violence against women act, as most of my colleagues here in this body, because it is unfathomable that any individual could oppose efforts that women and children are free from violence. the bil

regardless of age, color, gender, background, any other factor deserves to be physically or emotionally unsa unsafe. in a justic just society, we plo act together to ensure that each individual is safe from harm. in a just society, i think we have to say this over and over and over: we are not going to tolerate the violence." madam president, the vawa reauthorization bill is another step toward a more just society, as sheila described it. and i look forward to it becomi