[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 152 (2006), Part 17] [Senate] [Page 22124] [From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]ORDER OF BUSINESS Mr. CONRAD. Madam President, we have had a flurry of phone calls and consultations this morning about the dispute that has gone on over the last several days about getting to the agriculture appropriations bill so we might consider disaster relief for farmers and ranchers hard hit by drought across the country, the third worst drought in our Nation's history. My understanding of the agreement is that we will go to the India nuclear matter but that at some time today we will turn our attention to the agriculture appropriations bill and I will have the chance to offer the first amendment to that bill. Is that a correct understanding of the agreement that has been entered? The PRESIDING OFFICER. The Senator is correct in that under the unanimous consent entered into earlier we will move to the United States-India legislation, after which the agriculture appropriations bill will be taken up. It provides under that agreement for Senator Conrad to be recognized in order to offer a first-degree amendment following the statement of the chairman. Mr. CONRAD. Very good. That is my understanding. I appreciate the Chair confirming that. There are 26 cosponsors of the legislation. It is wholly bipartisan-- many Republicans and many Democrats. I want to alert my colleagues that at some point we will go to this issue today. It is not specified when, as I understand it. Is that correct? The PRESIDING OFFICER. That is correct. Mr. CONRAD. It is specified that sometime today we will go to it, and after statements of the Chair and ranking member I will be given an opportunity to offer an amendment. The PRESIDING OFFICER. The Senator is correct. Mr. CONRAD. I thank the Chair and yield the floor. I suggest the absence of a quorum. The PRESIDING OFFICER. The clerk will call the roll. The assistant legislative clerk proceeded to call the roll. Mr. LUGAR. Madam President, I ask unanimous consent that the order for the quorum call be dispensed with. The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered. The PRESIDING OFFICER. The Senator from Indiana. ____________________