June 21

The Senate is expected today to begin consideration of the 2000 USDA spending bill. At least two major arguments are expected: one over an amendment by Sen. Tom Harkin (D-IA) to add about $6 billion in disaster and income assistance to the coming year's appropriation, and another from Sen. Patrick Leahy (D-VT) and other dairy-state Senators to extend the current Northeast dairy compact and create a new one for the Southeast.

Senators on the Appropriation Committee deferred offering most controversial amendments at the request of Chairman Ted Stevens (R-AK). The House has already passed its version of the bill, which also funds the Food and Drug Administration and the Commodity Futures Trading Commission.