XXXX Voted Against Reauthorizing Mexican Rural Development Funding. In July 2003, XXXX voted against an amendment that have would authorized $100 million in fiscal 2004 for aid to Mexico, focused on micro credit lending, small business and entrepreneurial development, assistance for small farms and farmers hurt by declining coffee prices, and strengthening a system of private property ownership in rural communities. It would also express the sense of Congress that the U.S. government should work with Mexico on rural development assistance programs. [Vote 268, 7/10/03] XXXX Voted in Favor of Protecting North American Catfish From Vietnamese Imports. In 2001, XXXX voted to ensure that only North American catfish were allowed to be labeled as “catfish.” The amendment XXXX voted to table would have blocked an attempt to protect the domestic catfish industry from fish imported from Vietnam that are being sold as catfish. The vote was on a motion to table the Lugar (for McCain) amendment to the Daschle (for Harkin) substitute amendment to the Agriculture, Conservation, and Rural Enhancement Act of 2001. [S 1731, Vote 373, 12/18/01; Congressional Quarterly Daily Monitor, 12/18/01] XXXX Voted Against Killing an Attempt to Allow Agriculture Secretary To Review Other Federal Agencies' Actions. In 2001, XXXX voted against killing an attempt to allow the Agriculture secretary to review other federal agencies' actions and recommend that the president overturn them if they harm farmers economic security or personal safety. Amendment sponsor Christopher S. Bond, R-Mo., said it would have been a "lifesaver to help farmers oppressed by bad federal regulations." Opponents said the provision would have made it impossible to enforce the Endangered Species Act, the Clean Water Act and other laws. The vote was on a motion to table the Bond amendment to the Daschle (for Harkin) substitute amendment to the Agriculture, Conservation, and Rural Enhancement Act of 2001. [Vote 365, 12/13/01; Congressional Quarterly Daily Monitor, 12/13/01] XXXX Voted to Give Farmers More Options In Disputes With Agribusinesses. In 2001, XXXX supported an amendment designed to give farmers more options in disputes with agribusinesses. The amendment XXXX voted for would reform mandatory arbitration clauses in agriculture contracts. Farmers would get a choice as to whether arbitration, mediation or civil action is the proper forum for resolving their disputes. The vote was on the Feingold/Grassley amendment to the Daschle (for Harkin) substitute amendment to the Agriculture, Conservation, and Rural Enhancement Act of 2001. [Vote 366, 12/13/01; Congressional Quarterly Daily Monitor, 12/13/01; United Press International, 12/14/01] XXXX Opposed Measure Placing a Moratorium on Mergers or Acquisitions Involving Giant Agribusiness. XXXX voted against an amendment to the Bankruptcy Reform Act of 1999 that would have placed a moratorium on mergers or acquisitions involving agribusinesses in which one business had annual net revenue or assets of more than $100 million and the other business had annual net revenue or assets of more than $10 million. The moratorium would have lasted for 18 months or until legislation was passed to limit concentration in agriculture markets. Farmer cooperatives would be exempt from the moratorium. The amendment was rejected 27-71. [Vote 366, 11/17/99] XXXX Voted to Allow Alien Agriculture Workers. XXXX voted in favor of an amendment by Sen. Gordon Smith that established a system of registries for domestic temporary and seasonal agriculture workers, streamlined the process of hiring foreign agriculture workers when domestic workers were unavailable. The amendment was agreed to 68-31. [Vote 233, 7/23/98] 16