Heitkamp Statement on Crop Insurance Fix

Press Release

U.S. Senator Heidi Heitkamp, a member of the U.S. Senate Committee on Agriculture, today issued the following statement regarding a fix to reverse harsh cuts to the federal crop insurance program. The fix was included in the compromise highway bill Congress released on Tuesday.

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"Crop insurance is a cornerstone of farmers' and our country's agricultural success, which is why I've fought hard to maintain the integrity of this program both in the 2014 Farm Bill, which many of us spent more than a year negotiating, and again now," said Heitkamp. "When the recent budget deal threatened crop insurance, I made clear that I would do everything in my power and work with leaders on the Senate Committee on Agriculture to find a path forward to prevent those devastating cuts, provide certainty for farmers, and maintain this critical safety net. Crop insurance is a lifeline for jobs and families across rural America, and has already received $12 billion in cuts since 2008. It was unfair to try forcing even deeper cuts on hardworking farmers, and I'm hopeful Congress will pass this needed fix to protect producers and this vital program."

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