[Congressional Record Volume 141, Number 125 (Monday, July 31, 1995)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1565]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]


     INTRODUCTION OF A BILL TO AMEND THE FEDERAL CROP INSURANCE ACT

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                            HON. PAT ROBERTS

                               of kansas

                    in the house of representatives

                         Monday, July 31, 1995
  Mr. ROBERTS. Mr. Speaker, today I am introducing legislation that 
would eliminate the requirement that all agricultural producers must 
buy a Federal crop insurance policy if they are to retain their 
eligibility for USDA programs. In return for this flexibility, 
producers will give up any possible Federal assistance for weather-
related losses.
  The one problem with the new catastrophic crop insurance program is 
it imposes a government program on someone who doesn't want it. Because 
any person who receives a USDA payment must purchase a catastrophic 
policy, we have seen landlords with a minimal interest in a farming 
operation faced with buying insurance coverage they do not want and do 
not need. As I cited in Subcommittee hearings recently, nine persons 
with an interest in three crops in two counties were required to buy 
three policies in the two counties costing $2700. This figure does not 
include the costs to the tenant farmer. I can assure my colleagues this 
implementation of crop insurance reform was not what the Committee 
intended and needs to be fixed.
  The bill I am introducing will strike this onerous requirement and 
instead require the producer to sign a waiver acknowledging his refusal 
of crop insurance with the understanding there will be no disaster 
assistance provided in the event the producer suffers a weather-related 
disaster. In addition to the commonsense this brings to the program, 
the Congressional Budget Office estimates this provision will save 
nearly $180 million during the period 1996 through 2002. That is good 
news during these times of budget cuts.
  Finally, Mr. Speaker, the bill also deals with a problem summer-
fallow farmers experienced this spring with failed wheat acres. Current 
law restricts a producer who intends to plant a substitute crop to do 
so only on those acres where the failed crop was planted. This does not 
work in high plains winter wheat country where a substitute crop will 
not grow on ground where the failed crop was growing. There is 
insufficient moisture to grow a substitute crop. The amendment I am 
introducing today would allow the crop to be planted on summer fallow 
ground where there would be moisture sufficient to grow a substitute 
crop so long as the producer maintained compliance with his 
conservation plan.
  These amendments are necessary for the credibility of the crop 
insurance program and the flexibility producers need in order to plant 
substitute crops. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.


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