[Congressional Record Volume 145, Number 43 (Thursday, March 18, 1999)]
[Senate]
[Page S2969]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                         ADDITIONAL STATEMENTS

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                 CROP INSURANCE IMPROVEMENT ACT OF 1999

 Mr. BURNS. Mr. President, I rise today as one of the proud 
cosponsors of S. 629, the Crop Insurance Improvement Act of 1999, 
sponsored by Senator Craig. The issue of crop insurance reform is and 
will continue to be a primary issue for agriculture this session.
  The language offered today brings important changes to crop 
insurance, especially for specialty crops. This bill drastically 
improves procedures for determining yields and improves the noninsured 
crop assistance programs. This bill, S. 629, also improves the safety 
net to producers through cost of production crop insurance coverage.
  This is another important tool to reform the current crop insurance 
program into a risk management program, which will return more of the 
economic dollar back to the producer. It is vital to find a solution to 
provide a way for farmers and ranchers to stay in agriculture. They 
must ultimately regain the responsibility for risk management the 
Federal Government withdrew.
  To help agricultural producers do that, the Federal Government must 
fix the current crop insurance program and make it one the producer can 
use as an effective risk management tool. Eventually, I envision a crop 
insurance program that puts the control in the hands of agricultural 
producers. It is the Federal Government's role to facilitate a program 
to unite the producer and the private insurance company.
  It is of utmost importance that we get the producers of this country 
back on track. Crop insurance reform is one sure way to do that. I urge 
my colleagues here today to consider the positive effect crop insurance 
will and must have on the farm economy.
  Mr. President, I look forward to working with Senator Craig on crop 
insurance reform. I will have some amendments forthcoming, that I 
believe will make this bill even more effective. I also plan to 
introduce a bill this session that I believe will make even larger 
strides in the area of crop insurance reform.

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