Expressing Sense of House Relating to Crop Insurance

Floor Speech

Mr. VAN HOLLEN. Madam Speaker, I rise today in support of this Sense of the House that the Durbin-Coburn amendment on crop insurance should be included in a farm bill conference report. This measure limits crop insurance premium subsidies for the wealthiest producers, saving more than $900 million over ten years. The bipartisan amendment was adopted in the Senate by a 59-33 vote, and enjoys bipartisan House support as well. As we look to trim spending in all areas of the budget, limiting taxpayer handouts to farmers making over $750,000 is a sensible place to start. Currently there are no limits to crop insurance premium subsidies or payments. This proposal doesn't eliminate assistance for those well-off producers, but simply limits it. In fact, I supported an amendment last June--offered by my colleague Congressman Ron Kind--which would have shrunk taxpayer subsidies for crop insurance even further than the measure being considered today. I look forward to working with other Members of the House, and our colleagues in the Senate, to reform the nation's agriculture safety net in a way that provides security to our farmers while reducing the deficit.

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