PIA Victory! $3 Billion Crop Insurance Cut Reversed!

PIA has praised Congress for reversing a $3 billion cut to the budget of the Federal Crop Insurance Program (FCIP). Restoration of the funds came in the form of an amendment to a highway spending measure that was approved by the House and the Senate on December 3. The legislative action delivered on promises made by congressional leadership to reverse the cuts, which had been included in the Bipartisan Budget Act of 2015 (H.R. 1314).

“This is a significant victory for America’s farmers and for our nation’s entire agriculture sector,” said PIA National Vice President of Government Relations Jon Gentile. “PIA insurance agents around the country engaged in an active campaign of advocacy to get these cuts restored, which contributed to this success.”

On October 30, Congress passed and the president subsequently signed a budget deal to raise the nation’s debt limit. Part of that deal—which had been negotiated in secret between President Obama and former House Speaker John Boehner—included the severe cut of $3 billion to the federal crop insurance program. When this came to light, PIA members inundated Congress with messages urging that no cuts be made to the crop insurance program. House and Senate leaders then quickly pledged to reverse the cuts.

“We are very pleased that Congress delivered on its promise,” Gentile said. “House and Senate leaders quickly responded to the calls from their constituents by pledging to make the crop insurance program whole again. These cuts would have seriously jeopardized the private sector delivery of crop insurance.”