Rounds Reinforces Commitment to Restoring Crop Insurance Cut in Appropriations Process

WASHINGTON—U.S. Senator Mike Rounds (R-S.D.) wrote his colleagues to reinforce his commitment to restoring the $3 billion in crop insurance cuts that were included in the Bipartisan Budget Act of 2015, which was signed into law earlier this year. Prior to voting for the Bipartisan Budget Act of 2015, House and Senate Leadership publicly offered to help fix the cuts during the appropriations process.

In letters addressed to Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.), Senate Agriculture Committee Chairman Pat Roberts (R-Kan.), Senate Agriculture Appropriations Subcommittee Chairman Jim Moran (R-Kan.)  and Ranking Member Jeff Merkley (D-Ore.) and House Agriculture Appropriations Subcommittee Chairman Robert Aderholt (R-Ala.) and Ranking Member Sam Farr (D-Calif.), Rounds reinforced the importance of the crop insurance program to South Dakotans and offered his assistance in working to fix the cut in the coming weeks.

“In South Dakota, agriculture accounts for more than half of our economic output and is our number one industry,” Rounds wrote the Members. “We are one of the nation’s leading producers of sunflowers, corn, soybeans, forage and wheat. Our farmers and ranchers work tirelessly to help feed and fuel a growing population, often putting in long hours, doing labor-intensive work. In order to continue to serve this growing demand, South Dakota’s producers need certainty from Washington, D.C. This includes the important crop insurance safety net.”

In addition, Rounds thanked McConnell: “I am grateful for your offer to help remove this cut during the appropriations process in the coming weeks.”

Full text of the letters are below: 

Dear Majority Leader McConnell:

I write today regarding the $3 billion crop insurance cuts included in the Bipartisan Budget Act of 2015 that passed the Senate on October 30, 2015, and was signed into law by President Obama. I thank you for your hard work negotiating this important agreement, which in addition to making important policy reforms, avoided a default on our debt and set limits on President Obama’s spending for the remainder of his time in office.

But, as you know, I remain deeply concerned about the $3 billion cut to the crop insurance program included in this legislation.  I am grateful for your offer to help remove this cut during the appropriations process in the coming weeks.

In South Dakota, agriculture accounts for more than half of our economic output and is our number one industry. We are one of the nation’s leading producers of sunflowers, corn, soybeans, forage and wheat. Our farmers and ranchers work tirelessly to help feed and fuel a growing population, often putting in long hours, doing labor-intensive work. In order to continue to serve this growing demand, South Dakota’s producers need certainty from Washington, D.C. This includes the important crop insurance safety net.

On behalf of our country’s farmers, crop insurance providers and everyone who lives in rural America, again I thank you for your offer to help fix this provision in appropriations legislation. Please let me know how I can be of assistance while you work to eliminate these harmful cuts before they go into effect.

Sincerely, 

Dear Chairman Roberts:

I write today regarding the $3 billion crop insurance cuts included in the Bipartisan Budget Act of 2015 that passed the Senate on October 30, 2015, and was signed into law by President Obama.  Thank you for your leadership on fighting these damaging cuts.  I remain deeply concerned about the $3 billion cut to the crop insurance program included in this legislation.  I am grateful for your commitment to removing this cut during the appropriations process in the coming weeks.

In South Dakota, agriculture accounts for more than half of our economic output and is our number one industry. We are one of the nation’s leading producers of sunflowers, corn, soybeans, forage and wheat. Our farmers and ranchers work tirelessly to help feed and fuel a growing population, often putting in long hours, doing labor-intensive work. In order to continue to serve this growing demand, South Dakota’s producers need certainty from Washington, D.C. This includes the important crop insurance safety net.

 On behalf of our country’s farmers, crop insurance providers and everyone who lives in rural America, again I thank you for your work to fix this provision in appropriations legislation. Please let me know how I can be helpful while you work to eliminate these harmful cuts before they go into effect.

Sincerely,

Dear Chairman Moran and Ranking Member Merkley:

 I write today regarding the $3 billion crop insurance cuts included in the Bipartisan Budget Act of 2015 that passed the Senate on October 30, 2015, and was signed into law by President Obama. I thank you for your hard work on this important agreement, which in addition to making important policy reforms, avoided a default on our debt and set limits on President Obama’s spending for the remainder of his time in office.

But, as you know, I remain deeply concerned about the $3 billion cut to the crop insurance program included in this legislation.  This cut cannot stand.   

In South Dakota, agriculture accounts for more than half of our economic output and is our number one industry. We are one of the nation’s leading producers of sunflowers, corn, soybeans, forage and wheat. Our farmers and ranchers work tirelessly to help feed and fuel a growing population, often putting in long hours, doing labor-intensive work. In order to continue to serve this growing demand, South Dakota’s producers need certainty from Washington, D.C. This includes the important crop insurance safety net.

On behalf of our country’s farmers, crop insurance providers and everyone who lives in rural America, I commit to working with you and the Senate Appropriations Committee to fix this provision in the appropriations legislation. Please let me know how I can be helpful while you work to eliminate these harmful cuts before they go into effect.

Sincerely,

Dear Chairman Aderholt and Ranking Member Farr:

 I write today regarding the $3 billion crop insurance cuts included in the Bipartisan Budget Act of 2015 that passed the Senate on October 30, 2015, and was signed into law by President Obama. I thank you for your hard work on this important agreement, which in addition to making important policy reforms, avoided a default on our debt and set limits on President Obama’s spending for the remainder of his time in office.

But, as you know, I remain deeply concerned about the $3 billion cut to the crop insurance program included in this legislation.  This cut cannot stand. 

In South Dakota, agriculture accounts for more than half of our economic output and is our number one industry. We are one of the nation’s leading producers of sunflowers, corn, soybeans, forage and wheat. Our farmers and ranchers work tirelessly to help feed and fuel a growing population, often putting in long hours, doing labor-intensive work. In order to continue to serve this growing demand, South Dakota’s producers need certainty from Washington, D.C. This includes the important crop insurance safety net.

On behalf of our country’s farmers, crop insurance providers and everyone who lives in rural America, I commit to working with you to fix this provision in the appropriations legislation. Please let me know how I can be helpful while you and the House Appropriations Committee work to eliminate these harmful cuts before they go into effect.

Sincerely,

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