Liz Saville Roberts: “I thank the Senator. Yet this amendment proposes taking that reimbursement down even further. These companies are…”

“I thank the Senator. Yet this amendment proposes taking that reimbursement down even further. These companies are businesses. Like any good business, if you make the risk too high or increase the costs too much, you will leave the business. Now please listen to this: There are only 16 companies now participating in the crop insurance program today--16. When I first had the privilege of serving in the House of Representatives and serving on the Agriculture Committee, 20 years ago, the number was 60. It went from 60 to 16. If this amendment is adopted, I do not know where it is going. Some companies will not serve certain sections of the country. Perhaps it is not as profitable as some might claim? If this amendment is adopted, there may well be entire regions of the country where companies will simply no longer provide this service. If you add additional costs, I think there is a very real risk that the companies will either leave the business completely or at the very least begin to pull out of higher risk States and also those States that are classified as 'underserved' by the Department of Agriculture. Bottom line: If you are a Senator representing a higher risk State or specialty crops, I would be very nervous about the impact this amendment could have on producers being able to get adequate crop insurance service in your State.”