Chuck Grassley: “it would be easy to say I associate myself with the remarks of the Senator from Kansas and let it be that way. But I was…”

“it would be easy to say I associate myself with the remarks of the Senator from Kansas and let it be that way. But I was around when we set up the Federal crop insurance program. I wish to reflect on the rationale behind it and then, consequently, why I am going to vote against Senator Brown's amendment. Remember, for decades of a farm program, we may have had some crop insurance through the Government--and for hail through the private sector--that farmers could buy for some protection, but, for the most part, against natural disasters people relied upon the political whims of Congress to vote for or not to vote for disaster aid. So this crop insurance program was put in place to give farmers the ability to manage their risk, let the individual farmer make some determinations so he can take risks out of farming, out of the natural disasters that are connected with it--even now, you can take some of the price questions out that are involved with it--and manage his own risk as opposed to relying upon the Senators and the Congressmen to vote or not to vote or when to vote for disaster relief. So we put this in place. In order for it to be successful, you have to have a network to carry it out. This network is a private-sector network. I think it is working very well. I think it is in jeopardy if the Brown amendment is adopted. So I have some concerns about the amendment.”