Chuck Hagel: “I rise in support of S. 2251, the Risk Management for the 21st Century Act regarding crop insurance reform, I am an…”

“I rise in support of S. 2251, the Risk Management for the 21st Century Act regarding crop insurance reform, I am an original co-sponsor of this important legislation and I thank my colleagues Senators Bob Kerrey and Pat Roberts for their leadership on this issue. Crop insurance reform has been a major, bipartisan legislative effort for farm state Senators. Reforming crop insurance is vital to America's agricultural producers and to the rural economies in all of our ag-producing states. We need to pass this legislation today. The need for crop insurance reform has been a common denominator in my conversations with all of Nebraska's agricultural producers and agribusinesses, as I am sure it has for my colleagues as they have spoken with ag-producers across the country. Every commodity organization and farm group that I've spoken with has urged Congress to reform and improve America's crop insurance programs. Why is crop insurance important? By increasing and expanding private crop insurance coverage, ag producers can make long-term market decisions without being devastated by short-term economic downturns. If we can assist in making crop insurance--an important risk management tool--more affordable and expansive, we will help producers weather the bad times. S. 2251 makes a number of important changes to the crop insurance system that will benefit America's ag producers.”