Larry Combest: “Mr. Speaker, I am extremely proud today to bring this conference report to the floor. With this single piece of…”

“Mr. Speaker, I am extremely proud today to bring this conference report to the floor. With this single piece of legislation, we have the opportunity to strengthen farmers' ability to manage the risk the future may bring and to provide them the financial assistance that they badly need to cope with their immediate financial crisis. H.R. 2559 began last year when the House provided the budget resources to overhaul and reinvigorate our ailing agricultural risk management system. The Committee on Agriculture then crafted, on a truly bipartisan basis, the most significant improvements in the crop insurance program in its history. The result last year was the House passage of legislation that makes risk management more affordable and more effective for more farmers. While the Senate was unable to pass a similar bill until this year, passage of this conference report today will ensure that producers will see the benefits of this major initiative beginning with the next year's crop. In addition to sustaining the drive to secure future farm financial stability, this year's budget resolution also provides $7.1 billion in emergency economic assistance to farmers facing their third straight year of historically low prices.”