WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, U.S. Representative Tracey Mann, along with Representatives Austin Scott and Jimmy Panetta, unveiled the Ensuring Access to Risk Management Act aimed at bolstering the crop insurance program.
Addressing the need for improvements, Rep. Mann emphasized, “The higher the risk, the higher the fall, and the stronger the safety net you need to survive.” Highlighting the urgency of the situation, he pointed out that the program’s administrative and operating costs have not been adjusted for inflation since 2015, despite inflation reaching a forty-year high.
In support of the legislation, Rep. Scott, Chairman of the Subcommittee on General Farm Commodities, Risk Management, and Credit, stated, “As the Chairman of the Subcommittee with jurisdiction over Federal Crop Insurance, I’m pleased to introduce this legislation to ensure that the infrastructure delivering our farmers and ranchers their most important safety net is on solid ground.” He emphasized the importance of providing risk management assistance to farmers regardless of the diversity of agricultural production in various regions.
Echoing the sentiments of his colleagues, Rep. Panetta added, “The current design of our crop insurance system can hurt many specialty crop producers all across the country, including in California’s 19th Congressional District.” He underscored the necessity of correcting flaws in the system to offer improved risk management infrastructure during price fluctuations, ultimately benefiting farms, food production, and the families they support.
The legislation seeks to rectify existing issues by restoring the annual inflation adjustment for risk management delivery funding and establishing a minimum reimbursement rate for administrative and operating expenses. This bipartisan effort aims to provide a stronger safety net for farmers, ranchers, and agricultural producers, ensuring the stability and certainty they deserve in the face of evolving agricultural challenges.
