Crop

Last week, the Government Accountability Office released a report on the cost of implementing the Federal Crop Insurance Program—and it sounded familiar.

The Big “I” is at the center of the debate as Congress begins deliberating key components of the 2018 Farm Bill, such as the Federal Crop Insurance Program.

President Trump’s proposed FY2018 budget calls for about $28 billion in cuts to the Federal Crop Insurance Program over the 2018-2027 period.

Last week, Big “I” members from all 50 states headed to Washington, D.C. for the biggest, most effective industry gathering: the annual Big “I” Legislative Conference.

In anticipation of President Trump’s budget outline, the Big “I,” along with the D.C Agriculture Coalition, sent letters to top decision-makers in Washington, D.C.

To protect the Federal Crop Insurance Program, the Big “I” sent a letter urging Congress to reject calls for additional cuts within the jurisdiction of the U.S. Senate and House agriculture committees.

As a Republican President takes office on Jan. 20 and Republicans control both chambers of Congress, lawmakers are eager to put their party’s stamp on many important pieces of legislation this year.

At last week’s Big “I” Legislative Conference, agents and brokers met with almost every U.S. Senate and House of Representatives office to discuss the association’s top legislative concerns.

At the Big “I” Legislative Conference Breakfast last week, Sen. Chuck Schumer (D-New York) addressed insurance-related legislative initiatives relevant to his home state and the country: crop, flood and terrorism insurance.

Rep. Mike Conaway (R-Texas), Chairman of the U.S. House of Representatives Committee on Agriculture, is the 2015 Gerald Solomon-Big “I” Legislator of the Year.