Senate Okays $128 Million Leahy-led Amendment To Strengthen Crop Insurance Program In New England

March 22, 2000

The U.S. Senate late Wednesday approved an amendment to the crop insurance reform bill that will widen the program's use in and help to New England.

The amendment, sponsored by Sen. Patrick Leahy, D-Vt., a senior member of the Senate Agriculture Committee, would direct an additional $128 million to states with low participation rates in the crop insurance program, which largely means states in New England, where specialty crops predominate. Other key support for the amendment came from the amendment's cosponsors, who include Senators Torricelli, Schumer and Reed. The amendment would improve the program's usefulness to New England farmers in several ways, including through new types of policies with lower premiums and better coverage, and through greater outreach and recruitment.

"The New England states are quick to come to the aid of other regions when hard times hit their farmers," noted Leahy. "New England's farmers were hit hard last year, especially by the drought, and Congress's response in the emergency farm package was miserly when it came to our region's needs. This amendment will help make up for that."