Lincoln proposes disaster payment legislation

Senate Ag Chairman Blanche Lincoln says she’s partnered with the highest ranking Republican on the Senate Appropriations Committee, Thad Cochran, to help farmers who’ve suffered extensive crop losses this year, the wettest in 115 years of record keeping. “And remember,” Lincoln said at the hearing, “That’s the committee that holds the money.” She says the pair is introducing legislation to provide additional direct payments to producers in counties where there’s a USDA declared disaster.

The 2008 Farm Bill created a permanent disaster program for farmers who have crop insurance called Supplemental Revenue Assistance Payments, or, the SURE program.

Iowa Senator Chuck Grassley says he’s not sure another program is needed, “And now some other members of Congress want more money? You want to make sure that you don’t circumvent why SURE was set up.”

Senator Lincoln made her comments in her home state of Arkansas on Monday – at her first Ag Committee field hearing as chairman. She says her top priority as chairman is putting the rural economy back on the right track.

Senator Blanche Lincoln (D-AR), Senate Ag Committee Chair, opening statement at field hearing