NACIA Washington Update
October 29, 2009

The never-ending health care saga continues to dominate nearly all action on Capitol Hill. This morning House Speaker Pelosi (D-CA) unveiled here 1,990-page health care proposal, which combines, among other things, the three bills that were reported out of the Energy and Commerce, Education and Labor, and Ways and Means Committees. On the Senate side, negotiations over how to combine the two Senate bills continue between Leadership and the Democrats from the Finance and Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions Committees.

Cap and trade/climate change debates continue to hold second place in the attention-getting list. This week the Senate Environment and Public Works Committee started a series of hearings on S. 1733, the Clean Energy Jobs and American Power Act, which was introduced by Senators Kerry (D-MA) and Boxer (D-CA). This bill is similar, but not the same as the House-passed legislation sponsored by Representatives Waxman (D-CA) and Markey (D-MA). While most of the climate change action is on the Senate side, House Agriculture Committee Ranking Member Lucas (R-OK) continues to proclaim the negative impacts of a cap and trade system and assert that the Senate bill will cost jobs and is the same as a tax.  Details.

In crop insurance, the focus remains on the SRA renegotiations. Currently, RMA has received all company comments and is drafting their proposal for the agreement, which is expected to be made available to the companies relatively soon. Reports are that the initial draft from RMA will reflect the current budget orientation of the Administration, meaning that it will most likely be focused on cost cutting. NCIS has posted its recommendations for the SRA, which can be viewed here. Of interest in the document, among other information, is a listing of the SRA Working Groups Membership, starting on page 45. 

Other activities that may be of interest include the following: 

• Yesterday RMA issued a reminder to producers regarding the November 20, sales closing date for crop insurance for perennials and horticultural products. For a list of effected states and crops, please click here.

• RMA has also issued a Product Management Bulletin regarding Tobacco Crop Insurance Provisions for the 2010 Crop Year.  Details.

• This week RMA issued a Managers Bulletin, “Revenue Assurance: Calculation of Enterprise Unit Discount; and Revenue Assurance and Crop Revenue Coverage: Notice of Loss and Submission of Claim Requirements for Revenue Loss.”  Details.
  

• As most of you are rural businesses, we thought you may be interested in the USDA announcement of $71.7 million in loan guarantees to assist rural businesses through stimulus funds. The funding announced is being made available through USDA Rural Development's Business and Industry Guaranteed Loan Program. Details.

NACIA is working very hard to ensure that the crop insurance agent’s voice is heard here in Washington, by both the Congress and the Administration. This continued presence can be maintinated only through your participation. Please pay your 2009 dues. This can be done either online by visiting our secure website or mailing in a check. 

As always, please let us know if you have any questions. 

Brent W. Gattis
NACIA Washington Representative

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