The National Association of Professional Insurance Agents (PIA) has praised the Senate’s passage of the Agriculture Improvement Act of 2018, popularly known as the 2018 Farm Bill. The bill passed Thursday by a vote of 86-11.

PIA said that the Farm Bill “recognizes the importance of a strong agricultural safety net through crop insurance and contained only slight changes to the federal crop insurance program.”

“PIA applauds Senate Agriculture Chairman Pat Roberts (R-Kansas) and Ranking Member Debbie Stabenow (D-Mich.) for championing a Farm Bill that recognizes the importance of crop insurance and respects the vital role played by independent insurance agents in the delivery of the federal crop insurance program,” said Jon Gentile, PIA national vice president of government relations.

PIA also praised the Senate for including an amendment to the Farm Bill to reauthorize the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) for another six months beyond its July 31 expiration date.

“While we would ideally prefer multi-year reauthorization of the NFIP, we are pleased that the Senate will not let the program lapse while they work out a long-term reauthorization plan,” Gentile said.

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