​WASHINGTON, D.C., December 12, 2018 — The Independent Insurance Agents & Brokers of America (IIABA or the Big “I") applauds passage of a 2018 Farm Bill that supports the Federal Crop Insurance Program (FCIP), a critical risk management tool for America's farmers.

“The Big 'I' is pleased with passage of a Farm Bill that recognizes the important role the federal crop insurance program plays in protecting America's food supply," says Charles Symington, Big “I" senior vice president of external, industry and government affairs. “The Big 'I' supports a strong crop insurance program and opposes any effort to increase the cost of crop insurance for farmers or to weaken the efficient and effective private sector delivery of crop insurance."

The FCIP is a public-private partnership that supports the purchase of crop insurance by farmers to protect against losses due to natural disasters and single year commodity price declines. Over 12,000 insurance agents sell and service crop insurance policies across the country.

“The Big 'I' thanks the leaders and members of the House and Senate Agriculture Committees, and the Farm Bill conferees for their work to craft a bipartisan bill that supports crop insurance," says Jennifer Webb, Big “I" senior counsel, federal government affairs.  “The Big 'I' urges the President to sign the Farm Bill as soon as possible."

Founded in 1896, the Independent Insurance Agents & Brokers of America (IIABA or the Big “I") is the nation's oldest and largest national association of independent insurance agents and brokers, representing a network of approximately a quarter of a million agents, brokers and their employees nationally. Its members are businesses that offer customers a choice of policies from a variety of insurance companies. Independent agents and brokers offer all lines of insurance—property, casualty, life, health, employee benefit plans and retirement products.

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