A measure championed by U.S. Sen. Kay Hagan adds $5 million in new funding to the 2013 farm bill to help root out crop insurance fraud.
The Senate approved Hagan’s amendment last week by a vote of 94-0. The money will boost the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Risk Management Agency, which is responsible for policing the $120 billion taxpayer-supported program that insures farmers against losses from weather and pests.
The North Carolina Democrat introduced the measure after The Associated Press reported in February that federal investigators unraveled a massive scheme by insurance agents, claims adjusters, brokers and farmers in eastern North Carolina to steal about $100 million. Forty-one defendants have either pleaded guilty or reached plea agreements after profiting from false claims on losses of tobacco, soybeans, wheat and corn.
Topics Fraud Agribusiness Politics North Carolina
Was this article valuable?
Here are more articles you may enjoy.
Oaktree’s Deal to Buy A-Cap Insurer Crumbles, Spawning New Talks 
Reuters: DXC in Advanced Talks to Sell Insurance Software Unit for $2.4 Billion 
Former Trident Reciprocal CEO Ordered to Pay $468K in Attorney and Arbitrator Fees 
Storm Austen Will Be Stronger Than Forecast Along UK Coasts 
