WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senator Pat Roberts (R-Kan.), Chairman of the Senate Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition and Forestry, on Tuesday announced he will vote against the budget deal negotiated behind closed doors between congressional leaders and President Obama because of its raid on crop insurance funding.

“I will vote against the budget deal because it will undermine the number one risk management tool for farmers in America – crop insurance.

“Agriculture producers are battling floods while others continue to face ongoing and severe drought. Crop insurance has kept them in business in a tough economy and eliminated the need for a costly emergency federal disaster package. These proposals to make further cuts to the crop insurance program were not included in the House- or Senate-passed budgets, in any appropriations bills, or in the president’s budget request. Once again, our leaders are attempting to govern by backroom deals where the devil is in the details.

“I will continue to oppose any attempts to cut crop insurance funding or to change crop insurance program policies. I will continue to protect this critical risk management tool and successful public-private partnership. I will vote against this deal.”

According to the Congressional Budget Office (CBO), the proposed cuts to crop insurance in the deal would be more than $3 billion over 10 years. The deal also lifts the debt limit through March of 2017.

The deal must be approved by the House and it will then be considered by the Senate with a debate and a vote as early as Thursday.