The nation's farmers and the United States as a whole can no longer avoid this issue from either a moral or international competitiveness perspective.

GRAND ISLAND, Neb. - Dec. 11, 2009– Keith Dittrich, Chairman of the board of the American Corn Growers Association (ACGA), urged Sens. Ben Nelson, D-Neb., and Mike Johanns, R-Neb., to rethink their opposition to health care reform currently being debated in Washington. Dittrich was among participants on the importance of the Senate health care reform proposal to rural Nebraska teleconference to try to urge the passage of health care reform due to its importance to rural America.

“The health care issue is of national importance to our rural citizens, businesses and in fact our international competitiveness. Since we are one of the only industrialized nations who have a health care system run by private companies and have one of the highest health care costs anywhere, we stand to lose greatly in the international arena when it comes to being competitive,” Dittrich started.

“When farmers lose their insurance, their families farming operations are at risk as is the risk of losing the ability to pass the farm onto the next generation.  And since farming is the second most hazardous occupation in the nation, they risk even more,” Dittrich added. “We are talking about the only industry in the U.S. that is profitable at this time, highly productive, that feeds not just the nation and much of the world, and produces a growing percentage of the nations renewable energy needs.”

Dittrich concluded by saying, “Therefore, we urge Senator Nelson and Senator Johanns to vote to advance health care reform legislation and to make the right moral and economic decision for the people of this nation.  Health care reform, in the end, will be widely regarded as a landmark for America’s citizens, just as was the case with Medicare and Social Security legislation of the past.”

Dittrich’ remarks also reflects ACGA’s standing policy from their annual business meeting held recently in Sioux City, Iowa, where the Board of Directors passed a resolution supporting national healthcare reform, including a public option.  ACGA’s resolution on the pending healthcare legislation states;

ACGA believes that it is of critical importance that Congress pass meaningful national health care reform in 2009.  Such legislation should include a public option to provide real completion in the health insurance industry.  The nation’s farmers and the United States as a whole can no longer avoid this issue from either a moral or international competitiveness perspective.