SA 3685. Mr. FEINGOLD submitted an amendment intended to be proposed to amendment SA 3500 proposed by Mr. HARKIN (for himself, Mr. CHAMBLISS, Mr. BAUCUS, and Mr. GRASSLEY) to the bill H.R. 2419, to provide for the continuation of agricultural programs through fiscal year 2012, and for other purposes; which was ordered to lie on the table; as follows:

At the end of subtitle B of title XI, add the following:
SEC. 11__X. GAO REPORT ON ACCESS TO HEALTH CARE FOR FARMERS.
(a) Report.--Not later than November 30, 2008, the Comptroller General of the United States shall submit to Congress a report on access to health care for rural Americans and farmers.
(b) Consultation.--The report shall be done in consultation with the Rural Health Research Centers in the Department of Health and Human Services Office of Rural Health Policy.
(c) Elements.--The report required by subsection (a) shall include the following:
(1) ASSESSMENT.--An assessment of access to health care for rural Americans, including the following:
(A) An overview of the rates of the uninsured among people living in rural areas in the United States and possible factors that cause the uninsurance, specifically--
(i) a synthesis of existing research on the uninsured living in rural America; and
(ii) a detailed analysis of the uninsured and the factors that contribute in uninsurance in 3 to 4 rural areas.
(2) SECOND ASSESSMENT.--An assessment of access to health care for farmers, including the following:
(A) An overview of the rates of the uninsured among farmers in the United States and the factors that cause the uninsurance, specifically--
(i) factors, such as land assets, that keep low-income farmers from qualifying for public insurance programs;
(ii) the effects of the high price of health insurance for individuals purchasing in the individual, non-group market; and
(iii) any other significant factor that contributes to the rates of uninsurance among farmers.
(B) The extent to which farmers depend on a spouse's off-farm job for health care coverage.
(C) The effects of uninsurance on farmers and their families.
(3) ROLE OF CONGRESS.--Recommendations regarding the potential role of Congress in supporting increased access to health insurance for farmers and their families, and rural Americans.


(As printed in the Congressional Record for the Senate on Nov 15, 2007.)