H.R. 1649, introduced by Congresswoman Stephanie Herseth Sandlin, prohibits the U. S. Secretary of Agriculture from closing or relocating any county or field office of the Farm Service Agency (FSA) until at least one year after the date of the enactment of an omnibus law.

BACKGROUND

Under a plan currently being deployed in several states, FSA offices are being closed while the other field delivery agencies (Natural Resource Conservation Service and/or Rural Development), which were co-located with the FSA, are remaining intact. This selective office closing plan undercuts the USDA “Service Center” structure and eliminates the “one-stop-shopping” concept established by USDA for farmers. If allowed to proceed, this plan will force many farmers to travel to two or more locations to conduct their USDA business.

A number of organizations, including the National Grange, representing rural Americans expressed deep opposition to the closings of many FSA offices. H. R. 1649 was introduced as a bipartisan initiative stating t he Secretary of Agriculture may not close or relocate any county or field office of the FSA until at least one year after the date of the enactment of an omnibus law .

BILL HIGHLIGHTS

The legislation prohibits the U.S.D.A. Secretary of Agriculture from closing or relocating any county office of the Farm Service Agency until at least one year after the enactment of an Act to provide for the continuation of agricultural programs for fiscal years after 2007.

GRANGE POLICY

USDA Responsibilities, Authorities & Organization

4. The National Grange continues its long-standing support of the County and Community Committee System as the proper means of supervising and administering all farm programs. We pledge our full support for the federal government in investigating incidences of discrimination and in implementing action that will bring about changes to end racial discrimination in USDA policies. We urge stricter monitoring and enforce­ment of the Farm Service Agency’s farm programs in order to eliminate any abuse of farm program regulations. The Grange supports funding and staffing of the Farm Services Agency at levels that are consistent with congressional mandates. In meeting these mandates, we will support co-location and cross-agency use of personnel from various agricultural agencies within counties where offices now exist.

Action Needed

Please e-mail your U. S. Representative urging them to co-sponsor and support H.R. 1649. Please feel free to cut and paste the following sample letter. If you do not know your Representatives e-mail address please click here to find them.

Sample Letter

If you have any questions or comments please contact Legislative Program Assistant Samantha Johnson by e-mail: sjohnson@nationalgrange.org by fax: 202-347-1091 or by phone: 1-888-4GRANGE, ext 109.

Thank you for your grassroots participation in the National Grange Legislative Program.