Smith Statement on FSA Closure Plan

Statement

Smith Statement on FSA Closure Plan

Congressman Adrian Smith (R-NE), a member of the House Agriculture Committee, today released the following statement regarding the U.S. Department of Agriculture's announcement that ten Farm Service Agency (FSA) offices in Nebraska will be closed. These closures will take effect within 120 days.

Nebraska's Third Congressional District is home to eight of the ten offices slated for closure.

"While I appreciate the USDA's careful consideration in developing the proposal to revise the FSA's office structure, I am concerned with the timing. The House-passed Farm Bill includes language to prohibit office closings until one year after enactment, an amendment agreed to unanimously by the House Agriculture Committee. In addition, the House-passed Agriculture Appropriations bill includes language instructing the USDA to take no further action on closures of FSA offices until at least six months after the next Farm Bill is passed.

"I have called on Secretary Johanns to delay any restructuring in order to allow Congress more time to properly assess the recent developments and provide guidance to the Administration," Smith said.

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