Chairman Bob Goodlatte today issued the following statement in response to a letter sent by U.S. Department of Agriculture Farm and Foreign Agricultural Services Under Secretary J.B Penn:
“Today, Under Secretary Penn sent a letter informing Members that the USDA has decided to set aside the “FSA Tomorrow" approach and timetable while continuing to engage in dialogue with Members and industry groups. Under this approach, nearly 600 FSA offices were slated for closure nationwide. The FSA staff and office personnel are on the frontlines providing services and benefits to our nation’s producers. These offices serve as essential resources within local communities that producers have come to depend on. Much more dialogue and consideration is needed before a final determination, which could essentially alter the county office structure, is made. I encourage USDA to enhance service to our producers and I stand ready to develop the consensus needed to implement future improvements."
NOTE: http://democrats-agriculture.house.gov
Source: House Committee on Agriculture
