U.S. Representative Stephanie Herseth

News from U.S. Rep. Stephanie Herseth Sandlin
For Immediate Release
Contact: Chip Weiskotten, 202-226-8553

HERSETH SANDLIN FSA AMENDMENT ADDED TO FARM BILL

Congresswoman’s Amendment Prevents Closure of Any FSA Office for One Full Year Following Passage of Farm Bill

July 19, 2007, Washington, D.C. - During consideration of the 2007 Farm Bill early this morning, the House Agriculture Committee passed an amendment from U.S. Rep. Stephanie Herseth Sandlin to prevent the closure or relocation of any Farm Service Agency (FSA) office for a period of one full year following the enactment of the overall bill. Rep. Herseth Sandlin’s amendment was adopted unanimously at approximately 12:30am this morning.

Rep. Herseth Sandlin said, “FSA offices are necessary lifelines to producers in South Dakota, and with a new Farm Bill pending, I believe we need to re-examine USDA’s closure plan. I believe closing FSA offices while this major piece of legislation is being considered is premature and illogical. My amendment provides a common sense delay to slow the process down, and ensure that county FSA offices continue to be able to serve the needs of farm and ranch families across South Dakota.”

The provision also prohibits the closure of relocation of county offices of the Rural Development Agency and the Natural Resources Conservation Service for one year after passage of the overall Farm Bill, which is scheduled for September 2007.

Rep. Herseth Sandlin’s office has heard from hundreds of South Dakota farmers and ranchers in strong opposition to USDA’s office closure plan for FSA and Rural Development offices.

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Congresswoman Stephanie Herseth Sandlin serves South Dakota in the U.S. House of Representatives. She is a member of the Blue Dog Coalition, a group of moderate Democrats committed to fiscal discipline and strong national security, and is co-chair of the Rural Working Group, which is dedicated to raising the profile of issues important to rural America. She also serves on three committees vital to South Dakota’s interests: Agriculture, Veterans’ Affairs and Natural Resources. In the 110th Congress, Rep. Herseth Sandlin was appointed to serve on the Select Committee on Energy Independence and Global Warming.