H.R. 9346: USDA Field Office Stability Act

This bill would limit the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s ability to shut down or move certain local offices. In general, it would bar the Secretary of Agriculture from closing or relocating:

• Natural Resources Conservation Service county or field offices
• Farm Service Agency county or field offices
• Rural Development area offices
• Any USDA county service center

Exceptions

The restriction would not apply in two situations:

• If the office is within 20 miles of another office of the same type, unless the other office is in a different state.
• If the office is moved to another location within the same county as part of normal lease changes or routine office space arrangements.

Staffing requirements

The bill would also require the Secretary of Agriculture to keep enough staff at local service centers for the Natural Resources Conservation Service, Farm Service Agency, and Rural Development so that those centers stay open to the public during normal business hours.

What this means in practice

Overall, the bill is designed to keep certain USDA offices in place and available for in-person public access, especially in rural areas where people may rely on these offices for assistance with farm programs, conservation services, and rural development services.

Relevant Companies

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