HR0637 LRB094 14359 CSA 49283 r

1
HOUSE RESOLUTION

 
2     WHEREAS, The missions of the United States Department of
3 Agriculture's (USDA) Farm Service Agency (FSA) include
4 stabilizing farm income, helping farmers conserve land and
5 water resources, providing credit to new or disadvantaged
6 farmers or ranchers, and helping farm operations recover from
7 the effects of disaster; and
 
8     WHEREAS, The USDA FSA was set up when the Department was
9 reorganized in 1994; and
 
10     WHEREAS, Although its name has changed over the years, the
11 FSA's relationship with farmers goes back to the 1930s; and
 
12     WHEREAS, The USDA FSA currently maintains 93 offices in the
13 State of Illinois; and
 
14     WHEREAS, Secretary of Agriculture Johanns announced a
15 proposal to modernize the USDA FSA; and
 
16     WHEREAS, This initiative, known as FSA Tomorrow, includes
17 restructuring county offices and reorganizing state offices;
18 and
 
19     WHEREAS, Under this proposal, 44 offices in Illinois have
20 been identified that meet the criteria for consolidation; and
 
21     WHEREAS, It is expected the FSA will consolidate its
22 physical presence in 26 of 93 counties; and
 
23     WHEREAS, Illinois county offices currently slated for
24 office restructuring include: Alexander/Pulaski, Bond, Boone,
25 Brown, Calhoun, Carroll, Cass, Coles, Cumberland, Dekalb,
26 Dewitt, Gallatin/Hardin, Green, Grundy, Henderson, Franklin,
27 Fulton, Jackson, Jersey, Johnson/Massac/Pope, Kane/DuPage,

 

 

HR0637 - 2 - LRB094 14359 CSA 49283 r

1 Kendall, Lawrence, Mason, Morgan, Monroe, Moultrie, Randolph,
2 Richland, Rock Island, Perry, Peoria, Piatt, Saline, Scott,
3 Schuyler, Union, Wabash, Warren, Washington, White, Whiteside,
4 Williamson, and Winnebago; and
 
5     WHEREAS, No final decisions have been made regarding what
6 office consolidations will occur; and
 
7     WHEREAS, The USDA FSA state executive directors are to
8 submit consolidation proposals by November 15, 2005; and
 
9     WHEREAS, Concerns exist as to how these offices will be
10 consolidated and how the consolidations will affect service
11 levels, as well as distances farmers may have to travel to
12 reach a USDA FSA office; therefore, be it
 
13     RESOLVED, BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE
14 NINETY-FOURTH GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that
15 we urge the USDA to reconsider consolidating the USDA FSA
16 offices; and be it further
 
17     RESOLVED, That we urge the United States Congress to
18 increase appropriations for the USDA FSA offices; and be it
19 further
 
20     RESOLVED, That suitable copies of this resolution be
21 presented to the President of the United States, the United
22 States Secretary of Agriculture, each member of the Illinois
23 congressional delegation, and the Illinois State Executive
24 Director of the FSA.