HR0637

LRB094 14359 CSA 49283 r






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HOUSE RESOLUTION


 
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    WHEREAS, The missions of the United States Department of 
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Agriculture's (USDA) Farm Service Agency (FSA) include 
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stabilizing farm income, helping farmers conserve land and 
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water resources, providing credit to new or disadvantaged 
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farmers or ranchers, and helping farm operations recover from 
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the effects of disaster; and

 
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    WHEREAS, The USDA FSA was set up when the Department was 
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reorganized in 1994; and

 
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    WHEREAS, Although its name has changed over the years, the 
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FSA's relationship with farmers goes back to the 1930s; and

 
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    WHEREAS, The USDA FSA currently maintains 93 offices in the 
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State of Illinois; and

 
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    WHEREAS, Secretary of Agriculture Johanns announced a 
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proposal to modernize the USDA FSA; and

 
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    WHEREAS, This initiative, known as FSA Tomorrow, includes 
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restructuring county offices and reorganizing state offices; 
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and

 
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    WHEREAS, Under this proposal, 44 offices in Illinois have 
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been identified that meet the criteria for consolidation; and

 
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    WHEREAS, It is expected the FSA will consolidate its 
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physical presence in 26 of 93 counties; and

 
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    WHEREAS, Illinois county offices currently slated for 
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office restructuring include: Alexander/Pulaski, Bond, Boone, 
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Brown, Calhoun, Carroll, Cass, Coles, Cumberland, Dekalb, 
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Dewitt, Gallatin/Hardin, Green, Grundy, Henderson, Franklin, 
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Fulton, Jackson, Jersey, Johnson/Massac/Pope, Kane/DuPage, 
 


 






HR0637
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LRB094 14359 CSA 49283 r




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Kendall, Lawrence, Mason, Morgan, Monroe, Moultrie, Randolph, 
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Richland, Rock Island, Perry, Peoria, Piatt, Saline, Scott, 
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Schuyler, Union, Wabash, Warren, Washington, White, Whiteside, 
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Williamson, and Winnebago; and

 
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    WHEREAS, No final decisions have been made regarding what 
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office consolidations will occur; and

 
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    WHEREAS, The USDA FSA state executive directors are to 
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submit consolidation proposals by November 15, 2005; and

 
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    WHEREAS, Concerns exist as to how these offices will be 
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consolidated and how the consolidations will affect service 
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levels, as well as distances farmers may have to travel to 
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reach a USDA FSA office; therefore, be it

 
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    RESOLVED, BY THE  HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE 
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NINETY-FOURTH GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that 
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we urge the USDA to reconsider consolidating the USDA FSA 
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offices; and be it further

 
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    RESOLVED, That we urge the United States Congress to 
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increase appropriations for the USDA FSA offices; and be it 
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further

 
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    RESOLVED, That suitable copies of this resolution be 
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presented to the President of the United States, the United 
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States Secretary of Agriculture, each member of the Illinois 
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congressional delegation, and the Illinois State Executive 
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Director of the FSA.