USDA Field Office Stability Act
- Bill Number
- H.R. 9346
- Origin Chamber
- House
- Congress
- 119th Congress, Session 2
- Policy Area
- Agriculture and Food
- Status
- Introduced
- Latest Action
- 2026-06-18: Referred to the House Committee on Agriculture.
- Last Updated
- 2026-07-03T08:06:23Z
AI-Generated Summary
USDA Field Office Stability Act (H.R. 9346)
Purpose This legislation aims to prevent the closure or relocation of specific Department of Agriculture offices to maintain consistent access to services for rural communities and agricultural producers.
Key Provisions
- Prohibition on closures or relocations: The Secretary of Agriculture may not close or relocate county or field offices of the Natural Resources Conservation Service, Farm Service Agency, Rural Development areas, or USDA county service centers.
- Exceptions: The prohibition does not apply if an office is located within 20 miles of another qualifying office (unless the other office is in a different state) or if an office is relocated within the same county during routine leasing operations.
- Staffing requirements: The Secretary must maintain minimum staffing levels at Natural Resources Conservation Service, Farm Service Agency, and Rural Development local service centers to ensure all centers remain open and accessible to the public during standard business hours.
Significant Changes to Existing Law The bill introduces a new statutory restriction on the Secretary of Agriculture's authority to manage or consolidate certain field offices, which previously allowed greater flexibility in office operations and resource allocation.
Potential Impacts
- Government agencies: Limits the Department of Agriculture's ability to reduce or consolidate offices, potentially increasing operational costs and reducing administrative flexibility.
- Citizens: Supports continued local access to USDA services such as conservation assistance, farm program support, and rural development programs, particularly in rural and agricultural areas.
- International relations: No direct impacts identified.
Main Stakeholders Affected
- Department of Agriculture and its field staff.
- Farmers, ranchers, and rural residents who rely on local service centers.
- Congressional representatives from agricultural districts.
Notable Legal, Constitutional, or Political Implications The measure constrains executive branch discretion in agency management, which could raise questions about the balance of power between Congress and the executive branch in overseeing federal operations. No constitutional issues are explicitly addressed in the bill.
This summary was generated by AI and may contain inaccuracies. Refer to the official source document for the authoritative text.
Sponsor
Cosponsors (3)
Rep. Schmidt, Derek [R-KS-2], Rep. Vasquez, Gabe [D-NM-2], Rep. Cleaver, Emanuel [D-MO-5]
Recent Actions
- 2026-06-18: Referred to the House Committee on Agriculture.
- 2026-06-18: Introduced in House
- 2026-06-18: Introduced in House
Bill Versions
- USDA Field Office Stability Act — issued 2026-06-18 — PDF (2 pages)