U.S. Representative Derek Schmidt (KS-02) and Representative Sharice Davids (KS-03) introduced the USDA Field Office Stability Act, bipartisan legislation to prevent the closure or relocation of critical U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) field offices that serve farmers, ranchers, and rural communities across Kansas and the nation.
Prevent the closure or relocation of critical USDA field offices serving farmers, ranchers, and rural communities in Kansas and nationwide.
Occurrences
Evidence
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GovInfo's introduced bill text shows H.R. 9346 was introduced on June 18, 2026 by Rep. Sharice Davids for herself, Rep. Derek Schmidt, and Rep. Gabe Vasquez, then referred to the House Committee on Agriculture. The bill would bar USDA from closing or relocating specified NRCS, FSA, Rural Development, and county service center offices, with limited exceptions, and would require staffing levels sufficient to keep local service centers open during standard business hours.
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USDA's FPAC announcement covers FSA, NRCS, RMA, and the FPAC Business Center and says the agencies already operate primarily in the field, with most employees serving producers outside Washington. USDA said the reorganization would align resources closer to producers and local communities, support FSA farm program and loan delivery, increase NRCS support for field operations, and maintain RMA field presence.
Assessments
Schmidt materially advanced the promise in the same federal term by joining H.R. 9346, which directly sought to bar USDA from closing or relocating key field offices and maintain service-center staffing. However, the bill is only shown as introduced and referred to committee, with no enactment or definitive proof that the threatened Kansas or nationwide closures/relocations were prevented. USDA's field-service announcement supports some alignment with the goal, but it does not establish statutory delivery or clear candidate-caused prevention of closures.