On the recordSeptember 26, 2023
Mr. Chair, this amendment would prevent the closing of offices of the Farm Service Agency for any reason. Although it mentions COVID-19, the prohibition amendment would not be limited to closures related to COVID. The Crawford amendment is duplicative of the stronger, clearer proviso on page 25, lines 8 through 10 of the bill that is being considered where it says: Provided further that none of the funds available to the farm service agencies shall be used to close Farm Service Agency county offices. Therefore, this amendment is unnecessary because it would create a restriction that the legislation already contains. {time} 0100 We don't know what the future of COVID or any future pandemic or disaster may hold, so we shouldn't impose such a broad restriction. This is duplicative. Madam Chair, I urge my colleagues to oppose the amendment, and I reserve the balance of my time.
