Davis Takes Case Concerning Closing of Rural Development Offices Directly to Secretary of AgricultureMarch 24, 2009

Washington, D.C. A member of the House Appropriations Subcommittee on Agriculture, Congressman Lincoln Davis asked U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Tom Vilsack about a matter of concern, the closure of local USDA Rural Development offices, during a private lunch in Washington.

"I appreciate the time Secretary Vilsack took out of his schedule to meet with me and listen to a few concerns I hold, namely, the closure of local Rural Development offices over the last several years," said Congressman Davis. "These offices are crucial in the delivery of infrastructure programs to our rural areas and farming communities. Access, an often overlooked impediment for rural areas, is also the key to unlocking funds for vital community projects."

In a follow-up letter to Secretary Vilsack, Davis stated, "In most or all states consolidation or restructuring by the Department- before your tenure- has led to the closing of a great deal of local RD offices. I am concerned about the impact this has had on the delivery of RD programs."

Congressman Davis requested the Secretary to supply a state-by-state breakdown of the number and type of RD office closures since the year 2000.