A Democratic bill with 1 Republican cosponsor · See all 3 cosponsors
Last activity — Referred to the House Committee on Agriculture.
In committee
Introduced and handed to a committee in the chamber it started in.
The committee holds it, and most bills are never heard from again. A hearing or a committee vote would be news; silence is the usual outcome, and it kills the bill without anyone voting against it.
Its path through Congress
- Introduced
- In Committee
What this bill would do
This bill, known as the "USDA Field Office Stability Act," aims to prevent the closing or moving of specific Department of Agriculture offices. It prohibits the Secretary of Agriculture from closing or relocating county or field offices for the Natural Resources Conservation Service, the Farm Service Agency, a Rural Development area, or any USDA county service center. However, exceptions are made if an office is within 20 miles of another similar office in a different state or for routine leasing moves within the same county. Additionally, the Secretary is required to keep minimum staffing levels to ensure these local service centers remain open and accessible to the public during standard business hours.
Yes· 3 of 9
- Scored +6
Would farmers be better off under this?
The bill guarantees that essential Farm Service Agency and Natural Resources Conservation Service offices remain locally available.
- Scored +6
Would people in rural areas be better off under this?
The bill ensures that critical USDA service centers and rural development offices are not closed or moved away from rural communities.
- Scored +5
Does this invest in rural communities?
The bill prohibits the closure or relocation of Rural Development area offices, ensuring long-term local presence.
The opposite
No question was scored the opposite.
Who it would affect, and how
Potential Positive Impacts for People
-
Maintains Local Access to Services: By prohibiting the closure or relocation of certain offices, the bill ensures that the Natural Resources Conservation service, Farm Service Agency, Rural Development areas, and county service centers remain available to the public (Section 2(a)).
-
Guarantees Consistent Availability: The mandate to maintain minimum staffing levels ensures that these local service centers stay open and accessible to the public during standard business hours (Section 2(c)).
Potential Negative Impacts for People
- No negative impacts are explicitly stated in the text.
Groups and Interests Ranking
Every group the model scored this bill for, from -10 to +10. Tap or hover a score for the reason it gave.
- Demographic And Interest Groups
- Would farmers be better off under this? — The bill guarantees that essential Farm Service Agency and Natural Resources Conservation Service offices remain locally available. Would people in rural areas be better off under this? — The bill ensures that critical USDA service centers and rural development offices are not closed or moved away from rural communities. Would households on low incomes be better off under this? — Maintaining local USDA offices helps ensure continued access to assistance programs for low-income families in rural areas. Would middle-income households be better off under this? — The bill preserves local access to agricultural services and rural development resources.
- Economy And Finance
- Is this likely to create jobs? — The bill requires the Secretary to maintain minimum staffing levels at specific USDA local service centers. Does this make it easier to run a small business? — By preventing the closure of USDA service centers, the bill ensures continued local access to agricultural and rural development services.
- Environment Energy And Infrastructure
- Does this invest in rural communities? — The bill prohibits the closure or relocation of Rural Development area offices, ensuring long-term local presence.
- Governance And Ideology
- Does this make what the government does easier for the public to see? — The mandate for standard business hour accessibility increases the public's ability to interact with local USDA offices.
- Social Issues And Justice
- Is this likely to lift people out of poverty? — The bill helps maintain access to Rural Development and Farm Service Agency programs that can support low-income rural residents.
- 7/2/2026
- 1 Cosponsor added.
- 6/18/2026
- Referred to the House Committee on Agriculture.
- 2 Cosponsors added.
- Introduced in House
Emanuel CleaverDemocrat · Missouri
Derek SchmidtRepublican · Kansas
Gabe VasquezDemocrat · New Mexico