Washington, D.C. - Rep. Tim Johnson today praised the decision of the Agriculture Department to abandon plans to close more than 700 local Farm Service Agency offices throughout the country.

            “This is fantastic news, and news that restores one’s faith in government,” Rep. Johnson said. “The reaction to the Agriculture Department’s plans to close these offices was swift and strong. Government officials heard our voices and wisely scrapped their plans.

            “I’m sorry this kind of turmoil had to occur in the first place, but if there is good to come out of this episode, it is that officials in Washington were reminded that these vital services are critical to people in rural America.

            “Throughout my district over the last two weeks, this has been the single-most talked-about issue. From Livington to Lawrence to Gallatin counties, I have personally talked to literally hundreds of people who wanted this decision reversed. Now the challenge is to make it stick.”

            Rep. Johnson is the only member of Illinois’ congressional delegation to sit on the House Agriculture Committee. Rep. Johnson wrote Agriculture Secretary Mike Johanns in late September to express his displeasure with the plan and seek further review.

            Rep. Johnson also was a signatory to a Congressional letter to the House Agriculture Appropriations Subcommittee that also sought to halt the plans.

            Within Illinois, the closings would have impacted 26 offices slated for consolidation, including nine in the 15th Congressional District.  

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