WASHINGTON – Tuesday, U.S. Senator Deb Fischer (R-Neb.), a member of the Senate Agriculture Committee, questioned Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins on her plans to relocate parts of the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), like the Agricultural Research Service (ARS). During the hearing, Fischer advocated for Nebraska to be considered, given the proximity to land grant institutions, lower cost of living, and a strong existing relationship with the USDA’s ARS facilities in the state.
Fischer also raised concerns about the need to address overregulation to reduce the high maintenance costs of USDA’s ARS facilities, and whether the USDA would ensure that improvements made to these facilities are affordable.
In addition, Fischer emphasized the importance of preserving the customer service experience at the Farm Service Agency (FSA), highlighting the value of in-person interactions with clients.
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