Michael Bennet, U.S. Senator for Colorado, urged the U.S. Department of Agriculture to finalize appointments to Colorado's Farm Service Agency state committee. The FSA state committees are responsible for the general direction and supervision of state FSA programs. Committees keep farmers informed of agency program activities while resolving appeals and complaints within the agriculture community.

In a letter to Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack, Bennet said the state committee is critical in directing FSA office duties and to ensuring its effectiveness in administering programs of great importance to Colorado's rural communities.

The letter is attached, and the full text is included below:

October 22, 2009

The Honorable Tom Vilsack
Secretary
U.S. Department of Agriculture
Jamie L. Whitten Building
1400 Independence Ave, SW
Washington D.C. 20250

Dear Secretary Vilsack:

As you know, the U.S. Department of Agriculture's Farm Service Agency (FSA) state committees are responsible for the general direction and supervision of state FSA programs. Committees keep farmers informed of agency program activities while resolving appeals and complaints within the agriculture community.

It has come to my attention by way of Colorado constituents that a Colorado FSA state committee has not yet been appointed this year.

The lack of an active and functioning FSA state committee is of concern to me not only because the FSA state committees are critical in directing the activities of the state FSA office, but also because the state committee is charged with hearing complaints and resolving disputes. To ensure the effectiveness of the FSA in Colorado and across the country, I encourage you to make finalizing appointments to the FSA state committees a top priority.

I look forward to hearing from you on this topic and seeing the USDA's announcement for Colorado's FSA state committee and FSA state committees across the country. Thank you for all of the work you do.

Sincerely,

Michael F. Bennet
U.S. Senator