(The Center Square) – An Illinois state legislator is pushing to move the United States Department of Agriculture out of Washington D.C., and into the heart of farm country.
State Rep. Regan Deering, R-Decatur, has introduced House Resolution 177 urging President Donald Trump and the U.S. Congress to begin the process of relocating the USDA from Washington, D.C., to central Illinois.
Deering emphasized that crops don’t grow in a swamp, they grow in the fertile plains of central Illinois. She added that it’s time the government relocated the USDA to a place where people are focused on planting crops, not just pushing paper.
“Bloomington and Decatur are home to major agribusiness giants like Archer-Daniels-Midland, Gromiant, Gromark and nearby universities such as [Illinois State University] and [University of Illinois]. These areas are hubs for agricultural innovation and some of the best producers in the country,” said Deering.
Deering is the granddaughter of Dwayne Andreas, who helped build ADM into an agribusiness giant.
According to Deering, the Strategic Withdrawal of Agencies for Meaningful Placement (SWAMP) Act, originally introduced in Congress, aims to move agencies out of the bureaucracy of Washington, D.C., and into “the heartland, closer to the people they impact the most.”
HR 177, according to Deering, is a way to align Illinois with the federal efforts. Deering said relocating the USDA to central Illinois would cut costs for taxpayers.
“Certainly, we know that costs in central Illinois are lower than in Washington, D.C., and we have a great opportunity to drive the economy here. With a skilled workforce, lower housing costs and a great quality of life,” said Deering. “Central Illinois is an ideal place.”
Deering addressed Republican concerns over the growing focus on welfare programs in the farm bill.
“The farm bill has been a challenge for multiple years,” said Deering. “The ag industry and the subsidies it seeks are closely tied to what the other side wants in terms of welfare programs. Bringing the Department of Agriculture to central Illinois would allow decision-makers to focus more intensely on the farmers who drive the economy and quite literally feed the world.”
Deering suggested moving the USDA to Illinois from Washington D.C. could lead to a reduction in workforce because there’s a “skilled workforce” in Illinois.
“That is something the president and Department of Government Efficiency is working towards, streamlining our agencies, decreasing the bloat. Many of my constituents here in Illinois are all for that,” said Deering.
