Pingree offers bill to address ERS/NIFA move, ERS alignment

Rep. Chellie Pingree, D-Maine, has introduced a bill to stop USDA from moving the Economic Research Service (ERS) and National Institute for Food and Agriculture (NIFA) outside the national Capital region, attempting to halt USDA's plan to relocate the agencies outside the region. The bill also directs USDA to keep ERS under the current research, education and economics mission area and not shift it under the Office of the Chief Economist. This is the latest effort in Congress to prevent USDA's plan from taking effect. The Fiscal Year (FY) 2019 appropriations package also related congressional intent that they were not in favor of the proposed action by USDA.