May 10, 2013
Mr. Juan Garcia
Administrator
Farm Service Agency
United States Department of Agriculture
1400 Independence Ave., SW
Washington, DC 20250
Dear Administrator Garcia:
We were pleased by the announcement that farm payment funds temporarily suspended due to the budget sequestration were released on May 8. We appreciate the Agency's efforts to comply with sequestration while minimizing disruption of services upon which rural communities depend.
However, we remain concerned about payments due under the Economic Adjustment Assistance Program (EAAP). As you know, the EAAP has been documented as stimulating new investment in textile plant and manufacturing equipment, which has resulted in increased domestic cotton consumption and jobs. We have numerous examples of projects that have been successfully completed with the help of this program. EAAP payments are used to fund multi-year construction and investment commitments. If funding is interrupted, those projects may be abandoned before completion.
In order for current commitments to continue, we respectfully request an estimated date for when EAAP funds currently suspended due to sequestration will be released and how any reduction resulting from sequestration will be applied.
Thank you in advance for your assistance in providing some predictability and assurance regarding EAAP payments. Again, we are also grateful for your work in balancing many competing demands within the constraints of sequestration.
Sincerely,
Mark Lange
President and CEO