S.Amdt. 1118

SA 1118. Ms. SMITH (for herself and Mr. Ricketts) submitted an
amendment intended to be proposed to amendment SA 1092 submitted by
Mrs. Murray (for herself and Ms. Collins) and intended to be proposed
to the bill H.R. 4366, making appropriations for military construction,
the Department of Veterans Affairs, and related agencies for the fiscal
year ending September 30, 2024, and for other purposes; which was
ordered to lie on the table; as follows:

At the appropriate place in division B, insert the
following:
Sec. ___. (a) It is the sense of Congress that--
(1) Congress is concerned about staffing challenges faced
by the Farm Service Agency and the Natural Resources
Conservation Service at the county level; and
(2) Congress supports the Farm Service Agency and the
Natural Resources Conservation Service in quickly filling
hiring gaps, improving retention, and bringing pay for staff
to competitive standards to improve public-facing customer
service, particularly in rural areas.
(b) Not later than 90 days after the date of enactment of
this Act, the Secretary of Agriculture shall submit to
Congress a report describing a plan for improving staffing at
the

[[Page S4402]]

Farm Service Agency and the Natural Resources Conservation
Service at the county level, including recommendations for
actions that Congress may take.
______