Senator Pete Ricketts, US Senator for Nebraska | Sen. Pete Ricketts Official U.S. Senate headshot
Senator Pete Ricketts, US Senator for Nebraska | Sen. Pete Ricketts Official U.S. Senate headshot
U.S. Senators Pete Ricketts (R-NE) and Deb Fischer (R-NE) have joined a bipartisan effort urging the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) to modernize and improve the accuracy of its foreign land ownership disclosure process. In a letter, the senators highlighted alleged inaccuracies in information publicly posted by the Farm Service Agency (FSA) and the issues that arise from such inaccuracies.
“The current practice of manual data entry, including the re-typing of paper-filed reports into FSA systems, can lead to the publication of problematic and inaccurate information,” wrote the senators. “We’re told there have been instances where energy developers have been incorrectly identified as having ownership interests from sanctioned nations, when in reality the investment originates from U.S. allies. If true, such errors not only create confusion but also undermine the credibility of the data published by the FSA.”
In addition to Ricketts and Fischer, other signatories include Senators John Fetterman (D-PA), Joni Ernst (R-IA), Tammy Baldwin (D-WI), John Barrasso (R-WY), Mike Braun (R-IN), Sherrod Brown (D-OH), Tom Cotton (R-AR), Mike Crapo (R-ID), Chuck Grassley (R-IA), and Debbie Stabenow (D-MI).
The letter addressed to Secretary Vilsack reads:
Dear Secretary Vilsack,
August 12, 2024
We write regarding alleged inaccuracies in information publicly posted by the Farm Service Agency (FSA) on its website, specifically related to disclosures made under the Agricultural Foreign Investment Disclosure Act (AFIDA) Reports (FSA–153s).
The Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2024 mandated the establishment of a streamlined process for electronic submission and retention of AFIDA disclosures, including an internet database. At the beginning of the year, the Government Accountability Office also recommended that USDA analyze its ability to create an AFIDA online submission system and public database within its expected budget. However, we are concerned about the accuracy of information contained in these disclosures, which are still completed by hand on physical paper.
The current practice of manual data entry, including re-typing paper-filed reports into FSA systems, can lead to problematic and inaccurate information being published. We’re told there have been instances where energy developers have been incorrectly identified as having ownership interests from sanctioned nations when in reality the investment originates from U.S. allies. If true, such errors not only create confusion but also undermine the credibility of data published by FSA.
With these specific concerns in mind, we have questions:
1. How does USDA ensure accurate publication of this information?
2. What steps is USDA taking to transition to an online submission system?
3. What is USDA's plan for long-term accuracy?
We believe it is essential for USDA to ensure that published information is accurate and reliable. Inaccurate information can significantly impact various stakeholders and erode public trust in reporting integrity. We hope to work with you to modernize FSA operations.
Thank you for your attention to this matter. We look forward to your response.
Sincerely,
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