LAFAYETTE, La. (KLFY) – U.S. Rep. Clay Higgins (R-Lafayette) and Louisiana Governor Jeff Landry (R) are asking the federal government to include Louisiana in the reorganization of the U.S. Department of Agriculture.

USDA Secretary Brooke Rollins announced July 24 that the agency seeks to relocate much of its agency headquarters and staff out of the Washington, D.C. area to five regions, Raleigh, N.C., Kansas City, Mo., Indianapolis, Ind., Fort Collins, Colo. and Salt Lake City, Utah.

The congressman and governor signed a letter to Rollins proposing New Orleans as an alternative site, citing the lack of Southern representation.

"I urge your full and fair consideration for Louisiana to be home to a USDA Regional Hub, specifically New Orleans as it is located on the vital Mississippi River and operates as a world-renowned center of trade," the letter read. "A regional hub in New Orleans would represent commodities not served by any of the other hub locations, especially cotton, sugarcane and rice."

Read the letter in its entirety below:

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