For Immediate Release
February 8, 2007		    
     

Rep. Scott Leads House and Senate Lawmakers with Legislation to Assist Black Farmers
 

 
     
(Washington D.C.) - Rep. Robert C. "Bobby" Scott, (D-VA) held a joint news conference yesterday to announce the introduction of a bill to correct and finally end the documented history of discrimination by the U.S. Department of Agriculture against America’s black farmers. Rep. Scott is the chief sponsor of the legislation and leads a coalition of bi-partisan House and Senate lawmakers that include Representative Steve Chabot of Ohio and Senators Barack Obama of Illinois and Charles Grassley of Iowa.

"Throughout the history of the Department of Agriculture, the country has essentially ignored the blatant discrimination against black farmers. To add insult to injury, and to silence even the suggestion that there was such discrimination, the Civil Rights Office within the USDA was closed down in 1981," said Rep. Scott.

The proposed legislation would allow as many as 70,000 black farmers who believe they can substantiate instances of discrimination by the Department to bring their claims and be heard on the merits.

"Some will win and some will lose, but none should be barred from being heard on a technicality," Rep. Scott commented. The technicality is that many farmers were not made aware of a deadline by which they had to file their claims.

"I commend Rep. Chabot on his leadership on this issue as well as Senators Obama and Grassley. I truly hope that this Congress passes this bipartisan legislation to finally end discrimination in the Department of Agriculture and to provide these farmers the opportunity to seek a fair and equitable resolution of their claims," concluded Rep. Scott.

(####)
     
 

Home | Press List