Press Releases

November 30, 2010

CLYBURN STATEMENT ON HOUSE PASSAGE OF PIGFORD AND COBELL SETTLEMENTS

November 30, 2010
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

CLYBURN STATEMENT ON HOUSE PASSAGE OF PIGFORD AND COBELL SETTLEMENTS

WASHINGTON, DC – House Majority Whip James E. Clyburn (D-SC) today released the following statement after the House passed H.R. 4783, the Claims Resolution Act of 2010, legislation which is fully paid for that provides funding to resolve class action lawsuits brought by African American farmers and Native Americans. The bill passed the House by a vote of 256-152 and it now moves to the President’s desk to be signed into law.

“Today is a great day for our nation’s black farmers and Native Americans who were discriminated against by their own government for years.  Thousands of families have waited for the settlements awarded to them in two class action lawsuits but political gamesmanship consistently prevented us from finding a fair resolution.  In this Congress alone, we have twice passed legislation that would have resolved this issue.  Finally, the games have come to an end and today we can mete out some modicum of justice.

“After more than a decade this bill finally, in some significant measure, resolves the Pigford v. Glickman class action lawsuit settlement reached in 1999 that was filed by African American farmers against the Department of Agriculture for discriminating against black farmers who applied for access to loans and other assistance. However, I have concerns with language added in the Senate that could have a chilling effect on farmers settling claims.  The Senate-added language calls for a ‘Neutral Adjudicator’ who has the authority to demand additional information from claimants, beyond what was required to qualify for the class action suit.  It also requires the Inspector General to conduct an audit of settled claims.  I hope the unprecedented  processes laid out in this bill do not become tools for witch hunts and intimidation.

“In addition to the Pigford resolution, this bill also rectifies the century long injustice to hundreds of thousands of Native Americans who were denied royalties owed to them by the Interior Department. These families were cheated out of funds owed to them and I am happy that today we are finally doing what is right and funded the Cobell v. Salazar settlement. 

“Today we removed the stain on our country’s history and rectified these injustices and I want to thank my colleagues in the Congressional Black Caucus, Senators Reid, Grassley, Dorgan and Conrad for making this day a reality.  What happened to our nation’s African American farmers and Native Americans was wrong, and we have made it right.”

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