Washington, DC – Today, the U.S. House of Representatives passed the Claims Resolution Act, which reauthorizes Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) Contingency Fund for an additional year and includes payment for decades-old discrimination against African-American farmers and Native Americans.

Congresswoman Gwen Moore (D-Milwaukee) said, “A short-term TANF extension is less than ideal.  This recession is driving more and more families into poverty; in fact, more Americans are living in poverty today than at any time over the last 50 years.  We need a long-term solution that strengthens our safety net.”

Between 1981 and 1996, the Agriculture Department discriminated against black farmers in terms of loans and other assistance.  In February of this year, USDA reached a settlement with remaining claimants.  The bill also brings a resolution to a long-running class action suit against the Interior Department for mismanaging Native American land and not fairly distributing gas and oil royalties made off the land to Native Americans.

Moore continued, “Institutional discrimination is real, and we should be embarrassed that it’s taken Washington this long to make this right.  This long-overdue legislation brings justice to those who were wronged and moves us forward.”

Earlier this month, the legislation unanimously passed the Senate.  It passed the House by a vote of 256 to 152 and goes to President Obama for his signature.

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