CONGRESSWOMAN EDDIE BERNICE JOHNSON HOSTED AN IMPORTANT DISCUSSION WITH ASSISTANT SECRETARY FOR CIVIL RIGHTS DR. JOE LEONARD AND TEXAS FARM OWNERS AND LAND OWNERS

Congresswoman Eddie Bernice Johnson with Assistant Secretary For Civil Rights Dr. Joe Leonard and Texas Farm Owners and Land Owners

Dallas, TX – (Tuesday, January 31, 2012) – Congresswoman Eddie Bernice Johnson hosted a meeting with United States Department of Agriculture Assistant Secretary for Civil Rights, Dr. Joe Leonard, and several Texas farmers and land owners. Assistant Secretary Leonard visited the Dallas area to promote outreach programs within the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) designed to assist farmers and landowners in effectively improving their businesses.

A group of black farmers and land owners attended the forum to directly address Assistant Secretary Leonard on long-standing challenges faced by the farming community, as well as finding solutions to improve communication with small and minority farmers.  Attendees traveled as far as Oklahoma and East Texas to learn about new programs and opportunities offered by USDA’s Farm Service Agency (FSA). 

With nearly 250,000 farms in the state of Texas, farmers are integral to Texas as one of the top agriculture states in the Nation.  Over the past two decades, Congresswoman Johnson has been committed to addressing the needs of farmers, first as a member of the Texas State Senate,  and now representing the 30^th Congressional District in the U.S. House of Representatives.

“The struggle is not just with you, but with us, who often have trouble bringing attention to your issues and in securing the funding that you need to successfully perform,” said Congresswoman Johnson. “The voices of black farmers will be heard and Assistant Secretary Leonard will ensure your concerns are evaluated.”

Congresswoman Johnson hosted several groups including the Texas Ranchers and Land Owners Association, the Texas Small Farmers Association, individual farmers and land owners, and representatives from FSA and the USDA/1890 Program.

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U.S. Representative Eddie Bernice Johnson is Ranking Member of the House Committee on Science, Space and Technology. She is also the highest-ranking Texan on the House Committee on Transportation & Infrastructure. She represents the 30th Congressional District of Texas  that includes Downtown Dallas, Fair Park, Oak Lawn, Turtle Creek,Old East Dallas, Pleasant Grove, & South Oak Cliff; all of Balch Springs, DeSoto, Hutchins, Lancaster & Wilmer and parts of Cedar Hill, Duncanville, Ferris, Glenn Heights and Ovilla.