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“DISCRIMINATION AGAINST AFRICAN AMERICAN AND MINORITY FARMERS ACKNOWLEDGED BY DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE” mentioning the U.S. Dept of Agriculture was published in the House of Representatives section on pages H9597 on Oct. 6, 1998.
The publication is reproduced in full below:
DISCRIMINATION AGAINST AFRICAN AMERICAN AND MINORITY FARMERS
ACKNOWLEDGED BY DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
(Ms. McKinney asked and was given permission to address the House for 1 minute.)
Ms. McKINNEY. Mr. Speaker, I rise on behalf of a forgotten component of today's farm debate, the African American and other minority farmers.
Mr. Speaker, this Congress is working at revealing speed to fashion a package of disaster assistance for our Nation's farmers, only some of our most needy farmers do not qualify, and more do not even know about it. The President has requested $7.1 billion in emergency relief for Congress to consider, and we have heard the moving testimonials about low prices and devastating drought.
However, African American and minority farmers have borne a weight even more severe than heavy debt and poor harvesting, that of discrimination and racism. This discrimination has been acknowledged by the U.S. Department of Agriculture, and Secretary Glickman personally told me that this issue was a priority for his office. Now unfortunately even the Inspector General of USDA indicts Secretary Glickman as the culprit in the lack of relief for America's minority farmers.
I say no farm relief unless minority farmers and African American farmers are included.
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