Black Farmers' Settlement: White House Must Help Close The Deal

[National News]

Last night the Senate again failed to pass funding for the Black farmers discrimination settlement, this time it was stripped from the war funding bill. And previously the funding failed to gain passage in the tax extenders bill and the FEMA disaster assistance bill, even though the House has already passed the settlement funding in two separate bills.

It is clear that without pressure from the White House this funding will not make it through Congress. Recent events have demonstrated the swiftness with which government can act on civil rights.

It is clear now that without greater White House pressure, the Senate cannot manage to keep this funding, despite its widespread support, in a larger funding measure because it continues to get grouped with other controversial add-ons. This is an unacceptable situation and must be resolved immediately.

We have been told from Senate and House members, both Democrats and Republicans, that there is bipartisan support for the Black farmers settlement funding. Yet, despite commitments of support and the fact the funding has already passed the House in two bills, the Senate has been unable, or perhaps even unwilling to pass the Black farmers settlement funding. I understand the election year jockeying that occurs on funding measures, but it makes no sense that the Black farmers and Native American farmers are getting caught up in it.

I am concerned that Congress will not act before the settlement expires - by agreement amongst the parties it had been extended 50 days from June 29, 2010. This year I have attended the funerals of many Black farmers who passed before ever seeing this case resolved.

For these reasons, I am asking our supporters in the Senate and House to introduce parallel stand-alone bills that will provide full settlement funding for the cases involving the Black farmers and Native American farmers. And I am calling on the White House to work with us and the leadership in Congress to quickly resolve these cases by passing the funding immediately.

John W. Boyd, Jr., is founder and president of the National Black Farmers Association

Editor's Note: Black Farmers were awarded $1.25 billion for claims of discrimination against the US Department of Agriculture--the settlement has been paired with a war supplemental bill that is still waiting for approval from the Senate. It's been over 10 years since a federal court found in favor of the farmers in the lawsuit against the USDA--over $1 billion in debt relief and payments were awarded. They had been discriminated against in USDA loans to farmers and many lost their farms. The current settlement, also known as Pigford II, compensates thousands of farmers who had missed the filing deadline.

http://www.criticalmention.com/report/11698x155461.htm

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