Brian Jones: “this amendment will continue a process that was started last year in the farm bill to correct one of the grave…”

“this amendment will continue a process that was started last year in the farm bill to correct one of the grave injustices to the African-American population here. This bill deals with heir property--property that has gone down through generations without clear title. These landowners have been denied access to USDA programs and other instances. This amendment deals with heir property. African Americans have long been denied property based on the fact that so much of it has been passed down through the generations without clear title. They have been denied access to the USDA programs and also have lost property. Between 1910 and 1997, an estimated 90 percent of land owned by African Americans in this country was lost due to heir property issues. Last year we began the process in this Senate with the farm bill to correct that, part of which was creating a program at USDA to loan money to help get these folks back on their feet, to get them into the programs they need. This amendment provides $5 million to start that program. It is the same amount of money that is in the House bill. I urge my colleagues to continue this opportunity to correct this wrong and right this injustice. Mr. President, I yield. The PRESIDING OFFICER. Who yields time in opposition?”