Chuck Grassley: “Today, we have an opportunity to finally take care of this situation of bringing justice to Black farmers who have been…”

“Today, we have an opportunity to finally take care of this situation of bringing justice to Black farmers who have been waiting for decades to settle their discrimination claims against the Department of Agriculture. Earlier this year, Secretary Vilsack was able to reach a settlement agreement with the Pigford II claimants who were denied a determination on the merits of their claims against the USDA for no reason other than they had filed late. The government has an obligation to fund the settlement, which is subject to court approval, and Congress must act to provide relief for these claimants and do it quickly. The Black farmers have been asking for stand-alone consideration of this bill.”