Tom Harkin: “I concur with the remarks made by the Senator from Arkansas and also express my support for increased funding for civil…”

“I concur with the remarks made by the Senator from Arkansas and also express my support for increased funding for civil rights and for minority farmers at the Department of Agriculture. In the most recent farm bill, the Committee on Agriculture once again took up the issue of civil rights at USDA. Dismayed by continued complaints from both clients and employees about the inhospitable atmosphere towards minorities at USDA, the farm bill created, for the first time, the position of Assistant Secretary for Civil Rights. That position has been filled for several months now, and I am hopeful that the Assistant Secretary for Civil Rights will be able to create positive movement in this regard. It is past time for USDA to shed the shameful nickname, 'The Last Plantation,' that many have given it due to its civil rights atmosphere. The House recognized the necessity of doing more for socially disadvantaged farmers and USDA employees earlier this year when it passed by voice vote an amendment to the Agriculture appropriations bill that increased funding for several important civil rights functions. First, it increased funding for the Office of Civil Rights by several million dollars. These additional funds will enable the Department to clear out its backlog of hundreds of civil rights complaints, many of which stagnate for months and months. We need to wipe the slate clean.”