On the recordJune 15, 2011
As I discuss my amendment, I want to indicate to my friends on the other side of the aisle, for the life of me, I can't understand why you would oppose an amendment that costs no funds and only emphasizes the importance of urban gardening. There lies the ludicrousness of the lack of collaboration and understanding when there are amendments that would help all of us. So I do express my great disappointment that you didn't understand the amendment and, rather than ask what the amendment meant, you voted loudly ``no.'' That's unfortunate for the American people. We do that all the time. But I rise today to emphasize the importance of making sure that we implement the judgment that has already previously been discussed that helps the unfortunate farmers that experienced proven discrimination at the Department of Agriculture and to credit Members on both sides of the aisle for recognizing it and recognizing the importance of not infringing upon a judicial decision, a settlement that could help a number of farmers in all categories that were acknowledged by many Members of this body. I thank a number of my colleagues who worked on these issues for a number of years. They worked on it with great sincerity and, as well, they recognized that it is important for us to continue to produce food, but, as well, we need to ensure that all farmers, small farmers and certainly minority farmers, have the opportunity to engage in their trade.…
