C.-SPAN to. Now a hearing on possible discrimination in loan

processing. By the Agriculture Department. Wednesday the Congressional Black Caucus. Heard from Agriculture Secretary Dan Glickman. And members of the National Black Farmers Association. Representative Maxine Waters of California...

. Chairs the three hour in ten minute hearing. Thank

you very much. I like you spirit did not intend to interrupt it

before we get started

with our hearing this afternoon. I'd like to take a moment to introduce you to someone and to welcome him. And to also have you understand the importance of this visit. We have just been joy and on very short notice. By the...

minority leader of the house.

And I want you to know. He has a tremendously complicated and busy schedule. But when he learned that you WILL HE am. Knowing of the work. Lad by members of the Congressional Black Caucus particularly those who come from. Many of our southern states where you are their constituent. He wanted to come by and I ask him when he plays take a moment and come by saw that he too could welcome you to the Capitol. And share with you any thoughts that he may have would you please welcome...

. The minority leader Dick Gephardt. Thank you

Thank youne very much. First I want to thank all of you for taking the effort. And the expense and the time to come here. To be part of this group. To register your deep concerns about the way the. Programs in agriculture are working in the discrimination and difficulty. That you are having with these programs throughout America. I want to commend the Congressional Black Caucus under the leadership of Maxine. She is a great leader and you have great leaders here with us who represent you in different parts of the country and. They have brought to the entire Democratic caucus. The depth of concern that exists throughout America with. Issues involving black farmers. Issues involving minorities in the agricultural communities. And you are going to hear today from the secretary of agriculture and. I am told that because of work that was done with him. And the Congressional Black Caucus over the last weeks. He is coming today with a set of ideas. That is designed to begin to meet the...

concerns that are going to be expressed today.

Farmers. Everywhere. Face tough problems farming is hard work. Forming. Is a difficult way to make a living. No matter where you are or who you are. It's especially difficult for minorities. To be treated properly and fairly. That is our aim and that is our goal. And I just want you all to know that the Congressional Black Caucus has made these concerns. Known to every member of the Democratic caucus. In the entire Democratic caucus will stand with you. To try to a redress of these grievances and concerns we will work with you to get fairness. And to get opportunity for farmers minority farmers everywhere in this...

country thank you for letting me be here.

Thank you very much. Dick Gephardt for taking time out of your schedule. To be here. What I would like our farm community to know who are with us today. That the Congressional Black Caucus. Is engaging everybody on this issue. We will work closely with the leadership. We're going to get the job done for you. Of undoing again all of the wrongs of the past so again why don't you just say thank you to Dick Gephardt far...

. Joining with us in the struggle.

Well we have just been joined. As I said to you this morning. Secretary Dan Glickman us Secretary Department of Agriculture would be here today. And...

. So that.

So that we would take first the statement. We are going to modify our range a bit just a bit. The first thing that we are going to do is introduce other members of the Congressional Black Caucus who are here. And then we're going to enter deuce. The secretary and the secretary has done what I asked him to do. I asked him not to come along but. To bring the people with him. And the department responsible for our decision making. So you could look them in the eye and they can look you in the eye. And when we finish we've got to let him. Introduce. Those persons that he's brought with them and tell us what their responsibilities are and then have a short statement from him. Let me start to my right. With the congressman from Missouri. One who has tremendous in your eye to end this house a respected leader. Comes from my hometown of St Louis Missouri...

Congressman Bill Clay.

Congressman. I think what we'll do even though we did not ask for opening statements I would like to have. Each of you say a word or two because I know what your schedule so I know I would not like for you...

to be pulled away without having an

opportunity to share some thoughts

with a farmer farmers who are here. And I'm chairperson and let me thank the other members of the caucus who have been responsible for pulling this together and I think that this is a great opportunity to do something for the people who have been left out of the loop. And I certainly want to commend the secretary for being willing to work with you and the rest of us...

. In resolving these problems thank you thank you very much Congressman. Next hour one of our newer members. Ellen now it's on the great state of Illinois the city of Chicago...

Mr Danny Davis.

I too would like to commend and. And congratulate you and the members who actually work

to make this afternoon

possible. I share the concerns and the plight of farmers given the fact that I grew up on a farm in the state of Arkansas long lived there until I migrated to Illinois after haven't gone to college....

My family still

owns a small farm where my father lived. And so I'm familiar with the issues I'm familiar with concerns. I know the heritage. I get there. Two or three times a year. And so the issues that you raise the issues that I've been familiar with all of my...

life. So. Thank you very much. Thank you very much Congressman Davis. Next as someone you know. From the state of Virginia

. Congressman Bobby Scott. Thank you Madam Chairman that. I just want to point out that. In Virginia we have been addressed. And that's in a bipartisan fashion and I just want to read two sentences. From a letter. Of our Governor George Allen. To the secretary of agriculture. Mr Glickman who he had talked to members of the Nat. National Black Farmers Association...

and said. There are allegations and stories of proven

racial discrimination and. Speak of truly regrettable actions taken by U.S.D.A. personnel which have not allowed these farmers to provided Labadee hope for their families and be productive members of our nation's vibrant agriculture industry. For those prop farmers who have not had their active complaints adjudicated. It is my view that there is...

a convincing. Pattern. Indicate that racial discrimination by federal farm's credit

officials. Has occurred. When you get this kind of statement from a Republican governor. You know. There must be a problem. Going on in Virginia

we are trying to address this in a bipartisan

fashion to see if we can help those who have been in appropriately treated by the United States Department of Agriculture thank you very

much thank you very much. Someone who truly need to know introduction. A real warrior in the cause of black farmers

Bennie Thompson from Mississippi. I

appreciate that. Believe me. In this climate.

When you can get applause and when it won it's appreciated. Madam Chairman I appreciate the opportunity

to be here. This is an issue that. Some of us hold their.

I hail from bowl to Mississippi town of five hundred people. Everybody in the town is committed to agriculture they love it.

But they want to be there when

the sun goes down. And clearly what we have in the past. Is an agency that

has not been very receptive to minority farmers and small farmers in general secretary for

putting his team together to try to make something out of nothing. I applaud him. In moving the right way. We

have a long way to go. As I look at his team up here.

It almost looks like America. Not quite but we don't get

there. We have to find some women somewhere. We have to find

some of to make sure that you have people in charge.

But I also applaud. Secretary. Taking the. Right leadership. And

putting the listening sessions together. He came to

Mississippi he came to a lot of the communities heard a lot. Now that

we have the documented proof.

We need to move forward to the remedy. Remember that is not just solving a problem. But is making sure that

it never happens again. To make

sure that those people who have caused a problem. If you found

to have discriminated in an employer this

agency. You ought to be far are you should be or you should not be

given another life of Agriculture. Simply because it's the right thing to do. If you do wrong you should pay.

Madame Sam going to get out boat

you for the recession and then I look forward to the testimony.

Thank you very much and next.

All the way from the Virgin Islands one of our newer members who is on the case. Who cares very much about this issue. Please welcome

. Congresswoman Donna Green.

Thank you Madam Chair and I want to join the rest of my colleagues in commending you for putting on this hearing I'd like to

welcome you Ms The Boyd and the rest of the Black Farmers of America. Secretary Glickman and other members of

the department staff of the Department for coming this afternoon as. Testimony to

the importance of this meeting to even a place like the Virgin Islands. I left there. In the middle of one of our biggest events the same Thomas Carnival to come here. Just to be here with you today. We share your concerns. We share your interests your complaints as well....

And I want to be a part of

. Working with our congressional black

caucus leadership on this issue

. And helping to Britain. Address

the concerns of African-American farmers not only

on the continental United States but in the territories as well. Thank you Madam Chair.

In addition to the leadership

that's been provided by Congressman Thompson. Evil Clayton. Has been on the case. Not only and she worked with you been at. The listening session she's worked very closely with the secretary and is because of the work of the members of the Congressional Black Caucus who...

represent districts where

there are black farmers that we've been able to come this far and I want you to know we could

not have done it without. Eva Clayton give her a big round of applause. The check is in the mail

. With anyone I mean to tell you that

both of us so it's the same check by the way

. I do want to commend the chair lady for her vision. And her fortitude and I reigned. For those hearing. I spoke with her I think about three weeks ago about the knowledge that I had heard through. To Gary Grant and others down until really there's a place called. Hillary. North Carolina...

. My weight just North Carolina North Carolina is to write

that they want to have

this hearing and I can tell you that. The chair lady immediately wanted to find out. Now how she could participate. But she wanted to arrange how all members of the Black Caucus could. To spend I want to thank you for their vision and that fortitude. And that responsiveness to that to. Also want to express appreciation to. My urban...

. Friends who are here

. Because the urban members of the.

Of the caucus. They are now. Dissipating and they're here and that's mainly focusing on an issue that's rule

. I want to commend there. This is a demonstration of the deeper understanding.

And commitment to the

into our deep pendency of the into the relationship between urban problems and rule problems when we. One is in trouble all of us in trouble so I want to thank you for that. Your participation. Here in that area. And Secretary you again your press and. Acknowledge your can. Tina's commitment intent and. To make sure that this problem is resolved and....

And your whole team here

demonstrates that. I look forward to the testimony that the members who were here have come from all over and I want to say just a word to you. I want to applaud you for the tenacity. For the dog it. Commitment. Some of you North Carolina know I know what that. Means. The dog commitment. I mean there's a person a name a pitch but I don't know where he is but you Tom Irish all get commitment. And tenacity some of you have been battered around...

for years and years and but.

You know you can't give up on the system so I just want to say thank you

for not giving up on the system. It's not

perfect but the only way we make it better is to stay on the case Mr Boyd I want to thank you for rousing so many people. To be a pod and demonstrating what democracy means is to bring you know grievances and. And tell your story. So people can understand it mattered to you X. if I may enter the rest of my...

statement into the record. Yes you

may thank you very much and. Clayton. We've also been joined by Congressman

from Maryland

Baltimore Maryland.

Mr Cummings Please welcome him

. Madam Chair lady I want to first thank you for bringing us together and to Mr Boyd I want to thank you to thank you sir. So often what happens is that we complain about things stand on the sidelines and complain. And never do anything to make it better. When I walked into the room...

. I must tell you. I

was surprised and glad to see so many people out here on this issue. This Clayton. Mr Thompson and other members of the caucus have worked very hard on this issue. To be very frank with you I have no farms. In my district. But my mom and dad...

he was sharecroppers from Manning South

Carolina. You go and. I know what. They went through. And I also know what you're going through. And so. I am here in support of you. As all of us are. But. Let it be known. On the caucus and I think Miss Clayton said it so well but I must reiterate. That we understand that African American people's problems are quite diverse and rule areas that may be certain problems in urban areas they may be others. And then there are common problems. But whenever those problems arise. We have dedicated ourselves that we would make sure that we come together to address them. And so I am here to support you and to do everything in my power to make it. Make things about it and to Mr Glickman. We heard from you last week and I know we'll hear from you again today I want to thank you for all that you've been trying to do. But the main thing is that we need to stay on the course. To make sure that some of these...

races and. Major problems that have happened in the

past. Do not happen again. It is nineteen ninety seven.

It is not. Eight hundred ninety seven.

Thank you very much Madam Chairman thank you very much Congressman. We've also been joined by some other members of the Congressional Black Caucus all the way. From...

Louisiana Mr Bill Jefferson. Thank you Madam Chair lady and. Thank you Mr Boyd and others who are here to represent black farmers across this country and to our secretary. And all who have come to support him in his effort to explain the work of his department. I'm from Louisiana now represent a district in the wall of the Louisiana. Not much farming takes place in the wall and. But when I grew up. I grew up in north east Louisiana. In the Mississippi Delta. And a whole lot of farming takes place that. For the time I was seven years old I was in a cotton patch. Top and cotton in the morning and. Working for three dollars a day. Thirty three if there's an hour at that and I and long hours. And in the fall out of school and out so we could pick the cotton. At the time when I grew up my parents had a very small little place. About forty acres...

. Which as you know is a tiny

farm. And all around us there were many black farmers who had six acres here and. Thirty five acres there. And one hundred here where I would have a. Now when I go back home there's almost no one there. We've all left the farm and we still hold on to at least it out to someone but almost everyone else has sold out to some other big operation and. So I know just from our own background experience. How diminishing and how vanishing this. whole Black Farmer. Land owning issue as an American how important was all of us to be rooted and grounded in the land to be able have a place that was our own and to grow our own food and. And make our way really and folks in rural America live a whole lot better than folks in urban America when they were poor. Because they had at least a chance to grow their food and to keep that part of that of their lives together. And so the land is an important part of our wealth in this country is deal. And is important part that we ought to try to reclaim today and farming is an arm of a fashion. I hope and seek that day Madam Chair when I will retire from this and find my way back to my farm or a farm somewhere. Because I enjoy the life I love the life we're here to make sure the way of life. Continues for African-Americans in this country for very long time. And in a much better way than is going on now and I'm very...

pleased to be a part of this hearing today. Thank you thank you very much. Thank you very much Mr Jefferson. We've also been joined by I know there are members of the Congressional Black Caucus from the...

great state of Maryland Mr Alwyn.

you Thank thank you very much Madam Chairwoman. I too appreciate you calling this most important hearing. Like to thank Mr Boyd and others for coming to share with us. Their perspectives in. And. Emphasize. Issues that are important. Thank the secretary for his attendance as well reflecting his interest in this issue. Like my colleague Mrmings from Baltimore City I represent a district. In the Maryland suburbs that doesn't have any farm either. But both my parents were farmers to and from North...

Carolina and so I have had experiences. You

gotta know a little bit

about tobacco farming and a little bit about

cotton and what have you. But I agree with my colleague from Louisiana. This is the most important issue for our people. And so I'm here to man my support to the farmers a Black Farmers of America. And to say that we consider this important business. And we're here to take care of that business and with...

that Madam Chairman. I would do if I back you thank you thank you very much. I am so pleased that the Congressional Black Caucus members are filing in. And we have been joined by another member of the caucus. Who knows a lot about what it means to be in some ways marginalized. Excluded. Representing the District of Columbia where...

there are no voting rights. Eleanor Holmes

thank you very much of Madam Chairwoman who not only looks out for the farmers but looks out for us polo folks. Disempowered here in

the distance she always does.

Al I want to particularly thank

the chair for her work in

initiating this here and she helped

to dispel the notion that

this is an urban caucus there is an urban caucus. That is not what this is. This is the Congressional Black Caucus which is proud to have. Members finally. As a result of the Voting Rights Act...

. From were all

areas of our country which should have

been represented all along and I'm here.

I am here as you know a fourth generation city person to lend my support. To the claims and concerns of the farmers

I'm here as a former chair of the

Equal Employment Opportunity Commission that is who

is profoundly troubled by

what looks to be

signs of an equal treatment. And to

do all I can working with the chair in the members from those areas. To get better treatment for America's.

African-American farmers Thank you Madam Chairwoman. Thank you very much to your homes not just about this been a caucus. With concerns about not only our inner cities but our rule communities you couldn't come from a more inner city. Than Congressman John Conyers. And he's here. Congressman Conyers. All the way from...

Detroit. Would you please welcome him.

I'm

delighted to be here for all the reasons that have been and then to we're delighted that.ne Waters. Is doing such a well. A an excellent job in keeping us together. But you know what. Dan Glickman. Was a member of Congress for many years before he became the secretary of agriculture. He's the first secretary. To ever come before the Black Caucus and all of us. To have an honest discussion about these issues. Don't you think we ought to give him a moment. It's a good man. We'll listen here. And he'll give us a fair hearing. And he's...

not afraid to take action

. Because we know. There's a lot of politics connected with agriculture. You don't have to come from the south to know that. And he's correcting it. As fast as he can and I met at the National empowerment. Conference in Detroit. In which Vice President Gore. And Secretary Glickman were there. We had. African Americans from Mississippi. Who were the state wide...

Representatives. In the

agricultural and rural development. Thing I had never seen before. Now. As far as I was. Since I'm from Detroit. You don't know that my mother grew up and was born in Mississippi. And that's why I watched. Trent Lott. A whole lot over there in the United States Senate. And I. I watch some of his his predecessors before him. Who were unbelievable. My dad was born...

in Georgia.

There's a little place yes called. Georgia

. And by the way

. We watch very closely. The speaker from Georgia because he is on a thin thread I know this isn't what we're here for but I want to tell you. We've got a speaker this in deep deep trouble. And so what we're all doing here today. Is very important because most of our parents. Came out of agricultural and rural circumstances. So for the urban members of the caucus. We are just. Strongly behind...

and supporting you. As are

our. Presented is from the rural part of this caucus thank you very much.

Thank you very much. Another. Of the leaders. In the fight to make sure that the. Problems and concerns of the black farmers are dress just walked in the room. Mr Bishop. Bishop Sanford who is from Georgia. Joined with. The other members are representing those rule areas and. It is because of their work that we're able to move...

this issue for please welcome. Mr Bishop Sanford

Bishop. Sanford Bishop.

Much let me keep my statement short because

obviously we hear an anxious

to hear from all the farmers. But I'm happy to see that the civil rights action team report has include one included one of the concerns that. I've...

repeatedly from. Minority

farmers in Georgia. And this recommendation is to allow farmers who have received. Debt write downs. Who farms appending liquidation to continue. Eligibility. Operating loans. As a result of the listening sessions. The administration is more likely to support. The credit reforms which give small and disadvantaged pharmacy would have had write downs. All right offs. A second chance. And I agree with his recommendation and I'm fighting the good changes but I'm hoping that we can hear more of that from those who have come today. And I hope that. As we listen to your concerns. We're able to impress upon the secretary. And up on the administration. To move forward with the recommendations with dispatch so that we can get on about the business of...

equity in the Department of Agriculture.

Thank you very much. To my colleagues. And the members from the department who are here. I thank you for allowing me to change things around a little bit at this hearing is designed. In a different way. Normally you would come to a hearing. We would have panels the secretaries and those representing. Agriculture perhaps would testify and often times. They would have to leave because their schedules are busy. We decided to organize this in a different way. We decided not to I have our secretary down at the table. On a panel and then leaving. But read. I bring him up here on this platform with us. So that when you give your testimony. He's able to look at you you're able to look at him and he agreed and volunteered to stay even longer than I'd asked him to stay. We had to add to the members who were coming. It perhaps was not necessary to prepare. Long statements because they feel this issue very deeply. They know about it. With that. I am going to try and wrap up. This portion of Ed. With the statement and then call on the secretary. To introduce the members of his team. And to give an opening statement and then we'll go directly to those of you...

who are at the table. We

have come here today prepared to share their testimony with us. Again. I'd like to welcome you to the Congressional Black Caucus hearing on the crisis of the black farmer in America. The Congressional Black Caucus. Has identified the plight of the black farmer as a primary issue and our legislative agenda. Thanks to the efforts of my. Congressional Black Caucus colleagues from the south. Congressman Bennie Thompson congresswoman Eva Clayton. Congressman Sanford Bishop and Congressman Earl Hilliard. We have become focused on the plight of the black forma in our country. In addition. I would like to recognize the persistence and dedication of the National Black Farmers Association. That is now led by Mr John Boyd. For focus in the C.B.C. on the plight of their members. Other organizations that have been instrumental and create increasing. The public focus of this issue. On the roll call. Are the role coalition. The black land Loss Prevention Project. And the Federation of Southern Cooperatives. We are losing a vital resource African-American farmers. In one nine hundred twenty nine hundred twenty five thousand. African-American farmers fourteen percent of all forms of Africa. American today. There are only eighteen thousand African-American farmers. Less than point zero one percent of all formas. Each day African-American farmers lose. One thousand acres of land. By the year two thousand. If current trends continue. All African-American farms will have vanished. The last of African-American farms will result in the last of economic independence. Jobs and history....

The United States Department of Agriculture

. Is a practice could be a would be the fifth largest corporation in America. Eighty four billion dollars if it were a private corporation. The United States Department of Agriculture ranks twenty eight. Among the Fortune five hundred and employment. The equivalent of. The Safeway grocery chain. The U.S.D.A. is a huge international enterprise. U.S.D.A. consist of thirty. Agencies and offices with two thousand. County feel locations. The Department of Agriculture through its U.S.D.A. direct loan program provides ninety six billion dollars in loans. As a lender of last resort for individuals otherwise unable to receive credit. From financial institutions. These. U.S.D.A. loans are used for single family housing. Rule development programs as well as operating and ownership loans for farmers and nine hundred ninety six. The total recipients of Agriculture Department benefits. Numbered. About seventy five millions. Million Americans. Through nutrition programs such as a school lunch programs. Women Infants and Children Program. The food stamp program and. Other traditional form and price support programs. We recognize that Secretary Glickman. And the members of his staff. Have taken decisive action such as the secretary's decision. To call for more Torm on foreclosures. An issue which the secretary will have the opportunity to comment further up on. However. We believe that this is only a first step. The C.B.C. is convening today's hearing. To identify and strongly support the efforts to stem the loss of black forms. The C.B.C. is committed to eliminating discrimination at every level of the Department of Agriculture. Including decisions on loans and subsidies. And regional and state. Appointments to form service agencies. We believe that part of the problem at the U.S.D.A. is institutional. That's at all levels that. Have actively worked to deny access to loans and appointments to African-Americans. Discrimination and lack of access to capital. Are the key reasons for the decline of the African-American form. There's a current backlog of. Eighteen thousand complaints. The C.B.C. is committed to reversing the decline of minority farmers by eliminating discriminatory barriers and providing access to much needed capital and resources. Today's hearing. What provide a forum for African-American farmers to directly address their concerns. To the members of the C.B.C.. And for Secretary Glickman and his top staff. To listen and address the form of discrimination complaints. At the Department of Agriculture. We will hear testimony from a panel of black farmers. And then Secretary Glickman will have the opportunity to respond to their concerns. In addition. We have a range something else that is not traditional. We have a range for an intake process. Here today with the U.S.D.A. staff. To process complaints...

from farmers in the audience.

And to receive updates on previously filed complaints with that. I would like to recognize another member who just came into the room who is from the...

Texas. Congresswoman Eddie Bernice Johnson.

If you would like to say a word. We did not

ask for prepared statements but

would certainly welcome

your comments. Congresswoman I'll be very

brief Madam Chairman.

Being from Texas my district has always been Dallas but I've always been responsive to black farmers and worked with black farmers long before coming...

I was serving in both the State House and State Senate. Since

I have been here since late ninety three I have been working with the Department of Agriculture. Trying to get. Attention focused on cases. And taxes to bring them to resolution and I hope that we will have them. There soon. It has been a very long time. It has been troubled some. It is been won a great puzzlement to me....

Why they cannot be settled.

But I hope we'll get there soon. And I am. I appreciate you having this hearing. So that we can perhaps have a broader understanding and.

And realize some real solutions. Thank you thank you very much I'd like to ask your patients. As the members come in and. I want you to know who they are. They are so proud that you here today this may take us a little bit longer. But I'd like you to meet another member one of our newer members who has come to Congress and he hit the ground running. Congressman Jesse...

Jackson Jr from the state of Illinois. Just joining us.

Congressman while we did not ask for opening statements. Most of the members who have come today have taken this opportunity to welcome our farmers who have come. And shared any...

comments they would like to share and I'd like to provide you that opportunity also. Thank you Madam Chairwoman I appreciate the opportunity let me. First take this opportunity to welcome the farmers who have come to. Testify and. I want to think and congratulate the chairwoman Maxine Waters. For forwarding. All of us the privilege of making our case before the secretary of agriculture. Want to thank Mr Glickman in particular for taking time out of his busy schedule to hear the plight of African-American farmers. I think our plight and much of the testimony that you've heard and will continue to hear. Is a unique plight that is simply compound that not only because of the agricultural crisis that confronts our country. But the problem and the incidence of race and. Their relationship to receiving the similar types of subsidies. That other farmers have received. Under Congresswoman Waters leadership I am of...

the opinion that no longer. Will African-American farmers under this Black Caucus. Even

though we are not in the majority. No longer will

the plight of these farmers be considered on the back burner.

But on the front burner

of all agricultural interests. Thank you Mike you think the gentle lady for yielding.

Me this time and I'm glad that you the time back to the chairwoman. Thank you so very much.

Most of you know. Mr Glickman

the secretary of Department of Agriculture by now. Many of you have been in the listening sessions that he like and eyes down. And several states. Some of you have had the opportunity to meet with him. Over at the department. And so it is not necessary for me to introduce him. You have heard and you know and understand the side. Eyes have this agency. What it does what it has not done. And so with that. I would like to call on Mr Glickman. To go ahead and open. And to introduce his team that's come with them. And then I will revert back to introducing some members as they come in the door. Because I...

do see that members have been at it please go ahead Mr Bennett thank you very much Congresswoman Waters and. To the farmers who came great distances...

Many of you I've met at the

listening sessions. That I attended in North Carolina and in Alabama Georgia Mississippi. And other parts of the country but. I do want to let you know that. I've been on this job two years now and of all the issues we've had a new farm bill and we have a new conservation bill and we have changes in our welfare laws affect food stamps and anything else but nothing is more important to me. Than being on the right side of this issue. And to make constructive positive progress so as people has said. The Department of Agriculture is not referred to. Commonly as the last plantation but as a reprieve for two. Is Abraham Lincoln said. As the people's department. That's the most important thing that I can do in this job. As many of you know. The concerns are decades old. But we offer no excuses for the past and I have simply promise that on my watch. We're going to change the culture of the Department of Agriculture and make it an apartment. Department that's an advocate for everybody. Many of you know that I appointed a civil rights. Action Team. That team came through with the report. About two months ago. Slightly less than two months ago. It was a hard hitting report it had ninety two recommendations it did not pull any punches. I accepted it and called for it to be put immediately into action. I...

named the report's author. Pearlie

Reed gentleman. Raised his hand right there asistant secretary for administration. Who has put together a team. A dedicated public servants and civil rights advocates to deal with some very difficult structural but important problems I'd like to introduce the team quickly. Pearlie is the head of the team. System secretary for administration Lloyd Wright our new director. Raise your hands of the new director of civil rights. Dallas men acting undersecretary for farming for agriculture services Randy Weber acting administrator for. Farm Services Agency Paul Johnson. Chief of the Natural Resources and Environment. Mike Dombeck this Mike is the new chief of the U.S. Forest Service. The largest. Agency within U.S.D.A. in already on his leadership. We are seeing major changes in the operation the Forest Service. Jan Chad burn acting administrator of rural housing service Bob Robinson administrator. Of cooperative research education and economic service. They are here...

also because they are and

. They are aware of. The problem areas and may be able to respond to questions in addition to staff. Like them to raise their hand Judge Henry Ramsey. Judge Ramsey was a former dean of Howard University Law School. Is working with us to distinguish judges working with us on the resolution. Of complaints and how to get complaints result. Susan Riley. Susan was the Washington office director of the E.E.O.C. again. Helping us deal with complaints Tom Amaan tree communications director. Cheryl Tate and the C.S. in my office and Carolyn Cooksey with the Farm Service Agency. So these are people who are all here. That are trying to deal with this problem in an orderly structured way. Were all of the key people in Department of Agriculture know that resolution of these problems. Is key is critical to their personal job performance. As well as to the legacy of the Department of Agriculture. I've made it crystal clear what it takes to work at U.S.D.A.. It is now a condition of employment that every worker treat every colleague and customer. Fairly and equitably. With Dignity and respect. No...

exceptions. No it's. Uses one

. And. And no retaliation or reprisals. Either. Many of you I'm sure have read in the newspapers that U.S.D.A. recently made two substantial settlements to black farmers who were discriminated against these two were meant as a strong signal that we stand ready to redress. Quickly and fairly. Legitimate civil rights complaints. And we are doing so now in negotiations with many people some of whom may be in this room. A lemonade in the tremendous backlog and complaint is one of the most daunting tax. We face. Our new Civil Rights Division is in high gear working through these matters. Cases with possible cause are either settled. Or decided in conciliated. Cases that should be dismissed. Will be dismissed. Cases with incomplete investigations are either completed or mediated and settled. All complaints that can be resolved by our June sixth will be. We have also a parallel effort underway to streamline the process so we can reach a more timely respectful closure. To future complaints it's one of the areas judge Ramsey. Is helping us on. I would say that we actually have one thousand nine hundred complaints rather than eighteen thousand. But eight hundred is eight hundred too many so we're going to work on. We've also strengthen the civil rights protections of our foreclosure and lending policies. Now. Written civil rights complaint is lodged. The foreclosure is frozen. Wherever it is in the process. Even if it's just the initial calling. Loans do phase there's been some confusion about that. We reissued the policy there the last week so I want to make it clear. The the process is frozen when there was a written civil rights complaint. And the process wherever it is even it's just the national calling. To phrase this time out allows an independent review team to come in and determine whether there is an inconsistency in program delivery. And whether discrimination is a factor. Until that review is complete. That foreclosure. Will not proceed. So made it clear that loan processing must continue on accounts. Where this. Discrimination complaint is pending. Standing up for your rights does not disqualify someone from seeking a farm loan. If it's the loan processor who's been charged another employee will be assigned to work with the applicant who filed the complaint....

If their loan cannot be approved they

now get a personal meeting. And written letter explaining why

the loan. Cannot get approved.

I just want to make one other statement. Besides discrimination part of the problem is economic the trans the Congresswoman Waters sided with respect to minority farmers are also true not to the same degree. But are also true with small farmers generally in this country. It has become in the last fifty years more and more difficult for small farmers. Of all backgrounds. To stay in business. We as a department have to address this problem. Generally we address to discrimination problem we also must address the economic problem. In that our policies are not focused enough on. Issues affecting. Smaller and medium sized farmers. So one of the recommendations of the civil rights action team report was to establish a national commission on the small farm. To give us a national strategy to make sure that this great American institution. And to make sure. To strengthen it. And to make sure that low resources farmers aren't constantly on the ropes. We have other work to do legislative work we're working with Congresswoman Clayton. And the other members of the House Agriculture Committee who Congressman. Bishop who is here Congressman Thompson who is a tireless advocate and Congressman Hilliard to try to deal with these issues as well. So I would just close. Congresswoman Waters by saying this. Most of our employees. Are committed to meeting this challenge. We will get through the backlog. That was inherited We are taking out. Action to stamp out the discrimination persists today. We will restore the full promise. Of the people's department we need your help in Congress we also need the help of the folks in this room. To work with this. And I look forward to constructive...

dialogue and I thank you for the opportunity of allowing me to speak to that

thank you very much Secretary Glickman. We were joined by another. Members of the Congressional Black Caucus. From Georgia you McKinney.

Mr Kenyon. Would you like to welcome

. Certainly madam chair. I appreciate. Secretary's words. And I'm sure that they have been. Tent. Listened to. As you all know I had the privilege of rect representing Georgia's farmers in the Eastern black belt. We witnessed black land loss we witnessed black farm loss and most seriously we witnessed African-Americans. Basically deny that the fruits of their labor. They were denied the benefits of their taxes and they were denied access to. Decision making down at the local level. As we see that the United States government has apologized for the Tuskegee study. We. It has yet to apologize and compensate for...

the most egregious. Insult

. Thank you very much. I have another member Mr Donald Payne all the way from New

Jersey. Please welcome now no pain.

you Thank. Thank you Congressman while we did not ask for P.P.R. statements. Each of the members have been taken an opportunity here to welcome. The form is that have come from such long distances. We'd like to...

offer you that opportunity to to I say a word of welcome to our lawyers. Well thank you very much Mr President let me congratulate you for bringing this issue to the forefront. We have heard over the last few years members. With the new expansion of the Congressional Black Caucus when we had the privilege to have so many new members from the south. When. Issues that related to Southern the southern region and in particular. Farmers were brought to our attention we decided that we in addition to all of the other battles that we have before us that this was indeed a battle that we needed to take up and I just congratulate the. Chairperson we are very concerned. Even though this is a problem. Of the South and Southern. Black rural farmers and even in my state of New Jersey which is the Garden State. There is a tremendous amount of farming. That...

is done there

. The issue. There though dealt. Mainly with my

current workers and. How poorly

they were treated and how poorly they. Their education and. Benefits and working conditions and. It was primarily because of the poor treatment in New Jersey senator Pete Williams Many years ago in the seventies. Chairman of the. Then Education Labor Committee of the United States Senate. Brought a lot of reforms as related to migrant workers who had just treated just turn. And so we even though I'm from New Jersey I can understand the pain and the problems and discrimination and the poor treatment. And the less than human behavior. That has been dealt out to people who are in a farming industry and so we're just here to say that. If there's one thing that. I think we can really move forward with with many of the gains that. George Washington Carver of wasn't for him farming in this country would have gone to years ago. Into a mess. And as we talk about great inventors here in this country and in my eyes they were very proud of the work that Thomas Edison has done and we're putting a lot of attention to that and I will fight for that because it's in my district. I think that we need to have some kind of resurrection of the fact that George Watson carve a save the South save farming. And many of the ingredients that he came up with in different areas that he started to do with and some of his chair person I hope that. As we proceed along on this issue. We can even look into. Resurrecting. Dop the carpet to the level that he deserves in this country for the thank you thank you very much....

Thank you very much yes. Forgot to introduce the deputy secretary which is not

very smart of me because you don't want to keep going. Or if you had better to do say because I have a feeling we're going to be using him a lot.

OK. All right from the state of California

I don't think that's my state where you would be hold it against I try to

do that. Thank you very much now did you say. Name rich Roman

. All right thank you very much.

I'm going to move right into the testimony of the witnesses who have prepared. For this hearing today. Let

me take a moment to say something that needs

to be said before we do that. We have a number of organizations.

Many have been working on this

issue. In different ways.

The Congressional Black

Caucus. Is prepared to

and we'll work with

. Everybody that wants to contribute to this issue. When ever there

are great

organizing. Issues. Are opportunities for the first time they're going to be growing pains. They're going to be differences of opinions. There will be divisions. We will have people who will decide to organize reorganize but guess what. We're not going to let any of that. Come between...

us and getting justice on this issue.

We have asked Mr Boyd to organize the hearing for today we're going to call on him. And he's going to call on the other members of the team. But we're also going to recognize that Mr James My yard is in the our audience today. He's worked very hard on this issue and he's won. Some important decisions. And gotten some cases resolved. And we need to recognize him for that please recognize...