[Congressional Bills 106th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[S. Res. 233 Introduced in Senate (IS)]







106th CONGRESS
  1st Session
S. RES. 233

 Expressing the sense of the Senate regarding the urgent need for the 
   Department of Agriculture to resolve certain Montana civil rights 
                         discrimination cases.


_______________________________________________________________________


                   IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES

                           November 18, 1999

    Mr. Baucus (for himself and Mr. Burns) submitted the following 
    resolution; which was referred to the Committee on Agriculture, 
                        Nutrition, and Forestry

_______________________________________________________________________

                               RESOLUTION


 
 Expressing the sense of the Senate regarding the urgent need for the 
   Department of Agriculture to resolve certain Montana civil rights 
                         discrimination cases.

Whereas there exists a strong public policy against discrimination against 
        minority groups, whether the discrimination is committed by private 
        individuals or by the Federal Government in the operation of its 
        programs;
Whereas, whenever discrimination occurs in the conduct of a Federal Government 
        program, the responsible Federal Government agency should take quick and 
        aggressive action to remedy the discrimination;
Whereas, last year, the Department of Agriculture was held accountable for 
        certain civil rights violations against United States agricultural 
        producers in connection with their attempted participation in lending 
        programs of the Department;
Whereas a significant number of Montana civil rights petitioners have not 
        received a timely and equitable resolution of their complaints;
Whereas the agricultural community has faced a series of hardships, including 
        record low prices, extreme weather disasters, and a shortage of farm 
        loan opportunities;
Whereas additional frustration and financial difficulties perpetuated by the 
        inadequate review process has further imposed undue hardship on the 
        Montana civil rights petitioners;
Whereas the mission of the Office of Civil Rights of the Department of 
        Agriculture requires the Office to facilitate the fair and equitable 
        treatment of customers and employees of the Department while ensuring 
        the delivery and enforcement of civil rights programs and activities;
Whereas the Department of Agriculture should be committed to the policy of 
        treating its customers with dignity and respect as well as to providing 
        high quality and timely products and services; and
Whereas an urgent need exists for the Department of Agriculture to resolve 
        certain Montana civil rights discrimination cases, many backlogged, by a 
        date certain in furtherance of that policy: Now, therefore, be it
    Resolved, That it is the sense of the Senate that, not later than 
March 1, 2000, the Secretary of Agriculture should resolve, or take 
other action to resolve, all cases pending on the date of approval of 
this resolution of alleged civil rights discrimination by the 
Department of Agriculture against agricultural producers located in the 
State of Montana.
                                 <all>