[Congressional Record Volume 143, Number 112 (Friday, August 1, 1997)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1603]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




   AGRICULTURE, RURAL DEVELOPMENT, FOOD AND DRUG ADMINISTRATION, AND 
               RELATED AGENCIES APPROPRIATIONS ACT, 1998

                                 ______
                                 

                               speech of

                    HON. JUANITA MILLENDER-McDONALD

                             of california

                    in the house of representatives

                         Tuesday, July 22, 1997

       The House in Committee of the Whole House on the State of 
     the Union had under consideration the bill, H.R. 2160:

  Ms. MILLENDER-McDONALD. Mr. Chairman, today I rise in support of the 
Wynn amendment to increase funding for equal opportunity complaint 
resolution in the Department of Agriculture. With over 1,400 
discrimination cases pending, the USDA's Office of Civil Rights is 
underfunded, understaffed, and unable to fulfill its purpose. This 
amendment would transfer $1,500,000 in revenue to the program for 
administrative and staffing assistance, and would enable the Department 
to fulfill its goal of eliminating racism within.
  For years, the USDA has been discriminating against minority farmers. 
While the Secretary of Agriculture has acknowledged the problem and 
created the Civil Rights Program, it seems like little has been done. 
There are continued delays in investigations of discrimination 
complaints, inadequate minority representation in the Office of General 
Counsel, and an ongoing tension between the Office of General Counsel 
and the Office of Civil Rights. The number of discrimination complaints 
has more than tripled since 1991. It is time to put a halt to this 
disturbing statistic.
  The Wynn amendment would provide money for additional staff to help 
combat the backlog of discrimination cases. The amendment simply caps 
the Market Assistance Program funding level and transfers its 
additional allocation for fiscal year 1998 to the Civil Rights Program. 
It is a small price to pay for such an important oversight.
  In addition, we must continue to keep pressure on the Secretary of 
Agriculture to ensure that this funding is put to good use and that the 
problem is attacked immediately. He must put his money where his mouth 
is.
  I urge my colleagues to support the Wynn amendment.

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