[Congressional Record Volume 144, Number 138 (Tuesday, October 6, 1998)]
[House]
[Page H9597]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




     DISCRIMINATION AGAINST AFRICAN AMERICAN AND MINORITY FARMERS 
               ACKNOWLEDGED BY DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

  (Ms. McKinney asked and was given permission to address the House for 
1 minute.)
  Ms. McKINNEY. Mr. Speaker, I rise on behalf of a forgotten component 
of today's farm debate, the African American and other minority 
farmers.
  Mr. Speaker, this Congress is working at revealing speed to fashion a 
package of disaster assistance for our Nation's farmers, only some of 
our most needy farmers do not qualify, and more do not even know about 
it. The President has requested $7.1 billion in emergency relief for 
Congress to consider, and we have heard the moving testimonials about 
low prices and devastating drought.
  However, African American and minority farmers have borne a weight 
even more severe than heavy debt and poor harvesting, that of 
discrimination and racism. This discrimination has been acknowledged by 
the U.S. Department of Agriculture, and Secretary Glickman personally 
told me that this issue was a priority for his office. Now 
unfortunately even the Inspector General of USDA indicts Secretary 
Glickman as the culprit in the lack of relief for America's minority 
farmers.
  I say no farm relief unless minority farmers and African American 
farmers are included.

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