[Congressional Record Volume 156, Number 25 (Thursday, February 25, 2010)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E246]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




              H.R. 4264 THE EQUALITY FOR WOMEN FARMERS ACT

                                 ______
                                 

                           HON. ANNA G. ESHOO

                             of california

                    in the house of representatives

                      Thursday, February 25, 2010

  Ms. ESHOO. Madam Speaker, I rise in support of and very proud to 
cosponsor the Equality for Women Farmers Act, introduced by 
Congresswoman DeLauro.
  I thank Congresswoman DeLauro for her leadership on behalf of women 
farmers. After being presented with the facts about the U.S. Department 
of Agriculture's history of discrimination toward women farmers, 
Congresswoman DeLauro became their champion and crafted H.R. 4264, the 
Equality for Women Farmers Act.
  Like Congresswoman DeLauro, I'm proud of the important role women 
farmers have played in the development of our nation's food system, but 
I was shocked to learn about the discrimination that many women farmers 
have been subjected to by the USDA.
  In December, Congresswoman DeLauro and I listened to six 
extraordinary women farmers who shared their stories about 
discrimination from the USDA. This discrimination has come in many 
forms including denied access to even an application form.
  More than 1,900 women farmers across the U.S. have detailed the 
discrimination they suffered in seeking farm loans and assistance from 
the USDA and how such actions have seriously disadvantaged them.
  The discrimination cost some of the women farmers their livelihoods 
and discouraged future generations of women farmers from considering 
this an honorable profession.
  I applaud the USDA and the Obama administration for reaching an 
agreement with black farmers over racial discrimination, however, we 
can not forget about the other groups that have faced discrimination at 
the USDA, including women farmers.
  The Equality for Women Farmers Act changes USDA policy to provide a 
procedure for compensating women farmers who have suffered years of 
gender discrimination from the USDA. This legislation will establish a 
compensation fund for women farmers and set up a process to review and 
adjudicate their claims.
  I support the Equality for Women Farmers Act because I believe 
strongly that all farmers, regardless of gender, should be given the 
opportunity to succeed. I urge my colleagues to support this important 
legislation.

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