[Congressional Record Volume 156, Number 155 (Wednesday, December 1, 2010)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E2020]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                     CLAIMS RESOLUTION ACT OF 2010

                                 ______
                                 

                               speech of

                       HON. JANICE D. SCHAKOWSKY

                              of illinois

                    in the house of representatives

                       Tuesday, November 30, 2010

  Ms. SCHAKOWSKY. Madam Speaker, I rise today to express my sincere 
happiness that the House of Representatives passed by a vote of 256-
152, the Claims Resolution Act. I regret that I was unable to vote on 
this landmark legislation and would like the record to reflect that had 
I been able to vote, I would have voted yea.
  The Claims Resolution Act includes provisions that many black farmers 
and American Indians have literally been waiting decades for. H.R. 4783 
contains funding to implement the settlements of the Pigford class 
action lawsuit involving past discrimination against black fanners by 
the Agriculture Department and the Cobell class action lawsuit 
involving funds for American Indians mismanaged by the Interior 
Department.
  I voted for this legislation twice earlier this year as the House has 
passed funding for the Pigford and Cobell settlement--first in passing 
the American Jobs and Closing Tax Loopholes Act and then in adopting an 
amendment to the FY 2010 Supplemental--but both bills were blocked by 
Republicans in the Senate.
  That is why I am so pleased that Senate was finally able to pass this 
important legislation and now, with passage in the House, it will go to 
the President's desk for signature, finally closing this dark episode 
in American history.

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