    [Public Papers of the Presidents of the United States: William J. Clinton (1999, Book I)]
    [January 5, 1999]
    [Page 8]
    [From the U.S. Government Publishing Office www.gpo.gov]

    Statement on Efforts To Redress Discrimination Against African-American
    Farmers
    January 5, 1999

        In December 1997, Vice President Gore
    and I met with a group of African-American and other small farmers who
    came to the White House to discuss farm issues and claims of
    discrimination by the Department of Agriculture. During the meeting we
    heard painful statements about the plight of several African-American
    farmers who were struggling to ensure that their farms remain alive and
    vibrant. At the time, I pledged, along with Secretary
    Glickman, that the USDA would work tirelessly
    to ensure that a proper resolution to their concerns was reached.
        Today Secretary Glickman announced an
    historic settlement of a civil rights lawsuit between African-American
    farmers and the USDA. I want to take this opportunity to thank Secretary
    Glickman and his staff, members of my staff, and the Department of
    Justice for working so hard to bring about this major milestone. I also
    want to applaud the farmers themselves for their unceasing efforts to
    make their Government hear their calls for justice. Finally, I want to
    thank all those in the Congress, particularly the Congressional Black
    Caucus, Senators Robb and
    Grassley, and Speaker
    Gingrich, who worked to pass critical
    legislation waiving a statute of limitations provision which had
    prevented less timely, but no less deserving, discrimination cases from
    being addressed.
        Today's action is an important step in Secretary
    Glickman's ongoing efforts to rid the
    Agriculture Department of discriminatory behavior and redress any harm
    that has been caused by past discrimination against African-American
    family farmers. For more than 2 years, the Secretary has worked
    diligently to restructure the Civil Rights Office at USDA to make it
    responsive to the needs of all farmers who wish to have their claims
    heard.
        My administration has always been committed to fighting
    discrimination and expanding opportunity for all Americans--in our
    offices, in our factories, and on our farms. America's farm families
    stand for the values that have kept our Nation strong for over 220
    years, and African-American family farmers have played an historic role
    in building that tradition. By helping to eliminate artificial barriers
    to African-American farm ownership, we will help to ensure that
    discrimination does not harm this proud heritage--and that all of
    America's farmers go strongly into the 21st century.