[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.