    [Weekly Compilation of Presidential Documents Volume 35, Number 1 (Monday, January 11, 1999)]
    [Page 8]
    [Online from the Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]

    <R04>
    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.