[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.