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Senate votes to reopen Black farmers' lawsuits
Jet, Jan 7, 2008 by Clarence Waldron
Tee farm bill recently approved by the Senate moved Congress a step closer to reopening a landmark bias case against the Department of Agriculture.
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Like its companion bill approved in the House, the Senate measure, sponsored by Sen. Barack Obama, would give thousands of Black farmers another chance for compensation over claims they were denied loans or other crop subsidies.
Dr. John Boyd, president of the National Black Farmers Association, told JET: "It will certainly help a lot of Black farmers who had given up hope on the government ever compensating them."
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In 1999, the federal government settled a class-action lawsuit from Black farmers who claimed they were systematically denied loans and other government aid from local agriculture offices. The department agreed to pay $50,000 plus tax benefits to farmers who could show they faced discrimination.
Advocates say many farmers did not know of the deadline for filing claims.
Aides on Capitol Hill said it appears a final version will survive Congress and be sent to President Bush.
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COPYRIGHT 2008 Gale, Cengage Learning
