Members Of Congress Take To The Hill With NBFA For Resolution
This week on the Hill members of Congress joined John Boyd, President of the National Black Farmers Association to address the continuing saga of Black farmers who have been denied credit, funds, and their dignity by the United States Department of Agriculture.
Congressman Bobby Scott (along with Congressman Danny Davis) helped the organization introduce a bill that was passed into law in May of 2008 that would have allowed some 80,000 African American farmers have their cases heard based on its merit. Since then, President Obama put into his budget $1.15b to compensate the farmers. An agreement was entered into with African American farmers, the USDA, and the Department of Justice for Congress to make those funds available by March 31, 2010.
"We're days away from the deadline, and the Obama administration (whom Boyd claims he still supports) has not identified the measure as emergency spending, and it has failed to identify offsets for us to help find a home here in Congress."
Congressman Scott (pictured far left), also present at the presser, stated, "I regret that today's get-together is even necessary", adding that, "Justice delayed is justice denied."
"While we all seem to have agreed it's time to resolve this well established, longstanding case of discrimination against Black farmers by the Department of Agriculture, we're approaching yet another agreed upon deadline that seems that the federal government may not make."
Scott said he was delighted when the original settlement agreement was made between the government and the farmers of racial discrimination.
"We were so delighted that we had a rally in Richmond celebrating that announcement. All of this started a long time ago when the Congressional Black Caucus had a series of hearings to document the disgraceful discrimination that had been going on for a long time."
Scott pointed out that due to legal complications and technicalities many farmers were not able to bring any cases at all. As such, legislation was passed that allowed the statues of limitation be waived so that all cases could be heard.
"I'm embarrassed for our government that we still have not taken the steps necessary to put this sorry legacy of discrimination against Black farmers by our government into the annals of history."
Despite the Pigford Lawsuit Scott says this is only one portion of the legacy of discrimination by the Department of Agriculture that has continued. Scott cites there have been an additional 15,000 cases that have been filed but have yet to be investigated by the USDA, many within the allotted statute of limitations.
"It is clear that we take another look so that we can get a handle on the situation before we have to have another round of Pigford lawsuits to deal with the problem."
"The Black farmers should not be asked to wait any longer", said Boyd.
"People, we've waited long enough. We've waited years for justice. The environmental working group has released study after study on how Blacks aren't receiving farm subsidies. This is not a new story. This is a story that continues to resurface because those that are responsible have failed to do what they committed to do."
Boyd says he's met with almost every committee from Appropriations to House Agriculture for justice. "We're being told the same thing." Boyd said that while the administration had been focused on healthcare, "they can walk and chew gum at the same time".
"This is a very simple measure where they can attach on any moving train. We have over 400 members of Congress, the president has all kinds of staff. They can pick up the phone and call the leadership and say we would like this move."
Boyd, who has spoken to over ten thousand Black farmers, points out that if the deadline is missed again Black farmers will miss yet another planning and harvest season.
"People, these farmers are old", explained Boyd to the assembled media. "These are not farmers who are twenty-five, and thirty, and thirty-five. These are farmers that are sixty, seventy, and eighty years of age."
Boyd cited what will happen if the administration doesn't act immediately.
"Another Black farmer will die. Another Black farmer will lose his land, his livelihood, his way of life. That's what this settlement means to our nation's Black farmers."
Related
(Previous Articles)
Settlement Checks Issued To Black Famers In '99
Black Farmers Settlement Fund: Now You See It, Now You Don’t
Harsh Critic Asks: Why Are Black Famers Whining?
Timothy Pigford v. Glickman: Read About The Case
This week on the Hill members of Congress joined John Boyd, President of the National Black Farmers Association to address the continuing saga of Black farmers who have been denied credit, funds, and their dignity by the United States Department of Agriculture.
Congressman Bobby Scott (along with Congressman Danny Davis) helped the organization introduce a bill that was passed into law in May of 2008 that would have allowed some 80,000 African American farmers have their cases heard based on its merit. Since then, President Obama put into his budget $1.15b to compensate the farmers. An agreement was entered into with African American farmers, the USDA, and the Department of Justice for Congress to make those funds available by March 31, 2010.
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| Congressman Bobby Scott w. BFA's John Boyd. Photo: CD Brown |
Congressman Scott (pictured far left), also present at the presser, stated, "I regret that today's get-together is even necessary", adding that, "Justice delayed is justice denied."
"While we all seem to have agreed it's time to resolve this well established, longstanding case of discrimination against Black farmers by the Department of Agriculture, we're approaching yet another agreed upon deadline that seems that the federal government may not make."
Scott said he was delighted when the original settlement agreement was made between the government and the farmers of racial discrimination.
"We were so delighted that we had a rally in Richmond celebrating that announcement. All of this started a long time ago when the Congressional Black Caucus had a series of hearings to document the disgraceful discrimination that had been going on for a long time."
Scott pointed out that due to legal complications and technicalities many farmers were not able to bring any cases at all. As such, legislation was passed that allowed the statues of limitation be waived so that all cases could be heard.
"I'm embarrassed for our government that we still have not taken the steps necessary to put this sorry legacy of discrimination against Black farmers by our government into the annals of history."
Despite the Pigford Lawsuit Scott says this is only one portion of the legacy of discrimination by the Department of Agriculture that has continued. Scott cites there have been an additional 15,000 cases that have been filed but have yet to be investigated by the USDA, many within the allotted statute of limitations.
"It is clear that we take another look so that we can get a handle on the situation before we have to have another round of Pigford lawsuits to deal with the problem."
"The Black farmers should not be asked to wait any longer", said Boyd.
"People, we've waited long enough. We've waited years for justice. The environmental working group has released study after study on how Blacks aren't receiving farm subsidies. This is not a new story. This is a story that continues to resurface because those that are responsible have failed to do what they committed to do."
Boyd says he's met with almost every committee from Appropriations to House Agriculture for justice. "We're being told the same thing." Boyd said that while the administration had been focused on healthcare, "they can walk and chew gum at the same time".
"This is a very simple measure where they can attach on any moving train. We have over 400 members of Congress, the president has all kinds of staff. They can pick up the phone and call the leadership and say we would like this move."
Boyd, who has spoken to over ten thousand Black farmers, points out that if the deadline is missed again Black farmers will miss yet another planning and harvest season.
"People, these farmers are old", explained Boyd to the assembled media. "These are not farmers who are twenty-five, and thirty, and thirty-five. These are farmers that are sixty, seventy, and eighty years of age."
Boyd cited what will happen if the administration doesn't act immediately.
"Another Black farmer will die. Another Black farmer will lose his land, his livelihood, his way of life. That's what this settlement means to our nation's Black farmers."
Senator Kay Hagen (NC), sponsor of the late filing bill in Congress said, "I'm hear today to call on Congress to correct years of injustice, and appropriate the funding owed to our African American farmers before the March 31st deadline", as she explained to those assembled about the Pigford v. Glickman case.
Senator Kay Hagan, Congressman John Conyers (center) with John Boyd. Above left: Congressman Bobby Scott
with NBFA's president, John Boyd. [Photos: CD Brown/Politics. On Point.]
with NBFA's president, John Boyd. [Photos: CD Brown/Politics. On Point.]
Congressman John Conyers also attended and pressed for a meeting with Secretary of Agriculture Tom Vilsak (an Obama appointee). With cameras rolling and mics on, Conyers demanded to Vilsak's people that he and members of the NBFA be seen.
“You realize this is urgent,” Conyers said as he spoke to Vilsak's office aide. "Get with attorney Keller (House legal counsel who had been trying to reach Vilsak by phone), and let him know where Vilsak is, okay?", demanded Conyers. "Gee. It's a government employee", stated Conyers as he handed back the phone to Keller.
As the saying goes, the squeaky wheel gets the oil. Conyers was able to get a meeting with Vilsak at 5:30 pm that Wednesday evening.
We asked Boyd his thoughts on Conyers scoring the meeting with Vilsak.
"That was excellent", said Boyd. "It's really right on time. It's really the type of movement that you need from leaders in Congress --- pick up the phone and call them and see what the 'ham sandwich' is going on here. And that's basically what he's done here today, which is the right thing to do."
Adding, "He stepped up to the plate today, and we appreciate it."
When we asked Conyers what he might say in the meeting with Vilsak, he was relunctant to answer, and told us our request for that information was a stupid question.
"I'm going to meet with him (Vilsak) on a $1.5b issue and you want me to tell you what I'm going to say to him in advance?"
"I can't tell you in advance on an issue that is sensitive. I've invited you all to the meeting if you can make it, Conyers told another reported wanting to know the same . "If you can't, I'll put out a release. "Related
(Previous Articles)
Settlement Checks Issued To Black Famers In '99
Black Farmers Settlement Fund: Now You See It, Now You Don’t
Harsh Critic Asks: Why Are Black Famers Whining?
Timothy Pigford v. Glickman: Read About The Case
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