USDA ISSUES INTERIM PROGRESS REPORT ON CIVIL RIGHTS
                                              Release No. 0386.97
                                                               
Media Advisory

USDA ISSUES INTERIM PROGRESS REPORT ON CIVIL RIGHTS

     WASHINGTON, Oct. 24, 1997--Agriculture Secretary Dan Glickman today
released a six-month interim report detailing the U.S. Department of
Agriculture's progress on civil rights.

     "Implementation of the Civil Rights Action Team Report at USDA -- An
Interim Progress Report," documents the progress that USDA has made toward
completing the 92 recommendations contained in the CRAT (Civil Rights Action
Team) Report, which was submitted to the Secretary in February 1997.

     Members of the media can obtain copies of the report from Laura
Trivers (202) 720-4623 or Marci Hilt (202) 720-5262.  The report is also
available on USDA's Internet Website http://www.usda.gov/da/cr.html. 
Members of the public can obtain copies of the report by calling (202) 720-2798.

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