House Action on USDA's Civil Rights Efforts
                                                               
                                                               
                                            Release No. 0256.98

Statement
                              of 
               Agriculture Secretary Dan Glickman
         On House Action on USDA's Civil Rights Efforts

     I commend the House for including a provision vital to the success of
USDA's civil rights efforts in the FY99 agriculture appropriations bill. 

     This provision will allow USDA to settle effectively very old
discrimination cases by waiving the statute of limitations in certain
instances.  Without it, USDA will be powerless to offer compensatory relief in
cases -- some more than a decade old -- where there has not been a fair and
thorough review of the facts. Individuals whose cases fall into this category
should not be punished for USDA's prior failure to investigate their claims. 
USDA finally will be able to address these older cases, seek closure, and --
where appropriate -- properly resolve complaints of individuals who have been
discriminated against.

     In particular, I wish to thank the Speaker and the Minority Leader,
Chairmen Skeen, Hyde and Smith, Congressmen Obey, Serrano and Stenholm, and
Congresswomen Kaptur and Waters, for recognizing the unique nature of these
cases, and working with me and supporting USDA's civil rights efforts by
securing the adoption of this amendment. 

     I hope that the Senate will follow suit quickly. If so, this will be an
important victory in our efforts to heal old wounds and build a new day for
civil rights at USDA.

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