Remarks of Secretary of Agriculture Dan Glickman Black Farmers Class Action
Settlement Announcement Washington, D.C.   Jan. 5, 1999 
                    (As prepared for delivery)
                                                               
                                                               
                                           Release No. 0002.99 
Remarks
                               of
              Secretary of Agriculture Dan Glickman
       Black Farmers Class Action Settlement Announcement
                Washington, D.C.   Jan. 5, 1999
                    (As prepared for delivery)

     "When we began this odyssey over two years ago, I told everyone here at
USDA that this civil rights struggle was our appointment with history. I
warned that we should not be daunted by the magnitude of our task, nor use the
size of the mountain before us as an excuse to give up climbing. Rather, I
reminded everyone of the old Chinese saying, 'the journey of a thousand miles
begins with a single step.'

     "I want to thank all the folks who marched alongside me in this effort  
Reba Evans, Rosalind Gray, John Sparks, Pearlie Reed and Lloyd Wright of our
civil rights team; Charlie Rawls, David Harris and our Office of General
Counsel; many members of Congress, most notably the Congressional Black Caucus
-- represented here today by Congresswoman Maxine Waters --  Attorney General
Janet Reno, Associate Attorney General Ray Fisher, Deputy Associate Attorney
General Joe Onek,Assistant Attorney General Frank Hunger, Deputy Assistant
Attorney General Phil Bartz and other Justice Department Attorneys, White
House Counsel Charles Ruff, and the man who   alongside myself   through his
own involvement drove this process to a fair and reasonable resolution. That
man, of course, is President Clinton who deserves a great deal of personal
credit today.  With his leadership, we passed a waiver to the statute of
limitations allowing older cases to be heard, and today we've reached a fair
and reasonable resolution.

     "We are here to announce an historic agreement for both the Department
of Agriculture and   I believe   for our nation. It is an agreement that will
close a painful chapter in USDA's history, and open a more constructive front
in our efforts to see this department emerge as the federal civil rights
leader in the 21st century.

     "I am pleased to announce today that all parties have agreed to a
settlement of the civil rights class action brought against this department by
African American farmers from across the country for discrimination complaints
between 1981 and 1996.  This settlement is fair to the farmers and to U.S.
taxpayers.  The guideposts I established for the negotiations retains
flexibility in terms of how individual farmers' cases are resolved so we can
do our best to meet their needs.
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     "Under the consent decree that was filed today, we've agreed on two
tracks. The first and more streamlined track allows those who meet the class
definition and who can provide substantial evidence of discrimination to an
impartial adjudicator to receive a blanket settlement of $50,000, as well as
additional relief in the form of debt write-downs and some offset of tax
liability.  This track will be fair to many people, but not to everyone ...
which is why we have a second track. Track two is for those who believe they
have evidence of extreme wrongdoing. Here, the financial claims potentially
could be higher, so Track Two requires a higher evidentiary standard   a
'preponderance of evidence.' 

     "These cases must be well-documented, and farmers must prove substantial
losses to justify a larger pay-out. Where a farmer meets this standard, Track
Two allows for a tailored settlement that suits the circumstances of the case,
and is determined by a third-party arbitrator.

     "Farmers are not required to take part in this settlement process.
Instead, they can also choose to continue their individual cases in court or
utilize the Department's administrative process.

     "Today, Judge Friedman gave preliminary approval to this settlement and
set a fairness hearing in March. At that time, the agreement will be given
final approval which will allow the third party entities to begin processing
the cases. Soon, notices will be sent out to all members of the class making
them aware of their options under this settlement. 

     "Obviously, this does not complete USDA's civil rights initiative. We
still have more to do to ensure that all of our customers and our employees
are treated with dignity and respect. But without question today we mark a
major milestone in our efforts. And, it is important not just for the farmers,
but also for all of the good, decent people here at USDA who have worked so
hard to help bring us to this day.  

     "I want to thank again everyone who worked tirelessly on this settlement
agreement. I also want to recognize the African American farmers across the
country who stood up for their rights. We are a stronger department and a
stronger country today for their efforts. 

Thank you, and I'd be glad to take your questions."

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