Glickman Receives First Annual National Conference of Black Mayors Beacon
Award
                                                               
                                                               
                                            Release No. 0368.99
                                                               
                                  Andrew Kauders (202) 720-4623
                                        andrew.kauders@usda.gov
                                                               
                                                               
GLICKMAN RECEIVES FIRST ANNUAL NATIONAL CONFERENCE OF BLACK MAYORS BEACON
AWARD

     WASHINGTON, Sept. 17, 1999   Agriculture Secretary Glickman today was
honored by the National Conference of Black Mayors (NCBM) with its first
annual Beacon Award.  The award is given to an individual who has provided
guidance and inspiration in bringing about change, and having a positive
impact on the lives of people who have been disenfranchised.

     "At the helm of the Department of Agriculture, Secretary Glickman has
worked very hard to change the culture at USDA for the future," said NCBM
President Jesse Norwood.  "He embodies all of the leadership skills, serving
as a 'beacon' at the U.S. Department of Agriculture, in his successful
attempts to remedy past injustices, affecting black farmers in particular."

     "It is a great honor to receive this award and to participate in this
year's National Conference of Black Mayors annual event, celebrating the
Congressional Black Caucus Weekend," said Glickman.  "We are determined to
ensure that every USDA customer and employee is treated fairly and equitably,
with dignity and respect.  We are aggressively working to right past wrongs to
customers and employees, strengthen programs targeted to under-served
populations, and implement policies designed to prevent new problems from
occurring."    

  Under Glickman's strong leadership, USDA agreed to a historic settlement
with African American farmers; closing a painful chapter for the Department. 
USDA has stopped several thousand pending foreclosures until independent
review teams certify that there is no evidence of unfair treatment.  These
independent reviews have become a regular step in USDA's handling of
delinquent loans to ensure that no farmers face USDA foreclosures as a result
of discrimination.  
  
  USDA has also increased the minority representation on its Farm Service
Agency (FSA) state committees by 10 percent.  Women and minorities now
comprise 46 percent of the state committee positions.  These committees advise
the state executive director, help implement USDA programs at the state level,
and serve as the appeal board for farmers who disagree with decisions made at
the county level.

  In addition, USDA has increased its lending to minority and women
producers.  During the past 5 years there has been a 74 percent increase in
direct lending to these groups.  Increased outreach efforts by USDA will
ensure that lending to minorities and women continues to expand.

  The Community Outreach Office provides leadership in delivering programs
and services to USDA customers, particularly those groups and individuals who
have not been historically well-served.  Because of Secretary Glickman, the
Office of Civil Rights (OCR), disbanded in 1983, has once again become a
strong force at USDA.  OCR has increased staffing and enforcement activities,
hiring investigators, adjudicators, economists, and compliance specialists to
tackle the cases that for too long have been ignored.  All USDA agency heads
now have performance standards for civil rights and will be rated by the
Assistant Secretary for Administration on civil rights accomplishments.  USDA
enforces a policy of zero tolerance for reprisals against employees who file
civil rights violations, and a policy of immediately adjusting hostile or
volatile work place conditions.  In addition, all USDA employees are required
to attend annual civil rights training.


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