Assistant Secretary for Civil Rights at USDA

As noted above, the Department of Agriculture and its agencies have been an endless source of civil rights abuse and discrimination. The inability of USDA to properly address these discrimination and civil rights issues in a timely and strategic manner for either employees or producers has been a constant source criticism and subject of many lawsuits against the Department.

Currently, the Civil Rights Office at USDA lacks the authority to impact employee reviews based on discriminatory actions or to be proactive in rooting out discrimination. In addition, the same USDA unit responsible for human resources at the Department, the Assistant Secretary for Administration, also oversees the civil rights office responsible for employee as well as program discrimination. The 2002 Farm Bill addresses this conflict of interest and lack of influence by creating a new Assistant Secretary for Civil Rights at USDA who will report directly to the Secretary of Agriculture. The new Assistant Secretary for Civil Rights, who must be confirmed by the Senate, will have the authority to:

· Ensure that all agencies and programs of the Department demonstrate their compliance with civil rights statutes

· Coordinate the administration of all civil rights procedures and policies for department employees and participants in all USDA programs; and

· Ensure that civil rights components are incorporated into all strategic planning initiatives with in the Department.

Full text on pages 398-399, section 10704 of the bill

For further information regarding the 2002 Farm Bill and all of it’s components, visit the Coalicion Rural's 2002 Farm Bill Report "Farm Security and Rural Investment Act of 2002" or visit the Rural Coalitions MAIN PAGE.

Rural Coalition

1411 K Street, NW, Suite 901Washington, DC 20005

T (202) 628-7160 F (202) 628-7165 E ruralco@ruralco.org