WASHINGTON — Sen. Chuck Grassley today continued his work to ensure the Office of Civil Rights at the U.S. Department of Agriculture has the necessary tools to help underserved farmers and disadvantaged USDA employees.

            In a letter to Agriculture Secretary Ann Veneman, Grassley requested more information about the Department's plans in regards to the Office of Civil Rights. Grassley also continued to push for reform of the office.

            "The Office of Civil Rights will only succeed if it's provided the resources, autonomy and authority that is essential if they are to help those in need," Grassley said.

            Here is Grassley's letter to Veneman.

Nov 10, 2003

The Honorable Ann M. Veneman
Secretary, U.S. Department of Agriculture
Room 200A Whitten Building
12th Street & Jefferson Drive, S.W.
Washington, D.C. 20250

Dear Secretary Veneman:

            Recently I received a letter signed by Associate Assistant Secretary Clyde Thompson dated October 31, 2003. Mr. Thompson's letter was in response to the letter I sent you July 3, 2003, regarding my concerns related to the Office of Civil Rights. While I appreciate the response, it is only a partial response to the questions I posed to you.

            My letter to you asked three specific questions. Those questions are:

1. What is the status of current and future resources to be made available for Assistant Secretary Vernon Parker?

2. What degree of autonomy would Assistant Sec. Parker have in organizing the Office of Civil Rights?

3. What is the prospect of allowing the Office of Civil Rights greater autonomy from the Office of General Counsel?

            To your credit, the first question was answered to the best of the department's ability. I know from first hand experience Deputy Secretary Mosley has worked very hard to secure sufficient funding for the Office of Civil Rights. In addition, while you did not include the following information in your letter, I also know you are supportive of language in the Senate's agriculture appropriations legislation which allows any available discretionary funds to be used for preparing, or contracting final agency decisions regarding discrimination complaints. I commend you for taking this position.

            Regarding question two, while the letter did not specifically explain the degree of Assistant Secretary Parker's autonomy in organizing his office, I assume that the challenges and new initiatives explained in the letter were in large part due to Assistant Secretary Parker. I am impressed to read that the multiple "civil rights challenges" being addressed by the department could lead to improved delivery of services and quality of case management.

            Unfortunately, the letter did not answer my third question. As I mentioned on July 3rd, the Office of Civil Rights lack of autonomy from the Office of General Counsel is a source of criticism from independent third party analysis (both the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission and the Commission on Civil Rights). This is a crucial problem that many believe must be remedied for Assistant Secretary Parker to have any success in alleviating the problems that have plagued USDA for years.

            I implied in my first letter that Assistant Secretary Parker will only succeed if you provide resources, authority and autonomy to the Office of Civil Rights. I still believe those comments hold true. I appreciate the correspondence I received today and look forward to your prompt response.