Senate Approves $4.6 Billion Discrimination Settlement For Black Farmers, Indians
source: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2010/11/19/black-farmers-indians-discrimination-settlement_n_7...
-
-
- TimALoftis
- added this
WASHINGTON — The Senate has approved almost $4.6 billion to settle long-standing claims brought by American Indians and black farmers against the government.
The money has been held up for months in the Senate as Democrats and Republicans squabbled over how to pay for it. The two class action lawsuits were filed over a decade ago.
The settlements include almost $1.2 billion for black farmers who say they suffered discrimination at the hands of the Agriculture Department. Also, $3.4 billion would go to Indian landowners who claim they were swindled out of royalties by the Interior Department. The legislation was approved in the Senate by voice vote Friday and sent to the House.
President Obama in a statement praised the Senate for passing the bill and urged the House to move forward on it. He said his administration is also working to resolve separate lawsuits filed against USDA by Hispanic and women farmers.
"While these legislative achievements reflect important progress, they also serve to remind us that much work remains to be done," he said.
The money has been held up for months in the Senate as Democrats and Republicans squabbled over how to pay for it. The two class action lawsuits were filed over a decade ago.
The settlements include almost $1.2 billion for black farmers who say they suffered discrimination at the hands of the Agriculture Department. Also, $3.4 billion would go to Indian landowners who claim they were swindled out of royalties by the Interior Department. The legislation was approved in the Senate by voice vote Friday and sent to the House.
President Obama in a statement praised the Senate for passing the bill and urged the House to move forward on it. He said his administration is also working to resolve separate lawsuits filed against USDA by Hispanic and women farmers.
"While these legislative achievements reflect important progress, they also serve to remind us that much work remains to be done," he said.
-
- groups:
- Community, Indigenous
-
- tags:
- Senate, American Indians, black farmers
-
-
TimALoftis
-
..it's about time.
- 1 year ago
-
TimALoftis
