Congressman Thompson and CBC Address Black Farmers= Issues
WASHINGTON, D.C.B United States Congressman Bennie G. Thompson (D-MS) today responded to recent attacks by Rep. J.C. Watts (R-OK) and others concerning the prolonged state of the settlement phase of the Black farmers= lawsuit. In an effort to place more emphasis on the legislative agenda, Thompson and the Congressional Black Caucus (CBC) rebuffed comments accusing them of alienating the Black farmers. Congressman Thompson offered the following statement:
AThe Republicans are attempting to pretend that they want to help Black farmers. They=re using symbols and no substance. To date, the only legislation filed to improve the plight of Black farmers was filed by the CBC.
AJay Dickey=s >since of the Congress= resolution did nothing to help Black Farmers. We (CBC) fought to defeat it because it would not have provided any relief to Black farmers. J.C. Watts= >dog-n-pony= show didn=t either.
AThe Civil Rights Division at USDA had to be reconstructed. The CBC was instrumental in making that happen. In 1997, it was the CBC that led the effort to have the statute of limitations waived so that farmers, who for about 15 years had no mechanism through which discrimination claims could be made, could join the class action suit.
AWe are not satisfied with the progress being made in settling the complaints against the USDA.
In response, we have introduced three pieces of legislation that outline a way to speed up the mediation process, increase funding for loan programs and land-grant schools like Alcorn State and penalize USDA employees who violate federal laws [against discrimination}. If Mr. Dickey is interested in providing relief by way of joining in our [CBC} efforts to enact a substantive legislative package, we will be happy to have him. If he is not interested, then we know that he is not genuinely concerned with assisting Black families.@