Historic Settlement in the Pigford Lawsuit -
Seeking Organizational Sign-ons

There has been a settlement in the Pigford lawsuit that now awaits funding from Congress. Below is the letter from the "Network of Black Farm Groups and Advocates to Congress". The group seeks organizational sign-ons to the letter to be distributed to Congress. To sign-on please send an email to heathergray@federation.coop
Click here also is a PDF of the letter.

NETWORK OF BLACK FARM GROUPS
AND ADVOCATES

The Honorable Nancy Pelosi 
Speaker, U.S. House of Representatives                                      
The Honorable Harry Reid
Majority Leader, U.S. Senate

Dear Madam Speaker and Mr. Majority Leader:

On February 12, 2010 President Obama sent to Congress an emergency proposal to amend the fiscal year 2010 budget to appropriate funding to settle claims for prior discrimination brought by Black farmers against the Department of Agriculture. The President’s submission included both the necessary legislative language and the OMB analysis of the proposal recommending that the President submit it to Congress.

This proposal was included with two other FY2010 supplemental appropriation proposals.

The proposal needs immediate action. In fact, Secretary of Agriculture Vilsack has stated that the deadline funding for the historic settlement of these claims, on which the proposal is based, is March 31. As you know, this settlement and the need for the funding are well documented and the legislation is in its final form. All Congress needs to do is schedule it for a floor debate and vote on it. ....Read More