Landrieu Welcomes $1.15B for Discrimination Settlements to African-American Farmers

Press Release

U.S. Senator Mary Landrieu, D-La., today welcomed President Obama's request for $1.15 billion to fund a 1999 court settlement compensating African-American farmers for racial discrimination claims against the United Stated Department of Agriculture (USDA). In Louisiana, 985 farmers have filed an eligible claim.

The $1.15 billion request is part of the supplemental appropriations bill Congress is expected to consider in the coming weeks.

"Nearly a thousand African-American farmers in Louisiana have waited far too long for this compensation," said Sen. Landrieu. "The 12-year waiting period has prolonged the pain of the original prejudice and it is time we put an end to this long-standing dispute. I commend President Obama for correcting this injustice, and urge Congress to approve this supplemental appropriations bill as quickly as possible."

For decades, the government blatantly discriminated against African-American farmers by denying them loans that were awarded to their white counterparts. In 1999, the USDA settled a class-action lawsuit which compensated approximately 15,000 African-American farmers. The compensation per farmer was about $50,000.

In 2008, the Food Conservation and Energy Act included a provision to re-open the case to allow late filers. The supplemental appropriations bill will ensure that these disputes are finally settled, putting an end to the 12-year waiting period.

There are 1,914 African-American farmers in Louisiana.

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