Press Releases

WASHINGTON – U.S. Sen. Mark R. Warner issued the following statement today regarding this week’s U.S. Senate vote to fund a national settlement between the U.S. Department of Agriculture and thousands of African-American farmers who settled their discrimination law suit against the USDA in 1999.

“This week the Senate has another opportunity to authorize funding of the settlement costs for proven claims that USDA discriminated against African-American farmers in Virginia and across the country. The original lawsuit was settled in favor of black farmers in 1999, and it is unfortunate that, until now, Senate procedure has gotten in the way of authorizing the payment of these funds. This legislation is fully paid for, and I urge my Senate colleagues to act this week to resolve this long-standing issue.”