Skip to content
Advertisement

Legislature being introduced to help Black farmers by newly elected Senator Raphael Warnock

Advertisement
Black Farmer (264462)
Black Farmer

Lawmakers introduced two bills to help minority farmers this week, aiming to address longstanding injustices in the agricultural sector, reports Reuters. Georgia Senator Raphael Warnock on Tuesday introduced a $5 billion Emergency Relief for Farmers of Color Act as part of the $1.9 trillion COVID-19 relief stimulus package. It aims to provide immediate financial relief to Black, indigenous and Hispanic farmers.

The bill would provide direct payments to farmers of color and allocate $1 billion to address systemic racism at the U.S. Agriculture Department, provide legal assistance to farmers of color and grants and loans to improve land access for minorities.

Black farmers have long viewed the USDA suspiciously, and President Joe Biden’s administration has pledged to address past injustices.

On Tuesday it expressed support for Warnock’s proposal.

“It’s a bill crafted to address the immediate need for debt relief among those who have been marginalized and are hurting while also advancing long-term issues,” USDA Chief of Staff Katharine Ferguson said in a statement.

Warnock’s proposal followed a more comprehensive bill introduced Monday night by New Jersey Senator Cory Booker: the Justice for Black Farmers Act.

Advertisement

Latest