As Congress continues to work on another COVID relief bill, a group of Democratic Senators this week introduced an amendment that would provide $5 billion in aid to farmers of color.
“The Emergency Relief for Farmers of Color Act” would provide 4-billion dollars in direct relief payments to black, indigenous and Hispanic farmers to help them pay off outstanding USDA farm loan debts and related taxes. It would designate another $1 billion to fund support activities at USDA to quote “help root out systemic racism.”
The bill also includes a provision that would provide up to 160-acres to existing and aspiring Black farmers.
The measure was praised by USDA.
“The bill is the culmination of hard work and collaboration among members of the Senate and House and new leadership at USDA who share a common purpose to end inequity in our food and agricultural systems,” USDA Chief of Staff Katharine Ferguson said in a released statement. “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 such as Heirs’ Property, tackling the root causes of discrimination via an Equity Commission, and investing in building back a new generation of farmers of color.”
