Congressman Carter Announces Over $77 Million for Louisiana Farmers Harmed by Discrimination
WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, Congressman Troy A. Carter, Sr. (D-LA) announced new financial assistance from the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) for eligible Louisiana farmers who experienced documented discrimination in federal farm lending programs prior to January 2021. Louisiana has 1,265 recipients selected totaling $77,351,490awarded.
These awards were made possible by the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) Discrimination Financial Assistance Program (DFAP) which Congressman Carter proudly helped craft and voted for. Congress allocated $2.2 billion for the DFAP program through the IRA and directed the USDA to provide financial assistance to farmers, ranchers, and forest landowners who experienced discrimination in USDA farm lending programs prior to January 2021. Today, over 43,000 individuals across the nation will receive financial assistance through the program. The assistance will help many of them continue farming or enhance their operations, will allow some to begin farming, or in other cases will help to ease potential lost income.
“This financial assistance is an opportunity to create long-overdue equity for farmers left behind due to decades of discriminatory practices,” said Rep. Carter. “Farming and agriculture in the United States has historically withheld access to communities of color and other marginalized groups. These awards are a significant step to ensure farmers and ranchers can sustain their livelihoods, contribute to the economy, and pursue new agricultural opportunities.”
A claim of discrimination in this program could be based on different treatment applicants experienced because of race, color, national origin or ethnicity, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, religion, age, marital status, disability, or reprisal/retaliation for prior civil rights activity. The program covered all aspects of USDA’s farm lending activities. Covered discrimination could include, for example, failure to provide appropriate assistance, delay in processing a loan or loan servicing application, denial of a loan or loan servicing, prevention from applying for a loan or loan servicing, adverse loan terms, or unduly onerous supervision of loan requirements where these were due to the customer’s race, color, national origin or ethnicity, sex, etc.
“Farmers and ranchers work around the clock to put food on our tables and steward our Nation’s land. But for too long, many farmers and ranchers experienced discrimination in farm loan programs and have not had the same access to federal resources and support,” said President Joe Biden. “I promised to address this inequity when I became President. Today that promise has become a reality. My Inflation Reduction Act took a bold step to address the effects of discrimination in farming and ranching, and today’s action will enable more farmers and ranchers to support themselves and their families, help grow the economy, and pursue their dreams.”
“The completion of the Discrimination Financial Assistance Program is an important moment in USDA’s history, and in our journey to becoming a department that truly serves everyone who wants to participate in agriculture. While this financial assistance is not compensation for anyone’s losses or pain endured, it is an acknowledgement. My hope is that this will ensure that many farmers can stay on their farms, contribute to our nation’s food supply, and continue doing what they love,” said Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack. “I am also immensely grateful to USDA’s many partners in this effort, including the organizations who helped spread the word and offer technical assistance to applicants. This process, and the information contained in the applications, will help USDA as we fine tune our efforts to make USDA programs accessible, inclusive and equitable to all.”
Background
Congressman Carter cosponsors the Justice for Black Farmers Act of 2023introduced by Congresswoman Alma Adams (D-NC). This bill will establish a brighter future for the under-served by reforming the USDA, providing debt relief and creating a land grant program to encourage a new generation of Black farmers. It seeks to correct persistent injustices and restore the land base that Black farmers have lost.
Learn more about the Discrimination Financial Assistance Program here. View the full list of award distributions announced today here.
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