Pelosi Statement on House Passage of Pigford, Cobell Settlements

WASHINGTON, Nov. 30, 2010 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Speaker Nancy Pelosi released the following statement this afternoon following House passage of legislation that would provide funding to settle African American farmers' and Native Americans' lawsuits against the federal government. The House passed the legislation by a vote of 256 to 152; the Senate passed the bill earlier this month and it now goes to President Obama for his signature into law.

"Today vote in the House to pass legislation to provide funding to settle African American farmers' and Native Americans' lawsuits against the federal government brings a much-delayed end to serious cases of discrimination. Settlements were reached in both of these class action lawsuits, and now we have finally ensured the federal government will honor its commitments. By compensating black farmers and Native Americans for past failures of judgment by the United States Department of Agriculture and Department of the Interior, we close the door on an old injustice. And we are proud to have done so in a fiscally responsible way, not adding a dime to the deficit.

"We recognize that there are other discrimination cases that remain to be resolved — including women, Hispanic and Native American farmers. It is my hope these cases will come to a similarly just conclusion."

SOURCE Office of the Speaker of the House

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