September 24, 2013

WASHINGTON, DC- Congresswoman Marcia L. Fudge (OH-11) is pleased to announce disbursements are being made this week in the Black Farmers Discrimination Litigation Settlement, commonly known as “Pigford II.” The disbursements to more than 18,000 black farmers nationwide includes payments with an economic impact of $1.5 million to 30 claimants who live in Ohio’s 11th Congressional District.  Among all Congressional districts in the nation, the disbursements to the 11th Congressional District of Ohio rank 49^th.   A total of 65 claimants throughout the State of Ohio will receive settlement funds totaling $3.25 million.

The Pigford II settlement resolves complaints from black farmers who claimed they were denied farm loans due to decades of discriminatory practices by the USDA’s Farm Service Agency.  The Pigford II payouts followed a first round of settlements (Pigford I) that resulted in compensation to 13,000 black farmers. The 2008 Farm Bill provided $1.25 billion for additional cases to be reviewed, leading to Pigford II.   Payments to individuals included up to $50,000 for damages and up to $12,000 to the Internal Revenue Service to cover the claimant’s income tax liability.

“The Pigford II Settlement closes out a dark chapter in American history.  I am grateful thousands of black farmers who toiled on their land – and in some cases, lost their farms due to discrimination by their own government, have now received a measure of economic justice.  During the initial Pigford litigation, some farmers were aggrieved a second time by the short window of time in which they had to file claims. By extending the claim filing process for a second round, 30 of my constituents have been compensated for their grievances,” said Congresswoman Fudge.

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