Booker Statement on Payment of Financial Assistance to Farmers That Suffered USDA Discrimination

WASHINGTON, D.C. - Today, U.S. Senator Cory Booker (D-NJ), a member of the Senate Agriculture Committee, issued the following statement after the United States Department of Agriculture announced that financial assistance payments had been disbursed to farmers who previously suffered discrimination by the department:

"In order to address the well-documented history of discrimination over the past century by the USDA against Black farmers, I fought to include $2.2 billion in the Inflation Reduction Act to provide financial assistance to farmers who had suffered because of it," said Senator Booker. "I am pleased that today the USDA announced that this financial assistance has been disbursed to Black farmers and other farmers who were victims of USDA discrimination. This money will be a lifeline to farmers and ranchers across the country who in the past have been unfairly denied access to USDA lending and safety net programs."

The Discrimination Financial Assistance Program was established by Section 22007 of the Inflation Reduction Act. Through the Act, Congress allocated $2.2 billion for the program and directed USDA to provide financial assistance to farmers, ranchers and forest landowners who experienced discrimination in USDA farm lending programs prior to January 2021.

The Award Issues for Discrimination Financial Assistance Program under Section 22007 of the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA):

1. In total, about 43,000 awards were approved.
2. 1. More than 23,000 awards, about 54%, were to applicants who had or have farming or ranching operations. They received a total of about $1.9 billion with individual awards ranging from $10,000 to $500,000.
   2. Over 20,000 awards, about 46%, were to applicants who planned to have farming or ranching operations but were unable to establish them as a result of USDA actions. They received a total of $101 million with individual awards ranging from $3,500 to $6,000.
3. Awards were approved for applicants from every state, the District of Columbia, U.S. Virgin Islands, Puerto Rico, and American Samoa.
4. A majority of the farmers who received this financial assistance for discrimination are located in Alabama, Mississippi, Georgia and other southern states. More information on awards distribution can be found at 22007apply.gov, including a state-by-state breakdown.

In 2020, Senator Booker originally introduced the Justice for Black Farmers Act, legislation to comprehensively address the terrible history of USDA discrimination against Black farmers.