WASHINGTON, DC – The House Agriculture Subcommittee on Department Operations, Oversight, Nutrition, and Forestry on Wednesday held a hearing to review the U.S. Department of Agriculture's Office of the Assistant Secretary for Civil Rights.

"Discrimination of any type is unacceptable," said Chairman Joe Baca of California. "After decades of unsuccessful attempts to establish and enforce equitable civil rights policies within the USDA, I am pleased with the initial commitment of the Obama administration and Secretary Vilsack to right this situation. I am hopeful the initiatives explored in today's hearing will begin to heal the wounds of the past and create an equal opportunity of success for all farmers and producers. I am committed to working with the administration, and continuing strong oversight of the Office of the Assistant Secretary of Civil Rights, to ensure that civil rights improvements at the USDA are fully met."

"All farmers deserve equal access to USDA programs regardless of race, ethnicity or gender," said Subcommittee Ranking Member Jeff Fortenberry of Nebraska. "This committee feels strongly about ensuring that USDA is administering all of its programs in an equitable and just manner. The outcomes of today's hearing will help us continue proper oversight responsibilities."

Today's oversight hearing focused on USDA's handling of civil rights violations and the findings of a GAO report released in October 2008 entitled "Recommendations and Options to Address Management Deficiencies in the Office of the Assistant Secretary for Civil Rights." The Subcommittee heard testimony from the Assistant Secretary for Civil Rights and the author of the recent GAO report.

The opening statements of all witnesses are available on the Committee Web site at http://agriculture.house.gov/hearings/index.html. A full transcript of the hearing will be posted on the Committee website at a later date.

Witness List:

Panel I

The Honorable Joe Leonard, Jr., Ph.D., Assistant Secretary for Civil Rights, U.S. Department of Agriculture, Washington, D.C.

Ms. Lisa Shames, Director, Natural Resources and Environment Division, U.S. Government Accountability Office, Washington, D.C.