Civil Rights Action Plan

                                              Release No. 0066.97


Statement

                              of 
                     Secretary Dan Glickman
                 USDA Civil Rights Action Plan
              Washington, D.C.-- February 28, 1997

     Thank you all for joining me here today. I'd like to send a special
welcome out to all our USDA employees from across the country who are
joining us via satellite.

     For 2 years now, I've had the honor and privilege of serving as
secretary of agriculture. I'm proud of my service. I'm proud of this
department, and everyone here who helps make us strong. And I know that's
the vast majority of us -- both here at headquarters and in the field.

     I'm proud of this Civil Rights Action Team, led by Pearlie Reed. Last
December, I handed them a Herculean task: Tackle the most sensitive issue in
this department; do a comprehensive review; fan out across the country and
talk to real people who've been affected; and come back here with sweeping
recommendations for change ... in 90 days.

     Well, here they are. They're still standing ... I saw them walk in. 

     All of us at USDA owe the team a great debt of gratitude. They put
their normal duties on hold, and in many cases, they put their lives on
hold. In every page of this report, we see their commitment to civil rights,
to this department, and to all the people we serve. 

     I'd also like to recognize the work of the Hispanic Issues Task Force,
APANA, and other employee groups whose recommendations and insights are
reflected in this report.

     I'm proud of this report. I'm fairly confident in saying it won't be
accused of pulling any punches. It takes a hard look in the mirror, and
that's where we need to start. But I think it's also important to note that
this report is based on what we've heard. It reflects some very disturbing
perceptions. Some have been documented by earlier requests; others may need
further review. 

     The Office of the Inspector General has been looking into program
delivery. What they've found in many ways mirrors the CRAT report. Those
findings will be made available as well. 

     Our actions today are meant to address both the problems and the
perceptions that are out there. That starts by admitting that for far too
long USDA has been seen as ignoring serious, pervasive problems with our
civil rights systems. 


                              -more-


                               -2-

     No more. We're going into phase 2 with our eyes wide open.

     Many of us here in this room have participated in one or more of the
listening sessions. You can't walk away from that experience thinking
anything but action. I sat through 3 sessions. They were disturbing. They
were frustrating, and yes they sometimes made me angry.

     But I'm not here today to point fingers, to cast blame, or to add any
fuel to the fire. I'm here simply to say, it is time to heal. We cannot
change the past, but we can and will set a new course for the future of this
department.

     In many ways, our struggles echo our nation's struggles. Every day, it
seems we open the newspaper or turn on the news, and there's a story about
discrimination, lack of opportunity, and the polarization of our people.
It's easy to dismiss the problem as beyond us.

     That's why I consider this report to be a rare and historic
opportunity. As Gandhi once said,  you must be the change you wish to see in
the world.' This report is our chance to change our little corner of the
world. It is our opportunity to once and for all change the culture of the
Department of Agriculture.

     We start with a new mission statement that I am issuing today. It is
now a condition of employment at the United States Department of Agriculture
that every employee treat every customer and co-worker fairly and equitably,
with dignity and respect. 

     That's nothing revolutionary. It is simply the law of the land. 

     We also start today with a zero-tolerance policy for reprisals. Quite
frankly, those who choose retaliation should be more concerned about keeping
their own jobs.

     And, we start this new day with a new civil rights leader. I wouldn't
blame Pearlie if all he wanted to do right now was sit on the beach for a
while. But he doesn't. He understands that we're only halfway there. The
hardest half -- turning recommendations into actions -- is still ahead.

     I'm pleased to report today that I've offered and Pearlie Reed has
accepted the post of acting Assistant Secretary for Administration. In
accordance with this report, that position has been beefed up and vested
with all authority and responsibility for civil rights programs throughout
this department. The buck will always stop with me, but Pearlie will be my
full-time enforcer. I've given him the authority and my full confidence.

     This report will not gather dust. It contains 92 recommendations. Most
are feasible. Some may need further review. I've set a deadline of 6 months
from now for implementation of those recommendations that can move forward
immediately. And I want to state very clearly that I will hold everyone in
this room responsible for making sure that Pearlie and his team have
whatever they need to get the job done. I will accept nothing less than full
cooperation. 

     Many changes will take place ahead of the 6-month deadline. Some,
especially where Congress' approval is necessary, may take a little longer.
But there will be no committee to report on the committee's report and make
recommendations on the recommendations. We will simply press forward. 

     Some recommendations address problems we've inherited:


                              -more-
                               -3-

     The action team calls for elimination of the backlog both in program
     and Equal Employment Opportunity complaints within 120 days. While an
     ambitious plan, I'm going to give Pearlie the resources necessary to
     go for it. 

     I've also made all EEO complaints filed before Jan.1 eligible for
     alternative dispute resolution. 

     I've also asked Pearlie to develop a more efficient process, so we can
     resolve future disputes in a more timely, respectful and fair manner.

     We also need to address more seriously the challenges facing small and
socially disadvantaged farmers:

     We'll take aggressive action to minimize the loss of minority-owned
     farms. I'll issue a permanent policy that suspends foreclosures in
     cases of alleged discrimination -- until the circumstances can be
     reviewed by an independent, diverse team. Pending foreclosures will
     also be halted until the appeal of civil rights complaints are heard.

     We'll establish a national commission on small farms to develop an
     aggressive strategy for keeping this important American tradition
     alive and well in the next century.

     We'll also lay the foundation for a positive, consistent civil rights
environment throughout USDA: 

     All employees will have annual civil rights training.

     We're creating a department-wide workforce planning and recruitment
     effort.

     We'll create an Office of Outreach that will coordinate department-wide efforts to ensure that we reach all the people who need or can
     benefit from our services.
     
     But the most dramatic changes will come from our efforts to reign in
authority. It's the only way to ensure accountability. As I've said many
times before, we have federal civil rights laws for a reason -- everyone in
America has basic rights and should be held to the same high standard in
their treatment of others.

     The most fundamental systemic change is a long time coming. I will
     seek legislative authority to convert all non-federal county positions
     in the Farm Services Agency to federal employee status. That will
     cover everyone who receives their salary from the federal government.
     This action will put us in a better position to bring uniform civil
     rights accountability to these jobs, while preserving what's good
     about our county field structure -- a strong, local USDA presence.

     I'll also seek legislative authority to guarantee that every county
     committee includes a voice for underrepresented groups. Where none are
     elected, two will be appointed. For our field structure to work, it
     must reflect the whole field -- up and down its ranks.

     Here at headquarters, Pearlie -- as acting Assistant Secretary -- will
     have the authority to review the civil rights records of agency heads
     and subcabinet officials to make sure they are held fully accountable
     for their operations. I've told them many times that their record on
     civil rights is as important -- if not more -- than their record on
     any program. Now the performance review process will be revised to
     reflect civil rights as a high priority.

                              -more-


                               -4-

     We'll also establish a civil rights arm of the Office of the General
     Counsel. So we have someone there whose sole purpose is to be the
     legal champion of our civil rights efforts.

     And, we have a civil rights hotline -- 1-800-358-4309. This is a place
     you can call if you feel your civil rights case has not been
     adequately addressed. It's also up and running now for anyone who has
     questions or who would like a copy of this report. 

     Starting at noon today, it can be pulled off the Internet at the USDA
     home page. I encourage everyone to read it.

     The Chinese have a saying,  the journey of a thousand miles starts
with a single step.' We have a long road ahead. We need to get started in
earnest, and no one can sit out this trek. 

     Dr. Martin Luther King said,  Our lives begin to end the day we become
silent about things that matter.' This matters -- perhaps more than anything
else we do in our time as public servants. 

     We have problems that each of us must commit ourselves to healing.
That's the opportunity given to us by this report. It is now our highest
obligation.

     Thank you.
                                #

NOTE: USDA news releases and media advisories are available on the Internet.
Access the USDA Home Page on the World Wide Web at http://www.usda.gov