I 
118TH CONGRESS 
1ST SESSION H. R. 6527 
To enhance civil rights accountability and enforcement in the Department 
of Agriculture, and for other purposes. 
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
NOVEMBER 30, 2023 
Mr. JACKSON of Illinois (for himself, Mr. THOMPSON of Mississippi, Mr. CAR-
TER of Louisiana, Mr. THANEDAR, Mr. COHEN, Ms. TLAIB, Mr. TRONE, 
and Mr. FROST) introduced the following bill; which was referred to the 
Committee on Agriculture 
A BILL 
To enhance civil rights accountability and enforcement in 
the Department of Agriculture, and for other purposes. 
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representa-
tives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, 
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE. 
This Act may be cited as the ‘‘Just USDA Standards 
and Transparency Act of 2023’’ or the ‘‘JUST Act of 
2023’’. 
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SEC. 2. CIVIL RIGHTS ACCOUNTABILITY FOR USDA EM-
PLOYEES. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—The Secretary of Agriculture shall 
ensure that appropriate corrective action is taken with re-
spect to any official or employee of the Department of Ag-
riculture who has been found to have engaged in any of 
the actions, violations, or misconduct referred to in sub-
section (b) while in the course of such official’s or employ-
ee’s employment or in administering a Department of Ag-
riculture program or service— 
(1) in any administrative finding by the Depart-
ment of Agriculture, including any final agency deci-
sion issued by the Assistant Secretary of Agriculture 
for Civil Rights and any civil rights compliance re-
view or misconduct investigation conducted by the 
Department of Agriculture; 
(2) in any Federal administrative or judicial 
proceeding; 
(3) in any settlement with respect to civil 
rights; 
(4) in any audit or investigation conducted by 
the Office of the Inspector General of the Depart-
ment of Agriculture; or 
(5) in any investigation conducted by the Office 
of the Special Counsel. 
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(b) COVERED
ACTIONS, VIOLATIONS, 
OR
MIS-
CONDUCT.—The actions, violations, or misconduct re-
ferred to in this subsection are discriminatory actions, re-
taliatory actions, harassment, civil rights violations, or re-
lated misconduct, including the following: 
(1) Failure to provide a receipt for service in 
accordance with section 2501A(e) of the Food, Agri-
culture, Conservation, and Trade Act of 1990 (7 
U.S.C. 2279–1(e)) to any current or prospective ap-
plicants of, or participants in, Department of Agri-
culture programs. 
(2) Providing an inaccurate receipt for service 
under such section 2501A(e) to any such current or 
prospective applicants or participants. 
(3) Failure to provide appropriate information 
regarding relevant programs and services at the De-
partment of Agriculture, when requested by any 
such current or prospective applicants or partici-
pants. 
(4) Failure to timely process applications or 
otherwise delaying program services to any such cur-
rent or prospective applicants or participants. 
(c) CORRECTIVE ACTION DEFINED.—In this section, 
the term ‘‘corrective action’’ means any action taken to 
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respond to any of the actions, violations, or misconduct 
referred to in subsection (b) that— 
(1) would enhance civil rights at the Depart-
ment of Agriculture, including any policy or pro-
grammatic changes to prevent similar misconduct 
from occurring in the future; and 
(2) may include disciplinary actions, includ-
ing— 
(A) removal from Federal service; 
(B) suspension without pay; 
(C) any reduction in grade or pay; and 
(D) a letter of reprimand. 
SEC. 3. IMPROVEMENTS TO THE OFFICE OF THE ASSISTANT 
SECRETARY FOR CIVIL RIGHTS. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—The Department of Agriculture 
Reorganization Act of 1994 (7 U.S.C. 6912 et seq.) is 
amended by inserting after section 218 (7 U.S.C. 6918) 
the following: 
‘‘SEC. 218A. ASSISTANT SECRETARY OF AGRICULTURE FOR 
CIVIL RIGHTS. 
‘‘(a) ESTABLISHMENT.—The Secretary shall estab-
lish in the Department the position of Assistant Secretary 
of Agriculture for Civil Rights (referred to in this section 
as the ‘Assistant Secretary’). 
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‘‘(b) APPOINTMENT.—The Assistant Secretary shall 
be appointed by the President, by and with the advice and 
consent of the Senate. 
‘‘(c) DUTIES.— 
‘‘(1) IN GENERAL.—The Secretary shall dele-
gate to the Assistant Secretary responsibility for— 
‘‘(A) ensuring compliance with all civil 
rights and related laws by all agencies and 
under all programs of the Department; 
‘‘(B) coordinating administration of civil 
rights laws (including regulations) within the 
Department for employees of, and participants 
in, programs of the Department; and 
‘‘(C) ensuring that necessary and appro-
priate civil rights components are properly in-
corporated into all strategic planning initiatives 
of the Department and agencies of the Depart-
ment. 
‘‘(2) OFFICE
OF
LEGAL
ADVISOR
FOR
CIVIL 
RIGHTS.—Not later than 120 days after the date of 
enactment of this section, the Secretary shall estab-
lish an Office of Legal Advisor for Civil Rights that 
shall— 
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‘‘(A) be the sole office within the Depart-
ment responsible for providing legal advice to 
the Assistant Secretary to— 
‘‘(i) ensure compliance with all civil 
rights and related laws and regulations by 
all agencies and under all programs of the 
Department; and 
‘‘(ii) carry out fair and impartial in-
vestigations of civil rights complaints; 
‘‘(B) report directly to the Assistant Sec-
retary; and 
‘‘(C) not represent or defend the Depart-
ment or any of its agencies with respect to any 
claims of program or employment discrimina-
tion.’’. 
(b) CONFORMING AMENDMENTS.— 
(1) 
ASSISTANT
SECRETARIES
OF
AGRI-
CULTURE.—Section 218 of the Department of Agri-
culture Reorganization Act of 1994 (7 U.S.C. 6918) 
is amended— 
(A) in subsection (a)— 
(i) in paragraph (1), by adding ‘‘and’’ 
at the end; 
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(ii) in paragraph (2), by striking ‘‘; 
and’’ at the end and inserting a period; 
and 
(iii) by striking paragraph (3); 
(B) in subsection (b), by striking ‘‘any po-
sition of Assistant Secretary authorized under 
paragraph (1) or (3) of subsection (a)’’ and in-
serting ‘‘the position of Assistant Secretary of 
Agriculture for Congressional Relations and 
Intergovernmental Affairs under subsection 
(a)(1)’’; and 
(C) by striking subsection (c). 
(2) TERMINATION
OF
AUTHORITY.—Section 
296(b)(5) of the Department of Agriculture Reorga-
nization Act of 1994 (7 U.S.C. 7014(b)(5)) is 
amended to read as follows: 
‘‘(5) The authority of the Secretary to carry out 
section 218A.’’. 
SEC. 4. EQUITABLE RELIEF. 
(a) EQUITABLE RELIEF FROM INELIGIBILITY FOR 
LOANS, PAYMENTS, OR OTHER BENEFITS.—Section 1613 
of the Farm Security and Rural Investment Act of 2002 
(7 U.S.C. 7996) is amended— 
(1) by redesignating subsections (f) through (j) 
as subsections (g) through (k), respectively; 
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(2) by inserting after subsection (e) the fol-
lowing: 
‘‘(f) EQUITABLE RELIEF BY THE ASSISTANT SEC-
RETARY OF AGRICULTURE FOR CIVIL RIGHTS.— 
‘‘(1) IN GENERAL.—The Assistant Secretary of 
Agriculture for Civil Rights (or a designee of the 
Secretary in the Office of the Assistant Secretary for 
Civil Rights, if no Assistant Secretary of Agriculture 
for Civil Rights is appointed and confirmed in ac-
cordance with section 218A(b) of the Department of 
Agriculture Reorganization Act of 1994) may grant 
relief in accordance with subsections (b) through (d) 
to a participant who files a civil rights program com-
plaint. 
‘‘(2) DECISIONS.—The decision by the Assist-
ant Secretary of Agriculture for Civil Rights (or the 
designee of the Secretary) to grant relief under this 
subsection— 
‘‘(A) shall not require prior approval by 
any officer or employee of the Department of 
Agriculture; and 
‘‘(B) is subject to reversal only by the Sec-
retary (who may not delegate the reversal au-
thority). 
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‘‘(3) OTHER AUTHORITY.—The authority pro-
vided to the Assistant Secretary of Agriculture for 
Civil Rights (or the designee of the Secretary) under 
this subsection is in addition to any other applicable 
authority and does not limit other authority provided 
by law or the Secretary.’’; 
(3) in subsection (g), as so redesignated, by 
striking ‘‘or the State Conservationist’’ and inserting 
‘‘the State Conservationist, or the Assistant Sec-
retary of Agriculture for Civil Rights (or the des-
ignee of the Secretary)’’; and 
(4) in paragraph (1) of subsection (h), as so re-
designated, by striking ‘‘and (e)’’ and inserting ‘‘, 
(e), and (f)’’. 
(b) EQUITABLE RELIEF FOR ACTIONS TAKEN IN 
GOOD FAITH.—Section 366 of the Consolidated Farm and 
Rural Development Act (7 U.S.C. 2008a) is amended— 
(1) by amending subsection (b) to read as fol-
lows: 
‘‘(b) LIMITATION.—The Secretary may only provide 
relief to a farmer or rancher under subsection (a) if the 
Secretary determines that the farmer or rancher— 
‘‘(1) acted in good faith and relied on an action 
of, or the advice of, the Secretary (including any au-
thorized representative of the Secretary) to the det-
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riment of the farming or ranching operation of the 
farmer or rancher; or 
‘‘(2) failed to comply fully with the require-
ments to receive a loan described in subsection 
(a)(1), but made a good faith effort to comply with 
the requirements.’’; 
(2) by redesignating subsection (e) as sub-
section (f); 
(3) by inserting after subsection (d) the fol-
lowing: 
‘‘(e) EQUITABLE RELIEF BY THE ASSISTANT SEC-
RETARY OF AGRICULTURE FOR CIVIL RIGHTS.— 
‘‘(1) IN GENERAL.—The Assistant Secretary of 
Agriculture for Civil Rights (or a designee of the 
Secretary in the Office of the Assistant Secretary for 
Civil Rights, if no Assistant Secretary of Agriculture 
for Civil Rights is appointed and confirmed in ac-
cordance with section 218A(b) of the Department of 
Agriculture Reorganization Act of 1994) may grant 
relief in accordance with subsections (a) through (d) 
to an individual who files a complaint with respect 
to civil rights regarding a direct farm ownership, op-
erating, or emergency loan under this title. 
‘‘(2) DECISIONS.—The decision by the Assist-
ant Secretary of Agriculture for Civil Rights (or the 
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designee of the Secretary) to grant relief under this 
subsection— 
‘‘(A) shall not require prior approval by 
any officer or employee of the Department of 
Agriculture; and 
‘‘(B) is subject to reversal only by the Sec-
retary (who may not delegate the reversal au-
thority). 
‘‘(3) OTHER AUTHORITY.—The authority pro-
vided to the Assistant Secretary of Agriculture for 
Civil Rights (or the designee of the Secretary) under 
this subsection is in addition to any other applicable 
authority and does not limit other authority provided 
by law or the Secretary.’’; and 
(4) in subsection (f), as so redesignated, by 
striking ‘‘Secretary’’ and inserting ‘‘Secretary, or 
the Assistant Secretary of Agriculture for Civil 
Rights (or the designee of the Secretary),’’. 
SEC. 5. OFFICE OF THE CIVIL RIGHTS OMBUDSPERSON. 
Title III of the Federal Crop Insurance Reform and 
Department of Agriculture Reorganization Act of 1994 (7 
U.S.C. 2231b et seq.) is amended by adding at the end 
the following: 
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‘‘SEC. 310. OFFICE OF THE CIVIL RIGHTS OMBUDSPERSON. 
‘‘(a) IN GENERAL.—Not later than 120 days after 
the date of enactment of this section, the Secretary shall 
establish an Office of the Civil Rights Ombudsperson (in 
this section referred to as the ‘Office’) within the Depart-
ment. The Office shall be independent of Department 
agencies and offices. 
‘‘(b) OMBUDSPERSON DESIGNATION.—The Secretary 
shall designate a Civil Rights Ombudsperson (in this sec-
tion referred to as the ‘Ombudsperson’) for the Office. The 
Ombudsperson shall be considered a senior official of the 
Department and have a background in civil rights enforce-
ment. 
‘‘(c) OFFICE PERSONNEL.—The Ombudsperson shall 
appoint such employees as are necessary to perform the 
functions of the Office and for the administration of the 
Office. 
‘‘(d) FUNCTIONS.—The functions of the Office shall 
be— 
‘‘(1) to assist producers and other customers of 
Department programs in navigating the civil rights 
review process; 
‘‘(2) to ensure that participants (as defined in 
section 271) are aware of the appeals process under 
subtitle H of title II, including informal hearings 
under section 275; 
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‘‘(3) to promote awareness of the Office and its 
responsibilities among producers and other cus-
tomers of Department programs; and 
‘‘(4) to raise issues and concerns with respect 
to, and make recommendations to the Secretary 
about, equitable access or implementation of Depart-
ment programs. 
‘‘(e) ACCESS TO INFORMATION.— 
‘‘(1) IN GENERAL.—Subject to paragraph (2), 
the Secretary shall establish procedures to provide 
the Office access to all departmental records nec-
essary to execute the functions of the Office under 
subsection (d). 
‘‘(2) TIMELINES.—The procedures described in 
paragraph (1) shall include a requirement that re-
quests from the Office for departmental records 
shall be fulfilled not later than 60 days after the re-
quest is made. 
‘‘(f) ANNUAL REPORT.—Beginning not later than 1 
year after the date of the enactment of this section, and 
annually thereafter, the Ombudsperson shall prepare and 
submit to the House Committee on Agriculture and the 
Senate Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry 
a report on— 
‘‘(1) the activities carried out by the Office; and 
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‘‘(2) the findings and recommendations of the 
Office with respect to equitable access or implemen-
tation of Department programs. 
‘‘(g) AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.—There 
is authorized to be appropriated such sums as are nec-
essary to carry out this section for each of fiscal years 
2024 through 2026.’’. 
SEC. 6. BURDEN OF PROOF FOR NATIONAL APPEALS DIVI-
SION HEARINGS. 
Section 277(c)(4) of the Department of Agriculture 
Reorganization Act of 1994 (7 U.S.C. 6997(c)(4)) is 
amended to read as follows: 
‘‘(4) BURDEN
OF
PROOF.—The agency shall 
bear the burden of proving by substantial evidence 
that the adverse decision of the agency was valid.’’. 
Æ 
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