SEC. 2. ANTI-DISCRIMINATION POLICIES. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—Notwithstanding any other provi-
sion of law, the Secretary of Agriculture (or any officer, 
employee, or other designee of the Secretary) (referred to 
in this Act as the ‘‘Secretary’’) shall not— 
(1) intentionally discriminate against, or grant 
a preference to, any person or group based in whole 
or in part on race, color, national origin, or sex, in 
connection with any contract or subcontract entered 
into by the Secretary, award made by the Secretary, 
employment with the Department of Agriculture, or 
any other program or activity carried out by the 
Secretary; or 
(2) require, direct, or encourage any entity 
under a contract or subcontract withe Secretary, or 
the recipient of a license issued by the Secretary or 
financial assistance provided under a program ad-
ministered by the Secretary, to discriminate inten-
tionally against, or grant a preference to, any person 
or group based in whole or in part on race, color, 
national origin, or sex, in connection with such a 
contract, subcontract, license, or financial assistance. 
(b) STATES, TERRITORIES, AND PRIVATE ENTI-
TIES.—A State, territory, or private entity (including in-
stitutions of higher education (as defined in section 101 
of the Higher Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 1001)) 
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that receives financial assistance through a program ad-
ministered by the Secretary shall not, as a condition of 
receiving such funding, discriminate against, or grant a 
preference to, any person or group based in whole or in 
part on race, color, national origin, or sex— 
(1) in connection with any grant, activity, 
project, contract (or subcontract) carried out using 
such funds, including the salaries and expenses of 
any employees paid using such funds; or 
(2) with respect to determining admission to 
any such institution of higher education. 
(c) CERTAIN SEX-BASED CLASSIFICATIONS.—Noth-
ing in subsection (a) or (b) shall be construed as prohib-
iting or limiting any classification based on sex if— 
(1) the classification is applied with respect to 
employment; and 
(2) the classification would be exempt from the 
prohibitions of title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 
1964 (42 U.S.C. 2000a et seq.) by reason of section 
703(e)(1) of such Act (42 U.S.C. 2000e–2(e)(1)). 
(d) CIVIL ACTION.— 
(1) IN GENERAL.—Any person who is aggrieved 
by conduct prohibited by subsection (a) or (b), may 
commence a civil action in the appropriate district 
court of the United States to obtain appropriate re-
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lief (which may include back pay), against Secretary 
or a State, territory, or private entity referred to in 
subsection (b). 
(2) DAMAGES.—A prevailing plaintiff in a civil 
action under paragraph (1) may recover reasonable 
attorney’s fees. 
(3) EFFECT
ON
OTHER
LAW.—The remedies 
available to a plaintiff pursuant to a civil action 
under paragraph (1) shall not affect any remedy 
available to such a plaintiff under any other State 
or Federal law. 
Æ 
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