President Barack Obama signs the Claims Resolution Act of 2010 in the South Court Auditorium of the Eisenhower Executive Office Building, December 8
Last month: The U.S. Senate approved a $1.15 billion measure to fund a settlement initially reached between the Agriculture Department and minority farmers more than a decade ago.
The 1997 Pigford v. Glickman case against the U.S. Agriculture Department was settled out of court 11 years ago. Under a federal judge’s terms dating to 1999, qualified farmers could receive $50,000 each to settle claims of racial bias.
Officials are still working to resolve similar discrimination lawsuits filed against the U.S. Department of Agriculture by women and Latino farmers.
The Senate also cleared – in the same piece of legislation – $3.4 billion to fund a separate settlement reached with the Department of Interior for the mishandling of a trust fund managed for Native Americans. The bill also includes settlements for four water-right lawsuits filed by Native American tribes.
Prominent members of both parties have voiced support for paying out the settlements.
The Obama Diary 
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