H.R. 3073 would provide a mechanism for the determination on the merits of the claims of claimants who met the class criteria in a civil action relating to racial discrimination by the Department of Agriculture but who were denied that determination.
Detailed Summary
Pigford Claims Remedy Act of 2007 - Declares that any Pigford claimant (relating to a racial discrimination action against the Department of Agriculture) who has not previously obtained a determination on the merits of a Pigford claim may, in a civil action, obtain that determination.
Asserts that it is Congress' intent that this Act be liberally construed so as to effectuate its remedial purpose of giving a full determination on the merits for each denied Pigford claim.
Directs the Secretary of Agriculture to provide a claimant with a report on farm credit loans made within the claimant's county or adjacent county during a specified period which shall contain information on all accepted applicants (but without any personally identifiable information), including: (1) the applicant's race; (2) the application and loan decision dates; and (3) the location of the office making the loan decision.
Sets forth provisions respecting: (1) expedited claim resolution; and (2) foreclosure limitation.
Defines: (1) "Pigford claimant" as an individual who previously submitted a late-filing request under the consent decree in the case of <i>Pigford v. Glickman </i>(1999); and (2) "Pigford claim" as a discrimination complaint as defined and documented by such consent decree.
Status of the Legislation
Latest Major Action: 4/25/2008: Referred to House subcommittee. Status: Referred to the Subcommittee on Department Operations, Oversight, Nutrition and Forestry.
Points in Favor
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Points Against
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Visitor Comments
Concerned Taxpayer
April 16, 2008, 12:31pm (report abuse)This appears to be another waste of my tax dollars. The Pigford case provided for a very generous settlement and set a deadline for farmers to file claims. Now some want to re-write the settlement. Imagine the tremendous value to attorneys! And, watch out for the precedence this sets when the cases for Hispanics and American Indians get settled with the greedy attorneys.
Advocate
July 8, 2008, 11:00am (report abuse)I believe it should be granted as it was proven that all eligible participants in this settlement were not dully notified to file a claim regarding this matter. Who cares about the tax dollars, this settlement is owed to the farmers who have paid many taxes on their land without proper compensation.
FRAUD FRAUD FRAUD
July 16, 2008, 11:29am (report abuse)I am wondering how 60,000 claims got filed when the Ag census indicates that there were about 29,000 total black farmers in the entire country at that time. To date over 22,000 have been paid. Many of these claimants never farmed a day in their life nor intended to but jumped on the band wagon when they found out they could receive free money because the agency could not prove they didn't farmer (Yes - try proving a double negative) so they automatically received 50K plus 12K for the taxes for never stepping foot on a farm.
walker
September 6, 2008, 8:26am (report abuse)Some farmers did not get this money and it was the ones that did farm and I was one of them. Why don't some of you good people try walking a day in my shoes then you would see how life is for real