|
Source: USDA, 9/24/21
The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) today announced it will establish an Equity Commission and is requesting nominations for membership on the Equity Commission Advisory Committee and Equity Commission Subcommittee on Agriculture. The Notice represents an important step towards implementing President Biden’s commitment to create an Equity Commission and the American Rescue Plan Act provision that directs USDA to "address historical discrimination and disparities in the agriculture sector… [through] one or more equity commissions to address racial equity issues within USDA and its programs."“USDA is committed to advancing equity throughout our Department,” said Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack. “The Equity Commission is an important step in dismantling barriers historically underserved communities have faced in accessing USDA programs and services, especially with regard to access and inclusion in USDA agricultural programs and services. The Equity Commission will be an invaluable advisor on USDA’s continuing march towards justice and equity; we look forward to receiving a wide-ranging and diverse set of nominations from the public to serve on this transformational commission.” “Today truly is a historic day at USDA. We are serious about our efforts to end discrimination across all areas of the Department and to improving access to services for key stakeholders,” said Deputy Secretary Jewel Bronaugh. “The American Rescue Plan supports USDA’s effort to address equity issues through the creation of an Equity Commission; we understand the importance of involving the public in this process of continuing to build trust among our customers and ensure fair and equitable programming, benefits, and services.” The Equity Commission
will advise the Secretary of Agriculture by identifying USDA programs,
policies, systems, structures, and practices that contribute to barriers to
inclusion or access, systemic discrimination, or exacerbate or perpetuate
racial, economic, health and social disparities. The Subcommittee on
Agriculture will be formed concurrently and will report back to the Equity
Commission and provide recommendations on issues of concern related to
agriculture. Subsequent subcommittees will focus on other policy areas, such as
rural community and economic development. The Equity Commission will deliver an
interim report and provide actionable recommendations no later than 12 months
after inception. A final report will be generated within a two-year timeframe. USDA is soliciting
nominations to consider membership on both the Equity Commission and the
Subcommittee on Agriculture. Both seek to reflect a diversity in demographics,
regions of the country, background, and in experience and expertise. The Equity
Commission and Subcommittee on Agriculture will require substantial
representation from those whose mission is to serve or advocate for underserved
communities, minorities, women, individuals with disabilities, individuals with
limited English proficiency, rural communities, and LGBTQI+ communities. Other perspectives
to capture include those from the small business community, higher education
institutions, farmworker groups, and members of the American population and
communities who bring their personal experiences to the discussion. Nomination for the Equity
Commission and the Subcommittee on Agriculture membership is open to the public
and any interested person or organization may nominate qualified individuals
for membership. The Equity Commission and the Subcommittee on Agriculture will
each be comprised of 15 members. The Deputy and the Secretary will designate a
Co-Chair to serve along with the Deputy Secretary as co-chairs of the Equity
Commission. President Biden signed an Executive Order On Advancing Racial Equity and Support for Underserved Communities Through the Federal Government and committed to creating an
Equity Commission as part of his rural agenda and commitment to closing the
racial wealth gap and addressing longstanding inequities in agriculture. Section 1006 of the American Rescue Plan directed USDA to create the
Equity Commission and funded the effort along with an additional $1 billion in
funding to support forward-looking activities that will advance equity and
opportunity for historically underserved farmers, ranchers, forest land owners.
The funding will be utilized to remove gaps that currently exist in USDA
program benefits, improve access to resources, and restore trust and confidence
in the Department for groups that have not had equal access to such resources
through a combination of grants, loans, pilot programs, technical assistance,
cooperative agreements, and more. In June, USDA published a Request for Information on Racial Justice and Equity and held over 15
hours of listening sessions with a wide-range of stakeholders to learn about
experiences and receive feedback about its programs and services. The
information collected will serve as a strong foundation for both the Equity
Commission and to ensure these funds are deployed effectively and in response
to the needs and priorities of underserved communities. #
|