USDA Discrimination Claims Process Opens - WMDT 47 News - Delmarva's Choice

USDA Discrimination Claims Process Opens

DOVER, Del. (AP) - Federal agriculture officials say the claims process has opened for female and Hispanic farmers who allege that the government discriminated against them.
    
The claims process for farmers and ranchers who allege past discrimination by the U.S. Department of Agriculture began Monday and runs through March 25.
    
The claims process offers an alternative to litigation for Hispanic and female farmers and ranchers who can prove that the USDA denied their applications for loan or loan servicing assistance for discriminatory reasons between 1981 and 2000.
    
Among the lawyers representing plaintiffs in the matter is Alexander Pires Jr., who is running for the U.S. Senate from Delaware. Pires, an independent seeking to unseat Democratic incumbent Tom Carper, represented black farmers in a similar discrimination case.

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