The U.S. Senate has finally approved a measure that will fund a $1.15 billion dollar settlement to pay Black Farmers who were discriminated against by the U.S. Department of Agriculture. CNN is reporting that The 1997 Pigford v. Glickman case against the U.S.D.A which was settled out of court 11 years ago under a federal judge's terms would pay qualified farmers up to $50,000 dollars each to settle claims of racial bias.
However, the measure now must go back to the House of Representatives and many hope it will be approved in a lame duck session so it can then be signed into law by President Obama. A number of seats were picked up in the House by self described Tea Party Republicans and it is feared that the measure will not receive the support it needs when the New Congress assume power in January.
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