Landrieu wants funds approved for black farmers
NEW ORLEANS (AP) — U.S. Sen. Mary Landrieu is calling on Congress to approve a $1.15 billion deal with black farmers that could end a years-long stalemate over alleged racial discrimination by the Agriculture Department.
Landrieu says the settlement isn't "just about correcting past wrongs — it is about ensuring future prosperity."
She said black farmers need the money to help them weather the economic downturn.
If approved by Congress, the deal would be the second round of damages stemming from a class-action lawsuit the government originally settled in 1999. The new money is intended for people who were denied earlier payments because they missed deadlines for filing.
Landrieu, on Wednesday, said that 985 farmers in Louisiana have filed eligible claims.
