OFFICE OF THE SECRETARY ISSUES RULE: REMOVAL OF UNCONSTITUTIONAL PREFERENCES BASED ON RACE AND SEX IN RESPONSE TO COURT RULING

WASHINGTON, July 10 -- Office of the Secretary has issued a rule called: Removal of Unconstitutional Preferences Based on Race and Sex in Response to Court Ruling.

The rule was published in the Federal Register on July 10 by Ralph A. Linden, Acting General Counsel, Office of the General Counsel.

Summary: The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) has independently determined that it will no longer employ the race- and sex-based "socially disadvantaged" designation to provide increased benefits based on race and sex in the programs at issue in this regulation.The USDA has faced a long history of litigation stemming from allegations of discrimination in the administration of its farm loan and benefit programs. However, over the past several ...