evidence: Senator Cory Booker (NJ): "In order to address the well-documented history of discrimination over the past century by the USDA against Black farmers, I fought to include $2.2 billion in the Inflation Reduction Act to provide financial assistance to farmers who had suffered because of it," said Senator Booker. "I am pleased that today the USDA announced that this financial assistance has been disbursed to Black farmers and other farmers who were victims of USDA discrimination. This money will be a lifeline to farmers and ranchers across the country who in the past have been unfairly denied access to USDA lending and safety net programs." [...] Representative Shontel Brown (OH-11): "I applaud the work of the USDA and the Biden-Harris Administration in providing financial assistance to farmers and ranchers impacted by past discrimination. This is an important moment in the history of agriculture in America. For centuries, Black and other ethnic minority farmers and ranchers endured discrimination, including from the USDA itself. Being denied even a small loan can mean a lifetime of lost earnings or even the loss of property. Thanks to the Inflation Reduction Act and the commitment of this White House to racial justice, we’ve taken a step in the right direction. As a member of the House Committee on Agriculture, I will continue to fight for Black farmers and endeavor to make agriculture a field where people of all backgrounds can thrive."