Washington ( CNN ) -- The U.S. Senate failed Thursday to approve nearly $ 5 billion for a settlement between the Agriculture Department and minority farmers reached more than a decade ago , prompting finger pointing by members of both parties and outrage among many black farmers . `` We are very , very , very disappointed that we are just caught up in such a larger political fight in the Senate , where it 's just partisan division , '' said John Boyd , founder and president of the National Black Farmers Association . `` It seems like for the trains leaving the station in the Senate , they manage not to have the black farmers on them , '' Boyd said , calling on President Barack Obama to help break the logjam . The 1997 Pigford v. Glickman case against the U.S. Agriculture Department was settled out of court 11 years ago . Under a federal judge 's terms dating to 1999 , qualified farmers could receive $ 50,000 each to settle claims of racial bias . In July , the House approved a war supplemental bill that included money to pay for the settlement . The attempt to approve the funds Thursday failed in the Senate after Republicans rejected a Democratic unanimous consent agreement to approve the money , with the GOP complaining about how the Democrats planned to pay for the settlement . It was the seventh attempt by the Senate to approve the funds in recent weeks , Boyd said . Prominent members of both parties have voiced support for paying out the settlements . `` Everyone that steps to the microphone says they support the black farmers , '' said Boyd . `` But they ca n't put aside their political bickering so the black farmers can get on with their lives . '' Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid blamed Republicans for the impasse . `` Securing justice for those have been wronged should never be a partisan issue , '' he said in a Thursday statement . `` But that 's exactly what Republicans have made it . '' `` If Republicans can not put aside their obstructionist tactics so that we can settle a non-controversial , non-partisan issue like this , '' Reid said , `` on what will they agree to work with Democrats ? '' Boyd declined to lay blame at the feet of Republicans alone . `` I think one party is just as responsible as the other , '' he said .
The Senate failed to approve nearly $ 5 billion for a settlement with minority farmers . The settlement between the Agriculture Department and minority farmers was reached in 1999 . Prominent members of both parties have voiced support for approving the funds . The National Black Farmers Association blamed both parties for the impasse .