,i #aai? ,,congress #a/ ,session ,h4 ,r4 #cfhe ,,9 ,,! ,,h\se ,,( ,,repres5tatives ,june #c1 #bjbe,mr4 ,jackson ( ,ill9ois 7= himself & ,mr4 ,?ompson ( ,mississippi7 introduc$ ! foll[+ bill2 :i* 0 ref]r$ to ! ,committee on ,agriculture ,a ,,bill ,to enhance civil rights acc\ntability & en=cem5t 9 ! ,dep>tm5t ( ,agriculture1 & = o!r purposes4 #a4 ,%ort title ,?is ,act may be cit$ z ! ,j ,,usda ,/&>ds & ,transp>5cy ,act ( #bjbe or ! ,,j ,act ( #bjbe4 #b4 ,civil rights acc\ntability = ,,usda employees 7a7 ,9 g5]al ,! ,secret>y ( ,agriculture %all ensure t appropriate corrective action is tak5 ) respect to any (ficial or employee ( ! ,dep>tm5t ( ,agriculture :o has be5 f\nd to h engag$ 9 any ( ! actions1 violations1 or misconduct ref]r$ to 9 subsection 7b7 :ile 9 ! c\rse ( su* (ficial's or employee's employm5t or 9 adm9i/]+ a ,dep>tm5t ( ,agriculture program or s]vice-- 7#a7 9 any adm9i/rative f9d+ by ! ,dep>tm5t ( ,agriculture1 includ+ any f9al ag5cy decision issu$ by ! ,assi/ant ,secret>y ( ,agriculture = ,civil ,rights & any civil rights compliance review or misconduct inve/igation conduct$ by ! ,dep>tm5t ( ,agriculture2 7#b7 9 any ,f$]al adm9i/rative or judicial proce$+2 7#c7 9 any settlem5t ) respect to civil rights2 7#d7 9 any audit or inve/igation conduct$ by ! ,(fice ( ! ,inspector ,g5]al ( ! ,dep>tm5t ( ,agriculture2 or 7#e7 9 any inve/igation conduct$ by ! ,(fice ( ! ,special ,c\nsel4 7b7 ,cov]$ actions1 violations1 or misconduct ,! actions1 violations1 or misconduct ref]r$ to 9 ?is subsection are discrim9atory actions1 retaliatory actions1 h>assm5t1 civil rights violations1 or relat$ misconduct1 includ+ ! foll[+3 7#a7 ,failure to provide a receipt = s]vice 9 accordance ) section #beja;,a7e7 ( ! ,food1 ,agriculture1 ,cons]vation1 & ,trade ,act ( #aiij 7#g ,u4,s4,c4 #bbgi-a7;e77 to any curr5t or prospective applicants (1 or p>ticipants 91 ,dep>tm5t ( ,agriculture programs4 7#b7 ,provid+ an inaccurate receipt = s]vice "u su* section #beja;,a7e7 to any su* curr5t or prospective applicants or p>ticipants4 7#c7 ,failure to provide appropriate in=mation reg>d+ relevant programs & s]vices at ! ,dep>tm5t ( ,agriculture1 :5 reque/$ by any su* curr5t or prospective applicants or p>ticipants4 7#d7 ,failure to timely process applications or o!rwise delay+ program s]vices to any su* curr5t or prospective applicants or p>ticipants4 7c7 ,corrective action def9$ ,9 ?is section1 ! t]m corrective action means any action tak5 to respond to any ( ! actions1 violations1 or misconduct ref]r$ to 9 subsection 7b7 t-- 7#a7 w\ld enhance civil rights at ! ,dep>tm5t ( ,agriculture1 includ+ any policy or programmatic *anges to prev5t simil> misconduct f occurr+ 9 ! future2 & 7#b7 may include discipl9>y actions1 includ+-- 7,a7 removal f ,f$]al s]vice2 7,b7 susp5sion )\t pay2 7,c7 any r$uction 9 grade or pay2 & 7,d7 a lett] ( reprim&4 #c4 ,improvem5ts to ! ,(fice ( ! ,assi/ant ,secret>y = ,civil ,rights 7a7 ,9 g5]al ,! ,dep>tm5t ( ,agriculture ,reorganization ,act ( #aiid 7#g ,u4,s4,c4 #fiab et seq47 is am5d$ by ins]t+ aft] section #bah 7#g ,u4,s4,c4 #fiah7 ! foll[+3 #bah;,a4 ,assi/ant ,secret>y ( ,agriculture = ,civil ,rights 7a7 ,e/abli%m5t ,! ,secret>y %all e/abli% 9 ! ,dep>tm5t ! position ( ,assi/ant ,secret>y ( ,agriculture = ,civil ,rights 7ref]r$ to 9 ?is section z ! ,assi/ant ,secret>y74 7b7 ,appo9tm5t ,! ,assi/ant ,secret>y %all be appo9t$ by ! ,presid5t1 by & ) ! advice & cons5t ( ! ,s5ate4 7c7 ,duties 7#a7 ,9 g5]al ,! ,secret>y %all delegate to ! ,assi/ant ,secret>y responsibility =-- 7,a7 ensur+ compliance ) all civil rights & relat$ laws by all ag5cies & "u all programs ( ! ,dep>tm5t2 7,b7 coord9at+ adm9i/ration ( civil rights laws 7includ+ regulations7 )9 ! ,dep>tm5t = employees (1 & p>ticipants 91 programs ( ! ,dep>tm5t2 & 7,c7 ensur+ t necess>y & appropriate civil rights compon5ts are prop]ly incorporat$ into all /rategic plann+ initiatives ( ! ,dep>tm5t & ag5cies ( ! ,dep>tm5t4 7#b7 ,(fice ( ,legal ,advisor = ,civil ,rights ,n lat] ?an #abj days aft] ! date ( enactm5t ( ?is section1 ! ,secret>y %all e/abli% an ,(fice ( ,legal ,advisor = ,civil ,rights t %all-- 7,a7 be ! sole (fice )9 ! ,dep>tm5t responsible = provid+ legal advice to ! ,assi/ant ,secret>y to-- 7i7 ensure compliance ) all civil rights & relat$ laws & regulations by all ag5cies & "u all programs ( ! ,dep>tm5t2 & 7ii7 c>ry out fair & imp>tial inve/igations ( civil rights compla9ts2 7,b7 report directly to ! ,assi/ant ,secret>y2 & 7,c7 n repres5t or def5d ! ,dep>tm5t or any ( its ag5cies ) respect to any claims ( program or employm5t discrim9ation4 4 7b7 ,con=m+ am5dm5ts 7#a7 ,assi/ant ,secret>ies ( ,agriculture ,section #bah ( ! ,dep>tm5t ( ,agriculture ,reorganization ,act ( #aiid 7#g ,u4,s4,c4 #fiah7 is am5d$-- 7,a7 9 subsection 7a7-- 7i7 9 p>agraph 7#a71 by add+ & at ! end2 7ii7 9 p>agraph 7#b71 by /rik+ 2 & at ! end & ins]t+ a p]iod2 & 7iii7 by /rik+ p>agraph 7#c72 7,b7 9 subsection 7b71 by /rik+ any position ( ,assi/ant ,secret>y au?oriz$ "u p>agraph 7#a7 or 7#c7 ( subsection 7a7 & ins]t+ ! position ( ,assi/ant ,secret>y ( ,agriculture = ,congressional ,relations & ,int]gov]nm5tal ,affairs "u subsection 7a77#a72 & 7,c7 by /rik+ subsection 7c74 7#b7 ,t]m9ation ( au?ority ,section #bif7;b77#e7 ( ! ,dep>tm5t ( ,agriculture ,reorganization ,act ( #aiid 7#g ,u4,s4,c4 #gjad7;b77#e77 is am5d$ to read z foll[s3 7#e7 ,! au?ority ( ! ,secret>y to c>ry out section #bah;,a4 4 #d4 ,equitable relief 7a7 ,equitable relief f ineligibility = loans1 paym5ts1 or o!r b5efits ,section #afac ( ! ,f>m ,security & ,rural ,inve/m5t ,act ( #bjjb 7#g ,u4,s4,c4 #giif7 is am5d$-- 7#a7 by r$esignat+ subsections 7f7 ?r\gh 7j7 z subsections 7g7 ?r\gh 7k71 respectively2 7#b7 by ins]t+ aft] subsection 7e7 ! foll[+3 7f7 ,equitable relief by ! ,assi/ant ,secret>y ( ,agriculture = ,civil ,rights 7#a7 ,9 g5]al ,! ,assi/ant ,secret>y ( ,agriculture = ,civil ,rights 7or a designee ( ! ,secret>y 9 ! ,(fice ( ! ,assi/ant ,secret>y = ,civil ,rights1 if no ,assi/ant ,secret>y ( ,agriculture = ,civil ,rights is appo9t$ & confirm$ 9 accordance ) section #bah;,a7b7 ( ! ,dep>tm5t ( ,agriculture ,reorganization ,act ( #aiid7 may grant relief 9 accordance ) subsections 7b7 ?r\gh 7d7 to a p>ticipant :o files a civil rights program compla9t4 7#b7 ,decisions ,! decision by ! ,assi/ant ,secret>y ( ,agriculture = ,civil ,rights 7or ! designee ( ! ,secret>y7 to grant relief "u ?is subsection-- 7,a7 %all n require prior approval by any (fic] or employee ( ! ,dep>tm5t ( ,agriculture2 & 7,b7 is subject to rev]sal only by ! ,secret>y 7:o may n delegate ! rev]sal au?ority74 7#c7 ,o!r au?ority ,! au?ority provid$ to ! ,assi/ant ,secret>y ( ,agriculture = ,civil ,rights 7or ! designee ( ! ,secret>y7 "u ?is subsection is 9 addition to any o!r applicable au?ority & does n limit o!r au?ority provid$ by law or ! ,secret>y4 2 7#c7 9 subsection 7g71 z s r$esignat$1 by /rik+ or ! ,/ate ,cons]vationi/ & ins]t+ ! ,/ate ,cons]vationi/1 or ! ,assi/ant ,secret>y ( ,agriculture = ,civil ,rights 7or ! designee ( ! ,secret>y72 & 7#d7 9 p>agraph 7#a7 ( subsection 7h71 z s r$esignat$1 by /rik+ & 7e7 & ins]t+ 1 7e71 & 7f74 7b7 ,equitable relief = actions tak5 9 good fai? ,section #cff ( ! ,consolidat$ ,f>m & ,rural ,developm5t ,act 7#g ,u4,s4,c4 #bjjh;a7 is am5d$-- 7#a7 by am5d+ subsection 7b7 to read z foll[s3 7b7 ,limitation ,! ,secret>y may only provide relief to a f>m] or ran*] "u subsection 7a7 if ! ,secret>y det]m9es t ! f>m] or ran*]-- 7#a7 act$ 9 good fai? & reli$ on an action (1 or ! advice (1 ! ,secret>y 7includ+ any au?oriz$ repres5tative ( ! ,secret>y7 to ! detrim5t ( ! f>m+ or ran*+ op]ation ( ! f>m] or ran*]2 or 7#b7 fail$ to comply fully ) ! requirem5ts to receive a loan describ$ 9 subsection 7a77#a71 b made a good fai? ef=t to comply ) ! requirem5ts4 2 7#b7 by r$esignat+ subsection 7e7 z subsection 7f72 7#c7 by ins]t+ aft] subsection 7d7 ! foll[+3 7e7 ,equitable relief by ! ,assi/ant ,secret>y ( ,agriculture = ,civil ,rights 7#a7 ,9 g5]al ,! ,assi/ant ,secret>y ( ,agriculture = ,civil ,rights 7or a designee ( ! ,secret>y 9 ! ,(fice ( ! ,assi/ant ,secret>y = ,civil ,rights1 if no ,assi/ant ,secret>y ( ,agriculture = ,civil ,rights is appo9t$ & confirm$ 9 accordance ) section #bah;,a7b7 ( ! ,dep>tm5t ( ,agriculture ,reorganization ,act ( #aiid7 may grant relief 9 accordance ) subsections 7a7 ?r\gh 7d7 to an individual :o files a compla9t ) respect to civil rights reg>d+ a direct f>m own]%ip1 op]at+1 or em]g5cy loan "u ?is title4 7#b7 ,decisions ,! decision by ! ,assi/ant ,secret>y ( ,agriculture = ,civil ,rights 7or ! designee ( ! ,secret>y7 to grant relief "u ?is subsection-- 7,a7 %all n require prior approval by any (fic] or employee ( ! ,dep>tm5t ( ,agriculture2 & 7,b7 is subject to rev]sal only by ! ,secret>y 7:o may n delegate ! rev]sal au?ority74 7#c7 ,o!r au?ority ,! au?ority provid$ to ! ,assi/ant ,secret>y ( ,agriculture = ,civil ,rights 7or ! designee ( ! ,secret>y7 "u ?is subsection is 9 addition to any o!r applicable au?ority & does n limit o!r au?ority provid$ by law or ! ,secret>y4 2 & 7#d7 9 subsection 7f71 z s r$esignat$1 by /rik+ ,secret>y & ins]t+ ,secret>y1 or ! ,assi/ant ,secret>y ( ,agriculture = ,civil ,rights 7or ! designee ( ! ,secret>y714 #e4 ,(fice ( ! ,civil ,rights ,ombudsp]son ,title ,,iii ( ! ,f$]al ,crop ,insurance ,re=m & ,dep>tm5t ( ,agriculture ,reorganization ,act ( #aiid 7#g ,u4,s4,c4 #bbca;b et seq47 is am5d$ by add+ at ! end ! foll[+3 #caj4 ,(fice ( ! ,civil ,rights ,ombudsp]son 7a7 ,9 g5]al ,n lat] ?an #abj days aft] ! date ( enactm5t ( ?is section1 ! ,secret>y %all e/abli% an ,(fice ( ! ,civil ,rights ,ombudsp]son 79 ?is section ref]r$ to z ! ,(fice7 )9 ! ,dep>tm5t4 ,! ,(fice %all be indep5d5t ( ,dep>tm5t ag5cies & (fices4 7b7 ,ombudsp]son designation ,! ,secret>y %all designate a ,civil ,rights ,ombudsp]son 79 ?is section ref]r$ to z ! ,ombudsp]son7 = ! ,(fice4 ,! ,ombudsp]son %all be consid]$ a s5ior (ficial ( ! ,dep>tm5t & h a backgr\nd 9 civil rights en=cem5t4 7c7 ,(fice p]sonnel ,! ,ombudsp]son %all appo9t su* employees z are necess>y to p]=m ! functions ( ! ,(fice & = ! adm9i/ration ( ! ,(fice4 7d7 ,functions ,! functions ( ! ,(fice %all be-- 7#a7 to assi/ produc]s & o!r cu/om]s ( ,dep>tm5t programs 9 navigat+ ! civil rights review process2 7#b7 to ensure t p>ticipants 7z def9$ 9 section #bga7 are aw>e ( ! appeals process "u subtitle ,h ( title ,,ii1 includ+ in=mal he>+s "u section #bge2 7#c7 to promote aw>5ess ( ! ,(fice & its responsibilities among produc]s & o!r cu/om]s ( ,dep>tm5t programs2 & 7#d7 to raise issues & conc]ns ) respect to1 & make recomm5dations to ! ,secret>y ab\t1 equitable access or implem5tation ( ,dep>tm5t programs4 7e7 ,access to in=mation 7#a7 ,9 g5]al ,subject to p>agraph 7#b71 ! ,secret>y %all e/abli% proc$ures to provide ! ,(fice access to all dep>tm5tal records necess>y to execute ! functions ( ! ,(fice "u subsection 7d74 7#b7 ,timel9es ,! proc$ures describ$ 9 p>agraph 7#a7 %all include a requirem5t t reque/s f ! ,(fice = dep>tm5tal records %all be fulfill$ n lat] ?an #fj days aft] ! reque/ is made4 7f7 ,annual report ,beg9n+ n lat] ?an #a ye> aft] ! date ( ! enactm5t ( ?is section1 & annually !reaft]1 ! ,ombudsp]son %all prep>e & submit to ! ,h\se ,committee on ,agriculture & ! ,s5ate ,committee on ,agriculture1 ,nutrition1 & ,=e/ry a report on-- 7#a7 ! activities c>ri$ out by ! ,(fice2 & 7#b7 ! f9d+s & recomm5dations ( ! ,(fice ) respect to equitable access or implem5tation ( ,dep>tm5t programs4 7g7 ,au?orization ( appropriations ,!re is au?oriz$ to be appropriat$ su* sums z are necess>y to c>ry out ?is section = ea* ( fiscal ye>s #bjbf ?r\gh #bjbh4 4 #f4 ,burd5 ( pro( = national appeals division he>+s ,section #bgg7;c77#d7 ( ! ,dep>tm5t ( ,agriculture ,reorganization ,act ( #aiid 7#g ,u4,s4,c4 #fiig7;c77#d77 is am5d$ to read z foll[s3 7#d7 ,burd5 ( pro( ,! ag5cy %all be> ! burd5 ( prov+ by sub/antial evid5ce t ! adv]se decision ( ! ag5cy 0 valid4 4