Claims Resolution Act of 2010

Ms. SCHAKOWSKY. Madam Speaker, I rise today to express my sincere happiness that the House of Representatives passed by a vote of 256-152, the Claims Resolution Act. I regret that I was unable to vote on this landmark legislation and would like the record to reflect that had I been able to vote, I would have voted yea.

The Claims Resolution Act includes provisions that many black farmers and American Indians have literally been waiting decades for. H.R. 4783 contains funding to implement the settlements of the Pigford class action lawsuit involving past discrimination against black fanners by the Agriculture Department and the Cobell class action lawsuit involving funds for American Indians mismanaged by the Interior Department.

I voted for this legislation twice earlier this year as the House has passed funding for the Pigford and Cobell settlement--first in passing the American Jobs and Closing Tax Loopholes Act and then in adopting an amendment to the FY 2010 Supplemental--but both bills were blocked by Republicans in the Senate.

That is why I am so pleased that Senate was finally able to pass this important legislation and now, with passage in the House, it will go to the President's desk for signature, finally closing this dark episode in American history.

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