WASHINGTON, D.C. — The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) hosted the inaugural National Equity Summit on Feb. 22, 2024. The event symbolized a significant stride towards the goal of augmenting access to USDA’s programs and services, a commitment that has been significantly bolstered under the Biden-Harris Administration.
The National Equity Summit served as the platform for the USDA Equity Commission’s final report presentation, a culmination of tireless efforts by dedicated, independent individuals, representing diverse spheres of interest. The USDA concurrently released, “A New Path Forward: A Progress Report on the Implementation of the Equity Commission’s Recommendations,” offering an insight into the progress made to date.
Since 2021, under the Biden-Harris Administration, the USDA has actively addressed legacy issues stemming from a historical lack of equitability. “USDA remains committed to charting a future that creates, not diminishes, opportunity,” declared Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack, underlining the Department’s dedication to long-lasting and transformational progress.
The USDA Equity Commission, inaugurated in 2022, has served as a cornerstone in the Department’s ongoing endeavor to improve equity. The Commission, tasked with scrutinizing USDA’s programs and policies, has worked tirelessly to negate systemic discrimination and lift barriers to inclusion.
The Commission’s final report offers a set of 66 actionable recommendations that strive to reduce disparities, enhance racial justice, and promote equity in traditionally underserved communities. The areas of focus range from day-to-day interaction strategies with farmers and ranchers to ensuring equitable nutrition assistance, recognizing immigrants and their families, and strengthening rural economies.
Quick to act, the USDA has already begun implementing recommendations within the Department’s purview, setting in motion an enhancement of its commitment to equity and inclusion. This shift will reshape the Department’s culture, ensuring equal access to resources, addressing the racial wealth gap, and rectifying longstanding inequities in agriculture.
The Equity Commission has also swayed the recently updated USDA Equity Action Plan, a document outlining the steps to ensure that the Department’s resources find their way to the most underserved and needy communities.
“USDA is about the tens of thousands decent hardworking people serving within the Department and the millions served by the Department,” remarked Equity Commission Co-Chair Ertharin Cousin, acknowledging the monumental effort put forth by many.
In continued pursuit of tangible progress, the USDA plans to connect with internal and external stakeholders by hosting a series of regional equity convenings throughout the rest of 2024. These discussions will delve deeper into priority issues and will feature the wide-ranging scope of the USDA’s equity work.
The Equity Commission, authorized and funded by the American Rescue Plan Act and subsequently reauthorized by the Inflation Reduction Act, serves as a hallmark of the Department’s and President Biden’s vision to advance racial equity. The ongoing commitment to this important work continues to shape and improve access to USDA’s key programs and services in a way that is fair and equitable for all.
For more about USDA’s Equity Commission, visit the official Equity Commission website.
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