Equity Commission (Department of Agriculture)
| Type | Initiative |
|---|---|
| Sponsor Organization | Department of Agriculture |
| Top Organization | Department of Agriculture |
| Creation Legislation | American Rescue Plan Act |
| Website | Website |
| Purpose | The USDA Equity Commission was established to examine USDA's programs, policies, and practices for barriers to equity, providing recommendations to enhance access and advance equity for underserved communities in agriculture and rural development. |
| Program Start | February 2022 |
| Initial Funding | Funded through the American Rescue Plan |
| Duration | Completed in February 2024 |
| Historic | Yes |
The Department of Agriculture (USDA) Equity Commission was tasked with reviewing USDA's operations to identify and recommend solutions for systemic barriers to inclusion and equity, focusing on racial, economic, health, and social disparities within the agricultural sector. It aimed to provide insights and actionable steps to make USDA's services more equitable.
Goals
- Identify barriers within USDA programs that contribute to disparities.
- Provide recommendations to improve USDA's program access, particularly for underserved communities.
- Address historical discrimination and disparities in agriculture.
- Strengthen accountability within USDA concerning equity issues.
Organization
The Equity Commission was an independent advisory body, with its activities coordinated by USDA's Office of the Secretary. It included a diverse membership of experts and stakeholders from various backgrounds. The commission was led by co-chairs, with Arturo Rodríguez and Ertharin Cousin serving in these roles. Funding was provided through legislative allocations from the American Rescue Plan Act.
History
The Equity Commission was created following the American Rescue Plan Act of 2021, which directed USDA to establish such a commission to tackle inequities in agriculture. It was formally launched in February 2022, aiming to deliver recommendations within two years. The commission held several public meetings and listening sessions, culminating in its final report in February 2024, after which its activities concluded.
Funding
The initiative was funded through the provisions of the American Rescue Plan, which allocated sufficient resources for the commission's operations, including staffing and the execution of its mandate to study and recommend changes.
Implementation
The commission's work involved:
- Conducting comprehensive reviews of USDA's programs through public engagements and research.
- Formulating and voting on recommendations in various areas of USDA's operations.
- Delivering interim and final reports with actionable suggestions for USDA.
- The initiative ended upon the release of its final report in February 2024.
Related
External links
References
"USDA Equity Commission". https://www.usda.gov/equity-commission. "USDA Equity Commission Notice of Meeting". https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/2022/02/13/2022-02931/usda-equity-commission-notice-of-meeting. "Some USDA programs have been mired in inequity. A panel's final report offers changes". https://www.npr.org/2024/02/22/1233228468/some-usda-programs-have-been-mired-in-inequity-a-panels-final-report-offers-chan.