Civil Rights and Community Outreach | Community Outreach | Policy Statement | Complaint Activity Data |
Compliance Reviews

Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 states that:

No person in the United States shall, on the ground of race, color, or national origin, be excluded from participation in, be denied the benefits of, or be subjected to discrimination under any program or activity receiving Federal financial assistance.

Programs and activities that receive Federal financial assistance from RMA are covered by Title VI and must operate in a non-discriminatory manner. Also, a recipient of RMA funding may not retaliate against any person because he or she opposed an unlawful practice or policy, or made charges, testified or participated in any complaint action under Title VI.

Anyone who believes there has been an act of discriminaton on the basis of race, color or national origin, against any person or group, in a program or activity which receives RMA financial assistance, may file a complaint with the Office of Civil Rights under Title VI. The person or organization filing the complaint need not be a victim of the alleged discrimination but may complain on behalf of another person or group.

RMA handles Civil Rights complaints in accordance with Departmental Regulation 4330-2, "Nondiscrimination in Programs and Activities Receiving Federal Financial Assistance from USDA."

To file a discrimination complaint, call 202-720-5964 (voice and TDD) or write:

USDA, Director, Office of Civil Rights,
Room 326-W, Whitten Building,
14th and Independence Avenue, SW
Washington, DC 20250-9410

USDA Civil Rights Web Site