§ 6934. Office of Advocacy and Outreach
(a)
Definitions
In this section:
(b)
Establishment and purpose
(c)
Duties
The duties of the Office shall be to ensure small farms and ranches, beginning farmers or ranchers, and socially disadvantaged farmers or ranchers access to, and equitable participation in, programs and services of the Department by—
(1)
establishing and monitoring the goals and objectives of the Department to increase participation in programs of the Department by small, beginning, or socially disadvantaged farmers or ranchers;
(3)
developing and implementing a plan to coordinate outreach activities and services provided by the Department;
(d)
Socially disadvantaged farmers group
(1)
Establishment
The Secretary shall establish within the Office the Socially Disadvantaged Farmers Group.
(3)
Socially disadvantaged farmers and farmworkers
The Socially Disadvantaged Farmers Group shall oversee the operations of—
(A)
the Advisory Committee on Minority Farmers established under section 14009 of the Food, Conservation, and Energy Act of 2008; [1] and
(4)
Other duties
(A)
In general
The Socially Disadvantaged Farmers Group may carry out other duties to improve access to, and participation in, programs of the Department by socially disadvantaged farmers or ranchers, as determined by the Secretary.
(B)
Office of Outreach and Diversity
The Office of Advocacy and Outreach shall carry out the functions and duties of the Office of Outreach and Diversity carried out by the Assistant Secretary for Civil Rights as such functions and duties existed immediately before the date of the enactment of this section.
(e)
Small Farms and Beginning Farmers and Ranchers Group
(1)
Establishment
The Secretary shall establish within the Office the Small Farms and Beginning Farmers and Ranchers Group.
(2)
Duties
(A)
Oversee offices
The Small Farms and Beginning Farmers and Ranchers Group shall oversee the operations of the Office of Small Farms Coordination established by Departmental Regulation 9700–1 (August 3, 2006).
(B)
Beginning farmer and rancher development program
The Small Farms and Beginning Farmers and Ranchers Group shall consult with the National Institute for Food and Agriculture on the administration of the beginning farmer and rancher development program established under section
3319f of this title.
(f)
Farmworker Coordinator
(1)
Establishment
The Secretary shall establish within the Office the position of Farmworker Coordinator (referred to in this subsection as the “Coordinator”).
(2)
Duties
The Secretary shall delegate to the Coordinator responsibility for the following:
(B)
Serving as a liaison to community-based nonprofit organizations that represent and have demonstrated experience serving low-income migrant and seasonal farmworkers.
(C)
Coordinating with the Department, other Federal agencies, and State and local governments to ensure that farmworker needs are assessed and met during declared disasters and other emergencies.
(D)
Consulting within the Office and with other entities to better integrate farmworker perspectives, concerns, and interests into the ongoing programs of the Department.
[1] See References in Text note below.