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Federal GLOBE-Gay,Lesbian,and Bisexual Employees of the Federal Government |
| DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE OFFICE OF THE SECRETARY WASHINGTON, D.C. 20250 |
Civil Rights Policy Statement |
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President Abraham Lincoln founded the United States Department of Agriculture in 1862 to serve the people of this Nation. Today, nearly 150 years later, USDA employees are among the finest public servants, committed to ensuring that every customer and colleague is treated with fairness, equality, and respect. As your Secretary, I am firmly committed to ensuring USDA's compliance with civil rights and equal employment opportunity for everyone regardless of race, color, national origin, gender, religion, age, disability, sexual orientation, marital or family status, political beliefs, parental status, or protected genetic information. There is no principle more important. We must comply with every aspect of our Nation's civil rights laws. To do otherwise is simply not acceptable and will not be tolerated. As public servants, we cannot be effective without being fair. We cannot be responsive without being respectful. We cannot deliver programs and services without being sensitive to the human issues that are so much a part of our work. Our adherence to these principles also requires a swift, reasonable, and credible process for addressing and remedying deficiencies. It must also include consistent education and outreach to ensure civil rights are protected, our laws are enforced, and discrimination in any form is prevented. This must be our passion and our vision. We must continue to strive for a workplace and society that are inclusive and respectful of differences, while working toward unity and harmony. Our actions must always speak louder than words. With your help and commitment, and using our collective best efforts across every agency and every office, we can reach new heights. Together, we can create a better workplace for all employees, and a Department that delivers programs and services to all people fairly and with integrity and equality. I look forward to fulfilling this vision -our goals -together. /s/Ann M. Veneman
Ann M. Veneman |
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United States Department of Agriculture Office of the Secretary Washington, DC 20250 |
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As Secretary of Agriculture, I am committed to ensuring the civil rights of USDA's customers and employees. Every customer and every employee must be treated fairly and equitably and with dignity and respect. There are no exceptions. There are no excuses. This is a "one-size-fits-all" policy ¾ for all our customers and all our employees ¾ regardless of race, color, national origin, gender, religion, age, disability, political beliefs, sexual orientation, and marital or family status. Our employees have an enormous role in maintaining a positive, equal opportunity environment. We have a moral and a legal obligation to treat our colleagues and customers with respect and with courtesy. USDA employees ¾ from my office in Washington or in one of our field offices ¾ must commit to uphold this policy. I hold my subcabinet, agency heads, and managers all responsible for civil rights at the Department Reprisal of any kind against employees or customers will not be tolerated. In fact, putting it in the strongest terms possible, at USDA there will be a zero tolerance policy for retaliation of any kind. By our words and actions, each of us must demonstrate a commitment to equal opportunity for all individuals. Further, to be successful as a Department, we must embrace and value diversity and strengthen our commitment to an equitable and discrimination-free workplace. Only by working together and by living up to the letter and the spirit of this policy can USDA be called the "People's Department." |
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/s/ |