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WASHINGTON (AP) - The Obama administration intends to seek resolution to a lawsuit filed by American Indian farmers who alleged discrimination in the granting of federal agricultural loans over three decades.
The lawsuit, filed in 1999, contends Indian farmers and ranchers lost about $500 million during the past three decades because of discrimination in lending from the Agriculture Department's Farm Service Agency. The agency issues loans to farmers and ranchers who cannot get credit from commercial lenders.
Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack told Indian farmers and ranchers during a meeting Thursday that the department was "committed to resolving" litigation involving them.
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