Rural Development

Guidance for the Utilization of the USDA Nondiscrimination Statement

Full Nondiscrimination Statement 

In accordance with Federal civil rights law and U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) civil rights regulations and policies, the USDA, its Agencies, offices, and employees, and institutions participating in or administering USDA programs are prohibited from discriminating based on race, color, national origin, religion, sex, gender identity (including gender expression), sexual orientation, disability, age, marital status, family/parental status, income derived from a public assistance program, political beliefs, or reprisal or retaliationfor prior civil rights activity, in any program or activity conducted or funded by USDA (not all bases apply to all programs). Remedies and complaint filing deadlines vary by program or incident.

Persons with disabilities who require alternative means of communication for program information (e.g., Braille, large print, audiotape, American Sign Language, etc.) should contact the responsible Agency or USDA’s TARGET Center at (202) 720-2600 (voice and TTY) or contact USDA through the Federal Relay Service at (800) 877-8339.  Additionally, program information may be made available in languages other than English.

To file a program discrimination complaint, complete the USDA Program Discrimination Complaint Form, AD-3027, found online at

http://www.ascr.usda.gov/complaint   filing   cust.html and at any USDA office or write .a letter addressed to USDA and provide in the letter all of the information requested in the form.  To request a copy of the complaint form, call (866) 632-9992.  Submit your completed form or letter to USDA by:

(1)            mail: U.S. Department of Agriculture

Office of the Assistant Secretary for Civil Rights 1400 Independence Avenue, SW

Washington, D.C. 20250-9410;

(2)            fax: (202) 690-7442; or

 

USDA is an equal opportunity provider, employer, and lender.

Spanish Translation

De acuerdo con la ley federal de derechos civiles y las reglamentaciones y politicas de derechos civiles de! Departamento de Agricultura de Estados Unidos (U.S. Department of Agriculture, USDA), se prohibe al USDA, sus agencias, oficinas y empleados, e instituciones que participan o administran las programas del USDA, discriminar por motivos de raza, color, origen nacional, religion, genero, identidad de genero (incluidas las expresiones de

genera), orientaci6n sexual, discapacidad, edad, estado civil, estado familiar/parental,  ingresos derivados de un programa de asistencia publica, creencias polfticas, o reprimendas o represalias por actividades previas sobre derechos civiles, en cualquier programa o actividad llevados a cabo o financiados por el USDA (no todas las bases se aplican a todos los programas).  Las fechas Iimite para la presentaci6n de remedies y denuncias varian seglin el programa o el incidente.

Las personas con discapacidades que requieran medias altemativos de comunicaci6n para obtener informaci6n sobre el programa (por ej., Braille, letra grande, cinta de audio, lenguaje americano de sefias, etc.) deberan comunicarse con la Agencia responsable o con el Centro TARGET del USDA al (202) 720-2600 (voz y TTY) o comunicarse con el USDA a traves del Servicio Federal de Transmisiones al (800) 877-8339.  Asimismo, se puede disponer de informaci6n del programa en otros idiomas ademas de ingles.

Para presentar una denuncia por discriminaci6n en el programa, complete el Formulario de denuncias por discriminaci6n en el programa del USDA, AD-3027, que se encuentra en linea en http://www.ascr.usda.gov/complaint    filing   cust.html, o en cualquier oficina del USDA, o escriba una carta dirigida al USDA e incluya en la carta toda la informaci6n solicitada en el formulario.  Para solicitar una copia del formulario de denuncias, 11ame al (866) 632-9992.

Envie su formulario completado o su carta al USDA por los siguientes medias:

  • correo: S.. Department of Agriculture,

Office of the Assistant Secretary for Civil Rights, 1400 Independence Avenue, SW

Washington, D.C. 20250-9410;

(2)             fax: (202) 690-7442; o

(3)             correo  electr6nico:  program.intake@usda.gov.

El Departamento de Agricultura de Estados Unidos (USDA) es un proveedor, empleador y

prestador que ofrece igualdad de oportunidades.

When/Where to use the Full Statement? The full USDA Nondiscrimination Statement must  be posted in all RD offices in public view. Additionally, the full statement must be included on all materials produced by RD for public information, public education or public dissemination, unless the size of the material is too small to include the full statement (see Short Nondiscrimination Statement). All RD webpages must include a link to the full statement posted on the USDA homepage.

Recipients of RD program assistance shall post the full USDA Nondiscrimination Statement in all recipient offices and include, in full, on all print and non-print materials, unless the size of the material is too small to include the full statement (see Short Nondiscrimination Statement).

 

Short Nondiscrimination Statement

“USDA is an equal opportunity provider, employer, and lender.” Where appropriate, a recipient may state:

“This institution is an equal opportunity provider.”

Spanish Translation

“El Departamento de Agricultura de Estados Unidos (USDA) es un proveedor, empleador y prestador que ofrece igualdad de oportunidades.”

Where appropriate, a recipient may state:

“Esta instituci6n es un proveedor de servicios con igualdad de oportunidades.”

When/Where to use the Short Statement? The short statement should be used if the material is too small to permit the inclusion of the full USDA Nondiscrimination Statement. The statement should be in the same print size as the text of the material.

Similarly, if an audio or video presentation does not lend itself to include the full statement, the presentation shall, in a conspicuous and meaningful manner, include the short statement.