Chairman Edolphus "Ed" Towns D-N.Y. (10th CD), will hold a hearing to review the management of civil rights issues at the U.S. Department of Agriculture on Wednesday, May 14, 2008 at 2:00 p.m. in Room 2154 of the Rayburn House Office Building. The Subcommittee on Government Management, Committee on Oversight and Government Reform will hear testimony that USDA has made little progress over the past five years in resolving longstanding issues of discrimination against minority and women farmers and employees. "The number of complaints regarding treatment of minority farmers, accusations of mismanagement and overall denials for relief and assistance are alarming," said Congressman Towns. "Now is the time to analyze disparity in treatment of minority and women farmers, such as the issues with crop and disaster payment programs and the process involved in obtaining critical assistance to assure the sustained viability of all farmers."