12 2 STA T . 221 3PUBLIC LA W 11 0– 2 46—J U NE 1 8, 2008 ‘ ‘ (i)smal l f a r msa nd ran che s
‘‘(ii) b e g inning farmers o r ranchers; and ‘‘(iii) sociall y disad v an t aged farmers or ranchers . ‘‘( 2 ) DIRECTO R. —T he O ffice shall be headed by a Director , tobea p pointed by the S ecretary from among the competitive service. ‘‘(c) D U TIE S .—The d u ties of the Office shall be to ensure small farms and ranches, beginning farmers or ranchers, and socially disadvantaged farmers or ranchers access to, and e q uitable partici - pation in, programs and services of the Department by— ‘‘( 1 ) establishing and monitoring the goals and ob j ectives of the Department to increase participation in programs of the Department by small, beginning, or socially disadvantaged farmers or ranchers; ‘‘(2) assessing the effectiveness of Department outreach programs; ‘‘( 3 ) developing and implementing a plan to coordinate out- reach activities and services provided by the Department; ‘‘( 4 ) providing input to the agencies and offices on pro- grammatic and policy decisions; ‘‘( 5 ) measuring outcomes of the programs and activities of the Department on small farms and ranches, beginning farmers or ranchers, and socially disadvantaged farmers or ranchers programs; ‘‘( 6 ) recommending ne w initiatives and programs to the Secretary; and ‘‘( 7 ) carrying out any other related duties that the Secretary determines to be appropriate. ‘‘(d) SOCI AL L Y DISA DV A N TA G ED F AR M ERS G ROU P .— ‘‘(1) E STA B LIS H MENT.—The Secretary shall establish within the Office the Socially Disadvantaged Farmers Group. ‘‘(2) OUTREACH AND ASSISTANCE.—The Socially Disadvan- taged Farmers Group— ‘‘( A ) shall carry out section 25 0 1 of the Food, Agri- culture, C onservation, and Trade Act of 1 9 90 (7 U .S.C. 2279); and ‘‘( B ) in the case of activities described in section 2501(a) of that Act, may conduct such activities through other agencies and offices of the Department. ‘‘(3) SOCIALLY DISADVANTAGED F ARMERS AND FARM- W OR K ERS.—The Socially Disadvantaged Farmers Group shall oversee the operations of— ‘‘(A) the Advisory Committee on M inority Farmers established under section 14009 of the Food, Conservation, and Energy Act of 200 8
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‘‘(B) the position of Farmwor k er Coordinator estab- lished under subsection (f). ‘‘(4) OTHER DUTIES.— ‘‘(A) I N 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 deter- mined 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 R ights as such
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