EEOC Form 715-01 FY 2004 Report
Executive Summary
Department’s Mission and Mission-Related Functions
The mission of the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) is to
provide leadership on food, agriculture, natural resources, and related
issues based on sound public policy, the best available science, and
efficient management.
The Department’s major programmatic policies and objectives are to:
• Expand markets for agricultural products and support
international economic development;
• Further develop alternative markets for agricultural products
and activities;
• Provide financing needed to help expand job opportunities and
improve housing, utilities, and infrastructure in Rural America;
• Enhance food safety by taking steps to reduce the prevalence of
foodborne hazards from farm to table;
• Improve nutrition and health by providing food assistance and
nutrition education and promotion; and
• Manage and protect America’s public and private lands working
cooperatively with other levels of government and the private
sector.
Summary of Department’s Self-Assessment (Parts G
and H)
In Part G of MD-715, the essential elements of a model EEO agency
are defined in the form of a checklist of 122 measurement items
subdivided into 6 categories. USDA has determined that improvement
in its operations could be achieved in 18 of the measures, in 5 of the 6
categories. The proposed planned activities to achieve progress on
these 18 items, as presented in Part H of this report, are stated below.
A. Demonstrated commitment from agency leadership
Send a memorandum to each Mission Area Personnel Office reminding
the offices to provide a copy of USDA’s EEO policy statement:
• To new employees, and
• To employees promoted into the supervisory ranks.
1
1
Send a memorandum to all agency heads, staff directors, Civil Rights
directors, and Human Resources directors reminding them of the
requirement under Departmental Regulation (DR) 4300-6 that a
separate critical civil rights p