Improvements to the Office of the Assistant Secretary for Civil Rights

(a) In general The Department of Agriculture Reorganization Act of 1994 (7 U.S.C. 6912 et seq.) is amended by inserting after section 218 (7 U.S.C. 6918) the following: 218A. Assistant Secretary of Agriculture for Civil Rights (a) Establishment The Secretary shall establish in the Department the position of Assistant Secretary of Agriculture for Civil Rights (referred to in this section as the Assistant Secretary). (b) Appointment The Assistant Secretary shall be appointed by the President, by and with the advice and consent of the Senate. (c) Duties (1) In general The Secretary shall delegate to the Assistant Secretary responsibility for— (A) ensuring compliance with all civil rights and related laws by all agencies and under all programs of the Department; (B) coordinating administration of civil rights laws (including regulations) within the Department for employees of, and participants in, programs of the Department; and (C) ensuring that necessary and appropriate civil rights components are properly incorporated into all strategic planning initiatives of the Department and agencies of the Department. (2) Office of Legal Advisor for Civil Rights Not later than 120 days after the date of enactment of this section, the Secretary shall establish an Office of Legal Advisor for Civil Rights that shall— (A) be the sole office within the Department responsible for providing legal advice to the Assistant Secretary to— (i) ensure compliance with all civil rights and related laws and regulations by all agencies and under all programs of the Department; and (ii) carry out fair and impartial investigations of civil rights complaints; (B) report directly to the Assistant Secretary; and (C) not represent or defend the Department or any of its agencies with respect to any claims of program or employment discrimination.. (b) Conforming amendments (1) Assistant Secretaries of Agriculture Section 218 of the Department of Agriculture Reorganization Act of 1994 (7 U.S.C. 6918) is amended— (A) in subsection (a)— (i) in paragraph (1), by adding and at the end; (ii) in paragraph (2), by striking; and at the end and inserting a period; and (iii) by striking paragraph (3); (B) in subsection (b), by striking any position of Assistant Secretary authorized under paragraph (1) or (3) of subsection (a) and inserting the position of Assistant Secretary of Agriculture for Congressional Relations and Intergovernmental Affairs under subsection (a)(1); and (C) by striking subsection (c). (2) Termination of authority Section 296(b)(5) of the Department of Agriculture Reorganization Act of 1994 (7 U.S.C. 7014(b)(5)) is amended to read as follows: (5) The authority of the Secretary to carry out section 218A..