For Immediate Release
Office of the Press Secretary
April 15, 2003
National Fair Housing Month, 2003
By the President of the United States of America
A Proclamation
The Fair Housing Act was signed on April 11, 1968, just one week
after the assassination of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. This landmark
bill, Title VIII of the Civil Rights Act of 1968, resulted from the
hard work and leadership of Dr. King and others in the civil rights
movement and was an important step toward confronting discrimination
against minorities in housing. As we celebrate the 35th anniversary of
this historic legislation, we reaffirm our commitment to ensuring that
all Americans have equal access to housing.
The Fair Housing Act of 1968 has helped open doors of opportunity
for countless families. Since its passage, America has made
significant progress in achieving equal housing access for all
individuals.
Despite this progress, more work remains in our struggle to achieve
equality and racial justice. Prejudice and discriminatory practices in
housing still exist in America. A recent lending study showed that
minorities continue to receive less information, less assistance, and
less favorable terms and conditions than non-minorities while applying
for home loans. These practices are wrong. As a Nation, and as
individuals, we must be vigilant in responding to discrimination
wherever we find it and ensuring that minority families have access to
housing. With my minority homeownership initiative and its partnership
with the private sector, I have set a goal to increase the number of
minority homeowners by 5.5 million by 2010.
All Americans should know their housing rights, and the Department
of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) is working to increase public
awareness of fair housing laws, including those combating
discrimination in mortgage lending. The 2004 budget request for HUD
includes $50 million for fair housing -- a 9 percent increase over 2003
funding -- with a substantial portion specifically allocated for
increased education and outreach efforts. The Department is also
collaborating with the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation on a
financial education program in minority neighborhoods. In addition,
the HUD, Education, and the Treasury Departments are advancing
initiatives to educate families about homeownership through counseling
programs and financial literacy efforts.
We are also vigilantly enforcing fair housing laws, showing no
tolerance for those who discriminate. The Office of Fair Housing and
Equal Opportunity at HUD is working with private industry and fair
housing and community advocates to promote voluntary compliance and to
ensure that consumers are treated in a lawful, respectful manner. When
warranted, the Department of Justice takes legal action to protect our
citizens from discrimination based on race, color, religion, sex, or
national origin.
Finally, we are working to increase the supply of accessible
housing for citizens with disabilities. HUD continues to aggressively
enforce the law on behalf of people with disabilities, and the
Department is working cooperatively with builders, architects, and
others to provide technical assistance to help construct more
handicapped-accessible housing.
Fair Housing Month provides an opportunity to place special
emphasis on our goal to increase homeownership throughout our country.
Together, we can advance toward a future where all our citizens have
access to a key element of the American Dream -- homeownership.
NOW, THEREFORE, I, GEORGE W. BUSH, President of the United States
of America, by virtue of the authority vested in me by the Constitution
and laws of the United States, do hereby proclaim April 2003 as
National Fair Housing Month. I call upon the people of the United
States to learn more about their rights and responsibilities under the
Fair Housing Act and the roles they can individually and collectively
play to combat housing discrimination.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand this fifteenth day
of April, in the year of our Lord two thousand three, and of the
Independence of the United States of America the two hundred and
twenty-seventh.
GEORGE W. BUSH
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