Reps. Nadler and Waters to Investigate Enforcement of Housing Statutes

Announcement Comes on 40th Anniversary of Fair Housing Act

WASHINGTON, D.C. – On the 40th Anniversary of the Fair Housing Act, Congressman Jerrold Nadler (NY-08), Chair of the Judiciary Subcommittee on the Constitution, Civil Rights and Civil Liberties and Congresswoman Maxine Waters (CA-35), Chair of the Financial Services Subcommittee on Housing and Community Opportunity, today announced that they will hold an oversight hearing on the enforcement of federal housing statutes, particularly the Fair Housing Act and the Equal Credit Opportunity Act.  The hearing is tentatively scheduled for late April.

“The Fair Housing Act is one of the most overlooked and under enforced protections from the Civil Rights Act,” said Rep. Nadler.  “I hope that through this Congressional investigation, we can shed light as to why the Bush Administration is actively ignoring that key American right – to live where we want without discrimination.  This hearing will be particularly timely in light of the current housing crisis all Americans are facing.”

“In light of the foreclosure crisis and the steering of some of the most vulnerable Americans into unsustainable subprime loans, the time is ripe to take a look at the Administration’s efforts to enforce fair lending laws,” Rep. Waters said. “In addition, given the fair housing issues that have arisen as the Gulf Coast recovers from Hurricane Katrina, this anniversary represents a prime opportunity to rededicate the federal governments time and resources to the enforcement of to the fight against discrimination in housing. This hearing will be a step towards that goal and will lay the groundwork for a thorough long term examination of our fair housing laws. ”

April 11th marks the 40th anniversary of the passage of Title VIII of the Civil Rights Act of 1968 -- the Fair Housing Act.  That Act prohibits discrimination in housing based on race, national origin, religion, color, sex, familial status and disability.  Forty years after the national law banned housing discrimination, there has been an increasing number of complaints alleging unfair treatment of minorities, the disabled, families and other groups.  Despite the surge in complaints, the Fair Housing Act remains woefully under-enforced.  In 2007 alone, the Department of Housing and Urban Development issued only 31 charges of discrimination and the Justice Department filed only 35 cases.