[Congressional Bills 108th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[S. Con. Res. 43 Enrolled Bill (ENR)]

        S.Con.Res.43
                                         Agreed to June 17, 2003        

                       One Hundred Eighth Congress

                                 of the

                        United States of America


                          AT THE FIRST SESSION

          Begun and held at the City of Washington on Tuesday,
           the seventh day of January, two thousand and three


                          Concurrent Resolution

Whereas the United States promotes and encourages the creation and 
  revitalization of sustainable and strong neighborhoods in partnership 
  with States, cities, and local communities;
Whereas the United States promotes and encourages the creation and 
  revitalization of sustainable and strong neighborhoods in partnership 
  with States, cities, and local communities and in conjunction with 
  the independent and collective actions of private citizens and 
  organizations;
Whereas establishing a housing infrastructure strengthens neighborhoods 
  and local economies and nurtures the families who reside in them;
Whereas an integral element of a strong community is a sufficient 
  supply of affordable housing;
Whereas affordable housing may be provided in traditional and 
  nontraditional forms, including apartment buildings, transitional and 
  temporary homes, condominiums, cooperatives, and single family homes;
Whereas for many families a home is not merely shelter, but also 
  provides an opportunity for growth, prosperity, and security;
Whereas homeownership is a cornerstone of the national economy because 
  it spurs the production and sale of goods and services, generates new 
  jobs, encourages savings and investment, promotes economic and civic 
  responsibility, and enhances the financial security of all people in 
  the United States;
Whereas although the United States is the first nation in the world to 
  make owning a home a reality for a vast majority of its families, \1/
  3\ of the families in the United States are not homeowners;
Whereas a disproportionate percentage of families in the United States 
  that are not homeowners are low-income families;
Whereas 74.2 percent of Caucasian Americans own their own homes, only 
  47.1 percent of African Americans, 47.2 percent of Hispanic 
  Americans, and 55.8 percent of Asian Americans and other races are 
  homeowners;
Whereas the community building activities of neighborhood-based 
  nonprofit organizations empower individuals to improve their lives 
  and make communities safer and healthier for families;
Whereas one of the best known nonprofit housing organizations is 
  Habitat for Humanity, which builds simple but adequate housing for 
  less fortunate families and symbolizes the self-help approach to 
  homeownership;
Whereas Habitat for Humanity is organized in all 50 States with 1,655 
  local affiliates and its own section 501(c)(3) Federal tax-exempt 
  status and locally elected completely voluntary board of directors;
Whereas Habitat for Humanity has built nearly 150,000 houses worldwide 
  and endeavors to complete another 50,000 homes by the year 2005;
Whereas Habitat for Humanity provides opportunities for people from 
  every segment of society to volunteer to help make the American dream 
  a reality for families who otherwise would not own a home; and
Whereas the month of June has been designated as ``National 
  Homeownership Month'': Now, therefore, be it

    Resolved by the Senate (the House of Representatives concurring), 
That it is the sense of Congress that--
        (1) everyone in the United States should have a decent home in 
    which to live;
        (2) Members of the Senate and the House of Representatives 
    should demonstrate the importance of volunteerism;
        (3) during the years of the 108th and 109th sessions of 
    Congress, Members of the Senate and the House of Representatives, 
    Habitat for Humanity, and contributing organizations, should 
    sponsor and construct 2 homes in the Washington, D.C., metro area 
    each as part of the ``Congress Building America'' program;
        (4) each Congress Building America house should be constructed 
    primarily by Members of the Senate and the House of 
    Representatives, their families and staffs, and the staffs of 
    sponsoring organizations working with local volunteers involving 
    and symbolizing the partnership of the public, private, and 
    nonprofit sectors of society;
        (5) each Congress Building America house should be constructed 
    with the participation of the family that will own the home;
        (6) in the future, Members of the Senate and the House of 
    Representatives, their families, and their staff should participate 
    in similar house building activities in their own States as part of 
    National Homeownership Month; and
        (7) these occasions should be used to emphasize and focus on 
    the importance of providing decent homes for all of the people in 
    the United States.
  Attest:

                                               Secretary of the Senate.

  Attest:

                                 Clerk of the House of Representatives.