[Congressional Record Volume 143, Number 111 (Thursday, July 31, 1997)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E1567-E1568]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




           LOCAL CONTROL AND FAIR HOUSING REFORM ACT OF 1997

                                 ______
                                 

                         HON. RICHARD H. BAKER

                              of louisiana

                    in the house of representatives

                        Wednesday, July 30, 1997

  Mr. BAKER. Mr. Speaker, today I rise to introduce legislation to 
reform the Fair Housing

[[Page E1568]]

Act in order to restore local control of neighborhoods across America.
  Adopted in 1968 as the last major piece of civil rights legislation 
in that decade, the Fair Housing Act protects the rights of individuals 
to purchase property and live in a neighborhood anywhere they could 
afford. In principle, the Fair Housing Act--the act--is a good law.
  In practice, however the act has been often heavy-handed. In too many 
instances, the act has superseded local control. In short, the Fair 
Housing Act has frequently served as a ``Washington knows best'' 
prescription for neighborhood planning. I intend to change that.
  The legislation I am introducing today makes two important reforms:
  First, it allows a community to exercise reasonable zoning and other 
land use regulations to determine the number of unrelated occupants in 
a home and the location of residential care facilities in the 
community; and
  Second, it allows neighborhood residents to express legitimate 
concerns about land use in their neighborhoods, without threat of 
retaliation by the Federal Government.
  This bill is an effort to restore balance to the Fair Housing Act. To 
fight vigorously against housing discrimination, the Federal Government 
must partner with local communities. Moreover, we must acknowledge the 
principle that local communities are in the best place both to fight 
discrimination and to judge how land is used in its neighborhoods. The 
Fair Housing Act should reflect this principle.
  I urge all my colleagues to endorse this critical legislation to 
restore local control of America's neighborhoods.

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