[Congressional Record Volume 146, Number 44 (Monday, April 10, 2000)]
[Senate]
[Page S2465]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




               NORTH EAST WISCONSIN FAIR HOUSING COUNCIL

 Mr. KOHL. Madam President, I rise to recognize the 
contribution of the North East Wisconsin Fair Housing Council, which 
provides fair housing enforcement services in the Fox Valley in 
Northeastern Wisconsin. I applaud the North East Wisconsin Fair Housing 
Council's fight to end housing discrimination. It is not only wrong, 
intolerable and unjust, it's illegal. While we would like to think that 
housing discrimination is a thing of the past, it still happens. And 
while we would like to think that in this day and age, equal housing 
opportunities are available to everyone, too many people are still shut 
out of the right to live in a home of their choosing. The more 
frequently citizens are reminded of their rights, the more likely they 
are to seek justice.
  The North East Wisconsin Fair Housing Council's greatest 
accomplishment has been an ongoing enforcement program. As of March 1, 
there have been 906 fair housing complaints filed with the North East 
Wisconsin Fair Housing Council. Every year since 1992 there has been a 
major pattern and practice study conducted by the North East Wisconsin 
Fair Housing Council. Through national competition, the North East 
Wisconsin Fair Housing Council has been the primary contractor on three 
Fair Housing Initiative Program grants.
  The North East Wisconsin Fair Housing Council has been at the 
forefront of innovative ways to combat illegal housing discrimination. 
In 1997 the North East Wisconsin Fair Housing Council received a Fair 
Housing Initiative Program Grant which provided the financial resources 
to increase attention to complaints from four targeted populations: 
Hmong, Native Americans, Hispanics and persons with disabilities. The 
North East Wisconsin Fair Housing Council developed an Enforcement 
Network Program with eight advocacy agencies representing those groups. 
The goals were to develop better communication with the agencies so 
they would understand how fair housing issues impacted their agencies 
and clients. Relationships with the agencies were enhanced and more 
efficient services were provided to the clients.
  Fair Housing is a right for all Americans, and I commend the North 
East Wisconsin Fair Housing Council for their efforts.

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