[Congressional Record Volume 158, Number 90 (Thursday, June 14, 2012)]
[Senate]
[Pages S4174-S4181]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]


                 Ending Veteran Housing Discrimination

  Mr. BROWN of Massachusetts. Mr. President, I rise to discuss a 
terrible shortcoming in our housing discrimination laws and legislation 
which I have introduced and which I encourage the Presiding Officer to 
sign on to.
  Last week, the Boston Herald reported that a veteran of Iraq and 
Afghanistan had been forced to file suit in Massachusetts because a 
political activist landlord allegedly discouraged him from renting 
because of his military background, claiming the situation would be 
``uncomfortable.''
  This brave veteran brought his fight to the press and to the courts 
of Massachusetts, where State law makes it illegal to discriminate 
against veterans who are seeking housing. In Massachusetts, that is, in 
fact, the law. It is illegal. When I read this, I was angry, as I know 
the Presiding Officer would be angry if it happened in his State. That 
this could happen today is mind-boggling. So my staff and I started 
working to see what we could do to right this wrong and see if it was 
something that was systemic throughout the country. We started digging 
into this issue and found that when it comes to housing, it is 
apparently not illegal--let me repeat that, it is apparently not 
illegal--under Federal law to discriminate against a veteran or a 
member of our Armed Forces on the basis of their brave service to our 
Nation.
  Back when I was a State senator and State representative in 
Massachusetts, at the statehouse, we took action, as I referenced, to 
ensure our veterans are protected, whether it is a welcome home bonus 
for first- and second-time soldiers who have served, antidiscrimination 
reemployment or educational benefits. I could go on and on.
  Quite frankly, I think Massachusetts does it better than any other 
State in the country. So it came as a surprise to learn that fewer than 
one-half dozen States have similar protections. With tens of thousands 
of veterans returning home in the next few years and the size of our 
Armed Forces actually shrinking dramatically, now is clearly the time 
to fix the problem. I know the Presiding Officer as well does not want 
to hear more stories such as this one because I recognize how important 
that issue is for the Presiding Officer.
  No one who puts on the uniform of our Nation and serves should be 
faced with discrimination. There is no one who should ever face that 
discrimination when they are trying to put a roof over their head and 
the heads of their family. The idea that anyone would deny a home to 
someone who has put their life on the line for our freedom is, quite 
frankly, un-American. It should be condemned by every Member of this 
body.
  In order to understand today's problem, however, we must go back to 
1968, when I was 9 years old, when one of my predecessors, Senator 
Edward Brooke, a great legislator from my home State of Massachusetts--
a gentleman whom I still speak with--helped author the Fair Housing Act 
which was signed into law by then-President Johnson. That civil rights 
legislation broke new ground by banning housing discrimination on the 
basis of race, color, religion or national origin. Another great 
Senator from Massachusetts, Senator Ted Kennedy, joined Senator Brooke 
in urging the bipartisan passage of that very important piece of 
legislation.
  Then, in 1974, closer to the Presiding Officer, Senator Bill Brock of 
Tennessee amended the act to prevent housing discrimination on the 
basis of

[[Page S4181]]

gender. Then, in 1988, Senator Kennedy extended the act's protections 
to those Americans with disabilities and families with children. Both 
of these expansions received broad bipartisan support and were actually 
signed into law.
  As Senator Brooke said 44 years ago:

       Fair housing is not a political issue, except as we make it 
     one by the nature of our debate. It is purely and simply a 
     matter of equal justice for all Americans.

  Well said by Senator Brooke 44 years ago.
  Fair housing has a bipartisan history and we have a chance to do it 
again. We can do it by protecting two additional groups from housing 
discrimination. My Ending Housing Discrimination Against Servicemembers 
and Veterans Act, S. 3283, is needed and it is needed right now. It 
amends the Fair Housing Act to protect veterans and servicemembers from 
housing discrimination.
  By passing this bill right away, the Senate can say affirmatively and 
immediately that veterans and servicemembers deserve the same rights to 
housing as anyone else. This is a no-brainer. The Commander in Chief of 
the Veterans of Foreign Wars of the United States has endorsed my bill, 
as referenced for people looking on, saying:

       Senator Brown's work to protect servicemembers and veterans 
     from housing discrimination is very positive. It is 
     unconscionable that members of our military and veterans 
     should fear not being able to rent or buy a home because of 
     their status as a veteran.

  This bill will correct the issue.
  By passing this bill right away, we can, once again, say to those 
veterans and servicemembers that they have our pride and respect. We 
need the action right now. No veteran or servicemember should ever face 
the indignity of being denied housing solely on the basis of their 
service.
  The Fair Housing Act of 1968 and Senator Kennedy's amendments in 1988 
passed with overwhelming support. We should be able to do the same. I 
urge all my colleagues to cosponsor this important piece of legislation 
and work for its immediate and unanimous passage. It is time to fix 
this shortcoming in our Nation's housing laws and it is, quite frankly, 
the right thing to do.
  I would like to also take this opportunity to wish the U.S. Army a 
happy 237th birthday. I was honored to go to the cake-cutting last 
night and honor those who have done so much for our great country.
  I thank the Chair. I yield the floor.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. The majority leader is recognized.
  Mr. REID. Mr. President, I yield back all postcloture time on the 
nomination of Mari Carmen Aponte.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. All time is yielded back.
  The question is, Will the Senate advise and consent to the nomination 
of Mari Carmen Aponte, of the District of Columbia, to be Ambassador 
Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the United States of America to 
the Republic of El Salvador?
  The nomination was confirmed.
  Mr. REID. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the motion to 
reconsider be considered made and laid upon the table, with no 
intervening action or debate; that no further motions be in order to 
the nomination; that any statements related to the nomination be 
printed in the Record; that President Obama be immediately notified of 
the Senate's action, and the Senate then resume legislative session.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered.

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