[Federal Register Volume 68, Number 75 (Friday, April 18, 2003)]
[Presidential Documents]
[Pages 19135-19136]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 03-9822]


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  Federal Register / Vol. 68, No. 75 / Friday, April 18, 2003 / 
Presidential Documents  

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 Title 3--
 The President

[[Page 19135]]

                Proclamation 7664 of April 15, 2003

                
National Fair Housing Month, 2003

                By the President of the United States of America

                A Proclamation

                The Fair Housing Act was signed on April 11, 1968, just 
                one week after the assassination of Dr. Martin Luther 
                King, Jr. This landmark bill, Title VIII of the Civil 
                Rights Act of 1968, resulted from the hard work and 
                leadership of Dr. King and others in the civil rights 
                movement and was an important step toward confronting 
                discrimination against minorities in housing. As we 
                celebrate the 35th anniversary of this historic 
                legislation, we reaffirm our commitment to ensuring 
                that all Americans have equal access to housing.

                The Fair Housing Act of 1968 has helped open doors of 
                opportunity for countless families. Since its passage, 
                America has made significant progress in achieving 
                equal housing access for all individuals.

                Despite this progress, more work remains in our 
                struggle to achieve equality and racial justice. 
                Prejudice and discriminatory practices in housing still 
                exist in America. A recent lending study showed that 
                minorities continue to receive less information, less 
                assistance, and less favorable terms and conditions 
                than non-minorities while applying for home loans. 
                These practices are wrong. As a Nation, and as 
                individuals, we must be vigilant in responding to 
                discrimination wherever we find it and ensuring that 
                minority families have access to housing. With my 
                minority homeownership initiative and its partnership 
                with the private sector, I have set a goal to increase 
                the number of minority homeowners by 5.5 million by 
                2010.

                All Americans should know their housing rights, and the 
                Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) is 
                working to increase public awareness of fair housing 
                laws, including those combating discrimination in 
                mortgage lending. The 2004 budget request for HUD 
                includes $50 million for fair housing--a 9 percent 
                increase over 2003 funding--with a substantial portion 
                specifically allocated for increased education and 
                outreach efforts. The Department is also collaborating 
                with the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation on a 
                financial education program in minority neighborhoods. 
                In addition, the HUD, Education, and the Treasury 
                Departments are advancing initiatives to educate 
                families about homeownership through counseling 
                programs and financial literacy efforts.

                We are also vigilantly enforcing fair housing laws, 
                showing no tolerance for those who discriminate. The 
                Office of Fair Housing and Equal Opportunity at HUD is 
                working with private industry and fair housing and 
                community advocates to promote voluntary compliance and 
                to ensure that consumers are treated in a lawful, 
                respectful manner. When warranted, the Department of 
                Justice takes legal action to protect our citizens from 
                discrimination based on race, color, religion, sex, or 
                national origin.

                Finally, we are working to increase the supply of 
                accessible housing for citizens with disabilities. HUD 
                continues to aggressively enforce the law on behalf of 
                people with disabilities, and the Department is working 
                cooperatively with builders, architects, and others to 
                provide technical assistance to help construct more 
                handicapped-accessible housing.

[[Page 19136]]

                Fair Housing Month provides an opportunity to place 
                special emphasis on our goal to increase homeownership 
                throughout our country. Together, we can advance toward 
                a future where all our citizens have access to a key 
                element of the American Dream--homeownership.

                NOW, THEREFORE, I, GEORGE W. BUSH, President of the 
                United States of America, by virtue of the authority 
                vested in me by the Constitution and laws of the United 
                States, do hereby proclaim April 2003 as National Fair 
                Housing Month. I call upon the people of the United 
                States to learn more about their rights and 
                responsibilities under the Fair Housing Act and the 
                roles they can individually and collectively play to 
                combat housing discrimination.

                IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand this 
                fifteenth day of April, in the year of our Lord two 
                thousand three, and of the Independence of the United 
                States of America the two hundred and twenty-seventh.

                    (Presidential Sig.)B

[FR Doc. 03-9822
Filed 4-17-03; 8:45 am]
Billing code 3195-01-P