[Weekly Compilation of Presidential Documents Volume 39, Number 16 (Monday, April 21, 2003)]
[Pages 444-445]
[Online from the Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]

<R04>
Proclamation 7664--National Fair Housing Month, 2003

 April 15, 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

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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.
    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.
                                                George W. Bush

 [Filed with the Office of the Federal Register, 8:45 a.m., April 17, 
2003]

Note: This proclamation was published in the Federal Register on April 
18.