From: ndallen@r-node.gts.org (Nigel Allen)
Subject: U.S. Civil Rights Commission Will Ask Clinton to Overhaul Rights Enforcement
Organization: Echo Beach, Toronto
Date: Sun, 13 Dec 1992 00:16:15 GMT

Here is a press release from the U.S. Civil Rights Commission.

 Commission Will Ask Clinton to Overhaul Rights Enforcement
 To: National Desk
 Contact: Barbara J. Brooks or Charles R. Rivera, 202-376-8312,
          both of the U.S. Civil Rights Commission

   WASHINGTON, Dec. 11  -- Charging that existing civil rights 
laws are not being adequately enforced by the Federal
government, the U.S. Commission on Civil Rights will call on
President-elect Bill Clinton to put money and commitment behind the
federal government's civil rights enforcement effort.
   In a clear demonstration of unity and concern, the commissioners
agreed today to request a meeting with Clinton to discuss this and
other concerns, specifically the plight of Haitian refugees and a
lack of action on the "urgent recommendations" contained in their
September report, which said federal fair housing enforcement is in
crisis.
   "At every level of government, we hear that resources are not
available to enforce the law," said Commission Chairman Arthur A.
Fletcher.  He cited two commission reports -- one on fair housing
enforcement released in September and a second, now being readied
for printing, which examines enforcement of equal opportunity law
in federally funded transportation projects -- as evidence that
current programs are not working.
   Fletcher, a former assistant secretary of labor whose special
interests, he said, are equal employment and equal contracting
opportunities for women and minorities, recalled the many times
that officials at local, state and federal levels have cited a lack
of resources as the reason why equal opportunity laws were not
being enforced.
   Last year, the commission heard from Denver residents that
although federal tax dollars were being used to build the new
Denver airport, minorities and women were not getting a fair share
of either jobs or contracting opportunities.  Citing a lack of
resources, neither federal nor local officials could demonstrate
that women and minorities were sharing equally in job and
contracting opportunities made possible by the $2.4 billion
project.
   Fletcher said that in light of the recently passed $150 billion
intermodal transportation act, he was particularly concerned that
the federal government enforce equal opportunity laws on
construction projects funded with tax dollars.  "Because of their
potential for creating long-lasting job and business
opportunities," such projects "can serve as engines of growth and
stability for this nation's communities," Fletcher said recently,
"The underlying issue is what is the policy prescription that led
to the lack of resources to implement the law," said Commissioner
Mary Frances Berry.  "We need a new policy approach that will make
resources available."
   "It's not just about resources," added Commissioner Blandina
Cardenas Ramirez, "it's about resources and will, about ultimate
responsibility."
   Commissioner Carl A. Anderson echoed her comments, noting that
sometimes government employees lose sight of the "final product,
that what we are working on is actually improving the quality of
life for people where they live" and believe they are fulfilling
their functions through paperwork.
   Unless one or more appointments to the commission are made soon,
commissioners will be unable to conduct official business after
their Jan. 11 meeting for lack of a quorum.  The terms of four of
its eight members are set to or have expired, including Dr. Berry's
term on Dec. 19; Esther G. Buckley's on Dec. 24; and Ramirez's
on Jan. 16.  William B. Allen's term expired Dec. 5.
   The U.S. Commission on Civil Rights is an independent,
bipartisan federal factfinding agency chaired by Arthur A.
Fletcher.  Charles Pei Wang is vice chair.  Commission members are
Carl A. Anderson, Mary Francis Berry, Esther G. Buckley, Blandina
Cardenas Ramirez and Russell G. Redenbaugh.  Wilfredo J. Gonzalez
is staff director.
 -30-
--