IV 
109TH CONGRESS 
1ST SESSION 
H. CON. RES. 107 
Supporting the goal of increased homeownership in the United States and 
recognizing the importance of homeownership programs, fair lending 
laws, and fair housing laws in achieving that goal. 
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
MARCH 17, 2005 
Mr. HASTINGS of Florida submitted the following concurrent resolution; which 
was referred to the Committee on Financial Services 
CONCURRENT RESOLUTION 
Supporting the goal of increased homeownership in the 
United States and recognizing the importance of home-
ownership programs, fair lending laws, and fair housing 
laws in achieving that goal. 
Whereas homeownership is vitally important to families in the 
United States in establishing financial independence; 
Whereas homeownership is the most common means for fami-
lies in the United States to build wealth and pass that 
wealth on to the next generation; 
Whereas in 2003 the homeownership rate for White Ameri-
cans was 72.1 percent, but the rate was only 48.1 per-
cent for African Americans and 46.7 percent for His-
panic Americans;
•HCON 107 IH 
Whereas eliminating the disparity in homeownership rates be-
tween white families and minority families is a goal of 
critical importance and should become a national priority; 
Whereas first-time homeowner programs help families who 
have never owned a home to experience the benefits of 
homeownership; 
Whereas the With Ownership Wealth (WOW) Initiative of the 
Congressional Black Caucus Foundation helps to prepare 
African Americans and other minorities to realize the 
dream of first-time homeownership; 
Whereas April 11, 2005, is the 37th anniversary of the enact-
ment of the Fair Housing Act, which is title VIII of the 
Civil Rights Act of 1968; 
Whereas the Fair Housing Act establishes a housing policy 
in the United States of fair housing opportunities for all 
persons, without regard to race, color, religion, sex, hand-
icap, familial status, or national origin; 
Whereas although equal housing opportunity is a right guar-
anteed to all persons in the United States, the effort to 
eliminate discrimination in housing continues; 
Whereas numerous communities throughout the United 
States have designated April 2005 as Fair Housing 
Month; 
Whereas the anniversary of the Fair Housing Act and Fair 
Housing Month provide an opportunity for all persons in 
the United States to rededicate themselves to the prin-
ciples of freedom of housing choice and to reacquaint 
themselves with the rights and responsibilities of fair 
housing under the law; 
Whereas because the policy of fair housing is consistent with 
the principles of equality and justice for all, the Congress
•HCON 107 IH 
must work to ensure and demand that fair housing is a 
reality for all persons in the United States; 
Whereas the United States, as a Nation and fair society, 
must fight to eliminate housing discrimination in all its 
forms; 
Whereas predatory lending is the use of abusive home mort-
gage lending practices, including lending that involves ex-
cessive fees, inappropriate penalties, and other unreason-
able terms and lending that strips equity from the home-
owner; 
Whereas predatory lending practices are, unfortunately, much 
too common in the United States; 
Whereas predatory lenders target homeowners who are ‘‘eq-
uity-rich’’ and ‘‘cash-poor’’, particularly elderly, low-in-
come, and minority households; 
Whereas predatory loans are often made in such concentrated 
volumes in poor and minority neighborhoods, where bet-
ter loans are not readily available, that the resulting loss 
of equity in, and foreclosure on, the properties devastate 
those already fragile communities; and 
Whereas predatory lenders often use high-pressure tactics to 
charge customers extremely high, unaffordable fees so 
that the borrower will eventually default on the loan and 
lose the home, and the lender will profit from the equity 
in the property: Now, therefore, be it 
Resolved by the House of Representatives (the Senate 
concurring), That the Congress— 
(1) fully supports the goal of increasing home-
ownership among families in the United States;
•HCON 107 IH 
(2) recognizes the importance of homeownership 
in families establishing financial independence; 
(3) fully supports programs for first-time home-
ownership, including the With Ownership Wealth 
Initiative of the Congressional Black Caucus Foun-
dation; 
(4) urges the Federal Government and State 
and local governments— 
(A) to take appropriate actions to encour-
age homeownership and fair housing practices; 
and 
(B) to confront all forms of predatory 
lending with swift legislative action; 
(5) recommits itself to making fair housing and 
homeownership a legislative priority in the 109th 
Congress; and 
(6) urges the President to issue a proclamation 
encouraging the people of the United States to ob-
serve National Fair Housing Month with appro-
priate ceremonies and activities. 
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