Title: Recognizing the challenges, achievements, and significant contributions of women and minorities in the fields of housing, housing finance, and community development.
Policy area: Housing and Community Development

Summary:
This resolution (1) recognizes the significant contributions and importance of representation of women and minorities in housing; (2) encourages increased participation of these individuals in housing and related fields; and (3) considers promoting diversity, policies, and robust investment in certain programs that assist women and minorities.

[Congressional Bills 116th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H. Res. 397 Introduced in House (IH)]

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116th CONGRESS
  1st Session
H. RES. 397

Recognizing the challenges, achievements, and significant contributions 
of women and minorities in the fields of housing, housing finance, and 
                         community development.


_______________________________________________________________________


                    IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

                              May 22, 2019

  Mr. Clay (for himself and Mr. David Scott of Georgia) submitted the 
following resolution; which was referred to the Committee on Financial 
  Services, and in addition to the Committee on the Judiciary, for a 
 period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for 
consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the 
                          committee concerned

_______________________________________________________________________

                               RESOLUTION


 
Recognizing the challenges, achievements, and significant contributions 
of women and minorities in the fields of housing, housing finance, and 
                         community development.

Whereas President Lyndon Baines Johnson signed the Fair Housing Act into law in 
        1968 which prohibits discrimination in the sale, rental, or financing of 
        housing based on race, color, religion, national origin, sex, familial 
        status, and handicap to counter pervasive, systemic, and debilitating 
        franchised racism;
Whereas public and private investment and the economic health and stability of 
        communities are influenced by housing opportunity;
Whereas women and minorities have been historically excluded in housing;
Whereas women and minorities have been historically underrepresented in housing;
Whereas months after Congress passed a landmark law directing the Federal 
        Government to dismantle segregation in the Nation's housing, President 
        Nixon's Secretary of Housing and Urban Development George Romney began 
        working to implement a plan to use the law to its fullest effect to 
        reverse past discrimination and institute fair housing in a low-key 
        manner;
Whereas home ownership and stable housing amongst women and minorities bring 
        significant economic benefits to communities;
Whereas more women are living independently or serving as heads of households 
        today than when the Fair Housing Act became law, with women compromising 
        nearly 20 percent of home buyers today;
Whereas evidence from the International Monetary Fund suggests that adding women 
        to the labor market will increase overall productivity and stimulate 
        wage growth for both women and men;
Whereas a recent study found that increased diversity of leadership teams in 
        business resulted in 19 percent higher revenue due to innovation, a 
        substantial factor in tech companies, startups, and industries of the 
        future;
Whereas historic and systemic racial barriers to wealth building and the 
        implication this has had for home ownership left many in cities across 
        America vulnerable to displacement and economic isolation; and
Whereas lack of housing opportunity contributes to the continued racial wealth 
        gap: Now, therefore, be it
    Resolved, That the House of Representatives--
            (1) recognizes the significant contributions and importance 
        of representation of women and minorities in housing;
            (2) encourages increased participation of women and 
        minorities in housing and related fields; and
            (3) will look to promote diversity, policies, and robust 
        investment in programs which serve to countermand historic 
        segregation perpetrated against women and minorities.
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