REP. LORETTA SANCHEZ STATEMENT ON FAIR HOUSING ACT ANNIVERSARY

Congresswoman Loretta Sanchez (CA-46), released the following statement to commemorate the 48th anniversary of the Fair Housing Act, which was enacted on April 11, 1968:

WASHINGTON, D.C. – (RealEstateRama) — Congresswoman Loretta Sanchez (CA-46) released the following statement to commemorate the 48th anniversary of the Fair Housing Act, which was enacted on April 11, 1968:

“48 years ago, the Fair Housing Act was passed into law, making it illegal to refuse to rent or sell a residence to any individual ‘because of race, color, religion, or national origin.’ This landmark civil rights act directly tackled the rampant housing discrimination across America.

“While the Fair Housing Act made exceptional progress, our work is far from over and we must remain vigilant to prevent housing discrimination, even almost 50 years later. Last June, the Supreme Court expanded the scope of the Fair Housing Act, ruling that we must consider how housing practices may disparately impact different minorities adversely. But the Supreme Court’s narrow 5-4 decision in Texas Department of Housing and Community Affairs v. Inclusive Communities Project is a reminder that we have a tough road ahead of us to both sustain and expand the goal of this civil rights law.

“For far too many Americans, owning a home is just a dream deferred. My grandmother worked hard into old age, pinched her pennies and saved, but she was still unable to achieve her American Dream: owning a home of her own. Homeownership increases upward economic mobility which is why we cannot underestimate the importance of ensuring that no American faces discrimination when it comes to housing. Owning a home shouldn’t be a privilege, it should be a right.

“Homeownership is a key to creating stable, economically successful households and will provide security for our current and future generations. It’s time for Congress to support everyday Americans as they seek financial security and a safe haven for their families through responsible homeownership.”

Congresswoman Loretta Sanchez is continuing to fight for low-income and middle-class Americans to have the opportunity to own their own home, provide a safe haven for family, and build wealth. For Americans in the bottom 40% percent of annual income level, wealth creation is almost exclusively generated through homeownership. For middle-class Americans, 62% of the median homeowner’s assets and 42% of their total wealth comes from their home.

This past Fall, Rep. Sanchez served as a keynote speaker at a bipartisan leadership forum on “Achieving the American Dream” hosted by First American Financial Corporation, headquartered in her district. Congresswoman Sanchez was joined by her colleagues, Rep. Linda Sanchez and Rep. Emanuel Cleaver, in addition to former Governor Luis Fortuño, industry leaders and community activists.

###

Congresswoman Loretta Sanchez is proud to represent California’s 46th Congressional District, which includes the cities of Anaheim, Santa Ana, and parts of the cities of Garden Grove and Orange in Orange County. She serves as a senior member on the Committee on Homeland Security and the House Armed Services Committee, and as Ranking Member of the House Armed Services Subcommittee on Tactical Air and Land Forces.

Source: Congresswoman Loretta Sanchez