U.S. HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
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| FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE March 24, 2003 |
Contact: Jennifer Porter Gore Kay Gibbs |
Committee Democrats to Decry Proposed Faith-based Regulations |
| WASHINGTON--Thirty-three Democratic members of Congress, spearheaded by Rep. Barney Frank (D-MA), Ranking Member, House Financial Services Committee, have submitted comments to the Bush Administration, opposing a proposed rule that would allow the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) to issue grants directly to churches and other religious institutions. [Click here to see comment letter.] The Housing and Community Opportunity Subcommittee of the House Financial Services Committee will hold a hearing Tuesday, March 25 at which witnesses who both favor and oppose the Administration’s new proposed regulation will testify. The Administration’s so-called faith-based initiative would allow religious institutions to qualify for major HUD funding including Community Development Block Grants (CDBG), HOME, various homeless programs, and programs that assist people with AIDS, among others. American law provides wide latitude to groups seeking religious status. This regulation would encompass all those claiming such status and would allow any religion that receives these federal grant funds to practice employment discrimination and to discriminate in the distribution of services. “HUD’s proposed implementation of the President's faith-based initiative would turn back the clock in this country's fight against discrimination by 50 years,” said Frank. “Most religious charities do not practice discrimination. But this regulation would not only give legal sanction to discrimination but would convert the federal government from a force opposing bias to one that enables it. It would be an affront to many of this nation’s religious people who worked in the civil rights struggle and continue to work in their communities to fight discrimination. Moreover, since HUD has not sought any new money for this initiative, this sets up a competition in which politically favored religious groups will displace existing well-established service providers as has already happened among certain programs for homeless veterans.” The Housing and Community Opportunity Subcommittee hearing is scheduled for Tuesday, March 25 at 3 p.m. in the Rayburn House Office Building, Room 2128. -30- The Committee oversees all components of the nation’s housing and financial services sectors including banking, insurance, real estate, public and assisted housing, and securities. The Committee continually reviews the laws and programs relating to the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, the Federal Reserve Bank, the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation, Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac, and international development and finance agencies such as the World Bank and the International Monetary Fund. The Committee also ensures enforcement of housing and consumer protection laws such as the U.S. Housing Act, the Truth In Lending Act, the Housing and Community Development Act, the Fair Credit Reporting Act, the Real Estate Settlement Procedures Act, the Community Reinvestment Act, and financial privacy laws. |
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