Condemning the Presence of Radically Restrictive Covenants in Housing Documents

CONDEMNING THE PRESENCE OF RACIALLY RESTRICTIVE COVENANTS IN HOUSING DOCUMENTS -- (House of Representatives - May 19, 2005)

(Mr. CLEAVER asked and was given permission to address the House for 1 minute.)

Mr. CLEAVER. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to urge my colleagues to cosponsor H.R. 259. I recently introduced this resolution to condemn the presence of racially restrictive covenants in housing documents.

Mr. Speaker, during the early 20th century, racially restrictive covenants were used in housing documents such as plats, deeds, and homeowner association bylaws to prevent racial, ethnic, and religious minorities from renting or buying property. While they are now illegal and technically unenforceable, most were never removed from housing documents. In my district alone, one survey identified more than 1,200 documents that still contain discriminatory language.

In many jurisdictions, the process of removing racially restrictive covenants is administratively burdensome, time consuming and costly. This resolution urges States to adopt legislation similar to California and commends the Missouri State Senate for passing a bill that streamlines the process for removing these relics of the Jim Crow era.

Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to cosponsor H.R. 259 and join me in condemning racially restrictive covenants.

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