[Congressional Bills 108th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[S. Con. Res. 43 Enrolled Bill (ENR)]
S.Con.Res.43
Agreed to June 17, 2003
One Hundred Eighth Congress
of the
United States of America
AT THE FIRST SESSION
Begun and held at the City of Washington on Tuesday,
the seventh day of January, two thousand and three
Concurrent Resolution
Whereas the United States promotes and encourages the creation and
revitalization of sustainable and strong neighborhoods in partnership
with States, cities, and local communities;
Whereas the United States promotes and encourages the creation and
revitalization of sustainable and strong neighborhoods in partnership
with States, cities, and local communities and in conjunction with
the independent and collective actions of private citizens and
organizations;
Whereas establishing a housing infrastructure strengthens neighborhoods
and local economies and nurtures the families who reside in them;
Whereas an integral element of a strong community is a sufficient
supply of affordable housing;
Whereas affordable housing may be provided in traditional and
nontraditional forms, including apartment buildings, transitional and
temporary homes, condominiums, cooperatives, and single family homes;
Whereas for many families a home is not merely shelter, but also
provides an opportunity for growth, prosperity, and security;
Whereas homeownership is a cornerstone of the national economy because
it spurs the production and sale of goods and services, generates new
jobs, encourages savings and investment, promotes economic and civic
responsibility, and enhances the financial security of all people in
the United States;
Whereas although the United States is the first nation in the world to
make owning a home a reality for a vast majority of its families, \1/
3\ of the families in the United States are not homeowners;
Whereas a disproportionate percentage of families in the United States
that are not homeowners are low-income families;
Whereas 74.2 percent of Caucasian Americans own their own homes, only
47.1 percent of African Americans, 47.2 percent of Hispanic
Americans, and 55.8 percent of Asian Americans and other races are
homeowners;
Whereas the community building activities of neighborhood-based
nonprofit organizations empower individuals to improve their lives
and make communities safer and healthier for families;
Whereas one of the best known nonprofit housing organizations is
Habitat for Humanity, which builds simple but adequate housing for
less fortunate families and symbolizes the self-help approach to
homeownership;
Whereas Habitat for Humanity is organized in all 50 States with 1,655
local affiliates and its own section 501(c)(3) Federal tax-exempt
status and locally elected completely voluntary board of directors;
Whereas Habitat for Humanity has built nearly 150,000 houses worldwide
and endeavors to complete another 50,000 homes by the year 2005;
Whereas Habitat for Humanity provides opportunities for people from
every segment of society to volunteer to help make the American dream
a reality for families who otherwise would not own a home; and
Whereas the month of June has been designated as ``National
Homeownership Month'': Now, therefore, be it
Resolved by the Senate (the House of Representatives concurring),
That it is the sense of Congress that--
(1) everyone in the United States should have a decent home in
which to live;
(2) Members of the Senate and the House of Representatives
should demonstrate the importance of volunteerism;
(3) during the years of the 108th and 109th sessions of
Congress, Members of the Senate and the House of Representatives,
Habitat for Humanity, and contributing organizations, should
sponsor and construct 2 homes in the Washington, D.C., metro area
each as part of the ``Congress Building America'' program;
(4) each Congress Building America house should be constructed
primarily by Members of the Senate and the House of
Representatives, their families and staffs, and the staffs of
sponsoring organizations working with local volunteers involving
and symbolizing the partnership of the public, private, and
nonprofit sectors of society;
(5) each Congress Building America house should be constructed
with the participation of the family that will own the home;
(6) in the future, Members of the Senate and the House of
Representatives, their families, and their staff should participate
in similar house building activities in their own States as part of
National Homeownership Month; and
(7) these occasions should be used to emphasize and focus on
the importance of providing decent homes for all of the people in
the United States.
Attest:
Secretary of the Senate.
Attest:
Clerk of the House of Representatives.