Rep. Al Green urges explicit fair-housing enforcement jurisdiction; amendment fails

Representative Al Green (D-Texas) offered an amendment to the committee rules to add an explicit reference to fair housing enforcement and thereby confirm the committee's jurisdiction over enforcement of the Fair Housing Act.

Lede: Green told the committee the amendment would help protect people with disabilities, religious practices and other protected traits from discrimination in housing and that federal oversight of housing enforcement belongs to the Financial Services Committee.

Nut graf: Supporters said the change would make the committee's oversight authority explicit and help address complaints alleging discriminatory housing practices; opponents said the oversight plan and existing rules already provide the authority and the amendment was unnecessary.

What members said: Green cited record housing discrimination complaint levels and examples of people reportedly denied housing because of assist animals or religious clothing. Nebraska Republican Rep. Don Bacon and others opposed the amendment on grounds that the oversight plan already covers illegal discrimination in housing and inspectors general and whistleblower testimony would continue to support investigations. Ranking Member Maxine Waters and other Democrats backed Green's request.

Outcome: The chair announced the noes had it and the amendment was not agreed to; a recorded vote was requested and ordered; the meeting minutes record subsequent proceedings delaying further action on that specific amendment but the immediate outcome in the meeting debate was defeat.

Ending: Members said they still intend to keep fair housing issues on the committee's oversight docket even though the rules package was not amended to add the specific phrase.