Pasadena Congresswoman Chu Urges Swift Release of Fair Housing Rule

Representative Judy Chu, who represents Pasadena and is the current Chair of the Congressional Asian Pacific American Caucus, joined other leaders of the Congressional Tri-Caucus on Friday in pressing President Biden to swiftly release a federal rule aimed at bolstering fair housing nationwide.

In a letter to the President, Chu and her counterparts from the Congressional Black Caucus and Congressional Hispanic Caucus said the Affirmatively Furthering Fair Housing rule proposed by the Department of Housing and Urban Development “is an essential tool in making sure that all people — regardless of race, gender identity, ethnicity, family status, disability, or religion — have a range of choices about where to live, and that all neighborhoods are good places to live, regardless of who lives in the community.”

The rule would require recipients of Department of Housing and Urban Development funding, such as cities and housing agencies, to develop plans to further fair housing principles in their communities. 

“This rule can ensure that cities, counties, public housing agencies, regions, and states proactively pursue housing and other policies that connect all residents to the resources they need to succeed,” the lawmakers wrote.

More than five decades after the landmark Fair Housing Act of 1968 banned discrimination in housing, “we still have not fully implemented its requirement to combat discrimination and affirmatively further fair housing,” the letter said. “We urge the White House not to wait any longer and immediately release the AFFH rule so that our country can take critical and substantial steps in fulfilling our country’s promise of fair housing access and opportunities for all.”

Chu, a Democrat who represents California’s 28th Congressional District in which Pasadena is located, was elected Chair of the Congressional Asian Pacific American Caucus in December. 

Representative Steven Horsford of Nevada, the chair of the Congressional Black Caucus, and Representative Nanette Barragán of California, who leads the Congressional Hispanic Caucus, also signed the letter.