Ending Housing Discrimination Against Servicemembers and Veterans Act of 2012 - Amends the Fair Housing Act to prohibit housing discrimination against servicemembers or veterans with respect to: (1) the sale or rental of housing, (2) residential real estate-related transactions, and (3) the provision of brokerage services.
Prohibits religious organizations engaging in housing transactions from giving preferences to persons of the same religion in cases where membership in such religion is restricted to persons who are not members of the uniformed services.
Amends the Civil Rights Act of 1968 to impose a fine, imprisonment, or both on persons who violate prohibitions on housing discrimination under such Act against members of the uniformed services.
[Congressional Bills 112th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[S. 3283 Introduced in Senate (IS)]
112th CONGRESS
2d Session
S. 3283
To amend the Fair Housing Act to protect servicemembers and veterans
from housing discrimination, and for other purposes.
_______________________________________________________________________
IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES
June 11, 2012
Mr. Brown of Massachusetts introduced the following bill; which was
read twice and referred to the Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban
Affairs
_______________________________________________________________________
A BILL
To amend the Fair Housing Act to protect servicemembers and veterans
from housing discrimination, and for other purposes.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the
United States of America in Congress assembled,
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.
This Act may be cited as the ``Ending Housing Discrimination
Against Servicemembers and Veterans Act of 2012''.
SEC. 2. FINDINGS.
Congress finds the following:
(1) Servicemembers and veterans have given the United
States the ultimate commitment to preserve freedom and national
security.
(2) Those who are serving or have served in the Armed
Forces deserve the maximum protection possible from
discrimination based upon their military service.
(3) Veterans have historically suffered from homelessness
at a higher rate than the general population and ending this
disgrace should be a national priority.
(4) Those who are wearing or have worn the uniform of the
United States should be entitled to Federal protection from
housing discrimination.
SEC. 3. ENDING HOUSING DISCRIMINATION AGAINST SERVICEMEMBERS AND
VETERANS.
(a) Definitions.--Section 802 of the Fair Housing Act (42 U.S.C.
3602) is amended by adding at the end the following:
``(p) `Servicemember or veteran' means an individual who serves or
served in the Armed Forces, including in the National Guard or the
Reserves (or in the National Guard in State status under title 32,
United States Code), except that such term does not include an
individual who was discharged or released from service under
dishonorable conditions.''.
(b) Discrimination in the Sale or Rental of Housing and Other
Prohibited Practices.--Section 804 of the Fair Housing Act (42 U.S.C.
3604) is amended--
(1) in subsection (a), by inserting ``or because the person
is a servicemember or veteran'' after ``national origin'';
(2) in subsection (b), by inserting ``or because the person
is a servicemember or veteran'' after ``national origin'';
(3) in subsection (c), by inserting ``or because a person
is a servicemember or veteran,'' after ``national origin,'';
and
(4) in subsection (d), by inserting ``, or because the
person is a servicemember or veteran,'' after ``national
origin''.
(c) Discrimination in Residential Real Estate-Related
Transactions.--Section 805 of the Fair Housing Act (42 U.S.C. 3605) is
amended--
(1) in subsection (a), by inserting ``or because the person
is a servicemember or veteran'' after ``national origin''; and
(2) in subsection (c), by striking ``, or familial status''
and inserting ``familial status, or whether a person is a
servicemember or veteran''.
(d) Discrimination in the Provision of Brokerage Services.--Section
806 of the Fair Housing Act (42 U.S.C. 3606) is amended by inserting
``or because a person is a servicemember or veteran'' after ``national
origin''.
(e) Religious Organization or Private Club Exemption.--Section
807(a) of the Fair Housing Act (42 U.S.C. 3607(a)) is amended, in the
first sentence by inserting ``or to persons who are not servicemembers
or veterans'' after ``national origin''.
(f) Administration.--Section 808(e)(6) of the Fair Housing Act (42
U.S.C. 3608(e)(6)) is amended, in the first sentence, by inserting
``(including whether such persons and households are or include
servicemembers or veterans)'' after ``persons and households''.
(g) Prevention of Discrimination.--Section 901 of the Civil Rights
Act of 1968 (42 U.S.C. 3631) is amended--
(1) in subsection (a), by inserting ``, or because the
person is a servicemember or veteran (as such term is defined
in section 802 of this Act),'' after ``national origin'';
(2) in subsection (b)(1), by inserting ``or because a
person is a servicemember or veteran (as such term is defined
in section 802 of this Act),'' after ``national origin,''; and
(3) in subsection (c), by inserting ``or because a person
is a servicemember or veteran (as such term is defined in
section 802 of this Act),'' after ``national origin,''.
(h) Rule of Construction.--The Fair Housing Act (42 U.S.C. 3601 et
seq.) is amended by adding at the end the following:
``SEC. 821. RULE OF CONSTRUCTION RELATING TO THE TREATMENT OF
SERVICEMEMBERS AND VETERANS.
``(a) Rule of Construction.--Nothing in this Act may be construed
to prohibit any person from--
``(1) making available to an individual a benefit with
respect to a dwelling, a residential real estate-related
transaction (as defined in section 805 of this Act), or a
service described in section 806 of this Act because the
individual is a servicemember or veteran; or
``(2) selling or renting a dwelling only to servicemembers
or veterans.
``(b) Definition.--For purposes of this section, the term `benefit'
includes a term, condition, privilege, promotion, discount, or other
favorable treatment (including an advertisement for such treatment)
having the purpose or effect of providing an advantage to a
servicemember or veteran.''.
<all>
Introduced in Senate
Sponsor introductory remarks on measure. (CR S4180-4181)
Read twice and referred to the Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs.
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