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HRES 259 109th Congress House Civil Rights and Liberties, Minority Issues California Commemorations Commerce Congress Congressional tributes Contracts Government Operations and Politics Homeowners' associations Housing and Community Development Housing discrimination Law Minorities Missouri Racial discrimination State laws Supreme Court decisions

Condemning the existence of racially restrictive covenants in housing documents and urging States to adopt legislation similar to that which was enacted in California to address the issue.

Introduced: May 4, 2005 Introduced by: Cleaver, Emanuel Democratic · Missouri See on congress.gov
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This resolution expired with the 109th Congress
It was not agreed to before the 109th Congress (2005–2006) adjourned, so it is no longer active. You can still save it for reference, but it won't receive updates.
 Everywhere this bill has been 4 steps
Introduced
In committee
Reported out
Agreed to (House)
Jun 6, 2005
Referred to the Subcommittee on the Constitution.
May 19, 2005
Sponsor introductory remarks on measure. (CR H3589)
May 4, 2005
Referred to the House Committee on Judiciary.
May 4, 2005
Introduced in House
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 Plain-English summary Congressional Research Service

Declares that the existence of racially restrictive covenants in housing documents is inconsistent with the principles and values embodied in Supreme Court precedent and the Fair Housing Act of 1968, and causes harm to not only property owners but to all members of American society.

Commends California and the Missouri State Senate for taking roles in such covenants' removal.

Urges States to enact laws that: (1) will more readily permit property owners to remove racially restrictive covenants from their property titles, deeds, or other documents; and (2) require homeowner associations to strike racially restrictive covenants from all declarations or other governing documents.

What's happening now June 6, 2005

Referred to the Subcommittee on the Constitution.

 Bill text 1 version

Source documents hosted by congress.gov.

 Committees of jurisdiction 2
 Cosponsors 8
All 8 Democratic 8
D
Waters, Maxine
California · Jun 30, 2005
 D
Bishop, Sanford D.
Georgia · Jun 9, 2005
 D
Davis, Danny K.
Illinois · Jun 9, 2005
 D
Norton, Eleanor Holmes
District of Columbia · Jun 9, 2005
 D
Thompson, Bennie G.
Mississippi · Jun 9, 2005
 D
Green, Al
Texas · May 18, 2005
 D
Meeks, Gregory W.
New York · May 4, 2005
 D
Moore, Gwen
Wisconsin · May 4, 2005
Cite this page click to expand
APA
U.S. Congress. (2026). H. Res. 259: Condemning the existence of racially restrictive covenants in housing documents and urging States to adopt legislation similar to that which was enacted in California to address the issue.. 109th Congress. Open America. https://openamerica.io/bill/109-HRES-259/
MLA
"H. Res. 259: Condemning the existence of racially restrictive covenants in housing documents and urging States to adopt legislation similar to that which was enacted in California to address the issue.." 109th Congress, 2026, Open America, https://openamerica.io/bill/109-HRES-259/.
Bluebook (legal)
H. Res. 259, 109th Cong. (2026), https://openamerica.io/bill/109-HRES-259/.
Markdown link
[H. Res. 259: Condemning the existence of racially restrictive covenants in housing documents and urging States to adopt legislation similar to that which was enacted in California to address the issue.](https://openamerica.io/bill/109-HRES-259/)
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