Department of Justice Seal

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

CR

THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 25, 1999

(202) 616-2777

WWW.USDOJ.GOV

TDD (202) 514-1888


BILL LANN LEE HAILS ADMINISTRATION'S REQUEST FOR INCREASED

FUNDING IN FY 2000 TO CONTINUE ENFORCING CIVIL RIGHTS LAWS


WASHINGTON, D.C. -- Bill Lann Lee--the Administration's chief civil rights law enforcement officer-- hailed the Administration's request for more funding from Congress to enforce the nation's civil rights laws.

As part of its overall Fiscal Year 2000 budget request, the Administration is seeking an additional $12.9 million for the Justice Department's Civil Rights Division -- a 19 percent increase over last year's budget.

"These added funds will help us expand our important civil rights efforts -- to prosecute hate crimes, enforce fair housing and fair lending laws, and protect the rights of Americans with disabilities," said Mr. Lee, Acting Assistant Attorney General for Civil Rights.

Fighting Crime

The budget request includes: $1.07 million to fund 16 positions that will focus on civil and criminal investigations into wrongdoing by police officers and departments; $646,000 for ten staff positions to continue the Division's efforts against hate crimes; and, $400,000 for six positions to continue the efforts of the newly formed Worker Exploitation Task Force and Task Force on Violence Against Health Care Providers.

Ending Lending and Housing Discrimination

In order to improve the battle against housing and lending discrimination, the Department is requesting $996,000 for ten positions to expand the Division's successful Fair Housing Testing Program, $596,000 for nine positions to fight against home mortgage and business lending discrimination and $274,000 to bring additional housing discrimination cases brought as a result of increased efforts by the Department of Housing and Urban Development.

Making Society More Accessible to Americans with Disabilities

The Division's successful American with Disabilities Act mediation program, which resolves complaints as an alternative to litigation, would benefit from a $1.3 million boost. An additional $117,000 would fund two architects to assist in the implementation of the Fair Housing Act's new construction provisions. Efforts to certify that state and local building codes meet ADA requirements would benefit from an increase of $479,000 for 8 staff positions.

Preparing for Redistricting

As a result of the 2000 census, the Department expects an increase in the number of preclearance submissions for redistricting proposals. The budget request includes $547,000 for twelve positions that will be needed to review the additional submissions, as well as $933,000 for technological improvements.

Fighting for Fundamental Opportunities

Funding also has been requested to expand programs fighting for individuals' basic civil rights. Included in that request is more than $400,000 for six positions to insure that school desegregation has been achieved, attack in-school segregation, promote diversity and ensure that non-English speaking students have access to effective educational tools. More than $270,000 for four staff positions would also assist in the Division's efforts to combat intolerable and dangerous conditions in nursing homes and other public institutions.

"This budget request clearly emphasizes our continuing commitment to ensure that opportunity is open to everyone in this country," added Mr. Lee.

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