Today marks the 41st anniversary of the Community Reinvestment Act (CRA), a law that was supposed to end discrimination that was once common in America’s housing and banking markets.
Although not as widely known as other iconic releases of 1977 including the very first Star Wars movie, Fleetwood Mac’s album Rumours, or the Apple II computer— CRA was just as important when President Carter signed it on this day in 1977 – and it remains so.
Discrimination in lending is still a problem. If anything, the law needs to be strengthened. Steve Jobs has moved on from the Apple II computer, and it’s time we do the same. Doing so could result in billions of dollars in additional lending and investment in community.
But I fear that CRA is at risk of being weakened. So today, while we recognize the importance of this landmark civil rights law, we need to take action to preserve it.
We might lose key aspects of the law if we don’t mobilize hundreds of community leaders and organizations. We need your help and your voice.
These 10 bad ideas & bank-centric proposals could undermine enforcement of the CRA and jeopardize billions of dollars in traditionally underserved communities.
We need you to share this message with your friends and professional allies. We also need you to set aside some time – right now! – to submit a comment about CRA to the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency, a government agency that has issued a set of questions that suggest it wants to make big changes to the law.
Use the tools and instructions on our #TreasureCRA website to submit your comment. Ask your co-workers, friends and family to join you. We have 37 days left to make our voices heard.
With respect for all your work,
Jesse Van Tol
CEO, National Community Reinvestment Coalition
P.S. May the force of CRA be with you!
