1 00:00:10,276 --> 00:00:11,911 The President: Hi, everybody.

2 00:00:11,911 --> 00:00:14,381 It's our job as citizens to make sure we keep pushing

3 00:00:14,381 --> 00:00:18,051 this country we love toward our most cherished ideals -

4 00:00:18,051 --> 00:00:21,186 that all of us are created equal, and all of us deserve

5 00:00:21,187 --> 00:00:23,156 an equal shot.

6 00:00:23,156 --> 00:00:25,759 This week, my Administration took new steps to bring us

7 00:00:25,759 --> 00:00:28,428 a little closer to that goal.

8 00:00:28,428 --> 00:00:31,197 Almost 50 years ago, Republicans and Democrats

9 00:00:31,197 --> 00:00:35,368 in Congress came together to pass the Fair Housing Act.

10 00:00:35,368 --> 00:00:38,405 It's a law that says landlords can't turn away tenants

11 00:00:38,405 --> 00:00:42,776 solely because of their race, religion, sex, national

12 00:00:42,776 --> 00:00:44,444 origin, or disability.

13 00:00:44,444 --> 00:00:48,047 And it made a difference in this country.

14 00:00:48,047 --> 00:00:52,385 Still, the work of the Fair Housing Act remains unfinished.

15 00:00:52,385 --> 00:00:54,553 Just a few weeks ago, the Supreme Court ruled that

16 00:00:54,554 --> 00:00:56,790 policies segregating minorities in poor

17 00:00:56,790 --> 00:00:59,391 neighborhoods, even unintentionally,

18 00:00:59,392 --> 00:01:01,294 are against the law.

19 00:01:01,294 --> 00:01:04,063 The Court recognized what many people know to be true

20 00:01:04,063 --> 00:01:07,500 from their own lives: that too often, where people

21 00:01:07,500 --> 00:01:09,803 live determines what opportunities they

22 00:01:09,803 --> 00:01:11,604 have in life.

23 00:01:11,604 --> 00:01:14,741 In some cities, kids living just blocks apart lead

24 00:01:14,741 --> 00:01:16,943 incredibly different lives.

25 00:01:16,943 --> 00:01:20,012 They go to different schools, play in different parks,

26 00:01:20,013 --> 00:01:24,184 shop in different stores, and walk down different streets.

27 00:01:24,184 --> 00:01:27,020 And often, the quality of those schools and the safety

28 00:01:27,020 --> 00:01:30,423 of those parks and streets are far from equal -

29 00:01:30,423 --> 00:01:32,425 which means those kids aren't getting an equal

30 00:01:32,425 --> 00:01:34,527 shot in life.

31 00:01:34,527 --> 00:01:38,598 That runs against the values we hold dear as Americans.

32 00:01:38,598 --> 00:01:40,800 In this country, of all countries,

33 00:01:40,800 --> 00:01:42,801 a person's zip code shouldn't decide their destiny

34 00:01:43,800 --> 00:01:46,005 We don't guarantee equal outcomes,

35 00:01:46,005 --> 00:01:49,908 but we do strive to guarantee an equal shot at opportunity -

36 00:01:49,909 --> 00:01:53,146 in every neighborhood, for every American.

37 00:01:53,146 --> 00:01:55,782 Now, the Fair Housing Act also says that this

38 00:01:55,782 --> 00:01:58,518 isn't the responsibility of a landlord alone -

39 00:01:58,518 --> 00:02:01,421 local governments have a role to play, too.

40 00:02:01,421 --> 00:02:03,423 That's why, this week, my Administration announced

41 00:02:03,423 --> 00:02:05,425 that we'll make it easier for communities

42 00:02:05,425 --> 00:02:07,125 to implement this law.

43 00:02:07,126 --> 00:02:09,696 We're using data on housing and neighborhood conditions

44 00:02:09,696 --> 00:02:14,000 to help cities identify the areas that need the most help.

45 00:02:14,000 --> 00:02:16,002 We're doing more to help communities meet

46 00:02:16,002 --> 00:02:17,303 their own goals.

47 00:02:17,303 --> 00:02:20,340 Plus, by opening this data to everybody,

48 00:02:20,340 --> 00:02:22,909 everyone in a community - not just elected officials -

49 00:02:22,909 --> 00:02:24,376 can weigh in.

50 00:02:24,377 --> 00:02:26,513 If you want a bus stop added near your home,

51 00:02:26,513 --> 00:02:28,515 or more affordable housing nearby,

52 00:02:28,515 --> 00:02:32,118 now you'll have the data you need to make your case.

53 00:02:32,118 --> 00:02:34,654 These actions won't make every community perfect.

54 00:02:34,654 --> 00:02:37,891 That's something we all have to strive for in our own lives.

55 00:02:37,891 --> 00:02:40,493 But they will help make our communities stronger

56 00:02:40,493 --> 00:02:41,494 and more vibrant.

57 00:02:41,494 --> 00:02:44,764 And they'll help keep this a country where kids from

58 00:02:44,764 --> 00:02:48,134 every background can grow up knowing that no matter who

59 00:02:48,134 --> 00:02:50,904 you are, what you look like, or where you live,

60 00:02:50,904 --> 00:02:53,339 you can write your own story.

61 00:02:53,339 --> 00:02:55,542 That's the America I love.

62 00:02:55,542 --> 00:02:58,011 And it's the America I'll keep fighting for.

63 00:02:58,011 --> 00:02:59,679 Thanks, and have a great weekend.