---
kind: "section"
citation: "42 U.S.C. § 3609"
title: "42"
title_heading: "The Public Health and Welfare"
number: "3609"
heading: "Education and conciliation; conferences and consultations; reports"
release: "119-102"
date: "2026-07-12"
url: "https://uscodex.org/usc/42/3609"
units:
  - "Chapter 45 — Fair Housing"
  - "Subchapter I — Generally"
---

# §3609. Education and conciliation; conferences and consultations; reports


Immediately after April 11, 1968, the [Secretary](/usc/42/3602.md?p=a) shall commence such educational and conciliatory activities as in his judgment will further the purposes of this subchapter. He shall call conferences of [persons](/usc/42/3602.md?p=d) in the housing industry and other interested parties to acquaint them with the provisions of this subchapter and his suggested means of implementing it, and shall endeavor with their advice to work out programs of voluntary compliance and of enforcement. He may pay per diem, travel, and transportation expenses for [persons](/usc/42/3602.md?p=d) attending such conferences as provided in [section 5703 of title 5](/usc/5/5703.md). He shall consult with [State](/usc/42/3602.md?p=g) and local officials and other interested parties to learn the extent, if any, to which housing discrimination exists in their [State](/usc/42/3602.md?p=g) or locality, and whether and how [State](/usc/42/3602.md?p=g) or local enforcement programs might be utilized to combat such discrimination in connection with or in place of, the [Secretary](/usc/42/3602.md?p=a)’s enforcement of this subchapter. The [Secretary](/usc/42/3602.md?p=a) shall issue reports on such conferences and consultations as he deems appropriate.


## Source credit

(Pub. L. 90–284, title VIII, § 809, Apr. 11, 1968, 82 Stat. 85.)