FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE                                          CR
TUESDAY, OCTOBER 14, 1997                          (202) 616-2765
                                               TDD (202) 514-1888
                                 
         AGREEMENT REACHED TO RESOLVE CONTEMPT PROCEEDING
         AGAINST THE HOUSING AUTHORITY OF BEAUMONT, TEXAS

     WASHINGTON, D.C. -- The Beaumont, Texas Housing Authority,
which allegedly violated a year-old agreement by terminating an
employee who reported an allegation of sexual harassment, will
train its employees and allow increased monitoring of agency
personnel practices, under a supplemental agreement reached today
with the Justice Department.

     Today's supplemental consent decree, filed in U.S. District
Court in Beaumont, resolves a contempt motion filed by the Justice
Department last July alleging that the Beaumont Housing Authority
(BHA) terminated Debra Kay Marshall, in violation of an earlier
consent decree.  The contempt motion asserted that Marshall,
formerly the agency personnel director, was terminated because she
reported a BHA employee's allegation of sexual harrassment by a
supervisor. 

     The agreement does not make a finding of liability and BHA has
maintained that it did not violate the law.

     In February 1996, the Justice Department had charged BHA with
violating Title VII of the Civil Rights Act by discriminating on
the basis of race in hiring and promotions.  The two parties
entered into a consent decree requiring BHA to take steps to comply
with the law and barring the BHA from taking retaliatory action
against any person who reports discriminatory conduct.

     "Today's filing makes it clear that the Justice Department
will enforce its agreements," said Isabelle Katz Pinzler, Acting
Assistant Attorney General for Civil Rights.  "We will not tolerate
retaliation against individuals who come forward to report
allegations of sexual harassment in the workplace."

     Under the terms of the settlement, BHA will:

*         provide Marshall approximately $30,000 in monetary relief
          if she will agree to release all of her claims against
          the BHA;

*         permit the Justice Department to increase its monitoring
          of BHA personnel practices;

*         increase training for all employees regarding federal
          anti-discrimination laws, and procedures for handling
          employees' reports of sexual harassment; and,

*         agree to a two year extension on the life of the original
          consent decree. 

     The agreement must still be approved by the court.
                              # # #
97-421