Statement from HUD Secretary Marcia L. Fudge on Commemoration of Women’s History Month 2024

WASHINGTON - Today, Marcia L. Fudge, the 18th Secretary of the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) issued the following statement commemorating Women’s History Month 2024:

“During Women’s History Month, we recognize the great contributions women have made to our Nation. As the 18^th Secretary of HUD, I stand on the shoulders of so many leaders who paved the way for me. One such leader is Patricia Roberts Harris, the first Black woman appointed to a President’s Cabinet and the first Black woman to serve as HUD Secretary. During her tenure, HUD invested in blighted neighborhoods, revitalized public housing, and established several tools we still use today to ensure community development funding goes to those who need it most.

“Secretary Harris never forgot what life was like for those who society often deemed outsiders. Her advocacy and commitment ensured the voices of Black and Brown people, poor people, and others who are often overlooked and forgotten did not go unheard by those in positions of power. I am proud to uphold her legacy in the work we do every day to expand access to opportunity for all, invest in our housing supply, and empower people to build better futures for themselves and the generations that will follow us. Today, because of Secretary Harris’s legacy, there are a historic number of women leading housing finance in the Biden-Harris Administration.

“As we celebrate the achievements and resilience of women throughout history, let us honor them by continuing to strive for equality and justice in all aspects of society.”

To read President Biden’s proclamation commemorating Women’s History month, click here.