Housing Opportunity Through Modernization Act of 2015

Floor Speech

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Ms. BORDALLO. I thank the gentlewoman from Texas for yielding.

Mr. Chairman, my amendment fixes a misinterpretation of law and gives U.S. citizens and nationals a preference over migrants from the Republic of Palau, from the Republic of the Marshall Islands, and from the Federated States of Micronesia when receiving Federal aid.

I continue to support allowing these migrants to receive housing assistance. Otherwise, our housing situation in Guam and in other affected jurisdictions would get even worse. However, it was not the intent of Congress to displace our citizens when it extended eligibility to migrants in 2000.

Unfortunately, limited resources have led many U.S. citizens in Guam to be displaced by COFA migrants who have entered our country as a result of the Compact of Free Association. Guam's local housing authority has indicated that demand for housing assistance far outweighs the resources available.

A recent Guam PDN article indicated that homeless data shows that local residents of Guam make up nearly 42 percent of the homeless on Guam, that 536 Chamorros, the indigenous people, and 42 Filipinos were considered homeless.

I ask for the support of my amendment.

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