Sen. Cramer, Colleagues Introduce Bipartisan Bill to Improve Homeownership among Native American Families

Press Release

U.S. Senator Kevin Cramer (R-ND), a Senate Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs Committee member, joined Senators Tina Smith (D-MN) and Mike Rounds (R-SD) in introducing the Native American Rural Homeownership Improvement Act, a bipartisan bill to help rural native American families become homeowners by expanding a U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) pilot program.

"Improving communication and utilizing public-private partnerships will remove barriers and expand access to capital for Native Americans pursing home ownership in rural parts of the country," said Senator Cramer. "The Native American Rural Homeownership Improvement Act would expand a successful pilot program to help more families achieve their dream of home ownership."

This legislation would expand an existing USDA pilot program in which the department has partnered with Native Community Development Financial Institutions (CDFIs) to leverage their ties in local communities and deploy loans to eligible native borrowers.

Senators Cramer, Smith, and Rounds are joined on the bill by Senators John Thune (R-SD), Jon Tester (D-MT), and Brian Schatz (D-HI). The bill endorsed by a number of organizations including the United Native American Housing Association and the National American Indian Housing Council.

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