Native American Housing Assistance and Self-Determination Reauthorization Act of 2008
NATIVE AMERICAN HOUSING ASSISTANCE AND SELF-DETERMINATION REAUTHORIZATION ACT OF 2008 -- (House of Representatives - September 27, 2008)
BREAK IN TRANSCRIPT
Mrs. CAPITO. Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of H.R. 2786 which would reauthorize the Native American Housing Assistance and Self-Determination Act, NAHASDA.
This bill reflects a bipartisan effort led by Chairman Frank and Representative Waters. I would also like to thank Representative Kildee and Representative STEVE PEARCE in their efforts to reauthorize NAHASDA which is administered by the Department of Housing and Urban Development. I'm confident that the legislation being considered today will go a long way to address the housing needs in Indian country.
This legislation being considered under suspension today is similar to H.R. 2786 which passed the House on September 6 by a vote of 333 to 75. The major differences from the House bill passed include new compromise language on the Cherokee Freedman issue, removal of the reauthorization of the Native Hawaiian Housing program, and inclusion of the House-passed immigration language and House-passed GAO study.
Native Americans in this country are facing serious housing problems. Last year the Financial Services Committee held several hearings to investigate these problems, which are the result of widespread poverty, high unemployment, homelessness and lack of affordable housing on Native American land. The reauthorization of NAHASDA is an important step in addressing many of these issues.
Currently there are 562 federally recognized tribes in the United States representing approximately 2.5 million Native Americans. Of that 2.5 million, about 750,000 Native Americans live on reservations or in other tribal areas. According to Census data, the poverty rate for Native Americans is approximately 26 percent. Twenty-six percent is more than twice the average for all Americans. While 5.8 percent of the general population of the United States is unemployed, the current unemployment rate of the reservation workforce is 13.6 percent. In tribal areas, 14.7 percent of homes are overcrowded, compared to just 5.7 percent of homes in the general U.S. population. On Native American lands, 11.7 percent of residents lack complete plumbing facilities, and 6.9 percent lack, get this, telephone service. This, coupled with the price of a new home and the lack of existing housing, has created a dire situation on reservations in terms of availability and quality of housing units.
The legislation before us today would provide greater autonomy to Native Americans in using NAHASDA grant funds and would provide tribes more resources and flexibility to meet their affordable housing needs. This is good legislation that would help improve living conditions for Native Americans in this country.
I urge its passage.
I reserve the balance of my time.
BREAK IN TRANSCRIPT
Source