Homeownership Opportunities for Native Americans Act of 2004
HOMEOWNERSHIP OPPORTUNITIES FOR NATIVE AMERICANS ACT OF 2004 -- (House of Representatives - June 21, 2004)
Mr. RENZI. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 4471) to clarify the loan guarantee authority under title VI of the Native American Housing Assistance and Self-Determination Act of 1996.
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Mr. GREEN of Wisconsin. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of my colleague, Mr. Renzi's bill, the Homeownership Opportunities for Native Americans Act. I would like to begin by commending the gentleman from Arizona (Mr. Renzi) for the important work he is doing in the area of Native American housing. He is shining a light on the vital need for safe and affordable housing on Indian reservations all across this country, a need that runs deep, a need which our government has all too often failed to address.
I was unable to attend the Housing Subcommittee hearing earlier this year that has been referenced in the district of the gentleman from Arizona (Mr. Renzi), but I have several reservations in my district and my own State, and I know firsthand just how critical the need for housing is.
H.R. 4471 amends the Native American Housing Assistance and Self-Determination Act of 1996 to provide statutory authority for the Title VI program to continue to operate at a 95 percent loan guarantee level. While the program has been operating at this level for some time, a recent decision by OMB to reduce the loan guarantee to 80 percent has put this program into jeopardy.
Mr. Speaker, the Title VI guarantee program has issued over 77 million dollars in loan guarantees. It has never experienced a default. The Federal Government should not be in the business of making it harder for Indian tribes to access assistance in affordable housing. We must reach out to local tribal organizations and leaders and do more to help them meet their many pressing housing challenges.
I urge my colleagues to support this legislation in order to ensure continued affordable housing opportunities for Native Americans all across this country. It is an excellent piece of legislation.