[Congressional Record Volume 143, Number 158 (Monday, November 10, 1997)]
[Senate]
[Page S12494]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




 EXTENDING AND IMPROVING THE NATIVE AMERICAN HOUSING LOAN PILOT PROGRAM

  Mr. President, section 201 of the compromise agreement will extend 
for 4 years the authority for the Native American Housing Loan Pilot 
Program, under section 3761, title 38, United States Code. This pilot 
program was created in 1993 to provide loans to eligible Native 
American veterans to purchase, build, or improve dwellings on Native 
American trust lands. This program is so important because commercial 
lenders will not finance the purchase of homes on Native American 
lands, as lenders cannot foreclose in the event of default. Therefore, 
the traditional VA loan guaranty program is not, in effect, available 
to Native American veterans residing on tribal lands.
  This program has been very successful in financing purchases of homes 
by Pacific Islanders. However, it has been somewhat underutilized by 
other Native American populations. Therefore, this bill would also 
provide for enhanced outreach by VA to inform Native American veterans 
of the availability of this program. It further tasks VA with analyzing 
what is working and what could be improved in its administration of the 
program.
  I would like to commend Senators Akaka and Campbell for their 
tireless advocacy on behalf of Native American veterans.

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