[Congressional Record Volume 147, Number 13 (Wednesday, January 31, 2001)]
[Senate]
[Page S921]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]

      By Mr. AKAKA:
  S. 228. A bill to amend title 38, United States Code, to make 
permanent the Native American veterans housing loan program, and for 
other purposes; to the Committee on Veterans' Affairs.
  Mr. AKAKA. Mr. President, I rise to introduce a bill which 
permanently authorizes the Native American Veteran Housing Loan 
Program.
  In 1992, I authored a bill that established a pilot program to assist 
Native American veterans who reside on trust lands. This pilot program, 
administered by the Department of Veterans Affairs, VA, provides direct 
loans to Native American veterans to build or purchase homes on trust 
lands. Previously, Native American veterans who resided on trust lands 
were unable to qualify for VA home loan benefits. This disgraceful 
treatment of Native American veterans was finally corrected when 
Congress established the Native American Direct Home Loan Program.
  Despite the challenges of creating a program that addresses the needs 
of hundreds of different tribal entities, VA has successfully entered 
into agreements to provide direct VA loans to members of 59 tribes and 
Pacific Island groups, and negotiations continue with other tribes. 
Since the program's inception, 233 Native American veterans have been 
able to achieve home ownership, and none of the loans approved by the 
VA have been foreclosed.
  Unfortunately, the authority to issue new loans under this successful 
program will end on December 31, 2001. This would be devastating to a 
number of Native American veterans who would like to participate in 
this program. Native American veterans who reside on trust lands should 
be afforded the same benefits available to other veterans. Without this 
program, it would be incredibly difficult for Native Americans living 
on trust lands to obtain home loan financing.
  Permanent authorization of this program will ensure that Native 
American veterans are provided equal access to services and benefits 
available to other veterans. I urge my colleagues to support this 
important legislation.
  I ask unanimous consent that a copy of the bill be printed in the 
Record.
  There being no objection, the bill was ordered to be printed in the 
Record, as follows:

                                 S. 228

       Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of 
     the United States of America in Congress assembled,

     SECTION 1. PERMANENT AUTHORITY FOR NATIVE AMERICAN VETERANS 
                   HOUSING LOAN PROGRAM.

       (a) Permanent Authority.--Section 3761 of title 38, United 
     States Code, is amended by striking subsection (c).
       (b) Reporting Requirements.--Subsection (j) of section 3762 
     of that title is amended--
       (1) in the matter preceding paragraph (1), by striking 
     ``through 2002''; and
       (2) by striking ``pilot'' each place it appears.
       (c) Conforming Amendments.--(1) Section 3761 of that title 
     is further amended--
       (A) in subsection (a)--
       (i) in the first sentence, by striking ``establish and 
     implement a pilot program'' and inserting ``carry out a 
     program''; and
       (ii) in the second sentence, by striking ``establish and 
     implement the pilot program'' and inserting ``carry out the 
     program''; and
       (B) in subsection (b), by striking ``pilot''.
       (2) Section 3762 of that title is further amended--
       (A) in subsection (b)(1)(E), by striking ``pilot program 
     established under this subchapter is implemented'' and 
     inserting ``program under this subchapter is carried out'';
       (B) in the second sentence of subsection (c)(1)(B), by 
     striking ``in order to carry out'' and all that follows 
     through ``direct housing loans'' and inserting ``to make 
     direct housing loans under the program under this 
     subchapter''; and
       (C) in subsection (i)--
       (i) in paragraph (1), by striking ``pilot'';
       (ii) in paragraph (2)(A)--
       (I) by striking ``pilot program'' the first place it 
     appears and inserting ``program provided for under this 
     subchapter''; and
       (II) by striking ``pilot program'' the second place it 
     appears and inserting ``that program''; and
       (iii) in paragraph (2)(E), by striking ``pilot program'' 
     and inserting ``program provided for under this subchapter''.
       (d) Clerical Amendments.--(1) The section heading of 
     section 3761 of that title is amended to read as follows:

     ``Sec. 3761. Housing loan program''.

       (2) The subchapter heading of subchapter V of chapter 37 of 
     that title is amended to read as follows:

    ``SUBCHAPTER V--NATIVE AMERICAN VETERAN HOUSING LOAN PROGRAM''.

       (3) The table of sections at the beginning of chapter 37 of 
     that title is amended by striking the item relating to 
     subchapter V and the item relating to section 3761 and 
     inserting the following new items:

      ``SUBCHAPTER V--NATIVE AMERICAN VETERAN HOUSING LOAN PROGRAM

``3761. Housing loan program.''.
                                 ______