[Congressional Record Volume 151, Number 168 (Thursday, December 22, 2005)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E2631]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]

[[Page E2631]]


            NATIVE AMERICAN HOUSING ENHANCEMENT ACT OF 2005

                                 ______
                                 

                               speech of

                        HON. CAROLYN B. MALONEY

                              of new york

                    in the house of representatives

                       Sunday, December 18, 2005

  Mrs. MALONEY. Mr. Speaker, this legislation improves the availability 
of Federal housing monies to Native Americans. It makes the 
requirements applicable to Indian tribes and their housing entities 
under the Housing Act of 1949 consistent with the Native American 
Housing Assistance and Self Determination Act; allows Indian tribes to 
have access to YouthBuild program grants; and makes technical 
corrections to NAHASDA to remove impediments to getting funds that 
serve no purpose.
  There is no question that this bill, and any bill that improves 
Federal housing assistance to Native Americans, is sorely needed. 
Native Americans have an overall poverty rate twice that of the rest of 
the United States. In particular, they face a dramatic shortage of safe 
and adequate housing. Some 90,000 Native-American families are homeless 
or live in very poor conditions. Even among those who have housing, 
about a third of Native American homes lack adequate sewage systems, 
and 8 percent do not have safe drinking-water systems.
  For that reason, this bill--introduced by Mr. Renzi and Mr. 
Matheson--has received strong bipartisan support in both chambers of 
Congress. The House passed the bill by voice vote on April 6, and the 
Senate passed its version on November 8, also by voice vote. Our 
passage of the Senate version today sends this to the President's desk.
  Essentially, this bill ensures that Indian tribes seeking housing 
assistance from the Federal Government are not caught between 
conflicting and preclusive requirements of different Federal agencies 
administering different Federal acts.
  Also, the bill makes Indian tribes eligible for Youthbuild grants. 
These grants are part of a HUD program that provides job training and 
academic assistance to low-income young people. Again, this is sorely 
needed by Native American youth.
  I urge my colleagues to support this bill.

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