[Congressional Record Volume 154, Number 157 (Monday, September 29, 2008)]
[Senate]
[Page S10058]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                   NATIVE AMERICAN HOUSING ASSISTANCE

  Mr. DORGAN. Madam President, today I applaud the passage of the 
Native American Housing Assistance and Self-Determination 
Reauthorization Act of 2008, NAHASDA. This act will continue to provide 
thousands of homes for American Indian and Alaska Native families.
  The bill passed today reauthorizes and enhances the Native American 
Housing Assistance and Self-Determination Act, NAHASDA, adopted in 
1996. The act provides formula-based block grant assistance to Indian 
tribes, which allows them the flexibility to design housing programs to 
address the needs of their communities.
  The system set up by this housing law has been very successful in 
addressing the housing crisis in Indian Country, and this 
reauthorization will go even further in providing homes to thousands of 
Indian families who desperately need them. Instead of being a one size 
fits all national program; it provides grants to tribes, allowing them 
to tailor housing programs to fit their needs. It has already enabled 
thousands of families to rent and own homes, and now thousands more 
will have access to much needed housing.
  Despite the continued success of NAHASDA, there is still a housing 
crisis in Indian Country, where 90,000 Indian families are homeless or 
underhoused. Of those who do have housing, approximately 40 percent of 
on-reservation housing is considered inadequate, and over one-third of 
Indian homes are overcrowded.
  The legislation passed today will strengthen NAHASDA by providing 
tribes with increased flexibility, with the goal of producing more 
homes in Indian Country. The bill will allow funds to be utilized for 
community buildings such as daycare centers, laundromats, and 
multipurpose community centers, with the hope of not only building 
homes but also building communities. The bill also authorizes a study 
to assess the existing data sources for determining the need for 
housing and funding programs.
  Adequate housing is the first and most necessary step in building a 
strong community, and many people in Indian Country have gone on for 
far too long without a roof over their heads. This bill is more than 
just a housing act--it will give tribes more authority over their own 
land and truly help build stronger communities in Indian Country.
  Mr. President, please allow me to thank Leader Reid, Senator 
Murkowski, Senator Dodd, Senator Inouye, Senator Akaka and Senator 
Shelby for their commitment in getting this legislation passed.
  Thank you to the Senate staff for their hard work on this bill, 
including Allison Binney, Heidi Frechette, Tracy Hartzler-Toon, David 
Mullon, Jim Hall, Jenn Fogel-Bublick, and Mark Calabria.
  Also, thank you to Representative Kildee, Representative Frank, 
Representative Watt, and their staff, Kimberly Teehee, Dominique McCoy, 
Cassandra Duhaney, and Hilary West.
  Finally, this bill would not have been possible without the tireless 
work of tribal leaders, the National American Indian Housing Council, 
the National Congress of American Indians, the National Indian Health 
Board, and Indian housing advocates.

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