[Congressional Record Volume 160, Number 143 (Thursday, November 20, 2014)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E1659-E1660]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




LEGISLATIVE HISTORY OF FALEOMAVAEGA'S PROVISION FOR NON-SAMOAN VETERANS 
            MARRIED TO SAMOANS TO QUALIFY FOR VA HOME LOANS

                                 ______
                                 

                       HON. ENI F.H. FALEOMAVAEGA

                           of american samoa

                    in the house of representatives

                      Thursday, November 20, 2014

  Mr. FALEOMAVAEGA. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to include, for 
historical purposes, information about a provision for non-Samoan 
veterans married to Samoans to qualify for VA home loans.

                     [Press Release, Nov. 10, 2005]

  House Passes VA Housing Assistance Bill and Includes Faleomavaega's 
        Provision for American Samoas Veterans and Their Spouses

       Congressman Faleomavaega announced today that by a voice 
     vote the House passed H.R. 3665, the Veterans Housing and 
     Employment Improvement Act of 2005 and included 
     Faleomavaega's provision for American Samoas veterans.
       I especially want to thank Chairman Steve Buyer and Ranking 
     Member Lane Evans of the Committee on Veterans Affairs and 
     also Chairman John Boozman and Ranking Member Stephanie 
     Herseth of the Subcommittee on Economic Opportunity for their 
     leadership in making it possible for Native Americans to 
     participate in the veterans housing loan program, Congressman 
     Faleomavaega said.
       I am especially thankful that American Samoas veterans have 
     also been able to participate in this very successful program 
     and I thank my colleagues for working with me to address the 
     concerns of American Samoans without adversely affecting the 
     rights of other tribes. Many Samoans have served in the 
     military and they are allowed to obtain home loans under 
     current law. Other Samoans are married to non-Samoan veterans 
     Non-native military spouses married to native Samoans have 
     not been able to qualify for the VA home loan program. In 
     part, this is because the Native American Home Loan program 
     excludes the spouses of non-native Americans from qualifying 
     for a VA home loan.
       This has been problematic in American Samoa because most 
     land in American Samoa is communal and the VA has only made 
     it possible for Samoans of Tutuila, Manus, Aunuu, or Swain 
     Islands to qualify for home loans offered by traditional 
     lending institutions because only they can make claim to 
     native land. As a result, non-native spouses of veterans or 
     persons serving in the US Armed Forces who are married to a 
     Samoan have not been able to qualify for a VA home loan. 
     However, the VA has been helpful in assisting the Veterans 
     Affair Committee and my office in drafting language to 
     rectify this problem and I am pleased that this language has 
     now been included in HR 3665.
       As we have agreed, it is our understanding that this 
     language now makes it possible for a non-Samoan military 
     member or veteran to qualify for a VA loan if the non-Samoan 
     military member has a meaningful interest in the housing a 
     Samoan spouse has been granted permission to build on 
     communal land. It is also our understanding that meaningful 
     interest means that the veteran has the right to reside in 
     the home under tribal laws.
       This is good news for our veterans and their spouses. For 
     this reason, I again thank my colleagues for including my 
     provision in this important legislation. I also thank the VA 
     for its assistance and my good friend Ranking Member Lane 
     Evans of the VA Committee for his tireless efforts and 
     support, the Congressman concluded.
                                  ____


                     [Press Release, May 22, 2006]

    House and Senate Pass Veterans Bill and Includes Faleomavaega's 
Provision for Non-Samoan Veterans Married to Samoans to Qualify for VA 
                               Home Loans

       Congressman Faleomavaega announced today that by a vote of 
     372 to 0 the House passed S. 1235, the Veterans Housing 
     Opportunity and Benefits Improvement Act of 2006 and included 
     his provision for non-Samoan veterans married to Samoans to 
     qualify for VA Home Loans. As we approach Memorial Day to 
     remember and honor our military men and women who have died 
     while serving our nation during a time of war, it is 
     especially fitting that the House and Senate have passed the 
     Veterans Housing Opportunity and Benefits Improvement Act of 
     2006 in tribute to those who are still with us, Faleomavaega 
     said.
       America is what she is today because of the sacrifices made 
     by our military men and women and their families. This is why 
     I am pleased that the US Congress is recognizing their 
     service by passing S. 1235. After years of hard work, I am 
     also pleased to announce that once the President signs this 
     legislation into law, non-Samoan veterans married to Samoans 
     will finally be able to qualify for VA home loans.
       For too long, Native American veterans, including Samoans, 
     were not able to participate in the VA Home Loan program 
     because our land is communally rather than privately held. 
     For the same reason, traditional lending institutions also 
     would not make home loans to Native Americans because in case 
     of default the bank would not be able to repossess the land 
     or the home due to factors associated with communal 
     ownership.
       However, in 1992, with the support of the Chairman and 
     Ranking Member of the Veterans Affairs Committee, were able 
     to establish a pilot program making it possible for Native 
     Americans, including Samoans, to qualify for VA home loans. 
     Even though this was groundbreaking and very helpful to many 
     of our veterans, the program was still problematic because it 
     excluded the spouses of non-native Americans from qualifying 
     for a VA home loan and for us this meant that non-Samoan 
     military spouses married to native Samoans were also unable 
     to qualify.
       But thanks to the successful passage of todays legislation, 
     our non-Samoan veterans married to Samoans will now able to 
     qualify for VA home loans and I couldnt be happier that their 
     dreams of home ownership can now come true. At this time, I 
     especially want to thank Chairman Steve Buyer and Ranking 
     Member Lane Evans of the Committee on Veterans Affairs and 
     also Chairman John Boozman and Ranking Member Stephanie 
     Herseth of the Subcommittee on Economic Opportunity and Mary 
     Ellen McCarthy, Democratic Staff Director for Disability 
     Assistance and Memorial Affairs, for their support and 
     tireless efforts in making this possible. I also thank 
     Senator Larry Craig and Senator Daniel Akaka, Chairman and 
     Ranking Member of the Senate Committee on Veterans Affairs, 
     for their leadership.
       Finally, I want to thank the VA for assisting the Veterans 
     Affair Committee and my office in drafting language that has 
     been included in section 104 of S. 1235 which now makes home 
     ownership a reality for non-Samoan veterans married to 
     Samoans. As a result of this language, it is our 
     understanding that a non-Samoan military member or veteran 
     may now qualify for a VA loan if the non-Samoan military 
     member has a meaningful interest in the housing a Samoan

[[Page E1660]]

     spouse has been granted permission to build on communal land. 
     It is also our understanding that meaningful interest means 
     that the veteran has the right to reside in the home under 
     tribal laws.
       Again, I believe S. 1235 is a fitting tribute to our 
     veterans and I am especially pleased that this legislation 
     provides American Samoas veterans with the housing 
     opportunities and other benefits they deserve. For this 
     reason, I again thank my colleagues for including my 
     provision in this important legislation and for supporting 
     the Veterans Housing Opportunity and Benefits Act of 2006, 
     the Congressman concluded.

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