[Congressional Record Volume 165, Number 184 (Monday, November 18, 2019)]
[House]
[Pages H8926-H8927]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                TRIBAL ACCESS TO HOMELESS ASSISTANCE ACT

  Mr. GREEN of Texas. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass 
the bill (H.R. 4029) to amend the McKinney-Vento Homeless Assistance 
Act to enable Indian Tribes and tribally designated housing entities to 
apply for, receive, and administer grants and subgrants under the 
Continuum of Care Program of the Department of Housing and Urban 
Development, as amended.
  The Clerk read the title of the bill.
  The text of the bill is as follows:

                               H.R. 4029

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

     SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

       This Act may be cited as the ``Tribal Access to Homeless 
     Assistance Act''.

     SEC. 2. PARTICIPATION OF INDIAN TRIBES AND TRIBALLY 
                   DESIGNATED HOUSING ENTITIES IN CONTINUUM OF 
                   CARE PROGRAM.

       (a) In General.--Title IV of the McKinney-Vento Homeless 
     Assistance Act (42 U.S.C. 11360 et seq.) is amended--
       (1) in section 401 (42 U.S.C. 11360)--
       (A) by redesignating paragraphs (10) through (33) as 
     paragraphs (12) through (35), respectively;
       (B) by redesignating paragraphs (8) and (9) as paragraphs 
     (9) and (10), respectively;
       (C) by inserting after paragraph (7) the following:
       ``(8) Formula area.--The term `formula area' has the 
     meaning given the term in section 1000.302 of title 24, Code 
     of Federal Regulations, or any successor regulation.'';
       (D) in paragraph (9), as so redesignated, by inserting ``a 
     formula area,'' after ``nonentitlement area,''; and
       (E) by inserting after paragraph (10), as so redesignated, 
     the following:
       ``(11) Indian tribe.--The term `Indian Tribe' has the 
     meaning given the term `Indian tribe' in section 4 of the 
     Native American Housing Assistance and Self-Determination Act 
     of 1996 (25 U.S.C. 4103).''; and
       (2) in subtitle C (42 U.S.C. 11381 et seq.), by adding at 
     the end the following:

     ``SEC. 435. PARTICIPATION OF INDIAN TRIBES AND TRIBALLY 
                   DESIGNATED HOUSING ENTITIES.

       ``Notwithstanding any other provision of this title, for 
     purposes of this subtitle, an Indian Tribe or tribally 
     designated housing entity (as defined in section 4 of the 
     Native American Housing Assistance and Self-Determination Act 
     of 1996 (25 U.S.C. 4103)) may--
       ``(1) be a collaborative applicant or eligible entity; or
       ``(2) receive grant amounts from another entity that 
     receives a grant directly from the Secretary, and use the 
     amounts in accordance with this subtitle.''.
       (b) Technical and Conforming Amendment.--The table of 
     contents in section 101(b) of the McKinney-Vento Homeless 
     Assistance Act (Public Law 100-77; 101 Stat. 482) is amended 
     by inserting after the item relating to section 434 the 
     following:

``Sec. 435. Participation of Indian Tribes and tribally designated 
              housing entities.''.

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentleman from 
Texas (Mr. Green) and the gentlewoman from Missouri (Mrs. Wagner) each 
will control 20 minutes.
  The Chair recognizes the gentleman from Texas.


                             General Leave

  Mr. GREEN of Texas. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all 
Members may have 5 legislative days in which to revise and extend their 
remarks on this legislation and to insert extraneous material thereon.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the 
gentleman from Texas?
  There was no objection.
  Mr. GREEN of Texas. Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of H.R. 4029, the 
Tribal Eligibility for Homeless Assistance Grants Act of 2019, which 
makes Tribes and tribally designated housing entities eligible to 
receive McKinney-Vento Homeless Assistance Grant funding.
  Mr. Speaker, Native Americans and Alaska Natives face some of the 
worst housing and living conditions in the United States. They face 
high poverty rates, unemployment, overcrowding. Standard housing 
conditions are not something that they enjoy; in fact, they enjoy 
substandard conditions. And they have unique issues for developing 
housing.
  As a result, Native Americans tend to be overrepresented among the 
homeless population. Despite the prevalence of homeless in Native 
communities, Tribes and tribally designated housing entities are not 
currently eligible to compete for HUD McKinney-Vento Continuum of Care 
grants.
  Current housing assistance for Native communities fall substantially 
short of meeting their affordable housing needs, and this bill would 
direct more housing resources to address homelessness on Tribal lands. 
I am proud to see that Members have worked together to put forth a 
bipartisan bill to better address homelessness among Native Americans 
and Alaska Natives.
  Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman from Washington (Mr. Heck) for 
introducing this important legislation that is aimed to help address 
Tribal homelessness. I urge all Members to vote ``yes'' on this 
important legislation, and I reserve the balance of my time.
  Mrs. WAGNER. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
  Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of H.R. 4029, the Tribal Eligibility 
for Homeless Assistance Grants Act of 2019.
  According to a study from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban 
Development, homelessness on Tribal lands often looks different from 
many other areas of the country. Tribal homelessness often results in 
overcrowding in housing that is already in short supply and rapidly 
aging and deteriorating.
  Sadly, 16 percent of households in Tribal areas are overcrowded 
compared to just 2 percent nationally. These overcrowded conditions 
hide the problem of homelessness throughout these communities.
  In 1996, the Native American Housing Assistance and Self-
Determination Act was passed to give Tribes one larger and more 
flexible block grant to meet their housing needs. As a result, Tribes 
are ineligible for HUD's individual housing assistance programs.
  H.R. 4029 would allow Tribal communities to be eligible to apply for 
and receive HUD's local Continuum of Care grants. Making Tribes 
eligible recipients for homeless assistance grants is a first step 
towards fixing Tribal housing issues and solving this hidden crisis of 
homelessness on Tribal lands.
  Mr. Speaker, I applaud the sponsors of H.R. 4029, Mr. Heck, and our 
former colleague, Mr. Duffy. I urge my colleagues to support this bill, 
and I reserve the balance of my time.
  Mr. GREEN of Texas. Mr. Speaker, I yield 5 minutes to the gentleman 
from Washington (Mr. Heck), a member of the Financial Services 
Committee and the sponsor of this legislation.
  Mr. HECK. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in strong support of H.R. 4029, 
the bipartisan Tribal Access to Homeless Assistance Act.
  As Congress is working to alleviate our national housing crisis, we 
also need to make sure our Federal assistance is getting to those that 
are hardest hit. And Indian country is facing a severe pervasive 
housing crisis. There is a widespread lack of affordable housing.
  Mr. Speaker, 38 percent of Native American households are considered 
cost-burdened by high housing costs. Insufficient stock of affordable 
safe housing in Indian country also results in increased homelessness. 
A study commissioned by HUD--I presume the same one referred to by my 
friend from Missouri (Mrs. Wagner)--found that there are between 42,000 
and 85,000 homeless Native Americans living on Tribal lands. That is 
several times the number of people who are homeless in Seattle and in 
San Francisco combined. And unfortunately, both cities are known for 
having significant homeless populations.
  On Tribal lands, homelessness also leads to overcrowding. Families 
double up by taking in friends and loved ones who can no longer afford 
their housing. And as has been indicated, 16 percent of Native American 
and Alaskan Native

[[Page H8927]]

households experience overcrowding. It is worth repeating--16 percent 
compared to 2 percent in the general population.
  So, here is the thing about homelessness and overcrowding that we all 
know intuitively but it behooves us to be reminded of it: When you are 
homeless or in an overcrowded circumstance, it is nearly impossible to 
find a meaningful job or go to school or otherwise engage in the 
community. When you are constantly worried about shelter, you are 
unable to deal with whatever other issues you are confronted with in 
your life, whether it is health or holding down a job or substance 
abuse.
  I have also considered that one of the most important duties I have 
as a Member of Congress is ensuring the sovereignty of the four Tribes 
in the district I have a privilege to represent and the 29 Tribes in my 
State, and to help them as they work to help their Tribal members on a 
range of issues, including combatting homelessness in Indian country. I 
know you all feel the same way.

  That is our Federal trust responsibility, and that is why I 
introduced this legislation.
  Despite the prevalence of homelessness in Indian country, Tribes and 
Tribally designated housing entities simply cannot access the homeless 
assistance grants offered by HUD, including the Continuum of Care 
program, and this bill fixes that.
  By establishing Tribal eligibility to compete for HUD McKinney-Vento 
Continuum of Care grants, this bill would improve Tribes' ability to 
combat homelessness and, frankly, potentially help tens of thousands of 
people.
  Mr. Speaker, I thank Congressman Young who is also a part of this 
bipartisan deal, and former Congressman Duffy, for joining me in 
introducing this bill.
  I hope all my colleagues will join me in supporting H.R. 4029 today. 
And finally, let us note, this bill is an important first step to 
fulfill our obligations to Indian country, but to be clear, this is not 
the last step.
  I hope to soon introduce a bill to reauthorize and update the Native 
American Housing Assistance and Self-Determination Act--we call it 
NAHASDA for short. NAHASDA is a critically important program that helps 
provide safe and affordable housing to Tribes and their members.
  I look forward to working with Chair Waters in the full committee on 
a bipartisan NAHASDA bill as we continue to discuss how we can continue 
or keep our obligations to Indian country.
  Mrs. WAGNER. Mr. Speaker, I yield as much time as he may consume to 
the gentleman from North Carolina (Mr. Bishop).
  Mr. BISHOP of North Carolina. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentlewoman, 
Congresswoman Wagner, for yielding.
  As the Representative of North Carolina's Ninth Congressional 
District, I am proud to represent 55,000 members of the Lumbee Tribe.
  When I served in the North Carolina General Assembly, just before 
this special election in September, I cosponsored legislation 
clarifying North Carolina's recognition of the Lumbee.
  It became law just in July.

                              {time}  1715

  H.R. 4029 would allow the Lumbee to apply directly for homeless 
assistance grants instead of having to rely on nonprofits or other 
governmental entities.
  This commonsense proposal will empower the Lumbee to act directly to 
provide shelter and other services to their own members and will not 
cost the Federal Government one penny.
  The Lumbee are in the best position to help their own Tribal members, 
and this bill will empower them to do so.
  Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to support H.R. 4029.
  Mr. GREEN of Texas. Mr. Speaker, I continue to reserve the balance of 
my time.
  Mrs. WAGNER. Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues once again to support 
H.R. 4029, the Tribal Eligibility for Homeless Assistance Grants Act of 
2019, and I yield back the balance of my time.
  Mr. GREEN of Texas. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may 
consume.
  Mr. Speaker, I, too, thank all of my colleagues for the bipartisan 
support this bill has received. I thank the sponsor of this 
legislation, Mr. Heck, again, for bringing it forward. It is an 
important piece of legislation.
  I would like to say this: Native Americans and Tribal communities 
have, for too long, suffered from a lack of funding for housing and 
homelessness assistance despite the growing need for safe, decent, and 
affordable homes on Tribal lands.
  Mr. Speaker, this is a bill that will bring some relief. It is not 
perfect. Mr. Heck has said it is a first step.
  I urge my colleagues to join me, Mr. Heck, and Mrs. Wagner in 
supporting this piece of legislation, and I yield back the balance of 
my time.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. The question is on the motion offered by the 
gentleman from Texas (Mr. Green) that the House suspend the rules and 
pass the bill, H.R. 4029, as amended.
  The question was taken; and (two-thirds being in the affirmative) the 
rules were suspended and the bill, as amended, was passed.
  A motion to reconsider was laid on the table.

                          ____________________