[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 154 (2008), Part 16]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page 22963]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




      H.R. 2786, THE NATIVE AMERICAN HOUSING ASSISTANCE AND SELF-
                   DETERMINATION REAUTHORIZATION ACT

                                 ______
                                 

                          HON. MAZIE K. HIRONO

                               of hawaii

                    in the house of representatives

                      Saturday, September 27, 2008

  Ms. HIRONO. I rise in support of H.R. 2786, the Native American 
Housing Assistance and Self-Determination Reauthorization Act, NAHASDA. 
Reauthorization of NAHASDA through FY2012 will ensure that safe, 
decent, and affordable housing is available to low-income American 
Indian and Alaska Native families.
  At the same time, I am very troubled by the obstructionist tactics of 
certain Republicans in the Senate that resulted in stripping 
reauthorization of the Native Hawaiian Housing Block Grant and Loan 
Guarantee Program from the final version of this bill. Native 
Hawaiians, like other indigenous peoples of the United States, are 
members of traditionally underserved communities and deserve equitable 
participation in federal programs with American Indians and Alaska 
Natives.
  Legislation will be reintroduced next year that will reauthorize 
funding for the Native Hawaiian housing program to ensure that the 
affordable housing needs of Native Hawaiians are addressed. Since the 
inception of the Native Hawaiian housing program in FY2002, $37 million 
has been awarded to Hawaii to support much-needed affordable housing 
activities for low-income Native Hawaiians who are eligible to reside 
on Hawaiian home lands. I believe in the importance of Native Hawaiian 
programs, and I will continue to champion these programs.
  I urge my colleagues to vote for H.R. 2786, and I ask for your 
support to correct this unfair exclusion of Native Hawaiians.

                          ____________________