NAHASDA Reauthorized by U.S. House of Representatives

Posted on Dec 2, 2014 in Department of Hawaiian Home Lands, Media Releases

Seal_of_the_United_States_House_of_Representatives.svg

 

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

December 2, 2014

 

HANABUSA SEES PASSAGE OF CRITICAL FUNDING PROGRAM FOR NATIVE HAWAIIAN HOUSING

Washington, D.C. – The U.S. House of Representatives today passed H.R. 4329, the Native American Housing Assistance and Self-Determination Reauthorization Act of 2014 (NAHASDA), which was amended to include language introduced by U.S. Congresswoman Colleen Hanabusa that would provide for key funding of the Native Hawaiian Housing Block Grant and Loan Guarantees.  Both programs directly support affordable housing on Hawaiian home lands through the Department of Hawaiian Home Lands.

“Passage of this bill has been one of my priorities during my time in Congress, and as someone with deep roots in Waianae, an extremely important fight for me personally,” Hanabusa said.  “After nearly ten years of our Hawaii delegation advocating for reauthorization of these programs, I am proud to see this bill pass today and I thank my colleagues on both sides of the aisle for recognizing the significance of these programs and allowing this vital legislation to move forward.

“These federal funds are now critically important for Hawaii with the Department of Hawaiian Home Lands state settlement funds running out this year, and with federal appropriators targeting the program for elimination on an annual basis.”

“I am especially grateful to my Republican colleagues for their commitment to ensuring native Hawaiians continue to have the same opportunity to thrive on their native lands as have been afforded to Alaska Natives and Native Americans for decades.”

The bill is a five-year reauthorization of all native-based housing programs, created to support the unique housing needs for American Indian, Alaska Native, and Native Hawaiian communities on their trust lands.

Hanabusa previously introduced and co-sponsored similar legislation to reauthorize the Native Hawaiian Housing Block Grant and Native Hawaiian Housing Loan Guarantees, which offer development funding and mortgage financing for eligible native Hawaiian families.  Neither program has been reauthorized since they expired in 2005.

H.R. 4329 passed by voice vote and now heads to the Senate.

A video of Hanabusa’s remarks on the House Floor can be viewed here: https://youtu.be/b4Me13FMg9E

###

Teal Takayama
Senior Legislative Assistant
Congresswoman Colleen Hanabusa
hanabusa.house.gov