Congressman Cole Votes for Native American Housing Legislation

Washington, D.C. – Congressman Cole spoke on the House floor today in support of legislation to ease restrictions on federal housing money available to American Indian tribal governments. H.R. 797, which passed in the House today, will assist in stretching existing resources and creating flexibility for housing funds available to Native Americans.

In a statement on the House floor today, Congressman Cole said, "This bill allows tribes to maximize funding resources provided through the Native American Housing and Self-Determination Act of 1996. It also reinforces tribal sovereignty in allowing tribes to focus certain federal housing funding solely on tribal members. Finally, it will reinstate tribal access to federal funding for youth programs."

Specifically this legislation would remove limitations on new federal money for tribes who have not spent all of their housing funds in a designated year.

"This legislation will give Native Americans the ability to plan for the future and make long-term housing decisions," Congressman Cole said.

Another aspect of H.R. 797 would allow tribal governments to participate in The Housing and Urban Development's YouthBuild U.S.A. In YouthBuild programs, unemployed and undereducated young people are hired to build affordable housing for homeless and low-income people, while working toward their GED or high school diploma.

###