John Sarbanes: “on September 12, 2002, the Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs reported out favorably S. 1210, the Native…”

“on September 12, 2002, the Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs reported out favorably S. 1210, the Native American Housing Assistance and Self-Determination Reauthorization Act, NAHASDA. The Indian Affairs Committee referred NAHASDA to the Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs on August 28, 2002. According to the Senate Rules, all legislation affecting HUD's Indian Housing programs must be considered in the Banking Committee. This is bipartisan legislation that has the support of the National American Indian Housing Council, NAIHC. The NAHASDA Reauthorization Act extends the program originally created in 1996. The bill makes very modest changes to update the legislation, including asking HUD to explore ways to increase tribal self-determination with regards to the NAHASDA block grant. It also asks HUD to do a study of black mold, which is apparently is a growing problem on reservations. In 1996, Congress passed NAHASDA in order to strengthen federal housing assistance for tribal communities.”