Troy Downing: “as the House and Senate debate over housing legislation, I fear that one community is being left behind. Those are our…”

“as the House and Senate debate over housing legislation, I fear that one community is being left behind. Those are our tribes. Thirty years ago, Congress passed a landmark Tribal housing law known as NAHASDA, which created the Indian Housing Block Grant program to promote self-determination. Unfortunately, Congress has not updated this law since 2008 and has allowed its authorization to lapse after 2013. This is simply not acceptable. HUD Secretary Scott Turner said it best: NAHASDA works and needs to be reauthorized. I introduced the bipartisan and bicameral Native American Housing Assistance and Self-Determination Modernization Act to eliminate red tape in Indian Country and further incentivize private financing. Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to support this important legislation because it is Congress' responsibility to address the housing needs of all Americans.”